Roses, Briars and Blood — Alyne de Winter

Blood of a King Blood of a Queen Open a portal To the Unseen.

A beautiful Sorceress yearns to be accepted back into society. A barren Queen secretly seeks her magical aid in conceiving a child. The Sorceress gives an elixir to the Queen that is charged with her own essence. This essence grants the babe within the power of magic.

In exchange for her assistance, the Sorceress asks for the honor of being chosen as the new baby's godmother.

Of course the Queen agrees, but can she keep her promise?

The birth of the Princess Marielle is accompanied by feasts, celebrations, and the long shadow of the Sorceress coming to collect her due.

As the curse comes true, the tale unravels. The path winds through the dark forest in unexpected and macabre ways, yet always beautiful and lovely as a fairy tale.

Dreamlike and slightly parodic, this short novella explores the dark side of this traditional Grimm's Fairy Tale.