Poison Rose(Roses & Kings #1)

Twenty years ago the men's population was almost half the women's population, with the birth of more male children. Male population increased throughout the years, But then another outbreak took place, and the virus claimed the lives of so many men including Reyna's own father, the queen consort. They still hadn't recovered from the loss. Cassandra had told her it was the blue mist, only it had evolved and became even more deadly.

The men's body was grotesque in death, since then the few men that survived were not allowed to roam as freely as they wished to. Boys older than five are separated from their families to live secluded in a different part of the castle.

The older men were given their own separate rooms in the servant quarters and were almost never allowed outside. Others live in the larger cave and were never seen around. Except for the few who kept watch at the walls and the women and children never saw them during the day. Life in Marlenia is difficult and it never changes for the better, only the worst. The only time Reyna feels remotely peaceful is when she's in the library.

Nobody ever goes to the libraries anymore,it's quiet, and there are so many things there, books, maps, so many things from the old world. Amazing things, educational things, that Reyna couldn't even fathom what to do with them, and her favorite!

Portraits of half naked men! Reyna knows there are men here in Marlenia, but she has never seen one up close, only few did,except for Mark. Leader of the guardians and he's almost fifty. With the men only coming out during the night,and the women forbidden to roam outside. There's no chance of meeting a man.

The portraits Reyna had seen were of people like Mark. Some were tall, others shorts but they are all broad, they look harder and different somehow. She knows they don't have breasts,she isn't stupid she'd seen Mark he's flat chested and the male animals in the Queendom help with her imagination. But surely they are not the same as the dogs she had seen, just as she's not the same as a female dog.

Her curiosity is solely on what's down there. Reyna knows they don't have virginas like girls do. But what do they have? How are they different from them? So many things are hidden from them and she's not the only one who is curious. The only people who can answer these questions are the men. Who they are not allowed to speak to,and don't even see.

Reyna can't say that she's never seen a man-since she'd seen Mark. But they might as well be aliens to the hundreds of women living in Marlenia. Who has never seen a man up close. The only other women and girls who have seen the men were women who are rumored to have earned a token to go see them in their quarters and cave. But Reyna believed it was just a rumor.

But she believes those who work in the dungeon where the medical facilities were could have seen them, when they are sick and taken there and the nurturers who volunteer or want children and are allowed to conceive with the help of the men. Reyna wants to know how that is done after all she is required to produce an heir in the future and she loves children.

But the women are sworn into secrecy, it's treason for them to speak of what they know. Or anything about their jobs,or how the children are conceived, the punishment is death for both the inquirer and the teller or banishment to the drylands. So it's understandable that people avoid asking questions at all, questions that could lead to their ultimate demise.

***

Reyna was five when she began to question everything in her world. Her world Marlenia is a beautiful place,situated amidst rolling hills and giant mountains with lushly green grass and trees. She'd heard that the castle belongs to her ancestor Sir George Williams. Who left his English country and relocated to the colony and had built the castle to remind him of his home back in England. The castle has been in their family ever since and was a tourist attraction before the outbreak. It was a magnificent three storey building carved out of a large rock and had an even larger rock as its backdrop. Part of the castle was modernized in the 21st century and was later fortified when the outbreak occurred.

The surviving women in positions of power had banded together to save humanity under the leadership of Reyna's great grandmother who had heralded the uprising and had led the evacuation of women and children with the few men who hadn't been infected with the virus. Some of them were congress women, military, scientists, artists, teachers, engineers, technology experts etc. Marlene Margaret Williams was the only business woman amongst them.

Those women had made contributions to Marlenia, giving away their wealth for the sake of human survival. At the time no one knew what they were fighting, not even the leaders knew what virus had infected the men and had turned them into monsters. It was then that the witches arrived at Marlenia, and proved that magic really exists. They wanted a place to live peacefully and in exchange they promised protection. Nana Maria had told Reyna the witches were afraid of something that's why they came to Marlenia, but her Nana didn't say what.

Marlenians are peaceful people, if you could call it that. To Reyna they were just people who were weary and tired of the violence that took everything from them, they were easily controlled and never tried to fight for their rights, although Reyna had read in the history books it hasn't always been that way. And from what Reyna had learned from her teachers, the world was no longer as advanced and populated as it was 70 years ago. A lot has changed, because of the outbreak and beasts, they were forced to adapt and do without a lot of things. So many things were said to be lost, the old people said the world has regressed. Reyna didn't know any better.

Marlenia is the only world she knows. It's where she was born and raised. While it's not perfect, in fact she hates the regiment way of life here. It is also the only world she knows. At least living here is better than being dead or being forced to live in the drylands, where her mother had banished so many. So Reyna doesn't feel the same as the older generation did whenever they talked about their losses, their eyes filled with so much sadness and grief.

The castle was a three storey building with four towers, it was built deep into the mountains amidst cavernous mountains the largest of which is a backdrop of the castle. It shields Marlenia from three sides. And dwarfed the castle like a giant monstrosity. Some of the family units lived inside the caves of the big mountain.

There are also small family size cabins built throughout the years a little distance from the Castle, that's the village. Where some of the family units live. The people here grow or hunt their food-which is submitted to the crown and was later rationed. They also make their own clothes and help build or repair their homes. But even with everyone working hard, there are a lot of things they don't have,this is where the Roses come in. They go to the outside world and get supplies at the risk of losing their lives.

Reyna had read that living in Marlenia is like joining the military in the old world, the people here are stoic and strict in words and actions. Not entirely friendly nor indifferent, they abide by the rules and laws demanded by Queen Cassandra.

They have food no matter how little,and security but most of all family, not all the family units are blood related but they love each other non the less. Reyna hates her life here, but she loves her people and she wishes there's a way she could help her people live an easier life.

Reyna hates the routine, she hates the uniformity, the mountains that prevent her from seeing the world. She hates the rations,even if she'd never suffer from it. She's not blind, Reyna could see the hunger in Marlenians eyes, she thinks it completely unfair that the people had to give away the food they hunt and grow to the Queendom.

But Cassandra had told her everyone had to make contributions, and that the guardians and the roses needed the food more, in order to better protect the Queendom. Sometimes Reyna feels like Cassandra is right, other times, she just didn't know.

Reyna hate the solitude even when she's amidst people,she feels like she's the only one who isn't content with this life. It makes her lonely. Except for when she's with her Nana,that's the only time she doesn't feel alone.

They were never allowed to venture far, not even the tree areas within the perimeters or to climb the mountain that was the backdrop of the Castle. They were also not allowed to ask questions. Reyna and the girls were all told about the beasts, but they were also told that they were gone for good. If that is the case then, Reyna thinks they should be allowed their freedom. But Cassandra had said that there are other dangers in the outside world and that they are safer here.

The men are not allowed to come out of the servants quarters which is totally unfair to them in Reyna's opinion. When Reyna had voiced it one day, Cassandra had coldly said it's for their own good, that too much exposure, might increase their chances of being infected with the blue mist, when the beasts ever came this way. That made Reyna think, Cassandra had said when instead of if. That means the beasts weren't really gone,they might very well have been lied to, Maybe they are still alive and around.

Even if they are, Reyna didn't want to live that way, it is true she doesn't ever want to see the beasts. Because seeing them might be the end of her life, but Reyna also didn't want to be confined her entire life. And then die without ever seeing the world,without truly living.

Reyna's always shocked when she sees the contented faces of people around her. She always wonders if she's really the only one who's feeling this way? When she looks at the citizens of Marl. Reyna is surprised everyone was okay living that way,they're content even if they don't look happy, except for her. She was or rather still is the odd one, the one who runs the hallway at dawn, climbs trees or the walls using the ledge at night knowing fully well the punishment for that. Asking questions all the time and never abiding by the rules.

Reyna's Nana always tells her that she's always been as curious as a kitten even when she was a child. And that she should thank the stars, the queen is her mother. Else Reyna would have been banished to the drylands, because of all the troubles she got herself into. And her inability to follow simple instructions. Reyna doesn't consider herself lucky, because whenever Cassandra finds out she'd broken one of her rules, she'd be punished severely.

The ceremony is not a traditional ceremony but rather a day where all the citizens of Marl gathered and got vaccinated. The shots are given to every woman, and child on the third of March, June, September and December. It's a vaccine against the blue mist, even if the women are immune to the virus, and the virus has been long gone.

Cassandra wasn't sure their immune system would continue to hold. Especially with what happened the year Reyna was born, that's why the vaccine was made to help boost the immune system. The Queen is always the one who gets injected first, then members of the council then Reyna. By getting the injection first they encourage the citizens to come forward and get their shots.

Reyna's duty is to smile and talk to the little girls, who get skirmish and jumpy. Most of the younger ones start crying, from the moment they arrive until the injection is done. She encourages them by talking and smiling with them, and sharing baked goods that were especially baked for this particular occasion.

And because of this, the girls and their family were more at ease. Most of the girls, Reyna, had babysat at one point, and she loved them. They are so innocent, free of worries and don't know any stress, except for what to eat. That thought made her feel ashamed and guilty for having more than they had, and for thinking they had no worries of their own.

Some of the kids looked too thin, malnourished. With the coming winter, Cassandra had reduced the allotted ration given to each family unit,instead of increasing it. This year's crops were not much,the farm didn't produce much food. And with the loss of the five Roses their supplies were low.

"Princess, can I please have more?" One of the little girls said pointing at the food placed on the table, for both the kids and the adults. Reyna smiled widely, cautiously turned to see if her mother was watching, when she saw her mother's attention wasn't on her.

"Sure, come with me." She said quickly and held the girl's hand, together they went to the table. She placed each piece of baked goods, there is bread,biscuits, cookies, and muffins on a plate and gave it to her. The little girl smiled shyly and snatched the plate from Reyna after she thanked her, then ran to join her family. Reyna saw her share the food with another little girl much younger than her. Her sister maybe. And hide a smile. The rule was that each person had just one of the baked goods, be it an adult or a child.

Suddenly Reyna was surrounded by over half a dozen girls asking for more food. She quickly shushed them, then sent them to the back corner to wait for her. She snuck glances at the high table as she took a large platter of the food to the girls and happily divided the food amongst them. They ate the food hungrily as if they hadn't eaten in days. Reyna suddenly felt sick, her stomach churned badly. Guilt was eating at her while she was fed with the finest delicious food. Those poor children are suffering from hunger.

Reyna had to quickly get out of the town hall, when she felt her breakfast of this morning trying to make an exit. Her stomach twisted and lurch but nothing came up, she dry heave then finally gave up still crouching and nauseated.

"Here, take this." Reyna takes the offered can full of water from her Nana, rinses then wipes her mouth. Then together they head back into the hall. Reyna couldn't take the worrying looks her Nana sent her way,she shouldn't worry about her. She's not the one who's starving, she has always felt guilty for the suffering of her people, they're always hungry. Instead of feeding the citizens hunger, they are being injected with vaccines. At this stage they will all die of hunger before the blue mist ever claims them.

Everything was going as it should, the girls were complying,eating the baked goods and playing with other girls their age and giggling. The adults chatted with each other, and each taking turns getting their shot, from different medical personnel. The children were almost through with the vaccine; only a few of the girls remained. Cassandra and the council of women are talking animatedly about something important, probably, on their high table,their voices low.

Her Nana was right, Reyna's mother is okay. Then why was she making weird sounds last night? Reyna shrugged away that thought and concentrated on the here and now she's curious about what they were discussing. Whatever it is. It's probably bad, from their grim faces, and the angry glare, two of the women are sending each other.

The woman who she knows as Lydia peters who is head of security, she's red hair, around Reyna mother's age and built like a tree,tall and muscular, but nonetheless beautiful. She's a formidable woman, the other woman is chief medical director Elizabeth Clarke, she's a small woman, almost dainty, beautiful and brilliant, she's the oldest woman on the council.

She's well known for her temper, both women are known to butt heads from time to time. Reyna likes them both,even if they can be difficult sometimes and they tend to treat her like a child. They are the only three including Amara, who she has known to show you what they feel without a care,unlike her mother the ice Queen.

Amara is the oldest witch of the family of witches living in Marlenia. Her family are tasked with hiding Marlenia from all its enemies; they'd cast the spell that prevents the beasts from finding their Queendom. She's also one of the council members Reyna actually likes and respects.

Reyna also spied Sabrina the Red Roses captain, she looks gorgeous and sensual as always she's a decade younger than Cassandra. Right now she's whispering to Cassandra while the two women bicker. Reyna tried to concentrate on the girls, but her head kept turning in their direction, trying to read their lips so she could find out what's going on.

"Don't worry Rey, it's probably nothing, just pay attention to what you are doing, you are doing well. You're so good with the children, look, all the children have stopped their incessant crying, it's almost pea…" Her Nana didn't get a chance to complete her sentence, because that's when it happened. Loud deafening blaring sounds, with emergency lights flashing. Startled and confused, it took a moment for Reyna to realize what the sound was.

The alarms!

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From your rookie author ashkyle190