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Kissing Illusion: Search For the BloodRose

Part I

“Curse Of the Blood Rose”

On a dark and cloudy night, as rain dances up a walkway and taps an awningoverhanging a porch, a man sits in a large rocking chair calming swaying forward and back petting a cat on his lap. Every so often, he reaches to a cocker spaniel/poodle restingon his feet, and gently strokes the dog’s ears.To most people, the rain would be a bother. Something to hide inside from, and pray that God will see fit to change. Not to the man. He loves the rain. To him it is thesound of the heavens washing the earth clean of the problems of the day. To him, hehears the droplets bring the dancing feet of angels, and the fairies his daughters used tolove as kids. In his bed, as drifts to sleep, he feels the soft kiss of heaven.He smiles to himself. “That maybe odd,” he thinks, “rain makes me happy.” In hislap, the cat looks over his knee to the dog, wrinkles her whiskers, and smiles. The doggrins and returns the greeting. Playfully, she turns to the man and meows.“Oh, what a time it was, Tiggy.” He says to his cat. “What a time.” Tiggy smiles brighter and purrs. “Perhaps some day I’ll tell you the story.” Tiggy straightens up andsits on his knee, facing him. She turns her head side to side, inquisitively. On his leg, theman feels the tapping of paws. He looks down at the dog and back at Tiggy. “On secondthought, maybe the time is now.” He smiles. “Would you guys like to hear a story?” Thedog pants gleefully and Tiggy meows.“Okay, come here Sintu.” He pats the cushion of the chair next to him, and Sintu jumps up. “This story is a long and mysterious one. It spans continents, oceans andmillions of miles. You’ll meet presidents, sultans, kings and queens…and it all beginswith a flower. The most legendary flower of all time.” With his pets at his side, glued toevery word, the man launches into the story.It is said that the flower was born in the wild fields of the Rocky Mountains, long before this great country was tamed by man or beast. Long before, some say, the Rockieswere even mountains. As a sapling, the flower grew to great heights, surpassing thegrowth of average flowers of its kind. Its height gave it access to environmental nutrientsinaccessible to lower grasses and other flowers.

While it is unclear how the flower ended up in the hat of a revolutionary amidstthe spilling of tea in Boston harbor, it is believed that the flower had great power. Some believed that the flower had been lost in its departure from the mountains, for upon theconclusion of the spilling of the tea, it’s petals had abandoned their natural yellow. Thesoldier claimed it was the same flower, but few believed him as its petals had becomered. Despite the misbelievers: the soldier carried the flower with him in every battle, andat the surrender of the great war, when his nation became independent, the flower wasseen in his hat.Several years later, as the soldier lay on his final bed, the flower clutched in hishand, he spoke two words. “Protect it.” Lovingly, his wife took the flower, held it to her breast, and hours after her husband’s passing, fell victim to the birth of a curse. With inminutes the flower was removed from their home, locked in a case, and hidden awayfrom the ages.Years have passed, the flower rumored to have passed over great rivers andoceans, and one night, not so long ago, it gained a name. On the deck of an ocean liner floating off the coast of England, two young sailors discussed the flower.“Why do concern yourself with such nonsense? You’re far too young.” Says onesailor to the other.“Because maybe,” says the second sailor, “when we arrive, I shall present theflower to Elizabeth and she’ll take me in her arms.”“Hopeless thoughts for a hopeless man.” Says the first sailor. “You’d have to findit first. Presuming it exists.”“Ahhh, yes, the great Blood Rose.” Says the second sailor whimsically.The flower is said to have passed through kingdoms and tribes, towns andvillages, and in it’s wake it has left loss and trouble. For the one’s it truly belongs to, it brings fortune, prosperity, and luck. For those who come upon it through ill-gottenmeans, or who do not possess it of right and true spirit, destruction and darkness shallfollow them all their lives.On the porch, the man glides in his chair, creaking the boards of the floor underneath him, with a smirk on his face. On his lap, Tiggy continues to smile, a permanent smile fixed to her face. To his left, Sintu sits upright, paws on the chair’s arm,a look of amazement in his eyes.“Oh,” says the man, “but our story does not end there. It can not. For the Rose’sgreatest appearances will make Emperors, legends and Queens, goddesses. And one day,it will travel on the greatest ship man will ever know.” He pauses, takes a drink from anearby water glass, and continues. “Allow me, young Tiggy and Sintu, to tell you the

story of the last Queen of Egypt, and the rose that introduced her to a snake.”It began one warm day, on the steps of the palace of Alexandria. While Cleopatrasat brooding, and scheming, planning the dispatching of her brother Ptolemy, a beautifulyoung Queen stood outside. In her mind spun the future of her people, of her right and just claim to the throne, and of the villainy of her sister and brother inside. She walkedslowly down the stairs, to the bottom of a handrail, and leaned on it.To her left, out of her line of sight, approached a young Roman soldier, a singleflawless rose in his hand. She jumped slightly at his arrival, and the soldier bowed, begging forgiveness.“Forgive me, your highness,” said the soldier, “I did not mean to scare you. I wishgreater circumstances could bring me to your company, but as I have only a few minutes,I come seeking your counsel.”The young Queen looked the soldier in his eyes. “Please stand noble Roman.” Shesaid. He stood slowly and lifted his eyes to hers. “You are aware I do not share mysister’s intentions of allegiance with your country.”“I do, your highness.” He said.“Then state your intentions for approaching me in such a manner, or a simplesnap of my fingers will summon guards to my side. As I assume you can understand, aRoman soldier seen cavorting with the Queen of Egypt will not be looked upon favorably by your superiors.”“Yes, I understand, your highness.” He says.Slightly impatient, the Queen lifts a hand as if to snap. “Then out with it. Speak,young man!” She says.“If you’ll allow me, dear noble Queen Arsinoe, I come with a gift. While I do notreadily recall its origins, I came upon it one day in the gardens of Rome. I’ve spent manynights with you prominently in my dreams, and I can not think of a better greeting.”Curiously, and coyly, Arsinoe smiles. “May I ask, noble soldier, how you came toset eyes upon me?”“It was a day many days ago, as my general was marching into your city. I waswith him, standing nobly beside, as he addressed your sister. I saw you sitting by her side.If I may be so bold, your highness, you are quite beautiful.” He says.“How…. pleasant.” Arsinoe says. “It’s not often a woman hears such thoughtsfrom a man. Especially a Roman.”