Pricked by a rose

1. Flower petals

I flipped my lilac hair out of my eyes. Unsuccessful though, as the hair slid back in it's place. I let out a soft snarl, with my arms crossed. Superior ordered me here over a year ago. And I still didn't like it. Everything was so bland. Lifeless. Perfect for what we cannot express and feel. But a total drag for the sight. Everything white and bright. Pure almost. Which was a laugh. Everyone here was far from. Pure. Maybe it was to reflect the opposite of what we were. Our outfits accentuating that. Pure black. Really. There was more colors in the spectrum. But technically black and white were neutrals. But there was no point to roll your mind around that thought. It was pointless. So as my being here. I feel as if I've been punk'd into being here. What are we even supposed to do here? Its been a year and my mind still ponders on that question. Every so often it rolls its way back into my thoughts in the silence.

I jump from my not so exciting thoughts as the tea kettle whistles, loud and shrill. I pick up the handle and pour the scalding hot water into three cups. One for Vexen, the eldest here, Lexeaus, and me. I finished arranging the tray, that was arranged perfectly for "perfect" balance. Three tea cups accompanied with cream, sugar, and three spoons, three napkins, a small plate of cookies. And of course the clieshay flower(in this case tulip) in the thin vase. The tulip matched my hair. As so did various objects in the Castle. I opened up a portal, black and purple swirls moving around. As if the only word to describe the noise would be, swirling. I hated it. It smelled dark. As if darkness had a smell. Very distinct. Smelled like death. Which was a perfume for most of the members. Not all as sickly powerful as Superior. But we all had the scent. As if it was lodged into our bones. I placed my book underneath my arm, against my arm pit. Grabbed the tray, turned around and headed back to the lower and much darker levels of Castle Oblivion.

Shivers pulsated up my back as I walked through the portal. The smell of Death washed over my senses. Almost touchable, like fur. Only it felt like crinoline, scratchy. I stepped out of the portal. Not even. Half of a step before colliding with another member of the organization. My face hit their back, the tray flipping up and into my chest. I lost my balance and hit the floor. Taking in a sharp and painfully cold breath of roses. Marluxia. I looked up from my stained cloak, covered in tea, cookie crumbs, glass, and tulip petals; glaring up at him. I let out another soft snarl, my teeth clenched. Of all the people I could run into. Even Axel would be better than this cocky runt. (Speaking as I'm his elder, and older-not physically but years as a nobody.)

He turned, his lips curling up slightly and the look in his eyes you could almost slap away in the air it was so thick. "Zexion." I tensed up as he spoke. His voice had the fur like state as it rubbed its' way over my body. I wanted to slap him, the way he was looking at me. As if I was his prey, a cat ready to pounce.

"Yes, Number XII," I began to stand up. Hard to be intimidating when you're shorter than the one you want to intimidate. With my back straight, I crossed my arms after wiping off the few shards of the broken tea cups that got caught in the fabric of the cloak. My face went coolly calm and unreadable, the perfect mask. "It's not usual for us in the lower levels to be blessed by your sight. What brings you down here?" I question, slight annoyance in my voice from the broken tea cups and the now soaked book laying on the floor. The ink letters probably smeared by now. He lifted his head, looking down on me even more. The look in his eyes changed, almost looked angry. Good. That cocky bastard deserved it. He leaned into me, quickly and unexpectedly. This caused me to ram my back against the wall, with a loud thump. His hands slammed against the cold walls behind me, on both sides of my head. My perfect mask slipped off my face and cracked on the floor below me. My eyes wide, though only one visible, my mouth open as shaky breaths escaped through my lips.

He leaned down, the leather on his cloak could be heard squeezing against each other. His well sculpted face close to mind. Marluxia's breath was so intoxicating. With his face so close to mine I could even tell that the scent of his skin smelled like freshly cut roses. It wasn't just the scent of his aura. It was his body. "From someone who practically quotes from the rule book about being respectful to your superiors, you seem to throw your morals away when talking to everyone else but them." His voice rolled over me, and touched me with it's soft and gentle fingers. It felt like fur against the naked body. Soft and almost luxurious.

Rage boiled in the pits of my stomach. How dare he humiliate me in my domain. I snarled slightly as I pushed him away. Regaining my composure in seconds. Almost as if none of the past couple of second ever happened. "Don't forget who your Superior is Number XII." I snorted softly as I picked up the not so completely soaked book, and began to pick up the broken tea cups, tulip petals, and cookie crumbs and put them on the tray. I stood up and turned sharply back towards Marluxia. "Superior may have made you head of the castle. But you are still my subordinate. Don't forget that." My voice sounded cold and as smooth as ice. I opened up another portal, this one obvious leading back to the kitchen. The perfume of the darkness hit me like a glass wall. It seemed to mold its way around in the air. I could feel it's presence to my right. I took one last glance at Marluxia before heading through the portal. I wish I hadn't. His face never seemed to have faulted. He still wore that cocky smirk and the look in his eyes that made me want to slap him. It was so unnerving. It seemed whatever I did to him wouldn't make him falter. Or how shall I put it...obey me.

It made me falter. My nose scrunched up, and the corner of my mouth tightened. That bastard. A soft chuckled rolled its way out of his mouth and over my skin. Another whiff of his scent. It didn't seem to pleasant; the mix of the two scents, Death and Roses. It made my stomach churn.

He took several quick steps towards my being, he pushed me through the portal. My spine stiffened. As the crinoline like sensation rubbed itself all over my body. So unpleasant. I felt him push his hand against my chest, very forceful. I hissed as my back came in contact with the cold marble wall. Pain shot up my spine and had a numbing effect in my fingers and toes. Like the tingling feeling you get when your foot falls asleep. He finally came out of the portal. His lips parted, a condescending smile. He walked slowly over to me. His boots making loud clicking noises over the white marble floors. He put one hand across his stomach and the other one perched itself up onto it, his hand on his chin. He cocked his head back, looking at me as if he was examining. His sapphire blue eyes worked over my body. It sent shivers up my spine. His gaze so heavy it felt as if he was physically touching me. I gripped the handles of the tray tightly, taking a step forward. "What are you doing Num-" I began to scorn him for his actions, but I was rudely interrupted by a gloved finger pressing against my lips.

He leaned in, towering over me. He placed his other hand on the tray. Putting an immense amount of pressure on it. It slipped out of my grasp and the contents of it fell onto the floor. "Oops," His deep voice and warm breath touched my face as he leaned in closer, closing the space in between our bodies. A lump in my throat began to form as I swallowed to clear it. He placed a hand on my cheek. His gloved thumb traced my lower lip, parting them. His gazed lingered on them for a while. "We're going to fuck."