Beauty and the Stone Beast

Stone by day. Hers by night.

She came to steal herbs from my garden. She stayed to try to save ME. A queen’s curse turns me to stone at sunrise, punishment for defying her.

My soldiers are already gone, frozen mid-scream around my walls. And I’m forced to watch over them as a reminder for my defiance.

In my library the petals of a poppy are turning to stone, one by one.

When the last one falls, so do I.

Then a green witch and her family walk through my failing wards and straight into my courtyard like they belong here. She steals herbs from my courtyard.

So I imprison her.

She tries to bargain for her family’s freedom, telling me she can help.

I stopped believing in help three years ago.

I only have one petal left.

But maybe one chance.

Her.