The Devil And His Rose

Her words were a plea, but there was an edge of command in them, a desperation to keep her family shielded from the storm that was about to descend.

James froze, staring at her hand on his wrist. Slowly, he turned back to face her, his expression softening as he saw the tears glistening in her eyes.

"Please," Rose whispered, her voice cracking. "If they know, it'll only make things worse. Let them be... happy. Let them think this is just another birthday."

Becca sat up straighter, her gaze darting between her husband and her daughter.

She could see the logic in Rose's words, but the thought of keeping such a monumental truth from her other children twisted her stomach into knots.

James sighed deeply, his shoulders sagging as the weight of his daughter's plea settled on him.

He nodded slowly. "Alright," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "We'll keep it between us. But, Rose..."

He placed a hand on her shoulder, his grip firm but gentle. "You have to be ready. No matter what happens, you need to stay strong."

Rose swallowed hard, nodding as she blinked back tears. Strong. She had to be strong.

But how could she be strong when the ground beneath her felt like it was crumbling?

"And if they ask why you're leaving?" Becca asked, her voice breaking as she searched her daughter's face for an answer that made sense.

Rose swallowed hard, her mind racing. What could she say that wouldn't lead to suspicion, questions, or even worse—danger for her family?

She straightened her posture and took a deep breath, forcing herself to think clearly.

"Tell them…" She hesitated, her words faltering under the weight of what she was about to say.

Finally, she steeled herself and continued, "Tell them I got a scholarship. A full ride to a university out of the country. Somewhere far, somewhere new."

Becca frowned, her hands trembling as they rested on her lap. "A scholarship? But Rose, everyone knows you've never applied to anything like that."

Rose forced a small smile, though it felt hollow. "Then say it was a surprise. An opportunity I couldn't pass up. Something big that came out of nowhere."

Her voice grew steadier as she spoke, but her heart pounded against her ribs. "Say it was for art, or writing, or something I'm passionate about. No one will question it if you sound proud."

Becca's lips parted to protest, but Rose reached for her hands, gripping them tightly.

"Mama, I can't stay here, and I can't let them think something bad happened to me. This way, they'll believe I'm okay. That I'm doing something I love."

James stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "You really think they'll accept that?" he asked quietly.

"They will if you make them," Rose said, her tone firmer now.

"If you tell them this is what I wanted, they'll have no reason to doubt it. They'll miss me, yes, but they won't look for me."

Becca stared at her daughter, the pain in her eyes impossible to hide.

She wanted to argue, to find a better solution, but she knew there wasn't one. After a long pause, she nodded slowly, tears streaming down her face.

"Alright," she whispered. "We'll tell them you got a scholarship. That you're chasing your dreams."

Rose exhaled shakily, relief mingling with the ache in her chest. "Thank you," she said softly.

James crossed his arms, his jaw tight. "You better hope this demon doesn't make a liar out of you," he muttered under his breath.

Rose glanced at him, the weight of his words sinking in. "I'll figure it out," she said quietly. "I have to."

"I need to say goodbye to my best friends," Rose said, her voice barely a whisper, but the words rang out, heavy in the air.

She looked up at her father, her eyes filled with something that was equal parts pleading and resolve.

"You can't," James replied, his voice hard, final. He shook his head slowly, as if to emphasize the gravity of the situation. "It's too dangerous. If they know, it will put them in danger, too."

Rose felt a cold pit form in her stomach. She wanted to argue, to scream, but the truth was clear.

He was right. Her leaving would change everything, and anyone who got too close to her would be at risk.

The deal, the demon, it wasn't something that could be ignored. If she left now, if she tried to escape, he would find her—find everyone.

"But..." Rose's voice faltered, a single tear slipping down her cheek. "But I can't just leave without them knowing. They're my family, too."

James walked over to her, his steps slow, deliberate. He crouched in front of her, his hands on her shoulders.

"I know, sweetheart. I know," he said, his voice softer now, but still filled with a weight of emotion that she couldn't escape. "But you need to understand.

"This isn't just about you anymore. This is bigger than us. You have to stay safe, even if it means keeping your distance. For their sake... and for yours."

The words hit Rose harder than she expected, and the reality of what she was facing began to settle deeper into her bones.

She didn't have the luxury of goodbyes, of any last moments of comfort with the people she loved most.

Everything was being taken from her in one fell swoop.

"But it's not fair," she whispered, almost to herself. "I never asked for this."

"I know," James said quietly, brushing a strand of hair from her face with a tenderness that made her heart ache. "None of us did."

Rose's eyes wandered to the window, the light filtering through the curtains like a soft promise of something that could have been.

For a moment, she just wanted to run, to scream, to make everything stop. But she couldn't. She had no choice.

"I'll get ready then," Rose said, her voice barely above a whisper. Without another word, she stood up, her movements swift and determined, like she was trying to outrun the emotions threatening to break through.

She didn't glance back as she headed to her room, locking the door behind her.

Inside her room, the silence was suffocating. Rose stood there, her heart pounding, her hands trembling as she fumbled with her suitcase.

It felt pointless, packing. Nothing in her life seemed real anymore. She barely noticed the clothes she threw into the bag, the rush of panic surging through her.

She wasn't ready for this, wasn't ready to leave everything behind. Her heart ached, but there was no time to dwell.

Still in their room, James met Becca's gaze. "I'll gather the children and tell them the news," he said, his voice strained, tight with the weight of what had to be done.

There was no time for comfort, no time to explain. The reality had already settled in, and nothing could change it now. He turned, heading toward the stairs without waiting for her reply.

Becca nodded, forcing a steady breath through her lungs. She wasn't sure if she was ready for what came next, but she didn't have a choice.

James could hear the faint sound of voices from below. His children still had no idea what was happening.

He would have to break the news, shatter their world without warning. His stomach churned at the thought, but he steeled himself. There was no other option.

Rose, still in her room, was trying to breathe through the panic. Her eyes were glued to the suitcase, her hands shaking as she zipped it shut.

She couldn't shake the weight in her chest, the realization that she was leaving it all behind.

The tears came without warning, hot and angry, but she didn't have time to cry. She was running out of time.

Downstairs, James reached the bottom of the stairs, his face tight with the burden of what he was about to do.

He stepped into the living room, where his younger children were still clueless, laughing, arguing over something trivial. Their laughter felt like a distant memory.

He cleared his throat, his voice shaking slightly. "Everyone, come here."

The children stopped, their eyes narrowing in confusion, sensing the sudden change in the air.

"Sit down," James ordered, his voice stern, no room for questions.

As they gathered, he took a deep breath, and the words came tumbling out, more quickly than he could stop. "There's something we need to talk about. It's about Rose."