Red Tulips ~ Tulips represent elegance and grace, but red tulips symbolize perfect love. The story goes that the black center of the flower represents a lover's heart, darkened by the heat of passion. Stick with red tulips for a romantic bouquet, otherwise, choose yellow tulips (cheerful thoughts), white tulips (forgiveness), or purple tulips (royalty) for other occasions.

Everything had happened in a blink of an eye...  

  Maroon swooped in from a window on the side of the court house, glass shattering everywhere as he landed. Everyone inside went nuts. There was screaming, shouting, people were running out of their like their lives depended on it, which to them, it did.

   Maroon wrapped his arms around my small figure protectively as he stared daggers at the judge who sat on high on his podium with the look of disgust on his face," How DARE you touch my angel..." Maroon growled as his grip on me tightened, his wings fully extended to scare off anyone who would come near.

   " M..Maroon..?" I say in disbelief, holding tightly onto his biceps," H-How did you get here? You s-shouldn't have come..."

   His chest rumbled, giving me comfort," Did you really think I'd leave you here? To die?" He questions, looking down at me with a smirk," What kind of person leaves their beloved to die?"

   I nuzzle into his chest," You're right...thank you..."

   He smiles and kisses my forehead," You never need to thank me, I would do anything for you...my love."

   " Disgusting...despicable!" Our attention snaps towards the judge who wore the look of disgust on his face," An angel...in love with a demon...it isn't right!" he muttered.

   " What isn't right is you punishing Jasmine for being in love!" Maroon snapped, baring his teeth at the judge," I will not let you petty judgement be the death of my beloved!"

   The judge laughed," What a joke! Guards...seize them." he commanded, lifting his hand up with his command as dozens upon dozens of guards charge towards us with spears and swords in hand.

   Maroon growled, releasing one of his hands from me and watched as it engulfed itself in black flames," I won't be letting you come near us..."

   He threw his magical attack towards some upcoming guards, sending them flying across the the room, all the while holding me close to his chest.

   " Jasmine. Do you see that pillar over there?" Maroon asks, whispering into my ear as he points to a pillar in the far left corner of the courthouse. I nodded silently," Good. I need you to run over there and hide. Do not, I repeat, do not come out until I am finished with these guards, alright?"

   " But Maroon..."

   " I'll be fine princess. Please. I can't being worrying over you and fighting guards at the same time."

   I sigh and nod my head," Alright...just...b-be careful."

   Maroon nodded and kissed my forehead before I bolted off towards the pillar, dodging a few guards as I ran. Once I reached my destination, I quickly knelt down behind the pillar and watched as Maroon fought.

   One by one, Maroon's pile of guards grew till he was the last one standing. His hands were still clenched as he stared up at ceiling, trying to catch his breath. He turned his attention towards me and smiled," You can...come out now." he huffed, his breath still ragged from all the fighting.

   I let out a sigh of relief seeing Maroon smile. I stood up and strode towards Maroon with a slight smile, feeling happy that he was unharmed from the fight; he was right. No one got near him.

   But suddenly, Maroon's happy expression paled," Jasmine watch-" But it was too late.

   A guard had snuck up and grabbed me from behind, and was now holding his sword against my neck," Ha! Finally caught ya!" he exclaimed with a wicked smile plastered onto his smug face.

   " L-Let go!" I shouted, trying to pull myself out of his grip, but failed," Release me at once!"

   " You're not the princess anymore! I don't have to take orders from you!" The guard laughed as Maroon tried to inch towards us, but the guard noticed," Ah-! Not so fast demon! Take one more step towards us, and I'll slit her throat."

   A wave of fear crashed over me. I looked towards Maroon with fear swimming in my eyes," M-Maroon...?" I say, tears brimming my eyes as the guard held the sword close to my throat," I-I'm scared...."

   " It's okay princess..." Maroon reassured, trying to smile as he took small steps towards me,"...everything will be alright..."

   " Stop! D-Don't move another step!" The guard threatened, stepping back, dragging me with him," Stay back! I WILL cut her!" And he did. He slowly pierced the sword through my neck, drawing blood.

   Maroon paled at the sight of my golden blood slowly trickling down my neck, while I squeezed my eyes shut from the pain," S...Stop...p-please..." I begged.

   " Shut up! Or I'll cut ya deeper!" The guard spat, causing me to whimper in response.

   "Stop!" Maroon exclaimed, clenching his fist in anger," I'll do anything! But please, don't hurt her..."

   " Oh really?" The guard smirked," Alright then. I'll let her go, if you allow my buddies here to arrest you."

  A couple of guards who were once passed out were now surrounding Maroon with their weapons in hand. Maroon extended his wings full height and growled," So...we gotta deal?"

   " N...No, Maroon...d-don't." I beg, tears streaming down my face," S-Save yourself...p-please

   He shakes his head," No...I am not leaving you to die again. Not this time." Maroon states, not even meeting my gaze as he spoke. I stared at Maroon with fear swimming my eyes as I watched his once angry expression turn into the look of defeat," It's a deal."

   I began to cry even harder. The guard chuckled and said," Good choice." before roughly throwing me to the ground. I sat up on my knees, holding my gash with both hands as Maroon rushed to my side with worry in his eyes.

   " Jasmine, are you alright? Is you cut bad? Let me have a look." Maroon said as he tried to inspect my wound. But my hands never moved as I stayed staring at the ground, tears slowly trailing down my face and landing on the ground," Princess please, speak to me. Say anything." Maroon pleaded once I became unresponsive, placing a hand on my shoulder.

   " Y-You shouldn't have said yes...y-you should have ran..." I mumbled, slowly looking up to meet Maroon's worried gaze," W-Why..? Y-You know they'll kill you..."

   " Jasmine...princess..."

   " D-Don't 'princess' me Maroon...y-you're about to die and you're worrying over a s-stupid cut..." I say, tears rushing down my face," Y-You make my attempt to save you futile...w-we're both goners now..."

   " Don't say that. Jasmine, look at me." And I did. I looked straight into Maroon's ruby red eyes and felt at ease once I saw his smile," What you did for me, showed me how much you loved me. It was never futile love..." He cupped my cheek, wiping my tears away as he spoke.

   I overlapped his hand with my own," B-But why...?"

   " Simply because...I love you, Jasmine...always have, and always will," He states, slowly leaning down and capturing my lips with his, stealing a quick kiss. He pulled away and smiled, leaning his forehead on my own," I will do anything to protect you."

   I laughed, sniffling a bit," E-Even if we're going to die a-anyways...?"

   He chuckled and nodded," Even if we're going to die anyways."

   A small smile creeps up on my face as I gaze into Maroon's red eyes," I love you, Maroon..."

   " I love you too princess..."

   For a split second, it seemed as if the world had just stopped moving. I was able to be with my lover so a small moment and be reminded of the love we share for each other.

   But our small moment of happiness was quickly shattered when the sound of a sword unshielding itself caught my attention. From the corner of my eye, I saw someone running at us. I couldn't see who until they got close enough: it was the guard from earlier, running towards us with his sword in hand. I gasped and tried to warn Maroon...

   ...But I was too late...

   " N-No......no no no no no no no!" I cried as I looked down at Maroon, seeing the guard's sword be pierced through his stomach. Tears began to rapidly race down my face as I gripped Maroon arms to keep him up," N-No...y-you can't die...y-you can't leave me..." I cried, not knowing what to do. I franticly rambled words to my lover as tears creased my cheeks; I felt guilty. And scared, so very scared.

   But Maroon didn't seem scared, not the slightest bit. He only smiled and cupped my cheek as blood seeped through his clothes while the sword dissolved inside him; just like my mother," H-Hey princess, d-don't cry...L-Look at me." Maroon said, sounding surprisingly calm for someone who's dying. I shook my head and refused to meet his gaze. I was too panicked. But Maroon lifted my face to his gaze," I-I love you so much princess..."

  I shook my head," N-No...stop talking like that...y-you are not leaving me..." I cried, holding onto Maroon for dear life," P-Please...don't go..."

   Maroon coughed, blood spurting out of his mouth and onto me, which only made me cry harder. But Maroon didn't worry about that and began to wipe my tears away, blood trickling down from his mouth," H-Hey, d-don't cry princess..." Maroon said before kissing my forehead, grabbing a hold of my hand as well and placing a kiss on my knuckles. He smiled weakly at me," Y...You l-look better w..when y-you're smiling..."

    A laugh escaped me, remembering the time he first told me those words.

   You look better when you're smiling

   Those six, simple words still make my heart swell with joy, only now, it made me want to cry more.

   " W-Why must you say such...s-sweet things to me...?" I asked, unable to meet his gaze once more as I cried.

   " S..Simple..." He begins, lifting my head up once more, his hand slowly caressing my face," I-I love you...till the day I die..."

   And at that moment, Maroon fell back, his hand leaving my face as he hit the ground with a small thud.

   " M-Maroon...?" I questioned, hoping and praying for a response. I reached for his hand when hia didn't respond, and felt the warmth slowly being drained from it," N-No....M-Maroon...wake up."

   Tears immediately began to spill from my eyes once more. I grabbed one of Maroon's hands and placed it over my belly as I tightly gripped his other," M-Marron! Wake up! Y-Y-You can't die..! Y...You can't leave me...n-nor your child..." I cried as Maroon laid limp on the limestone floor. I laid my head on his chest, begging to hear his heartbeat of heard nothing but my own sobs," P-Please! I..I can't live without you! P-Please....d-don't leave me alone...you promised..."

   I dug my head into his chest and sobbed, repeating the words," You promised, you promised" over and over again. But soon, but sobs slowly turned into quiet whimpers.

   But then, two guards crept behind me and grabbed a hold of my arms and began to pull me away from Maroon," No! L-Let me go..!" I cried, thrashing around in hope of escaping the guards' grip.

  The judge, who had been hiding behind his podium, stood up and cleared his throat," Take her away. And dispose of the demon's body if you please." The judge commanded as another pair of guards grabbed Maroon's limp body and began to drag him away.

   " NO! Maroon!" I cried as they dragged me away, my cries echoing throughout the courthouse.

   " MAROON!!!" I cried, shooting up from my spot on the damp floor. My body trembled in fear as I began to recall my horrid dream," I-It felt so real...so real..." I mumbled, rubbing the spot on my neck where the guard had 'cut' me. My wings draped themselves over my shoulders to help cover my shaking body.

   It was just...too real to be just a dream.

   " Maybe it wasn't." My head snap towards Jamie's cell, where I see him leaning against the wall staring at me with worried eyes," Sorry...you spoke aloud and...I don't think it was a dream. It could have been -I don't know- a vision...?"

   " Y-You think?"

   He shrugs," Maybe. Since you're-"

   Jamie was interrupted by the sound of the dungeon door opening, rays of light shining into the dungeon. A different pair of guards come walking up to our cells with small tin trays of food in their hands. I was a little confused at first, then remembered I fell asleep, and that my trial is suppose to take place today.

   Cold shivers ran down my spine at the thought of my trial, and my heart ached; if my dream really is a vision, then I pray to the lord above that Maroon won't show. That he will stay hidden, and safe.