It was not until half an hour later, that Alcina noticed Melisande's absence and first she thought that her fiancé was just away to use the restroom, but when time went on and she did not come back Alcina started to get worried.

"Maybe she has already gone back to the castle", Daniela said while carrying her little sister Saiya in her arms. "That's not like her.", Daniela marked out. "Maybe we should go back and check on her.", Heisenberg said, taking his hat from the blanket.

They went back and began to search for the witch. Only Donna remained silent the whole time. She did not yell her name, because she could not sense Melisande's presens any longer.

When Alcina opened the door to their private room she found it empty. Everything was as they had left. It smelled like lavender, the golden ornaments shone in the late sun's light. The Countess looked at her bed and found a note, written in Melisande's clear and beautiful handwriting. It only contained three words. "I love you"

As she read this her soft smile began to vanish. Something was wrong. She could feel it.
Carefully she placed Saiya in her crib and waited until the baby was safe asleep. When she rose the door opened and Karl entered. Without waiting for his sister to say anything he shook his head:"Can't find her. Donna is crying downstairs and refuses to tell us why." Alcina stepped forward."Have you searched for her in the greenhouse?",she asked, her voice sounding hoarse and heavy. He shook his head. "Should I-" Alcina interrupted him. "No. I will look there myself. Stay here with Saiya."

She left without waiting for an answer. Her heart felt heavy, like it was about to crush her insides. Deep inside her she knew what was waiting for her, but she refused to accept it. It just couldn't be. She couldn't be...

"Melisande?",she shouted, but not as loud as she had before, because she knew she would not answer. She would not shout back. Her heels on the floor made the only sound hearable besides her heartbeat. Her hands were shaking when she stood in the hallway leading to the greenhouse. This hallway already was filled with plants, covering the walls, the ceiling. Flowers in all kinds of colours, exotic fragrances filled the air. The air was stuffy and hot, which made it hard for her to even breathe. Lady Dimitrescu took a last deep breath, trying to prepare herself for what was about to come. Tears gathered in her eyes as she tried to calm herself down.

With slow and hesitant steps she walked into the greenhouse. Big plants prevented her from seeing the fountain, so she reached out for the big petals, brushing them out of sight and stepping near the fountain. She held her gaze down for a moment.

When she looked up, a hoarse scream escaped her mouth, barely even hearable. She fell onto her knees, shaking, crying. Her heart shattered into thousands of pieces then she saw her love.

Melisande was there, sitting on the fountain, one leg drawn near her slim body, the other calmly hanging over the edge. Her once golden hair was falling down her back in light waves. Her eyes were closed, like she had just fallen asleep and a beautiful calm smile adorned her lips. She looked so majestic, so peaceful.

Alcina stood up, gathering all her left power to walk towards her, taking her face in her hands,like she had done so many times before, but there was no reaction. Her "skin" was cold like ice and harder than any metal. The hair she had loved so much was grey, the skin that used to be so soft and warm was now cold and unpleasant to touch, the smile she had fallen in love with looked stiff and the heart that was beating in her chest had turned to stone.

Alcina placed her forehead against Melisande's like she had done just a few hours ago. Tears ran down her face, dropping onto the cold stone. It was at this moment Alicna realised what she had lost and that she wouldn't come back. She was dead. The rose had finally turned her into stone.

She backed away, filled with grief and sadness she felt the urge to let out the pain she was feeling and the lady did so by letting her lungs escape an all shattering scream.

Her scream was heard in the whole castle, in her gardens, in the village. Everything went silent. Donna, who was sitting in the entrance hall, started crying more, Angie who was trying to comfort Donna, lowered her head. Cassandra started screaming as well and shattered a vase in rage before breaking down crying. Daniela, currently in the kitchens, just sank down to her knees when her mothers scream reached her, completely in shock. Bela started crying silently. She stood in the atelier, staring at the only painting that was not covered. Melisandes portrait. Karl took his hat off, to show respect. A tear left his eye as he watched Saiya, who began to cry. He took her in his arms, trying to comfort her.

Alcina was on her knees in front of the fountain as she looked up. Back stripes were on her cheeks, from her makeup, her eyes were red and her face puffy from all those tears. It was then when she noticed the Ruby Rose in her hand. She was blooming, but it was too late...Alcina started crying again, when she saw the ring on her finger.

The day she asked her to stay forever was the day she had left...forever...

~oOo~ [Present, 1989]

The lady of the house stopped talking. Tears ran down her face and she turned away from Bela, who sat quietly beside her. It hurt her to see her mother like that and she knew perfectly well how hard the first year after Melisande's death were for all of them. She remembered that her mother had refused to leave her chamber for at least three weeks. Only the argument that Saiya needed her had made her come out.

Alcina still wore her engagement ring and she would never take it off. Never.

"Tell me", Alcina started, drying her tears with a handkerchief,"What are your sisters up to?" She was trying to change the subject as always when she had finished telling her this story. She would tell her at least once a year. On the day of her death she would sit here, crying until one of her sisters came along to hear her story. They knew it helped her to reduce the pain so they listened although it hurt them.

"Cassandra and Daniela want to go hunting and Saiya is with uncle Heisenberg.", Bela explained, wiping away her own tears. "She is not giving up, is she?", Alcina said, a light smile on her face. The youngest of the family, Melisande's daughter Saiya, was now 19 years old. She had grown to be a beautiful woman with incredible powers, just like her mother. She had made it her personal task to find a cure for her mother's petrified state. Since she was ten, she experimented on different flowers and plants. Karl helped her. They were inseparable.

Most recently she had made a milestone by creating another Ruby Rose. She now had the poison and was optimistic she could create a cure.

Alcina looked up at Melisande. "You gave birth to a fighter", she said. At this moment the door to the greenhouses opened and Saiya came in. She smiled lightly and had a little bottle in her right hand. This smile...it was just like Melisandes. An old woman followed her slowly. She had long white hair, a friendly face, ruby eyes and wore a simple white dress with red marks.

Alcina was surprised to see her. "She just wants to see, if my medicine is working.", Saiya said, bowing lighty in front of her mother and sister before climbing onto the fountain.

"It has been a while.", the old woman said with a calm but dark voice. A voice Alcina had not heard since the day of Miranda's death 19 years ago. Alcina bowed her head to show her respect. "You are welcome at any time in my house, Arane.", the lady assured. The spirit smiled and looked back at her young mistress. Arane normally never left the forest and if she did, she did so to assure Saiya was safe, but she never said a word.

"I am sure this will work.", Saiya said calmly and stepped back, hoping. They all waited, but nothing seemed to happen. Saiya sighted defeated. Alicna took her daughter in her arms. "Thank you sweetheart for trying", she placed a kiss on top of her head, "I have no doubt that you will find something to bring her back some day."

Saiya looked sad. "I just want to talk to her at least once. She is my mother after all." Aclina sighted and stood. "I know, darling. But for now let's go into the salon and drink some tea. After that you can continue your research." "Yes mother."

They wanted to leave, but Arane didn't move. Her eyes glowed knowingly as the lady and her two daughters passed her. "Won't you come with us?", Saiya asked the old lady. "No, my child. I want to stay a little."

Soon after that she was alone with her former mistress. She smiled and leaned back against the glass door when she heard something that sounded like cracking stones...

                                                                     The End [?] - Not just yet