Sunlight-Colored Roses

“You must let me go,” she said. She pulled the cloak more tightly around her shoulders and shivered.

“I cannot do that,” he growled through the glass, his features contorted. She knew he felt as cold and dreadful as she did.

She touched the glass as though to reach the features of his face, which was harsh and angry. He was on the edge of sanity now and could go over the edge easily

“Then come to me. Don’t leave me here alone. Please.” She shivered.

“If my presence in the main house is missed for long then the murderer may grow suspicious. Your presence here must not be detected.”

She bit her lower lip with frustration. Anton had lost his mind. She was sure he did not want to be cruel, but he was being just that. “Tell me when you will return,” she said.

“I will return at night. It will be safer for us to talk when it is dark.”

She felt relief at his words and stepped away from the window. He secured the lock, leaving her in her glass-enclosed prison. Frost covered the panes, partially obscuring her vision of the balcony and the courtyard below.

She felt despair as she stood in the center of the room, feeling utterly alone. She looked at the glass panes, wondered if she dared shatter them. Anton had lost his mind and she must help him. He was in danger as long as he was in the castle.