The Monster’s Caress

Prologue-1

Prologue

The Isle of the Monsters:

Centuries Ago

The tiny Rose Fairies fluttered with excitement. A portal had appeared near the old willow, and through it they could see a view of deep space before a graceful golden woman materialized in the opening. It was the Goddess!

The fairies clung to the branches of the magnificent old willow tree, huddled behind the cover of its many leaves, and curiously peered down at her. The bravest of the slender green fairies flew closer as the woman knelt and gently placed a mound of colorful material on the ground. When the tiny fairy flitted back and forth, trying to get a better view, the golden woman looked up and smiled.

“Watch over her,” the Goddess instructed in a melodic voice.

“We will,” the fairy promised, landing on the ground next to the brightly colored bundle.

The Goddess smiled. “What is your name?” she asked.

“Rosewood, your Majesty,” the fairy replied with a tiny curtsy.

“Thank you, Rosewood,” the Goddess acknowledged. Then she faded from view.

Rosewood gaped at the empty space where the Goddess had been a moment ago. Then she flew up and landed on the bundle. She tittered when the creature wrapped inside moved. A chorus of gasps came from the gently swaying branches.

“Be careful, Rosewood,” a fairy called out.

“You don’t know what it is,” another cautioned.

Rosewood impatiently waved the fairies’ concerns away. The Goddess had given her a task, and she would not fail.

The creature moved again, and a fold of the material fell aside, revealing an infant’s dark, round face and large gold-flaked brown eyes. Black curls peeked out from the edge of the blanket. The infant’s mouth opened, her eyes squeezed shut, and her lips twisted. For a moment, Rosewood thought the baby was about to cry. Instead, the infant sneezed loudly and cooed with delight.

Rosewood smiled and confided to the others, “In the palace rose garden, I overheard the Empress and Emperor wishing for a baby, a little girl to name Nali. This must be her. The Goddess has answered their pleas,” she announced with wonder.

“What kind of monster is she, Rosewood?” another fairy asked, fluttering above the baby.

Rosewood scrutinized the creature, tilting her head, then shrugged. “Does it matter? She is Nali—our future Empress.” Rosewood grinned at the increasing number of fairies crowding around the baby, all curious to see the creature who would one day be the Empress of the Isle of the Monsters.