I'm debating on whether this scene in my book should be included. It's NOT the cliche dream scene - as the protagonist is actually aware that it is a dream.
Also, I believe "he" is used too much. Any ideas on how to fix this and the scene's other flaws would be welcomed.
The rose bore rigid, steely petals. He stroked his finger down one, and it blackened under his touch. As its colour was leeched, the petal crumbled away like ash.
In the dream, he wore a crown of rusted blades and nothing else, but he was alone. His hair was blonde again, plaited down his back in intricate ropes of gold. There was a slight breeze, and it plucked at the long bangs framing his narrow face.
His land sprawled for leagues, a mad tangle of iron thorn and silver rose. As he began to walk, the bushes scratched the prince?s porcelain flesh. Thin, dark lines welled black blood, but Ashen felt no pain. They were iliad-rosa, the icy emblem of the Triste Bellemorte.
He turned his eyes to a phantom sky, lips frozen stiff in the cold. A single tear shone, balanced on a lower lash.
?Not too long,? Cherub said. The faery sat on his bench of pale marble, dressed all in white.
?You always say that.?
?I always mean it.?
The faery stood, and passed by the prince. Just before he left, he paused.
?Be ready to run, Katakiira. Your cousin hungers and your uncle plots.?
One more step and silence. Ashen looked down, and turned. Cherub had gone. The teardrop fell, and burst on the prince?s foot.
Ashen woke from the dream. Fingers digging into the silken bedclothes, he sighed softly. The ceiling plaster wore a rabbit-shaped crack, and his room smelled slightly of crushed roses. In the walls, floor and ceiling, pipes gurgled and hissed. Tasting blood in his mouth, Ashen swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood. His toes sunk into thick carpet, all but hidden from view. He rubbed one bare foot against the opposite ankle.
Bathroom. The mirror beside the door pointed to the ceiling; he adjusted it so it reflected his light stubble. Shaved it off; a mess of prematurely grey bristles were washed down the marble sink and rusted pipe. The prince noticed his hair had somehow grown just below his shoulder blades without his consent; he gathered it up and hacked at it with a straight razor. The ends looked as though they had been hacked at with a straight razor.
Shower. Clouds of steam billowed from behind the crystal screen, fogging the mirror. Ashen stood under the water; head slumped against his arm, which rested on the slick wall. It came hard and fast, and though it reached near boiling point, he didn?t feel the burn. He closed his eyes, and felt a tremor in his lower lip. The more he brooded, the more it scared him. Ashen knew their whispers ? upper-class scum, high-caste whore.
His legs seemed to tremble. Suddenly, they failed ? and his knees smashed painfully on the slippery floor. Ashen?s forehead smacked hard against the wall, and with enough force to conjure metallic strobes before dazed eyes. With a choke of shock, he deliberately slammed his fist against the white tiles again, and as he pulled his screaming fingers away, strings of unusually viscous blood stretched between them.
The marble had cracked under his assault. Chips fell away, revealing a cold iron underside, sticky with chumi glue. The prince licked suddenly dry lips, and raised his still-clenched fist. The skin over his knuckles had broken and bled profusely, while the bones were visible through weeping flesh. Ashen sighed quietly, and bit his lip hard enough to taste copper. He quickly finished his shower, and slid back the crystal screen. Through clouds of steam, he found the door, feet clumsy on the slippery white tiles.
 |
HOME
· Carpet flooring
BUY & FIT CARPET FLOORING
· Carpet Fitting
· Wholesale Carpet
· Carpeting Quotes
· DIY Carpets
· Carpet stairs
· Carpet Right
· Wilton Carpet
· Allied Carpet
CARPET MAINTENANCE & CLEANING
· Carpet Cleaning
· Carpet Cleaning Service
· Carpet Cleaner
· Vax Carpet Washer
· Carpet Steam Cleaner
· Karcher Carpet Cleaner
· Carpet Cleaner Kent
· Bissell Carpet Shampoo
TYPES OF CARPET
· Bathroom Carpet
· Kitchen Carpet
CARPET FLOORING ON THE WEB
· Carpet articles and questions
MORE LINKS
|
