A/N: I am not planning on continuing this version of the story- it is under revision because there were a few things I wanted to include that I left out, and I did not like the first chapter of the story. The new version has been posted. Again, I will not be continuing this version.

Blood for a Rose

In the heart of the Beast
There is a hunger for Blood,
A love for the Rose,
And a weakness for Beauty.

Prologue

He touched the cheek of the young woman with a sniff of disdain. “Is that all you can do?” He asked the old witch, his jaw held straight and superior. The woman stiffened and bared her teeth at him.

“She is the most beautiful woman in the land, milord, and my daughter.” Her voice was high and cackling, her hands rubbing the pure white petals of the rose in her hand with sharp yellow nails. Her daughter’s eyes were lowered to the ground, for she dared not look up at the handsome prince.

He shook his head. “I want better.” He scoffed. “I’ve seen better.”

A blush spread over the girl’s cheeks, and her blue eyes grew angry. With a toss of her blonde hair, she dared to look at him. Her gaze was full of defiance, but she said not a word. The old witch shoved her face close to that of the Prince. “Very well, my Prince, I will give you what you want.” Her voice held threat, but the Prince ignored it.

With a wave of her hand, the witch shooed her daughter out of the dark room and summoned in the last beauty. She far outshone the witch’s daughter, her fiery red hair curling wildly about her face, her thick eyelashes dark, her catlike green eyes smouldering. A seductive curve pressed her lips upward in a flirtatious smile and she met the Prince’s lustful gaze with her own.

“Does she please you, Prince?” The old witch grinned toothlessly. With a short, annoyed nod, the Prince tossed a bag of coins to the witch and took the woman’s arm. She pressed herself against him, feeling him shudder with desire, and looked back at the witch with a smile. The witch tossed her the rose and whispered. “Midnight.”