Hi everyone! Yes, this story is being continued! Sorry! I can't believe the hiatus this thing took! I wasn't expecting it. Life and other fandoms just got in the way, but I am continuing this story! Sorry, it took so long! i just wanted to say a huge thanks to Princesa de la Luna because she reminded me that people are actually reading this story (honestly I thought people thought it dropped off the face of the planet). Anwya, thank you so much for reminding me! :) Enjoy!

Nikolaos followed Serenity across the dimly lit grounds. They walked past gardens of moonflowers and stone, fountains, statues, and even the royal maze, but Serenity didn't slow. After passing a statue of Celena, the first Queen of the moon, Serenity stopped abruptly. Nikolaos looked over the top of her head at the vast expanse of greenery and trees. The colors of the plants were muted, as if something was covering them. Nikolaos reached out to touch the air in front of him curiously, but was met with a resistance. He slowly ran his palm across the air in front of him. The resistance felt as smooth as glass and extended as far as he could reach in every direction. He looked at Serenity inquiringly.

"It's like a dome to protect the garden and preserve the atmosphere," she explained. "This is our greenhouse. Mama made it for me for my twelfth birthday." Serenity reached out and touched the dome with her hand. She gestured for Nikolaos to touch it again. He did. His eyes widened and he touched it again, but there was nothing. It was plain air now.

"It only lets in people I want it to let in," she explained and stepped over the boundary of green plants to the dirt path within. Nikolaos hesitated for a moment and glanced back at the palace. It was half its actual size, which spoke of the distance they had walked. They were truly alone here. No one could see them, no one could hear them. He had been offered an almost fool-proof situation in which to complete his work. He shivered slightly and followed Serenity.

They walked through the various paths inside the greenhouse and Serenity occasionally pointed out flowers to Nikolaos. Most of them were related to a person, like her friends, or her mother, or her father. Nikolaos nodded politely, even though he had no idea why she was telling him all of this. It had nothing to do with him. Although, he thought, it was sweet that she nurtured flowers for her loved ones and not just herself.

"Ah," she crouched down suddenly. Nikolaos almost bumped into her. He found his balance and crouched down next to her. She was pointing at a small spring green plant. Its flower looked like two semicircles glued together at the flat edges. It was slightly open with a delicate pink inside. There were spikes around the curved edges and several small hair-like structures on the inside. It was…interesting? thought Nikolaos. It wasn't pretty, and definitely didn't compare to the other flowers surrounding it. He didn't understand why the Princess had chosen to stop by this one.

"Look," she whispered and picked a small leaf off another plant. She gently brushed one of the hairs on the inside of the plant twice and dropped the leaf as the plant snapped shut. Nikolaos jumped and fell backwards.

"What was that?" he asked, astonished.

Serenity laughed. "It's called a Venus Fly Trap on Earth. It catches bugs and spiders."

"It eats them? How ghastly!" Nikolaos said, giving the small innocuous looking plant a nervous look. Now that he paid attention, the spikes did seem like giant teeth waiting to chomp down on some unsuspecting creature. "Is it possessed?" he asked warily. That was the only explanation for something as unnatural as this he thought.

"No, that's how it is." She stood up and brushed her hands happily. "Isn't that amazing? I have more here." She pointed a little distance away. "I also have pitcher plants. They're not as exciting as Venus Fly Traps, but they eat bugs and spiders as well. Would you like to see?" Nikolaos shuddered. He had never heard of plants eating living creatures. It seemed so wrong. He backed away and just avoided stepping on a Venus fly trap or whatever it was called. Suddenly, her innocent greenhouse seemed to be a house of horrors.

"I wanted a carrion flower, but they tend to smell like rotting flesh, so my Mama said no."

Nikolaos thought he felt his eye twitch. This girl was crazy, he concluded. Flowers that ate insects, maybe even people, and others that smelled of rotting flesh. Earth seemed like a hell, not the heaven she described. Serenity looked at his expression and laughed. "It's alright, they don't harm humans. They're just plants." Nikolaos nodded and gestured back to the path, hoping they could get back to the nice, boring ones.

"I have one last thing I want to show you before we have to get back," she said and took the lead again. Nikolaos's heartbeat sped up. She was talking about returning, which meant he didn't have much time. Their next stop would have to be it. He had to make sure she wouldn't return to the castle. Nikolaos's hands tightened into fists and he took a deep breath, readying to pull his magic to the surface.

She led him to the heart of the greenhouse. They walked through a large white arch decorated with curling vines. Once they stepped through, they were surrounded by roses of every shape and color. The soft scent wrapped around them and Nikolaos unknowingly felt himself relax. This place spoke of warmth, familiarity, and safety. By the bench placed in the middle under a large tree, it was evident the Princess spent most of her time here. There was a comforting feel to the place.

"Roses," he breathed. Serenity looked at him in surprise.

"You know what these are?"

He leaned down and stroked a petal of a deep purple rose fondly. "Yes, I know what these are. They are the only flowers that grow where I'm from." Of course, the roses at his home were gnarled, black, and twisted, but occasionally, a perfect red rose would grow and Nikolaos would save it eagerly.

"They're my favorite," Serenity ventured. She was standing at his side and peering up at him timidly with her hands behind her back. He smiled at her and began walking toward the bench in the middle of the rose garden. She followed him and began explaining the different types of roses she had, which ones she grew for the palace, and which ones were just for her.

He sat down on the bench and she sat on the ground next to a cabbage rose bush. She was explaining how she cared for them and how to make rose oil and water. Nikolaos wasn't paying attention. He watched her back. Water droplets were stuck to her hair and skin. In the soft light of the greenhouse, they were illuminated and made her shine. In that moment, Nikolaos thought he saw the light of the silver crystal in her skin.

He pulled his magic into his hands, feeling them tingle with power. It was odd, he thought, as he raised his hands, how sweet and innocent she really was. Just like one of her roses.

See that giant box down there? You should write in it. *huge puppy dog eyes* :P