Page 36 of The Botanist and the Beast

Henri was still leaning back in his chair, a slight smile still on his lips but he was stone. His eyes were replaced with two diamonds that looked across the table at Theo.

A second of silence passed like molasses. Then an anguished wail sliced through the room followed by a crash.

The mugs Collette had been holding lay shattered at her feet and she sobbed as she caressed Marcel's face with shaking hands. He was gone. In his place a statue still looking at Collette with loving eyes.

"Jacques!" Oliver sprinted for the door, his cries for Jacques echoed off the walls as he grew further away.

Grief, choked cries, and sobs filled the room as the death of Henri, Marcel, and two other guards at the table were confirmed. All the chaos was muffled by the ringing in Theo's ears. He knew the curse turned people to stone, but to see it was something else. Seeing its unpredictable cruelty stirred memories of one minute walking with his own parents and then waking to find them dead among the flowers.

Where's Sebastian?He looked to his seat but didn't see him anywhere. His heart slammed in his chest, and his lungs constricted.He can't be gone, too. Where is he?Someone touched him and he flinched.

"Theo, it's me," Prince Sebastian said, kneeling next to him on the floor. "I know it's scary the first time. Let me help you up."

Relief washed over him as he reached up and caressed his face. The warmth of his skin next to the cool opal stone felt more magical than usual. "You're still here?"

"I am." He put his hand over Theo's with a weary smile. "I need to go check on the others. Do you want to stay here or follow?"

"I'll follow you," he said quickly. He followed him through the hall still in a daze. Then they found Oliver, standing at a door that led out to the back of the castle. His palm was pressed to the door.

"Ollie?" Sebastian said gently as he came over. "What are you doing?"

"If he was still here, he'd come and find me, right?" He choked out. Defeated, he rested his forehead on the door and closed his eyes. "If Jacques was alive, he wouldn't leave me to worry like this."

"Do you want me to open it?" Sebastian offered. "I can go check."

"I'll do it. Just come with me." With shaking hands, he opened the door and they crossed the snow yard. The absence of the other guards talking, crying, or laughing was heavy as they followed their footprints. The walk was short, but it felt like it went on for miles on end.

Then Oliver dropped to his knees. In the distance, the group headed for the shed had turned to stone in the middle of roughhousing, their hands forever frozen in playful shoves and their smiles to the snowy skies. Snow was already settling ontheir shoulders and the crooks of their arms like tree branches. A choked cry broke out of Oliver's lips.

Theo didn't know what to say as he watched this man's heart crack into a thousand pieces there in the yard. Sebastian rubbed Oliver's back as his own eyes welled with tears.

"Hello?" a small voice croaked from up ahead. "Is...is someone there?"

Oliver's head snapped up. "Jacques?"

Out of the stone cluster of guards Jacques's hand reached out through stone legs. "Ollie? Is that really you?"

Oliver dashed over and practically slid into the statues as he crashed to his knees. He gripped Jacques's hand tight and kissed his palm as tears fell. "It's me. I'm still here."

"Get me out of this!" Jacques demanded, breaking into sobs.

Theo and Sebastian went over and carefully they moved the statues apart from each other best they could.

The moment there was a gap large enough, Jacques scrambled out into Oliver's arms. "You stupid man! You took so long!"

"I know, I'm sorry." Oliver buried his face in his neck. "I'm sorry. I...I thought..."

"I know. Me too." Jacques pulled back and wiped the tears off Oliver's cheeks. He let out a choked laugh and sniffled. "But I'm here. We're both still here. So, hush your tears."

Sebastian tugged Theo along with him to give the couple privacy. "I'm going into town to visit some families. You can stay of course and—"

"I want to go with you."

He hesitated but ultimately agreed to let Theo join him.

The rest of the day went in a blur. Theo stayed back and watched Sebastian as he gave condolences, held weeping people, talked to children whose parents passed, leaving them alone. He did this until nightfall and never once did he break. He heldevery last person's emotions with care and patience. The dead were honored by candles lit in the snow and soft mournful songs sung into the wicked winter winds.

When they headed back to the castle, it didn't end. Everyone held a moment of mourning for all those lost. Some were silent. Some cried. Some locked themselves in their rooms, while others went into town to mourn with the people. Oliver, Jacques, and Sebastian left small notes with Henri who they placed in the library and said their goodbyes. Theo quietly observed, not wanting to intrude.

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