Roses, Briars and Blood: A Gothic Sleeping Beauty.

From her exile in her mountain castle, the beautiful Sorceress has yearned for decades to be accepted back into civilization. Opportunity seems to arrive when the barren Queen secretly seeks her magical aid in conceiving a child. The Sorceress insures her inclusion in the royal family by infusing the fertility elixir she gives to the Queen with her own essence. In exchange for her assistance, the Sorceress asks for the honor of being chosen as the new baby's godmother.

Of course the Queen agrees, but can she keep her promise?

The birth of the Princess Marielle is accompanied by feasts, celebrations, and the long shadow of the Sorceress coming to collect her due.

As the curse comes true, the tale unravels. The path winds through the dark forest in unexpected and macabre ways, yet always beautiful and lovely as a fairy tale.

Dreamlike and slightly parodic, this short novella uncovers the dark side of this traditional Grimm's Fairy Tale.