Book of Roses-Episode 4 part one "The 5 Curtains"

Strega had not wandered far before she came to a doorway. However, there was no door only a thin curtain of light blue silk. Strega touched it and the curtain parted.

Behind it, she saw an immense room all painted and decorated with shades of blues and whites. As she stared at the aqua walls, frost painting appeared forming crystalline shapes. The floor looked as if it were made f thick ice but below her, through the cold glass she saw violet fish swimming about. Slowly she made her way across the strange room, past a dolphin fountain and through a fine spray of mist.

On the other side she spied a torch hanging from a wall. Near to it, another veil, this one made of woven green reeds. It too parted and she stepped through.

This room enclosed a garden. Tall trees with thin trunks and spiky leaves towered above. Yellow birds, their feathers glowing like the sun, flew through the air. The floor was carpeted with moss which sprung back after each soft step. In the ceiling, a small moon-shaped window was set and soft starlight filtered through. Where the crest of the moon fell, she found a third curtain, made of crystal and diamond beads. She peered through it, and saw herself staring back!

Book of Roses-Episode 3 "Boma Park"

It was cool in the courtyard and Strega held her golden cloak tight about her. She wondered where the night would lead and stared up at the moon.

It is sometimes said that the moon drives people to do strange things and not even witches are immune to its madness. Strega shivered and C’zippa mistook the reflex as implying she was cold-which wasn’t it at all.

The two walked for a while then came upon Boma Park. Boma was a large green littered with benches and flowering trees. It was also the home to a number of satyrs; beings like fawns only more animal than man. They were content living in the wild not wearing any clothes and spending most of their time dancing, paying their flutes and sleeping.

As the young lovers entered the park a dozen or so satyrs skipped up to them, playing sweet little tunes on their pipes. C’zippa seemed shy but Strega enjoyed the creatures’ bouncy melodies. However the satyrs soon drifted off and she was left alone once again with the Prince.

Asking if she wished to sit down C’zippa motioned towards a bench. Strega sat and rested her head on his shoulder. He brushed aside her curls and bent to kiss her cheek. Strega turned her head to meet his lips with hers, a movement C’zippa had not expected. The two held the embrace then slowly released each other. C’zippa suddenly looked away, embarrassed it seemed. Strega wondered why. She thought it might be the moon.

She touched his soft cheek and brushed his smooth blond hair with the back of her hand. He caught it, then turned and laughed quietly. They rose and turned back to the palace.

Saying their goodnights Strega and C’zippa parted paths. The prince ascended the stairs to his room and Strega stayed by the door which lead back to her home. She paused, and then decided she was not yet ready to leave. It was late and all of the guests had gone. The palace was huge and she was quite sure she would not be noticed if she looked about for a bit.

Book of Roses-Episode 2 "Grand Ball of the Duljas"

C’zippa gazed into Strega’s eyes, entranced by her beauty and charm. They rushed to the ballroom floor and performed as never before.

The music was the best in the land, for the Dulja’s employed only the greatest musicians. There was a beautiful centauress, an old dragonman, a dark elf and more. The strange interments they played had almost a wider variety than the players. For instance the dragonman played a strange stringed instrument. Each string was attached to a bell so that when the string was plucked, an eerie ringing accompanied it.




The song Strega and C’zippa danced to was a traditional festive song. As it played, the dancers followed a complex set of steps that included handclaps, spins and whistles. As the song reached a certain point paper dancers appeared and whirled about gracefully.

C’zippa saw nothing but Strega. He loved her madly and wanted very much to take her from the noisy, crowded ballroom and out into the moonlight were they could be alone. And so as the song ended, the two of them slipped out a side door and out into the courtyard.

Book of Roses-Episode 1 "La Strega"

There once was, in a place where witches were only as good or bad as any other people, a young witch called La Strega. She lived not far from the Palace of the Duljas where young Prince C’zippa resided. Strega and C’zippa were in love but had yet to announce their marriage to the Prince’s family. Strega had no family and lived alone atop a cloud-high tower.

Once night, a blue moon night when magic coursed through the air, Strega was getting ready to go to the Royal Ball. Hurrying about the small tower room she glanced at her clock and, seeing she was already late, grabbed her fine golden cloak and scurried to her closet.

Strega’s closet was not a normal one. Being that she could use magic, she had cast the closet to be a portal between her room and Prince C’zippa’s palace. Nearing the door, she grasped the handle and threw it open.

A gust of warm sweet air hit her as she stepped lightly out of her room. Strega snapped her fingers and glitter-winged weave worms materialized in the air about her. They quickly gathered around her and knitted her a iridescent dress of mist and fine embroidered slippers. A white dove flew past, it’s wings barely touching her cheeks to apply a slight glow. She smiled as she made her way to a spiraling waterfall. Like a curtain of beads she stepped through the water, letting some of the drops gather around her dark silken hair in a wreath of pearls.

As she emerged on the other side she felt the wind and wonder of her magic transportation end and found herself in the Dulja’s royal ballroom.





Spotting young C’zippa, she went to him and, grasping his thin white hand, led him directly into a dance.