Faceless Instincts

The Tea Room

Goldbridge was colder than I had anticipated. My fingernails turned slightly blue as I made my exit from the station and almost immediately I knew why this place was called, Goldbridge.

The snow shimmered in the golden light of the Streetlamps as well as the shops were glittering in a soothing sparkle. My entire demeanour changed as I felt positive by simply standing in and taking the beauty that this town was.

I hailed a taxi when I saw one and got inside, it was a welcome warmth. I sat and waited while the driver placed my luggage in the back. The feeling of being in a place was making me anxious, however, not affecting me negatively. The thought of Dorian belonging to a place this beautiful brought a hearty smile on my face, "no wonder someone growing up here is equally beautiful" I thought to myself then my mind corrected, was beautiful.

As the driver settled in his seat he looked at me with a questioning gaze, and for a second I didn't understand what he wanted but then it hit me and I felt stupid. I had booked my tickets but somehow, in a very strange chain of events, I had forgotten to book a room.

I glanced nervously at him, "I wasn't able to book a room before the visit. Is there any place that you might suggest?"

He looked at me strangely, "What kind of accommodation?"

I thought for a second, "hotel, guest house... Anything"

"Finding a room in these places at this time of the year would be difficult, it's Christmas, also the best you can get here is a rental cottage."

"I know... Is there anywhere else that you might suggest?"

He took his sweet time before speaking, "I know the owners of a Tea Room at a short distance from her, they also own a bed and breakfast, would you be interested?"

"Sure," I said I settled back and he drove back.

I was going through my phone while trying to call Tanner to talk about the letter that Amy gave me.

After a while when the taxi stopped in front of the Tea Room I took in the aesthetics of the building, it was out of a storybook. I stepped out and followed the driver towards the Tea Room. The entrance was a small white door, big enough for one person to pass and before we could get in a man holding books in his hands walked out.

Running low on luck for quite some time it seemed in that moment that I completely ran out of it when my foot slipped on the icy path. Although I gained my balance when someone held my hand and helped me steady on my feet, I looked up to see who it was only to find the man with the books smiling down at me, "Thank you" I whispered

"You're welcome, by the way, are you okay?" He said with a mixed expression, he was smiling but his brows were knit together.

"Yeah, I am good"

"That's better" he looked up and down at me, "see you around" he replied and I gave him a little handshake, "see you, thanks again"

With that, we moved away and onto our respective paths. I entered the Tea Room and was immediately greeted by the smell of freshly baked goods and tea, followed by a petite lady who came gliding towards me.

"Hello" I greeted her and she smiled broadly, I waited for her to say something but she kept staring at me with a big smile on her face. I began to feel borderline awkward when a man in loose trousers and plaid shirt walked in and placed a hand on the woman's shoulder, "hello" he said, extending his hand and I took it, "I am Xavier"

"Kiara" I responded as I shook his hand.

"This is my wife Lucy," he said looking at her affectionately then looked back at me "she can't speak, sorry if her staring at you made you uncomfortable"

I looked at her, a sudden change of emotions running through me, "I am sorry, I didn't realise-"

"Ah, it's okay, she doesn't mind, now what can we help you with?"

"I needed a room, the taxi driver who bought me here said you might be able to help me acquire one"

"Ah.. that's you." He moved behind the counter, "yes, he told me about you, although we don't have a vacancy at our B&B right about now, there is a scheduled check out around noon. If you are willing to wait." He looked up at me through his glasses which was sitting on the bridge of his nose.

"Sure, yeah"

I walked up to the register and paid for my room, Xavier asked someone to settle my luggage in the corner and I took an empty seat beside it. I took out my phone and updated Tanner, only to get interrupted by a text from Nikolai. He sounded worried even over texts, I was about to reply when Lucy walked in with her charming smile and a plate of hot breakfast and piping hot Cream Tea.

I went on to the washroom to wash my hands and face when I realised how odd I might look to these people with all the recovering bruises on my face. One even wasn't halfway done. I tried to compose myself and washed my face twice to look at least a bit better. When I returned I devoured into the most delicious breakfast I had ever had with Tea warming my core up I felt a lot better.

My phone chimed with a text and looked at it.

Nikolai: hey are you there??

I almost forgot to reply to him and I hurriedly texted him back.

Kiara: Hey, yes. Sorry I got caught up in some work.

Nikolai: Oh... Okay. Anyhoo, I just wanted to tell you that the test is done, it's a matter of time that we get the report and we'll know whose blood that is.

I clutched my phone and closed my eyes. A possibility crept into my mind like I already knew the answer. I promised not to shed another tear until I found the truth so I buckled up and replied.

Kiara: Let's hope it will lead us to something solid.

Nikolai: I have a positive feeling, I think it will throw light on a lot of things, if not at least it will make things clear.
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Kiara: Thank you for doing this Nikolai, I Don know what I would have done if you weren't there.
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Nikolai: Trust me when I say it... I am surprised by how much I am doing.
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Kiara: hope you don't regret it one day.
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Nikolai: I will Kiara... I will... And I will be angry, but not with you... Just know no matter how different our paths get, I will always be eager to have you back.
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I took a deep breath and dropped my phone. Running palms on the face I sighed deeply if it was indeed Dorian's blood and if his brother took him back to Goldbridge, then maybe I could still find Dorian, if not in flesh.

It will at least bring me. close to him to some extent. I made a mental note asking people about churches nearby and if they recognised the house in the picture that I had with me.

Though I was tired from the journey and would have crashed only if I'd gotten a room. Regardless, I was able to maintain my sanity until I saw two people come out with their luggage and Xavier looked at me, while I heard the door of the Tea Room open and the man with the books earlier walked in.