Fallen Royals

Chapter 7

The day was chilly as the first autumn rain cooled down the daily temperatures. Leaves turned their colors to yellow, red, brown giving to the streets a colorful touch. Petra loved this time of the year. The air smelled of the rain and the town was brought back to life. The summer usually kept people inside or in the countryside, on beaches or mountains, not many walked down the streets. Now things have changed, streets were filled with people and a small fair has taken place in Benkovac.

Petra sat down in her favorite café. She was waiting for her student to come. She was giving instructions in math and chemistry to high schoolers. It helped with the budget and kept her occupied. He finally arrived and they started with his homework.

"So you haven't done your homework although I warned you the last time it's a prerequisite for instructions?"

"You're making a fuss about it. My mom will pay you. You just go through the last lessons with me."

"No, that wasn't the deal. You need to find another tutor. I won't tutor you anymore. Goodbye."

The boy tried to stop her but she left the café. A boy who thinks he can get away with anything. Oh, how wrong he is.

She decided to explore a fair which was a popular choice of visitors from different parts of Dalma and Dugodol. It was easy to emerge with the crowd and be just one of the many. Petra loved the anonymity she acquired after leaving the castle. She was free to do as she wished and no one pointed fingers at her, no one knew her. She could chit-chat with the sellers or shop in peace, as she preferred for the day. There was no schedule nor appearance she had to uphold.

She rummaged through the stands, exploring the goods; vases, cutlery, plates and any decoration which would fit on a Sunday table. She loved to have a beautiful Sunday table. It was her form of art. Marina would sometimes tease her that it's amazing she hadn't packed some forks instead of panties when she was fleeing the castle. Petra was a bit obsessive when it came to decorating the table. All her extra money went into it.

She was marvelling at a vase from the early 20th century when a person stopped next to her. She looked right to find a young man browsing through shaving accessories. He had hair and fingernails dyed in blue. He had exotic eyes which drew attention. Not from around here, not even close. She noticed he took interest in a shaver with a blunt blade.

"I wouldn't recommend that one."

The guy turned to her. - "Why not?"

"Looks blunt. You won't be able to shave."

"Maybe it's a prop."

"You're making a movie?"

"A play. Do you want to come and see?"

Petra looked for deceit in his eyes. He seemed to be honest and not a threat. His hair and nails also told her he should be a tolerant person. Rainbow colors were worn by people who accepted and supported supernatural humans.

"Where do you have rehearsals?"

"It's a 10 minutes walk from here. They're waiting for me so we could go now if you wish. I'll just buy this first."

"I'll come but you better not be in monkey business."

A boyish smile spread on his face. "Of course not. We're an aspiring troupe."

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The building was old and tall, it looked abandoned with shattered windows on higher levels but sounds came from inside. Petra and Filip, as he introduced himself on the way to the rehearsal, entered an open space room. It was a reception hall in the Old World, but now it was a perfect place to put a stage and seats. The lifts didn't work so no one bothered to reclaim the space after the first 2-3 floors. The ground floor was usually the most popular one. Only because this wasn't a town's center, it was free for the troupe to move in.