Hidden World

Chapter XVIII - Faded Images

Mid-April came faster than anyone would have thought. Rose completely lost the track of time as since the month began and up until the moment, events rolled one after the other on a rapid pace. Not only that she was attacked by a wolf, Malwin's intervention made her discover that her human life was only made of smoke and mirrors, an illusion made to cover her nature and past. She did not yet understand everything fully, but she was slowly getting on track.

So far what she realized was: Leo and Eliseea are not who they pretend to be; her parents are people from her past that assumed the roles in order to make the human fantasy more real; the vampire that attacked her, was someone she knew way before Malwin but his face seemed to be lost to time.

As the preparations for the Spring Festival were ongoing, Rose decided to go out and clear her head a little as staying inside only made her head hurt more. Constantly thinking about what happened and forcing herself to relieve and remember the past only put her more into self-isolation from everyone, including the two that were by here side every waking moment.

She left the house and walked slowly towards the Misty Dream Café only after she convinced Isis and Fenrir to let her go by herself. She needed the time alone, she needed to be among humans in the light rather than walking back and forth in a world ruled by shows while being guided by two Gods.

As soon as she entered through the door, Elizabeth smiled brightly at Rose.

"It's been a while!" Elizabeth says looking happy to see back an old customer.

"Yeah, I had to sort some things out." Rose replied and then looked at the menu behind the cash register. "Just give me a black coffee and make it strong please." She said and paid as soon as the price showed up.

"See you soon!" Elizabeth yells after Rose as soon as the other girl starts to walk towards the door only to be met with a wave. "Hope she's alright..." Elizabeth says to herself before helping a new customer that seemed to struggle choosing his order.

Once Rose was out on the street, she took a deep breath and stood in place a little trying to decide where to go and enjoy her coffee. There was a small park by the mayor's office, nicely maintained and not that crowded as it did not have playgrounds of any kind.

She could not help but smile seeing how almost everyone that could, was helping at decorating every pole and tree with colored ribbons and lights. It might have seemed weird for others but for those that lived in Aramore it was nothing special. This was a festival of light and color. A festival where everyone came together to celebrate the beginning of warmer of longer days. A time when tourists flooded the streets after months of quiet. A time when a carnival was built up next to the city and different activities from fun rides to the mysterious fortune telling were teasing people's curiosity.

As soon as Rose reached the park she went in a more private corner and put her leather jacket on the ground, next to a tree before sitting down in its shade. It was the perfect spot, quiet, hidden. A place where she could enjoy her coffee in peace.

"May I join?" A familiar voice comes from her right, but it does not startle her. His warm tone was only making her heartbeat faster, but her emotions could not be read on her face.

"Sure, but the grass is wet." She said as she looked up, only to throw him a last smile. Sebastian appeared out of nowhere, but she knew that, in his days off, he also enjoyed the coffee shop or a walk in the park, or both... in no particular order.

He took his own jacket off and sat on the ground next to her. "It's been a while since I've seen you. You seemed a little tired that morning too." He said and gave her a concerned look.

"Mondays are not my thing usually, especially Monday mornings." She said and chuckled a bit before lighting a cigarette and leaning against the tree. "What brings you here, don't you have work tonight?"