Hidden World

Chapter XXII - Eliseea's Secret

Rose waited until the dawn of the new day came upon them. Throughout the night she practiced the speech she would give countless times but in the end it did not seem to convey all her thoughts and emotions. She felt sad and betrayed but in the same time she knew that she had to keep her calm even if this was never her strongest point.

Before she left home, she texted Eliseea to find out what shift the other had at the Inn, and to her luck, her work began only after noon.

Now, Rose was sitting on the steps in front of her home and held in her arms the backpack that hid inside the photo album she found the evening before. She was not sure what to expect but she kept telling herself that no matter what, she will get to the bottom of this.

When Eliseea showed, Rose got up and put on the fakest smile she could muster. "Coffee?" she asked instantly.

"Morning to you too..." Eliseea said with a yawn "Why did you want to meet this early?"

Rose shrugged like this was a normal thing for her. "I was thinking that going on a walk would be good at this hour." And in a way she was right, a walk in the cold morning air would even wake the dead, not too mention her sleep deprived ass.

"Right..." Eliseea mumbled "So where do you want to go?"

"Well... maybe to the park? Or I know this really cute clearing in the woods, close to the road."

Eliseea exhaled soundly and frowned a little concerned. "Why do not we just go inside the house. You look really tired."

Rose thought a little as she did not expect this response. She had it all planned out. Go to a neutral ground, talk normal stuff and then confront her in a nice way.

"Are you listening?" Eliseea interrupted her plotting.

"Yeah, we could go inside." Rose said and walked up to the front door. "Ignore the mess, will ya?"

"Whatever..."

Once inside they both took a seat in the living room and Eliseea could not help but notice the mess. From the scratched and opened liqueur cabinet, to the cigarette ash on the table and unwashed empty glasses. "Did you have a party without me?"

Rose shrugged and went into the kitchen, coming back a short while later with two coffee mugs. She gave Eliseea one then sat on a chair across from her. She lit a cigarette and leaned on the back of the chair. "I did have a party, with myself."

"Look Rose, whatever is going on with you... I am still your friend. You can tell me." She said concerned which only made Rose chuckle.

Rose took the journal and lifted it to her eye level. "Oh, trust me, I have a really good friend right in my hand." This made Eliseea freeze.

"Where did you get that?" the concern in her voice can be still heard as she could recognize the covers of the journal anywhere.

"Grave robbing." Rose said and put the journal down before looking at Eliseea. Whatever speech she had prepared, it was completely down the drain. She was done of running around in circles and hiding everything from everyone expect her Fairy Godmother Gods.

"Isis took me there. Made me dig a whole... did you know there are two tunnels? Actually, yes you do." She gave Eliseea a smile that made the other shiver a little. "Now why don't you come clean and tell me the truth."

Eliseea took a sip from her coffee and kept staring at the mug afterwards. "I don't know what you are talking about... and grave robbing? Rose that is a crime." She tried to deny it all, but Rose was not having it.