The Eyes Of 'Rah

A New Friend

Patrick held his daughter's tiny hand in his, willing away the problem of getting another means of putting food on the table which had been bothering him since they left the Lancaster's mansion.

The Lancasters had been the major source of his income, he refused to let it bother him for now. He believed his daughter was lured to that building, he had seen her searching endlessly for someone when she was being questioned.

"Who were you looking for when the housekeeper was asking you questions?"

Seraphine's smile faltered, she had long put the horrible experience behind her, "the boy who told me to wait for him so we can all play hide and seek together"

Guessing it to be the eldest son, she confirmed his guess when she nodded after his description. He should've known, the eldest son had always been a terror to everyone around.

Pleased to see the awe-struck face of his daughter once again, Patrick led her to the part where people weren't many. He had noticed how Seraphine had been trying to lower her gaze in order not to meet people's eye even though she appeared less bothered.

"Seraphine, are you all right?"

She nodded, her thought had went back to the description of the weeping boy about her eyes, calling it a hyaena eyes, "father, do my eyes really look like that of an hyaena?"

Pulling her to the corner of one of the empty stalls, "no, it isn't. Your eyes are unique. It is uncommon here but I know someone who had seen countless numbers of people with your type of eyes"

"Truly?"

"Yes, truly"

At that moment, she caught a whiff of Mrs Montgomery's bread, sniffing a wholesome as much as her lungs could take with her eyes closed, she exhaled and found her father's laughing gaze on her.

"It's almost time to visit the bakery"

As they strolled along, admiring different wares in the stalls, her eyes caught a white string of pearl made into a bracelet, moving nearer to admire it, as she was about to feel it in her hands, it was snatched up by the seller, waving her away as if she was not worthy to be seen near their stall.

Her father pulled her behind him as he shielded her, scolding the woman for the cold reception she threw at his daughter. Seraphine tugged on the edge of his shirt to signal for them to leave.

More disappointed that things hadn't planned out the way she hoped. She guessed her eye colour played a major role on how people treated her, shaking off the dejected feeling she felt, she took her father's hand in hers, swinging as he had done earlier and for a form of reassurance that she was ok.

As they entered the bakery, Seraphine fully immersed her nose in the air, inhaling the sweet scent of the freshly baked bread, her mouth watered seeing the dough in different sizes.

A chubby woman in a green cap and apron emerged, the smile on her face turned wider as she saw the little girl whose eyes is closed as she raised her nostrils, taking in the aroma of the bread.

"I see what you mean about your daughter's love for bread" Mrs Montgomery chuckled as she faced Patric to attend to her.

Seraphine opened her eyes, searching for the owner of the voice, "Seraphine, this is Mrs. Montgomery, the baker of your favourite bread"

Mrs Montgomery was taken aback by her eyes, "you have such a unique eyes, nice to meet you Seraphine " she stretched her hands for a shake.

Seraphine shook her outstretched hands, glad that someone aside her father finally complimented her eyes, "thank you" her lips tugged.

"Would you like to come visit again while I show you how your favourite bread is done?"

"Really?" Jumping with excitement, she turned to her father for approval.

"Yes, really"

"Can I?" She asked her father who nodded,

"Seraphine, why not sit on the stool over there as you wait for the bread to be ready while I have a quick talk with your father"

Happy that she would get to visit the bakery again, she sat in anticipation.

"Such a lovely beautiful girl"

"Yes, she is. I'm grateful for your comments about her eyes, I'm sure it means a lot to her as much as it does to me."

"Common, it's the honest truth. Words has spread already about what happen at the Lancaster Mansion. What are you going to do now?"

"I have no idea, I'm still thinking about what to do" Patrick was worried about leaving her alone for a long time. The work of cutting woods had made it easy for him to watch over her. Since it doesn't require leaving home for long. Now that he needed to think of another lucrative job, most of which involved coming to the village, he had even been considering getting a job at the factory but it would require spending more time away from his daughter.

"If you don't mind, you could leave her here during the day while you go to work and pick her when the day is over"

Grateful for the suggestions, "I would really be grateful if you don't mind"

Mrs Montgomery scoffed, "of course not. She looks gentle and would be a good influence on the devil's spawn I call son"

She looked around, not surprised that he was no where to be found, "the boy would be the end of me, one day"

Earning a chuckle from Patrick, "isn't he the one with Seraphine, over there."

Seraphine looked up when a shadow fell on the objects she had been playing with. A scrawny brown-haired boy towered over her, "who are you?" Speaking softly as she tried to guage the reaction of the boy.

"I'm the future owner of this bakery. My mother is the owner and the baker here." He examined what she was playing with, "can I play with you?"

Feeling cautious so as not to have a repeat of what happened at the Lancasters, Seraphine stepped back, giving him the object, "are you afraid of me, I don't bite. See?" Showing his uneven milky teeth.

Seraphine looked at the boy who seemed stupid and funny at the same time, giggling as she watched the boy showed her his teeth.

She nodded while she moved closer to the object, her way of answering him that they could play together. She felt warm that both mother and son hadn't acted like she was a freak unlike the others she had met so far.

"I'm Cohen. What's your name?"

"I'm Seraphine"

"Are you here alone?"

"No, with my father " pointing at him.

"Oh"

"Sera, time to go" she bid goodbye to her new friend and his mother. On their way home, a baffling thought occurred to her.

How come the Lancaster twins weren't able to seen the inside of the old building when she could see it perfectly.