Rosewood and the legend of the Unicorn

Chapter 8 - A Second Soul

For the last three nights, after sleeping surprisingly comfortably, Ariana has awoken in a state of panic. Unsure if the events of the previous sunrise were all just a singular dream. Each day, over what seems like an eternity, though now only her fourth day in Rosewood, it takes her a few minutes to collect her thoughts and remind herself she really is living in her biological fathers home.

This morning came as a little more of a shock, after having to contemplate for several minutes the thought of her being a .... mermaid?

She's still unsure if it is all real, as Nixon and Falcon seemed pretty disheartened when she revealed her true soul to them last night. As if she wasn't supposed to. Even though, contrastingly, everyone else bounded around in Joy!

Soon after people had finished congratulating Ariana on finding her true soul, Nixon ordered they go home. Immediately.

Ariana was sent to her room to get changed, but still attempted to overhear Nixon and Falcon's conversation through the walls. But her powers seemed to be compromised, as all she could hear were slightly nervous mumbles. As if the walls were filled with a magic that prohibited her powers.

This morning, Ariana is frustrated to know she is still unable to hear through the walls she's previously been able to do with ease. Usually, Ariana and Falcon are the only ones in the house at early sunrise. However this morning, it doesn't take Ariana long to realise that today... they're certainly not alone.

She quickly stands up from her bed, and strokes a matted but previously fluffy jacket before putting it on. She avoids stepping heavily to prevent any floor boards from creeking, but they seem to have a mind of their own. As if they are screaming at Ariana to stop standing on them before being on the verge of snapping.

She stands closer towards the wooden walls, and presses her ear up against its weak frame. Three, maybe four different voices ,Ariana can slightly make out.
One of them definitely being Falcon. Which allows her to let out a small sigh of relief.

A long half an hour conversation eventually subsides, as Ariana hears three sets of feet heading back towards the door.

She contemplates going out to greet them, but instead nervingly decides not to engage, and leaves Falcon to eventually escort them out his home.

But the natural urge she has for wanting to know secrets, propels her to peer her head around the corner, she witnesses 3 average-sized men, exiting the door.

Just a few seconds of visual contact, allows Ariana to become suspicious. The two men on the ends were wearing short sleeves t-shirts presumably to express their bulging biceps, to appear intimidating.
And then a rather skinny and slightly smaller man, marching elegantly in between them. His appearance contrasting greatly to the other two. From just a back view, Ariana was able to notice he was wearing a blazer, a streamlined pair of navy blue trousers, and smart brown leather boots on. Something similar to which she witnessed her father, Andy, wearing when he was off to work the last time she saw him.
Ariana also hears a cling clang nose with every step he took, as if he wore metal strung around his neck.

Ariana eventually stands back up and turns the corner straight in to the living room.
She likes the way the whole house kind of merges together in to one room.
You step through the front door, and are immediately in to the living room, which in the human world, is called open plan, as it is also connected to the kitchen which stretches to the back of the house.
It all lies on one floor, other than one room upstairs which is preserved as her mothers bedroom. Falcon now has his own room downstairs as it's just too painful to sleep in a bed where his wife used to lie next to him.
Ariana's bedroom lies around the corner of the living room, and falcons bedroom is opposite hers.
Although she never actually hears him go to bed, and he's up before she's even regained consciousness.