Rosewood and the legend of the Unicorn

Chapter 19 - The Purple Rose

Last night couldn't have perplexed Ariana any more than a did. The Amorylliss is one of the darkest souls to have ever lived in Rosewood. But Rosewood's mayor, Ridge Hawthorne, heroically eradicated them in 1987. Well... that was according to the forbidden book Ariana willingly read.
But now she knows the book is utterly incorrect.
There isn't just a dark soul walking around Rosewood unknowingly, he is also working for the man who allegedly destroyed his kind many years ago!

Last night, when Ariana returned home, she completely ignored the idea of sleeping, and stayed up the whole night contemplating this situation.
'What If Ridge never actually killed the dark souls in the first place? What if there are still many of them living amongst all the innocent ones, working for Ridge as we speak?'
She got away with herself last night, imagining every possible worst case scenario. And even began planning her return back to England.
'I could swim! I am a mermaid after all.'
She convinced herself this was the best option.
But the one thing that was holding her back from leaving, was the thought of that enchanting purple rose, hiding from existence, in Ridge's possession...

--

It's 9am and Ariana is making her way hastily to Ashton's residence.

She's never actually been in his house before, but this is an urgent situation and she didn't have time to ask for his or Bexley's permission.

After Falcon had served her breakfast, she was up and out the house in a flash.

The only person she can think to possibly trust with this situation is Ashton.
However... she also hasn't spoken to or seen him since the night she unexpectedly kissed him.
She still doesn't really know why she did it. But all she does know is now is not the right time to be thinking about boys. No matter how much she may like him, deep down.
So she'll have to put her feelings to the side, and so will he.

Eventually she arrives, and walks down the cobbled path towards their front door.
Panting with desperation, she knocks.
There's some hesitation, but the door is finally opened, but Ashton isn't the one opening it.

"Ariana! Hi!" Bexley shouts then hugs her with an almost life-threatening squeeze.
"Mum stop it!" Ashton comes to the door and hollers at his mum with a mouth full of porridge. "I'm so sorry Ariana." He adds as he peels his mum away from around her.
"Gosh, sorry Ari. Sometimes I forget I'm a Heftous mermaid you know." She does her little squeaky laugh, then invites Ariana inside.

The interior is much the same as Falcons, with the traditional wooden walls, and a leather brown sofa. Ariana finds it rather contradictory to find a home with such dull colours, when their owner is the bubbliest person she's ever met.
"Sit down darling. So what brings you here?" Bexley speaks, and Ashton awkwardly sits next to his mum, avoiding eye contact with Ariana.
"Um... I actually came to speak to Ashton,  if that's alright?" She says nervously.
Ashton blushed slightly, and looks even further away from Ariana, but his mum bounds up ecstatically and replies with "well that's wonderful! I'll go out and do some gardening. Have a nice chat you two."
Immediately, without any input from Ashton or Ariana, she is out of the house and in to the front garden.

Ashton remains silent. As if he's slightly annoyed with Ariana. Not looking like his emotions will change at any point, Ariana places herself next to him, and begins the conversation.
"Right, Ashton, I have something seriously important to talk to you about."
"If it's about what happens at the bonfire -"
"It's not." She interrupts quickly. "Well... I guess it kind of is in a way."
"What do you mean?" He turns around and begins looking slightly more comfortable in her presence.
"Now you cannot tell anyone about this conversation. Not even Your dad. And I mean it." Ariana emphasises.
"You're scaring me now Ari. what's going on?"
"You might not believe me, but I promise you I'm telling the truth. Now don't ask me how or even why, but I have reason to believe Ridge, our mayor, is keeping dark souls as servants."
"Why on earth would you think something as crazy and rubbish as that?" He screeches with confusion.
"It's a long story. But you just have to trust me when I say that something isn't right."
" look Ari. I know you and Ridge haven't had the best of relationships since you've been-"
"No it's got nothing to do with that."
"Well what evidence have you got then huh?"
Ariana expected this kind of reaction from Ashton. But right now, all she really wants is for him to believe her, without telling him the full extent of the story.
"I can't explain it all. But what I can say, is that I went to see Ridge last night."
"What why?"
"He invited me. I didn't tell Falcon. I just sneaked out alone, and met him at the front of the castle."
"Well what did he want?"
"Well I'm still not really sure to be honest. He was asking me some weird questions. He was pressuring me in to talking about my family back at home. I think he knows it was me Ashton." Ariana says extremely panicked. As this is the first time she's ever said it out loud to herself. And realises it might be true.
"I'm sure he doesn't know Ari. My dad did everything he could to ensure ridge would never find out."
"I guess."
"So what else did he ask you?" Ashton says now more intrigued to listen.
"Well he asks me what I knew about the legend of the unicorn. And when I said that I learnt the truth of where we all came from, he laughed."
"What do you mean he laughed?"
"He laughed. Literally. Just laughed. As if it wasn't actually the truth or something."
"I'm sure he didn't l-"
"He did!" Ariana says angrily to emphasise the truth. "He also asked me about fhe unicorn ornament I found in the old Rosewood back in London. He said it was special. But didn't explain why. I asked him why but I couldn't get any decent answers our of him. Do you have any idea why he may think this unicorn is so special Ashton?"
"Oh, well that's because there are only 3 of them on the planet."
"Oh... so if it's so special why hasn't anyone told me about it before? I feel like not a single
Person has been completely honest with me since I got here. Not even Falcon... or you."
Ashton goes silent. Looking slightly upset. But eventually, he perks himself up and replies.
"There are only three unicorns in the world... you have one of them... The second one has never been found... and the third one was destroyed by Ridge."
"Destroyed? Why would he want to destroy it?"
"Well he Strongly believes that the unicorn was the most dangerous and darkest of souls to have ever roamed this earth. He forbids even the mention of it, he says the unicorn shouldn't be talked about. It is a dark time in our past and the unicorn doesn't deserve even a mention in our history. If it was up to him, he would wipe away any memories of the unicorn if he could." Ashton laughs slightly.
But the second he says that, she realises, Ashton has actually just said something that may change the entire fete of Rosewood. Or she should really say, the entire history.
"Ashton you are a genius!" She jumps up off the sofa and suddenly finds herself giving him a peck on the cheek.
"I am?" He says in delightment of achieving another kiss. But also a little bit frightened.
"Well this... this isn't good." Says Ari. "But if I'm right, it explains everything."
"Explains what... Ari please I'm so confused?"
"I've got to go Ashton, I've got something important to do. Thanks, bye."
And within a click of the fingers, Ariana has exited his home.