Cirice Forge doesn't know who she is. Other than a piece of paper with her name on it, she knows nothing about her time before she was dispersed into the foster system. Now, she bartends at a popular gentleman's club with plenty of ogling and still...
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Cirice was running, the movement all too familiar to her. This time she was surrounded by flames and not forest. All around her structures blazed, the heat boiling her skin. Her eyes were fixed on the looming, dark structure in the distance--the only building that stood untouched.
Around her faces and bodies blurred in panic. The church. A voice whispered frantically as she continued. She collided with a person and tumbled to the ground. Her body ached as the voice spoke, it's tone much more menacing now: You're too late.
Circe awoke in a panic, unsure of where she was or what time it was. As quickly as she had awoken, her recollection of her dream flooded in. She remembered Alex, the ghūl, and Cosette. Sighing, she knew it had just been a dream--or a really bad drug trip. She removed her hand from her head and went to rearrange her pillow. She stopped cold as her eyes fell on the man beside her. In the faint firelight from below, she could see his features. Her stomach fell as she realized she was not in her bedroom.
Instead she was in the loft of Cosette's cottage. A warm quilt was in her lap and covering her legs. Below she heard movement and outside faint chirping had replaced car horns.
"No, no. no." Cirice said softly, standing at going to the ladder. It was all real. Cirice could barely contain herself as she stumbled down the ladder and into the main room of the cottage. She took a tentative look around and then headed for the door.
"I do hope you are not planning on abandoning Alex. I promise he will find you." Cirice yelped in surprise and turned to see Cosette. She was wrapped in a shawl, her eyes tired.
"Come, sit. The sun will be up soon." Cosette gestured to the chair Cirice had taken the night before. She reluctantly sat as Cosette put on tea.
"I thought it was-."
"All a dream? Yes, I imagine this entire ordeal can be overwhelming." Cosette noted, raising her eyebrows. Cirice scoffed.
"That's an understatement. I can't believe I actually wanted to wake up back in Boston," she muttered, looking around.
"Is that where you reign from?" Cosette asked, handing her a full teacup. Cirice took a small sip.
"Reign isn't how I would describe it. It was awful there, but it's home," she said, looking to the small fire.
"It won't always be like that you know. Soon you will remember and know that this is where you belong." Cosette said knowingly. Cirice's brow furrowed.
"You mean with my supposed father?" she asked. Cosette nodded, placing her teacup on the saucer she was holding.
"I still think you've got the wrong girl," Cirice commented coyly. Cosette chuckled.
"Alex believes you are and so do I. Trust me, as soon as you see your father, everything will come back to you."
"But what if it doesn't? How will I even know?" Cirice shot back as a knock sounded at the door. She bristled as Cosette smiled and stood. Cosette glided across the room and pulled open the door.
"Ah Mason, I've missed you so," she said softly before opening the door more. A tall, blonde man walked in, his dark eyes offputting to Cirice.
"Princess," he greeted with a gentle nod of his head. Cirice scoffed as Cosette smiled.
"Cirice this is my son, Mason. He will be your guide to New Vale." Cosette informed as she walked to the cupboard and revealed different food items.
"New Vale?" Cirice asked, her brows knotted in confusion. "Yes, that is where your father is." Cosette chirped.
"And if I want to go home....like back to Boston." Cirice clarified when Cosette gave her a look.
"Even I don't have that kind of magic, but don't worry your father will know a way." Mason watched Cirice, his expression blank. He had a very quiet, broodiness about him that put Cirice on edge. As if, at any moment he would snap and attack, very much like a snake.
"Well you better go wake Alex, you all will have to get an early start if you have any chance of making New Vale by sunset."
****
"I have packed a few sandwiches for the trip, Mason don't you dare eat them all," Cosette warned lovingly as she handed a small pack to Alex. Cirice had since changed into a black dress that was a bit too tight in her midsection. However, Cosette had claimed it belonged to her mother so she obliged.
"Are we walking all the way?" Cirice asked Alex as he ran a hand through his disheveled hair. Alex smirked at her, raising his eyebrows as Cosette chuckled.
"Not quite." With that, they both looked at Mason. Cirice was prompted to do the same. Suddenly, black smoke began to appear, at first starting at his feet and tangling it's way up until it engulfed him whole. Cirice watched in surprised horror as a large bear appeared where he once stood.
"What the--" she muttered as Alex gave her a look.
"H-H-He was....a person." Cirice stuttered as Alex walked over to Mason. Cosette took Cirice's hand in hers and met her eyes.
"You are so much like her. If you ever need us, we will be only a thought away." Cosette said, glancing around her at the circle of cottages--to which she was the pinnacle. Cirice gave her a small smile and nodded.
"Come on Princess, we're burning daylight," Alex called, the morning sun just caressing his brown locks through the trees. Cirice barked out a laugh as she took him in--sitting astride the bear that supposedly was Mason.
Cirice approached slowly, keep her eye on Mason's head which showed no sign of aggression. She extended a shaly hand to Alex.
"That's it, come on," he muttered, helping her up. Once she was seated, Mason stood. It took every muscle in Cirice's legs not to fall to the ground.
"You may want to hold on." Alex suggested as Mason glanced back at them.
"To what?" Cirice asked looking at her hands. Alex scoffed. "Me."
