In Memoriam

Chapter 4

Regis was waiting for her when she stepped out of the bathroom. And this time he was fully dressed, although Cherizel wasn't sure if she should be happy about it or not.

A shirtless Regis had been a sight to behold, even if it contributed to her spiraling into a minor existential crisis of sorts.

"Are you ready to talk now?" He asked, patting the empty spot on the couch next to him.

Cherizel nodded and made her way over to sit down next to him. It wasn't until she was sitting though, that she noticed something. There were two steaming cups of tea and a plate of little fancy looking sandwiches on the coffee table in front of them.

"Did you really make all of this while I was in the shower?"

"I did, who else would have?" Regis said with a quiet chuckle. "Do you normally have some breakfast fairy come in and make things for you?"

"No, but maybe I should look into a service like that," Cherizel said and reached for one of the little sandwiches. "Know some fairies who need a job?"

"Even if I do know someone, I'm not giving the job to anyone else," he said. Regis leaned against the couch, resting his arm on the backrest. There were no smiles this time, no jests. Regis looked entirely serious.

And Cherizel didn't have a comeback for him. She sighed happily at the taste of the sandwich, marveling at how something so small could hold so many wonderful flavors in it.

"Alright, I guess you can be my personal chef then," she said, grabbing another sandwich, then another. They were too delicious to stop eating. If this was what all of his cooking tasted like then she was in serious trouble.

"You won't regret it, Ma Cherie. I will make sure you're always satisfied," he said, grinning at her. Though there was an odd sincerity in his eyes that took something away from his usual flirtatiousness.

Cherizel glanced over at Regis as she stuffed her face with the food he made her. Really, she could swear that his whole existence was trouble. But she had yet to decide if it was the good kind of trouble or not.

"Anyway, this heist you have in mind. How are we getting my memories back exactly?" Cher asked. She picked up the cup closer to her and took a long sip of the tea. Cher paused, looking down at the dark liquid with a hint of surprise.

It was her favorite kind of tea. But how did he know? Was it a lucky guess or something more?

"I've been watching Anker for a while now and I discovered where he lives and does most of his business," he said, leaning over to pick up his own teacup. "I haven't been inside myself, but I was able to discover that he does keep all the things that he's taken from people there."

"So all we have to do is break into this place and look for wherever he keeps my memories?"

"More or less, yes. Anker will be hosting a party soon, so that's going to be the best time for us to infiltrate his home," he said.

"Right, right, all super easy and everything... and you do know I've never broken into anywhere before?"

"As far as you remember," he chuckled.

Cherizel blinked slowly. She narrowed her eyes at Regis and watched his face for any signs of deceit.

"Are you telling me that I've broken into somewhere before?" She asked. Her eyes remained carefully glued to his face.

"I'm not saying anything at all, Ma Cherie. Only pointing out that there are many things about yourself that you don't remember," he said and gave her a little wink. "You could be a master thief and not know it."

That was true. Cher had no real way of knowing what she used to be, other than simply asking him.

"Am I?"

"No," Regis laughed. "A master thief you are not."

"Regis," she clicked her tongue and smacked him on his knee. "Stop messing with me like that."

"My apologies," he said. The chuckle that followed the apology made it far less convincing.

Cherizel rolled her eyes and hid her smile behind her mug. Regis was definitely trouble, but she was finding it harder and harder to think of that as a bad thing.

"Since we've come to the thrilling conclusion that I am no master thief. How are we supposed to get into this place? Where is it even?"

"I have our way in, don't worry, Ma Cherie," Regis said. He set his mug on one of his thighs. He gently drummed on the porcelain as he talked. "I've watched this place long enough to note where it would be best to make our entrance."

"Oh? And what is it? Are we going to be climbing over some wall like a pair of delinquents?"

"Something like that," Regis laughed. "There is a wall around the property, yes. But we're not climbing over it, we're going through it."

"Through it?" Cher asked slowly. "I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure I can't walk straight through walls."

"Oh, but you can, Ma Cherie. At least when it comes to this particular wall," he said. Regis was almost buzzing from excitement.

"Well now you've lost me completely," she said, shaking her head.

"There's a hole in the wall that's hidden away in some bushes, behind one of the utility buildings in the garden. It's so out of the way that no one's found it and fixed it for years," he explained.

Cherizel sighed and rolled her eyes at him. He, of course, had to take some simple thing and twist it around for his amusement and make it sound like something else.

"Do you enjoy messing with me?" Cher asked. "Is that why you'll run around in circles before you tell me something?"

"Maybe," Regis said. The grin on his face was answer enough, but Cher wasn't about to get into that. They'd be here all day and night if she let him have his way.

"So anyway, our plan is to get in through this hole in the wall, then I assume we're supposed to blend in with the guests first—"

"Yes, blend in so we can look around without being bothered," Regis interjected.

"—and find where my memories are kept. Snatch them up and make our exit," she continued on as if he hadn't interrupted her at all. "Did I get everything right?"

"Basically, yes," he said.

"Okay... I'm sure it won't be anywhere near as easy as it sounds. But I'm ready. When is this party exactly?"

"Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?!" Cher exclaimed, nearly inhaling her tea up her nose.

"Yes, tomorrow. I thought you said you're ready, Ma Cherie?" Regis laughed and reached over to pat and rub her back.

"Y-Yes, I am. I was just... not expecting it to happen so soon," Cher said. She cleared her throat and glanced over to Regis. His hand remained on her back as they quietly stared at each other.

Cherizel found herself wanting to lean into his touch. She could feel Regis' warmth even through her clothes.

"Is this party why you came to me only now?" She asked in a whisper.

"In part, yes..." he nodded. His jaw tensed for a moment as he looked off to the side somewhere. Regis sighed and met her eyes again. "A big part of me was scared to see you again. To see that lack of recognition in your eyes... It hurts."

"I'm sorry, Regis..." Cherizel whispered.

"It's alright, Ma Cherie. You'll remember soon enough. That thought brings me more comfort than I can say," he said and smiled at her.

"I'll do my best tomorrow," she said. It felt odd to say, but it was as much a promise for herself as it was for him. Cherizel wanted to remember things, she wanted to remember him. Then maybe this strange feeling in her chest would finally disappear.

"Then, tomorrow... we're crashing a party," Regis grinned.