The Flame

CHAPTER 36

Adrian's approach made me sit straight, he swiftly settled down by the foot of the couch on the gold carpet beside me.

"We are about to reach Nerisho, I'm parking the pod outside the city, just in case", he announced, "Hey are you fine?" he asked me, immediately changing his tone looking at my state.

"Yes," I slowly answered, looking past him at the door behind him. He followed my gaze and understanding the context spoke out again.

"She will be fine Rose, don't worry about her", he reassured me, painstakingly smiling, and I couldn't help but nod and agree to him. "We are about to learn where Catherine is, and this will end soon, so cheer up okay?", he said meeting my eyes. We were stuck at that moment for a few more seconds; there was a different kind of feeling building up within me. I just couldn't take my eyes off him. It was the sound of Merlin clearing her throat that brought us back.

"Rose I need to talk to you", Merlin said all of sudden, immediately Adrian got on his foot too and started to leave. After making sure that Adrian was out of the earshot, she started again.

"Rose, you need to stay...", she started.

"Merlin come here please", Allen interrupted, the urgency in his tone made her grudgingly walk away without completing her sentence.

"What the hell...Why do...". Her voice faded away as she disappeared behind the doors. I sat there alone, silently going through every single detail of today's events in my mind. The day wasn't over yet, and yet I felt like I couldn't take it anymore. Seconds later a funny feeling in my stomach signaled me that we were slowly getting on ground, and a loud thud proved it.

Allen, Clarke and Merlin who have been mending to Alicia all the while came darting out of the room into the small lobby, where Adrian joined us.

"I think it is not necessary for all of us to go, it would raise suspicion", he observed. Allen nodded agreeing to it, but anyways said that he would be joining Adrian.

"Okay, so we both will go and come back soon okay?" he asked, moving his head around to check if everyone agreed to him. Well everyone did agree to stay inside, everyone, except for me. I couldn't sit there alone, doing nothing; my own thoughts don't do justice to me sometimes.

"I am coming too", I announced in a firm voice. Adrian who I'm damn sure expected this started denying, but I quickly interrupted him, reminding him of how important this was for me, and so he had to let me join him too.

"Wait first", Merlin stopped us "You need disguise" she said studying me naively. She then closing her eyes started spelling some incantation under her breath, which made her fingers sparkle instantly. In a blink of an eye, the sparkles reached me sending chills through my body, luckily it was over soon.

I opened my eyes, to feel an unusual heaviness in my head. I turned around to see my own reflection on the glass door. I just couldn't recognize myself anymore. I was someone else, I was some stranger with a weird looking big forehead, fair complexion and bright green eyes, the cute little dimple I had on my left cheeks was there no more.

"Couldn't you make me a little cuter?" I asked her, sulking.

"Hahaaha...Cute and pretty people attract more attention", she replied laughing "And anyways look at them, they don't look that pleasant either".

I turned my gaze towards them. It was true; I myself couldn't stop controlling my laugh looking at them. Both Allen and Adrian were looking like someone staying in a dumpster. With scarred face and ripped clothes.

"You guys will fit in there", she told us, wishing us luck later while leaving.

                                 ***

As soon as I entered the restaurant, I understood what Merlin meant by fitting in.

Kiojivio (the name of the restaurant of our concern), was too crowded at this point of time. I could now see the reason why Serena and her sister chose this place. It was dark and all gloomy; the place did not give me good vibes at all. As soon as I entered I felt like running back outside. Certainly, the crowd here didn't make me feel good either. They all were in their usual white capes and all wearing the same kind of long red boots as if belonging to some cult. The place was really creeping me out.

"I do not like this place", I voiced my thoughts, staring at a woman who was sitting at a corner table, sipping through some grey liquid.

"Me neither", Allen and Adrian said collectively.

"Do you think it is possible for us to have access?" I asked them, to which they both nodded their head positively.

"More the people inside, less attention we will receive," Allen said, having a quick glance around us. "We need to go there", he said pointing towards a door behind the kitchen which had a large board saying NO ENTRY in bold red color.

"Nice work" I complimented him, earning back a smile from him. "How do we reach there? We will have to go all the way through the kitchen", I pointed out.

"That won't be a problem", Adrian replied, "Here take this" he said producing me a small vial of silver liquid.

"Oh my god, how many of these did you'll make? Did you'll intend to put everyone to sleep?" I asked laughing; it was indeed hilarious of how I managed to laugh even in an uptake situation like these.

"No, this is a potion that makes you invisible" he replied back, to which I couldn't help but let out a gasp, but anyways he continued in his serious tone

"What? Where the hell did Clarke get a  mermaid's tear from?" Allen asked Adrian, stunned.

"I don't know that", he replied back."There are cameras here, so go inside the restroom drink it and come outside. Okay?", he asked, turning back to me.

"Okay, but I have a question first", I said, to which Allen started laughing.

"Yes Rose, it's a wonder you have been restraining yourself all this while, it should be a record", he teased me.

Rolling my eyes anyways I continued "How will I see you if you are invisible too?" I asked him.

"You will be able to see me and Allen, Rose", he answered calmly.

"Okay cool then", I said turning around and starting to walk towards the restroom, but came to a halt soon. Turning back around, I walked towards them again.

"What's the matter, Rose? Is there a problem?", Adrian asked me worried.

"NO, I just had one more question," I said, "Does this taste good?" I asked him, pointing at the vial on my hand.

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