The Baron and his Lady

Fifty-three: County fair

Ovido Heights

Krista's pov

Three days later. I was back at Dina's house and had been receiving instructions from Allison and Tristane. I need to continue the salt bath, drinking the mixture of who-knows-what-ingredients-are-there plus sleeping with several candles around my room. Then once a week, we had to meet up and do some more rituals. According to Allison we may start to ease up a bit on these things after a fortnight. But no one knows for sure when it'll take effect. Or if it would even effect Letecia's curse.

At first, Dina was quite around the house but I knew she and Dad were making up very well. She didn't even ask me about how my Homecoming went or where I had been for the past three days. She was so absorbed with her own little happy world.

Until the fourth day came and I caught her singing while making pancakes. She was a terrible singer but I didn't want to interrupt her performance. I snuck into the living room and opened the tv. There was the morning news with its anchors looking chic and professional but I wasn't really listening to it. My mind was still on the recent events that Lucian and I went through.

Before we left Tristane's house the only words he said to me were, "Let me know if the ripple comes." And that was it. Allison drove us to the bus station and we separated ways. I haven't heard from him since.  I stared at my cell. I gave Lucian my number so he could go to any payphone and call me, assuming he hasn't gotten his own cell just yet. But there was nothing. Maybe he lost my number? Or his place didn't have a phone?

I had been tempted to try and ask my Dad if he knew where to find Lucian but I stopped myself on the very last minute. Who was I kidding?  He only took me to see Tristane to get rid of the curse and not get back with me. He made it clear that he was only in love with me because of the ripple itself. And since the day I got attacked the ripple made no appearance of any kind. He probably got his wish granted. Maybe, we've been set free after all?

My thoughts flew away when Dina's voice raised and our glass window threatened to break. I stood up and went to the kitchen.

"Mom!"

Dina jumped, "Goodness! Did you really have to scare me, Kristania?"

"Well, good morning to you too." I replied and took out some plates. "Do you want me to make you some tea or you'll grab one of your fruit juices?"

"It's a cucumber lemonade, you make it sound like it's something nasty." She came to me and laid out the pancakes, "Go grab the chocolate syrup would you?"

I opened the fridge and pulled out the sweet liquid. I was a crier for chocolates and preferred them over maple or caramel syrup on my pancakes. "But your lemonade tasted nasty, Mom." I told Dina while spreading chocolate on my plate. I drew smiley faces and hearts on hers.

She smiled seeing the hearts. "That's cute, Kristania. But hey," she pointed at me, "those juices are acquired taste. I'm proud that I ditched soda for that nasty green thing."

"So you agree that they taste nasty?"

She rolled her eyes and sighed, "I guess they do."

I laughed and Dina chuckled. We ate our pancakes and went about our day.
***

I went to grab some groceries since Oggy was running out of treats. It was a regular day so I had enough space to lazily push my cart without bumping to anyone. I was walking past the vegetable area searching for some potatoes. I saw up ahead where the carrots and other non-leafy veggies were laid out. While I waited on an elderly lady to finish picking the smallest potatoes for her cart I caught a reflection of myself on the nearby glass.