Monarchy of Roses

Chapter 7

"So now you have no reason to dress like a filing cabinet or stay in your room the whole trip", teased Clara.

Nika blushed and busied herself by strapping on the plane's seat belt. "It wasn't a date, we all went out for dinner", she hissed.

"And you and Josh talked for a long time and clicked. Plus your dad was cool with it, I think this is a very good sign. And you are going to have fun on this trip", teased Clara.

"When we get there, I am going to relax so I won't feel jetlagged when we get to Seoul. She was vaguely disappointed that her father and Josh were sitting in the back with the rest of the band, but knew this was standard so they wouldn't be disturbed. Nika waited patiently as possible as the plane taxied over to the runway and waited for the signal from air traffic control, then turning slightly as it gradually picked up speed and accelerated down the runway.

Once the plane was airborne and stable, Nika took out her copy of Herodotus' Histories and put on her glasses before beginning to read. As always, the familiar prose of the brilliant Greek historian was a balm to her mind. The geography of Egypt and of its culture and history had her attention as she began to read, the descriptions of the land and its people and culture vivid in her mind's eye.

The plane made its steady way westward across the Pacific as the sky gradually darkened as it was still before sunrise further west. Nika was so engrossed in the book and barely noticed that several hours had passed until her eyelids suddenly drooped behind her glasses. She shook her head and took off the glasses before yawning, putting them away and leaving a bookmark inside as she drifted off to sleep.

Josh woke up in the back of the plane, his long legs sprawled out in front of him. Not for the last time, he was glad that he now got to be on a plane with proper leg room. He sighed and savored the feel of having leg room for a few moments before getting into a sitting position. The rest of the band was dozing except for Flea who was listening to music with headphones and bobbing his head as he got up from his seat. The shades of the plane windows were slightly drawn so a thin sliver of light illuminated the interior, making the reclining forms look like mountains silhouetted against a rising sun.

He was on his way to the bathroom when he saw Nika sleeping, her head tilted to the left and resting on a pillow. Her curly dark hair framed her pale face and a dark blue blanket covered her from her neck to the floor. Her right hand was resting on her lap and he noticed the purplish-blue stone set on a silver ring which twinkled in the dim light. Josh realized the stone was the same color as her eyes and wondered if it was a family heirloom since it didn't look like a wedding or promise ring. He glanced down and saw a book had fallen to the floor as he picked it up, the front cover depicting a bust from a Greek statue and was titled Herodotus' Histories. Josh made a mental note to look up the book as he placed it on her lap and headed to the bathroom.

When he got back to his seat, Josh reached into his carry-on bag and took out a biography of Monet and began to read. He had started getting into art history after starting his career as a musician, wanting another creative challenge. Josh had started going galleries in LA and reading up on art history in his spare time, buying art supplies and trying his hand at painting. He liked to think his own style was abstract with a bit of Impressionist when he did more realistic paintings, especially in watercolor. He wondered if he could find a good art museum in Seoul or Tokyo as he began to read.

The plane began its descent and Nika woke up, blinking several times as the dim light from the window stunned her eyes. She raised an eyebrow when she saw the book on her lap, having heard it drop to the floor before she had drifted off. From the window she could see the suburb of Seoul spread out below them in an immense sprawl, the neat houses and apartment buildings interspersed with parks reminding her of Orange County. Within half an hour, the plane had landed and the group was quickly ushered through customs and boarded a bus to the hotel. "One think you have to do when you're in Seoul or Tokyo is to sing karaoke, it's much cooler than the ones in LA", said Clara as she sat down next to Nika on the bus.

Nika's eyes went wide as saucers and a dull blush crept up her neck. "I don't sing", she muttered.

"You're not going on American Idol or X-Factor, you're singing in a booth with friends. You should really enjoy yourself on this trip, get out of your comfort zone", said Clara.

Nika was about to protest but then mulled over her friend's words. She was on vacation and surrounded by her father, best friend uncles and her crush so strangers wouldn't see anything. The idea of singing in the same room as Josh made her blush furiously as Clara smiled knowingly. "You sing all right, you got a cute little soprano. Remember, you are getting out of your shell", said the red-haired girl.

Nika went upstairs to her room and was glad to have her own, instead of sharing with Clara. She unpacked a few things and connected her phone to the hotel Wi-Fi before opening the curtains. She gasped in amazement at the view of Seoul, all the modern skyscrapers made of black steel and glass which glinted in the sunlight like the many eyes of Argos, but far more benign. The city from her vantage point seemed quiet this morning, but she had a feeling this would all change come nightfall. A sudden surge of exhaustion hit her so she flopped down on the bed for a nap.