[ Rose's Home ]
"Bwaaaah~!"
Such is Rose's cry as she flomps to her couch, her ponytail trailing pitifully across her shoulder.
Today is a day that typically limits her joy of reading.
A day when her Excel program crashed while the model for her firm was calculating, causing her to redo everything after hours of work.
Just a normal work day.
"I hate technology! I hate technology! I hate technology!" she cries, hitting her couch pillows in sync with each muffled wail of despair. After her spending immediate frustrations, she slumps further against the cushions, whimpering.
Bzz bzz!
Her phone shakes next to her head, refusing to let her melt away. Groaning, she turns her head, catching a notification that warps under her misty eyes. After some time just staring at it, she forces herself upright, blinking away her tears before grabbing her glasses on by the nearby console.
Adjusting the glasses on her nose, her pupils soon expand. "Oh?"
Hi Rose. I know it's getting late, but we need to verify something with you in person. We're on our way. Sorry for any trouble.
"Anne!" Rose squeaks, the depression easing a little. However, before she can tap a reply to her new friend, she pauses.
"Wait..." She squints. "What if this is about Lecia?"
Looking upward, she holds herself for a moment before shutting her eyes. "Urgh... w-what can I say? What am I allowed to say? I would never wish for something bad to happen to her, but I've been out of the loop for years!"
Ding Dong!
Rose flinches. "Ack!?" Her eyes blur between her phone and the front door. "She's already here?!"
She checks the message again, realizing it was posted thirty minutes ago. It seems her connection online was delayed before she got the message.
Once more, she growls. "Damn you, technology!"
With little time to prepare, she wipes her eyes and stands, attempting to make herself somewhat presentable among the distressed strands of hair sticking out. As good as she can get it, she heads to the front door, opening it with a stiff grin.
"A-anne! Sorry, I just saw your text now, and...!"
She sputters to a halt. Next to the wavy-haired friend, her eyes drift to Rachel, who waves weakly.
"Hello, dear. Sorry this couldn't be a simple call."
The distant downtown hums between them before Rose slumps. "So, this is about Lecia."
Rachel nods sadly. "I've told them everything as well as the extent of your involvement."
"Then, you would know I don't have anything to help with the search, if she's even..." Rose stops herself, and shakes her head. It's still too early to make assumptions. Even she finds the former archaeologist's disappearance strange, especially with the police evidence of her entering the car that crashed.
"She must be alive."
Mirroring her thoughts, Rose flickers to an unfamiliar tone. Staring past Rachel, she catches another hidden behind. The new visitor peeks out between Rachel and Anne's shoulders, taking away the glasses-girl's breath as the remaining light of the day hits from behind. Even shadowed, the unusually pale beauty shines, enhanced with shimmering hair and eyes that brim with silver defiance.
"Hi, I'm..."
"A Twilight vampire?" Rose slips, staring blankly.
"Ah..." Viviane stumbles. "V... vampire?"
"Pfft!" Rachel and Anne turn away from each other, the latter nearly spitting out. "Oh my god, she's actually right!"
Shaken for only a moment, Viviane snaps to her giggling slime sister, growling, "Hey, whose side are you on?"
She switches back to Rose in a huff, but the historian waves her hand hurriedly. "Oh no, sorry! I just thought it... and said it... and you're really shiny! Ahem, w-who are you again?"
'Oh boy.' With that heavy thought, the elder slime straightens. "I'm Viviane. You could say I'm Anne's sister."
"Oh, her... sister?" Rose flickers between two slime sisters with opposite tones, hairstyles, and color.
"Yeah, I can see the resemblance."
"No, you don't," Viviane shuts flatly. "I don't know how much time we have to spend here, but we need to know more about your time in Egypt with Victor Grayson."
"The professor? Um..." Rose glances to Rachel and Anne, then back. "Sorry, but how is this relevant to Lecia? Also, why is this matter expanded to more people?"
The astronomer sighs. "You'll understand shortly, dear. Before that, you should know that we've learned Lecia was deliberately targeted by a cult group called The Order. They're after the book she dug up at Stonehenge."
Rose's blood drops cold. "...What?"
"Rachel!" Anne frowns. "Maybe don't say it so easily."
The elder woman thins her lips. "I wish we could hold back, but I want to make sure she's clear on the danger."
"Clear" is a stretch as Rose's head spins. As a former member of Lecia's group, she knew it was urgent when Mike pleaded for her to check in on Rachel, but she avoided probing for details. All she understood was that the rare escalation was related to Lecia's accident.
'A cult... seriously?' She smiles crookedly. "A-are you sure? That's kinda..."
"I know it's tough to swallow," Viviane adds. "Still, her disappearance from the car despite the crash should be strange enough. It's not known, but there's more beyond the heart attack that was reported."
"I... I see." Rose shakes. "I'm not in danger, am I?"
Rachel's eyes soften. "We did erase any records you had with us, but... well, they have means beyond our control."
"Oh..."
Rose shuffles awkwardly, looking to the ground before clearing her throat. "I uh... guess we should talk more inside?"
Her visitors' gaze waver for her as they nod. While Rose steps aside for them, she catches two cars outside her home, one of them running with some silhouettes.
"You're with more? Wait... is that Daniel?"
"Don't worry about them. We won't stay long," Anne assures as she passes.
Rose draws a long hum, her stare lingering on the car. She sends a wave to them before closing the door. Her mind continues to twist as she follows the three women into her living room, the sudden threat replacing any appetite for dinner she had planned.
In spite of that, she tries to smile. "Should I get..."
"You don't need to get anything, please," Viviane assures softly as she settles down. She clasps her hands together. "I'm going to cut to the chase, Rose. We know Lecia met Victor, your former professor, just before the accident."
Rose's eyes quiver, but musters some sense while scoffing lightly. "That's...that's not possible. Dr. Grayson passed away several years ago after I graduated."
She turns to Anne. "Don't tell me that's why you and your boyfriend bought his book from me?"
"Partly," Anne admits, her forehead creasing. "Sorry for deceiving you."
Rachel coughs. "I think it would be easier to understand if we start with the book Lecia uncovered at Stonehenge. Do you remember the goal?"
Rose nods. "To understand its purpose and attempt one of the rituals." However, she snorts, shaking her head. "It all seemed far-fetched."
"I understand you left because of disagreements with Lecia, but despite what you said, neither Mike and I have the full story. You were the only one to leave, you know?" Rachel pauses, humming. "In fact, it's stranger there wasn't more people to follow you."
"Well, it wasn't just because it felt nonsensical. Honestly, I thought figuring out the origins and intentions of a book buried at the famous Stonehenge would be enough of a treat." She holds her hands together. "How can I say this? My stomach felt weaker every time I looked at those symbols. Eventually, I thought it was just an instinct I should walk away, so... I did. I told Lecia that she should consider returning the book to its place quietly, and that upset her. Suddenly, I was the crazy one."
Her visitors raise a brow.
"That's a pretty tall sign," Viviane notes.
"Maybe..." Rose lips rise bitterly. "It sounds like there's weight to the book if someone was willing to attack Lecia for it. Still, I can't understand how. It's not like anything would seriously come out of it."
"..."
As silence drags, Rose lifts her gaze, watching her guests glance away. "...Right?"
Viviane coughs. "So, here's the thing: Anne and I are not human."
Rose stare silently this time. Slowly, her lips rise mirthfully. "Oh, uh... that's cool."
"Seriously?" Rachel growls at the two slime sisters. "You guys were complaining I was being too easy with my words! What the hell is this?!"
"Hey, that was Anne, not me. Anyway..." Viviane clears her throat, returning to Rose. "Look, you're obviously doubtful. We could show you our inhumanity, risk you potentially passing out, then waste time before The Order comes knocking again after I harmed one of them."
Rose's hair stands. "W-what?! H-hold on, what do you..."
"Or," Viviane continues, standing up and raising a hand. "I can place this hand on your head, then give both of us the answers we could offer."
Rose's glasses slightly falls down her nose as she stares at the elder slime. "You mean, like... exchanging memories?"
"You're quick on the uptake, at least."
Anne frowns, switching between the spectacled historian and her slime sister. "Viviane, maybe we shouldn't be so hasty. I know we're on the move, but surely we can afford some time for her to adjust?"
"We don't know that," Viviane maintains.
Rose swallows, but understands enough that they're in a hurry.
She raises her hands. "Okay, okay, let me try following. Let's say I believe you. Does that mean you're some kind of telepath related to the book?"
Viviane tilts to the side. "Ahh... sure. Again, you'll understand better if you agree to let me touch your head."
"And, if I refuse?"
"Then we'll leave."
"...You're being serious?"
"Yes."
Rose squints. "You're sure you're not a vampire?"
Viviane's expression breaks wryly. "If you want to believe it at this stage, go ahead. This is just how I've looked since the beginning, you know."
Rose's lips wiggle curiously before turning to Anne. "So, this... ability also applies to you?"
The slime mother nods, but glances away. "Except, I haven't learned how to control the amount of memories shared with others, so it would be better for my sister to—"
"I want Anne to do it!" Rose decides, snapping her hand up.
Everyone jerks, especially said slime. After her mouth hangs for a moment, she waves her hands furiously. "No, no, listen! I-if I connect with you, there's a lot of unrelated baggage that you'd be flooded with! There's no telling how you'll fare."
"That's all the more reason!" Rose huffs. "If this is urgent, I'd rather not have anything be left out."
"But there are—"
"Actually, that would probably be better this time," Viviane cuts, crossing her arms thoughtfully.
Anne's shoulders spike, lifting her gaze to the elder slime. "W-what!? No, I'd spill too much to her!"
Viviane closes her eyes. "You can try to hold back, but at this point, I'm more worried if other cultists are behind us. I'd rather be here this time less we have another repeat at the studio."
"Ah..." Anne lowers her head, smiling poorly. "That's right... I'd be pretty useless at fighting, huh?"
"None of that," Viviane snaps. "You don't need to be like me to protect everyone." Her lips shake before adding, "You definitely shouldn't be like me."
"Sis..."
"Um... sorry to break the mood, but is that a yes?" Rose asks, dashing between the two.
Anne sighs before standing up. "Fine, I'll do it." She faces the historian. "Then, are you ready?"
Rose curls her lips in a line, but nods. She holds her shaky hands together as her new friend takes a step forward.
"Try to relax," Anne whispers.
Rose hums, closing her eyes with a silent gulp.
Then, she feels Anne's cool hand slide across her forehead.
'Huh? It feels... nice?'
Splick!