"That was fast!?"
"Was it?...That's just how people are...meeting a greedy old man just needs a suitable price."
'Witnessing her calm yet dominant presence, I'd buy it if she told me she's actually a person who's in her thirties'.
Noticing the weird behaviors of the people around them after the old man handed her the stones some of them placed their hands on their weapons , Ash placed his hand over her shoulder, pointing at the exit.
"Since we're done here, it's time to leave. The others are still waiting for us, and I believe we have other business to attend to."
"...alright."
Serenity was a little confused, yet she agreed to him without questions; she extended her arms for him, and he took her silently, leaving that place for good.
-growel ~-
"Don't tell me…"
Ash turned to his companion, and all the majesty from before had crumbled to the ground; her face was all red, and she kept looking at the ground.
"Pfft."
"Stop..."
Serenity used her fan to hide her face from his sight, feeling utterly embarrassed.
"I...I am sorry...this wasn't on purpose, I swear..."
"It is but whatever...I am hungry." She was embarrassed and dared not look at him directly. 'If the earth splits open and swallows me whole at this moment, I would be more than grateful.'
"As you wish...let's find something to eat. It just so happens that I haven't eaten the whole day as well." In his mind, Serenity appeared like a cornered little white rabbit, 'cute.'
Ash held her hand tightly as they walked ahead searching, each in his own world of thoughts till they finally reached a restaurant.
Ash asked for a private room for both of them to eat alone; even though the restaurant was somewhat empty, this action made Serenity feel strange. After they took their seats, she asked him,
"You know...we could've just eaten outside; there's no one here anyway."
"Does it matter?...And also, would you have agreed to eat if we took a table outside?"
"So it's for me?"
Serenity had an amused smile drawn on her face awaiting his answer; he didn't think much and just said
"And me…it just so happens I don't like eating with any chance of someone disturbing my mood."
"Aah~...What a coincidence."
The smile on Serenity's face disappeared as she looked out the window and saw the red moon up in the sky. Ash witnessed the lingering look in her eyes but couldn't tell if she was hating it or loving it. His words spoke his mind instead, catching her attention.
"It's not like the real one. …"
"Huh?!...What is it?"
Ash kept his gaze fixed at her for a while before averting his gaze toward the night sky outside.
"This red moon is just that...it's nothing compared to the real thing."
"You tell me about the real from the fake; do you think you need to...?"
Serenity turned her attention to the sky; she bent her knees, sitting on her chair, staring at the sky, recalling her old, dream like memory.
"No one knows it better than I do...how the real deal...how the actual bloody nightmare looks like..."
Ash, looking at her dull, glassy gaze that conveys deep emotional sorrow and an irreversible loss, felt his chest tighten. He could see but couldn't do anything; all he could say was a plain old "sorry."
"Sorry."
"You don't need to; it wasn't your fault...it wasn't anyone's fault."
"..."
A dead silence covered the room while both of them kept staring at the moon in the high sky, making them recall the past, till the waitress came to reserve the food, and then the silence was finally broken.
-knock...knock...knock-
"!!?"
"The food is ready."
"Come in."
"Excuse us."
-open-
After the waitress finished placing the meal, she handed them a wine bottle.
"This is on the house; enjoy."
-closed-
After serenity saw them leave she had an angry expression while saying,"Such good manners!"
"You think?!"
"...bullshit; as long as we have money, they will come dancing on their toes."
"You really do hate people…but not everyone is like that; some just have no other choice."
"You think I would care...no matter what, people like them can never gain my sympathy."
"That's kind of unexpected.....when i see you like this all i can think is ;you do know how to hold a grudge?"
"Grudge?... They didn't think so when they made a deal with the demons."
"Deal…demons...?" Hearing her words, he couldn't help but recall some memories. "...Is it something related to the accident back when you were a kid?"
She had a smug expression as she started mocking the situation. "What, don't tell me you too think it was just a coincidence?"
"Isn't it?...I believe Duke Alkana was responsible for the interrogation himself. I know his methods, so I am telling you there is no room for mistakes."
A tight-lipped grimace smile was forced upon her lips. "Foolish...what kind of person just so happens to faint in front of my carriage asking for help and is accompanied by an eighth-circle magician, and that person just so happens to know my name? Is there really such a coincidence in the world?...If you have ever heard of one, if not planned, feel free to tell me."
"Why didn't you tell the duke?...If you did, there was no way the person behind it would have survived."
"Or would...believe me, I know him, and I know that my words alone aren't enough evidence."
"So pretend to lose memories, then what?...Are you going to leave that person just like that?"
"I never pretend anything..... Whether it was ten years ago or now, my mind is set on her head."
A forced smile along with a pair of creepy red eyes sent a shiver down his spine. 'So was it actually a fake or not?...Truth is becoming mixed with illusion; it's becoming hard to differentiate between them anymore.'
He knew just by looking in her eyes there was no way in hell that lady was going to back down on her revenge just like that.
"I get you have a plan; mind telling me?" Ash asked.
"Waiting"
"Pardon?!" After waiting in anticipation, all he heard was this word, and he started feeling
"Just let fate take its course, and she will eventually meet me."
-chuckle-
The smile on her face disappeared, replaced with a stiff-like expression. Her intentions of killing that person have never disappeared; she is more like a predator watching its prey, waiting for the perfect opportunity to pounce.
Although the woman was a clear red line, he still couldn't help but smile in amusement facing that dangerous woman, thinking, 'You're taking the long wait in exchange for the absolute satisfaction.'
"I admire you."
He siad in a calm voice as he removed his black mask leaving only the eye mask on and poured a cup of wine then raised it to greet the stunning lady in front of him.
"Cheers to those alluring eyes."
"I am still a minor."
"!!??"
He was caught off guard by her hand pushing his away, and that response—that he was speechless for a moment there—
"Just confirming...aren't you Astrum's twin?"
"Yes, is there a problem?"
"He...um...he drinks, you know..."
"So what?...Astrum has a special physique, while I and Aries are considered 16. He gets another extra ten years. Why else do you think I call him 'big brother'?"
"The big brother thing makes sense, but Aries can also drink...you are siblings; why is there such a big difference, is it because you turned human?"
"Why so serious?!" A mischievous smile curved her lips as she held her fork and started cutting the steak. "While the three of us do have a special aging process, each of us ages differently...I look like this, but who knows? Maybe I am even older than you, but...no matter the method, if we count by the years, then I am a minor even if biologically I am eligible to drink, but all they know is the human me."
"That's huge...you have my respect."
"Is it worth such fuss?"
"Most people don't normally care; anyway, the law can't exactly punish them , after all why care when no one sees?..such logic."
"Is that so?"
He rested his back on the chair ,and turned his head twards the ceiling ,
"But answer me truthfully: is it that you won't drink or can't?"
"Funny how you're asking like that, but... I won't tell you."
"Come on, it's just a drink. Does it really have to be this secretive?"
"That's just who I am...got a problem?"
"Not now, but I am sure it will be soon enough..."
"Whatever "
Ash and Serenity kept eating their steak as their talk moved on to the next topic.
"Right…you still haven't told me what the people here have to do with your kidnapping."
"Where do you think I got my key?"
'So it was one of the kidnappers...no wonder she hold such grudge.....iam afraid it may have become a defense mechanism for her' ash thought as he kept eating,
"You're a person capable of hate yourself.....but for God's sake ,one mystery is unlocked and replaced with several sealed ones...how long do you think it will take me to solve all your mysteries?"
After thinking for a while, she gave him an answer: "Hmmm...If you're lucky, maybe in this lifetime."
"Wow...That's so encouraging."
"But for real ...you're telling me all of that stuff even though it's our first meeting. Aren't you afraid I will tell on you?"
He just finished his words, and Serenity was no longer sitting across from him but now on his lap, holding her fork against his neck.
"!?!"
"I dare you to try telling anyone about anything..."
"Is this a threat?" Ash calmly asked her, because just from looking in her eyes he could tell she won't hurt him, and she smiled realising he caught her intentions,
"What do you think?"
"I risk losing this amusing Pandora's box. Are you kidding me? There's no way in hell."
"Your priorities are questionable, pretty boy."
"I will take it as a compliment...also," Ash grabbed both her hands in one while lifting her with the other one. He pinned her on the table, his mask fell unintentionally causing their eyes to meet. Looking her in the eyes for the first time, he held the fork against her eyes.
"Threatening someone with a fork upside down is no threat for anyone...next time you want to repeat that, tell me, and I am going to teach you how."
Seeing serenity's stunned expression he felt something was wrong, only then did he realise the lost mask.
'Now you should be scared, right?' Ash thought with a gloomy face all his life he was used to being feared and avoided by anyone who saw those eyes; that also included but never limited to his parents. While he was waiting to see the same fear on her face, he was met with a surprise.
She was quite shocked at first; for a moment she tried to free her hands. Ash felt a faint disappointment. 'As expected...you're the same as them…i guess i lost my pandora box'
While he was drowned in his thoughts, his face was suddenly grabbed in between her hands. He was surprised, looking at her face. The only thing that appeared on Serenity's face was pure amusement, which seemed to increase the longer she kept staring at his face, crimson sharp eyes with an intense golden glow , with a mole under his left eye, a delicate, beautiful face. As if watching a doll, she couldn't help but say those words,
"Shining rubies.....Pretty as usual."
Je was stunned for a moment trying to process what he just heard,
"What?"
"Didn't hear me?...Fine, I'll say it again...you have the most beautiful face I have seen, as always."
Ash's heart skipped a beat; he felt something was wrong and shoved her hands away and turned to face the wall. 'What's happening to me...why the hell do you keep beating like this over everything...I am going crazy...'
"Stop messing around; this is not a joke."
She got up from the table standing straight while removing the food that got on her dress ,"I am not joking....When I say beautiful, then it is."
"Just stop."
At that point Ash covered his face; she couldn't tell if he was annoyed or embarrassed. She tried to ease the tension.
"Don't tell me you're allowed to call my eyes like the moon, and I am not allowed to call yours a beautiful gem…"
"Stop!"
"!?!"
Ash's tone suddenly became so serious her words clearly hit a sensitive nerve. She then recalled his past words when they were out, and she had a rough guess that made her spiral out of control.
"Pfft...hahahahahah...do…don't tell me you think your eyes are scary?"
Ash felt something was wrong. 'This is not exactly what I expected?'
"You think this is funny?"
She was holding her stomach from the pain.
"Hahaha...just who the hell told you such obvious lies?"
Ash was annoyed with her unreasonable laughter ,"It's not a lie when everyone is dead set on it."
"Their agreeing alone is more than enough of a reason."
She crossed her legs and sat on the floor. "My dear boy...if everyone unanimously agrees on a specific thing, then it's the biggest lie in history."
"That's weird logic?!"
"Is it?!...Your eyes have an ability, don't they?"
"How do you know such a thing?"
"Why do you think I am blind?"
Ash put back his mask covering his face completely.
"Every corner has a riddle hidden in between...can't you just say a full clear sentence about yourself?"
"My name is Serenity, that's a complete one right?."
She gave him a smug look, with a shocking answer making him stunned.
Ash's voice and expression softened as he talked,
"That's not exactly what I meant."
Ash extended his hand to help her stand; he used some force, pushing her into his arms. She innocently said,
"It's still a full sentence, right?"
"I don't really care about the full sentence as much as I care about what you said before."
"I have said a lot of things; which one are you talking about?"
'The way you're talking with me and the way you handled some details around me...I just couldn't help but question myself.' Ash, who was full of thoughts, holding the clueless serenity in his arms, didn't realize the words coming out from his mouth.
"Have we met before?"