The day couldn't have been more perfect. The sun shone brightly over the horse-drawn carriage, the warm breeze spilling over the faces of a young couple. Felicity's inhaled deeply as the grass disappeared beneath the horse's hooves, replaced with dirt, as their destination drew near. Her fiancee Derrick squeezed her hand comfortingly. They were going to Lethe from Telrae to meet his parents. He had convinced her to come after years of living in Braunach together and she trusted him with her life. Her parents, and their parents and all her siblings resided in Braunach, save for her brother and sister. Her sister was presumed dead, not seen for more than five years and her brother was found dead by a tree, an axe in his chest. Feli's parent's believed it was an accident, as his life revolved around chopping trees day in, day out. It had taken Feli many years to come out of her shell and not even her parents let her out of their sight until they came to trust Derrick. She wanted more than anything for his parents to get to know her, let alone trust her. Their wedding was set in two months time and both agreed it was time to travel into Lethe. Despite the rumours she heard about Lethe and it's inhabitants, she wasn't afraid as they came to a halt, hours into the dirty city.
"Welcome to my humble abode." Derrick said, stepping off the carriage and extending his arm to help Feli get down. It was nothing more than a wooden shack, dead trees and splintered wood surrounding the entrance. She put on a smile and followed him in.
They spent the night inside the house, getting acquanted with each other and telling stories of the past. Derrick spent most of the day outside and by dinner time he informed Feli he was going to leave again.
"But where? Can't I come this time?" Feli asked, her voice quivering slightly. She noticed a sigh in his sentence. "An old friend told me Tiffani is alive and working as a waitress at a tavern nearby." he told her. Feli's eyes lit up. "Oh! That's great news. Can we visit her? I want to come. Oh please let me come." Feli begged.
Derrick took her hand and sat her down.
"There is something you should know. Tiffani isn't who you used to know. She's cold and angry. There is nothing left inside of her." Derrick started. "That's an awful thing to say!" Feli said, standing up and running to her room.
She quickly penned a letter to her parents explaining to them that Tiffani was alive and sent it off with an old brown owl, a pet of the family.
The reply came the next afternoon. Felicity had successfully convinced Derrick to not leave the house and find her until she got a reply and when the *tap tap* by the owl at the window was heard, Derrick gave her the sealed letter. Feli read it, her smile fading at every word.
Dear our precious Felicity,
We know Tiffani is alive. We should have told you earlier but it was for your own protection that we didn't. The Tiffani you know died a long time ago. Don't go looking for her, uncovering old bones only leads to trouble. Stay away from her. She's dangerous. She murdered Jaslim with his own axe. We couldn't bare it if you shared his fate. Please return to us safely. We love you dearly.
Love Mum and Dad.
A single tear rolled down her cheek. They had lived in silence knowing one of their children killed the other and still managed to brave a comforting face. A deeper respect grew for Feli's parents at that particular moment.
"Which Tavern?" Felicity asked Derrick determined.
The nights seemed to get darker earlier in Lethe, lanterns lighting up dirt passageways where beggars and thieves alike roamed. Derrick lead her to a tavern named "Cloak and Dagger" and walked inside ahead of her. Feli pulled the robe tighter around herself, holding onto Derrick's hand. He seemed quieter than usual, like he was pondering something. He had changed ever since he arrived in Lethe but Feli didn't want to ask what was wrong. If he wanted to tell her, he would.
There was only one person working behind the bar, a scraggly man. They sat in the corner and waited until the end of the night when drunkards started passing out. Derrick and Feli stole away into a room near the bar. Dark curtains hung from the ceiling and a pungant odour was in the air. They weren't in there for long. Once the man ushered the last of his customers out he walked into the office and turned on the light to find them standing there, Feli behind Derrick. Derrick picked up a fire poker and held it out defensively. "Where is she?" he demanded. The man cowered. Feli took this time to look around the room. The curtains were two-toned red, a poor staining job perhaps, a couch sat alone against the wall near the door, stained a dark brown in places. She turned to see Tiffani's portrait stare at her. Feli gasped.
"There is no 'she' here. Just me." the man said quietly.
Feli pointed to the painting. "The lady in the painting. Where is she?" she spoke up.
"I don't know. She isn't working tonight." he said in a defeated tone.
"So you lied. I don't appreciate liars. I didn't come here to hurt you, just for your help. She is trouble, danger to us all." Derrick took over, lowering the poker. He explained how she was a threat and he wanted her exterminated, meanwhile finding out his name was Damien Karlos, Tiffani's co-worker. As much as it pained Feli to hear him speak of killing her sister, she knew it had to be done so she too told him about Tiffani. Derrick however went a step too far and threatened Damien with his life if his will wasn't completed.
In the midst of Derrick's threat, Feli heard a very soft sound, not from inside the room. She silently grabbed Derrick's arm and pointed to the door. He silenced the other man and charged at the door, the fire poker still in his hand. The man that worked there turned on the lights to the tavern but there was no one. "You're seeing things Feli. I'll be back tomorrow and I expect her to be gone Mr. Karlos. Understood?" Derrick said, turning his back to him and leading Feli out the door.
"You won't really hurt him will you Derrick?" Feli asked, walking beside him down the lantern lit street.
"No, it was just an empty threat my sweet. Don't worry." he replied with a smile. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, not meeting her eyes.
"We shouldn't even go back. Promise me you won't go back? Please? We will just stay a few more days with your parents and go back to Braunach. She means nothing to me anymore." Feli explained, lying to herself despite how much she wanted it to be true.
"I promise. We have much happiness to look forward to." He replied softly. They walked the uneventful trip back to his parent's house.
Unknown to them, Tiffani was watching them shrink into the distance.
