Chapter 26: Chapter 26

CHAPTER 25

CAELUM

I set down the cup of tea in front of Rubin and lay the biscuits next to the papers. The number of faces printed on them including the contact information, map of places and possible locations littering the top of the desk makes it impossible to see the wood beneath, as though we have resigned on doing a collage of investigations.

Rubin sighs for the nth time as she put her feet down on the carpet. She reaches for her cup of tea and smiled pouring some milk and tentatively stirring it with her spoon, her eyes glazed. “Thank you,” she murmured but I only nodded back, preoccupied with dialling the phone and waiting for the other line to answer.

“Hello?”

“Oh, good morning. Is this miss Emily Crowe?” Rubin shots up from her seat and round the table, settling her head next to mine as she listens, “No, it isn’t she. This is Molly Goods, her sister.”

“I’m so sorry- I-”

“Would you like me to get her? She’s down by the river, gathering some mushrooms for lunch.” I looked at Rubin who smiled so brightly, “Yes, please.”

“Very well! I will put the call on hold and fetch her,” I heard the lady from the other line scurry off, calling for Emily.

I removed the phone from my ear and looked at Rubin. “Well,” Rubin asked, hopeful, her eyes glistening, “Is it my mum?”

“We can’t be sure yet.” I answered, still waiting for them to resume the call.

We have started the search the moment we have returned from Scotland, a fortnight ago. Aeon and I put our argument aside and teamed up to help Rubin find her parents. We've written up the clues given by Hades and Aeon tried to pick the words that could be useful with our search.

Rubin’s mother should constantly be a ginger – and there should be some similarities with their faces. The second clue was easy enough: She’s a crow, and her name was Emily; which could only mean that Crow would be her surname. Though we have to search the whole of Scotland and come up with a lot of variations from Carrow, to Crow, to Crowe’s because there is a lot of combinations for Emily. Rause has suggested that we start with the nearest because there is a great possibility that they could be here but it was a wrong move, we ended up wasting a week searching Scotland and England – with combine force of our fellow banished roaming around and asking.

The rustle from the other line brought me back to the situation at hand as I settle the mobile phone next to my ear, “Oui?” a solemn voice rang out from the line and I motioned at Rubin, swiftly turning the speaker on as I handed the phone to her, “Hello? Uhm- is this Miss Emily Crowe?”

Rubin’s eyes glistened with tears as the both of us listen close, hands shaking, “Yes, zis is she. Why do you ask? ‘as somezing come up zat concerns me?”.

Rubin takes a shaky breath, her knuckles turning white, gripping the phone tight, “Er, do you by any chance have a dau-”

I raised my hands and furiously shook my head, I took a pen and a paper and scribbled down on it, showing it to Rubin who stops as she read, “I mean do you have time to meet tomorrow, just by the River Seine, overlooking Eiffel tower?”

“Why do you like to meet?” The tone sounds so inquisitive and suspicious that I had to bite back a smile, forcing myself to think that it wasn’t Rubin who is asking the question. They do sound alike; I wish it was really her mother. “Um-” Rubin looks at me as she hastily grabs the pen and wrote: What should I say?

‘Ask her if--” I crossed it out and started again, ‘Tell her that you are working on a project at the local Uni and it involves meeting strangers and communicating with them.’ She hastily nodded and cleared her throat, “Well, I’ve got this activity at our Uni,” I motion for her to continue and Rubin takes another breath, “Our professor, well, he’s asked us to meet certain strangers and interact with them because we have our studies.”

“Is zat so?” The old woman’s voice is still lace with doubt and uncertainty. “Are you certain?”

I wrote: ‘It’s good for mental health and maybe we can be friends.’ Rubin takes a while to read and understand the phrase before she relays the message, “Our professor said that it helps with mental health and maybe we can develop some sort of kinship,” I nodded enthusiastically, amazed at how she is doing well with words she hasn’t got that much clue about.

There was a pause, a fat and awkward one.

“Zis isn’t a prank, izz it?” Rubin mouthed, ‘What’s a prank?’ but I wave her off, listening to the other line, “You are not trying to mek a fool out ov myzelf, are you?” I cringed at the petty way the woman on the other line attempted to speak in English. I motioned for Rubin to look at the words I scribbled but she chose to ignore me, turning her back.

“No. Ma'am, I don’t intend to embarrass you in front of people and have you laughed about. Won’t wish that tragic fate to someone like you. ” Rubin quickly said after she understood, her cheeks flushed while I stand next to her, still listening.

“Very well. I will meet you by ze River Seine. Zere is a nice izzpot where we can eat picnic while we talk. Will midday be okay wiz your schedule?”

“Absolutely alright ma’am. I'll be waiting there.” The phone call ended with a deafening whoop coming from Rubin as she handed the phone back to me. “I think it’s really her.”

“Well, how can you really say?”

She smirks, not answering my question as she kisses my cheeks which made me blush. I nuzzled my head on her cheek and she laughed, taking her in my arms as I flung the both of us on the sofa.

Rubin giggled and I rested my head on hers, whispering, “Kiss me quick, while we still have this feeling.” Rubin raised her eyebrows as she looks at me, shaking her head at the song. She smiled, “hold me close, don’t ever let me go” She pulled me down to her face and pressed her lips. I laughed as I rested my cheeks on her, continuing “'Cause tomorrows can be so uncertain. Love can fly and leave just hurting,” I leaned closer and whispered, “Kiss me quick because I…love you so...” Rubin pecked my lips before she wriggled out of my hold and let out a laugh as she bounded off to the kitchen, pestering Aeon about how planes fly and how they are a very unreliable means of transportation.

“What a crazy girl.”

*

“You enter her number like this, and you will touch this green button and…you’re set.”

“And she will talk?” Aeon sighs and shake the phone, looking at Rubin as though she wasn’t serious of what she said. “Well, yeah, only she picks it up though sometimes it will direct you to voicemail which quite sucks, so, you’ll have to wait for her to speak first.”

“Okay, I think I get it now,” I watched as Rubin held out her hand to Aeon who reluctantly give back her phone. “I will try and give her a call right at this moment,” She muttered as she passes me by my desk and out to the patio she went. Aeon retreated up to his room to take a nap while I resumed my seat, watching Rubin as she waited.

The strong wind made her fiery red hair fly around her face and she tucked them nervously. We were staying at Aeon’s abode, Kipawt Residence, which is located in an island, north of Wellington. It was overlooking the great cliff side, far from the curious humans from below. We have figured that this location is best, the safest place for both me and Rubin since Hades have known about the flat at Paris. It would’ve been convenient to stay there for the night but I couldn’t risk us being found. I still don’t trust Hades’ motives.

He might be keeping something up in his sleeves.

Me and Rubin have managed to keep our relationship to ourselves as to avoid Aeon’s suspicious gaze – though, I have a hunch that he already knows about it but chose not to say something with the fear that I will tease him about Rause. Rubin usually chose to snuggle next to me at night whenever Aeon was asleep and I think, Aeon senses her every time she sneaks up the stairs.

I really love to have her by my side, collecting her in my arms and singing to her, whispering that she would not have to worry about me leaving her or Hades coming to take her because I am next to her. The past week has been a bundle of nerves and we hardly ever slept because the threat of Hades still hot on our trail provides constant vigilance in our part.

“Caelum!” her urgent voice rose me up from my seat and I turned her carefully, checking her face and body before asking, “Why? What is it? What happened?”

Rubin’s face softened as she tilted her head, “I’m fine. Sorry if I startled you because of my excitement. It’s just that, Emily – well, she and I talked about our day. I told her that it is as windy as the day before and she talks about her cat, which is ginger and very fat.”

She wraps her arms around my waist and pulled me towards the sofa, climbing up on my lap and snuggling on my neck as though she were a cat, “Emily seems to like talking to me though she has mentioned that her sister, Molly, will accompany her when she meets with us tomorrow for they are still worried about all of this being a prank.”

“Doubtful is she?” I buried my nose in Rubin’s hair and sniffed, breathing in that sweet vanilla scent. “There’s something I want to continue with,” Rubin raised her head and adjusted on my lap as she gave me a curious gaze. I shook my head, kissing her cheek as I pulled her close and tucked her under my chin, singing, “Put your head on my shoulder, pull me in your arms baby,” I smiled as I felt her arm tightening on my waist and I continue, “Squeeze me oh so tight, show me,”

“That you love me too,” Rubin whispered in my chest as I cradled her in my arms, my nose to her hair, her lips next to my heart. “Put your lips next to mine, dear, won’t you kiss me once,” I leaned down, resting my head on hers, pecking her lips, “Baby.”

“Just a kiss goodnight,” Rubin whispered before she pressed her lips on mine, “Maybe.” I smiled and peck her lips once more as I finished, “You and I will fall in love.”

I kissed her forehead once more and rested my head on her shoulder, “I can stay like this forever.”

“I would like that too…but,” She push my head off her neck and I glared at her, pouting, “We have to finish our search for my dad.”

“I thought all you need is your mother?” she ducks her head and blushed at my stern gaze. “Well, I would like the set.” I huffed, resting my head back on the sofa and I accepted my defeat.

“Okay then, I have no choice but to agree with you.” I tugged at her hand and stated, “But in one condition.”

It was her turn to pout; her bottom lip protruding. She looks so cute that I am obliged to ruin her fun. “Stop pouting.”

“I am not pouting,” She muttered, making me roll my eyes before swooping down to her lips and kissing her.

“Caelum,” She protested, pushing me slightly as she said, “Let’s be sensitive and not do this here. Aeon-”

“Would not care.” I leaned in for another peck as I caress her face. “I think he already knows.”

“Does he?” I nodded; my eyes trained on her face. “Since I have already agreed to your arrangement, I want to tell you about my own condition.” I tucked her hair beneath her ear and continue, “I want you to experience such lavish pampering and might as well enjoy what earth stored.”

“You are taking me places?” I raised my eyebrows at her enthusiastic expression but I nodded.

“And we’re going to eat delicious food?” I nodded once again and she screams, tackling me back on the sofa while I splutter and laugh edat her silliness.

*

“What are you cooking?” Rubin curiously peered over my shoulder with such difficulty I wasn’t aware of until I noticed her standing on her tiptoes. I put an arm around her waist and smiled, “You can guess.”

“Was it my favourite?” I nodded, watching as her lips pulled on the side, her stance playful.

“Bolognese, again! I’ll be more Italian than a god if this continues on for years.” Aeon pointed out as he settled on a chair, facing me, “But I know that I have no right to complain. It is you who is doing the cooking,” I smirked at Aeon, and he slumped his head back on the counter, snorting. Rubin leans in close, her eyes following my every move as though she has been bidden to memorize the process in just a minute.

I took her wrist and pushed her gently, saying, “You can settle back and sit next to Aeon. I am pretty sure you can still see what I am doing from your seat.” Rubin reluctantly followed my advice as she quietly takes a seat beside Aeon.

“Are you still sending her messages?” Rubin whispered to Aeon who stiffened in his seat, his face impassive as he relaxes back, trying not to appear flustered. Aeon crossed his arms over his chest, whispering back, “She is stubborn. She labeled me weird and ask me to stay away from her. She said, she doesn’t want people who have so many secrets.” I raised a brow at Aeon’s impassive voice; so unlike his pompous tirade and mischievous comebacks. I stared outside the window, sighing, the trees will suffer such strong winds again if this goes on.

“I will never get a chance,” he sighs, catching my gaze which I averted back to the pasta.

“Yes, you will. Are you seriously giving up? You are a god, you shouldn’t give up,” Aeon eyed her wearily as Rubin beats her fist on the table, proving her point. I quietly settled the Bolognese in a ceramic bowl, walking nearer and putting the bowl on the table as I fixed the both of them a stare. Rubin averted her eyes and so did Aeon. “Who are you talking about you two?”

Aeon shifted on his seat as Rubin muttered, “Nosy.”

“I am not nosy. I am simply concerned with my friend, missy.” Rubin raised an eyebrow at that as I sat across her. “Tell me, is the girl you are talking about the one we’ve met at the diner? Rubin’s friend – Rause?” Aeon’s eyes were so wide that he looks almost comical.

I resisted the urge to laugh at his face as I divided the Bolognese between the three of us and give Rubin her plate. When I have finished, Aeon’s glare is so intense that I can hear the wind whistling in my ear. I gulped.

“Laughing at me, are you? Well, you shouldn’t be. After you promised me that you are going to help me with Rause, you ended up running off with this girl – do you think I’ve forgotten?”

I scratched my cheek before averting my eyes to Rubin who is shooting daggers at me, “Hey! I know you’re both trying to make me feel guilty, but it’s not working.”

“Still, you made a promise!” The both of them retorted, making me chuckle in amusement as I began eating my Bolognese.

“Why are you copying me?” They asked once again and it made me laugh harder, bowing my head low at the pasta before saying, “Quit it, you two. I bet conspiring against me has done something with your brains, making you in sync.” Aeon gritted his teeth as he shakes his head at Rubin, who appears to have some trouble with processing the information.

“Come on, the Bolognese will get cold if you both continue with your racket.” I twisted some pasta on my fork and smirked at Rubin who attacked the pasta with excitement.

“This is my forever favorite!” She exclaimed, face flushed. Aeon sat quietly, stirring his food and spilling some of the sauce on the sides as he stared at the space in front of him.

“Rause is just so happy in this life that I don’t have the heart to ruin it all. I don’t think she would be willing to accept a troublesome man like me,” He bowed his head and I stopped eating, filled with curiousity as to why he is continuing with this. “But I want her. You know how long I have waited to be with her yet I cannot risk being found. I guess, I should let this opportunity pass again.”

I opened my mouth, a thought on my mind when Rubin put her hand on his shoulder and said, “No, you won’t. I will go to her and persuade her if I must. I will help you and I will do as I promise.” Rubin gave me a look which I rolled my eyes at. Aeon nodded, stuffing his mouth with the pasta while Rubin does the same. I stared down on my plate, a bit shocked that I have already finished it all and would have unfortunate opportunity to watch them eat.

“I will help you with Rause too, right after we meet with the lady tomorrow.” Aeon was shocked of my words and with pasta hanging on the side of his mouth, he quickly nodded his head. Rubin turns, sporting a lovely gaze and I smiled back, wishing to hold her and kiss her right then and there.

“You’re both doing it again.”

My head snapped back to Aeon, glaring, “What do you mean?”

“Don’t deem me as an idiot, Caelum, I know what’s going on between the two of you – figured it out from the moment you brought her in the first time.” He smirks, making my blood run cold.

Rubin drops her fork with a clang and I rolled my eyes at her action.

Now, she just confirmed it.

“Tut. Tut. Very obvious, you two.” Aeon shakes his head before he wiggled his brows at Rubin, who blushes like a ripe tomato. I longed to wring his neck with my hands and hanged him by the cliff side for about ten minutes, relishing at his screams to have the wind save him from falling.

Appealing as it would appear to hang Aeon with the scruffs of his neck, I settled on my chair and counted until twenty, blowing in and out of my nose. Aeon is still wiggling his brows at me, and I bared my teeth at him.

“You-I mean-we,” Rubin stuttered, turning to Aeon with her face as bright as her ginger hair, “Aeon, me and Caelum-” Aeon held out his hand and snorted. “No need to explain yourself. As a matter of fact, I’ve been waiting for the two of you for weeks. I am happy for you both,” And with a nod, Aeon raised from his seat and wandered back to his room. I hastily kissed Rubin’s cheeks, whispering, “Clean this up. I need to go and talk to him.”

*

The wind battered the trees harder than before.

I have to force the glass doors open as I stalked out of the study, wanting nothing but to accompany my miserable friend who is kneeling on the grass, eyes closed as though he was praying. His platinum blond hair was swept to the sides as the wind changes its course.

He is facing the heavens, arms splayed, like he was begging.

Aeon opens his eyes and focused his purple gaze at me. The wind stops abruptly, and I stared as bits of branch and leaves fell on the ground. I sighed.

“You are taking it way too far, Aeon.”

“Says the man who have scoured the earth, looking for a girl for eight hundred years - hoping to meet the one who possess the face he kept on seeing from his dreams. Not to mention all those letters and portraits – how romantic.”

I notice the slight shimmer on the air and watched as Aeon stuffed the silver dust in his pockets, “You’re keeping tabs on her now.”

Aeon ignored me, resuming his position as he turns his knees on the opposite direction, his back on me, “You really love her, don’t you?”

The harsh wind made my cloak flapped on my sides like an oversize wing and I sighed, crossing my arms. I stood there, watching him, my question remains unanswered. I turned and decided to go back inside and let him be.

“Yes.” His lone answer made me stop, “I love her so much like you love Rubin. I love her in any form, in any skin, in any face, in any name. She is the same soul and for the third time, she’s human again. How cruel the heavens are to bestow this fate upon us?” Aeon asked, his coarse voice made me cringe, the wind slashing my face and skin. “But I will follow her if I must. I will keep her safe as long as I could. I have suffered so much to watch her die again for the fourth time,” His shoulders shakes as he cried. Furrowing my brows, I reluctantly put my hand on his shoulder and pat him gently.

The wind lost its harsh blows and settled on a gentle breeze. I watched as Aeon stands from his knees and said, “I didn’t know that you can be affectionate.”

I raised an eyebrow at him, tackling him down on the ground and together we laugh like we had done in the past.

*

“What should I do first? Should I hug her -”

“No, you should say your greetings and offer for your hand – a hug is too much to accept from a stranger,” Aeon put a check on the boxes on his notes while I assisted Rubin with her coat.

“Can I ask her if she has children after the greetings? I am pretty sure that-”

“Absolutely not; that would be rude. First, you’ll have to be polite and ask her how she is doing. Pleasantries, remember?”

Rubin quickly nodded and muttered a thank you before I held her hand as we made our way out of the KIPAWT Residence.

“Are you ready?” She nodded her head which made the tiny yellow ribbon on her hair, bob slightly.

“Yes.”

“Okay then,” I flicked my hand and in seconds, River Seine appeared before us. A tiny gasp escapes Rubin and she peered up to me as we trudged down the slope and settled by a nearby tree. Parisians blundered about, getting on with their business while I lay the blankets down by the earth and hand the basket to Rubin who is now seated unto it. I settled next to her and gingerly took some walnut crusted rolls, putting some jam on top and offering it to Rubin who gave me a nervous gaze, shaking her head.

“Hey, it’s going to be alright. I am pretty sure that they’ll like you.” I offered the roll again, “Take it,” she shakes her head and sighs, “No thanks.” She pushed the food back to me and I pouted.

“No pouting,” she answered, giggling, her arms snaking on my waist as she continue to scan the thin crowd. After a while, I notice her stiffening, looking at one particular lady, who is with a fat woman that has red hair. Rubin tightened her grip on my hand and I whispered, “Don’t worry, everything will be alright.” I leaned in to kiss her forehead and scoot next to her to make room to the incoming guest. The women reach our spots, the fat ginger woman smiling brightly, “Bonjour, je suis Molly. I believe you are the garcon that called and you la fille, one who talk to my poupee, Emily? You ‘ave ze yellow ribbon, oui?”

The fat woman asked, her cheeks red with the effort of standing up on her beefy legs, “Perhaps you should sit down, madame.” I offered her a seat but she declined, waving her hands. “Non! It izz ‘ard for me to zit zhat low. I can’t iztand. I just zettle at zhe bench and let three of you talk.” She smiled, leaving the other woman as she marched down the slope leading to the riverbank.

“Bonjour mad-“

The woman collapsed down on the mat before I even offered for her to sit. I observe the both of them as her and Rubin stared, not taking their eyes off each other. Silently, I checked Emily’s features – the auburn hair was faded; I can see the original ginger hair beneath, the edge of her scalp. Her cute button nose and thick eyelashes greatly resembled Rubin but I wonder if all of these were only coincidences.

I do not want to assure Rubin with false hope.

The woman shifted and blinked, she dab her eyes that were now full of tears with the back of her sleeves and shakily laughed, “I know you are her,” she whispered before pulling Rubin in a hug and exclaiming, “I ‘ave found Crimsyn, Molly! I am bloody well sure that it is really her. Damn Aphrodite, for thinking that she can just snatch my daughter from me!”

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