Serena's POV
"What are we going to do now Serena?" Calla asked.
"I don't know, gosh." I answered as I bit my lower lip.
**Flashback**
(An hour before we leave Cassopeia)
"We can't do anything so, be careful okay?" Jester reminded us.
Jas and Aya already left. Even Max. After we left Miss Scarlet's office, when she came, she had assigned us to find this specific flower as our training for today. Unfortunately, the group is only divided by two and Calla is my partner.
"Yes Master! We will be careful." I said that made him laugh.
"Silly," he said and even run his hands in my hair. "Seriously though, be careful okay?"
Calla and I nodded. Jester and I is all good. I got pisses after what happened yesterday but now we're fine. I know in myself I can't bear not talking to him for a long time so...
"We're leaving then Jester. Look, your partner is already waiting for you." Calla said.
And true enough, his partner is already waiting for him. He's been following us around and he even had a plan to come with us.
"Don't worry. We will be careful. I will take care of Serena." Calla said and tap Jester's shoulders assuring him.
Jester's face suddenly turned red. "What are you talking about? I'm worried not just at Serena but also you. Because what if something bad happened to both of you?" Jester said defensively but Calla rolled her eyes at him.
"As if. We are not going to leave Cassopeia. Tsh. We're going then. Bye!"
And Calla pulled me away. I shook my head. I can't count anymore how many times Calla pulled me this day. We are already far away but I heard Jester shouting 'Be careful! If you don't return on time, I'm going to find you, okay!'
I smiled. He's really worried. And he's caring. How can you not f-- okay stop. I'm overthinking things again.
"What the. Why can't we find adenium flower here." I complained.
We've been walking around but we can't find one. We had entered almost all of the flower shops here at Cassopeia but they aren't selling one.
"Should we leave Cassopeia instead? Let's find outside instead?" Calla suggested.
**End of Flasback**
And here we are. We are outside Cassopeia. And instead of finding that specific flower, we followed Cheska.
We were on our way to a flower shop when we saw Cheska. Calla and I remembered what Jas said that they saw Cheska at Rivendell that's why we followed her.
"Do you think Cheska had a magic too?" Calla whispered at me.
We are hiding behind a tree not far from where Cheska is standing. She's talking with someone but we can't see who is that someone.
"I don't think so. You remembered when you visited me at Trinity High?" I ask and Calla nodded. "She was manipulated by someone. And if I'm not mistaken, that must be that person again." I said and pointed at the person who's Cheska is talking to.
I am so sure the girl that I had encountered in the forest back then was different from the girl I encountered in the locker room a few days ago. They have different voice and appearance but they're saying the same thing. They were both threatening me. But they were both two different people. I was so busy lately that I forgot about that woman.
"What if..." Calla stopped in mid-sentence and then she gasped. "OHMYGOD!" She shouted but not loud enough.
"What? Why?" I ask in panic.
"What if this is all Heila's plan?"
"Heila?" I asked confused. I know Rivendell was our enemy but Mom never mentioned a name Heila.
"She's the one ruling Rivendell. Long ago, Her Highness successfully defeated her and had her locked up at the abandoned cave far from Cassopeia. And the only thing that can free her is a blood of an ordinary people." Calla explained.
We fell silent when we finally connected all the happenings lately. Cheska was manipulated once. Jas saw her at Rivendell yesterday. What if... Gosh, no please. We look at each other.
"What if they used Cheska to free Heila?" Calla and I asked at each other.
And we both gasped at the same time as we covered our mouth shut. I quickly turned my head to where Cheska is and they aren't there anymore.
"Crap. We lost them Calla." I said.
"This is gonna be a big trouble Serena. I swear." Calla said. Worry and uneasiness were both visible in her voice and in her eyes.
I quickly gave him a hug. "We should inform Miss Scarlet about what we found out."
We immediately leave the tree where we are hiding and we totally forgot about the reason why we came here in the first place. That is to find the flower that Miss Scarlet assigned us to.
"Let's return at Cassopeia. Miss Scarlet needs to know about this asap." Calla said.
I nodded and we started walking away from the boutique shop when we meet Cheska along the street. I was even shook that I wasn't able to reply when she called me.
"I didn't saw you since last week Serena. How are you?" She asked and she's even smiling.
I narrowed my eyes at her. Is she being manipulated right now or?
"She's not." Calla whispered when she noticed I am just looking at Cheska. "A person who is being manipulated by someone has dark blue eyes."
I look at Cheska's eyes and it was brown. Okay.
"I'm fine. How about you?" I answered as I give her a sly smile.
"I just feel a little weird this past days but I'm fine." She said. "Hi. You are Calla, right?" She asked Calla.
"Yes. That's me. Hi!" Calla replied as she waved at her back.
"What are you doing here?" I ask her.
I needed to know if she knew the person she's talking too earlier. Maybe she could tell us who is that. Wait. I look around us. Maybe she's still here and was watching us.
"Let's talk here." I said and pulled her and Calla away.
"What do you mean you feel weird this past days?" I ask Cheska.
We were able to find a secret mini cafe away from those crowded places. And I'm pretty sure no one followed us.
"I don't know. I was actually sleeping but I am shocked when I find myself here instead." Cheska explained.
I look at Calla. And she's giving me the look that says,
"They are using her everytime they want."
I look at Cheska and I can see the stress in her eyes. I suddenly pity her. And I'm angry at whoever is using her. More to the fact that they've been using her without her knowledge. She maybe rude to me but still.
"Did you ever wake up and found yourself inside a cave or something?" Calla asked her.
And I stopped breathing for a moment when she nodded. Even Calla was seated frozen in her seat.
"Yes. I remember that. As far as I know, I went home that time but when I woke up, I'm not at home. Instead I was inside a cave. I even had a scar in my hands. Gosh, I will never forget how scary that was." She explained.
I look at Calla. So this confirms everything that we concluded.
"Wait. How did you know?" Cheska asked confused. And then she points her finger at me. "Is this all your plan Serena?!" she said accusing me.
I rolled my eyes at her. "And why would I do that to you? You remember how you almost killed me way back in the forest? I didn't get back at you Cheska even if I badly wanted to throw you outside our school." I said that made her shut her mouth.
"Cheska, can you bring us to that cave?" Calla suddenly asked.
I look at Calla immediately. Is she serious?
"Huh? Are you serious?" Cheska asked.
"You are kidding right?" I also asked.
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Calla then answered seriously.
I blink my eyes at her. Well, what if she's joking, right?
"But why.?." I said.
"We needed to confirm it Serena." she answered.
"Confirm what?" Cheska asked while looking at us.
But instead of answering her, Calla stood up. "Come on let's go. We needed to go before the night comes."
"Wait, are you really serious?" Cheska asked again but Calla already went out of the Cafe.
I look at Cheska. "I guess she's really serious." I told her as I shrugged and followed her outside.
And we started walking. And walking. And walking.
"Is this the place?" I ask when we finally saw a cave after what I felt like hours of walking.
Good thing we rode a vehicle up to the forest entrance because if not, I might had fainted long ago in the road. And we walk to find this cave.
"I guess." Cheska answered as she entered the cave.
"Let's go," Calla said.
"There's no wild beast or something here, right?" I said a little worried.
I can barely protect myself plus Calla's here. Also Cheska. She shouldn't know about us having magic.
"There's no beast here. Come on." Calla answered but I know she's also scared.
"Are you just going to stand there or you'll come inside?" Cheska asked who is standing at the entrance.
Even if I am worried, Calla and I walked towards the entrance of the cave since Cheska already entered inside.
Maybe the cave's actually safe.
"AHHHHHHH!" Or maybe not.
~~