7 Welcome home

Author's note: this chapter is from Seraphina's point of view

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"Why are you so slow?", an older lady whose back was facing me asked.

"I don't want to go with you.", I responded defiantly.

The weather was cloudy, just like my mood, and I didn't feel like this neatly-maintained neighborhood park is where I belong. There is an empty playground with swings and a seesaw and all the other good things, but it's wasted without kids present. There are either no kids in this area, or parents keep them locked in.

"I can ensure that you have a bright future.", the older lady tried to reason with me.

"I don't like you."

She cackled. "But, I like you. Keep that attitude and maybe we meet again…"

She started walking away from me, and I closed my eyes with relief that I'm not forced to go with her.

"Wake up, sleepyhead…", a male voice called, and I felt his fingers brush against my cheek.

My eyes sprang open and I realized that I am sitting in a bus, and my head is leaning on someone's shoulder. I looked up at him and met deep blue eyes that smiled at me. It was the boy I knew as 'Duke'.

He chuckled before speaking to me in a half-whisper: "You should be careful. How can you sleep in a bus full of people without any care for your safety? Don't you know that anyone can come and do something… inappropriate?"

I knew that he is teasing me, yet I was not angry. Behind that devilish smile and mischief in his eyes, there was a sense of security that radiated from him.

"How can anyone come close when you are protecting me?"

His eyebrows shoot up and a second later, his lips curved into a boyish grin that told me he liked my response.

"We are here, Serina…", a voice from the distance pulled me into reality.

I opened my eyes and sighed. I am in Aldus's car and I remembered that I slept off shortly after finishing the test he gave me. The old lady and Duke are not real.

"Did you have another dream?", Aldus asked.

"Is it that obvious?"

"You look unhappy to be awake."

"Maybe me being unhappy has more to do with my reality than with my dreams.", I threw him a snarky remark.

Before he could respond, I had a demand on my own. "Give me a second to make sure I don't forget."

I closed my eyes and mentally replayed my dream: the old lady in the park, and the young boy I called Duke from the bus.

I could not help but wonder if Duke is my boyfriend. There was a sense of familiarity and closeness, and in this dream, we were flirting but… he looks too young. Am I into younger boys? Ah, that bus gave me a feel of a field-trip, and he was definitely a high-schooler! I am a pedophile! Or maybe this is my old memory? Aldus said that some images might be older. If Duke-boy is from my high school days, then remembering him is probably useless, unless we are still together. But if we are together, then I should dream about his current-self.

Who knows why my mind decided to play tricks on me?

If I want to get closer to who I am, I need to remember things from a week ago or a month ago. What am I going to do after remembering people from many years ago? Have a school reunion?

This memory loss thing sucks big time!

I opened my eyes and saw that Aldus is staring at me.

"Do you care to share your dream?"

I shrugged and told him about my dream, but I toned down the flirting in the bus part.

"So… another faceless woman and the boy is a repeat.", Aldus mused. "Make sure to write the dream down when you get a chance." He gestured to the side, toward the massive pastel-orange villa that was at the end of a meticulously maintained garden.

"Welcome home, Serina…", Aldus said with a smile while holding the car door open for me.

How did he get there? He was next to me in the car a moment ago. Did I space out? Probably.

"You are welcome to enjoy the gardens anytime.", Aldus spoke while we walked toward the villa under the stone archways that extended along the paved path, spaced to about every two steps. "Other than the three floors you see when you look at the villa, there are two floors underground. The first floor above the ground has common spaces such as dining and living areas, a study, and a gym. The second and third floors are private quarters where you will not be disturbed. The first floor underground is a regular basement, and the second one has my labs and areas I use for my research. Until you are familiar with my work, I would prefer that you refrain from going to the second underground level."

"I can explore the rest of the villa?"

Aldus confirmed. "I will show you your room…"

At the main entrance, we were greeted by six men and eight women, they had matching clothes and were obviously the staff of this mansion. They all bowed and held their position until Aldus dismissed them.

"They know you as my daughter and will address you as 'young Miss'.", Aldus informed me.

I stared at the interior that made me think of a palace from the Renaissance with large and bright halls, ornate columns, frescoes, coffered high ceilings, marble floors, and other features that give it a refined and luxurious look.

"It was remodeled recently so it has all the commodities you can think of. I recommend the sunroom in morning hours, the light reflects through the mosaic glass wonderfully.", Aldus said while leading the way upstairs.

When we reached the landing, Aldus paused. "Let me show you this place first."

I followed him into the second room and gaped at the sight of floor-to-ceiling wooden bookshelves that covered three out of four walls and were filled with books to the brim.

Aldus smiled, pleased with my reaction that revealed my desire to find out what is in those books. "You are more than welcome to come here and read whatever you want."

"This is like a library."

"I call it a reading room. Let me know if you want to learn something and books are not enough."

"Learn something?"

"Yes. You are speaking English and I can detect a slight accent, like a hard 'R' which makes me think that you used to live in Eastern Europe and then moved to an English-speaking country in your teens. Maybe. But that would mean that you know a second language. Do you speak Italian? Or some other language?"

I shrugged and shook my head, indicating that I'm not sure.

"It does not matter. I don't want to overwhelm you right now, but you should keep in mind that if you want a tutor for a language, or for anything else, just let me know and I will get that sorted for you."

"Why do you want me to learn things?"

He looked at me like I asked something outrageous.

"What else will you do? If you don't keep your mind busy, you will start thinking and doing unnecessary and potentially destructive things. An idle mind is the devil's workshop."

"Do you believe that devil exists?"

"I never met the creature, if that is what you are asking.", Aldus responded casually.

"No, I mean…" I felt silly for asking him about the devil and decided to clarify my original question about learning. "Aren't you afraid that I will learn things and use them against you?"

"Afraid?", he paused and pursed his lips. "No, my dear Serina. Actually, it's the opposite. I believe that the more you know, the more you will realize that you need me if you want to stay safe. Now, let me show you to your room. It's only three doors down the hallway."

When we reached our destination, Aldus paused and gestured further ahead. "My room is the last one on the left." And then he led the way in my room.

The room is massive with a big bed, a sitting area, a work desk, a walk-in closet, and an attached full bathroom. The tan walls have golden details around the edges and are filled with paintings that depict nature. A massive light brown area rug with dark red details covers the hardwood floor. The ceiling is vaulted and a medallion made out of historical patterns is engraved in the ceiling with its center around the big crystal chandelier.

"If you want to change anything, let the maids know.", Aldus said when he noticed that I am scrutinizing the décor.

I smiled in response, unsure if he really means is or if he is only being polite. Everything around me looks antique and super-expensive, can I really modify it as I see fit? But even if I could, I have no idea how I would change it.

I thought of one thing. "Can I have a computer with internet access?"

Aldus nodded without hesitation. "It will be arranged. Give me a day, maybe two."

His response surprised me. I knew that he can spy on my internet activity, but knowing that I have access to the outside world got me to drop my guard against him, at least a little bit.

I approached the first of the three big windows that allowed ample sunlight in the room. I was curious to see what is outside. My eyes widened as I took in the sight of an exquisite Italian garden whose manicured hedges created geometric shapes that were hugged by the graveled pathways and they all connected at the fountain in the middle. Beyond that was the perfectly calm Mediterranean sea whose deep blue kissed the cloudless light-blue sky.

"The view is better from here…", Aldus said and opened the French door to what I initially thought it's a middle window.

Ah, I have a balcony! Now, this… I like. There are even two chairs and a bistro table. Perfect for enjoying the beverage or a light snack while soaking in the sunset. I can't wait for the sun to dip lower so that I can see it with my own eyes.

Aldus cleared his throat, to get my attention. "I will leave you to rest and settle in. Don't forget to write down your dream."

Aldus gestured to the desk and only then I noticed that my notepad is already on it. How did he do that?

"Dinner will be in about one hour…", Aldus said and left the room.

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