Clair sat in her tub, soaking with warm water and a flower fragrance entering her nostrils. She lifted her feat and placed them at the other end of the tub, with her head hanging low.
Ah, this is life.
This was a normal occurrence during the worst days of her life—her period.
In the past there were multiple times she would take her time and do self care like this. Shave her legs, her womanhood and her arms, and apply all sorts of fragrances, and skin care products,
Aside from her period, these days include massive killing sprees. Times in which she would want to get rid of the strong smell of blood and just treat herself after such tiring work
Another was when she was about to kill someone who had been on her nerves for a very long time.
Anyway, right now she was living her best life. She was relaxed, calm and simply awesome!
Her messy red hair was tied in a bun and covered with a shower cap. Staring at the wall in front of her with a complicated expression, Clair started to appreciate fond memories she had of her childhood, her very short childhood that is.
"A beautiful rose in a garden of thorns. Awaiting the day she shall bloom. A beautiful rose in a garden of thorns. Patiently waiting for the day, she will step foot outside her golden cage." Clair whispered to herself, trying to find the tune to the song, but all she could utter was these sentences repeatedly with the ring of a poem.
She did her best to find the lost tune, but she couldn't no matter how hard she tried.
Upset, she reached out to the phone on the floor covered by her dress and underwear. Picking it up, she played a recording of her singing the same words with a familiar tune. Her mother would hum to her before putting her to bed.
Right, fairy tale-like huh?
Well the reason why? Clair begged for it!
She could remember a blurry scene in which she was reading a book where the mother sang a lullaby to her kids and so she asked her mother to sing her songs from then on. The only thing that could calm her, even till this day.
The tune stuck to her but moments like this would upset her.
Because- well...
It scared her that she needed to record herself or write it down to not forget. It was so special to her, how could she let her mind lose the tune so easily?
She cursed and placed the phone back, repeating the tune on her head until she could sing it out loud.
Finally done with her bath, she covered her body with a bathrobe and walked towards her bed where she sat down and started applying her body lotion.
She watched James walk back inside and close the door in a hurry.
"The poison, did you make it yourself?" He asked.
"I did. Pretty useful, huh? One kiss and the person's life is gone. I have a variety of them." She answered, clearly in a good mood.
"Does that mean you've had to kiss them first?"
Looking at his dark expression, she rolled her eyes. "A kiss on the cheeks or their fingers brushing against the lipstick on my lips is enough." She explained and then smirked. "You couldn't be showing any symptoms, could you?"
"Symptoms? What symptoms?" Still leaning against the door, he asked, his voice laced with panic.
"Ah, did I not make you drink the antidote in time?" She 'wondered,' out loud, looking clueless.
"If your chest feels heavy and your legs get itchy, tell me."
"What if that happens?" He asked.
"Then you're doomed." She replied, focusing her attention on her freshly shaved legs.
"Don't you think my legs are just beautiful?"
He looked at her legs from his distance and nodded, agreeing silently. "What do you mean I'm doomed?"
"That means it's too late. You can kiss your little brother goodbye."
"W-what?"
"Shit. You aren't showing those symptoms, are you?" Her mouth hung open when he nodded nervously.
"We should divorce, Your Highness." She sighed and walked up to him, patting his shoulder. "I can't stay married to an incapable man."
"That's what you are concerned about?" He shot her a glare, catching her wrist before she could remove it from him.
"Do you want me to show you if I'm incapable or not?"
"Yes." She responded with a straight face.
"You're so shameless."
"I'm aware."
"..."
"*sigh* You're no fun. I was kidding, it's normal to get those symptoms after the antidote. You'll be fine in 20 minutes." She grinned and continued.
"If you're unusually horny, don't be too surprised. It's completely normal."
"You-"
"Hey! Why are you glaring at me, it's not my fault you kissed me? If it makes you feel any better, it was one fucking good kiss." She flashed him another grin and walked out of the room, leaving him dumbfounded.
****
"Can't you watch something else? This is boring!" James complained.
"If you don't want to watch it, then don't." She replied, not bothering to pay any attention.
He shook his head and picked up his laptop from the coffee table, deciding to work instead.
"You know there's a study room, right?"
"I'm yet to get used to this place." He replied.
"Is that why you followed me around the house all the time?"
He scrunched his nose and denied the accusations right away.
"You do." She insisted.
"I don't." His denial followed.
"Suuuure."
A few minutes into the drama and a lot of chocolate bars eaten, Clair paused the drama she was watching. "It's getting boring. Be honest, have you watched this drama before?"
"Hmm."
Clair raised an eyebrow. Could that be possible? Who knew they shared the same interests, from sweet desserts and candies to movies and dramas.
"Kayden dies at the end."
"Fuck off! I never asked for the spoiler." She shot him. A dirty look and grumpily walked towards the kitchen.
"There's no ice cream. I donated it to my assistant."
"Why the hell would you donate my food without my permission."
"It wasn't yours, someone sent it. You finished yours, remember?"
"I did? Oh, I did! Wait, who sent ice cream? Did that jerk Elliot decide to apologize?"
"He left a note," James replied.
"So you were here earlier? I saw your car outside"
"Yes, I read the letter and burned it, then I donated the ice cream." He pointed to the ashtray on top of the microwave.
Clair looked down at the ashes left and it left her with a mix of anger,confusion , and frustration.
"How dare you? Compensate me!"
"You want a love letter?" He frowned.
"No! What? I want my ice cream back!"
"Check the lower compartment."
"Yesss!" Clair cheered as she found 3 large-sized ice cream buckets of the mint chocolate flavor Elliot usually buys her when he wants to apologize. Distracted by ice cream, she immediately forgot the matter of the 'love letter' and got to eating and scooping.
James who had initially wanted to throw away the ice cream realized that the food did not deserve to pay the consequences of the sender. He then gave it to Jace instead and bought Clair thrice as much as Elliot had. He still didn't know who this Elliot guy was, but he did not have a good feeling about it.
And the letter…. let's just say it was an eyesore to read. He honestly felt guilty for reading something that was not meant for him, but it all had its explanation! He thought Clair had left it for him!
He read the letter by accident and had not realized it was not for him until he saw it was signed by Elliot for Clair, his 'sweetheart.' (Just the thought annoyed him) He had created a whole script to explain his actions, but it seemed he wouldn't need to use it anymore. After all, Clair was more interested in her ice cream and the new drama she watched off her 'to watch' list.
"You're such a foodie." He mumbled,