Red Petal

From that day that she kissed her, Sophia had been giving her a cold shoulder. However someone had been in a good mood lately.

"I would like to go out today," Athena said after she had finished her breakfast.

"Where do you want to go?" asked Lady Alisha.

"Well I just want to walk around the town," she replied honestly. Her eyes met with the sulky Sophia's eyes. She gave her a wink. Sophia scowled and looked away quickly.

"You can go with Trisha," Lady Alisha said.

"Ah, no. This time I want to go alone," Athena refused with a polite smile and immediately dashed to her room.

Trisha and Lady Alisha exchanged glances but did not say anything. Lady Alisha arranged a carriage for her. After a couple of minutes, Athena was back wearing a black dress and black sandals. She even wore a huge black hat which hid her face.

"You look like you are going to a funeral, kiddo," Trisha said. Athena ignored her and said, "I am now taking my leave. Sophia, can you please take care of Little Snow for me? Thank you."

She did not wait for her to respond and immediately left.

Trisha looked at Sophia. She was expressionless and she could not tell what she was thinking.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Sophia snapped at her, annoyance evident in her voice.

"Did Athena really kiss you?" Trisha asked, curiously. Sophia remained silent. "Come on. Tell me... I am still your sister."

She stepped outside and looked at the sky. It was dark and cloudy. It seemed like it was going to rain. With a sigh, she lifted her long dress slightly and stepped into the carriage. Her expression turned cold the moment she stepped into the carriage. It was time to look for that mysterious witch.

After a while, the carriage soon came to a stop. Athena got out and went over to the coachman.

"Thank you for bringing me here, Luis." She thanked him. "You can now return."

"But Miss Athena, how will you come back?"

"I will find a carriage to take me home or I can just walk," Athena said with a small smile.

The coachman opened his mouth to protest but Athena quickly said, "Please go back. You are no longer needed."

Left with no choice, Luis left. Athena sighed for the third time as she looked around. Where can she start?

Her eyes fell on a familiar building that stood tall and substantial in front of her. It was the Moonlight Inn.

She thought of the kind inn owner and decided to go there. Maybe he knew something about this mysterious Red Petal. She walked in. Like before, the whole place reeked of alcohol and many exquisite women moved around the drunk men. Their eyes fell on her. Athena felt uncomfortable under their intense gaze. After a few seconds, they looked away and continued doing what they were doing.

She spotted a familiar figure standing among them. She walked hastily towards him. "Mr Snape, can I talk to you for a few minutes?"

Mr Snape turned around and looked at her. However she appeared unfamiliar to him with her current appearance.

"Alone," she added.

"Sure," he agreed and they moved away from the crowd. When she was sure that no one was near them, she removed her hat.

"Ah, Miss Athena!" he exclaimed. "We meet again."

"I am looking for someone. I was wondering if you might know her."

Mr Snape scratched his head thoughtfully. "I might know her. I know almost everyone in this town."

Her expression brightened. "If that's so, do you know a woman who goes by the name Red Petal?"

Mr Snape's eyebrows furrowed. "Red Petal?"

Athena nodded.

He fell in deep thought. "I have never seen her before." Her face fell.

"But I did hear that name somewhere... Where did I hear it..." He fell in deep thought again before he looked up and said, " I think I know someone who is close to her."

"Where does she stay?"

"Come. I will show you."

Athena wore her hat and quietly followed him out.

"So why are you looking for this woman anyway?" Mr Snape asked curiously as they turned right.

"I am looking for my mother," she answered truthfully. "I heard that she could help me find her."

Mr Snape nodded and they fell in silence.

They soon arrived at a shop. "We are here. She is the owner of this shop."

Athena looked at the familiar shop. Isn't this the same shop she sold the dresses she stole from the castle before?

"Thank you Mr Snape for helping me," she said gratefully.

"You are welcome," he grinned and patted her shoulder. "If you are looking for help again, you know where to find me."

Athena watched him leave before she took in a deep breath and pushed the door and got in.

The owner of the shop was sitting on a stool, reading a book. Athena greeted her politely. The woman looked up at the sound of her voice. "Good morning. How can I help you?"

"Actually..." Athena began as she took off her hat. She did not want to beat about the bush. "... I am looking for a woman called Red Petal."

The woman's expression changed for a moment before it returned back to normal. "Follow me," she said and stood up. Athena followed her into a tearoom.

"Please sit down," the woman said. "Carolina!"

A woman walked in.

"Can you get us two cups of tea?"

The woman named Carolina bowed and left.

"What do you think of this world?"

Athena thought hard. "I think it's beautiful..."

The woman did not respond immediately. Instead she looked at her closely. After a while, she finally laughed. Athena looked at her in confusion.

"Please don't mind me," she said as she continued to laugh. "Well it's true that the world is beautiful but to only naive and innocent people like you."

She became serious as she continued, "But the world is not a beautiful place at all. It's filled with darkness and evil. You better take my words seriously."

Athena did not know what to say. When she remained silent, the middle aged woman decided to lighten the atmosphere.

"Anyway, we did not get to know each other well last time. The name is Belinda Chapel. You can just call me Belinda."

"Athena Carter."

"You are Duke James' daughter? If my memory serves me right, Duke James' daughter is called Viola and he has only one child..."

"I am his foster daughter," she said truthfully. There was something about this woman that made her trust her. "My real parents dumped me," she said as she clenched her fists and she felt her blood boil when she said this. "My foster parents found me wearing this..." She said as she showed her the ordinary looking old necklace.

Carolina walked in with two cups of tea. She placed them on the table and left. "Drink some tea."

Athena thanked her and picked up a cup and sipped the tea slowly. The tea somehow made her calm down.

"So why are you looking for Red Petal?"

"Someone told me that she can help me find my mother. I am always dreaming of her..."

Belinda tapped her fingers on the table. "I see. So you are looking for someone who dumped you at birth?"

Her words were like a knife which stabbed her heart.

"You left your foster parents who showed you nothing but kindness to only look for someone who left you to die?"

Athena's eyes watered. She fought back the tears that were threatening to come out. "I know that I am a fool, okay? There is no need for you to remind me."

Belinda clicked her tongue. "There is no need to get all emotional now."

She surely had a sharp tongue.

Athena looked down. She knew that she was being foolish but she could not help but want to see her parents. Rebecca and James were Viola's real parents not hers.

"So tell me... What are you going to do if you find your mother?"

Athena froze. She had never thought of that. All she wanted to do was to hug her the moment she saw her and ask her the reason why she dumped her but... Then what?

"I... I don't know," she stuttered.

"What if she is already dead?"

Athena's eyes widened and she shook her head vigorously. "No, my mother is still alive."

"How do you know?"

"I can just tell," she said.

Belinda sighed and decided to change the subject. "I last met Red Petal a long time ago. We were good friends but she suddenly disappeared without telling me. Although we were friends, I never managed to see her face once. She always wore a veil."

"Does that mean that she no longer lives in this town?"

Belinda shook her head. "She still lives in the town."

"She still lives in this town?"

Belinda nodded. "But no one knows which part of the town... I also don't know. This town is really big."

"Oh..." Now what?

"But she sends letters to me once in a week. Let me get you her last letter that she sent."

Belinda left the room. Athena had just finished drinking her tea when she came back.

She gave her a folded paper. Athena unfolded the paper. She read quietly.

'Dear Belinda

If you want to see me, look for a stone marked X. When you see that stone, know that you will be near my home. You just turn right and keep on walking. You will eventually arrive at my small house.

I will be waiting for you.

Your best friend

Red Petal'

"That's it?" Athena asked as she turned the letter. "Just how can you find a stone marked X in this town? There are stones everywhere!"

Belinda shrugged nonchalantly. "I did try to look for it but failed.

Her shoulders drooped. She looked at the letter in despair. She mumbled, "This is not going to be easy."

"As the saying goes... No pain, no gain sweetheart," Belinda chuckled.

Athena resisted the urge to tear the letter into pieces. She gave the letter back to Belinda. "Thank you for helping me."

"You are welcome," the middle aged woman smiled warmly at her.

"You don't have any other dresses to sell this time?"

Athena shook her head and wore her hat. "No, I don't. I will be taking my leave now."

Belinda escorted her to the door. "Don't give up, sweetheart. I am sure that you will find her. If you do, greet her for me."

Athena snickered internally. They both knew that it was clearly impossible for her to find Red Petal.

"I hope that we will meet again in the future," Athena said.

"Oh. I am sure that we will."