Prologue: She Who Finds, Will Abide

Coraline blankly opened her eyes with a deep sigh.

She laid back on the many pillows that surrounded her.

While her oversized garment draped over her right shoulder—which was actually a mundane shawl that was gifted to her.

She lightly turned her head to see a silhouette of a woman's sculpted back and the curve shape her hips made. Laying just across from her, the woman was slightly tucked in the heavy blankets.

The woman's hair barely reached her neck. It was messy on the pillow but still was vibrant in its tarry-red color.

Under the guise of her boyish-like clothes, and the padded shoulders—brownish freckles covered her body. They only lightly showed on her cheeks at first glance, but we're most apparent on her back and legs.

Completely opposite of Coraline, who had a more feminine appearing look.

She was no stranger to long dresses or loose-fitting clothing. She even found herself putting doll pins in her short jet-black hair and painting her nails light-shaded colors.

Most time she'd wear someone else's favorite colors.

She was paler than the woman was but height wise the woman surpassed her by more than a few inches.

The woman's name was, Irene Royce.

'The daughter of an elite family, huh?'

Irene, whom Coraline lies dimwittedly next to, was a part of the power fundamentals that had the strongest influence in the kingdom and went into most of the trading business.

There was almost no flaw to her, Coraline however, had one defect to her.

The one ugly scar that took most of her back. If anyone else other than Irene saw it then the rumors about Coraline would immediately die down and arise a riot among the people.

She was surprised at the kind-hearted nature of Irene. There was a time Coraline had fallen ill and Irene had no reason to see her. But when she opened her door at midnight in a cold sweat—there was Irene.

That week she was in the care of the worried Irene; she helped her with everything and childless-ly cradled her in her arms as her nightgown became soaked in her tears. Irene held her tightly until she could fall asleep.

Irene had become someone Coraline regularly relied on and opened up to.

That's just the person who Irene was.

When they were still getting familiar with one another Irene would flourish Coraline in gifts. Whether it was small trinkets, pendants, or charms. It was always something Coraline could keep in her collection.

She quickly picked up on the things she liked and disliked.

In turn, she'd make sure Coraline felt comfortable wherever they were and would have her arms wide open if she needed it.

Despite how Coraline complained about how it made her feel indebted to her.

Irene would giggle about it. She'd play with her wrists and say how could she stand idle beside her lover. She reassured Coraline that it put her at ease and should be something she'd expected her to do.

In the past, Coraline had been subjected to the falsity of the press about Irene.

Human sins also contain bad habits. One of the habits is how humans are quick to be subjected to prejudices and assumptions labeled about other people.

The small shed-like place the two were residing in belonged completely to them. Since the citizens and press, we're extremely noisy.

Property owned by the Royce family; Irene welcomed her to this hidden place since her father confusingly bestowed it to her as a gift when she asked for it.

The only people that knew of its location were those of her family. No stranger or stalker could be able to pinpoint where it was exactly.

It had become their safe place, they had matching accessories, utensils, toothbrushes, and towels.

Irene had gotten used to sitting on the toilet facing the back wall while Coraline stood behind her and began to tightly straighten out her hair and add extensions to her hair, making it waist-length.

This was to help her get ready for the events that were mandatory for Irene to attend.

Coraline was her designated stylist, she picked out the colors she'd wear. Which hoop skirts to wear under her dress and sometimes which tailor she should go to, to be suited for a suit.

Irene was helping her with her insolent problem, something she had no need to do or even have to look twice at.

She reached out her hand, inches away from Irene, 'So why did she feel inclined to help me?' Her hand dropped to the empty spot that borderline her from Irene.

If Coraline had to do it all over again she'd still take her hand each time.

Since the one being strung around wasn't her. Irene was exactly like a polished stone—one that felt safe in its captive's hand.

Had she known that Coraline was one of the reasons behind her younger brother's death, she wouldn't be so adoring of her, naturally.

She had no idea how her brother's death affected Irene since Coraline barely had anyone to call family. There was not more than one person that she cared about truly and would mourn if they suddenly died.

She'd have to hide her dirty secret till death did them part.

Coraline scratched at the side of her arm, she was still drowsy from the dusk of the early morning. If anything, Irene was a better morning person than her.

Looking around the room, there were no mirrors in any corner. Coraline absolutely detested seeing her reflection—it made her feel guilty.

Anytime she looked too closely at herself, she couldn't help but feel doubtful, 'I wasn't doing anything that bad...Am I?'

She turned to the other side to avoid staring at the back of Irene's head. There were some moments where Coraline felt like she was taking advantage of Irene.

'What if she thought I was?'

Her heart began to flutter in an anxious rhythmic beat, what if Irene decided to turn on her and had hated her since the start?

Their first impression wasn't the best—Coraline could've been the one to be blamed for that.

How would she have any way to know that Irene wasn't already scheming behind her? She has access to most of her assets and things that could put her behind bars.

Coraline smacked her forehead with the palm of her hand, 'Tsk, I'm still doing this doubtful?' Getting inside her own head is what Coraline struggled to stop doing.

There were more things to be worried about.

The plan.

One the both of them had been working quietly together to help benefit the both of them.

In the end, Coraline's goals were simple. She wanted to keep her business afloat, stay in the tide by selling valuable information to her private clients, and stay by Irene's side. Someone she has become fond of.

Almost everything there was to know about her—Coraline knew it.

Even down to her small patterns. Like how she peeled off her nails when she was unsure of something. Or when she blinked more than usual because she was holding back her temper. And the nose scrunch she did when she was about to cry.

With another deep sigh, Coraline sat up to place her feet on the wooden floor. Beside her side of the bed was a bunch of bottles meant for booze. Each with a different design on the label.

She was still deciding on which one to go with. Not many people paid attention to the design of what they're drinking but Coraline strongly believed in the aesthetic. It would have to pair with both her male and female clients.

Most of her stock was bought out by beer-bellied men and single mothers.

If she was lucky then a wealthy family would sponsor to have her do an event for them at one of their parties.

Those were the days Coraline paid the most attention to since many people weren't in their right space of mind. Innately, they'd be more easily pried at and some of them just pour out their secrets to her without her asking.

Coraline smiled to herself, unlike her motto, "Forget it, and You're in Heaven!"

Her memory was as sharp as they came. When it came to the gritty details, there was no occurrence where Coraline would forget about it.

Especially their facial expressions, she can recall back it as if it was an old replaying of it. She had a thing for making sure the time was right. Everything she did was oriented around the perfect timing.

Coraline could hear shuffling behind her, 'Did Irene wake up?'

"Coral," a hand wrapped around Coraline's waist followed by her groggy voice.

Coraline threw her head back on Irene's perched shoulder.

Irene pushed her resting shoulder back, making Coraline fall back to the bed and Irene to be on top of her. She looked down at her with a grin, "Coral."

Coraline let out a small chuckle while grazing the side of Irene's cheek, playing with her hair in symphony as Irene's warmth tickled at her. Her green eyes longingly stared back at her.

"Today's the day, Gray."