Suspicion (2)

Dairon went back to his mansion as though nothing had happened.

"Where is Jasmine?" He asked Rosetta who was cleaning the living room.

"The lady went to the library." She answered, and Dairon went to the library without uttering another word. Sure enough, the woman was sitting on a rattan chair and reading a book which he was almost certain she was not reading. She looked lost in thought.

"Jasmine?" He called gently, trying not to make her unknowingly burn or break anything.

She slowly raised her head and looked at him once before looking away to continue reading, like she couldn't be bothered to have a conversation with him.

"Jasmine, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have blamed you." He apologized, and she finally focused on him. "I didn't know what to think when such a thing has never happened before."

"I see." Came her nonchalant response.

"Are you mad at me?" He asked as he cautiously closed in on her after ensuring that she wouldn't kick him out.

Her lips curled into a tiny smile as she blinked indifferently. "I didn't expect anything from you. Where would the anger stem from?"

He should be happy that she wasn't angry, but he wasn't sure anymore. It really was going to take long before he could win her over.

"Bardumond will give you another check tomorrow." He stated, which she ignored.

"I know a way to get me back to the human world." She looked at him as she awaited his reaction, but he must be good at hiding his emotions.

"What is it?" He asked as though he was curious, not showing any signs of being mad at her for trying to find ways out despite being told that it was impossible to leave.

"Summon a witch and have then open a portal to the realm of mortals." She suggested, which was an idea she had gotten from one of the books she had read earlier.

He found it amusing that she would even think about it, but he had to admit that she was smart because it would actually work." Really? Do you know any witch?" He pulled a chair to sit beside her and asked.

"No, you idiot. Otherwise, I wouldn't have needed to ask you." She scowled. Vivian's grandmother did not mention real names in her tales. She always used pseudonyms. Otherwise, she would have tried to summon one of them since everything that she thought was made up stories that bloggers came up with in the past had turned out to be true.

Dairon's lips curled into a pleasant smile when she hit a dead end. She didn't know any witch, nor did she know how to summon one even if she knew them.

"Sorry, I can't help." He denied triumphantly.

"Of course you can. You just don't want to." Her lips twitched. She knew this, but there was nothing she could do about it. She should ask Bardumond during his next visit.

Knowing that she wouldn't get anywhere with this, she picked up a stack of paper from beside her. She then took a piece of charcoal and concentrated on drawing dresses. This was her way of expressing that she wanted to be alone so he left to give her the space she needed.

She looked at the door when it closed and sighed softly. Why did it feel like she was making him uncomfortable in his own house?

Soon, Rosetta came with a glass on a tray and placed it on a small table in front of her.

"What's this?" She glanced at the red drink and bit her lips. It wasn't some weird creature's blood, right?

"It's beetroot juice. The exact same type you would find in the human world. Lord Bardumond recommended it to replenish your blood." Rosetta explained and sighed in relief when Jasmine finally took a sip.

"Do you have any tools to make clothes? These blue gowns are killing me." Jasmine asked.

"Yes. Master Dairon's dressmaker has all the tools you may need, I can help pass a message if you would like new clothes." She gave all the details and was ready to dash to the dressmaker's room.

"No need. Just show me where he is." She wanted to make her own clothes and did not wish to impose on the dressmaker. When she was done drinking the red but tasteless juice, Rosetta showed her to yet another wing of this endless mansion, then knocked on a door.

"Who is there?" A man's heavy voice sounded on the other side before footsteps approached and the door creaked open.

"How may I be of help?" The man asked. He had heavy eye bags and must be busy, it was uncertain whether he had any time to rest.

"Hello, Mr…"

"Maximus. Nice to meet you, milady." He introduced himself, finally taking a clearer look at Jasmine. She must be the woman that Dairon said to respect and tend to, and he hoped that she didn't find him rude.

"I was hoping you could help me with something but you must be busy…" She was yet to state that she would return later when the man frantically showed them in.

"I was just taking a break. Please have a seat." He pulled a chair and wiped it even though it was clean, then placed it against the wall for Jasmine to sit.

The large room was divided with one part looking like a tailor's workshop—with a sewing machine and all the required tools and materials. There was even a long line of robes hanging. There was a divider separating the working space from the other side which must be his sleeping area.

Jasmine took a look at the unfinished robes on the stand and comprehended the situation. "When do you have to finish these?"

"Before tomorrow. They are for lord Bardumond and he will pick them up in the afternoon." He explained, thinking that the lady was merely curious. He was even planning to quickly sew whatever Jasmine wanted made as fast as possible, before finishing up the god's robes.

However, Jasmine's offer was unexpected. "I was hoping I could borrow the sewing machine for a few hours. If I help you finish up the robes as soon as possible, can I borrow the sewing machine for the rest of the night? Don't worry about me being unable to finish a piece of work that someone else started. I will do a clean job."

Not only was Maximus surprised, Rosetta was shocked too. "You can sew?"

She nodded. "Needles are too slow or I would have chosen them." She showed them one piece of her drafts so they would believe her. However, drawing was one thing while sewing was another….

Maximus let her make her dress first, mostly because he was doubtful of her ability. Not wanting to put him in a tight spot, she selected the materials she would need and started working.

Under their surprised gazes, she managed to make a beautiful, red dress with short sleeves and a long skirt, as well as a small pink one.

"She really can do it! It's so beautiful!" Rosetta gushed, while Maximus was starting to doubt his abilities. How could anyone be so good and fast? If they weren't watching, they would have thought she had made it using magic.

"Who is the pink one for?" Rosetta asked curiously. It was too small for Jasmine and looked like a style meant for children, with the bow at the waist and a lacy hem.

Jasmine looked at the dress dotingly, not realizing that she had been so carried away as to make it.

She closed her eyes as she hugged it, feeling her heart throb. I miss you so much, Dahlia.

_____

Efinchil.

Sophie and Harry had been making so many trips to the police station that they may as well pack their luggage and move in.

Every time they went, they would get the same answer—there wasn't any news of Jasmine.

Sophie sadly cleaned the house, and looked up hopefully when she heard the front door open. Harry was back from Cannon Island and she rushed up to him. "Dear, did you get any news from Cannon Island?" She asked immediately.

He shook his head devastated. "What about the police? Did they say anything?" He asked, then immediately realized that she would not have asked him if she had any news from her side.

"Let's all go to Cannon Island." She suggested something she had thought about for a while. "We can stay at a hotel until they find Jasmine. It's much easier to find her there since it's the place where she was last seen." The police had said this too, so she knew that it was the best option.

"What about her?" He asked, referring to Dahlia who was doing her homework in the living room.

"We should go with her."

While they spoke, they were interrupted by Dahlia who snapped her neck to look behind her.

"Jasmine?" She called out in confusion.

"Dahlia, are you alright?" Sophie rushed to her daughter to check on her.

The girl looked around in confusion. "I thought I heard Jasmine call my name. She said she misses me…I guess I was only hallucinating."