Misery of Artemisia

Chapter 9: His Soul

AS MUCH as possible, I don't want to have a mess of trouble times again. Because life is so unfair! It gives me too much stress while other people are just doing hangouts and pampered. Am I really deserve to feel hurt?

It almost one month passed since we last talked with Melissa. And what's the reason behind it? It's just because she gives me overflowing distress in my life! So why do I need to have a conversation with her again? Just to have a disturbance?

"Aren't you feel conscientious? Even it was passed now for almost a month, still, I remember how Melissa taught and help us when I needed it the most. My point is just, why do we treat her unfairly? Is it her fault to share awareness with people like us, specifically on the Kingdom of Ashes? Pardon me, but it's a show of audacity." He seems to blame me.

Sorry, bro, but I am not in the mood to talk about that. I am now resting my soul here on my bed, so please, can you just let me sleep without thinking about negative happenings?

Instead of responding to his point, I just cover my whole body with a white thick blanket.

My brother never sees me yet cry over tears. Most of the time, whenever he's not beside me, I secretly cry as if it's my last day. I cry all of a sudden because my heart is too heavy and I cannot take it anymore. I cannot hold the pain and aches that my heart is bringing. That's why every time I am alone, the only thing that helps me to lessen the pain that I have is to cry over and over.

"It's time to take a coffee and have breakfast, sister. Stand up!" his voice covered almost the corner of this room that also accompanied the ringing of my alarm clock.

I unbend my arms and shouted a yawn while uncovering the blanket that enwraps the whole parts of my body.

"I know. I know. Keep your mouth shut, okay?" I snoop to convinced him just to stop throwing me unlikable opinions.

I fix my bed and as well as the thing that most people do when they just awake.

"Did you saw my Gucci bag? That's where I put my invitation card. Please, help me to find it now. And a second please, don't ask me again if what will I do on that." I pleased him, showing him a rugged look.

Unexpectedly, he rolled his eyes on me then he searches for it.

What an attitude, bro. That's a sh*t!

"You're careless and an i***t!" he release swear words towards me. "Why did you changed like that? Are you really my sister? Is that all because of what Melissa uttered about your stepfather's ink?! Oh, come on, what's the matter?"

"What's the problem with you?! Can you not understand my situation? Because I thought you care," I breathe out. But at this moment, I cannot look directly into his eyes and it's because I felt disappointed. "So, what do you want me to do then? To talk and have a deal with Melissa?!"

"If possible, why don't you? Artemisia, don't be upset about my actions, it's also for your sake! I cared for you and... I am just concerned about your life. It just suddenly came into my mind, and it's not my intention to hurt you, my sister."

I ignored him then I continually walk bound to our kitchen to make my own brewed coffee. Then after that, I decided to seat on our sofa for a moment to deeply think about what I was supposed to do.

"Hey! Come back here! Oh no. Maybe... I'll wait for you guys! Please back here even only for your safeness!" those are the only words I heard while we continually run away.

It's been a month passed since I heard Melissa's voice. But in my current situation, I decided not to think about what she had been told us before. I am hoping that my stepfather's wish on me will never be true. I am wishing that his soul is now resting in peace.

"Someone's calling on your phone, Art. Perhaps it's an emergency or an important thing for you. Answer it," he said in a calm tone as if he does not throw harsh words at me earlier.

So that he couldn't talk with me about that little thing so much, I grab my phone from his hand seems like I am in a hurry. Actually, it almost throws down due to the force that I did.

"Be careful," he reminded.

As I placed the phone on my ear, a familiar woman's voice suddenly makes my fur alive.

"I gave you an extension and I guess... it's enough, isn't it? As I help you with your task before, I am hoping as well that you will also help me as a replacement. Even you gonna reject it or not, still, it's your responsibility to meet and have an agreement with me. So, see you later at the Ink Shop at exactly 6 in the evening. You have no choice because if you will not be with me later, I can assure you that your life will forever be in trouble." For the second time, she threatened me again. But the thing that just changed on her is the guilt voice that she possessed now.

I thought she already forgot me. I was about to answer her call but she suddenly dropped it. 

"Oh no, I grasp that she's talking with you seriously. So, what's your plan now?"

I shrugged. Gazing in the ceiling for a long time is the only thing that comes into my spirit.

When I check my phone, it's now already 1:03 in the afternoon. So, therefore, I have only 5 hours to think and have a smart decision if I will meet her. 

Should I?

"If you would ask me, I will go to that place again with no doubt, because, hey! It's for my own sake! Why shouldn't I if my life is were talking about here? Well, that's just my helpful opinion for you. Artemisia, I beg you to be with her, please? Don't worry, you would go there with me." He convinced me while touching my hair like I am still a kid.

"Okay, I'll just do it for you. But honestly, I have trust issues, and I kept it for too long. What if she's trying to fool us with her words? Anyway, she possibly couldn't fool us from a different angle. Remember, we travel so fast from one place to another without being tired? And to my way of thinking, she probably did it with honesty? Oh hell, please help me to lessen this way bullsh*t perception." I spoke to him while I am messing up my hair.

"I couldn't blame you to feel that way. But there's one thing for sure that'll help us to enlighten our minds, and it is to let Melissa discuss anything she wants. That's the only way that I think might help you, us."

"Okay, then. I'll fix myself first before we go to Ink Shop. By this time, I will face her with courage and a fearless mindset. But you know, in another part of me, I really wanted to live and have a peaceful life in the Kingdom of Ashes." I replied while I continually arranging my clothes to wear later. "In the first place, I do not believe in the immortal world or let's just say the fantasy world. It's just an illusion and conceiving of some people. Specifically saying, it just happens on television or a film! But when I started to encounter odd sceneries, my perspective and belief about it were totally changed."

I shared with him some facts about me after that. Even though we often fight with each other, still I couldn't deny how I love him as my brother. In these past days, we start to live normally then we also tried to forget those things that we experienced in the past month. I thought Melissa won't have a conversation and connection with us again, but I failed to hoping that. She had called my number and I don't even know how did she get it.

"Do you have her number, Art? Maybe you could call her first so that we could confirm if she has already been there." He requested before we leave our hotel room.

He has a point but I am a little bit tense when he told me to do that. Is that really necessary?

"No need, bruh. We don't have enough time, it's already at 5 pm! Let's just go now. We need to show her exactly the time she's given on us," I took a deep breath then I convinced him to travel now as soon as possible.

The United Kingdom is too broad which one of the reasons why we can't go to the Ink Shop quickly. But as much as we can, we will be going to run and ride at all speed.

"Can you still do it? Oh, don't ever say no, I will kill you through words if you do." I give him warned sarcastically.

Hopefully, he won't be easily affected by my sh*t.

"The time is running, b*tch! Just be so kind to me, please, even just now! Oh, w-wait, where are we now?"

"Don't ask me, I'm not the taxi driver," I rolled my eyes. "Hmm, excuse me, sir, what on what place we are now?" I asked the taxi driver.

"We're here on King Street. Then... Ink Shop is coming on our way too, don't worry, guys. Maybe it'll just take for about another an hour."

"What?! Are you serious, sir?!" he confusedly questioned the man.

The man just laughed at us as if we're making fun of him.

"I'm just kidding, you're here now on Ink Shop. Good luck, it seems like the woman outside is looking to both of you deadly." His voice filled the car.

I look outside of the car and Melissa surprised me negatively. She's now staring at the window, hoping that this car brings the person she wants to meet.

Fortunately, I do not possess any fear right now.

"Okay, let's go out of here now. Thanks, sir."

But when we started to come out, I unexpectedly have a palpitation. My heart beats so fast seems like I am in a race.

"Thanks for being with me, guys. Don't worry, I won't hurt you the way you think," she chortled. "As a matter of fact, I've been missed you, guys. You've just been so lucky because your stepfather doesn't distract you. But hopefully, at this time, you are ready to talk with his soul. But before that happen, I just wanna give an apology for how I treat you earlier. It just suddenly came into my mind so that you'll come here once again. Sorry," she apologized.

Because of what she declared, I was felt even more astounded.

"Where his soul, then? He would talk with us for real?!" I put a question to.

She shows a nod then she commands us to follow her. By this time, she is holding a thing that is absolutely unfamiliar to me.

"It's a handkerchief given by Princess Brina. She told me that it was made by the fairies in their Kingdom. And I was like, oh really? I don't expect that real fairies can make a craft." She stated amidst our curiosity.

"So, where's her stepfather's soul? Aren't you fooling us? Is that truly possible?" my brother certainly questioned her. I now see his concern for me.

"No. Aren't you seeing my effort? I am ready to help you, guys. Why are you always seeing my negative edge part of me? Oh, come on, nevermind, just follow me and I will bring you where he was there." She said disappointedly that's why I felt down for her.

Ultimately, we chose to believe rather than to give her a doubt. Like my brother said, we cannot find the answer until we are not yet knowing the person's intention. So, why do we have to feel unsettled?