Foxfire and Rose Briars: A Rose's Thorns

Chapter 19, Secrets Unveiled

Rosaleen’s PoV

I sat in the cafeteria, my hands tapping on the lunch table in anxious movements. It's been a few days since Ryder and I finished our case and he admitted his feelings for me. But the thing that was causing me anxiety was Cara, Haru, Towa, Ren, and Ryder had all gone missing. Just vanished without a word.

“Rose?” I jumped hearing my nickname and turned my head to see Sho, his eyes were studying me quietly. He hadn’t seen me since the day I had a breakdown in the garage.

“Oh… Hey Sho…” I whispered softly, my eyes flicking back to my hands as I tapped the table fiercely. I sensed him sitting down next to me and I stiffened, I had been avoiding the Vagastrom ghouls too ashamed to show my face to them.

“Are you doing better? After that, freak out?” He asked his demeanor cold but concerned, my eyes flicked to him again as I read his face. I bit my cheek gently in thought as I hummed, Sho was quiet but I could sense him near me still as I bit my cheek still.

“I’m worried about Cara…” I said softly, not aiming it at anyone as I spoke. Sho shifted his weight slightly as he sniffed slightly sitting quietly.

“I’m sorry about that… By the way… I was… Just.” I huffed trying to express what was wrong without actively exposing what happened in my youth, in a great deal of frustration I put my head in my hands sighing in defeat.

“How’s the food truck coming along?” I asked, glancing at him slightly but he just hummed and shrugged before he leaned back and looked up at the sky as if debating his words carefully.

“Leo witnessed your panic attack. Avoid him as much as you can, he will do whatever he has to, to drag out why you were in that state.” Sho warned and my eyes flicked to him the voids of black glittering as I stared at him, the quiet storm that was brewing in me stirred uneasily.

“If he ever asks about anything to do with my past or my deal, I will personally end his career.” I said, my voice calm but due to the slightly stunned look I was receiving from Sho he knew I was deadly serious.

“Well… Uh anyways, I wanted you to take a look at my menu… See if anything needs to be added or.” He grumbled as he pushed a piece of paper towards me, my brows raised slightly as I bit my cheek gently, flinching when I bit too hard and reached for the paper.

I glanced over the paper, my eyes flicking across it, it was well drawn and designed. My eyes rounded slightly in shock as I glanced at Sho. My hand tapped gently the thoughts obvious across my usually expressive features.

“It looks good Sho, well drawn and well put together. Kudos to you for your hard work, I will be excited to try it out.” I said smiling at him slightly, I pushed the paper back towards him, standing Sho too stood at the same time. His hands were holding onto the menu.

“I gotta go, I am going to go check on the anomalous animals.” I said, my feet finding themselves as I walked out of the bustling cafeteria my signature heeled combat boots hit the floor as I walked.

I walked through the halls, ignoring the eyes that watched me as I huffed gently, hands sitting in my pockets as I trekked out the doors and across the lawn of the school, heading towards Jabberwock House. Remembering the tour Rui gave me.

“Rose~” I turned to see none other than Rui and my brows flicked up in shock, as I stopped and turned to look at the blonde voice caught in my throat as I tried to process.

“Oh, hey Rui. What’s up?” I asked my head moving to the side as I looked the ghoul up and down, my eyes confused.

“Oh nothing, just saw you walking and called out.” He said winking slightly and I shook my head amused as I blew out a frustrated breath, my eyes studying him quietly.

“You look like you need a drink, Rose Thorn. We have a bar in Obscuary, come join me~” He said, voice smooth and calm I froze and bit my cheek gently in thought my eyes flicked to his eyes as I huffed and nodded. Joining him.

“Get everything figured out with Towa? I know Haru drinks at your bar all the time, I have seen him walking home hungover a few times.” I said softly, following beside him as we trekked in a different direction to Obscuary instead of Jabberwock.

“What’s got you all outta sorts Thorn?” He asked, nudging me slightly and I huffed, my brain wracking to think of what to say as I bit my cheek in thought.

“I am… Just having a lot of PTSD memories… Stuff that happened to me in my past.” I said softly, my hands fidgeting in my pockets as we stepped past a tree and the sky slowly changed, the moon was crystal clear and bright in the darkened sky.

“Wish to share?” He asked head to the side, my eyes moved to him as I opened my mouth and huffed, closing my mouth again and clenching my jaw.

“Maybe another time Rui…” I said softly, my voice clipped but sad as I spoke and he hummed but didn’t push the matter further as we stepped into a garden. My eyes widened as I looked around at the plants, my mouth falling open, my mouth closed into a firm line.

“Anomalous plants, I take care of them. With that new 1st year that was placed here. Her name was Kazuki Nezume if I recall, she’s pretty quiet. Right this way.” Rui said as we walked into the house and he guided me into the bar.

I sat down at the bar, my nails tapping at the bar wood gently and I sighed resting my head on my hand. A napkin was placed as he laid down a crystal glass, grabbing a bottle from below the counter spinning it bartender style and poured the alcohol.

After pouring it and scooping a small scoop of ice into the glass, he pushed the glass towards me as I eyed it confused.

“What is it?” I asked my eyes looking up at him now and he just flashed a perfect smile.

“Alcohol. Drink it.” He said, putting the bottle back under the counter, I had caught sight of the label, it was in a different language and my eyes narrowed slightly. But I sighed when he smiled innocently at me. Sighing, I took a drink. The alcohol was sweet and warm as it snaked down my throat, a fuzzy feeling followed and I hummed softly.

“Whose this?” I heard a voice behind me, my entire body jumped slightly, my head moving as I saw a woman with pristine white hair that snaked down the front in a dutch braid, large white ears adorned her head, her fox-like emerald eyes stared at me quietly confused.

“This is Rosaleen Dervila. Frostheim Ghoul. This is Kazuki Nezume.” Rui introduced, the woman waved slightly and retreated from the doorway. I could hear her steps receding up the stairs.

“She’s not a people person, she is super antisocial. For her own reasons.” Rui said as he cleaned a glass, I sipped on the drink quietly, the heat the same as the first drink. My mind could feel the effects of the stronger alcohol, but it was barely noticeable.

“Feel it yet?” He asked amused as I polished off the rest of the drink, I shrugged gently my black eyes amused in return as I began to talk.

“I’m Irish Rui. Gotta give me something stronger than that if you want me to properly feel it.” I joked amused and he grinned slightly, noticing my comfort and ease as I hummed happily in return.

“I appreciate the invitation Rui… I have been so stressed lately and with Ryder and Cara and the others missing… I am worried about them…” I said honestly my voice low and my lip quivered softly, but I swallowed the sadness that was creeping into my voice.

“Of course Thorn. You clearly needed it. Lemme mix something up a little stronger, let me see.” He browsed the alcohol on the shelf behind him. My eyes watched as he grabbed a few bottles of alcohol, as he started mixing and working at a concoction for me.

“Annnnnd. Here we are. Rose’s Thorns.” He labeled off and my brows rose in confusion. As he pushed the drink towards me, I could smell the strength of the alcohol but I stared at him still.

“It's a new drink I am trying, you’re the first one to try it. I thought Rose’s Thorns was a good name for it.” He explained and I stared at him, my eyes confused but I felt honored with it. I took a sip and my mouth watered upon tasting it. I was sweet and sugary but not in a bad way, in a way where it was subtle. I could also taste the scotch and the caramel schnapps.

“Holy hell Rui. This is delicious!” I said, my excitement now clear as I stared at the red drink, I could smell the cranberry juice that made it red. I drank more the taste coating my tongue. I hummed happily as I drank my eyes closing in bliss. It was addicting.

I sighed as my body relaxed, my eyes studied the drink as I felt the hum of alcohol running through my veins as I grew bold and sighed looking up at Rui who was looking at me expectantly.

“Fine. I will tell you.” I said and he grinned happily, he leaned on the bar, head resting in his hands.

“I am all ears Dear.” He hummed happily.

“When I made my deal… I had asked to be made good looking. Because growing up my mother, sister and anyone else under the sun said I wasn’t as good looking as them. It was mostly my mom. So when I made the deal, nothing happened… I went to… Carla asking for help to find her room destroyed, I was 15 at the time. I hadn’t realized what I had done, it was too late. She was gone.” I said and tapped my index finger softly, my eyes now meeting his as I continued.

“I see Carla in Cara, I am scared of her getting killed all because I couldn’t protect her.” I admitted, my voice cracking slightly and Rui reached forward, placing his gloved hand on my arm.

“She’s strong, and fierce. I seriously doubt that something is going to happen to her.” Rui assured me and I nodded in agreement, my black eyes watching him as I bit my cheek and began talking again.

“I… Also feel a certain way about two… One Of Ghouls confessed to me about how he feels… I don’t know how to confess to Alan about how I feel..” I said looking at a now shocked Rui, his eyes looking between me and the drink, he reached forward to grab his and I smacked his hand.

“Don’t touch my alcohol Rui Mizuki.” I said my Irish accent was thicker than usual, due to the intoxication my brows shot up as did Rui’s.

“I’m sorry-” I said my shock obvious as I sighed and buried my face in my hands, my confusion obvious at how the alcohol was doing. I pulled the glass to myself taking a long drink, my defeat obvious as I swallowed the mouthful I had taken and Rui looked at me mortified.

“Oh no…” He whispered as I pushed the now empty glass back to him, my perfect lips drawn into a drunken grin of glee.

“Cut me off. I need to not black out.” I said with the last bit of sobriety I had in me, I leaned back being careful not to fall back and my phone vibrated in my pocket.

Alan- Flower, where are you? Headband said you were at Jabberwock. But I checked and you’re not there.

Me- Obsuary

I drunkenly typed and sent and the bubbles popped up.

Alan- I'm coming to you, stay put.

I giggled as I hummed softly, tapping the contact and tapping the call button instead.

“Flower? Are you okay?” His voice was calm through the phone and I kicked my feet slightly as I hiccuped slightly, talking into the mic as Rui watched me.

“Hiii Alan. I’m okay. I’m here with Rui, he offered me a drink.” I cooed into the phone, I could hear the physical pause on the other side of the phone.

“Flower, don’t drink anything else.” His voice was calm and amused, I could hear the garage door slamming shut as the call ended. I pouted staring at the screen that indicated that the call was ended.

“Rude.” I pouted, staring at the phone that was now face down on the counter, my lips jutting out slightly.

“Flower?” I turned and my eyes brightened as I squealed slightly.

“Alan!” I drunkenly squealed and he froze in absolute confusion, I was grinning happily, my eyelids drooping slightly.

“She chugged a new drink, I tried to stop her.” Rui defended himself as Alan turned a blazing angry glare at him, Alan nodded slightly in acceptance of the answer approaching me now.

“Come on Flower, let’s get you to bed Darling.” He said softly, grabbing my shoulder. I leaned into his touch like a moth drawn to flame. I knew I had to do as told, slipping from the bar stool I stumbled into Alan and he caught me quickly.

“What time is it?” I slurred slightly, Alan chuckled, putting his arm around me to support me and we walked out of the bar.

“Byyyyyeee Rui!” I called over my shoulder and I heard both men chuckle in response.

“You’re adorable.” Alan mumbled thinking I couldn’t hear him and I giggled slightly.

“I am glad you think so handsome.” I drunkenly said, making him look down at me amused as he kept us moving through the woods of the Obscuary territory. My feet nearly tripping on tree roots but Alan would catch me, and make sure I was walking straight.

“It’s 9:00 PM time travels fast when you’re drinking.” He said and my brows raised in shock at the large time gap. I frowned looking forward again as I muttered incoherent gibberish to myself, mad that I had skipped classes like I had.

“Alan… I don’t wanna sleep aloneeee…” I whined softly, Alan’s eyes moved to me as he carried me pretty much in my drunken state as he walked in a different direction this time.

Noises echoed around me, different noises, the smell of engine oil I curled slightly into him as he picked me up bridal now because my feet fell asleep before the rest of me. I hummed nuzzling into his chest.

“Flower…?” I heard Alan say, his chest rumbled under my ear as he spoke, my eyes fluttering open. My eyes searched up to meet his dark eyes.

“There you are. We have an extra room next to my room in the garage.” He said softly to me as I looked around and noticed we were in a hallway, I nodded slightly not really listening.

My eyes fluttered closed again, but they opened again when I felt something dip beneath me and I looked like I was laying in a queen sized bed. My body falling asleep slightly.

I noticed Alan about to leave but I grabbed his hand and he looked back over at me, and he smiled slightly amused.

“I am just grabbing some headache meds and water, for when you wake up. I will be back in a second.” He promised, he walked out of the room and with some semblance of sobriety I sat up. Looking around at the design of the room.

“Oh you’re sitting up~” I turned my head a little too fast, seeing none other than Leo and my nose wrinkled in disgust.

“What do you want?” I sneered in disgust and he chuckled but scurried away when he felt a presence behind him.

I looked up slightly, seeing Alan again, his narrowed eyes following Leo away. He entered the room and set the glass of water on the side table and sat down next to me.

“What was that about?” He asked and I shrugged confused as he turned to have his undivided attention on me. He studied my body language.

“Are you feeling okay, need help with anything?” He asked his head to move to the side. I looked down at my heeled boots and whined pointing at them and he let out a soft laugh and stood off the bed and crouched.

He got both the boots off and he stood up moving them to be position near the nightstand, he sat down again inspecting my actions closely.

“I… Want you to…” I trailed off, my words dying on my tongue unsure of what to say. My brows furrowed gently as I tried to get my words to cooperate and he just watched me, waiting.