Whisper in the Dark

Chapter 12

Adult Content 18+

The girls have busied themselves working hard and trying to make the most of their new life. Their routine has started to settle in and at this point they are trying to just have a normal life as much as they possibly can. Ritro has not given Alexa much attention. Alexa assumed that it is most probably because all of them have been working so hard to get accustomed in their new environment and be able to start fitting in with everyone around them. Ritro knows quite a few people and it is clear he has travelled quite extensively. Alexa feels more like a burden to him and she really thought that after their first time together he would take more of an interest in her, but he does not. He pretends like nothing happened. She sighs heavily before making her way to the tavern's door to sweep there.

"Hello deary, can you bring me something to drink." An old lady asks Alexa at the tavern.

"Sure ma'am I will quickly get you a server."

"No need, you will do just fine. You are such a beautiful girl and clearly not of these villages."

Alexa blushes at the woman's words, not sure if she should feel threatened, worried or shy. She did not want to stand out in the least bit. She quickly hurries to get the woman something to drink and walks back to the woman. After handing her the drink she turns around to leave and the woman grabs her wrist pulling her down to the table where she is sitting.

"I know your powers. Do they?"

Alexa freezes in her spot and does not know what to say. She looks at the woman incredulous.

"Meet me out back and I will explain everything to you." The woman quickly downs the drink and then leaves coins on the table before heading out the front of the tavern.

Alexa scans her environment to see if the grumpy old owner is around before quickly taking a bucket and a mop to pretend to be getting water to wash the floors. She exits the tavern and looks around for the woman. She walks to the river and pretends to be busy with her work as to not look suspicious as she is looking around for the woman, Suddenly the old woman appears from behind a tree.

"I thought you won't come deary. Clearly you are more curious than what I thought. Did your guardians not teach you better?" Alexa frowns at her words, not sure what she means about guardians.

"Those people you called mother and father were your guardians but not your parents. The wealthy in our world hire the best of warriors to guard their children. I assume you have heard of how difficult it has become to conceive on this planet. Therefore children are the most expensive commodity." She walks to the river and Alexa follows.

Alexa can't comprehend that those people she adored was not her parents. Then what happened?

"Then where are my parents and how did we end up with those 'guardians'? How can you refer to children as commodities?" Alexa just rambles questions before the old lady raises her hand to get her to keep quiet.

"Everything in this world becomes commodities if you live as long as we do. Life becomes meaningless unless you add meaning to it." The woman settles next to the water and points to the water. Alexa realizes that she wants something to drink and immediately takes her bucket to wash it out and get her some water.

"What did you want to tell me? You still did not answer all my questions. Instead I have more questions than answers now." Alexa is confused and irritated by this conversation.

The woman glares at Alexa. "Do not try your arrogance with me deary. At this point I have all the answers you are seeking for and if this is your attitude you will not know any of them. I do not have the will to be wasting my time with spoilt children." The woman gets up to walk away.

"No, please!" Alexa grabs her arm before she can get up completely. "Sorry, I really want to know what is going on."

"Then do not give me any attitude. You have to get back, the owner's wife is looking for you and it will not end well if you waste another minute. Fill your bucket and run to the tavern before she comes out looking for you."

Alexa looks confused before doing what the woman said. She stops mid-way and turns to ask the woman how she will be able to find her again but she is not there. Strange. Did her mind play tricks on her. This whole place is completely insane. She scurries to the tavern and places the bucket at the door before closing the door. As she closes the door the tavern owner's wife is standing behind the door giving her a fright. She grabs at her chest.

"I thought for a moment you are being lazy. Get back to work."

"Yes ma'am," Alexa says and quickly disappears between the patrons to wash the floor.

The day goes by quickly and Alexa is agitated to get to the old woman and find out more about what happened and why they are here. She does not know if it would be a good idea to tell Soraya. Something has been very off about Soraya and she does not know if it is all the trauma they have going through or if it is something else. Soraya was their mother's baby and possibly also the reason why she is such a baby about everything. Maybe it will be better if she kept this information to herself for now until she knows more. She will share all the details with her sister when she truly knows what is going on.

The girls head towards the river to bathe but Alexa is preoccupied. She is constantly looking around her for the woman she met earlier that day but so far there has been no sight of her. She gives up looking around after Soraya starts to notice something is up and decides that the woman knows where to find her. She walks to the river and takes a bath with her sister before returning to their home.

Ritro has not come home yet. The girls decides to start with dinner. Working at the tavern they have learnt how to prepare some of the food that is locally grown. Everything is very rudimental and it has been quite a significant adjustment to what they were used to. Ritro soon shows up washed and with a massive appetite. He has been noticing Alexa's coldness towards him the past couple of days. He doesn't understand what she wants from him. He did not pursue her, she pursued him.

The food is ready and they sit down to eat. There has been an awkwardness since their s****l encounter. It is visible as everyone just eats in silence. As soon as darkness falls all of them say their goodnights. Alexa walks out the door.

"I am just going for a bit of a walk. I just need some time alone. Please do not follow me. I will be okay." She says to her sister before she leaves.

Ritro hears her and decides to climb through his window. He needs to talk to her. It is draining coming home and there is such a draining presence in the house. He sees her walking through the trees to the river. He quickly comes up behind her.

"I think we need to talk." He gives her a fright and she jumps around to face him.

"I didn't know you were there. Why did you follow me?" She was hoping she would run into the old woman rather and get some much needed answers.

"We can't avoid each other forever. Speak to me and tell me why you have been so distant towards me."

"Why I have been so distant? Really Ritro? When you slept with me and pretended like nothing happened!" She is angry now at him. She so badly want to use her powers to take some of her anger out on him but she can't. She hasn't gotten full control over her powers yet and she might just kill him. If she does not kill him, he will definitely not speak to her afterwards. She will be feared and rejected. She did not need that now. She definitely do not want to be alone through all of this.

"I didn't force you and I did not pursue you! What did you expect me to do? Did you then want a relationship?" Ritro can't believe this, she brought all this on herself and complicated things unnecessarily. He was just trying to be nice to them.

"A little bit of acknowledgment would have been nice!" Alexa is now screaming at him.

"Keep your voice down. Listen, you cannot want a relationship with me. I am older than your father. I cannot give you anything!" He quiets down at the end and just looks at his hands.

"I do not expect anything from you. I just don't want the cold treatment that you have been giving me." She realizes he is too concerned with all the things he cannot give her instead of what he can. So what if he is too old for her or if he can only offer her a working life. She just wants someone to love her now. Even if it is only temporary. She walks slowly up to him. He towers her petite frame.

"I understand." He places his hand on her cheek and tries to resist the temptation to kiss her. Her skin is so soft under his hand and she leans into his hand. How can he resist such a delicate flower. She is like honey to him. Sweet and irresistible. He pulls his hand away abruptly when he realizes that he is already being lured in by her charm.

"I am glad we could clarify that. I am going to head back. Do not stay out to late and please be careful." He turns around and walks away from her.

Alexa just stands there dumbfounded. She was so sure he was going to kiss her and the next moment he just pulls away. She feels as if she has the plague with how this man is avoiding her. She looks at him attentively as he walks away, hoping he will turn around and change his mind, racing back to her and swoop her up and kiss her passionately, but he just keeps on walking. She just huffs and paces a few times before realizing why she actually came here in the first place.

"Hello? Are you there?"

"Yes my deary. Came to find out more?" The old lady responds. Alexa looks at the direction of the words but sees no one.

"You will not find me here. Just listen first before I bring you to where I am."