Crimson

Memory gaps..

Juno awoke because the temperature of the room had dropped lower during the night .

Moaning softly , I twisted around trying to find a warm spot but it was futile .

Even the heavy blankets could not protect me from the furious cold .

I looked over at the windows that had often been the cause of my terrible mornings .

They were shut tightly , i did not remember doing that .

Pushing my body slowly , I aimed for the edge of the bed .

If Ali had been here , he would have kicked him off the bed but , he wasn't .

So , I took my sweet time , I finally was able to complete the course , I fell to the floor .

My fall had been cushioned by the heavy blankets . I yawned and considered continuing my sleep here but the floor was so much colder .

I stood up a little too quickly and regretted it immediately , vertigo had hit me.

It seemed to Juno that his body had realized and gotten used to how lazy his master was in the mornings .

The sudden dizziness was evidence of his body's protest .

Moving slowly because the floor was too cold to walk on , I headed for the kitchen spot , I was no Ali and I really didn't feel like tea , so , I settled for a cup of hot water .

As the water boiled , I washed the cups from yesterday .

I had underestimated the cold , I was barely able to finish rinsing the cups .

As I sipped his hot water , I stared at the glass bathhouse . No amount of hot water could make me consider washing up today , there would be no washing today and if this weather continued , there wouldn't be any washing for a very long while .

I instantly felt dirty .

When I had been a child and travelled with Mama , we had sometimes gone for almost two weeks without washing up .

Whenever we had passed by a stream , I would beg until Mama allowed me wash in the stream . Then, while I washed , I would pretend to drown and Mama would rush over into the water to save me.

I had done that at every stream and she had rushed out every single time .

I had assumed it was because I was that great of an actor but now , I realized she had just been humoring me .

Sighing softly , I moved over to the bathhouse , I would at least wash my face .

Even though I regretted washing my face instantly , the relief the warm water had brought was worth it .

I wiped my face hurriedly and ran out of the bathhouse forgetting my usual routine of staring at my face .

I changed clothes just as quickly and opted for a heavy black coat to cover my red riot of clothes . The coat was also ideal for hiding weapons but with both the ring and the gold gone , I really didn't feel like hoarding weapons .

I was feeling unusually safe .

I still loaded up on two knifes in my coat , I used a long ,tiny needle to bind my hair up and put a couple of shorter needles in my hair .

For a brief second , I imagined falling face forward , what a horrible way to die .

The paranoia won and I removed the smaller needles leaving just the long one to hold my hair up.

I was going to run out but I remembered I had lip moisturizers and began to search for it.

It took a while but I found it and applied it wondering if I had to take it with me in case my lips dried out later.

I decided against taking it and put on boots .

I gave my home a once over , nothing was left on that could be dangerous , so , I stepped out.

Something sneezed behind me and I jumped at the same time I released my hair , I was one blink away from sending the needle flying into my attacker when I saw the horse .

The events from last night had not been a lousy dream .

Putting the needle down into my coats pocket , I went over to the horse and hugged him . He must have been so shocked because he didn't lean into me , I continued to stroke his head until he finally calmed down .

When I was sure that he was okay , I ran back in and grabbed a wide bag .

I filled it with apples from the kitchen , fixed my hair , grabbed a scarf that I hadn't noticed earlier and ran back out .

The horse was staring at the door as I came out , he had probably been doing that for a while , I felt uneasy thinking of the horse alone in the cold .

Smiling widely , I apologized .

" I'm so sorry I forgot you horsey , forgive me ,will you? "

He just looked on ,so , I showed him what I had brought .

When I was done , he seemed pretty fascinated . I had put the bag that was actually just a more stylish satchel around his neck , the bag was also filled with apples.

Exercising while eating , I had conquered a seemingly undoable task.

I led him by the reins out , since I lived far from the city center ,the guards patrol were few and far between , it was hard to imagine any of the people here recognizing the horse , so , we walked together .

I talked about my morning while the horse ate , chewing unbelievably quietly , someone had taught the horse manners .

When we finally arrived at a place I knew people might begin to recognize the horse and the guards patrolled often , I patted the horse kissed it's forehead and said goodbye , he gave me a look and I was about to explain the merits of us parting when I heard multiple voices .

I stepped into the shadows and hoped the horses intense gaze at the spot I was hiding wouldn't expose me , it would be a hassle to have to subdue people this early in the day .

The voices grew closer and closer and finally stopped .

" What is that over there ?" ,one of the voices asked , apprehensive.

They moved closer .

" I think it's a horse " , another voice commented .

" But , what is that around the neck ?"

This third voice sounded quite scared , they had better not think of hurting my horse .

The horse seemed undisturbed , probably because he had been trained amongst men in uniform .

He stuck his head into the bag and took out another apple between his teeth .

" It's an apple ",the third voice mentioned .

He still sounded scared even though he now knew that the bag wasn't harmful.

" Wait , doesn't the horse look familiar ?",this from the first voice.

They all hummed in agreement.

Then , one of the men gasped.

" Isn't this the horse that the brigadier rode on ?" .

The second voice again , he seemed smart . Only when compared to his companions.

They moved forward to properly examine the horse .

" Selling it would be a problem if the horse is recognized , let's take it back" ,the first voice suggested.

" Do you think we would be rewarded or promoted ?" ,the third voice asked excitedly .

They all laughed .

" We found a horse , by chance. Not the governor's Ring or the thief that stole the ring but a horse" ,the second voice sounded bored and impatient .

Finally , they left , pulling the horse along .

I frowned , I was beginning to think they would never leave .

I was suddenly very hungry .

I wound my scarf tighter and walked a little bit faster heading for The rising sun.

I didn't even remember my last meal , that was a normal for me .

I almost never ate till my body threatened to fall out of commission .

I would have a large breakfast and think of what to do for the next few weeks that I had to lay low .

****

I had arrived at the entrance of The rising sun before I remembered that the original chef , a pretty brunette did not work here any longer .

I really needed to work on remembering .

I suddenly didn't feel like eating here anymore , I wondered briefly if it was because I liked her but then , I remembered that all my memories of her included her giving me extra sauce , meat or hot chocolate .

Would the new person give me any extras ?

This would have been the best time to flirt for the greater good but I could already imagine how red my face was from the long walk in the cold .

I sighed when I realized I had been standing at the entrance staring off wistfully .

I walked in and walked towards my favorite seat , mornings at The rising sun were usually slow , making it the best time to have a quiet meal .

I turned towards the counter and saw the new girl or rather , woman .

She was much older than the girls that generally worked here .

She saw me looking and walked around the counter heading for me .

When she reached me , I recited what I wanted from memory all the while trying to make small talk but people especially older women made me nervous .

So , I ended up not saying anything except listing what I wanted.

Mama and I had been together without ever really communicating with others for the first twelve years of my life and then Ali had come into the picture , and I had continued my secluded life with him .

Until we had started the shelter , then ,the only people I had really talked with were people directly linked with the shelter.

It made having small talks with others something I had to carefully think of before engaging in it .

When it came to other young people ,I could swing it from interactions I had watched but never with older people , I always felt that they could see through my cheery disguise.

She came back with a full tray of my favorites.

Eggs , Freshly baked bread , cheese and a pitcher of warm milk.

I mumbled a thank you and watched as she left .

Satisfied that she had gone a long way , I filled a glass with milk first .

I was halfway done with the glass when I noticed a reflection on the pitcher that was now half full.

I turned slightly in my seat .

Vita Cicero was standing by the counter of The rising sun watching me eat .

I put the glass I had been drinking from down on the table and looked , really looked at him.

He didn't look injured or in pain , I said a silent thanks for Adah .

When I had told Gray to bring Vita to the shelter , I had been met with understandable violence .

Gray was pretty straight ,it was either yes or no , no in between.

There was only good and bad to him and Vita was bad , so ,he wasn't budging.

I had looked to Adah and even though I knew she didn't want to do it , she had still done it.

The awkward silence was instantly interrupted by the other blond brigadier , Nero bursting in .

Vita turned to his partner and I faced my food , watching their interaction from the side of my eye.

Nero had seen me and was whispering to Vita , excitedly.

" Juno !".

I turned shocked and strangely anxious.

Nero was doing this little thing that looked like hopping as he came towards me.

I smiled when he reached me .

He was smiling too.

" I saw you just the day before yesterday but ,it seems like a long while ago ".

I nodded agreeing with him , it seemed like it had been years ago.

He looked down at my meal and I gulped begging whatever deity out there , I was rejected.

" Can we join you? " , he asked

I looked from my beautiful spread to him and back to my spread , the smirk on his face was confirmation that he had some ulterior motive .

" You can " , I whispered.

He smiled and pulled out a chair , making himself comfortable .

He looked up at his partner and I did too .

He was watching our interaction keenly.

He began to walk towards us ,this was definitely not how I had pictured my breakfast .

When he reached us ,he pulled a chair out too and sat.

I stared at both of them , disgruntled by their presence.

The older woman came out again with a tray that was smaller than the one she had brought for me.

She put their plates in front of them and walked back behind the counter.

I poured myself another glass of milk and was about to drink it when Vita picked up the pitcher.

I stared wide eyed as he poured for himself and then passed the pitcher to Nero who did the same.

Holding back from slamming my glass on the table.

I glared at Vita.

" What do you want?"

A screech interrupted me.

Nero had pushed his chair backwards and was on his feet .

" I forgot that I had something to do ".

Vita and I looked on as he basically ran out.

I wasn't sure what was going on.

I turned to Vita but he was already looking at me , drinking my milk.

He nodded at my still full plates.

" Eat your breakfast , red".

I choked on air and glared harder.

He was licking the milk off his lips , so , I decided against arguing, stuttering wasn't a good look.

There went my resolve of staying away from trouble.