Ann sat beneath the shade of an ancient oak tree. This serene spot in a local park was her sanctuary, where she could immerse herself in her sketch album and find solace in her creativity. However, today her mind was clouded, devoid of inspiration. Despite her lack of motivation, she had come here with the determination to complete her drawing.
Her pencil glided across the smooth paper, gradually unveiling the intricate details of a snake. Its ebony body coiled in sinuous rings, poised to strike at any moment. The snake appeared taut, like a tightly wound string, ready to unleash its venomous attack. Ann carefully selected a yellow pencil to accentuate the snake's underbelly and the area surrounding its menacing mouth.
"Please, Ann, leave that snake alone!" Marie's voice, filled with concern, startled Ann. She closed her album with a gentle thud, placing it on her lap, yet her creative energy still pulsed within her. The snake's depiction also included a long, black tongue, forked at its tip. She must have added it to her drawing once Marie left her alone.
"Annie?" Marie's touch on her shoulder jolted Ann from her state of desolation.
"Yes?" Ann blinked, struggling to regain focus.
"Please, talk to me," Marie implored, her face etched with concern. "I'm genuinely worried about your mental well-being. You can't spend days here, engrossed in drawing these repulsive creatures."
"Why not?" Ann's voice quivered, on the verge of tears. "It's all I can do when no one else is investigating this murder!"
"Oh, sweetie..." Marie's voice softened. "Our guardians have thoroughly examined everything, and they concluded it was simply an unfortunate accident. Why can't you trust their judgment?"
"Because something is amiss here," Ann gasped. "This snake... I checked our library, and we don't have venomous snakes like this in our region."
Marie's eyes narrowed. "Are you absolutely certain? I mean... you were in shock, and your mind could have played tricks on you. Perhaps you imagined certain details."
Ann scoffed. She had meticulously observed every detail of the creature that had claimed her uncle's life. In the aftermath of the tragedy, John had taken the snake and confined it within a glass aquarium, ensuring it posed no further threat to the household. Throughout the night, Ann found herself fixated on the snake, pondering its origins and the circumstances that led to her uncle's demise. Regrettably, John disposed of the snake the following day, leaving Ann with unanswered questions.
"I saw what I saw!" Ann asserted. "And if my instincts are correct, someone brought that snake to our house intentionally."
"But why?" Marie's charcoal eyes widened in confusion. "No one had a motive to kill Uncle Greg. He was a good man."
"I don't know, Marie." Ann's face sank into her hands, a grief overwhelming her. It felt as though waves of sorrow crashed over her, extinguishing her inner light and making each breath a struggle. Her voice trembled with exhaustion. "I don't know... And it seems like no one else cares."
Marie reached out to comfort her, attempting to stroke her hand, but Ann pulled away abruptly. As she stood up, her album slipped from her grasp, scattering sketches across the grass.
"Why hasn't anyone investigated this case?" Ann asked in an exhausted voice. "I sent letters to all the major Guardian Houses in our Kingdom!"
As Ann lifted her gaze to the branches of the oak tree, its round leaves seemed to quiver in response. She sighed, realizing that no answer would come. It had been two long months since that fateful day, and she had received no substantial response from anyone.
During the funeral, her friends had stood by her side, offering their condolences and pity. But pity was not what she needed. She craved their support, for the inaction surrounding her uncle's death was unbearable. "Perhaps all of you think I'm going mad."
"No one thinks that," Marie reassured her, carefully gathering the scattered drawings. Dozens of sketches depicted the same snake from various angles. Marie sighed as she organized the drawings back into the album, refraining from passing judgment. Ann felt a deep sense of gratitude for her understanding.
"Can you please... keep my drawings a secret?" Ann asked. "I don't want to worry anyone unnecessarily."
"Of course. But in return, I need you to do me a favor."
"What is it?"
"Set aside these troubling thoughts for one evening and join us for dinner," Marie suggested. "Elajio is cooking pasta tonight."
"Pasta sounds yummy," Ann agreed. Though her appetite had waned in recent days, the idea of spending time with her friends seemed wise. It was far better than dining alone in her uncle's vast empty house. Despite inheriting his mansion, Ann still couldn't truly call it her home. With her entire family gone, it had transformed into a museum of painful memories.
"Awesome." Marie smiled. "We've also invited John."
"Why?"
"Darling, he is our friend too, and you can't ignore him forever."
Ann lowered her gaze. Since the tragic day, she had barely spoken to John, mainly because he served as a constant reminder of her own carelessness. Ann had come to realize that if her uncle Greg had received the antidote in time, he might have been saved.
However, Ann carried the potion with her during that ill-fated horse ride. The weight of guilt bore down on her, almost suffocating her. She doubted she would ever be able to forgive herself. It was easier to avoid John and immerse herself in drawing snakes, attempting to convince herself that a mysterious murderer was responsible for her uncle's death. Sometimes, this narrative provided temporary solace, easing her pain.
As her somber mood persisted, a colossal shadow loomed over the hill.
"Bite me!" Marie exclaimed, her mouth half-opened as she gazed up at the sky.
Ann lifted her eyes, and her heart skipped a beat. A dragon. It was a magnificent creature, adorned in shades of mesmerizing blue, the very dragon she had always dreamt of encountering but had never been fortunate enough to witness. However, the presence of a dragon hovering above her hometown was not the strangest part. A young man, donning a black uniform, rode atop the dragon. Ann caught a glimpse of his flame-orange hair before he vanished from sight. "A guardian?! What is he doing here?"
"Let's find out," Marie urged, grasping Ann's hand as they hurried towards the town. There, the blue dragon circled above the central plaza, captivating the attention of all who beheld it.
* * * * *
As soon as Theo and Rei landed in the central square, a crowd quickly formed around them. The people were captivated by the sight of Rei, the dragon, but they kept a safe distance, unable to tear their eyes away.
Sensing the overwhelming attention, Rei exhaled through his nostrils, releasing two clouds of smoke as a warning. The crowd gasped collectively, taken aback by the display.
Theo gently patted the dragon's side. "Remember what we discussed, Rei. Please, behave."
Rei let out a sigh and obediently settled down, showcasing his good manners. Theo smiled in approval before addressing the crowd. "Greetings, residents of Mountville! Can anyone guide me to your Guardian House?"
A woman in the front row raised her hand, catching Theo's attention. He looked at her expectantly. She was a tall brunette with charcoal-black eyes, her red lips slightly parted in curiosity. As she approached Theo, her friend followed closely behind.
There was a warmth that spread through Theo's chest as he looked at the other woman. Perhaps it was her simple yet elegant beauty that captivated him. Her flaxen hair and alabaster skin, adorned with a natural blush, glistened in the sunlight. When their eyes met, he felt a desire to get to know her better, to ask her out on a date. However, he knew that in a small town like Mountville, such actions were not appropriate, especially with all eyes on them. Duty always must go first, Theo reminded himself. So stop staring at her.
Theo shifted his gaze to the brunette. "I'm listening."
The brunette responded with a charming smile. "I'm sorry, but Mountville doesn't have a Guardian House. The chief's office is located near the library. We refer to it as the 'Guardian Station'."
Theo nodded in understanding. It made sense why he had struggled to locate the facility on the map. Some towns and villages were simply too small to warrant a dedicated Guardian House. In such places, a small team of four or five guardians could handle the tasks at hand. "Thank you, kind lady."
She chuckled at his choice of words. "Please, just call me Marie."
"Thank you, Marie." Theo offered her a polite smile and an attentive gaze.
Observing the wedding ring on Marie's left hand, Theo deduced that she was married. Additionally, her willingness to approach him first indicated that she likely had a good reputation within the community. She could potentially be a valuable source of information regarding the crime he was investigating. Furthermore, he couldn't help but feel curious about Marie's attractive friend, and he considered the possibility of becoming more familiar with her.
"Would you mind showing me the way?" Theo asked, his eyes shifting between Marie and her friend. "If it's not too much trouble, of course."
The blonde friend exchanged glances with Marie before finally looking at Theo.
"What about your dragon?" she asked. Her voice was soft and melodic, reminiscent of the ringing of silver bells, causing a pleasant tickle on his skin.
Theo tightened his grip on the reins. "Rei will accompany me. I just need to find a suitable hotel with a spacious yard."
"But he might find it uncomfortable to navigate these narrow streets," the blonde explained, batting her long eyelashes.
"She's right," Marie chimed in. "You and Rei can stay at her place."
The blonde's face registered shock at the suggestion. "Mine?"
Marie shrugged. "Why not? You live alone, and you have a large, empty barn."
"That's true," the blonde murmured. After a moment of hesitation, she extended her hand and gently patted Rei, who responded with a contented purr.
Theo smiled. His dragon wasn't particularly fond of attention from strangers, but he never minded receiving affection from such lovely young women.
"Would it be appropriate?" Theo whispered to the blonde.
She gave him a sly look and whispered back, "Why not?"
"Why are we talking like this?" Marie hissed, interrupting their exchange.
Theo locked eyes with the blonde, and they both burst into laughter. He found himself genuinely enjoying her company. He wondered what her name was, but before he could ask, Marie intervened.
She tugged at his elbow and pointed towards the crowd. "Let's go, Mister Guardian. We don't want to gather a crowd and distract everyone from their important tasks."
Theo chuckled at the awkward title. "Please, don't call me 'Mister.' I am Theo."
"Theo," she repeated, her red lips savoring each syllable. "Is it short for Theodore?"
"That's right," he confirmed with a nod.
Theo followed Marie as they navigated the narrow, winding streets of the town. The houses seemed to huddle together, connected by multiple bridges and stairs. It was a tricky landscape, and Theo knew that if he were to walk alone, he would easily get lost. Even Rei, who trailed behind him, often had to squeeze through the tight spaces between the houses.
Finally, they left the central area, and the road widened. Marie held onto his elbow, while the blonde walked alongside Rei, seemingly enjoying the dragon's company.
"So, what brought you to Mountville, Theo?" Marie asked, her voice laced with a hint of enjoyment as she pronounced his name. If she weren't married, Theo might have thought she was flirting with him.
He didn't mind her straightforwardness. After all, he would have to explain his visit sooner or later. "I came to investigate a crime," he replied.
"What crime?" Marie's expression turned suspicious, and she slowed her pace. "If there were a crime, I would surely know about it." She glanced back at her friend. "Right?"
The blonde abruptly stopped, causing Rei to stumble. Theo halted as well, along with Marie, waiting for an explanation.
"It's you," the blonde stated, her gaze fixed on him, causing his heart to race. "You came here to find out who killed my uncle."
Her uncle? Theo's mind slowly pieced together the puzzle. He had received a letter from the niece of Gregory Storm, which meant... Oh, no. "Are you Ann Storm?" he asked, his voice grave.
"Yes, I am," she replied, a smile of pure joy spreading across her face, much like that of an oblivious puppy. A puppy who had no idea that soon she would be given away. "I wrote you a letter. I've been waiting for you."
Theo managed a weak smile. "And I'm here now."
"Hurray!" Marie interjected, her tone dripping with sarcasm, which seemed fitting for the situation. "So, you believe it was a murder."
"I do," Theo confirmed. "And I came here to investigate this case."
"I'm so glad you came," Ann said, her eyes locked with his. Theo couldn't help but sense her sincerity, even though she was a suspect in this crime.
Marie shifted her gaze from Ann to Theo. "You know what, why don't you come to dinner tonight? My husband and I are having a pasta night, and you can question all of us."
"All of you?" Theo asked, slightly taken aback.
Marie nodded. "All four of the witnesses. The night before the accident happened, it was me, my husband, Elajio, Annie..." She paused, pointing at Ann. "And her John."
Her John? A sudden pang of unexpected jealousy shot through Theo like a shard of ice. As Ann had briefly mentioned in her letter, John was her fiancé.
"He isn't 'mine,'" Ann clarified, her eyes revealing her disappointment.
"They didn't end up getting engaged that evening," Marie explained with a shrug. "But he will be there nonetheless."
This Ann isn't as simple as she seems, Theo thought to himself. I must be cautious. Aloud, he replied, "Sure, I would love to join."
"Great!" Marie pointed towards a two-story building with a beautiful garden in the front yard. "This is the town library. The Guardian Station is in the southern wing."
"Thank you, ladies," Theo said, gallantly taking Marie's hand and kissing the back of her palm. "I hope to see you soon."
"You will," Marie promised.
"So, how can I find your house?" Theo asked, turning his attention to Ann. They had agreed earlier that he and Rei would stay there for two nights. Was it a mistake?
Ann pointed towards the hills, an area filled with beautiful trees and large houses. Theo surmised that the wealthiest residents of the town likely resided there, which made sense considering the fortune of the late Gregory Storm.
"Just follow this road," Ann explained in her soothingly quiet voice. Even now, knowing she was the main suspect, she still held a certain charm over him. "Our house has a turquoise roof. I'll instruct the servant to provide you and Rei with everything you need."
"I'm very grateful," Theo replied, smiling at her but stopping himself from kissing her hand. He needed to regain his focus. "See you later, then."
Her smile melted his heart. "See you, Theo."
~ • ~ ☆ ~ • ~ ☆ ~ • ~ ☆ ~ • ~
To be continued...
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P.S. Here we go - the two finally met. How do you think, are Theo's feelings mutual?