Since everything was burned down in the fire, the sisters don't have much with them at all. Just their phones, their current clothes they're wearing, and themselves. Along with the damages are the memories in it.
Rick lead the girls to Joanne's old room. The biggest and the most distinct room upstairs. It is colored in shades of purple from the door to its wallpaper. And even though the curtains still remain vibrant, the accumulating dust on the surfaces are quite noticeable.
Rick's sister, Joanne, already migrated outside Eunoia after marrying. Stella and Cora weren't close with her since she is six years older than Rick and doesn't hangout much with them back then. All they know is that she is quite successful.
"Feel free to try everything," Rick said as he opens the walk in closet.
"You sure she won't mind?" Stella cautiously asked.
"Oh don't worry. She rarely visits now. Plus she doesn't need these anymore." He walks towards the bedroom door. "I guess I'll leave you to it then. I'll be out for a while. Gonna wait for Willa by the gate."
"Sure. Thank you again, Rick," Stella nods back at him before he goes out and shuts the door.
The sisters entered the lilac walk in closet. It's almost dusty but all the clothes are sealed safe and well preserved in plastics. The clothes are sorted according to color and type. All hanged in racks. Below the racks are two layers of drawers where accessories and shoes are placed. All shoes are kept in their respective boxes.
"Joanna is definitely rad!" Cora compliments as she rummages into the rack of coats. "It's probably colder in Wisteria since the sun almost never shine there. We need thicker clothes," Throwing a long brown coat to her sister.
Catching the coat just in time. "And sophisticated ones. Wisteria fashion is far from ours."
Cora pulls out a moss green colored coat simply because it is the only one that she finds comfortable and doesn't have an irritating texture. She paired it with a black top and black skinny slacks. She then pulls a pair of black mid boots.
She zips up the mid boots then twirls. "So, what do you think?"
Her sister just smiles at her. "It's been a while since I saw you wear something like that."
"What? Really?" She turns around, staring at herself in the mirror, pouting. She pulls out the coat's collar then flips her curly rose brown hair to let them flow on her shoulder. She slips on a pair of thin gloves to protect the burned wound on her hand.
"You've been hiding in your loose tops and ripped denim pants for too long, sis," Stella said while pulling out a hanger of white turtle neck top and dark denim pants.
"Well, the job doesn't have dress code anyway," Cora sits by the small cushion chair, waiting for her sister to finish dressing up. "There's some nice brown boots, same shade as that, in the third from the left drawer."
The older sister took the brown furry boots from the drawer, strapping them in place after changing her attire. She looks at herself in the mirror. She used to have this same brown coat back at home. A gift from their father. She pulls down her long blonde hair, letting them flop down to one side of her shoulder. She kept on brushing it with her fingers as the tries to shake off the slight hint of reminisce. She then smiles. "I think we're good."
Cora frowns for a while then looks up to her sister. "There's no going back after this."
"We can still cancel the plan if you're not ready."
She shakes her head. "No, I'm ready. I'm the one who insisted this." She purses her lips. "But we need a solid plan."
Stella pulls another cushion chair then sits opposite her sister. She shared all the evidences she managed to gather from their father's office, including the rough sketch of the dagger. "Papa caught himself in trouble because of these. Keep your phone to yourself and don't let any Wisterian see it. Understand?"
The little sister nods. "I've been thinking…."
"Hmm..?"
"Should we reach out to the Highborns about this matter?" It is odd that Cora starts considering the Highborns as a good option. She never trusts them and she is well aware that at some point, maybe… Just maybe... The Highborns are the ones responsible for what's happening too.
But what if they're not? What if they are as clueless as everyone?
Stella thought about that question for a while. She still believes in the Highborns. But in a case where their father is involved, it is really hard to decide on what is right and what is safe. Things could go sideways and she does not want their father to get in further trouble.
But it seems like they have no choice. Without contacting the Highborns, they will be blind. They will be tracking down their father in an uncharted territory. Without the Highborns' protection, they won't be safe. And the only way to get their attention is to show them the evidences.
Stella just kept staring at her feet, processing the possibilities of her decision. She knows that even if Cora doesn't agree, she will still follow whatever her older sister decides. "I think it's best to reach out to them as soon as possible."
Cora expected this. There is a hesitant feeling inside her but it is better to shake it off. She knows that their resources are limited. They are desperate. And for her, it is not just their father that they will be saving this time. They could save people from becoming next victims.
It didn't take long for the sisters to finish formulating their plan. As they walk downstairs, they saw Rick talking to a visitor--a lady almost the same age as them sitting right next to him.
"Ladies, meet my girlfriend, Willa. She will help us get in Wisteria," Rick proudly introduces.
Willa flashes this sweet dreamy smile as she waves her hand at them. Her furry coat slightly flopped down from her shoulder. Her caramel skin glimmers, almost as smooth as marble.
Cora could not help but stare. There is something about the visitor's perfume that smells so sweet and familiar. "You smell so good," she unconsciously murmured.
Willa turns to her. "It's Innefilis. Most humans in Wisteria wear this scent to avoid vampires from getting tempted. Ah! Which reminds me!" She pulled out two necklaces from her purse. Each has a vial pendant. "These are Innefilis essence. Since Oblivians smell different from us, you'll be easily distinguished from the crowd." She hands them over to the sisters. "Wear them all the times and never ever lose them. Nothing's scarier than vampires craving for an outsider's blood."
The sisters thanked her then wore the necklaces immediately.
"I hope you don't mind but I had to tell my master, Calico, about your business. She is the one who gave you invitations to enter the capital legally. Only for a limited time, but enough to do what has to be done."
The sisters look at each other. It is quite doubtful to trust a vampire that they have never met before. But they are also aware that only vampires can invite humans inside Wisteria. It is another risk that they have to take.
"Don't worry." The visitor smiles. "Master is completely harmless." She lays back on the sofa, slightly exposing a bite mark on her neck. Cora could not help but stare and unknowingly touches the right side of her neck.
Willa noticed it.
Stella lightly taps her sister's arm, signalling her to stop staring.
"Sorry," Cora immediately apologized.
Willa's smile grew wider. "Nothing's wrong about being curious." She pulls her hair to flow down to the other side of her shoulder, exposing her neck more. "Yes, I'm a Giver. I live with Calico and she takes care of me in return."
"Does it hurt? Being bitten?" Stella curiously asked.
"It does. At first it does." She looks from afar, as if daydreaming. "And then it doesn't."
"What do you mean?" Cora quickly pulls her coat's collar up.
"You see. Getting bitten by a vampire can be beneficial for both. Of course it's a disadvantage for humans since we feed them. We get weak and they regain their energy. But as the bite lasts, it can be addictive. Seductive. It's like your heartbeat syncs with them. Like all of a sudden, it's a drug. And lastly, the pleasure. It doesn't always happen but it usually does."
"And you get this? The pleasure with your master?" Stella curiously asked.
Willa nods then holds Rick's hand. "Rick understands this. Besides, Calico likes him a lot." She then pulls his hand to kiss. "She can't wait to taste you again."
"Wait what?!" Cora sternly stares at Rick. "You let yourself get bitten too?!"
"Well, yes. As a matter of fact, I'm applying as a Giver to Calico so that Willa and I could live together with her," Rick proudly said.
"I don't get it. I don't see any bite marks on you." Cora raises a brow.
"Oh honey. The neck isn't the only place where they can bite," Willa giggles.
Rick starts blushing. He then clears his throat, diverting the topic. "Dad's gonna be here soon. We better get going."
Before they leave the house, Willa approached Cora and tapped her shoulder. "I noticed that thing on your neck."
"It-It's nothing." Cora looks away.
"Does your sister know that you've been hanging out with a vampire?"
"What? I don't hangout with any vampire."
"Oh." Willa stares at her concernedly. "Then maybe you should seek answers for that while you're in Wisteria."
"What do you mean?" For some reason her heart suddenly starts racing, as if she does not want to hear more about it. But she has to. It already caught her attention.
"If you're not hanging out with a vampire, then why do you have a undone bite on your neck?"
"Un-Undone bite?" Cora touches her neck again. Her hand now trembling. She could feel her fingers getting numb.
Willa touches her hand. "I didn't mean to frighten you but you really need to know who's been doing that to you."
The conversation was cut short when the cab starts honking outside. They all rush to get out and make sure that no one saw them leaving. The driver immediately raised the tinted windows as soon as the passengers got in. There is no turning back. It is now or never.