Our fair story begins in Faytide, Ecrea. With thick long curls, beautiful brown eyes, and chestnut skin as smooth as a baby's bottom, Ecrea's most vied for beauty Verona Adria Celeste.
Where there's a will there is a way, and growing up in the royal family Verona learned quickly that giving up equates to losing. Which is something that never happens, especially not today.
"Verona, dearie are you ready?" An older woman knocked hastily on the door.
Cautiously balancing, on her windows ledge, Verona Adria Celeste has decided to opt out of her title and its responsibilities.
No more pretending, no more deceitful snakes, and for sure no more abhorrent guardians.
Although the knocking at her door was becoming more fervent, it was faraway in her mind. She was too busy focusing on how to jump without breaking a bone, or worse. The drop wasn't too far down, all she had to do was swing from the tree branch across from her window, and perform a successful tumble.
She hadn't bothered putting the dress on, choosing her usual pairing of a loose tunic, dark pants, and flat shoes instead of the elegant yet downright vile dress. With the knocking on the door growing louder and louder by the second, Verona did not have many options. There was one way she would be getting out of this nightmare, and it was through the old garden gates. Guards weren't posted there anymore due to no one ever going there, besides her at the dead of night. She used it often to journey into the city and pretend her life wasn't entirely shitty. Thank the goddess she had taught herself acrobatics as a kid, that was the only way to get out through the old gardens. Turns out sneaking out to watch and practice with the traveling circus was very informative.
And just like that, with a little upper body strength, and the agility of a cat, the runaway bride escaped out of her cage, and slipped underneath the wide blanket of night.
TWO YEARS LATER. IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF DRAÇON, ECREA.
[PRESENT TIME]
"Hey, over here." We both spout at the same time.
"No, you get over here Lilith." She says with her arms crossed.
"Well, fine. Only because you asked so nic-"
Standing by the fence at the end of the alley, Dalia was standing over a dead body.
"ely...Oh." I deadpan. "That's new, in the report it said the killer usually just leaves the heart of their victim."
"I know, weird right. Why change it up now?" She bends down and searches through his pockets.
"Dalia, didn't we say we weren't gonna do that anymore?" I walk over.
"No, you said you weren't doing it anymore. I on the other hand... Also, how else are we going to be able to find clues without waiting days to get it cleared from inventory, and stay ahead of this?" She grins.
"You are enjoying this way too much."
"And you're not?" She cuts off with a full smirk.
"I'm not answering that." I reply, shaking my head unable to stop a smile from growing.
"Because I'm right?" She mockingly pouts.
"When aren't you." I grin, wrapping her up in my arms as she chuckles. The two full moons light up her face, as I brush her cheek with my hand.
"Ahem." A familiar voice interrupts. "Are you both, really flirting over a dead body? I mean, just go on your honeymoon already." He groans.
Dalia shifts her back to me and I rest my head on her shoulders, lazily holding her to me. As our childhood friend, and fellow coworker, Moi Gibbons walks down the alleyway to inspect the body. Also known as meticulous Moi around the department, the name given to him due to his very descriptive and detailed reports.
"Jealous, that we're happy and you're all alone?"
"I am not alone! Matter of fact, I have a date tonight." Moi states, obviously flustered.
"Oooo, who's the lucky man?"
"Im not falling for that again, Dalia. You stalked my last date, you creep."
"Ugh, you're no fun Detective. Also, criminals don't take honeymoons, so why should we?" Dalia taunts.
"You're joking right? Because if I have to actually make you enjoy life, you might be too far gone."
"Solving cases is how we enjoy life slowpoke, but yes we are going on a honeymoon. We just want to get this intriguing case solved first." Dalia's crimson eyes light up.
"By intriguing cases, do you mean the very dangerous and lethal serial killer you two are hunting down?" His worry lines appearing on his face, along with a grimace.
My grin widens, as I cut in. "The one and only."
Despite knowing Dalia and I since birth, I think he still doesn't understand why we do more than what we are asked of as detectives. Although it is just a job to some, Dalia and I take on the more complex cases for fun. We have just always loved figuring out puzzles, and there isn't a better puzzle than a classic whodunnit. Moi has all the right to be worried though, because we don't always go about it the right way. There have been a few close calls, but nothing Dalia and I couldn't get through together.
"Well, just make sure to be careful. I know you guys can handle it, just at least try to go by the book this time alright? I don't want to see either of you get hurt, this case was just made a level one and you both know how the last case that was deemed lethal ended." Moi sighs, while dusting for prints.
"No problemo, we will definitely go by the book this time." Dalia shrugs.
A shiver runs its coarse through my body as I try not to think of what happened with the aforementioned case he spoke of. We both start to leave the alleyway, but before turning the corner, I turn back, facing Gibbons.
"Don't worry too much, Moi. We've got this, you should focus on getting that promotion to the director. Dalia and I are always two steps ahead." I wink, my smile genuine.
He nods as I walk off, muttering to himself. A wave of anxiety washes over me, my ability causing my skin to crawl. I start to feel the familiar sense of uneasiness wash over me again, which only makes me worry if this case is different, but not in a good way.