"Aida" Vanessa called softly as she tapped on her door.
Aida slowly opened the door to allow her enter the room. Aida seemed a little embarrassed.
"Are you ok?" Vanessa asked as she stared at Aida.
"Yeah, I am" Aida replied and forced a smile.
Vanessa nodded and placed the tray on the bed.
"Come, eat. I brought food for us" Vanessa said as she made herself comfortable on the bed.
Aida sat down and smiled while looking at the foods in front of her.
"I thought you'd like tom brown" Vanessa said nervously, when she saw the smile on Aida's face.
"My favorite!" Aida exclaimed
"I'm glad I made the right choice. Eat before it cools" Vanessa heaved a sigh of relief.
They ate in silence, until Vanessa asked;
"Why did you leave the dinning hall?"
Memories of why she left suddenly came rushing into her memory, and she almost puked out of fright.
"Does he frightened you that much?" Vanessa asked, looking so concerned.
"Wh...who?" Aida managed to ask, feigning ignorance.
"Theodore" Vanessa replied
Aida spat the food in her mouth out, at the mention of Theodore's name.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to" Aida apologized awkwardly as she cleaned herself.
"Wow, wow....that much effect?" Vanessa asked confusingly. "Have you met before? I mean, did you happen to meet Theodore before coming here?"
How was she going to explain herself if she said yes?
"No" she answered. Honestly, that was the truth. She's never met Theodore in person before and this was her first time meeting him. She didn't know how to explain to Vanessa, she's been plagued with visions, after meeting Raven and almost all those visions ended with Theodore soaked in blood and standing in the mist of endless dead bodies.
"I see. Theodore is not a bad guy. He's just cold. He's caring and kind. Don't let his grim look scare you. Try to know him more, and I promise you'd grow to like him as much as we all do" Vanessa said reassuringly.
"Ok. I'd do my best to get to know him" Aida replied faking a smile, which came out crooked.
"You don't have to do it, if you don't want to. Just don't freak out when you see him or hear his name" Vanessa said when she saw Aida's crooked smile. "I think I'd better leave now. Call me in case you need anything" Vanessa said as she tried to pack the items back on the tray.
"Oh, don't worry. I will do it" Aida said.
"Alright, I will leave it to you then" Vanessa said and walked out the room.
****
When they were done eating, Cindy has wanted to help clean the table but Theodore swiftly carried her out of the dinning hall.
"Get some rest" Theodore said as he tucked Cindy in bed.
"You should get some rest too" Cindy pointed out.
"I'm not tired" Theodore replied
"I'm not tired either. We woke up early together, remember?" Cindy asked.
"Stop those pointless comparisons. I can go a month without a wink and would still be alright. I've got a lot of stamina" Theodore replied as he sat on the bed.
"Theo... when you told me you were a supernatural being, you were joking right?" Cindy asked out of the blue.
Like a kitten caught in a trap, Theodore gulped . He remembered he told her about his spookiness and knew she brushed it off. He didn't try to convince her because he thought she'd understand him when the time was up. But he never anticipated her asking him that unexpectedly.
"I wasn't joking"