~
The Five Penny pub was still sitting there in the busy streets of Sleepy Hollow like any other day. Mr Andrew was cleaning as usual in the day when he suddenly heard the bell from the front door ring. He dropped the mop he was holding and walked briskly to the front door.
When he got to the front door, he didn't find anyone, and the bell didn't look like anyone had touched it. He sighed and sat on one of the chairs close to the door as he looked at the busy street. He really missed Riya, he had heard what happened to her mother from Rick the other day, he felt really sorry for her. Mr Andrew continued to sit there and stare at the streets as he kept on remembering Riya walking through that door on several occasions with her radiant smile.
"Ohh dear." He said sadly.
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Josh sat on a bench outside the clinic as he waited for Leya to come out for her break. She had asked him to come over so they could go have lunch together.
After waiting for few minutes, Leya came out from the hospital and walked towards him. She was beautiful as usual in her normal slim fit jean pants and turtle neck long sleeve top that complimented her shape. Her blonde hair was beautiful as the sun highlighting it, made it shine like gold. Leya also had the most beautiful eyes, her eyes were as blue as the ocean.He put his thoughts aside as she came closer.
"You look lost." She said, letting out a small giggle.
"Lost in your beauty her highness." He said taking a fake bow as she burst out laughing.
"Ohh don't be cheesy Josh." She said still laughing.
They walked together to a small café close to the clinic where they could get some coffee and snacks.
Leya ordered cappuccino for two and a strawberry pie extra large for two of them and came back to sit with Josh.
"So how's the investigation." She asked.
"Still weird, it gets more weird by the day." Josh replied
Leya leaned in and waited for him to continue.
Josh told her everything related to the case so far since he left her hospital last time, from the visit to the church and to Mr Cooks. He explained to her how tedious it had been, running back and forth without any form of sense being added to the case except one wanted to look at it from the supernatural aspect.
"So you're telling me that there's something odd about that girl?" Leya asked.
"Exactly, I just can't place my hands on it." He answered.
"I think you should approach her in a more unofficial manner, I mean without your uniform, approach her as a friend and see how it turns, that way, you can observe her closely." Leya advised.
"That's a perfect idea Leya." Josh said as his face lit up.
Their food finally came and they ate and talked about their personal life and other things like normal people, like they weren't caught up in something bigger than them.
*****************************************
Riya sat on Rick's couch with Rick holding her and Voleth Meir in the kitchen making tea while Elijah just sat there with his eyes closed.
No one had spoken a word since they got back, everyone just hid their thoughts in silence. Voleth Meir came out of the kitchen with a tray containing four tea cups and some snacks, she placed the tray on the table and sat down.
"We should eat something and try to figure things out." She said as she picked up a cup and some snacks and started to eat.
Elijah followed suit, then Rick also. Riya seeing that they were eating just to encourage her to do same also picked hers and tried to eat something.
When they were done eating, another silence issued before Voleth Meir broke it.
"Adonis isn't plotting something very nice, while I was in his head that day, i saw all the dark things he planned on doing and has been doing for years now." She began.
"He doesn't just plan to merge the land of the living and the dead together like he did thousands of years ago, he also plans to raise an army of the dead to destroy the world we know and create another world where his dear King Ciaran who he'll raise from the dead will rule again in fear and utmost power." She continued.
"I haven't been able to get those images from my head since that day, it's utterly going to be ugly real quick if we don't get Meridith ready in time to defend herself and fulfill a new prophecy, one where she doesn't bring destruction wherever she goes but hope and peace and redemption." She added.
"I'm already doing exactly what the prophecy said." She whispered.
"Riya." Rick said her name softly as he held her close again.
"My mum is dead, because of me." She said as she sobbed silently.
The whole room became heavy with silence again as Riya continued to sob silently in Rick's arms.
"How do I fully regain my powers and memories back." She suddenly asked amidst tears.
"You need to go on an Astral journey just like last time, but this time it might take longer as you would have to find your broken memories yourself, I won't be there to guide you or hold your hands." Voleth Meir said calmly.
"Let's do it." Riya said determined.
"You can't do it now, you're not stable emotionally, it'll ruining the whole thing and even cause complications that'll prevent you from coming back." Voleth Meir explained.
"Take your time to heal for today, tomorrow we'll begin." Elijah said.
"Okay then." Riya replied.
Much later in the evening, Riya accompanied by Rick went to the Five Penny pub to see Mr Andrew. Riya stood again in the middle of the streets and took it all in like she always did before walking into the pub. After a while she opened her eyes and walked into the pub with Rick following quietly behind her.
"Mr Penny pen." She called out from the door smiling as usual as she walked towards him.
"Riri my girl." Mr Andrew called out back with fondness in his voice.
The pub by this time was definitely already filled up with a lot of customers drinking, dancing and conversing with loud music playing. Mr Andrew left the counter and ran to hug Riya as she came closer. Rick took the apron from him and took over the bar to attend to customers while Mr Andrew did some catching up with Riya.
"How are you my dear." Mr Andrew asked as he took a closer look at Riya.
"A lot has been happening since that night at the Alley, too much." She said as tears started to roll down her cheeks.
Mr Andrew hugged her and pat her back continually until she stopped crying and withdrew from his embrace.
"I've really missed you." She said
"Me too Riri, there were days when I heard the door bell when there was no one there, I'd go there and can't help but remember your smiles when I come to open the door or when you walk in on evenings like this." He said smiling.
"How are you feeling, Rick told me what happened with your Mum days ago when he came to help me at the bar; how are you holding up?" He asked.
"Still figuring things out I guess." She said smiling.
After chatting for a while, they watched together as Rick attended to customers at the bar with ease and smiles.
They both stood up and helped him one way or the other, they all just pulled themselves into the ocean of orders and work to clear their minds and avoid reality for just a moment.
Not too far from the bar, Elijah watched everything from a safe distance. He'd been keeping a close eye on her recently since her mum's death, he hadn't been able to forgive himself for not being competent enough to protect her and her mother, again!!!!!
"She's a strong one, she'll be fine." Voleth said behind him.
"You've recently developed the habit of sneaking up on me and following me around Voleth." He said sounding irritated.
"At least you used my name this time, you're welcome Elijah." She said ignoring his rude words.
"If I need a baby sitter I'll let you know, I don't know when you became this clingy." He replied with a straight face.
"Clingy?, Ohhh don't be full of yourself Elijah." Voleth Meir said smirking.
Elijah sighed and continued to watch Riya and her friends serve at the bar together. For a moment, he saw her smile, another time he saw her laugh.
"It's fascinating how she can just forget her pain in a short moment she spends with them." He thought out loud.
"It's called Family, Love, and Friendship, you should try one of those Mr burn the whole world." Voleth Meir said taunting him.