Honestly, after running into some morons and turning a whole well maintained museum into a pile of dust, I didn't think my day could get any weirder.
I was wrong.
I saw light coming from a sweets shop.The sweet aroma of baked cake reached my nose and I finally couldn't take it anymore. The hunger that had been suppressed after a creepy day, was now turned on. The monster in my stomach was growling for food.
I smelled some more eatables and just before I knew it, I was already walking towards the shop.
Will and Isabella followed. We reached there and found that the gate was open.
"Hello, is anyone here?" I asked as I walked in.
The shop looked beautiful. It was gracefully designed and the colourful candies added to its looks. Just beside the cashier counter was a glass show case with almost every dessert known to me. Cakes, pastries, tiramisu, pardulas, tartufo, pie, you just name it, every dessert was there. Just by looking at all that stuff, my mouth watered.
"Are you hungry, my dear?" a feminine voice came from somewhere behind the glass show case.
I looked left and saw a middle-aged woman leaning on the door behind the cashier counter. She had androgynous haircut and...well... she looked so... manly. I mean... AH! (sigh)... I don't know what I'm saying. Maybe the tiresome day has taken its toll. I was beginning to lose my mind just in one day away from the valley. I don't know how I'll survive like this. I dearly missed my previous life.
"Umm... do you know where we can find a place to rest overnight? I mean... like a room for rent just for one night." Isabella said and the woman came closer to us.
She looked at us like she was deciding what to do with these kids. After a long moment of silence, she finally spoke.
"You can stay here" she said and I immediately shook my head.
"No, no, we can't trouble you. And..."
"Oh! Come on. You are not troubling anyone." she said, but I resisted the offer.
"No, please. We will find some other place.
"Oh, dear. Please, I insist. And after all, my house is just behind this shop." she said and l glanced at Will and Isabella. When they gave their silent agreement, I couldn't help but simply give in. I nodded at the woman and she smiled.
"Okay. So, what's the price?" I asked and she pouted.
"Ah... darling. I won't take money from such cute buns like you three." she ruffled my hair like I was her pet.
I didn't know why but I was... I was sensing something strange in her behavior or maybe it was just my imagination.
My stomach growled again and the woman laughed. "Well... make yourself comfortable. I'll bring something to eat." and before she could disappeared behind the door, I called her.
"Umm... Miss, why is this place still open? I mean, every shop in this city closes after nine-thirty, right?" I asked.
"Because my shop is open twenty/seven. I can't disappoint my customers even if they come here at twelve A.M." she said and left us alone.We sat around a round table.
"So? Why do you still look troubled?" Will asked and I sighed.
"I don't know. Just...i think I am tired." I lied. I didn't want to disturb them with my imagination.
Just then I remembered what happened in the museum. Isabella was acting strange when we saw the statue of Kronos.
"Isabella?"
"Hmm..."
"Umm... in the museum...you saw something on the carvings, right?" I asked and her face became serious like she suddenly remembered something that she forgot.
"Well... yes. I think I...know the meaning of the first line of the prophesy."