Chapter 19: The New Mask

To Slavica, when she heard Gwen's voice, it was very soothing and calming like a serene blow of the air around the woods where they were taking their time walking. But what really made it more wonderful was because of the person beside her who made her feel alive again. Gwen really felt the same tranquility since she felt many splendid things around her heart whenever she was with Slavica and she doesn't want to be away from it.

"Brighter than the living colors of flowers you see

Sweeter than the touch of water

Flowing from the mountain spring

More than all the wonders you see

It's the most wonderful thing…" Slavica went on singing the second part of the song which made Gwen giggle sweetly.

Slavica couldn't help to feel at ease for the first time after she lost her queen and the only person who brought back those majestic colors of the rainbows in her sight was the only person who could make her heart soar in the sky, Gwen Daae.

One love

I love you so

Love is the beautiful one

I love you so

Love is the beautiful one

All we need is love

Real love

"Gwen, I hope you won't slip away once our feelings blossom into something more than anything." Slavica lowly whispered that almost escaped from Gwen but it was just almost.

"Same goes with you." Gwen countered making Slavica look deeply at her and only to see Gwen. There was no trace of her old and lost queen as it was fully just Gwen. It was making her heart to softened and she could only be like that around her and nobody else.

Both of their heart went through a lot of ups and downs but none of it sticks around their hearts which made them long for the better one. And when both hearts finally decided to keep going and not look for anything just their lives, love surprisingly was given to them.

Marvel at the sight of green fields

Amazingly seen

Watch the colors of the rainbow

It's a miracle you see

More than all the wonders can be

But there's more than that

From both stormy or gloomy clouds within their hearts or drowning in their individual lives, a spark of a new beginning began to kick in as their newfound hope and love strive to do better for themselves just to be with each other at the right time.

Greater than what you can feel

More than what you ever dreamed

This is better than your everything

They might not go there or jump to what they were feeling just yet since they both wanted to let it bloom into something before taking chances with their hearts. They both knew that when they do, there was no turning back to what they'd been blessed with. Love.

"Can this never end?" Gwen muttered to nobody when they were a few steps away from the backdoor access of the cabin.

"It won't if we're destined to be together." Slavica managed to grab her hand and gently placed an assuring kiss.

Gwen felt the sudden rush of heat creep out from her neck up to her cheeks which Slavica found so cute. She even pulled Gwen closer just to give a lingering kiss on her forehead. Gwen loves the sweet gesture that was coming out from Slavica and it was making both of their heartbeats echo in such unity and serenity.

"Vica, we have to get inside…" Gwen might be saying that but she snuggles even more into the protective arms of her savior and soon-to-be lover?

"I know…but let me savor this moment with you because once I entered that room; I won't be able to hold you like this. I'll be busy working again." Slavica chuckled lightly as she hold Gwen even more and the unspoken feelings that lie deeply within their hearts really sing a lovely melody made only for each other.

"Vica, you can hold me every time you need. No need to ask." Gwen reassured that making her take a peek over her. She found herself smiling even though she was not wearing her mask.

"You love the way I hold you dearly, don't you?" she cupped Gwen's face as she teased her though she was emitting desire and love through the hold that she was giving to Gwen.

"Yeah, it's very warm and lovely. You're lovely." Gwen chuckled as she put her hands over Slavica's and give a reassuring squeeze that made them both smiles to their hearts' content.

It was obvious to Gwen that she really doesn't want to let go of the only person who was warming her heart. They might not even try to utter those words to seal their feelings for each other yet the longing will be priceless as the right time comes for it. Either of them loves to hear those words from the bottom of their hearts that's why they were both being patient with each other. They let their feelings sail across their hearts and minds till they both reach what they both deserve.

"You're my bright star, Gwen. Always be, so better not to dim it out." Slavica stated the truth about how she sees Gwen ever since they met – more to say from the day she found her.

"Oh honey, only you could spark my heart in such a golden flame." Gwen took those hands away from her face and put them to her chest where her heartbeat sings really loud around Slavica.

"That's lovely to hear that you do." She smiled lovingly at the confession of the person she just saved.

"I mean it." Gwen winked at her before she turned her heels and went closer to the cabin's backdoor access.

"I know you do. I believe in you." Slavica reassured as she followed Gwen then they both entered the cabin. And like what Slavica mentioned earlier, once she entered the cabin she'll be in her serious mode and she has to deal with their case as soon as possible.

Inside the cabin, Slavica was about to wear her mask once again but Gwen turned to face and pulled her face closer to hers. Slavica was a bit taken aback by that but she was more surprised when Gwen's hands began glowing. The way it was glowing was like the glow that happened a while ago when they were in their intense training in the woods. But not this time, the glow was covering Slavica's entire face. Gwen smiled before she let go of Slavica's face then she went to her busy team. As for her, Slavica, she didn't understand what Gwen just did but when she passed to a small mirror she noticed something.

"You…surprisingly beautiful." those words were the only thing that Slavica managed to say when saw her reflection in the mirror. She was already wearing a mask that was totally the same as that she always had with her.

Slavica joined the cramped living space as they all occupied it but Irina took noticed something was different around their boss. And before she could even say what she was thinking, Tacker beat her to it.

"Boss, where did you get that mask if it's here?" Tacker asked as he handed the pure black mask that Slavica always wears.

"Gwen gave it to me. How does it look?" Slavica tried to know how they looked over the mask that Gwen made for her earlier.

"Same as the old one." Yui answered as she looked at it.

"Different." Irina caught the attention of everyone and Gwen smiled at how nothing slipped passed with Irina's sensitive senses around her. She was just like the wind whenever she senses something different around the air of somebody; she really could tell the difference between the old and new.

"How's that different, Irina?" Tacker wondered as he didn't feel something different around Slavica while she was wearing a new but exact replica of her previous mask.

"She never glows while wearing her old mask." Irina finally dropped what she noticed around the old and the new mask that their boss wearing.

"Hmm, now that you mentioned it…" Tacker sounded thoughtful before grinning as if he was thinking something nasty that made Gwen focus on the papers on the center table.

"Did you two get laid out there? That's very naughty." Yui took notice of what her mate was trying to say and verbalized it.

There was a reason why Tacker didn't dare to finish what he was saying because of their leader. But Yui still does even though she already knew how it could piss Slavica off and it really ticked something in their leader to make her send a chilling and deadly vibe toward Yui.

"Yui, do you want to be sent back to the sea and let that sea monster eat you for good?" Slavica might be grinning sinisterly when she reminded Yui about the certain time she was saved by her when they were recruiting around.

"Nope, I strongly decline. Don't want that." Yui said in her teasing voice but it went really low and defeated which made the topic die down immediately. Gwen found it amusing though.

Even though Gwen was listening at the same time reading the file, she began to notice something and took a blank piece of paper that was lying around the center table. They all noticed the sudden move that Gwen just did and quietly watched what she was going to do. She began rearranging the images of the whole family clan according to the dates when it has been captured. Then she started removing those photos where the Larouve family head was and set them aside in the same flow. Gwen was staring at each photo on the table until she finally saw something that might lead them in getting something. She began encircling the photos where the grumpy grandfather of the dead Countess Alwina was before connecting every encircled mark to each other and making an output of a star symbol.

"Yui, does anyone within the SSS agency has the star symbol with ten points?" Gwen quickly asked Yui who also immediately check who has it. When she found it, her eyes went wide. Yui wasn't sure what she has to say to her but it was a must.

"No one but there was two members of the SSS agency has the symbol of a star." Yui answered honestly before gulping.

"Who?" Gwen asked while her eyes fixed on the symbol that came out from connecting every encircled mark over the photos.

"The Maestros or your adoptive parents." Yui answered which caught Gwen's attention.

"My what?!" Gwen was totally shocked by what Yui just told her before she stared back over the symbol which she couldn't believe belonged to her parents.

"Each of your parents has the five points star or the pentagram. So, combining the two pentagrams will form ten pointed stars which are called a decagram." Yui cleared which made Gwen frustrated as some memory from back then flicker in her mind which made Slavica put her hand over Gwen's shoulder.

"Tell me, I am wrong…" Gwen sigh heavily as the same symbol began to flicker around her mind and she saw that down to her adoptive parents' house basement.

"What did you find?" Slavica carefully asked Gwen who made a worried look at her for a moment.

Gwen seriously didn't care if she saw the hideous scar placed over Slavica's face that only she could see clearly while as for the others, they could see that she was indeed wearing a mask. Then even for a brief moment of looking at each other's orbs, Gwen felt encouraged before looking back at the center table.

"Everything was a trap." Gwen finally answered though that was not the entire image of what she was trying to say to them regarding the case that they were dealing with.

"Trap? For whom, Gwen?" Tacker confusedly asked Gwen who just groaned from feeling frustrated over the flashing symbol in her mind that came from the past.

"For me." Gwen only said as she leaned her head over Slavica's shoulder to calm her even for just a little bit. Slavica really does let Gwen take her strength out and play around with their case which always helped them, especially her. That's why she let Gwen get another rest for it with the help of her shoulder.

"What? Why your parents would like to trap you and for what?" Yui wondered as it doesn't make sense to what they were dealing with now.

"They didn't literally trap me but my memories. So, since I have no idea of what seriously happened back then I am trapped. They kept me hidden at the orphanage after they died since Lady Alwina left something in my memories and here I am now." Gwen cleared what she thought about their reason for making her feel trapped against her will.

"They plan everything so you're awakening will be with us." Irina guessed which Slavica finally decided to speak again.

"I don't think they planned that so far." Slavica disagreed but she partially agreed with what Gwen was saying. She managed to think very clearly after hearing Gwen's points.

Just by hearing that, they all looked confused about what Slavica just told them while she was still soothing the back of Gwen. With the soothing touch from Slavica, Gwen was calming down while looking and waiting for her to continue what she was planning to say.

"Vica…" Gwen sighs heavily as she wanted to know what she meant about that. But Slavica smiled at her with such reassurance.

"Look here, darling I mean Gwen…" Slavica started to explain but she called Gwen in a sweet endearment that never skipped from their ears, especially with Gwen.