ROSES HAVE THORNS-Chapter 27 - Promise

"By the way Mia, I apologise if you felt uncomfortable about what happened this afternoon."

"This afternoon?"

"The meeting with the bishop. I saw the way he looked at you. Those were the eyes of someone who is stalking his prey."

"Oh... I’d nearly completely forgotten about that. Thanks for reminding me."

"Forgotten? How’d you nearly forget?"

"Thanks to you sending me to the prefect station, I got to recharge my lovey-dovey meter with Dominik~" She hugged herself and wiggled her body. "It really heals the soul to have someone to dote on."

"Ah yes," Diana got back to work. "I’m sooo happy for you."

"Also," Mia added, "It seems that Dominik is already working on a case that involves the bishop."

"Really? So, something is going on with him?"

"Possibly. Remember that rumor we heard of the crazy person? Turns out he got involved with the bishop and now they’re both investigating him. He’s actually a really nice guy. Dominik even made friends with him."

"Dominik made a friend? Didn’t you always tell me that he doesn’t like approaching strangers first? And that it’s always the other way around?"

"I know right?! That’s what I said! I was so shocked when he said he made a new friend. Oh, his name is Kurt by the way."

"Kurt..." She said softly.

"Diana."

"Yes?"

"You should totally try going on a date with him!" Mia ran up to her. "You two give off almost the same vibes."

"Mia..." She got ready to her the same old speech about how she was not interested, but Mia did not give her the chance to.

"No, Diana, listen to me. I’ve got a really, really good feeling about this guy. Not to mention he’s handsome to boot. Also, when I looked into his eye, I saw a lonely man filled with passion~" she said dramatically.

"His ’eye’. Only one eye?" Diana scoffed.

"Yeah. He wears an eyepatch. It really adds to his mysterious charm."

’An eyepatch?’ She thought back on the man she saw at the diner. ’No, it’s probably just a coincidence.’

"Besides," Mia broke her thoughts, "He already promised me he’d meet with you. Tehee~" She stuck her tongue out and bonked her head.

"What? Are you sure you didn’t force this on him with your incessant nagging?"

"Nagging? Who? Me? Never. I totally, 100%, got him to agree to meet with you of his own volition."

"I somehow doubt that."

"Come on Diana~" Mia leaned on her chair. "Pleeease~ Please go on one blind date with him. Pretty please~"

Mia looked at Diana with those o so deadly puppy eyes she used on Kurt.

"Ergh! F-fine! Just stop looking at me like that already!" Diana turned her face away after getting embarrassed.

"Yay! I finally got her to agree to go on a date! Woohoo!’ Mia celebrated as she jumped for joy.

"Hey! Tone it down! You’re still at work in case you’ve forgotten."

"Oops! Sorry hehe." She covered her mouth. "Wait till your parents hear about this. They’re gonna be so happy... Oh-"

"Wait what?! You report to my parents about this? I thought you were on my side?"

"I am on your side." Mia smiled softly. "It’s just, we all know you could be so much happier if you had a significant other. Being cooped up all alone in that big mansion is a sure-fire way for you to end up as an old cat lady. And nobody wants to see that."

"Excuse me? I’ll have you know that I’m surrounded by my trusted workers and maids. Wendy, especially, keeps me great company."

"Wendy’s in on it too."

"...Huh?" Diana let out a cute sound.

"Yep. She’s our insider informant. A piece of information I found particularly interesting is how you like to lay in the bath, sip on wine while reading romance novels."

"You what?!" Her voice squeaked, "B-but that’s fairly normal, don’t you think? There’s nothing wrong with–"

"Diana," Mia put her hand on Diana’s shoulder, "We both know that that’s not all you’re doing in the bath..."

"What do mea–"

"You pleasure yourself while reading those books."

"....."

In that moment Diana’s whole face spiked up red from the embarrassment.

"Mi... MIAAAAAAA!"

"Oh, would you look at the time! Shift’s over for today, see you tomorrow. Bye!"

Shut!

.

..

...

"You sure we’re allowed to be up here? Going up those back stairs felt kinda sketchy"

Away from the desolate screams of Diana, Kurt and Dominik were standing atop the roof of an empty building.

"It’s fine. Sure, no one is allowed to be in or go up this abandoned building but I’m a prefect. Me being here is considered work."

’Abandoned ’you say? I do love me an abandoned building. Thinking about all the "fun" I could do here has got me... itching. Hehehe.’

"Kurt."

"What?"

"Stop doing that."

"Stop doing what?"

"That creepy laugh you do from time to time. Is your head okay? Need a doctor? I know a place where you can get a prescription."

"I’m fine Dom, jeez. Just thought of something funny is all."

"Really? Share it with the class then."

"You wouldn’t get my humor."

"Probably not. Oh, I see the church." Dominik pointed.

Kurt looked over to where he was pointing and true to what he said, the church was indeed massive.

"Whoa, you weren’t lying when you said it was the biggest church."

"Second biggest. The biggest one is right over there." Dominik pointed to the massive clock tower that stood deeper in the city.

"That massive tower is part of the church? Damn."

"Yep, and behind the tower, further out in the distance, surrounded by an impenetrable stone wall lies the King’s castle of Maxwell Dorothy."

"Ah yes, the place where you should’ve worked as a royal guard~ R.I.P."

"Arrgh! Don’t remind me..." Dominik fell deflatingly.

"Get up." Kurt hoisted him to his feet. "I was only joking. Come on, let’s get down to business."

Dominik reluctantly got up and together they both stood at the edge of the building overseeing the church.

"Hmm... Doesn’t look as busy as I thought." Kurt pointed out.

"Well, it is Wednesday my dude. The sun’s about to set as well"

"What the..." Kurt quickly turned his head to Dominik. "How do you know that saying?"

"What saying?"

"It’s Wednesday my dude."

"But it is Wednesday."

".... I see. So, you don’t know after all. Haaa, you nearly gave me a heart attack." Kurt resumed scouting the church.

"For what? Saying it’s Wednesday? You sure you don’t need a docto–"

"Hey! Who’s that?" Kurt pointed at a kid dressed who was dressed in all white and holding what looked to be a bible, walk out the church

Dominik’s focus shifted as he looked to see what Kurt was talking about. "That’s probably a kid from the church’s orphanage going back."

"The church has an orphanage?"

"Yeah. Every Wednesday and Friday from 16:00pm to 18:00pm, they hold classes that teach and prepare them to become priests and priestesses."

Soon after, more kids exited the church wearing the same clothes and holding the same book.

"Peter had a similar book. Although theirs looks slightly different. What is it?"

"Ahh, that’s a book that contains special scriptures and spells that only people belonging to the church have. I’m guessing those kids hold the beginner’s manual whereas people like Peter have the upgraded version."

"Right right," Kurt nodded, "Going off what you’re saying that means the higher your rank in the church the better your spell book is."

"Yep."

"Hmm. Tell me, Dominik. Are those kids forced into taking these classes and becoming a member of the church?"

"No." He shook his head. "Well, I mean, the classes are mandatory, but the profession isn’t. Why?"

"Just wondering." Kurt said as he watched the kids enter the orphanage.

"Where’s Tobias? I don’t see him anywhere." Dominik noted.

"In my experience, he’s probably trying to cook up a plan on what he’s going to do about the whole Peter and me situation."

"Why you?"

"I’m a witness to Peter’s death and I saw who killed him. His lackey must’ve reported to him that I got arrested so maybe he thinks I’m in a cell facing jail time. He might try to come and silence me so expect a visit from him soon at the station."

"Oh wow. You’ve got this whole thing figured out, don’t you?"

"Not everything. Come on, we’re done here." Kurt turned to leave.

"Already? That was quick. Not that I’m complaining" Dominik caught up to him as they both walked down the stairs they came up from.

"Like I told you, I just wanted to scout the place. Besides, I still want to have dinner before Sophie’s place closes." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Damn. You really took my recommendation to heart? I was mostly just kidding when I told you about it. I’ve only been there once, but from what I heard that place is almost always empty."

"I’ve been wondering about that. Why is it so barren? The food there is so good."

"Poor marketing maybe? I got no clue."

"Huh? I should ask Sophie when I get there."

When they reached the ground floor they both turned to each other and shook hands.

"Well Kurt, it’s been a fun first day working with you. Here’s to many more."

"You too, Dom. See you tomorrow."

"See ya."

Once they were about ten feet apart, Kurt heard Dominik yell,

"Ooooh Mia! Here I come! Dommy’s about to collect what was promised! Yahooo!"

’Dommy?’ Kurt looked back but he was already gone.