It seems that none of the residents saw this scene. Selena looked at the card, trying to calm her trembling hands and examine the picture.
It's a tarot card with the picture of the ghost rider on his horse. And on the card the word "Death" was written.
Selena was burning with rage and indignation. She tried to find a logical explanation to everything that was happening. Finally she made her peace with it. She realized that it was all for real. The world she came from no longer existed. There was only that card and that ghost town.
"Can you go faster? I want to get home as soon as possible. " Amelie was accompanied by her maid. The maid trued to keep up, but the large basket of flowers required her to stop every now and then.
"I'm running, my lady."
'Amelie, are you a mistress in this world?' Selena scoffed at the thought. Seeing a familiar face, Selena calmed down and pulled herself together. Her mind was full of thoughts again. 'The rider handed me a card-like a penalty card on the football field. Does this mean I'm to blame. I told Amelie to stay in the office, but chances are she didnt listen to me..'
Selena stared at Amelie. When I get out of her, I'll for sure fire you. That's for sure'. Selena didn't approach her secretary. She simply watched her.
"Ah!" The maid tripped and dropped the basket in the ground, some of them ended up in a puddle
Amelie stopped, sighted hysterically, and tumed to the unfortunately woman. "Useless girl."
Selena flinched in surprise. That was the exat phrase Selena used over and over again, albeit she never allowed herself to raise her voice.
Amelie squealed in the middle of the street: "You're good for nothing! I can't even trust you with a basket of flowers!" Passers-by turned around. The Maid, like a shamed kitten in the comer, listened silently to all the accusations.
.....
Selena's ice cold voice rang out "I keep wandering why I keep you around. Remind me why?"
"Sorry...I...I..." ashamed, Amelie glanced at Rob—she didn't want anyone to witness her being scolded.
...
This seems to be her and Amelie, just in different settings and characters. Selena turned away and wandered on, trying to get rid of the inconvenient memories. She got distracted.
She felt like she hadn't worked in ages. It was unusual to walk around the city like that, without rushing anywhere. Selena wasnt paying attention to the road but wasn't surprised when she realized she ended up at the mansion.
A man was swarming the gate. He squatted and was going through the contents of a box. Selena slowed down and he turned around.
"Oh, it's you. Hello Lilith." The man awkwardly looked away, clutching a woman's mirror to his chest. Then Selena saw the Inscription on the box: Gifts to the city. Take one, don't be shy. "This is for my wife."
He twirled the mirror in his hands and awkwardly walked past Selena. "Good day And then hurried away.
"Hmm..." Selena bent down to look at what was in the box. A scarf, some jewelry, some trinkets... ' is this some kind of charity?' Selena lost interest and headed to the hotel
The house was suspiciously quiet. Selena didn't immediately notice Liam staring at the paintings. His figure merged with the darkness, and only the scattered candlelight outlined his silhouette. He didn't turn around when he heard the closing door, and only said: "I knew you'd come back."
"Even I didn't know that." Selena went up to him.
Liam touched one of the paintings and ran his hand reverently over it. "I'm so good at seeing other people's talents, but I'm not able to create a masterpiece. My life is like the tenth circle of hell that Dante didn't bother to describe. And only these pictures make me forger about it. I just stand here and admire them. Do you like them?"
Selena looked at the paintings before losing interest. "No, there's nothing special about them."
Liam wilted. " Still, you were the only person I could share my passions with." He suddenly started, as if he woke up from a dream, and said: "I'm sorry. Let's not talk about this"
Josephine descended the stairs, but, noticing Selena with Liam, she stopped. "There you are, Lilith. We have a lot of work to do. Start cleaning immediately! I want the guest to be happy. Do you understand?"
Josephine pointed to a bucket and sone rags waiting for Selena near the stairs.
"Sister, I don't think Lilith can do it today"
"I don't want to hear that. She's probably coming up with all this nonsense just to avoid work. But you can't fool me, young lady. Don't forget your place in this house!"
Josephine arrogantly raised up her head and disappeared into the living room. Selena went down to the bucket and sat on the step. She looked at the rag and thought: 'I ended up in this house for a reason. Perhaps if I play along I'll figure out how to get out... But do I really need to do everything they say? It's not the first time I've had to kiss ass to get ahead... And it won't be the first time I have endured humiliation, knowing that someday I'll triumph! I've always been able to adjust... I have to adapt in order to survive. So I have to play along. I have to become a part of this world!'
Liam caught up with Selena. For a while, he watched her thoughtful look, but then he couldn't resist and laughed. "I see you're not in the mood for work. Let's go for a walk." He went ahead but stopped, waiting for Selena to follow him.
"Okay."
They went out into the garden. The garden was small but cozy. There, one could hide from prying eyes, meditate without fear that someone would read one's thought just by looking at the pursef lips or tear-stained eyes.
It smelled of wet grass mixed with St.john's wort. "Just don't start again."
Selena turned to him. "What are you talking about?"
Liam ran his hand over the leaves of a tree as if stroking them. Selena's gaze fell on his fingers—long, thin, arty. They caressed the leaves, touching them gently, then let go of them. Selena felt her cheeks turned red. Liam noticed her blush.
He smiled, and there was something In that smile that made Selena blush even harder. She'd really forgotten what it was like to communicate with men.
Liam continued their conversation as if nothing happened: "Don't shirk your work. Listen to Josephine. You know how angry she can get."
It tool Selena a few long seconds to remember what they were talking about. She replied obediently: "No, I don't know... And I don't want to find out."
"Then at least pretend you're doing something. Sister is constantly redoing all the work anyway. She's a perfectionist." The bushes rustled. Selena heard someone's quiet steps.
Liam turned around, but the noises stopped as if it had never happened. "Is there someone else in the garden?" She asked.
Liam cheerfully yelled: "Come out, Prima. I know that you're there." A girl, about fourteen years old, came out of the bushes. She was chewing on some flower, twisting it's stem with one hand while holding a wreath on her head with the other one. "Prima, you have to take care of the garden, not destroy it. Josephine will be furious."
"Hey..." prima shrugged indifferently. "Actually, I'm in touch with the garden. We became friends. Just wait and see how it'll bloom later."
"Don't you remember her either, Lilith?"
"No."
"Prima came out of nowhere on our doorstep a couple of weeks ago. She had nowhere to live, and Josephine took her in."
Prima laughed. "Took me in? Actually, I'm on my own. Like cat."
Prima went up to Selena and began to look her over—Scrutinizing, as if it were the first time she saw her. She came very close, touched her clothes and hair.
"Prima, don't bother Lilith."
Prima snorted, shrugged again, and stepped away from them, continuing to chew on the flower.