Chapter 8:Blood

8: Blood 

When Dawn finally opens the window and she face the door, she flashes a smile and walk through Xio. Although she never expects that Xio would be home at this time of the day.  She usually goes home at afternoon or late in the afternoon. 

“It seems like, you finished your work this early ha.” Dawn jokingly uttered. 

Xio think for a moment, she didn’t get what Dawn said and when she looked at her clothes, flashbacks of what happened earlier clouded her mind. She thinks that Dawn assume that she is out for the work, which is not true but she can’t really tell Dawn what happened to her. 

So, she smiles and says; “Of course, you’re back. You ditched this house without me knowing. Where did you go?” She asked and chuckled after. 

“I... ah, went to work. They happened to have an emergency and I’ll help them. Sorry for not allowing you to know it because you’re in a deep sleep.” She lied and Xio didn’t comment on that. 

Knowing Dawn, she’ll just greet Xio and that’s it but Xio is a jolly girl she wants Dawn to welcome her with warm hugs, she need that after all her suffering at the forest. So, excitedly hugged Dawn who looked stiff at first but return a hug for Xio. 

Rebecca is in awe upon seeing them in that scene. They looked like siblings, well they are siblings in the heart they claim it. But she feels something strange between the two of them and it’s not her story to tell, she stands up and made way to stand at the back of Dawn with a beam. 

Xio notice her and greeted her; “Hi.”

Xio assume that she is Dawn’s mother, because that is the first time Dawn allowed someone, or a visitor enter their house without her knowledge. Although, she doesn’t know where Dawn’s family are, she is curious but she knows that Dawn will tell her to eventually, maybe it’s not the time for her find out. 

“I’m Rebecca.” 

Rebecca introduce herself to Xio and she did the same.

“I’m Xio. Are you Dawns mother?” she asked half unsure. 

Dawn chuckled and says; “No, Xio. She isn’t my mother. I just help her when there comes a riot because they terrorize our village. Oh no. it’s not exactly terrorize they enter this village because they want golds and we all know we didn’t have golds here. Add up to that, her husband is the leader but he’s aren’t here and she wants to find her husband but I need you to come with me.” She explained. 

Xio’s face gleam, she’s happy that Dawn can explain in more than one sentence. Usually, Dawn explain a thing or event in one sentence or in a few words. Dawn just said what she’s needed to say in one, so that she can’t talk further. 

“Is that so? Okay… but who’s this man here?” she asked pointing James out. “Is he your brother or something?”

James felt his feet froze on the ground upon hearing Xio’s question. He didn’t know to react, just like earlier. He’s amused of Xio and he find her interesting. 

Dawn was about to answer her question but James quickly says; “No. I’m not related to her. Just like her Dawn just help me,” he stated and she nodded. “But in my case, she helps me get out of the forest because I lost track on my way to this village. It’s hard to track the exact location of this place and good thing I saw her in the forest. She also needed help that time, so we help each other.” 

Dawn goes pale, because of his detailed explanation for Xio. She lied for her and James somewhat ruined it. 

Her mind says; “What’s wrong with this guy? Can he just don’t include the word ‘forest’ in his explanation? And why is he smiling like an idiot while talking to Xio? Damn. Maybe he has a crush for my best friend.” Dawn suddenly rolled her eyes because of her thoughts.

And it’ true that James is smiling while saying those things with Xio, he’s almost grinning though, that makes him cute. Well, James is a handsome man, he has this thick curved eyebrow that help his expression more serious, aside his dark eyes. That pointed nose complement with his sharp jaw, specially he goes sideways also his red lips. 

“What?” Xio asked, her head snapped at Dawn and back to James. “Forest? Do you mean the prohibited forest or the other one that hunters usually go?” she really curious to know. 

James think for a bit and he remembers that it is the prohibited forest because before they got out of that place he saw a placards saying; “DO NOT ENTER! PROHIBITED PLACE!” so, he replied to Xio; “Yes. The prohibited one.” But he’s in the verge of not uttering it because he saw something flickered in Dawn’s eyes, for the one second he stared at them.  

He pressed her lips, unable to defend himself more or take back his answer. What he saw is something unfamiliar for one’s eyes, even though he saw it for only a flick of time, he knew it was something that needed an explanation. 

“Dawn?” Xio eyed her like she stole something from her. Dawn pressed her lips and stared at Xio. She’s not afraid to tell her that she went to the prohibited forest but she’s afraid to tell the why she went there. Knowing Xio, she’ll not stop asking why until you’ll tell the reason, or the desired answer she wants from you. 

Dawn force a smile and answer; “Uh. I was hunting for a deer for dinner.” She reasoned out but Xio didn’t buy it, so, she says; “We brought a meat in the market, Dawn Pauline… Are you hiding something from me? and don’t you dare lied to me again.” then she crosses her arms in her chest.

“N-No! Of course not! I’m sorry for lying, Xiomerrah. This is what happened really…” Dawn create a story for Xio, so that she can stop asking her before she’ll feel guilty and tell truth instead. 

“I was walking home when I saw deer, a baby deer to be exact and from there it looks like she is wounded because she can’t walk straight or even run fast but when I got near, she run using her three feet only. I was concern for the deer so, I follow her and found myself in that forest and I saw him there.” She reasoned out and James on the side flash an amused expression by her story. 

He knows that it isn’t the real story but he can’t protest to correct it because first of all, it’s not his story to tell, she must have a strong reason why she isn’t told her the truth and if he’ll do so, maybe he’ll be the cause of misunderstandings of the two. And he’s now afraid of Dawn. 

“Okay. I understand…. but don’t do that again Dawn.” Dawn nodded as Xio sounded like a mother. “Did you prepare food?” she asked.

“Not yet. Because we are interrupted by the villagers but I’ll cook.” It’s now Xio’s turn to nod and she says; “Sure. I’ll just be outside. Just call me if the food is ready.”

“Yeah. Sure.” 

Then Xio got out of the house and James followed her. Dawn on the other hand make way to the kitchen to boil some potatoes and grill beef for them and Rebecca volunteer to help her as her son is comfortable in the sofa mattress. 

“I can cut and grill the beef.” Rebecca said to Dawn, who’s currently busy washing the potatoes. 

Dawn face her, and she was about to say no but she saw Rebecca doing what she said, so, she just shrugged and mind her own business. Since a little of Rebecca’s help won’t hurt her and she is not a master in the kitchen. Usually Xio is the one who cook food for the two of them, every meal. Dawn just know how to boil potatoes; she doesn’t even know how to grill beef properly. It’s sometimes uncooked or overcooked. 

“What are you doing?” Dawn asked Rebecca curiously as she watched her put lemon, pepper and garlic on the beef. 

Rebecca stared at her for a while before realizing what’s she said. “I’m marinating the beef, with lemon, pepper and rosemary leaves. It helps to enhance the flavor of the beef.” 

“Is it necessary?” 

“Yeah. Why? This will taste good.”

Dawn shook her head, refused to answer her why, and continue doing the potato even though she is still confused about the marinade. Whenever she is in charge of cooking, she never used spices to add flavors for the food, she just washes and cook the food, whether it boiled, grilled, fry or even steam. For her, it still tastes good, enough to satisfies her cravings and hunger. 

Not long enough, in the back of the house, Xio and James are talking seriously towards each other, but got interrupted when they heard the voice of Dawn, calling for them to eat. 

Xio shakes her head and says; “Next time, James.” 

James flash a smile, reach his hand for Xio and they made a hand shake, and he utters; “Nice meeting you. And yeah. Next time.”

They simply walk to enter the house. They greeted by the savory aroma of the foods Dawn and Rebecca served in the table. They made way to make themselves comfortable in their sits, they were about to eat but they stopped when they heard Rocco, saying grace for the food while his eyes are closed and fingers are intertwined. 

“Thank you for the food that we are about to eat….” He prays.

 Rebecca, Dawn, Xio and James, did the same way as him. After that they ate peacefully, only the sound of the spoon in the plate are the noise in the household. Xio as much as she wants to speak, she can’t because she realized that silence in front of the food is way better. You can appreciate the quality of the food and the people around you, the people who joined you in one table to eat. She smiled by her own.

When they finished Xio volunteered to wash the dishes, as well as Dawn so the two of them helped to wash and clean the kitchen area. Xio humming a song while doing the dishes, Dawn just listening to her while silently wiping the table. After wiping, Dawn fixed her hair into a ponytail, she faced Xio’s back and she notice that there’s something in her clothes. Something red.

She reached it by her hands, softly so that Xio can’t feel it. she touches it until her fingers have the red mark, she brought her fingers in her nose and smells it. Dawn gasped upon realizing that it is blood. 

"Xio... You have blood."