The city in the night of Vernilla sparkled with myriad of blended colours. The sky was inked with deep blue in scarce skintillating stars and faint silver moon behind the white luminated curtain of clouds.
The tall skycrapers, historical cathederals, massive shopping malls, hotel and restaurants, clothing stores with mannequins fashioned to display, cars and people were all Neva could see through the window of the grey Aston Martin merged with the flourishing city in the night.
If any other day, she would have loved to explore. But right now her mind was unkempt, confused and scarred. Neva felt tears pricking the corner of her eyes, and she let it fall, not bothering to wipe them.
Everything was so different, unknown, dark and alarming. She wanted to be back home. She longed for the warmth of her husband and her children. She couldn't even know if Ishmael was alright.
It pained her so much, that her heart numbed with all the cuts.
A whispery sob leapt up her chest.
Rhett beside her, worriedly glanced at her. "Angel," he caressed her shoulder.
Neva harshly shoved his hand away.
"Don't touch me!" She glared at him.
There was a pang in Rhett's chest.
She wore a veil of hatred in her reddened eyes. But more than anything, he felt compassion for his wife.
She must be terrified with everything that happened.
She didn't even know that all this years she had been kept in darkness.
Neva ruefully glanced again at the bustling city again. But he never missed to grieve her glittered, reddened eyes with long wet curled lashes illustrating her beautiful almond eyes, her cheeks and nose flushed pink.
He wanted to wrap his arms around her and comfort her. But he no longer possesed the blessing to even touch her anymore.
Rhett swallowed.
He stared at the boulevard ahead. Ace was driving. And Neva was with him in the rear passenger's seat.
There was an agape for another person in the middle of the seat.
And he ached at the distance. After years of walking dead, when he finally had her close; he couldn't even hold her anymore.
How much did Raka abuse her, feed her poison that her whole life was seized away from her? How crudely did he lie and trap her in his illusions?
She was forced to dream with him; and now she was dependent on him, needing him.
Rhett fisted the flattened hands on his lap. His eyes cold and jaw clenched.
.
.
.
A silent drive of ten minutes later the scenery changed from the heart of the city to a rather concealed, greener path with nature.
Rhett lifted his hand and glanced down at the silver wristwatch.
It was ten past thirty now. There was two and half hours difference in time between Finland and Erriador. And it had been an exhausting journey of over three hours.
The car took a smooth right turn at the cross–road. Then it slowed as the low beam headlights bared the concrete walls surrounding a white modern courtyard house. The house was cocooned with trees and plants all around.
Ace stopped the car before the iron gate. The engine still on he walked out to open it.
Rhett turned to Neva. She was still very focused on ignoring him and falsely, bitterly admiring the world through the window.
He sighed.
He didn't know what to expect after they got inside anymore.
Ace came back and eased the car into the now wide open gate and ceased the engine in the driveway.
Ace turned to glance at the two firmly seated people on the car. "Boss, won't you get off?'' He asked, an eyebrow raised.
Rhett ignored him and trailed his gaze to Neva. She was still crammed in the same position.
Rhett reached for her but halted mid–way in the air.
He fisted his hand in realization.
Ace silently observed them and sighed. He then stepped out and closed the door, leaving the couple to settle their affairs themselves.
"We've reached Neva. Come, let's go."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"There are people dying to meet you inside." He revealed, finally earning her indifferent gaze on him.
Before she could retort, a loud barking noise of a dog broke the stiff environment.
Both of them glanced the way of the source. A golden retriever was barking at a rigid Ace before the wide open main entrance door.
"God damn!" Ace cursed, glaring at the dog with fluffy raised tail.
Neva flinched as the door beside her was suddenly opened by Rhett.
She gazed up at him with pursed lips. When did he even get out?
Rhett offered a hand for her. Neva frowned away, unmoving, rivetted to her seat.
Rhett sighed.
Now how would he amuse his stubborn wife out of this crammed space?
Then as if his prayers were answered, a voice called: "Zoro! Don't!"
He saw Rhean hurrying out from the entrance door towards Ace terrorized by Zoro.
Rhean's gaze then immediately passed through beyond Ace, at Rhett standing by the Aston Martin.
"Dada!" His eyes gleamed, excitedly he started towards Rhett.
But an abrupt grip on his wrist seized his little legs. He turned to Ace who smiled at him.
"Before you reunite with your dad, do something about the dog buddy." He left his wrist and gestured at a violent Zoro still growling at him, burned yellow fur raised and furious.
He felt greatly humiliated.
Rhean half–heartedly approached Zoro.
He loved Zoro, but still he wanted to go to his father more.
Rhett looked down at Neva; who was aware of the scene outside.
"He's our boy." Rhett softly cleared.
Neva glanced at him; shunned and filled with doubts. Rhett only smiled, and held out his right hand again. "You shouldn't atleast hold a grudge against him."
Neva didn't say anything, but she shifted and glided accross the seat and walked out the door opposite.
Rhett stepped around and took off his jacket that he earned from a dead man.
The breeze was chilly and Neva was shivering slightly, rubbing her arms. He laid it over her shoulders. When Neva immediately attempted to shove away, the golden retriever made her flinch with it's threatening bark.
It came running towards her, growling with sharp bared fangs and Neva unconsciously found herself clinging onto Rhett.
Rhett stunned looked down at her who slid behind him, and her fist clenching his shirt.
He would have loved to stay this way forever but the dog waving it's tail circled around them and sniffed. Neva was trembling; but surely, a blessing to his bleeding heart clinging on to him—her warm, familiar body pressed to his back.
She whimpered as the dog only got closer, sniffing her, her fists crumpling up his shirt. Then the animal backed away and barked at her loudly. Neva flinched and was immediately wrapped in Rhett's embrace.
His sinews loosened.
He was coming back to life. But still he glared at the dog. "Zoro." He warned.
Zoro shrivelled up and yowled.
"Go!" He said.
Zoro dropped it's tail and rushed off inside.
"He's gone." Rhett said.
Neva lifted her head and immediately peeled herself away. Rhett was left unfulfilled and longing for her warmth again. She had distanced herself an arm length away.
And with all his strength; did he had to fight himself from just taking her in his arms again.
Rhett saw her focused at something; he trailed her gaze and saw her looking at a—rather someone.
Rhean was there all the time alone. He had discerned the scene, discerned her. His lips trembled, blurry eyes looking at Neva swirling with many burdens of emotions.
When Neva made to step towards him, he suddenly turned and ran inside the house. Her eyes dimmed, and she was left with a mysterious numbness in her chest.
"He was probably taken aback." Rhett's voice drew her back from her daze.
"He just needs a moment."
"I want to go back." Neva said, her sombre eyes on him.
"I don't need your jacket." She removed it and tossed it at him.
He caught it easily. "Angel—" "Don't call me that!" Neva harshly spat at him.
Rhett felt his throat dry, he was weakened more by her sombre eyes; so great revile in that frowning, beautiful face—than the months of his trial gone blending in the underworld, looking for a trace of her.
Then footsteps approached.
"Oh, my dear Neva—" She choked out a sob.
Neva looked at the woman walking slowly towards her, crying and shuddering.
And behind her was a middle-aged man, who seemed about the same age as her.
Neva confused stared at her as she neared with open arms.
"My dear little girl," she cried, carefully, tenderly enveloping her in her arms as if she would break had she applied a meagre force.