you it was perfect ! Even though the whole place was so scary my knees were shaking, clinging to Jason was perfect ! He's like my knight-in-shining-armor!”
“I really should consider taking Robert there.” The other sighed dreamily. “I mean, even though there are ghouls everywhere, it'll probably be the best summer experience.”
An idea clicked into Valeriana.
“That was convenient.” She snapped her fingers. “Looks like luck's on my side on this one. Hooray for Joseph and Robert! Whoever they are.” Valeriana reached for Seraphina's wrist and towed her along with excitement.
“I think it is supposed to be Jason.” Seraphina corrected.
“Never mind. We're going to check out that Horror House.”
-*-
While on the way to the so-called Horror House, Valeriana and Seraphina engaged themselves in a wholesome conversation to get themselves acquainted with each other even though it felt awkward at first. Valeriana contemplated about getting the woman some new clothes to help her blend in, but Seraphina refused. As a result, they stuck out from the crowd like a sore thumb.
Valeriana decided to tell Seraphina about the way her world worked, and that those creatures she was supposedly hunting down were supposed to be nothing but a mere myth to her and her people.
“How peaceful. No demons to fight. No battles to be fought.”
“Look, I don't know about you guys, but there's nothing like that here.” Valeriana told her. “That's our definition of normal, 'kay?”
“I guess the stories about your people are true. They won't believe you even if you tell them?”
“Hey, no one's crazy enough to believe anything that can't be explained by science.” She pointed out. “Wanna try?”
Seraphina gazed at the girl questioningly. Valeriana pulled a random passerby into the scene, a local kid with tousled brown hair and brown eyes. Freckles covered his cheeks and in his hand, he held cup of soda. Just an ordinary, wimpy-looking teenager.
“Do you mind if I tell you something?”
“W-what is it?” The boy hesitantly answered.
Seraphina looked panicked when Valeriana started talking. “What are you—”
“This lady with me hunts creatures feeding on negative energies called demons.” She told him bluntly, catching the woman and the boy in complete shock.
“You're kidding, right?” He asked. “Is this some sort of . . . what do you call it? Cosplay?”
“See?” Valeriana then ushered him off, thanking him along the way. “He looked at me like I was crazy.”
After watching the poor kid run away, Valeriana realized what she just did and started snickering to herself. A few moments after that, she was laughing out like a maniac.
“Oh god.” She guffawed. “I just did something stupid.” She took a deep breath and slowly tried to compose herself, unaware of the face her companion was currently making.
“You humans are strange.” The lady finally said.
“Anyhow,” Valeriana covered her mouth and wiped the smile off her lips. “The Horror House's just around the corner.”
They casually strolled down the sidewalk. The buzzing noises that permeated the air and assaulted their ears were strange to Seraphina so she could not keep calm as Valeriana did. The environment felt very foreign compared to what she was used to.
A small girl wearing pigtails passed by in front of them, holding an ice cream with her left hand while gripping her mother's fingers in the other. Seraphina's eyes followed the food she was licking so happily, her brows scrunching as she wondered how it exactly tasted.
Valeriana saw her reaction. “Have you had any ice cream before?” She asked.
“Ice cream?”
The woman almost seemed like a child by the way she was taking in everything. She fought back the urge to laugh at her as the questions fell freely from her lips.
“We can drop by the ice cream shop and buy you one so you'll know how it tastes like. My treat.” Valeriana grabbed Seraphina by the