Forbidden Melody

"Sofia—" I call out.

"I'm here Young Lady..." She answers from the backyard.

"Aunt Myria's still sleeping I guess. Give her the keys when she's awake." I hand her the keys and come out of the house with the boys.

I couldn't dare asking anyone anything about Mr. Augustus. After all everyone knows this and Loretta knew that too. But I'm not her. So earlier I was searching about his education background on the internet. There was a short article where it was covered. Theodore's Organic Art Academy—he studied there for three years. But what could be the reason behind his disappearance?

If I fail to find him—will he not come back on his own? What things have you done Loretta? 

Levi clears his throat to get my attention. He probably realised that my mind is elsewhere. "So here we part?"

"For the day? Yes. We'll meet at 5 of the evening and call it a day."

"You didn't say where you two are heading." Asks Levi.

"Ah yes. Where are we heading again?" Aiden asks to Levi's question.

"Theodore's Organic Art Academy."

"But that's..." Aiden interrupts.

"A little far from here I know."

"A little?!" Levi gasps widening his eyes. "It's out of state! A speedy four hours' drive."

"That's where Nero studied right?" Aiden asks. 

If only I could ask it from them.

"Yes. But don't stress your head. We'll make it and come back on our decided time."

"Let's not delay then." Adds Aiden.

"You sound too excited about all this," Levi rolls his eyes. "Loretta, be careful with that weirdo. I'm afraid you'll be bored to death."

Aiden hisses in anger. "Don't start making love to Annie you freak man."

Levi smirks. "Like you did? Not in a million years!"

"Guys! You two... Ah!" What will I do with these two?

"Sooo, ready for a long drive?" Aiden fixes his sunglass.

"You know it's not for fun. That we're on a mission." I assert solemnly.

He hooks the seatbelt around me. I feel a sudden spread of warmth on the back of my neck.

"Loretta... Why are you helping me?"

I avert his gaze. Why? I don't know...maybe because I want to be a better someone. Back then—I pushed everyone away and lived a careless life. It saddens me to think how pathetically I spent 23 years. And this Loretta—she was a rude mean girl too and she hurt many people unknowingly. I guess it's my attempt to reach salvation.

"You're not even mad at me." Aiden asks again. "Is it a movie that influenced you?"

I put my hands together on my lap, thinking. "Influenced me on what exactly?"

"Being someone you're not?" He put his left palm on my hands. "Whatever it is—I'll not ask again. Cause for me it's still you and nothing else matters."

I restrain myself from making any further comment on that as he continues driving.

I lazily incline my head backwards enjoying the sparkly day. Above me rests the endless horizon spreading feathers dipped in ocean water. A gust of wind whizzes past my neck toying with my hair. I spread out my arms pretending to embrace the wind. The car runs smooth, almost soundless on the high road. I've never felt this boundless burst of energy before... As if my heart's devoid of any fear regarding this life.

For how long I've stayed like that I have no idea but I receive a message from Levi and realise an hour has passed.

"What's the situation there?" Aiden asks noticing Levi's name.

"The message says Annie remembered him and now they're conversing."

"Has he found anything strange yet? About that I mean."

"Let me ask him..."

Seconds after I messaged him his reply comes. "Nothing sus yet. We're talking about stuffs. She's sitting with a name book—for the 'baby'."

"Oh man—damnation is hell bent on chasing me." Aiden's face falls.

"Oh wait! Here comes another message."

"What does it say?" A sliver of hope flickers in his lashes.

"She's got a new butler." The message from Levi says.

"New he said?" He taps his fingers on his side. "How does know he's new?"

Aiden's got a point. I quickly type back. "How do you know? How does he appear?"

We wait for his message. He's probably looking for a way to sneak a message.

"Well the tea he made us a minute ago... It's pretty bland. But he looks pretty—cool with sharp features."

I pinch the bridge of my nose after reading Levi's message. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Aiden puts his head against the steering wheel in a fed up way. "Does she really want to defame me that bad?"

"I smell foul play Aiden."

"So do I."

"Whatever is to be done has to be done very quick."

My phone vibrates again. 

"What now?" Asks Aiden.

"He doesn't look very older than her. And he's definitely not cooler than me either."

"Uh nothing." I say hiding my phone. You're a fool Levi. 

••••

It's nearly 3p.m. when we reach the place. Aiden knew the location as he came here once before. I didn't ask more about it.

So this is where Nero studied. I have to admit this place gives a very old fashioned yet modern artistic vibe. A private institution brimming with aspirants.

I keep gaping at the surroundings. Seeing my awed expression Aiden pulls me nearer. "Come. We're going inside."

"But what specifically we'll be looking for?" I ask.

"His records... And his relatives with the teachers and stuff."

"Right. If we're lucky we'll be able to gather information about his classmates of that year," I state.

"But it's a lengthy task Loretta," he says tiredly. "And I don't think Levi will be able to stay longer with Annie. Besides we can't let her be suspicious of us."

"Everything takes time Aiden." I try to comfort him as we walk into the campus.

"Would it still be hard to be found if Nero were as popular as you?" I mull over.

I couldn't stop myself from making that comment, could I?

Aiden looks taken aback. But before he could answer a bunch of students circle him. They are the fangirls.

"Isn't that Aiden Jordan?!" A girl cries out.

Another girl runs to this way. "Ahhh my heart! I'm gonna faint."

Two more girls yell, "Heyy step aside you loser. I want his autograph!"

Uh oh...

Aiden apologetically looks at me. Is he nervous?

"Oh Loretta... I need help."

I cross my arms controlling my laughter. "Deal with it yourself Mr. Popular."

I stand a bit apart from the crowd letting him handle his fans. Someone else makes a comment. "Doesn't he have a girlfriend? Is that her?"

Another senior looking girl replies, "Maybe she's that pianist from Knight family."

"Man they're both here!" Some people yell.

Oh no... They're coming at me now!

"Let me see!!"

Oh boy... Now I'm stuck here as well. As more of them start to gather I curse myself for not coming in disguise. So this is how it feels to have fan moments? It's so freaking hot here ah! This horde of people..!

Few minutes later the principal comes out and the crowd gets thinner than before. The guard pushes them away as we get welcomed inside.

"It still feels surreal. Miss Knight with Aiden Jordan. To what do we owe this pleasure?" The principal asks.

Other teachers and the head of the departments stand aside. I can tell they all are happy about this sudden visit. I decide to let Aiden do the talking.

"Actually this is about a student who used to be a student here few years back," says Aiden calmly yet with a definite urgency. "Nereus Augustus, if any of you can remember the name."

"Nereus Augustus... Ah yes—" the HOD speaks. "Who wouldn't remember him? It's not quite appropriate to say this but he was one my favourite students. Such a natural." The mentioning of Nero brings a smile to his lips.

"If you'd... Please we want his records. The entire batch of that year if possible."

They all look sceptical and a bit worried. "We'd like to know the reason. How is Nereus related to you?"

Aiden's gaze finds mine. I realise he's wanting me to join too. 

"He's our family. And... He's been gone for more than a week now," I say. 

"Gone in the sense..? Like missing?"

"It's not like that. He certainly cannot go missing. He's off to somewhere we don't know. Maybe he needs a break from his busy life. Still we can't ignore his absence—if you can understand," I reason.

"Alright, guess we can let you have a moment if that's what you want." Says the head.

"But..." A teacher says. "We want a picture with you people."

We share a smile. "Sure. Thank you for your help."

••••

My eyes take several blinks to adjust to the nature's light when we come out shoving the crowd. For almost 90 minutes in that old files' room we shuffled through his records from all the people he studied with.

We have narrowed down to three people. A girl and two guys. On account of them we found that these three were closely acquainted with Nero.

I stretch my arms inside the car. My phone rings. 

"Is it Levi?" Aiden asks closing the door.

I nod picking up. "I have news," Levi says without even letting us say anything.

"Good." Aiden comes to my ear. "We're not entirely empty handed either."

"Levi," I request, "We'll be late. So get inside the house and have dinner alright?"

"Why??" He asks impatiently.

Aiden asks for my phone. "Found some leads. Associated with Nero. We gotta talk to them."

"Screw you dumbass." Levi scorns. "How long it's gonna take?" 

"Depends. We'll probably have to have dinner outside," Aiden replies smirking at me.

"Just wonderful!" Levi scoffs.

I press a laugh.

"Fine.But tomorrow I'll be having dinner with her," he concludes.

"Guys..." I meddle in. "Can you stop acting like grade schoolers?"

Finally he hangs up and Aiden starts the car. How did they come from...that to this... It's like something affected their relationship. I know they're friends but... before me... Was it Loretta? Because she and Aiden used to be... But then again Levi doesn't know yet that Aiden and Loretta aren't like before. I'm taking things slow with Aiden. But still, how come everything feels rather easy when it comes to them?

••••

After the interrogation with the guys our last stop is the girl. I get this feeling that she'll be able to give us something. Those other two guys said that they just admired Nero and worked on a few projects together but nothing else.

It's a one story house, compact and cute with flower bushes at the left of it.

"We're here." Aiden parks the car.

I hope this is the right house. Ah my back hurts from sitting in the car for all day. Yet I don't feel much accomplished.

He takes my hand. "Let's do this. Then we'll go to have a fancy dinner. What would you like to eat today?"

Anything Aiden, I don't care. I just feel so fatigued—we haven't really found any solid clue that would lead us to Nero."

"When I thought I would be doomed, you were the one to ignite hope in me Loretta. A fire like this cannot be extinguished that easily." He squeezes my hand. "You had faith in me when I myself didn't so we will find Nero. There's always tomorrow."

We knock the door— multiple times. "Guess no one is..."

Just when I say that the door opens. A long si

lver- haired girl stands there. She has paint on the upper half of her dress and in her hands and she has an uncommon glint to her eyes.

"Who...wait, are you Aiden... the singer?"

This is her first question at us. Aiden smiles. "Yes."