A lightning looked like it ripped the sky in two. And there was nothing else to be seen in this rainy mist.
Vanessa shook her head. Mist, rain and thunderstorm at the same time. It was such an unusual kind of weather. Normally. But it seems that the four cities of Spade, Heart, Diamond and Clover had the strangest weather from time to time. Especially Clover.
Oh, there were of course very specific scientific explanations for that. But it was so overly complicated and Vanessa honestly found that they didn't made any sense. But, to be fair, Vanessa understand not much about weather science, whatever the specific name was. And about science in general. Accepting that the weather was like that and move on was probably the best course of action.
But it was still strange.
Not to mention that it was night, even less to see than nothing. Normally, Vanessa could see the ruins of the Clover Castle on its hill from her kitchen window. But not tonight. Vanessa wasn't unhappy about it, those ruins always gave her some unease feelings for some reason.
But not as much as the abandoned villa, the Silver Manor, on the other side of Clover. Silver Manor was the pretty name the inhabitants gave this house, because it always seemed to have a silver glowing when the sun shined on it. The other name was, well, more fitting for a spooky novel and Vanessa preferred not to use that name in general.
Vanessa let out a sigh and continued to watch the hot milk. Her little kitchen wasn't the most modern and somehow it made the most odd noises and sudden things that normally shouldn't happen in a kitchen. Noelle once told her that it was like the kitchen of a witch, even more with all those plants. Vanessa liked witches, so she didn't mind the state of her kitchen. Even though she needed to be cautious when she was cooking.
Another lightning bolt ripped the sky in two and for just one second, the Clover Castle was to be seen. Only the castle and nothing else, the rest was still hidden within the heavy mist.
"That would be such a good scenery for a horror movie," Vanessa mumbled, while taking the hot milk from the herd and pouring it in two cups.
"Vanessa?"
Vanessa turned towards the man who stand at her kitchen door. The light wasn't on, so she only saw his silhouette, but she could tell how down he was and an immense wave of love and compassion flow through her heart at his sight.
"Honey, shouldn't you be still resting? Today was difficult for you."
She saw bend his head, looking down on the floor. A sad sigh escaped his lips.
"I shouldn't… it is selfish of me… Use your kindness…"
"Nozel, stop feeling guilty, please," Vanessa replied softly. "You deserve to be taken care off and as your girlfriend, I want to be there for you, especially during difficult times. Like you were there for me when my mother visited the city, remember? Today was difficult for you, like every year. You needed to take care of your siblings, while your father was out there doing something for his career instead of being a daddy for you all. Now, it's time for you to be taken care off. And come on, honey. You know me, I can't leave you alone when you need affection desperately."
Vanessa giggled as she saw Nozel turn his head away. She couldn't see it but it was so obvious that he was blushing.
"Our drinks are almost ready, you can sit on the couch in the meantime."
Nozel left the door frame and Vanessa turned her attention back to the cups. Her kitchen was small, only two people could fit in it and even only barely. Her entire appartement was small in general. Tiny kitchen, tiny bathroom in which the shower cabin took half of the place, tiny balcony… The living room was a bit bigger, but it was also her bedroom, so Vanessa didn't if it really counted as bigger.
After the milk was in the cups – her black cat cup and that funny Alice in Wonderland mug who looked like three cups in one – Vanessa searched for the cacao powder, as well as the special ingredient. Today was the perfect day for a rather special hot chocolate and she knew that Nozel would love it, maybe even find a bit of comfort in it.
When she left the kitchen, Nozel was sitting on her patchwork couch, looking at her TV without really seeing it. Absent, probably lost in memories.
"There you go, honey," Vanessa smiled, giving him the black cat mug.
"This mug is new."
"Oh, I just bought it yesterday. You know me, I just need to buy any weird and special looking cups for my collection."
Nozel hummed, starting to drink. There was a sparkle in his eyes when he recognized the smell.
"Hot chocolate with salted caramel…"
"Exactly. I know what day it is today and you told me that this was your mother's favourite kind of drink. So, I thought…"
"That is nice of you. Thank you, Vanessa," Nozel whispered, closing his eyes while taking another sip. "My mother always loved salted caramel. To a point that she needed to put it almost everywhere. Especially in hot chocolate."
"Well, it sounds kinda weird for the first time," Vanessa said, sitting next to him, closer than needed. "But it is really good, honestly. I'm not a sweet tooth, but this one, I don't mind to drink it often."
Nozel nodded, but went silent again. With that sad look in his eyes. Vanessa sighed and put her head on his shoulder, hoping to give him some comfort. Nozel leaned to the touch with sad sigh.
Both stayed silent for a while. It wasn't an awkward silent, a bit comforting but mostly sad. Vanessa stared in front of her, directly at the TV. This, her phone and her laptop were the only really modern things she possessed. Nozel gifted them to her, he even paid for the wi-fi. A good thing to have a very rich boyfriend, but it was more like that Nozel cared, silently, but still. And that was one of the many things Vanessa loved about him. Even if he wouldn't have been from one of the three richest families of the city, he would have cared and helped.
It was still strange how they found each other. Normally, they never should have crossed each other's path, given their different circles. But they lived in Clover, the strange atmosphere the city sometimes had didn't allowed normally to be part of their lives. So, they came across each other and were together now. In secret, more or less, but for now it didn't matter.
Vanessa was grateful for Nozels love. After she fled from her abusive mother and went to another city, after she got her heart broken by her first crush, after some disastrous dates, how lucky she was to have fallen in love. Oh, she had friends and honestly, she was happy to live in Clover. But Nozel, it was special, so very special. She couldn't really describe it, but their relationship was precious to her, despite their situation. Or maybe even because of it. She really couldn't tell.
"I hope they're fine," Nozel finally said, taking another sip.
"You're siblings aren't babies anymore and you took perfectly care of them today. No it's your turn. They were fine when we came back from the cemetery and when I left home. Solid was again playing one of his video games and I still don't know how I should feel about it."
"Oh, honey, I love that big brother side of yours. Honestly, given how your brother is, I think it's better for him to play video games than to be a jerk and a bully for everyone else."
"I know. I just hope that this hobby won't become an obsession. Like the period when he locked himself up in his bedroom all day to do… I still don't what he did back then. But it certainly wasn't good for him. I'm glad he grow out of it and that the phase didn't last long."
"So, maybe it was just some teenager puberty crisis. And your sisters?"
"They were in the living room when I left, eating marshmallows and watching a movie. One of those old Hollywood films, apparently. They were looking fine to me, but… I can't help but still worry about all three of them."
"Of course you can't help. You care for them, you did so much for them."
Vanessa didn't ask him about their father. It was obvious that this jerk was off to some cocktail party or fancy dinner while his children tried to grieve and to heal from a horrible loss.
The Silva household wasn't a healthy one… Vanessa was able to recognize the signs, thanks to her own experiences. After she became friends with Noelle and even more after she started to date Nozel, she couldn't help but feel concerned for them. Vanessa loved Noelle like she was her little sister, she fell hopelessly for Nozel, her terms with Nebra were just starting to get friendly and she cared even for Solid, even though… Solid was Solid. But between him and the Silva father, Vanessa still chose to care for Solid.
"A misty thunderstorm," Nozel mumbled. "It had that kind of weather too when she died. And now, it's like that every year, it seems."
"Maybe it's just you seeing things," Vanessa replied kindly, although she couldn't deny that the weather somehow looked the same every year at this date.
"I know. But I can't shake that feeling off. I can't forget the weather of that fateful day. It really was like in a movie, there was lightning the moment my mother…"
Nozel didn't finished, starting to sob slightly. Vanessa put her mug on the tiny table and hugged him tightly.
She couldn't imagine how traumatizing it must have been for him. His siblings were still too small, Noelle was even still a baby, and his father hadn't been there, but he was there when his mother died, holding her hand. How terrible must this have been for a fourteen year old…
Nozel loved his mother so much, losing her so young and so brutally must had been terrible. Vanessa wondered sometimes if he ever was able to properly grieve. Given how the Silvas were after Acier Silva died so tragically…
But Vanessa wanted to help him, even if it was just being there for him. He was doing the same for her. Like the time her mother left their hometown for a visit in Clover, not so long ago. Vanessa had fled, afraid that her mother would see her, and she hide in her appartement for a whole day. Nozel stayed with her the whole time, hugging her, comforting her, doing everything to calm her down and distract her. How grateful she had been…
"Cry all you want, I'm here for you, honey."
"I know. I'm grateful to you, Vanessa. Even though-"
"No need to say anything. Nozel, I'm begging you, let me take care of you tonight and also tomorrow until you feel better."
Nozel sighed, before putting his cup on the table too and pulling her in for a kiss.
His lips tasted like salted caramel. The kiss quickly became passionate and Vanessa hold on to him as tightly as she could. Maybe it won't be over tomorrow, it hadn't been for years. But she would give Nozel all the comfort he needed on this terrible day.
Later that night, after finishing their hot chocolate with salted caramel and after a comforting, passionate embrace, they both lied on Vanessas bed, ready to fall asleep soon.
Vanessas caressed Nozels hair, listening to his soft breathing. He would probably sleep like a baby tonight and if he would, she as well. Vanessa always slept so good in his arms. She felt safe, as if nothing could happen to them.
The misty thunderstorm felt so far away as Vanessa fell asleep shortly after Nozel. But as soon as the lovers drifted to a deep sleep, the sounds of the storm were suddenly more menacing…
