Secret Admirer
Riddle Five: Flowers and Chocolate Flattery
.nachzes black-rider
Dedication: To Willowwind Adurois, who has been my best friend for six years. May you continue to bless my life with your presence for six years to come, and more.
"Excuse me."
The librarian looked up. "Yes, dear? How can I help you?"
"Well…we were wondering where the section on ancient Mayan and Aztec myths was," Téa said, flashing the older woman an award-winning smile. The librarian beamed back.
"Of course, dear. It's right up those stairs over there and to your left," she said, pointing. "You can't miss it, because of the big stature of Kukulkan right in front of it."
At the word "Kukulkan", the eyes of the four teens lit up, Yugi and Tristan exchanging meaningful glances as Joey started babbling to no one in particular about the differences between a treasure hunt and a scavenger hunt. "Thank you," Téa said politely, and the group headed off towards the staircase, the librarian's parting words (You're welcome, dear) floating after them. "Alright," Téa murmured to the gang, "so we go up these stairs and to the left, and we should find a statue of this mystical winged serpent." Suddenly, she stopped, finding herself face-to-face with a huge, blood-red snake, its fangs out, forked tongue pointed, and demonic black eyes; pure white, feathered wings sprouted from the creature's back. Joey swore loudly, buying himself the disapproving glares of the library's clientele. "Okay," Téa said, feeling her heart rate slow down to normal again, "let's find the note."
"Right," Yugi said, voice sounding slightly weak, "the note."
Téa nodded.
Swallowing, Yugi stepped up and began to help Téa search for the tell-tale square of cardstock. "Found it," he heard the brunette say, and he looked over.
"Where?" he asked, and Téa pointed to the stand on which the snake was coiled. "Okay, great," he said. "Let's go take it to the librarian, then." The four descended the stairs, Téa clutching the note in her hand.
"Excuse me," she said again to the librarian. The woman looked up.
"Yes, dear?"
Téa handed her the note, and the librarian smiled, taking the card and pulling open a drawer of her desk, handing Téa a sealed envelope. "Thanks a bunch," Téa said. The librarian smiled, waving.
"Have fun, dear," she called as the library door swung shut behind the teens, the bell overhead chiming a farewell.
Once outside, Téa slit open the envelope and pulled out the clue inside, then removed the rest of its contents, gasping as she unfolded the piece of paper to reveal the itinerary for a trip to the Mayan ruins in Mexico, the plane tickets stapled to the back. Soundlessly, Téa began to pursue the list, noting the fact that she was scheduled to be in first class both ways, and had a room reserved in a famous all-inclusive resort on the ocean shore. Finally, once she had gotten her voice back, she answered the questioning stares of her friends. "Trip to Mexico," she croaked, re-folding the itinerary and slipping it back in the envelope, avoiding Yugi's, Joey's, and Tristan's incredulous stares.
"A…trip," Joey finally asked, "to…Mexico?"
Téa nodded weakly, and flipped over the card on which the new riddle was written, clearing her throat awkwardly. "'Roses are red / Violets are blue / Sugar is sweet / And so are you / Who am I?'"
"…Read it again, Téa?"
"'Roses are red / Violets are blue / Sugar is sweet / And so are you / Who am I?'"
"That makes no sense!" Joey exclaimed, and Téa shrugged.
"It's what it says," she replied. There was silence for a good few minutes, before Téa finally spoke up again. "It sounds like flattery to me," she commented.
"Hey yeah," Yugi said, eyes gleaming, "it sounds like they're trying to butter you up to sell you something, doesn't it?" He paused. "Kind of annoying, actually," he mused. "Almost like…" he snapped his fingers and turned to the group, grinning. "Who is the archetypal annoying person who's always trying to sweet-talk you into buying something?"
"Telemarketers," Tristan replied promptly.
"Door-to-door salespersons," Téa said.
"Car salesmen," Joey said. "New or used."
"Right!" Yugi said.
"But which one?" Téa asked, puzzled.
Joey and Tristan grinned at each other, catching onto Yugi's logic. "The riddle's answered that, too," Joey said. "Roses, R; Violets, V—we need to go to an RV lot. And," he continued, winking, "there's only one in Domino."
to be continued…