Chapter 2: At the Bathouse
Melody opened the door to the Hot Springs and, with a sigh, took off her cloak and hung it up on a hook on the back of the door.
"Hello, Melody," an all-too familiar voice greeted. Melody cringed. It was Camus.
"Hi, Camus," she said as warmly as she could as she flashed him one of her best smiles. "When did you get here?" she wondered.
"Just a couple of minutes ago," he replied shyly. Then he looked her over with his sharp brown eyes and said, "You look different today."
"Idiot," she muttered quietly under her breath. "All I did was take off my cloak."
"What was that?" asked Camus.
"Oh, nothing," Melody said brightly. "I'll go set up your bath."
Melody went into the supply room where she took a towel and a bar of soap. Then, she passed through one of the many entrances to the Hot Springs and set the folded towel on a glass table, placing the bar of soap on top of the towel. She rolled up her sleeves as she walked back to her customer.
"You're all set," she declared.
"Thanks," Camus mumbled timidly as he walked to the Hot Springs entrance.
Melody retrieved her cloak and rummaged in a pocket for the book Tori gave her.
"Aha!" she cried triumphantly when she got it. She sat down on her crude wooden chair, hung her cloak over the back of it, and flipped through the pages of the book. There were basic healing spells and old remedies. Nevertheless, Melody was pleased. She hummed happily as she read on about helpful herbs that can cure illnesses. A half hour later, Camus reappeared, looking refreshed.
"Thank you, Melody," said Camus happily, digging his money out of his pocket and placing it on the wide oak counter.
"Anytime," replied Melody vaguely, reading on about how thyme was used in dishes to help ward off a cold.
As Camus reluctantly turned to go, Raguna burst through the door. The door hit Camus in the face.
"Are you okay?" Raguna asked, apologizing profusely. Melody looked up from her reading to see Camus clutching his tender nose. She broke into a fit of giggles and stopped herself from erupting into laughter before Camus turned back to Melody.
"Oww!" Camus complained. "That really hurt!" He released his nose slowly and a thin stream of blood trickled down from his nostril. This pushed Melody over the edge. She could barely contain her laughter as Camus glanced at Melody, looking quite pitiful.
Melody stood up and smoothed out the wrinkles in her white dress. She walked out from behind the counter and knelt down beside Raguna to examine Camus. Again, she was aware of the gap in Raguna's soul and shivered. Raguna cast her a concerned look with his alert blue eyes and said, "If you're cold, I'll get your cloak while you work."
Melody nodded as he got up, even though she really didn't feel cold at all. She looked at Camus's nose and knew it was squashed pretty well by the door. Instantly, she knew what she needed.
"Raguna," she called. "He needs a bandage and some cold water. Can you get me some?"
Raguna ran back to her and gave Melody her cloak and then Raguna went off to fulfill his task. Moments later, he returned with a bucket of ice-cold water from the spring and a bandage
from Edward's clinic.
"That was quick," Melody marveled as Raguna set down the bucket on the cold tile floor, the icy water swirling around like a mini whirlpool. Melody got up quickly, hurried to the supply
room where she grabbed a small green towel, and raced quickly back to Raguna and Camus. She dabbed Camus's bleeding nose gingerly with the cloth. Then, she dunked the cloth in the
icy water and wiped the blood away. Camus winced slightly at the chilly sensation. She could feel Raguna's deep cerulean eyes watching her work.
Once Camus's nose was completely numb, Melody took the cotton bandage and placed it over the tip of Camus's nose. Then, she got a roll of tape and put a piece across the bandage.
When Melody was done, Camus stumbled to his feet, cautiously touching his nose. Relieved to find everything was intact, he smiled and said, "Thank you, Melody."
Melody sat on her knees and Raguna pulled her up softly by the elbow. "See you tomorrow, Camus," Melody said distractedly. Now that Raguna was touching her, the gap in his aura
became more prominent. She shuddered at the sensation. Raguna let go and blushed, thinking her reaction was due to him. Frustrated at not being the center of attention of Melody,
Camus stormed out, slamming the wooden door with a clang. Melody smoothed out her dress and held out her hand for Raguna to shake. "Hi, I'm Melody," she said brightly, a friendly
smile illuminating her features. "This is my hot springs." Her pride beamed like rays of sunlight as she gestured around her.
Raguna grabbed her hand more tentatively this time and shook it briefly. Melody pushed away his aura in order to suppress her fear at his unusual mind. "Hey. I'm Raguna," Raguna quietly replied. "Mist said for me to come here to wash up."
"Ordered you is more likely," Melody muttered. Raguna hid his grin as he said, "Where are all the baths?"
"This way," Melody replied in a business-like tone as she began briskly walking to the male hot springs entrance. Raguna struggled to keep up with her fast pace. Melody stopped abruptly in front of a long wooden bench. Lockers lined the walls. Raguna skidded to a stop inches from the back of her cloak. Melody turned around and saw Raguna's questioning look.
"I can't go any farther," she explained as her cheeks reddened a little. "This section is only for men."
Raguna's cheeks flushed as he understood. "Okay."
Melody nodded and said, "Leave your clothes on the bench or in a locker. There are fresh towels in each locker."
Raguna gave a brief nod and walked into the steam-filled room. Melody watched as Raguna disappeared into the mist. Then, she heard the bell on the door ring. Sighing, she sprinted back down the long hallway to the lobby. "C'mon, Mom," Nicolas was pleading. "I don't want a bath!"
"Look at you!" Sabrina yelled. "You're a mess."
Melody turned the corner to see Nicolas covered in brown sludge. Dirty brown water was pooling on the floor. She giggled at Nicolas's pathetic expression under the mud-like substance. A horrible smell wafted into Melody's nostrils, and she plugged them to avoid gagging.
"What is THAT?" Melody asked nasally, blocking her nose with one hand while gesturing at the muck that was plastered to Nicolas head to toe.
"MY lovely son here decided to go play adventurer with Cecelia and explore a pile of monster dung near Carmite Cave," Sabrina explained impatiently. "Fortunately, Cecelia was intelligent
enough to not follow Nicolas on his little escapade. She brought him back to the house and I sprayed him with the hose to get some of it off, but I don't have a big enough bath to get it
all off and leave him smelling a little better."
Melody stifled her laughter as she led a very disgruntled Sabrina and a less-than-thrilled Nicolas down the hall to the hot springs entrance for men. Once outside the entrance, Sabrina
marched Nicolas past Melody through the door. Melody opened her mouth to object, but thought better of it considering Sabrina's foul mood. Seconds later, Raguna stumbled out of the
misty room, a towel hanging loosely around his waist.
"What the-"Raguna began to ask, but Melody waved him away. One hour and a half later, Nicolas and Sabrina returned, Sabrina looking satisfied and Nicolas looking irritated. Sabrina dug
into her pocket and retrieved some golden coins which she poured onto the table. She gave Melody a brief nod and towed Nicolas out the door. Melody giggled quietly at Nicolas's tortured expression.
After the door slammed shut, Raguna sighed and asked, "Are they always like that?"
Melody giggled softly and replied, "Yep. Nicolas is quite the little rascal, but it's hard not to like him."
She looked at the door Nicolas had just walked through with fondness.
Raguna smiled. "He's kinda like the mischievous brother you never had, right?"
Suddenly, Melody's eyes glazed over with pain. She got an agonizing faraway look in her eyes, which she attempted to conceal with a weak smile. "Yeah, something like that."
Raguna realized he was treading on thin ice, so he said, "Well, I better be going. See you tomorrow."
"Ok," Melody replied distantly. As Raguna was walking out the door, Zavier strolled in. He took one look at Melody's pained face and sat her down in a chair.
"What's wrong?" he asked, concern showing in his wide hazel eyes. Melody appeared to snap out of the painful trance at the sound of Zavier's soft voice. "Oh, uh, nothing," she
answered, trying not to show her sadness.
Zavier took her hand and said softly, "Well, if you ever need someone to talk to, I'll be here, ok?"
Melody smiled and replied, "I know you will. But I don't think I'm ready to talk about it yet." She then looked down at her soft, pale, tiny hand enveloped in Zavier's tanned, rough,
enormous hand and laughed at the contrast. Zavier cast her a look that said, "Have you finally lost it?"
Melody glanced once more at their hands and said, "Look at our hands. We're opposites, you and I."
Zavier looked down and laughed heartily. Melody smiled just upon hearing it. She loved listening to that laugh. Then, Zavier's face grew serious.
"You know what they say-opposites attract," he said mysteriously.