I am sorry for the delay, very much so.

Chapter 12: This time

"Is this really my best bet?"

Sabrina stood afoot, awaiting her mind to be made up. Her mom, as much as she hated admitting it, seemed to have been able to pull through for her once again. However, that did not stop her from staring in disbelief at what could very well be the potential destination. It did catch her off guard, as the residence she was staring at was much less a manor, much more a castle. The setting was simply deadbeat gorgeous, she noted. The carvings on the roof, the wooden sliding doors noticeable from every angle, the largely frivolous garden, and the stone walkway, all gave the place the traditional look and feel, of which lost to a city girl like herself.

The wind blew beneath her feet, as if to push her forward. Taking a deep breath, Sabrina moved ahead. This place was strikingly familiar. The wall of cherry blossoms, the directional path leading towards the seemingly infinite path way, and the wooden door at the end all fueled the fear within her. She knew she was here before, feeling just as uneasy. There was something about this beaten path that was constricting her every movement. She was nowhere near as tired as she was yesterday; thus if this was the work of any exterior force, it would have been very easily detected. If anything was wrong with this picture, it was her.

Soon enough, her ascend towards the beaming palace finished. In front of her was a wide open gate, which she could have sworn was closed a few moments ago. It was too late to turn back now, either way. Entering the manor with bated breath, Sabrina was not sure what she was expecting. The only thing she was able to observe right then was a dim lit hallway, with torches of all things. It was as if she was being presented as a sacrifice for some sort of demonic ritual; but regardless, carried on she did. She was walking yet another straight path, and she could no longer remember why. This one was significantly shorter though, more similar to a transition than anything else. She did mentally note that this might not actually be the main gate, more of a convenient entrance that her mind subconsciously picked up traversing the driven path. The psychic slowly began to realize it was herself who lured her own actions to happen in this manner.

Before more thoughts were able to undermine her determination, she found herself at the end. Yet another door stands before her, although this one was not of the traditional sliding kind. As she reached to open it, the object did not budge. It was obviously locked, which she felt rather silly over not accounting for. There was a doorbell, however, and it did not take much to ring it. She was not left alone long after that, but perhaps not quite the way she has expected things to turn out. The door opened, as she found herself surrounded by those that seemed to be the mansion's maids. Suddenly, Sabrina was at a loss, as she could not move towards any direction. The maids hold no expression, as if awaiting an order.

"Who might you be?"

Spoken an effeminate voice. As the maids in front of her moved, she saw a black figure behind them, standing at the door. The suit firmly pressed from top to bottom, the butler was awaiting her answer. The long blonde hair did gave her awe for a few moments, but Sabrina was quick to recollect herself.

"I'm here to visit Erika."

"Ms. Tsuyo is not expecting anyone."

"I do not have a reservation of any sort. I just want to see her."

"You may not, miss."

"I'm her friend."

"So you claim."

The butler was in absolutely no position to make this easy on her, Sabrina noted. She was either too straightforward to take into account human judgment, or there was a better answer. None of that mattered though, as she certainly did not come all this way just to leave. She was ready to battle if she had to. While there are a large amount of opponents here, there was no reason to believe she could not take them by herself.

"I don't want any trouble."

"Are you threatening our position, miss?"

"I just want you to at least tell Erika that I'm here."

"Unfortunately, I could not go as far as to bother the mistress right now."

The psychic truly had never been in this position before. She was being looked down by a stranger, while her own conservations prevented her from acting out upon this disdain. However, she was ready to do anything to stop them from hindering the progress, should simply speaking be not enough. Reaching into her pocket, her hand fell flat. There was nothing, as she confirmed, turning around. Where are all her gears? Looking back at the butler, the psychic saw a maid handing over a tray of equipment to the butler.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"My apologies, but we could not allow you to cause a disturbance here at the mistress' home."

"That does not give you the right to steal my inventory."

"Please do not be alarmed. These confiscated materiel will returned to you at once upon your leaving of the mansion grounds."

Fist clenched, Sabrina was at a loss for words. She simply could not seem to win this fight, and was powerless in stopping them from preventing her from entering. Her trail of thought was becoming hectic, as simulations of opportunities and situations ran amok within her mind. None of which seemed to work, to her dismay. She could stand here all day, but perhaps there really was no other way but to simply leave.

"Ren."

That voice.

"Yes mistress?"

"Where is everyone?"

It was becoming closer.

"Apologies, mistress; there has been a small hold up."

"What is it?"

She was right there.

"Erika!"

Sabrina bellowed, prompting everyone within the vicinity to stare at her. The botanist is now in full view, next to her butler. However, she was not reacting at all like Sabrina would guess. Her eyes were gray and cold, staring straight down at her. Those eyes ravaged Sabrina's confidence, as she inadvertently took a step way. The weight of that stare was too much for her to handle.

"She claims to know you mistress."

The stare intensified. Sabrina felt like her feet was frozen in place, and her eyes locked towards that line. She began to sweat, awaiting the eventual response.

"Leave her."

…

She did not know how long it has been, but there was no longer anyone there. The torches flickered in the wind, but Sabrina did not seem to care. Her feet planted firmly on the ground; her back slouched against the wall, and her expression was nothing more than crestfallen. She knew not of what to do, as her grip on reality was shaking. She had never felt so vulnerable, and being a psychic, this would only make things worse. The practice of the spectral arts were never easy. Her entire adult existence was kept professional and undertone, specifically because she did not want to give up her mental defense in any situation. A psychic always ran the risk of having their mind deteriorate if it was susceptible to outside influence. There was no other physical representation of her emotions, but she stayed. Night time was approaching, and there was nowhere to head to. The rain flickered outside, as if to mock her. She did not care. The wind carried dirtied her clothes with soil and water from the garden. She did not flinch.

Sabrina felt a cold hand on her shoulder.

"We have already returned the equipment. Why are you still here?" The butler closed her umbrella, as she seemed to have made a trip outside in the meantime. She was quite surprised to find the visitor still sticking around after all this time, looking as beat up as it was.

"It's none of your concern."

"How ironic." Ren sighed. Her mistress' orders were clear enough, and there was really nothing that could have been done. However, she empathized with this girl in front of her. She looked as dejected as anyone could be, and seemed to be set in a path of self-destruct. She had two choices. She could either leave the stranger out here in the cold, as she seemed to be perfectly capable of leaving, simply not wanting to; or she could take the stranger in.

Time passed without either of them saying a word.

She had one choice.

…

Sabrina woke up in an unfamiliar setting, in unfamiliar clothing. Wooden infrastructures surrounded her, as she found herself within a futon. She did not know what happened, only that she passed out at some point. However, she did not recall being allowed inside the house at any point, but only seeing the butler. That meant only one thing.

"I see that you are awake." It was rather obvious the butler took her in, though for whatever reasons she may not be able to deduce just yet.

"Where am I?"

"Within the mansion, of course." Ren was now in sight. She still wore her suit, looking as if it had not been at all fazed by the weather outside. The white gloves she had on before were nowhere to be found, however. "The mistress does not know of this development, so I suggest you keep it to yourself."

"Why did you drag me in here?"

"Well, mostly because I do not want to see anyone freeze to death in the cold." Ren lit a smoke, as she dropped herself onto the recliner. Bringing the glasses up, she got herself a good long look at the one lying flat beneath her. "However, also because I think that you at least have something to do with how the mistress has been lately."

"How is she?" Sabrina closed her eyes. If she had ever felt guilt, it was nothing compared to what she was facing right then.

"She showed anger only to you. To us, she is exactly the same. However…" Ren spoke, as the smoke escaped her breath. Sabrina can feel the sorrow within those words. "She stopped smiling."

"I'm sorry." Sabrina exhaled. This was the best she could mutter right now. Her decision affected many people unfairly, and she herself know that best. Regardless, she also knew that harping on that was not going to do anything. The entire day was already her slumping over her own failures, and now she needed to fix that. "I need to see Erika."

"None of the maids are going to let you do that, let alone the mistress." Flicking her cigarette, Ren answered matter-of-factly. She had previously thought about this, however. It was rather obvious that Sabrina was going to try this again, and a fulfilling answer had been prepared. It might require jumping through a few hoops, however. "That is not to say that it is impossible."

"I'll do anything." Sabrina forcefully flung the blanket away and sat up right. She was determined. This was bad already, and it could get much worse if she did not try to do something. However, she might not have thinking of all the weight that her words carry.

"You could be a maid, or at least wear a maid suit." Silent fell over the room. It was a corny solution, but also appeared to be the only practical one. The maids' apparel in the mansion is vastly different from those one would find at entertainment venues, but it would certainly be a far cry from Sabrina's usual choice of clothing. "I don't believe you have much of a choice, miss. I already give you too much of my trust by allowing you into the house; I cannot jeopardize the mistress' in my own any further."

"Very well." Reluctantly, Sabrina accepted the offer. It was not really a choice, as its consequences would turn out better than anything else she could be doing right now. Ren passed over an outfit from the drawers, quite neatly prepared and maintained. The psychic held it in awkwardness, before asking aloud. "Is there anywhere else I can change?"

"No." Ren replied coldly. It was the most straightforward and also the most expected answer, and Sabrina knew she had no choice but to simply accept the offer as it stood. "I do not want to risk the others seeing a stranger amongst them, at least before you are properly dressed."

A minute passed, and Sabrina finally nodded. Ren extinguished the smoke, and approached her. Holding up the blanket as a makeshift screen, it allowed the psychic some privacy within this bedroom. The procedure was quick, as she would rather get this over with as fast as possible. Nothing was seen through the beddings, and after not too soon it was dropped.

"So?" Sabrina spoke with a bit of discomfort, while collecting up the clothes she wore before from beneath her feet. Ren's eyes, unemotionally, ran up and down her body, as if to scrutinize every bit of Sabrina's ability to dress herself in a proper kimono.

"Impressive." Smiling, Ren nodded. What she just witnessed was a city girl fumbling with a carefully designed kimono, but a maiden preparing herself for a meeting with proper speed and grace. Despite not being local, Ren had all the respect for proper traditions of old, especially those of etiquette and politeness. "I would not mind the mistress having such an acquaintance."

"Thank you." Sabrina unknowingly blushed. She did not usually feel the need to react to compliments, but the sheer amount of admiration she had for Ren at this point allowed those words to be taken to heart. Another moment of peace go by, before she spoke. "What about… more than an acquaintance?"

That seemed to have taken Ren by surprise. She appeared stunned, as Sabrina picked up. It was not that the butler had never thought of the possibility, but the actual thought never crossed her. She had just met this girl a few hours ago and she was already facing a question of whether she wanted to actually serve her as more than just a guest. This question had lingered on the back of her mind ever since she brought the psychic back, but only now was she forced to take this as an opportunity to think about her own answer.

"The mistress knows best." Ren answered, as she turned away. She did not want to express any sign of agitation, especially to a stranger. It was the best neutral answer she could give Sabrina, and herself. The psychic took that as a sign of good faith, or at least the best support she could get from anyone at the moment. "I will arranged you a chance to meet her immediately, as the next shift is coming up."

"I appreciate everything you're doing for me right now." Sabrina, as cynical as she was, had always been one for fairness and standards. She would rather lose her position than to owe anyone an inch in life. It was the way she lived, as she wanted no strings attached. "I promise to try my best to fix whatever mess I have created."

"You better." Ren's sudden turn was not expected. She approached Sabrina, as their eyes became dangerously close. Sabrina could feel the pressure weighing down on her shoulders, as she met the butler's stare. With killing intent behind those green eyes, she whispered. "If I find out that my trust has been misplaced; I don't care what the mistress says, I will make you regret it."

With that, she picked her gloves off the table. Sliding the door open, Ren headed out, but not before shutting the entrance behind her. Sabrina was forced to wait in anticipation of what's to come, as her heart raced, not knowing what to do or what to say once she came face to face with Erika. However, she did not have ample time to think, as the butler returned quite shortly after.

"Follow me, and keep your head down."

There was no objection, as the two swiftly crossed the mansion floor. Its inside was just as extravagant as its outer layer, with wooden hallways running in all directions, and the design flair of an era passed its prime came alive within these walls. Sabrina did not have much time to admire the sight, though, as Ren soon came to a complete stop.

"Is this it?" She asked.

"Yes." They were now at the middle of the mansion, in front of a circular complex surrounded by lanterns and traditional typography. It was an awe to set sight upon, but also gave Sabrina a chill down her spine. "This is the mistress' bed room. You have twenty minutes to set everything right, or else I would make you wish you hadn't come here in the first place."

With that, Sabrina was left alone, insignificant under this glorious setting. Sliding the door in front her open, she found herself in the presence of the most intricate architecture she had ever seen. Lights hovering on the side, shedding ample light source onto the interior. The paintings, the calligraphies, the furniture, all shaped and carved to have on central focus. In the dead middle of the room, the psychic found a pair of eyes staring at her.

"What are you doing here?" Erika grunted. It was apparent her surprise was not pleasant.

"Please, give me a chance to explain." Sabrina quickly closed the door behind her, as she slowly approach the center of the room with hesitation, a fear of rejection dead set in her eyes.

"I have nothing to say to you." Erika nigh slammed the table in frustration. She was poised to call for assistance. "Ren…"

"Please!" Sabrina launched herself at the botanist, silencing her attempt to get help with a deep embrace. It was all of her pent up emotions being poured onto their touch. "Please…"

Silent befell the room. The tension was drawing up high, as Erika had little reaction to their contact, while Sabrina was too afraid to let go. Finally, a few words were spoken.

"You left me." Erika stated coldly.

"I'm sorry."

"You ran away from me." Her words hurt like knives.

"I'm sorry."

"You even hid from me. Not answering my calls, telling your assistance to lie about your being home." The facts continued to come out.

"I'm sorry."

"Why do I deserve… all of that?" Erika was choked up by her own words. She believed she was badly mistreated, and she was right.

"You don't." Sabrina let go of her for a brief moments, only to see the tears in her eyes, dripping onto the once perfectly folded dress. "It was me. It was all me. I was too afraid to trust you. I was too afraid to trust myself."

"Then… why should I believe you now?" Biting her lips, Erika braced herself. Sabrina stared into those brown eyes, filled with great sorrow. Whatever happened; she knew both of them deserved closure. Even if Erika were to spit on her face and have her dragged out onto the rain again, at least she would know she tried her best, and it did not work. She would have those baggage forever on her shoulder; but she wanted to at least admit it, to Erika and to herself.

"Because I love you."