CHAPTER 7------DISCOVERIES IN PLURAL

Night time had come. Ramona was in the kitchen trying to prepare dinner. She scoffed and wiped her eyes as she cut some onions.

"Hey, red." Dimitri said, coming into the kitchen. He grabbed an apple from the fruit basket and bit into it then groaned. "Fuck, it's plastic."

"Serves you right." Ramona muttered. Aiden and Maha ran into the kitchen as they argued abut something.

"No, my drawing is better."

"No, mine is."

"Then let's ask Uncle Dimitri what he thinks." Aiden suggested as he came closer to Dimitri. Ramona raised a brow and turned to face the kids.

"Dimitri, who's drawing is better?" Maha asked, shoving her paper into Dimitri's hand. His face scrunched up as he stared at her drawing.

"Here's mine." Aiden said. Dimitri stared at bother the papers with apprehension in his eyes. Both Maha and Aiden were glaring at each other.

"You sure you want the truth?" he asked, doubtfully. From the tone of his voice Ramona already knew what was coming. "To be completely honest, I can't see the difference between the two. One thing I'm sure of though is—"

"Ugh!" Aiden groaned, then went out from the kitchen. Maha followed closely behind.

"I did it in less than 24 hours." Dimitri bragged. Ramona rolled her eyes then faced what she was doing.

"And I'm surprised. I expected it from Maha but not Aiden. He's meant to be the strong one." Ramona said, grabbing the pot.

"Only a man can understand a man." Dimitri said, proudly. Ramona glanced at him and shook her head as she motioned for him to pass her the salt. Dimitri grabbed the salt and was about to hand it over to her but snatched it back.

"Give it." Ramona growled, scowling.

"I will. But only if you promise not to give me attitude again." He said. Ramona cursed silently then nodded. "Words, red. Use your words."

"Promise. Now give me the salt." She said. Dimitri grinned and handed the salt over to her.

"You know, I still feel like I've seen you somewhere before." Dimitri confessed, tapping his chin.

"Must've been your dreams. I seem to appear in everyone's." Ramona guessed, smiling smugly. She glanced at Dimitri then faced her work.

"Definitely not my dreams, red. It's just not possible." Dimitri chuckled out. He stayed with her as she cooked and they chatted about different things.

"Help me call everyone." She said. Dimitri went out and called them to come eat. Dinner went smoothly with light banter.

After dinner, Maha and Aiden pulled Dimitri away. They took him to the living room while leaving Ramona to do the dishes.

"What do you guys want?" Dimitri asked, squinting his green eyes. Ramona had quickly washed the dishes and came to the living room to see what they were up to.

"We wanted to take your pictures." Maha confessed, shyly. She wrung her hands together as she batted her eyelashes cutely.

"Oh okay." Dimitri agreed. They set him in a pose and began taking his pictures. With each pose Dimitri made, Ramona's throat itched. She shook her head and questioned why she was reacting that way. Ramona stood up abruptly, distracting the 'photo shoot.'

"Uhm, I'm tired and i— i— Uhm, need to sleep early. G-good-night." Ramona stuttered out, scratching her head. She bit her lower lip and excused herself as she scurried out of the room.

"Strange." Dimitri muttered as the kids shrugged. He stared at her retreating back and let out a low growl. "At least before I complete my work."

"Back to the shoot." Aiden yelled, snapping Dimitri out of his thoughts.

"I'm tired too. One last picture and that's all." Dimitri cooed. Maha frowned so he added, "Besides, you're kids. You need to sleep early."

"Okay." Aiden nodded then took a last picture. Maha and Aiden ran up to their room giggling devilishly.

Dimitri rolled his shoulders and walked upstairs; a sinister smile on his face.

Ramona twisted and turned in her bed as a thought ran through her mind. She groaned loudly then finally sat up.

"This won't do. I need something to calm me." Ramona muttered. She stood from her bed and walked to her door. "I hope they're done with their supposed shoot." She whispered, turning her head from left to right as she looked through the door. Unbeknownst to her, a figure was lurking in the shadows watching her every move.

Ramona stepped out of the room and walked to the kitchen to get herself a cup of coffee. On her way, she came across an earring her aunt always carried.

"I think she dropped it. I'll give it to her in the morning." Ramona mumbled, picking it up. Immediately her hand grazed the material of the earring, her eyes went white and she threw her head back. She had a vision!

In it was a blurry image of her aunt wearing a strange costume talking to a woman who seemed familiar. Peering closer at the woman, she tries to decipher where she knew the face from.

"It can't be. Is -is that my— mother?" She asked and immediately came back to the real world. She fell to her feet as she tried to comprehend what she had just seen.

"I have to ask aunt about this." She muttered, striding to her aunt's room. She knocked on the door and was relieved to see that her aunt was still awake.

"Aunt, we need to talk." She stated, holding out the earring. Her normally smiling face was lined with a frown and her lips were thinned. Farah coughed as she saw the earring and immediately followed Ramona out.

"What happened-?" She inquired.

"I should be asking you that. I picked this earring and I'm hit with a vision that shows you in some fairy clothes or something talking to a woman who looked just like me. Or should I say I looked just like her. Care to explain?"

"I knew the day would come. Let's go to your room." Farah said. She dragged Ramona to the room and sat her down so she could explain.

"23 years ago, Xanthoria was attacked by a old enemy of your mother. Yes, the woman is your mother. I was her most trusted maid. That day your mother had to send you away to protect you and also so you can save the kingdom later. I guess you didn't get your powers early because you've never practiced and you're far from anything magic. This earring is yours. It'll help you discover your true potential. Welcome back, my Queen." Farah said, curtsying.

In the room opposite them, Aiden and Maha were going through the pictures when Maha made a comment.

"Don't you think this man and I look a bit alike?" She asked, turning her face sideways. Aiden stared at the picture then nodded in agreement.

"True. The resemblance is really much." Aiden said, trailing off at the end. The gears in his brain were turning as he thought of something. He was about to say something but Maha beat him to it.

"Could this man be—"

"Our daddy?"