"Here's the key to my flat, and remember not to go into my bedroom or move my furniture around. You're free to use the guest room, and remember to use protection."
"Protection? Why are we talking about this?"
It took him a few seconds to realise what his sister meant by "protection".
William took the keys from Victoria's hand. They were for an apartment in San Francisco that she used to stay in when she met up with friends or had important meetings in the city.
"I'm just saying you're still too young."
"Forget it, I'm out of here..."
"Wait, I know you always carry your sword and spear with you everywhere."
"I almost forgot, keep these for me for a while."
William took Sting and Titan from his belt and handed them to his sister. If he decided to enter the airport with two daggers at her waist, it would definitely not be a good idea, especially with the metal detectors and multiple guards.
"I don't know why you're so obsessed with carrying them with you all the time."
"I feel more comfortable having them both with me."
- Several minutes later - Security Check -
"All right, sir, please place all metal objects in the tray on your right, including rings, necklaces, and anything else with metal parts."
(Phew, I saved myself a lot of hassle by leaving Titan and Sting with Vic.)
William calmly removed each of his rings, four on his left hand and three on his right.
(It's really convenient that Jibril's crown can shrink to the size of a ring.)
Next came his bracelet with the 'Dawn Moth', his watch, belt, and finally his necklace.
He passed through the metal detectors without any problems, his backpack and violin case went through the X-ray machine.
"No problem, have a good trip."
The slightly older but quite pretty girl smiled at William with ulterior motives and delicately slipped a piece of paper into his pocket.
William boarded his flight before the other passengers with his priority boarding pass for first class, settled into his reclining seat with his headphones on, and spent the rest of the time designing some sketches for jewellery he would have to deliver the following month.
- One Day Later - Golden Gate Park - San Francisco -
William first noticed a scent that was very familiar to him, a scent apart from the flowers, grass, and trees.
He looked around until he saw golden hair with pink and blue highlights.
(It seems she hasn't seen me yet...)
The distance between them was quite far, but the wind had carried Enid's scent to William.
(Our date is still twenty minutes away, maybe I came too early.) - Enid -
"Sorry, I'm a little distracted... Will!!!"
Enid bumped right into William's chest, distracted by her phone, waiting for a message from him.
Enid went straight to hugging him tightly, allowing William to feel Enid's soft body against his.
"I missed you so much." - Enid -
"I missed you too!!!." - Will -
William wrapped his arms around Enid's slim waist and buried his nose in her neck.
"You tickle me, Will."
"So, how have your summer holidays been so far?"
William took Enid's hand and they began walking together. The contrast between the two was quite striking. Enid was dressed in bright, colourful clothes, while William wore lighter colours such as grey and white.
William and Enid caught up while sitting on the grass under the shade of the large trees that filled the park, away from the many people walking their dogs or riding bicycles.
"Guess what I brought you?"
Enid, sitting between William's legs, proudly waved a metal box covered with pretty flower stickers.
"I don't know, maybe a cupcake?"
William could smell the aroma of sugar and butter coming from the metal box.
"Wrong, I brought you cookies that I made myself. I have chocolate, vanilla, and a surprise flavour!"
"Close your eyes and try to guess." - Enid -
Enid took a biscuit from the box and brought it to William's mouth.
"I didn't know you could bake."
William took a bite of the biscuit in Enid's hands. It was more like a filled doughnut with little crunchy bits on top than a biscuit as such.
"A certain someone seems to like sweets as much as I do, so I took a short course on how to make desserts during the summer."
"Before, I knew how to make simple things like biscuits or sponge cake, but now I can make carrot cake, apple pie, and other things."
William devoured the doughnut while listening to Enid's cheerful words.
"What do you think?"
"I'm pretty sure the surprise flavour is bacon."
"Exactly, it's delicious, isn't it!"
Enid also took a doughnut from the lunchbox for herself.
"You told me you're also learning to knit."
William gently rested his chin on Enid's hair.
"I've been knitting for years. It's called macramé. I'm getting better and making more complicated things. Why? Do you want me to knit something for you?"
William took his sketchbook out of his backpack and showed Enid a pencil design: a circular stand with four claws holding a coin in the centre.
"I want a bracelet that can hold this piece right in the centre."
"It doesn't look that complicated. Will you also give me the clasps?"
"Sure, Mako will make this design in physical form. I can also ask him to make the clasps."
William continued eating a large chocolate biscuit, the crisp, thick layer of melted chocolate filling his mouth with an extremely sweet taste.
"In that case, ask him for four, so we can match!"
(I wanted something more obvious to match the two of them, but maybe something more discreet would suit Will better), Enid thought with some regret.
*Swallow!*
William swallowed the remains of the biscuit in his mouth and licked the chocolate off his fingers.
"I thought you'd choose something more obvious to match, maybe a scarf or a T-shirt."
"Would you agree to wear matching scarves? That would be fantastic!!!"
Enid turned her body ninety degrees to sit on William's lap so she could see his face and rest her shoulder against his chest.
"On one condition."
"What condition?"
Enid raised an eyebrow suspiciously.
"How could you not tell me about this secret society!"
Several minutes passed during which William briefly told Enid about the Nightshade Society, founded in the 17th century by a powerful outcast named Goody Addams for the protection of her kind.
"It's not what it used to be, now it's just a club run by Blanca!"
Enid pushed William down onto the grass and held both his arms above his head with her hands.
"It's still cool, though. Do you wear a special suit or something?"
"They gave me a kind of hooded robe and a mask, but to be honest, I never wore them."
"Aaaahhh, Will!!!"
"Who's inside? Do I know them?"
Enid narrowed her eyes as she stared into William's, sitting on his waist and looking down at him.
"I can take a photo of you from this position, you look very pretty."
The curve of her breasts seen from below was very attractive, added to the way Enid pressed her lips together and her reproachful gaze, she looked more adorable than anything else. The thin purple blouse, white skirt and tan tights matched perfectly with her blonde hair and heart-shaped hair clips.
"Thank you, I tried hard to make everything match. Now don't dodge the question and answer me."
Enid lowered her body until their noses were about to touch.
"The last time I went a few months ago, Yoko, Divina, Ajax, Xavier, Bianca, and Kent were there. It's likely that some other students have joined since then."
"Even Kent joined before me!"
Enid looked surprised. Her roomie had kept the secret, just like her boyfriend, for two whole semesters.
"Mummy, those two people are standing very close together."
A little boy walking among the trees, holding his mother's hand, pointed his chubby little finger in the direction of William and Enid.
"Darling, I've told you a thousand times not to point at people, it's rude."
"I know what they're doing!!!"
The boy let go of his mother's hand and shouted at the top of his lungs with his hands in the air.
"They're having SEX!!!"
"Oliver!!! Where on earth did you learn those kinds of words!!!"
The mother was fuming with anger.
"Dad's phone says it all the time, Ouch!"
"Mum, you're going to tear it off!"
"Your father will pay for this when we get home."
The boy's ear would suffer for a while between the fingers of his enraged mother.
"Hahaha!!!"
William couldn't take it anymore and let out an uncontrollable laugh as he lifted his upper body, hugging Enid, who was dying of embarrassment against his chest.
The mother and son hurried away, giving William space to lift Enid's chin with his fingers. Her face was as red as a tomato and her eyes were closed.
"You just have to solve a simple riddle, and with the votes of our friends, you can join the Nightshade, no matter what Bianca says."
"Mmm!!!"
Enid responded without moving her body away from William's or opening her eyes.
"You're so beautiful..."
William whispered before gently kissing Enid's lips.