“You woke up!” Violette exclaimed happily. “I know we are about to leave, but I thought about having lunch before.”
His eyes appeared reflective. He studied her face for some time, then narrowed his gaze and angled his head.
“Were you in my room earlier?” he asked.
“Yes?” she said uncertainly.
“Oh, good, because I started thinking it was a fever dream.”
“We were literally talking,” her brows drew together, “You told me you know about the lake.”
“Lake?” His brows raised.
She nodded.
“Oh…I lied.” His mouth twisted in a shameless smirk.
“What?!”
“I just wanted you to leave me alone.” He shrugged and turned to the stairs.
Violette quickly caught up with him on the way down.
“Are you kidding me?” Her mouth twitched.
“I was asleep. I'll be honest, I didn't care what you were talking about at that moment.”
She sighed quietly. That's alright, she'll just tell him again.
“So you don't know where to go?”
“I didn't say that,” he said airily as they went down the stairs. “I remembered where I heard of the Road of Nightmares’. While I have no clue what you told me about a lake, I am pretty sure there is a lake on the way, so perhaps our clues are related.”
“Remind me to slam your face next time, maybe it'll make you listen.”
“Don't pout, Little Witch,” he said and crossed the hall to the dining room.
“So what is the Road of Nightmares?” Violette took a plate, standing at the table with food.
Dante's hand reached to take something to drink.
“It's not a metaphor like we thought. It's an actual road which leads deep into a dark forest not far away from here.”
Listening carefully, Violette placed a blueberry cream bun on the plate and then poured some tea into a porcelain cup.
“I don't want to sound dramatic but…why is it called that?” she released a question.
“Well,” he made it to the table first, “at the time this riddle was written it was called differently. You were close with your clues. But it was never the official name of the road. People just called it this way because of the stories around it.”
Violette glanced at him, taking a spot at the same table.
“They saw something scary and suspicious in this forest,” Dante continued, gesturing with his hands. “Some of them said they saw strange, frightening beasts hidden there,” Violette didn't take her eyes off his face, carefully listening. “As time went on it was confirmed – these strange beasts were monsters. Now this place is called the Forest of Somber Eyes.”
“No…” she said in disbelief, her hand with the bun frozen in the air. “You are not telling me our path lies through the forest full of monsters.”
“I wish.” Dante took a frustrated breath. “Well, they’re not as scary as people picture them. You're human, always so dramatic.” With the last word, he stirred his drink with a straw and took a sip.
“Oh, well,” Violette casually started. “Sorry I am not immortal and can die from any small inconvenience like…I don't know…maybe, being killed by a beast?!”
