The Taste of Seduction

"You might scare them from visiting and people doing their jobs might lose their job, sweetie… is that what you want?"

"No…"

"Then be a good girl… and don\'t tell them about it, yes?"

"Yes, gramma…"

Even though Fiona and Erin left, the conversation they shared still repeated in their thoughts. As Meredith and Atlas were still atop of the castle, they were both pulled into their own thoughts, thinking if there is more to what they have heard from them.

"I strongly think that the reason she told Erin is not the main reason why she scolded her," Meredith said, Atlas nodding to agree to her statement.

"True. It\'s as if what she told us are heavy, when it\'s just like telling a story. Any person would just brush that off since it is… like a story. But to reprimand her as if she told a secret… that\'s what I felt."

Atlas and Meredith looked at each other. They knew that they have to know more about the story. Meredith looked at her wristwatch and mumbled a suggestion that only Atlas could hear.

"We have a few more hours before we can go to our hike in the mountains. We have to talk to Fiona."

Atlas slightly creased his brows together. "How?"

Meredith looked at him and slightly shrugged her shoulders as if he had said something stupid.

"Track her scent to look for her even in human form. Duh."

"I know that\'s part of the plan," he said, slightly rolling his eyes at her. "I mean… how do we get her to tell us? It seemed to me that she wanted to instantly end the conversation. It really gave us a hint that she is indeed keeping something--something more to that story."

"Then we tell her it\'s part of our writing… that we need more information for our novel."

Atlas slightly shook his head. "You think it\'s that simple?"

They were quiet for a while. As she now looked at the bag of souvenirs she held in her hand, her eyes widened slightly when she remembered that Fiona remarked that her purchase would help them greatly.

"What if we pay them?"

Atlas widened his eyes. "I beg your pardon… like bribe them?"

"No, Atlas…" Meredith sighed, a slight frustration etched in the tone of her voice. "Of course, there\'s no coercion! We\'re just gonna tell her… that we can give her funds to help her and Erin. Besides… she did say that our purchase of their souvenirs would help them greatly."

"That is a good idea," he replied, nodding slowly. "But do you think that she will tell us exactly what the story entails?"

She just looked at him then back on the horizon that was in front of them. She let out another sigh, Meredith resting her head on his shoulder as they looked at the view beyond.

"It\'s worth a shot. From all the asking that we did, our conversation with Fiona and Erin was the most conversation that gave us more clues."

Atlas wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Meredith continued talking, further convincing him to believe in her plans.

"Besides… you said something\'s different on that mountains. Erin did say something about the mountain and it can confirm your gut feelings. I… Atlas, trust me on this, please… this can be our shot to get closer to the book."

There was silence for a moment. As the breeze blew around them, he let out a small sigh and kissed the top of her head, now wanting to give her plans a shot.

"Alright… let\'s do it. But let me try to do the talking, alright?"

Meredith looked at him, a small smile appearing on his face as he tucked a tendril of her hair behind her ear.

"It\'s gonna be my money involved, anyway. I\'ll do my best to persuade Fiona. For sure, if it\'s really for her family, she would have to take the offer."

She then nodded, grateful that Atlas is with her to try out her plan. She wondered what she could have done without him. With him now pushing through with the plans, the two decided to leave the castle and look for Fiona.

***

Atlas and Meredith decided to explore more of the countryside. They thought that since Fiona and Erin were on the castle selling souvenirs, they might be in a village nearby.

It was indeed a unique place from the castle. They admired the breathtaking landscapes. As they were walking through a meadow, they saw a group of children playing by a stream. From there, they saw a small house with Erin playing with a dog, and her grandmother Fiona hanging clothes.

"You found them," Meredith said softly, but still heard by Atlas. "What should we tell them when we approach them?"

They continued watching Erin laugh and play with the big, furry dog whilst Fiona was hanging their clothes. Soon, they saw another woman, younger than Fiona, coming out of the house. She gave another basket of clothes to Fiona and went back inside of the house. She must be Erin\'s mom.

"I\'ll tell them that we were further exploring the place, taking more walks from the castle. Then we could say that the meadows are breathtaking then we saw them and wanted to drop by and say hi and bye before we leave."

Meredith looked up to get a better sight of Atlas. "You think she\'ll believe that?"

"Well, better than coming here suspiciously," he replied, giving her a smile. "Come on… don\'t worry so much. We\'re in this together, right? You have me."

He then opened his hand, his palm facing Meredith. As his words gave her reassurance that their plans are going to work, she smiled and then held his hand, her fingers now interlaced with his.

They then walked hand in hand towards Fiona and Erin\'s house, in hopes that they get more information about the story of the leprechauns and the mountains told to them back when they were atop the castle.