We're Almost Home

the questions

Eve focused her eyes on the cottage, while they walked in silence. The man who used to live in this house took excellent care of it. The wood outside was nicely stained, porch bannisters and steps were sturdy and neat, and the roof, which was insulated well, never leaked. It's a good home if you can call it that. What is home really? It's hard to say, thought the girl.

She led her mother to the front door, and by sheer force of habit, she began to take her muddy shoes off. When she opened it, they were greeted with warmth and a soft light that the fireplace emitted. The rectangular room was dim, but Selene's eyesight was second to none. She easily saw the kitchen area and a small table to the left, and to the right, a quite large stone fireplace and a comfortable-looking couch facing it. In front of her, the door was open. To reveal a tiny bedroom, next to it, she assumed, was a bathroom. Seems all clear, she thought, relieved. The Death Dealer training she received so many years ago subconsciously made her scan the house for any potential threats. It happened involuntarily.

"Would you like to sit down?" the question made Selene's focus shift back to her child. She pointed her head to the sofa.
Reluctantly, the woman accepted. Too many thoughts and questions clouded her mind for her to get comfortable. How did she get this house? Why Scotland, of all places? How did she manage to survive all by herself? She wondered as she watched Eve put more wood into the fire.

The young girl did not know how to behave around her mother. Or what to say, for that matter. She tried her best to keep her composure and not make a fool of herself. Why is she staring at me so? She could feel her intense gaze on her back. She took a deep breath and awkwardly sat down next to the vampiress.

The severely limited social skills of both Selene and Eve made it close to impossible for them to start a conversation. They were so very alike.
The silence lingered in the air, while the mother and her carbon copy exchanged questioning looks. Overtaken by a rare wave of impatience, Selene broke the silence, "Eve...I know I disappointed you...," she tried swallowing the lump in her throat, "but why did you leave? You could have gotten hurt." it came out of her mouth almost stuttery.

Seeing the strongest, the most stoic woman, both physically and mentally, break in front of her unsettled the teenage girl. She never suspected that the great Death Dealer was capable of this kind of emotion. Many times she asked herself if it was truly a good idea, if perhaps it would have been okay to have stayed with her mother.

"It's not that you disappointed me... it's that, whenever you looked at me, you seemed disappointed. Whenever you laid your eyes on me you got upset that I wasn't father," Eve's eyes became glassy, as she spoke. "You didn't want me, you looked at me and searched for him, every time. It wasn't your coldness that drove me away." She uttered quietly. "I just knew you did not want to know me." The girl brought her knees to her chin and hid her face between them, somehow trying to protect herself from her mother's shocked expression. She's so angry now, she will never want me. I needed to get this out of me though. Eve silently lamented.

The Death Dealer was not prepared for what her daughter said. For some unfathomable reason, this confession rattled her confidence. It made her feel helpless and completely destroyed.
Not giving it much thought, she pulled Eve close to her, she tried to protest, her body went rigid, but Selene did not let go, and laid the girl's head on her lap. How could I hurt someone this close to me that much? I suppose this kind of hurt can only be caused by a parent. The woman thought, defeated.

Eve fell apart, started to sob, and held onto her mother while she caressed her head and back in slow circles. Thoughts and emotions that occupied her head were ambivalent, to say the least. She felt upset, hurt, and scared yet happy, comforted and safe. All of this stirred so much commotion and agitation in the young girl that she was unable to stop her wails. It drained her, in all ways possible. Made her chest ache and face burn. And it took forever.

Selene remained patient as ever until her daughter finally lifted her head.
The child's face was all red and blotchy with tear-matted hair stuck to it, her blue eyes puffy and bloodshot.
Despite all of that, Selene found her daughter the most beautiful creature ever to grace this world. She watched her as she went to the kitchen to have some water and splash her face a little. She is so beautiful, like sunshine, pure light. By Selene's standards that was the highest of the compliments. She so loved the sun when she was human. And ever since she regained the ability to stand in its rays, she started to feel truly alive again.

Selene got lost in the memories and almost did not notice Eve settling down close to her. She looked at her mother and blurted, "You changed... you look, different. I like this hair. It suits you." Selene absolutely forgot that ever since she came back from The Sacred World, her once dark brown hair had platinum highlights in it now. She did not necessarily love her new look but felt nonetheless flattered by her child's comment.
She gave her a small smile, "Yes, I have changed... A lot has changed," She took a deep breath, "After defeating the leader of The Lycans, David and I became the new Elders." Selene calmly stated. She could see confusion painted on Eve's face, so she went on to explain it further. "It means, that I am one of the vampire leaders now... it means you are going to be safe now." Selene took her daughter's small hands in her own.
She hesitated for a moment, "Eve... would you like to come home with me?"

Selene would ask the other questions another time when things had settled down. For now, she was content she succeeded in uttering this one.