We're Almost Home

the journey

Inverness was unusually bright that day. All of its usual gloominess - overtaken by sunshine and bright blue skies with an occasional cloud here and there. Not that Selene or Eve minded it. Quite the contrary, they sat on a bench at the train platform and let the sun's rays seep into their skin. Not many people took Wednesday's 9 am ride from Inverness to London, so the station was still and quiet, much to Selene's delight.
The sweet silence was short-lived, "Where will we go after London?" The girl asked curiously. "We will arrive there around 5 pm and take a night train to Brussels," said the vampiress, "there, our coven's private train will be awaiting our arrival, ready to take us to Prague," she finished explaining. Eve did not lose any of her curiosity. She was all too intrigued and kept asking, "You mean the whole train will be just ours? How will it get there?" She talked fast, with much excitement.
Selene had to stop herself from laughing at the girl. Her daughter might have looked just like any regular teenage girl, but at times, her personality was one of a young child. She was so impatient and curious. Just like her father, mused the woman. "Yes, it will be just ours. And perhaps we will be accompanied by two or maybe three Death Dealers," she said and looked at Eve, who now had an ear-to-ear grin plastered across her face. "As soon as we left that damned woods, I called David and instructed him to have it prepared and ready for us," Selene let her know.
"And what will we do once we're in Prague?" The girl kept nagging. Selene sighed and rolled her eyes slightly, "Then, we will go home. To The Eastern Coven."

Those words managed to keep the girl quiet and calm all the way to London. The thought of that foreign, strange place made a knot of worry tighten in her stomach. She could not shake the fear of not being accepted, of being hated. She was, after all, a hybrid. And from what she remembered, the vampires were less than thrilled about that. They mostly saw her as a threat.

In London, while waiting for their next train, Selene decided to take Eve to a store. The girl was in need of some new clothes. Maybe it will make her feel better, she seems sad, wondered Selene. The woman was right. For a while, her daughter was once again her bubbly self. But the number of options in the store overwhelmed her slightly, so the vampiress intervened. "Calm down, my girl, tell me," she grabbed her hands, "what colour do you like? Or what is something you always wanted to wear?" Surprisingly, it helped. Eve knew the answer immediately, "A dress, I always wanted to have a dress."
Well, that was fast, thought the woman and started looking for one.

Eve left the boutique already dressed. She wore a brown, corduroy overall dress with a beige turtleneck sweater underneath, matching thick tights and a pair of brown leather shoes. "Thank you so much, mum," She squealed, hugging her tightly, "I've never felt so pretty, like ever," she admitted. "Well, you should have. You always look beautiful, darling." The girl could not help but blush at her mother's remark. She held her head up high and walked, holding hands with her mother, to the train station.

They talked extensively during their ride to Brussels, which made it seem like it was only minutes. Eve entertained her mother with tales of her favourite books and stories she had read. Usually, Selene would not like to hear, let alone pay attention to such unimportant things, but now, she marvelled at her daughter's lively tales.
It was nearing midnight when the train's brakes hissed as it came to a halt. Varga, Selene's second-in-command, greeted them on arrival.
"Lady Selene, welcome." said the Death Dealer, giving a half bow and a crooked smile.
"Varga." She nodded. "I asked you, don't call me Lady." Said the vampire elder, visibly annoyed.
The man just rolled his eyes and shifted his attention to the child.
"Hello there, you must be the marvellous creature I've heard so much about." He said, smiling at the girl, "I'm Varga," he shook her hand, "It's a pleasure to meet you."
The girl took an instant liking for the man. She grinned at him widely. "Eve, it's nice to meet you." Said the girl and shook his hand vigorously.
"Alright, let's not waste time on... this." Cut off Selene. "Which way do we go?"
Varga took Eve's luggage and proceeded to walk briskly. "This way...my Lady."

His facial expression made Eve laugh like a lunatic. She glanced at her mother, who was visibly displeased and followed the man. The girl was impatient to see their train, so she ran with her hair snapping like a flag behind her.
Eve did not expect it to look this mesmerising, for it wasn't just any modern train. What stood in front of her was a vintage passenger train attached to a well-kept, equally old locomotive. The sheer sight of it rendered the girl speechless.
"Is it as you expected?" Asked Selene, putting her hand around her daughter.
"It's so much better." She admitted.
Just wait until you see it inside, she thought, amused. "Let's get inside, Eve. We have a long ride ahead of us."

Eve loved the first hours of their journey. She relished being at the centre of attention when she spoke, getting complimented, and getting noticed; Selene and Varga unintentionally made sure that it happened. So when eventually the fatigue took over her, just after 4 am, she felt as blue as ever.
"What is the matter, my girl? You're so quiet."
"I'm just tired, is all," The girl blurted out, "I think I'm going to have to sleep soon..." She sadly added.
"Well, in this case, I bid you a good night, miss," Varga said and jauntily winked at the girl.
She only mustered to give a half-smile and tiredly waved at him as he walked out.

Selene walked up to the child and gently pushed her in the direction of the bedroom. Sheepishly, Eve took off her clothes and put on her pyjamas. After a few minutes, her mother appeared, dimmed the lights and sat down on the bed. She did not have to say a word. Her daughter instantly followed and laid her head on Selene's abdomen. The woman could not help but smile. She put her hand on the girl's back and rubbed it in circles.
"Mum, what is The Eastern Coven like?" She asked, looking up at her face.
"It is completely different from the last one you've been to. It's ancient, grand and magnificent," the woman said, as her daughter listened attentively, "full of historical artefacts, artworks and beautiful things," the vampiress finished.
"Sounds like a dream," she whispered.

The next thing she knew, her child was asleep, nestled under the covers; she found solace in her mother's nearness.
Selene stayed there for hours, observing how her chest gently rose and fell, watching over her sleeping daughter.
Even though she felt happy, as happy as she could be without her Michael, she could not shake the feeling that something terribly dangerous was coming their way.