CHASING ASH (GXG MAFIA) BURN THE DEVIL SEQUEL

Chapter Twenty Eight

"Mama, Cami, wake up! Santa came!" Adeline yelled as she shook them both awake, both of them groaning in unison at the abrupt child alarm.

Reaching her arm out, half her face squished into her pillow, Carmilla pulls her phone to look at the time and as expected by the headache in between her eyes, it's 6 in the morning. "Amazing" Carmilla mumbled in feigned excitement, her energy not nearly as awake as her partner, Jane swiftly getting out of bed.

"Did he eat the cookies?" Jane questioned in an excited tone, mirroring Adeline's impatience as she tugged on her mother to hurry up. Carmilla slowly followed behind, rubbing her eyes as she walked down the tall flight of stairs, Jane and Adeline quickly disappearing into the reception room.

"Wait for me" Carmilla called out as she walked into the room, catching Adeline shuffling through the mountain of presents surrounding the high tree. "Wow, Santa is loaded" she jested to herself as she sat down on the sofa, spreading her legs as she admired Jane in her checkered red pajamas matching Adeline's.

Jane laughed as Adeline searched for her name on the tags, gasping at the size of some of the presents. "Slow down baby, we have all morning" Jane coaxed as she looked back at Carmilla, her eyes zoned in on Jane as she adjusted her matching trousers, her white tank top rolled up slightly, revealing her v-line. Jane clears her throat and dirty mind as she turns her attention back to Adeline, helping her unwrap present after present, the gifts going from dolls, to a bike, to endless toys and trinkets.

"Oh wait, wait, wait" Adeline suddenly halts her exploration, quickly turning to hunt for one particular present. With an audible hum, Adeline pulls one small gift out, the wrapping taped like a child did it as she proudly stands up and steps towards Carmilla, passing her the gift. "For you" she speaks up with a smile, her small teeth on full display as she watches Carmilla carefully take it from her, intrigued by the present.

"Really?" Carmilla uttered, astounded that Adeline would get her something. Gently, she unwraps the gift, taking the white mug into her hand before turning it to see the scribble drawn onto the other side. Carmilla's breath hitches as she looks at the stick-man drawing of her and Jane with little Adeline at the bottom, the words 'mama' and 'ma' written on top of their heads as Adeline's figure holds both their hands. Carmilla's eyes bounce between the mug and Jane, taken aback by the surprise as Jane smiles knowingly.

"Do you like it?" Adeline interrogated with her doe eyes, attempting to comprehend the stark silence around her. Carmilla's eyes fly back to Adeline, pulled out of the tears threatening to fall.

"Of course, I love it! Thank you "Carmilla pledges with glossy eyes, opening her arms as Adeline crawls onto her lap, aiming to distinguish what Carmilla's expression means. Wrapping her arm around Adeline, Carmilla pulls her into a tight embrace, her heart pounding through her shirt.

"That's very sweet baby" Jane applauds gently as she stands up to grab one small present under the tree, her name glancing back at her as it piqued her curiosity. "What is this?" Jane questions with a nervous smile, the box seeming a little too small for a necklace or bracelet.

Carmilla pulls her attention back to Jane, smiling knowingly as she shuffles forward, Adeline still resting on her lap. "Oh.. that is going to require us going outside," Carmilla explained as she stood up and walked towards Jane, watching her unwrapping the red bow around it. "No, no, wait, let's walk first my love" Carmilla asserted with a little smirk, unwilling for Jane to open it just yet.

"Oh, okay" Jane states in confusion before quickly grabbing one present for Carmilla, sliding it into her back pocket before following Carmilla as she steps towards the entrance hall.

"Okay, now you can open it" Carmilla alluded as the both stood in front of the front door, the door slowly opening from the outside as Jane focused on unwrapping the mysterious gift, her heart bouncing around in her chest. Jane halts for a moment to stare at the black car key in the box, a golden logo with a horse inside staring back at her. Blinking harshly, Jane raises her head to look out the front door, her eyes meeting the black Ferrari parked at the front driveway, the sun reflecting against the glass windows.