Vampire Residence

VI

Garrett's door creaked open a few hours later, the sound of quiet footsteps following a few seconds later.

Eleanor slowly poked her head around the edge of the door, taking care not to open it too widely. She kept her footsteps light as she stepped inside, slowly shutting the door behind her.

She walked in a few more steps, pausing as she glanced at Garrett slumped on the floor by his mannequins. "Ah, there you are..."

Daciana was behind the collection, partially hidden by the heads and frills.

Eleanor's gaze flicked over to Daci, who had hidden herself among the mannequins. A low hum escaped her throat as she walked over, circling the row of mannequins to stand next to her.

"Ah. There you are, too," she added, her tone somewhat amused.

Daci quickly threw herself over what she was doing, turning her head to hiss at her wife.

"No looking."

That had a stifled laugh out of Eleanor, and she raised an eyebrow at her. "What are you doing?"

She leaned down, trying to get a glimpse of whatever Daci was hiding behind the mannequins.

The other woman raised her hands, gently pushing her away.

Now even more intrigued by what Daci was hiding, Eleanor let out a low hum and took a half step back, her arms folding over her chest as a smug smirk worked across her lips. "And why not?"

"I am working."

That made her smirk grow.

"Working on what?" She took a cautious step forward again, only to have Daci push her away again.

"Secret."

"That bad, is it?"

Eleanor chuckled, raising her eyebrows in amusement. She took another step in Daci's direction again, only to be stopped once more by her wife pushing her shoulders.

"Bad? You think after seven hundred years I make something that is bad?"

"Yes, I do," she teased, taking another step forward.

Daci pushed her back once more, prompting Eleanor to raise a coy eyebrow and continue her questioning. "Come on, darling. Just let me see it. What are you hiding?"

Daci's hands remained pushed firmly against her shoulders, pushing her backward again. "No, you are not looking."

She spoke almost like a mother scolding a curious child.

Eleanor let out a scoff, her expression turning into a pout.

"But I want to see it." Another step forward, and this time, she reached out trying to grab Daci's wrists.

This time, Daciana resorted to picking her up and hauling her out of the room.

"No, fin, you are not seeing."

Eleanor twisted around with her legs, trying her best to free herself from Daci's grip. "Put me down!"

"No, fin," Daci repeated as she hauled her through the hall.

It was becoming increasingly evident with each twist and squirm of her legs that Eleanor was very much not getting out of Daci's grasp.

Forcibly dragged out of the hallway, Eleanor was eventually dropped down on the sofa in the living room, falling back against the soft leather furniture.

She twisted her torso, sitting up and scowling at her. "You didn't have to carry me."

"You would not stop peeking! How else will I get you to listen?"

"I wasn't peeking, I was just curious!"

Eleanor was still pouting, sticking out her lower lip as she looked up at Daci.

"It is a surprise."

"And?" Her pout turned into a light scowl as she sat up on the sofa, her arms folding over her chest. "You know I hate surprises. You know I hate not knowing what's happening."

"You will be knowing soon enough."

"And why can't I know now?"

Eleanor let out an exasperated huff, her expression turning frustrated.

"You know how much I hate waiting."

"You will know soon. I am nearly finished."

"That still doesn't change the fact that I hate surprises."

She huffed. Her expression was still frustrated, but there was also a hint of resignation, as though she knew by now that there was no fighting with Daci.

That seemed to soften Daci's expression if only a bit. She reached out to put a hand on Eleanor's chin, gently tilting her face up.

"You will know very soon, my love. You just have to wait a little while longer."

"Why not now?" She protested once more. But, this time, there was more reluctance in her voice- it was clear her protests were half-hearted.

In response, Daci chuckled silently and stroked her fingers against her wife's cheek.

"Just a little longer," she repeated in a whisper, as though soothing a pouting child. She gently moved her hand, pulling a stray hair from Eleanor's face and tucking it behind her ear.

That seemed to calm Eleanor down a bit, and she let out a resigned sigh.

"Fine. Fine. But I swear, it better be good, because you know I hate being kept in the dark-"

"It will be, I promise."

Daci's hand moved from her chin to her cheek, giving a light pat against her skin.

"You will like it. I know you will."

That had a small huff and eye-roll out of Eleanor. "You'd better know me that well after seven hundred years."

"I like to think I know you quite well, my love."

Daci chuckled again, leaning forward to press a gentle kiss against her forehead.

Eleanor let out a low hum, but there was no more protesting.

She relented with a resigned sigh, settling down against the couch.

"Fine. If I must wait, I will."