Battleborn - Benny Weir

Chapter 2

The air of tension was obvious in the Weir kitchen. Ingrid sipped her coffee awkwardly. She could feel Evie's stare on her and she was not sure what to say.

"So," Ingrid began awkwardly, "it's been some time since I last saw you. How's John?" She smiled, remembering the boy Evelyn had been so infatuated with when they met all those years ago.

"He's married to someone else and he moved to Maine," Evelyn responded coldly.

"Alright then." The two elapsed back into silence.

"What do you want? I haven't heard from you in decades, and suddenly you show up at my doorstep? Looking like that none the less!" Ingrid looked down at her clothes, confused. She picked at the hem of her black dress, not sure what the problem with it was.

"What do you mean? I thought this was something normal to wear?"

Evelyn rolled her eyes. "I don't mean your clothes. I'm talking about the fact that you still look like a teenager. Are you a vampire? You never told me you were a vampire? When were you bitten?"

"I'm not a vampire, Evelyn. I never have been, and I never will be."

"So explain the age." Ingrid looked down at her shoes. "Now, Melanie!" Ingrid cringed at the name.

"Actually, I don't go by Melanie anymore."

"But it's your name?"

"Well, technically, it's not. I've gone by a lot of names: Melanie, Rosemary, Daisy, Kathleen, etc. It's understandable that you might say the wrong one, I change my name quite frequently. It's Ingrid now."

Evelyn rolled her eyes. "Well then, Ingrid, why do you still look like that?"

"I'm not a vampire, but I am still a supernatural. It's a long story."

"You could have told me this all those years ago. I told you I was a priestess!"

"And that is exactly why I know it is safe to tell you about this now! Congratulations, by the way, on becoming an earth priestess, it's a big honor." She ignored the compliment. "Look, I'll tell you all about what I am later, but right now I just want to catch up with a very, very old friend." Ingrid smiled and opened up her arms.

Evelyn cracked a smiled and allowed Ingrid to pull her into a hug. "I've missed you," said Evie.

"I've missed you, too." They sat around the island in the kitchen, sharing stories that had happened over the years.

"So why the name?" asked Evelyn between sips of her tea. "Why Ingrid?"

"I went to Norway for some time--more werewolves than you would expect there--and just fell in love with the name. I'll probably change it soon though, too many people know it." She sipped her tea. "I'm sorry about John, did you ever marry?"

"I did," Evie smiled, "had a few kids, too, then those kids had kids, and now I have grandchildren." She laughed. "Wow, I feel old talking to you about this. You still look so young and I have grandchildren." Her smile dropped and she looked at Ingrid with a more serious gaze. "Why are you really here?"

Ingrid laughed casually. "What are you talking about, Evie? I came by to see you."

"It's great to see you again, it is, but I know that I'm not the main reason you're here."

"I don't want to involve you in this. It's a real mess and you have a great little life here. I'm not going to jeopardize that."

"Listen, Mel--" Evelyn was cut off by the front door opening and slamming shut.