The door opened as a little girl came running towards Alice. Alice knelt as the girl crashed into her. Alice hugged the little girl tightly. A white cat came strolling behind the kid. Alice waved to it, but the cat ignored her as it walked outside.
"Hello, Ell. Missed me a lot?" Alice asked the little girl, Eloise.
"A lot." Eloise dragged the last word for a long time as she spoke in her broken English.
Behind Eloise, a woman walked in on them. The woman had blonde hair, green eyes, and she was wearing a kitchen apron. She smiled at their huddled figures. "Ell, honey, go and play with Azura outside. She might run away. I am baking an apple pie. I will call you when it's ready."
"But I want to stay with Alice," the girl said, pouting.
"Ell, I will be here till evening. I promise we will build the LEGO tower together." Alice promised the little girl. She showed her little finger to Eloise, who brought out her little finger, sealing the pinky promise. Their secret promise.
Eloise ran behind Azura. And Alice looked at the woman.
"How are you doing, Giselle?" Alice asked Giselle as Giselle sat down at the dinner table in the kitchen.
"Well, not much better than the last time. The promotion is taking a toll on me, and Eloise gets irritated with the name of the daycare." Giselle says with a sigh. "You are back after a long time. Busy?" Giselle asked Alice.
Alice had the sleeves of her hoodie rolled to her elbows. She was kneading the cookie dough. "Well, if you want, I can take care of Eloise while you work. Maybe also help with some chores." Alice suggested. "And yes, I was busy with schoolwork," Alice replied.
"Don't lie to me. I am the only person who knows your secret, and you are still lying to me. You were in Mosvil, weren't you?" Giselle chastised Alice.
Alice hummed in response as she set the cookies in the oven and walked over to make them some tea.
"Why do you have to risk your life? I know, Ivelle's death has been a huge grief for you as well as for me. But Alice, don't put your life in danger for her. She won't even know," A small tear escaped Giselle's eyelid as she tried to hold them back at the mention of Ivelle. Alice was grabbing the teapot white knuckled at the mention of Ivelle.
She passed Giselle her teacup and a tissue. The pie was almost done as Alice pulled it out of the oven and served it on three plates. Then, placed the cat food for Azura.
"Did you ever see any kind of powers in Eloise?" Alice asked.
Giselle's eyes shot open. "What do you mean? Are you saying she is a vampire? And even if she is, I am never telling her that. I can't lose her, too, Alice. After Ivelle, she is all left to me. Ivelle's only memory." Giselle pointed out her fears frantically.
"Calm down. But I think she is a vampire. And even if you don't tell her, she will know, Giselle. Her hunger won't be just limited to apple pies and pancakes. It will be bloodthirst that's hard to quench. And she will need to be trained. Or she will be in danger. Always." Alice explained, taking a seat in front of Giselle at the dining table.
"Eloise, the pie is ready. Come on in. Bring Azura with you." Alice called to Eloise through the kitchen window. "Eloise's eyes look just like Ivelle's blue," Alice remarked, sipping her tea. Giselle smiled at that. "Giselle, think about it. I promise she won't end up like Ivelle." Alice said to Giselle before Eloise walked inside with Azura.
"Let's watch a movie, Eloise. But after you clean up," Alice said. Leaving Giselle to her thoughts, Alice and Eloise spent the rest of the day playing and watching movies.