DUSK
CHAPTER TWO
Ariadne awoken to the sounds of birds twittering outside her window, and the small snippets of light that managed to make their way through the curtains.
She streched her body, before letting out a groan as she felt the bone pop, making her sigh. She walked out of her bedroom and into one of the bathrooms, taking a quick shower before brushing her teeth.
After taking a shower and getting dressed in a pair of dark-wash jeans, brown wedge boots and grey-ish turtleneck jumper, she grabbed a small bowl of cereal before flicking the TV on, leaning against the counter in the kitchen.
Nothing major was happening in the world, so after she finished her 'cereal for lunch', she flipped the TV off and checked her watch, noting the time was 2.50pm. She grabbed her brown jacket, a black scarf and her car keys before heading off to pick Diana up from Preschool.
The trip to the Preschool wasn't that long, but was long enough for her to listen to about three of Rihanna's songs before she arrived there at 3.10pm. She parked her car near the entrance of the Preschool before climbing out and leaning against it, so Diana could see her.
Soon, the bell rang and the doors burst open, as all the Preschoolers rushed out, bobbing and weaving through the crowd to find their parents and/or guardians.
A little red jacket caught her attention, as did two pigtails made up of strawberry blonde hair and two white ribbons bounced as Diana jumped around, looking for her. Just as she was about to call her name, Diana turned and spotted her.
"Auntie Aria!"
Ariadne smiled before bending down and scooping the small girl up, spinning her around.
"Look at you! My word, you have gotten bigger in the past two years. You must have been eating your vegetables and drinking your milk"
"Yup! I'm a big girl now"
"Oh, a big girl. Well then, I guess big girls do not get present anymore"
"Wah! No no! I'm not a big girl! I can still get presents!"
Ariadne giggled, before helping Diana into the passenger seat. Climbing into the driver's seat, she started the car before heading back home, Diana chatting away to her, telling her about her day.
Ariadne buttered two pieces of bread in the kitchen while watching Diana play with her new Barbie's in the living room. She giggled as Diana acted out a marriage with her Ken doll and Barbie. Cutting the sandwich which consisted of ham, lettuce, cucumber and some mayo, she placed it on a plate before putting the items back and cleaning up before walking over to the living room and placing the plate in front on Diana.
"There we go, something to keep you going while we wait for your brother and mom"
Diana thanked her, before tucking happily into her sandwich. Ariadne smiled before switching the channel over, leaving it on a children's show.
The door bell rang and Ariadne moved to get it.
She greeted the Retail Car driver before handing him the keys and heading back inside.
"Does that mean you have no car anymore?"
"Do not worry. I am going out later to see some of my friends and I will get a car then. I will still be able to pick you up"
"Yay!"
Diana smiled before turning back to her toys. Not five minutes later, the door opened.
"I'm home"
"Arthur! Look what Auntie got me!" cried Diana as she grabbed her Diamond Castle Barbie and Diamond Castle Ken, running towards her brother with her arms opened wide.
"Wow, she must be spoiling you"
"Yup! They are soooo awesome!"
"Hope you said thank you"
"I did! Honest!"
Ariadne smiled before walking towards them.
"Well, look who it is. The big Sophmore turning Junior. So, how does it feel?"
Arthur turned to see her, before smiling and giving her a big hug. "Ah, it's not too bad. Just glad I have the holidays before I become an actual Junior, still kinda scared at the work-load though"
"Do not worry about it. You will fly through it, your mother and I believe in you"
Arthur smiled at her, before placing his school back next to the coat-rack and hanging his coat up.
"Diana, distract your brother while I get his present"
"Ok!"
Diana grabbed her brother's hand and pulled him towards the sofa's, pushing her Ken doll into his hand and telling him to help her with the wedding.
Ariadne grabbed his present before heading back down the stairs.
"Your mother already told me you had an amp already, but that you had to decide between saving up for a guitar or a car, so hopefully, this makes that choice a bit easier" She said as she handed him the black leather case, watching as his green eyes went wide.
"No way! You didn't! Tell me you didn't!" He said as he opened the case, his eyes going even wider as he looked at the Gibson 2008 Les Pal gleaming back at him"
"Oh my God, you did!"
He jumped up and hugged her, "Thank you. You have no idea how much trouble I was putting myself into when trying to decide whether to save for a guitar or a car. But this, God! This is brand new, do I wanna know how much?"
"Probably best not to ask, your mother will go ballistic, and anyway, I am sure, with my help, we can put together your own car"
"You sure? I don't wanna put you out or anything"
"Arthur, I love cars, I love engines and I love technology. Trust me, this is more for me than you. Might aswell have a little pet project while I am here"
"How long are you here for Auntie Aria?"
Ariadne bent down to her level. "Well, that all depends on how much I can settle here. I need a house, a job and a car. But, we will see, maybe I will stay here forever or maybe not. I do not know yet, sweet thing"
Diana stood there, a contemplating look on her face as she tried to figure out what her Aunt was meeting. "Ok, I understand. You will stay here when you feel ready to stay here"
Ariadne ruffled her hair. "Look at you, standing there with your mothers smarts. How about we make dinner for your mother? I bet she has had a long day"
"Yeah! Lets make chicken!"
"Ok, you want to help Arthur"
Arthur let out a nervous laugh. "I'm not really fit for the kitchen. I'm just gonna practice with my guitar, if that's ok?"
"That is fine. Practice in here, so I see how good you are"
"Sweet, be back in a sec, gonna get some music sheets. Any preference?"
"Not really, if you have any AC/DC or Bon Jovi, that would be fairly awesome"
"Nice, I should have some"
Four chicken breast were sizzling under in the over, in cooking bag filled with various herbs and spices. Potatoes which were cut into quarters were also in the oven, browning to create a crispy outside. Various vegetables boiled away in the pots that were placed on the stove.
Diana was placing the cutlery on the six-seat dining table, humming a Hannah Montana song as she did, her hips dancing from side to side at some points, making Ariadne chuckle as she stirred the pot that was slowly cooking the gravy for the chicken.
Arthur had laid the plates out, as he was tall enough to reach the high cupboard unlike Diana. He was sitting on the arm rest of the chair, gazing out the window for his mother while gently strumming Livin' on a Prayer on his new guitar.
Suddenly the sound of tires driving over a lightly graveled path rang in her ears and she let out a small smile. A car door slammed shut and Diana's head perked up, before she quickly set the last fork and ran towards the door, jumping into her mothers arms just as the door opened to show her form.
"Mommy!"
Lilian grunted slightly, forgetting for a moment that her daughter wasn't a baby anymore, but a slight heavy and very energetic four year old.
"Offt! Careful hunny!"
Diana giggled - it sounded like bells to Ariadne, gentle bells that one would hear on a babies rattle. Diana helped her mom by taking her folder from her and placing it on the coffee table, while Arthur grabbed her bag and placed his near the coat rack, beside his own.
"Hey Mom, good day?" he asked as he gave her a peck on the cheek, smiling at her.
Lillian smiled at her son. "Yeah, had a fair amount to catch up on, but this is only Monday. Still have four days to get back into the swing of things"
Arthur chuckled at his mother, before picking up his new guitar. Lillian looked down at it, a confused look upon her face. She knew her son had plenty of money saved up from his temp-job at the local pharmacy and the occasional cutting of the neighbor lawn, but she didn't think that he would have enough to buy a brand new guitar.
"W-where did you get that? and how did you pay for it?" She asked him, confusion evident in her voice.
Ariadne turned the gravy off before stepping into the living room area.
"That would be my fault, Lillian. You know how much I love to spoil people"
Lillian turned to Ariadne. Even though she knew that she had arrived last night, actually being in her friends presence made her heart flutter. All of the memories of her and Ariadne together suddenly hit her and a large smile grew across her face.
"Ariadne! Look at you!"
Ariadne smiled before pulling Lillian into a hug, before pulling back to kiss both her cheeks.
"It is wonderful to see you aswell, my friend"
Lillian looked around and noticed that food was slowly cooking away in the kitchen. The mixed smell of herbs and spices floated around her, making her moth slowly water and her stomach growl in greed. She chuckled as she covered her stomach with her hand, a faint blush bloomed on her cheeks and the tips of her ears.
"Sorry. I guess I was more hungry than I first thought.
Everyone laughed before heading to the table while Ariadne placed the food into serving dishes and taking them over to the table.
Everyone tucked in, taking a piece of chicken each and a selections of vegetables and roasted potatoes. Ariadne drizzled some gravy over her chicken and potatoes before taking a bit, enjoying the flavour of the seasoning and the moistness of the chicken.
They spent the entire time talking and chatting, as if Ariadne lived in the house with them for years.
Ariadne stood at the window, listening to the sound of the small clock on the fireplace's mantle tick down to twelve midnight. Her eyes watched the trees move, their branches dancing across the night sky as the stars twinkled a silent lullaby to the people below.
She heard footsteps behind her and slowly turned to see Lillian smiling at her, standing in her pink stripe pj's and a long, blue, fluffy dressing gown.
"I'm glad you're back. You don't know how much we all missed you"
Ariadne's eyes soften, the light hitting them in a way that they almost looked glass like and fragile - something she was not.
"I am too. Being close to my family...It always made me feel stronger than I am. I belong here, I know I do, but staying here longer than a year is somewhat of a struggle for me"
Lillian chuckled at her. "You were always a free spirit...Grandmother"
Ariadne scoff. "Please, I know I am old, but none of this grandmother nonsense, plus, I am way older than your grandmother. Right, Best go freshen up before I head to see Carlisle"
Lillian nodded her head, before hugging Ariadne close to her, feeling the familiar feeling of having ones family close to them.
"Get some sleep Lillian" she kissed her forehead "You have minds to mold in the morning"
Lillian groaned slowly before heading upstairs, Ariadne behind her.
With a final goodnight, Lillian walked into her bedroom while Ariadne walked into the upstairs bathroom.
She ran the cold water before cupping her hands and splashing some on her face. With a fluffy white towel, she gently dabbed her face dry before looking into the mirror.
Flawless pale skin with a slight rosy hue, framed by snow white hair that was result of being born with Albinism. Plump and full rosy lips puckered slightly, as she brush a finger over one of her dyed eyebrows - giving the illusion that she bleached her hair white. Mysterious azure eyes gazed back at her, framed by a set of fairly thick eyelashes.
Crystal blue eyes gazed back at her, teasing her and giving away what she truly was.
The eyes of a half-breed - the spawn of a human and a vampire.