"I really wanted to do things differently," Lena explained.
She had taken off her leopard skin coat, short dress and high heels. Instead, she wore a soft knee-length dress that Mary had knitted. She felt like a different person already. A better person.
"I wanted to be respectable, so that baby Catherine would be able to look up to me."
In the distance she could hear the echo of someone tapping on the pipes.
"I don't know when it all started to go wrong. I had a job. My baby went to daycare. I was making it work. I suppose it all started when I saw Daisy. She was an old friend, and she was in trouble, so I lend her some money. She promised to pay me back in a month."
"But she didn't," Catherine assumed.
She was sitting opposite of Lena, looking absolutely stunning in her blue tule dress. Her hair had gotten longer. Golden strings were intertwined with the chestnut. It made the blue in her eyes look even brighter.
"No," Lena confessed. "She got into trouble and had to disappear for a while. Then I lost my job. When I met Jonas, it seemed like my prayers had been answered. He was so kind and helpful."
"What happened?" Vincent asked.
He was standing behind Catherine, his furry fingers folded around her backrest.
"He changed," she sighed. "Things that used to make him happy started to irritate him. I started to irritate him. He took my Cathy away."
Tears slid down her cheeks.
"I don't even know where she is. He says it's a place better and that she can finally be happy and carefree."
Vincent's voice vibrated through the chamber: "There is no better place for a baby than with its mother."
"I'll pull some strings at the office," Catherine offered. "Lena, tell me everything you know about this guy."
"Okay," Lena whispered.
Over Vincent's shoulder she saw a man approaching. He had shiny black hair and was surrounded by somewhat of a mysterious aura. He had three large scars around his cheek, as if he had been attacked by a bear. Catherine sensed his presence and jumped up, smiling.
"Devin!"
She embraced him.
"It's so good to see you!"
The man turned to face Vincent. A scala of emotions was mirrored in his eyes.
"You've come," Vincent said, wrapping his arms around the man. "Where is Charles?"
Devin patted Vincent on the back, then loosened his embrace.
"Charles died four months ago. Cancer."
Vincent gently squeezed his arms.
"You should have told us. Charles was much loved below."
Devin averted his eyes.
"How's the old man?" he asked.
"Frail."
The word hung heavily in the air.
"I suppose he always was," Devin thought up. "He just hid it underneath all his willpower and pride."
Suddenly he glanced at Lena. He had quite penetrating eyes. They made her shiver.
"Who is this little elf then?" he asked.
"Lena," she answered.
"Lena," he echoed. "I'm Devin."