There was tension in the room. Josie could feel like her hairs were raising from it. Penelope and her mother had something that they needed to clear up and her dad noticed the level of tension and her tried to calm them down.
''Ladies, there will be plenty of time for the talk that you need to have. Can we enjoy the tea and sandwitches?''
Penelope gave her dad a very fake smile.
''Of course daddy…''
''Good girl…''
He came and kissed her hair.
''I am happy to have you home and I hope that Miss Saltzman would enjoy being here too.''
Josie just smiled and thanked him for having her in their home. After they were done with the small talk, Penelope took Josie's hand and pulled her up.
''We will retire to my room now. I drove for a long time and I need some rest. Josie is tired too… We will be joining you for dinner.''
''Good… Maybe we could invite…''
''Mother, can we have few days just to adjust… Later you can call whoever you like.''
''Ok… As you wish Penelope…''
''See you later …''
Penelope's father smiled at them…
''Have a nice rest… Is there something you would like for dinner?''
''Mrs. Oliver could make her famous pasta. I really missed it.''
''I will tell her.''
Penelope and Josie left the room and the tension fell… Josie held her hand and walked beside her in silence. Penelope took them to the elevator and Josie couldn't believe she had an elevator in her house. They went to the top floor and Josie was in shock. Entire floor was Penelope's. She had a living aeriar with grand piano, books, records, CDs. She had small kitchen, huge walk in closet and in the middle was counter with a lot of draws. First thing on Josie's mind was that Lizzie would die in this closet. And then she remembered everything and she sort of felt bad. From the closet, you could enter huge bathroom with double sinks, shower, bathrub you have to climb to using few steps. Her room was simply never to leave it.
''You live in my dreams.''
''Thank you Jojo… But I have feeling you were talking about the house...not me…''
''Yes… What is this?! This is sick!''
''I know... Welcome to the world where I grew up…''
''I am still processing….Miss ParkER…''
''Yes… I know… I have long story to tell about Parker becoming Park…''
''I am all ears.''
''Now?''
''Yes, Penelope… And one more thing… You are always my dream come true… Some crazy mansion has nothing to do with it… I would love you the same in a tiny place as much as I love you now..''
''Thank you Jojo..''
She gave her a peck and a hug and smiled at her.
''Do you want me to fill in the tub?''
''Sure…''
Penelope started filling in a tub and she put some of the foam balls in it. Josie was sitting in the corner and trying to wrap her head around this all. Past forty-eight hours were chaos.
''You may strip Miss Saltzman…''
''Your wish is my command…''
Josie took off her pants and shirt and lifted her hair. She stepped into Penelope's tub and Penelope sat on the steps beside her.
''I love this… it feels amazing…after that bathroom in the motel…''
''Yes, it does.''
''Want to join me?''
Penelope took off her jeans and shirt and got in. They were sitting on the opposite sides and their knees were touching.
''So… I have so many questions.''
''Ok…''
''Is your name Penelope at all or did you make it up?''
She laughed…
''My name is Penelope Rosemary Parker.''
''Why did you cut it for school?''
''Because of my clan… My family is in charge of the clan for centuries…''
''Why did you want to hide your identity?''
''They are dark magic users… and I wanted to distance myself from it.''
''Why did you leave?''
''My mom asked me to kill a girl I was in love with because she didn't want to complete the initiation.''
''What?''
''Yes, I was thirteen and in love with a girl from the coven. She was sixteen and it was her time for initiation. She got the assignment to kill someone from the opposite coven…and she didn't want to do it. She said she couldn't…''
''And?''
''And my mom asked me to do it…''
Josie was afraid to ask…
''I did… I killed that man from the other coven and I killed her.''
Josie was surprised by what she heard.
''How?''
''I felt like she betrayed me. If she did what my mom asked of her we would have been together. She knew that nod doing it means death.''
''I am so sorry…''
''I changed a lot after it. That's why I left. I hater my mom for telling me to kill Irene.''
Josie was silent.
''So, do you think she would do same thing to me?''
''Yes, I do… That is why I am wondering if I made the right choice…''
Josie took her hand.
''You saved me… And I will not fail you.''
''Jo…''
''Listen to me… Whatever she does, we will make it. I promise.''
''Ok…''
Josie pulled Penelope to turn and she held her in her arms. They sat like that in silence until the water got cold. They changed and went to Penelope's bed. Josie was too taken by the possibility of having to kill someone to even think about the huge bed and deep red sheets they were in. She just cuddled up to Penelope and they were asleep. Around six they were getting ready for dinner. Penelope was in a black dress heels with perfect makeup and Josie was in jeans and shirt.
''Are we going out?''
''No… But they really insist on dressing up.''
''I have nothing.''
''You have my entire closet. My mom has no idea what I have here…''
Josie noticed that huge procentage of things were black.
''So much black…''
''Coven color…''
''Oh, God. I hate black.''
''I know.''
She found black dress and Penelope's shoes with smaller heel. She was not that good as Penelope was when it came to walking in heels. She put her hair up and used some of Penelope's makeup to fix herself.
''Is this better?''
''It's amazing… Let's go.''
At seven sharp they were at the table. Dining room was huge with antic furniture. Mrs. Oliver sent girls to serve them. Penelope's parents looked like they just came from the cover of the magazine. Everything was on point. Her beautiful dress, his suit, white pressed shirt. They were like manikins. Diner talk was very casual.
''Miss Saltzman, do you drive?''
''No, Mr. Parker… I just started my lessons…''
''Oh, ok… We will see with someone for you to complete the classes so you can use one of the cars.''
''Thank you, but it's not necessary. I can use the public transport.''
''You need to drive… It's a must in this world. Penelope can teach you ad then take you to pass the test.''
''Yes, daddy… I can teach her…''
Next was Penelope's mother.
''Next thing we have to deal with is school. You must continue your education… You can't go back to that school for obvious reasons… We must find you a school that is sutable.''
''We will ask for your grades.''
Josie was getting nervous.
''But then they will know where to find us.''
''Oh, honey… No one will mess with us… You are one of us now?''
Josie looked at Penelope to know what to say.
''So, mother… She is one of us without any initiation?''
''I had no idea that you wanted to kill another girlfriend Penelope…''
Josie surprised them all with her question.
''What makes you think I wouldn't be able to kill?''
That was the first time she saw Penelope's mother smile at her.