Present Afternoon: "Having a baby's sweet face so close to your own...is a great tonic for a sad soul." – Erica Eisdorfer
Annie had put as much effort as she always did into playing the good hostess. She trusted Hal's judgement enough to feel comfortable around those he invited in. Once Elizabeth had been introduced – and checked over for a burnt arm, which she decidedly did not have – Annie made sure she worked her way down her mental check list:
1. Allocate the guest one of the rooms and let them settle in.
2. Offer them a drink – preferably tea – and make sure it is ready by the time the guest comes back downstairs.
3. Make them feel comfortable. Really must remember that everyone has their own personal space.
4. Go through the basic house rules.
5. Leave the guest to do what they like – yes, yes, personal space etc.
6. Check on Eve…wrong list…
Everything had been checked off the list. Elizabeth was now in the room two doors along from Hal's, right at the end of the corridor. The vampire was entirely understanding of the ghost's reasoning. Tom had shown a particular dislike to her after the "Lyco" comment so Annie had made sure the vampire was as far away from the werewolf as possible. Despite Elizabeth apologizing seconds after she had come inside, Tom was still clearly upset. Annie, on the other hand, had been quite overjoyed that Elizabeth had agreed to tea. 'Milk and two sugars, please,' the vampire had replied, while setting her bag down on the bed.
Elizabeth had noticed Hal in passing, after she had left her belongings in her room. 'You realise it is impolite to leave a guest in the company of strangers.' There was that teasing nature he had been so accustomed to. His eyes gave her a sweeping and assessing glance.
'I have…a routine.' He was trying to escape; gradually easing himself past the door into his room. Elizabeth clearly registered this, although her eyes suggested she was actually saddened by it. She continued walking down the corridor towards the stairs, calling over her shoulder:
'Then I shan't disrupt it.'
-x-
Tom, Annie and Eve were downstairs. The werewolf was entertaining the baby and Annie was just pouring the freshly boiled water into a clean mug for their visitor. Elizabeth arrived in a silent glide, but it was her natural manner not anything put on to attract attention. Annie spotted her through the serving window in the kitchen, feeling quite envious of the maxi dress the vampire was sporting. Annie couldn't help but feel jealous of some women who could change their wardrobe so regularly, while she was limited to her choices.
Tom glowered at Elizabeth, moving a few inches further away from her and holding Eve securely in his arms. The vampire did not take offence to this. Instead she kept her distance, attempting to offer a hand of friendship by smiling.
'I'm sorry about my earlier comment,' she said. 'I didn't mean to offend you.' Tom continued to stare violently at her. 'The term "Lyco" is pretty much embedded into my vocabulary. And you surprised me.' Elizabeth's eyes fell on Eve, and sudden sense of motherly compassion came over her. Eventually she turned her gaze back to Tom. 'Am I forgiven?'
Tom was perceptive - animal instincts or whatever a person wanted to call it - even when it wasn't close to a full moon. He could see a softer side in Elizabeth. 'I s'pose,' he murmured, looking shamefully at the floor. His apology wouldn't stop him from being cautious of her.
At this moment Annie burst in through the double doors of the kitchen, carrying a steaming mug of tea for Elizabeth. 'Here you are!' she beamed. 'Milk and two sugars – careful it's hot!' Elizabeth thanked the ghost and took the mug firmly in both hands. The heat barely penetrated her skin and she instantly took a sip.
'Mmm. It's been a long time since I've had a good cup of tea.' She sank down into the sofa, unaware of the surge of pride she had just caused Annie. The ghost made herself comfortable on the arm at the other end of the sofa – remembering "personal space" – and angled her body so she could make conversation.
'So, Elizabeth...'
'Please, call me Elle,' she interrupted. 'Elizabeth is so archaic.'
'Elle,' Annie corrected herself with a polite smile, 'when were you…? Erm…How old are you?' The ghost thought her question might have been rude, but the vampire made to answer the minute she had taken a mouthful of tea.
'327 overall.' She made it sound like there was nothing abnormal about it. 'I was born in 1684.'
'Bloomin' 'eck,' exclaimed Tom, from his spot by the mantelpiece. Baby Eve gurgled too, as if she was trying to mimic the werewolf's shock. Annie's mouth had formed a perfect 'o' of astonishment.
Elizabeth laughed quietly. 'Not as old as Hal though. I didn't become a vampire until 1707.' The vampire passed a glance between the pair, her brow furrowing slightly. 'You're acting as if you've never met any older vampires.'
'Oh, we have,' Annie said, 'just not as regularly as we do now.'
Tom was curious. He sat down on the arm chair beside him, placing Eve securely in her carrier. 'Are ye' an Old One?' When Eve whined, Tom held out his finger for her to play with.
'No. Not old enough to be classed as one of those.' Annie did not miss the downcast glance Elizabeth passed to the carpet, before she continued. What was she reminiscing about in her mind's eye, the ghost wondered. 'I have met a few. A word of caution,' she lowered her voice in a secretive manner, 'the wrath of an Old One knows no bounds. They're different from other vampires.'
'Not Hal,' Annie denied. Her smile was cheery, but her voice showed her doubts. 'He's reformed. Completely and utterly. Did you know he's been dry for over 50 years now?' Elizabeth's face proved she did not. Only then did it dawn on Annie how long she had been away and how much she had probably missed.
'I never thought Hal would be one to give up blood…'
Annie nodded vigorously.
'So…Just how long have you two known him?'
Annie – and Tom when he could get a word in – went on to explain what they knew of the past half a century of Hal's life; how he met Leo and Pearl; how the three of them had come to Barry from Southend-on-Sea and finally how Hal had come to move in with them. Elizabeth listened politely throughout, while finishing off her tea.
Once the ghost – and werewolf – had finished explaining everything, the vampire let out a long breath. Of course it would take her some time to absorb the news. 'Well…fuck,' was all she said. Elizabeth rose from her seat. 'I'll just put this back in the kitchen.' Annie nodded quietly, watching the tail end of the vampire's dress slip through the kitchen doors after her.
'D'ya fink she's upset?' Tom whispered. 'She mus' know what a nice guy 'Al is now.' Annie pursed her lips in a thoughtful gaze. For all they knew Elizabeth preferred the vampire which ate everyone in his path. She was taking rather a long time in Annie's kitchen. The ghost looked through the serving window. Elizabeth was leaning against the counter top, teasing the end of her plait. Her gaze was lost in some distant corner. But she didn't look upset, just mindful.
'Why don't 'e talk ta 'er?' Tom continued, as a personal thought, while glancing momentarily at Eve. Her eyes were drifting shut, which could only mean one thing. 'I'm gonna put Little'un ta bed.'
'Make sure she's tucked in properly,' Annie called after Tom, as he passed into the hallway and up the stairs. She heard the doors behind her creak. Elizabeth was standing by the breakfast table; the one which had the Scroll laid out on it. Annie quickly rose from her seat.
'I hope I haven't upset you!' she worried, approaching the vampire. 'I bet you weren't expecting anything this dramatic!' The smile Elizabeth passed the ghost was as genuine as they come. Annie was taken aback. She had expected the vampire to be angry, upset, but not happy.
'I'm glad you told me,' she said softly. 'Otherwise I might have assumed that everything was still continuing as it always had been.' Elizabeth was well spoken; Annie could hear her annunciate every syllable. It was as if she had trained her voice up over the many years she had lived. As she spoke her finger traced the Scroll. 'Is that baby the supposed "War Child"?' she asked, unexpectedly.
Annie was reluctant to answer, unsure of how Elizabeth would react. She might decide she wanted to murder Eve or actually decide, like Hal, that there was no point fighting the prophecy embedded in vampire scripture. Annie could be truthful; Hal would come to the rescue if Elizabeth had an adverse reaction.
'Yeah. At least,' Annie didn't want to make herself sound so certain, 'everyone thinks so.' Elizabeth's fingers tapped the dried out "prosthetic" skin. As she leaned over it, Annie noticed the necklace which hung from the vampire's neck. A simple silver pendant in the curved form of a water droplet. It looked antique; cleaned numerous times to keep it in good condition. It might have been a gift from Hal, for all the ghost knew. Although, Annie knew about love and these vampires didn't have the spark of old lovers.
Elizabeth grinned pleasantly. 'She's a cute baby.'
Cute, Annie thought. Of all the things a 327 year old vampire could call the baby which may just bring her to an end! Cute!
Then the vampire's mood suddenly dropped. She stared down at her feet, sniffed and then made her way towards the base of the staircase.
'If you don't mind I'm going to try and sort through my belongings,' she feigned her smile this time. Annie could tell through her exceedingly well honed female intuition. 'I'm sure I've got plenty of missed calls.'
'S-sure,' Annie said uncertainly, watching the vampire leave. The ghost was quite surprised, in all honesty. Vampires weren't normally known to express emotions (if they even had any). Nor had she ever heard a vampire appear so caring in the realms of human attachment. In the simplest terms, Annie had never seen a vampire act so…human.
-x-
Even with the strenuous grunts of his own exertion, Hal could hear and smell Elizabeth as she passed his bedroom door. She still wore that particular perfume, the intoxicating scent of violet flowers. It crawled under the closed door, ran across the carpet and filled his nostrils with its sweet scent. It called for him to abandon his press ups and instigate a conversation. But Hal refused to disrupt his routine. The door of the bedroom beside his was closed and floor boards on the opposite side of the wall now creaked under Elizabeth's feet. It was too late now.
Hal continued attacking his muscles with the lengthy exercises.
He would face her at some point; maybe over dinner. He didn't eat of course, but gathering downstairs had become familiar to him. And he was certain that Elizabeth would be willing to join him and his friends around the table. And that way the conversation could not stray into dangerous territories. It would remain conversational, light. Yes, he decided. He would talk to her over dinner.