Daniela did not sleep well.
After a couple of hours of deep slumber her body desperately needed she recovered just enough to allow her restless brain to flood her dreamscape with spillover emotions from the eventful day she had. As is often the case when such a thing happens, the results were less than stellar - the emotions, both positive and negative, coalesced into a ceaseless barrage of intense dreams and vivid nightmares that caused her body to thrash in the bed, depriving it from the proper and lengthy rest it so sorely desired.
The nightmares were varied. Some Daniela could take as her mind had been hardened by decades of them.
When she woke up after a particularly vivid sequence of chasing Roxy the Beagle in a mania-fueled bid to pet it, she closed her eyes once more and simply went back to sleep. Admittedly, she felt bad for eventually settling on mutilating the poor creature in her sleep as it just wouldn't stop fleeing, but that surface feeling of remorse was just not strong enough to prevent her from returning to her half-hearted rest.
Another dream, however, proved too much for her.
It was the nightmare that was all too real as it preyed on her deepest fears.
Solitude. All alone in her castle, she wandered through its deserted halls, desperately calling out to anyone. Her sisters, her mother, Ethan, even the maids - none heeded her anguished cries. So she walked, forgotten and forsaken, seemingly for hours.
As she made her way through the seemingly unending castle, Daniela faced nothing but herself in cracked full-length mirrors that were placed suspiciously in every hall she walked through and every room she entered.
No matter where she went, her twisted reflections smirked at her with a maniacal glint in their soulless eyes. Fresh blood dripped from their black lips. They were the epitome of her essence - ravenous, insatiable and ultimately selfish desires made manifest. It didn't matter to them - to her - who got hurt, not as long as her wicked cravings were satisfied.
The maids she had maimed or even butchered for the slightest infraction? They were expendable anyway. The young village men she had lured in to become her unwitting playmates? None of them made it out, but there was hardly a word of reprimand. She had convinced herself that they were only too happy to die by her hand.
But it wasn't just the so-called lesser creatures that suffered at her hands.
"Bela? Cassandra? Mother?"
Nothing but her own echo responded to her forlorn call. However, that echo did not vanish as it resonated across the castle - instead growing in intensity and pitch with each pass until it reached a deafening crescendo that made Daniela clutch at her ears in pain. The vain gesture did nothing to stop the piercing sound; moreover, the garbled words somehow transmuted into a wicked giggling of a damned soul.
Crashing to her knees in desperation, Daniela found herself surrounded by cracked mirrors, each showing her a twisted reflection of herself. These bloodied visions mocked her openly, jeering at their fallen creator.
"Sisters…" Daniela tried calling out to her siblings one more time, "I need you… please…!"
That made the redheaded reflection laugh all the harder, with evil giggling turning into maddening cackling.
"Where are you!?"
Daniela's shriek of a question made the reflection directly in front of her pause in its mirthless chuckle. Regarding the kneeling woman with contempt, it provided the answer that chilled Daniela's black blood in her veins.
"Don't you remember? They are dead."
Gasping in denial, Daniela shot to her feet and leapt backwards, while hissing out a curse at her own reflection. "It can't be! Liar!"
The bloodied visage in the mirror just shrugged at her mockingly. Unable to cope with that leering smirk, Daniela pulled back her fist while chanting in near hysteria, "Liar! Liar! Liar! LIAR!" The punch connected, shattering the mirror into a hundred pieces - many of them biting into Daniela's own flesh.
That small victory proved a pyrrhic one, however, since countless more mirrors remained - with a myriad reflections jeering and cackling at her feeble attack to fight back when confronted by their infinite number.
Suddenly, just as Daniela thought she could take the abuse no more, every single figure grew silent, only to speak in unison a second later.
"They are dead because of you."
That accusation proved too much for the redhead.
Howling in denial and grief, Daniela burst into a mad rush to escape the judgment of her own reflections. She smashed through a mirror in her way, only for another to take its place - and another after that. Countless razor-sharp shards were embedded in her skin, causing her to bleed all over, yet she felt no pain.
She was trapped in a maze of twisted mirrors. Like a cornered rat, Daniela fled through any available avenue of escape, but it was all for naught. There was no escape.
"Everybody you have ever known is dead, because of you."
The surrounding reflections jeered and booed at her, seemingly closing in with every passing moment.
"Now you only have one life left to take."
Her own voice became the sound she was most desperate to escape, yet Daniela found herself completely enclosed within a dome of cracked mirrors and the malefic figures within. Like a trapped beast she lurched back and forth, but there was no way to get past the solid wall of mirrors. Her last-ditch effort to smash her way through achieved nothing as the seamless, reflective surface of the dome proved impenetrable.
"Your own."
In perfect unison, a thousand hands reached out to grab at Daniela. They tugged at her legs and arms and pulled at her hair. The multi-directional force threatened to tear Daniela apart. She screamed in agony and despair alike as her limbs gave way to the overwhelming brutality.
"Join us in death!"
Daniela shot up from her bed, drenched in cold sweat. It took her more than a moment to realize that she just awoke from a particularly dreadful trip to the dreamscape.
She could scarcely recall the details of the night terror that had assailed her mind, but they didn't even truly matter. Though she was awake now, the lingering essence of the nightmare remained. It filled her soul with inexplicable dread and her mind with overwhelming loneliness.
That gnawing sense of isolation at her core spread rapidly as she took in her surroundings - a lightless room bereft of any other living thing. It swiftly came to suffocate her senses with crushing darkness; an unspoken promise of eternal solitude threatened to drive her over the edge of despair.
Where am I?!
Hyperventilating and on the brink of a full blown panic attack, Daniela could not fully control her unnatural body, with an array of buzzing insects suddenly taking chaotic flight around their distressed host.
Were an unfamiliar person to enter this room at this very moment, there would be an equal probability of Daniela either rushing to embrace them in a desperate hug or lashing out with panic-induced violence.
None disturbed her, however, allowing the distressed woman to slowly pick up the pieces.
Her family was not dead. She was at Ethan's home; not alone. She was safe and maybe even loved.
A forced train of positive thoughts and hopeful wishes made it possible for Daniela to regain a modicum of calm, with her breath steadying and her errant flies slowly returning to merge with her flesh until their buzzing subsided completely and she was whole again.
Still, the threat of an outright fit of terror was merely postponed, not avoided. The seed of nightmare was potent enough that Daniela knew that she could not handle it by herself in this awful dark room.
Back home she would've made her way to Bela or even Cassandra's room when under such distress - not even the aloof middle sibling would turn her away as all three of them knew full well the weight of such nightly horrors. That burden was a shared one among the Countess' children.
Unfortunately, her understanding sisters were thousands of kilometers away and could not soothe her scarred soul this time. A certain other compassionate person was sharing this very house with her, however…
Daniela stood up from the bed, her mind swiftly made up. She needed to see him; to touch him; to know that he was real, that she was real. There could be no rest for her until then.
Moving through the sleeping house with quiet steps, Daniela quickly yet silently made her way to the door to Ethan's bedroom. She hesitated for a couple of seconds as she stood in front of the barrier and nibbled on her lower lip. It was not fair to burden that generous and compassionate man even more with her restless antics - Daniela realized that well.
Yet… she could not be alone, not now. A tangible affirmation of reality was essential for her mental well-being.
Turning the doorknob with a slightly shaky hand, Daniela opened the door and crept into the room, silent as the grave.
There was little ambient light available tonight, with neither the moon nor the stars piercing the dense clouds, leaving the city in general and Ethan's bedroom in particular shrouded in darkness. Daniela's amber orbs, though bestowed with slightly superior night vision when compared to that of an average human, still struggled to see more than a shadowy silhouette sprawled on Ethan's bed.
"Ethan… is that you..?" Daniela whispered with a moderate amount of apprehension, as if it could be someone other than Ethan sleeping in his bed right now. As unlikely as that version was, it did not appear that improbable to her unbalanced mind. She had to make sure.
"Ethan…?" There was no response, causing the redhead to tentatively approach the bed with furtive steps. Only once she stood right next to the bed could she tell that it was indeed Ethan who was peacefully slumbering on top of it.
It felt as if an enormous weight had been lifted off her shoulders the moment her gaze swept across Ethan's calm face. Still, was it enough to put her troubled mind fully at ease? What if her eyes were merely playing tricks on her? Not to mention the fact that his bed looked so soft, warm and inviting…
Acting on her spontaneous desire rather than long-term planning, Daniela proceeded to brazenly crawl under the bedcover and nestle right next to Ethan.
The warmth of his soft breath washed over the capricious redhead, providing an inexplicable feeling of homely comfort. Nevertheless, to her surprise, Ethan still didn't wake up, making her once again consider the possibility of everything being a mere dream.
She had to make sure, so - ever so gently, as if she was caressing her lover to whom she wanted to show her utmost affection - Daniela brushed her palm against Ethan's cheek. His short stubble felt all too real to her fingers, as did his subtle scent. In just an instant of time her apprehension about the nature of her reality was replaced by the realization of just how wonderful it felt to touch his face or to inhale his smell; all the while staring at his beautiful, peaceful face.
Serenity took over anxiety, allowing Daniela's lips to melt into a soft smile of contentment. Was it how it normally felt to wake up next to your loved one in the morning? She'd treasure this experience for as long as she still drew breath - though a better part of her dearly hoped that it would not be a one-time thing.
"Mhmm…" Apparently the physical contact proved disruptive enough to partially rouse Ethan from his slumber. Shifting his drowsy body around and mumbling something incoherent under his breath, Ethan did something Daniela certainly didn't expect.
Her heart skipped a beat as Ethan's face came to rest inches from her own. Even though his eyes remained closed, it was obvious that he was aware of her proximity.
For a second she stiffed as his arm snaked all the way under her head, but by the time its fingertips came to rest on her arm, just under her shoulder, she was already soaking this still rather novel yet utterly delightful sensation of being embraced in such an intimate manner.
"You're cold…" Ethan slurred out with a hint of worry in his sleepy tone, bringing her closer to him. Hardly in the mood to resist that welcome motion, Daniela rested her head on his shoulder and allowed the pleasant warmth exuding from his body to wash over her own.
This position she unexpectedly found herself was eminently comfortable; the affection of his embrace warming her body and soul alike. "Ethan…" Daniela whispered in near reverence, truly taken by the benevolence the man was apparently showing her.
"Go back to sleep, honey…" Ethan mumbled in a way that showcased his own drowsiness. The man was clearly about to return to his slumber.
Daniela all but swooned from being referred to in such a loving manner as she basked in his affectionate embrace. This was like a dream come true to her.
Of course, her mirth didn't last long since the sudden realization hit her like a lightning bolt.
Was Ethan even aware that he was snuggling with her - Daniela - right now? Or was he, in his half-sleeping state, thinking that it was his dear wife Mia enjoying his warm embrace at this moment?
A spike of vicious rage was driven through her ribcage, making her black heart beat with sudden ferocity. The abrupt onset of crippling envy and childish indignation threatened the integrity of Daniela's body as her exposed flesh shimmered. Her desire to forcefully awake Ethan and to demand an explanation was almost too much to bear.
Almost.
Surprisingly, all the anger and jealousy evaporated in a heartbeat once Daniela entertained an opposing thought from one that almost caused her to blow a gasket.
What if Ethan was not thinking of Mia, but of Daniela, after all?
That heavenly notion made her tensing body to unwind at once, allowing her chaotic mind to process this whole episode under a different light.
Now calm and composed once more, Daniela realized that even if Ethan was evoking Mia with his loving reference, she had no right to be angry with him. Instead of wasting her energy on worrying over something intangible like that, the redhead decided to settle for what she already had and appreciate the many wonderful gifts Ethan had bestowed upon her.
The woman smiled in the darkness of the night as an uncharacteristic peace of mind fell upon her. She was certain that one day Ethan would use that very term of endearment when addressing her - Daniela - while lucid and awake, no less. But for now, she would count her blessings and pay no mind to these slight hiccups that sought to wedge themselves in between them.
Engulfed in his warm and cozy embrace; relaxed and utterly at ease now that she had handled her worst enemy - her own treacherous thoughts, Daniela allowed her weary body to once again fall into the sweet realm of Hypnos, certain that no more nightmares would plague it.
February 27th, 2025
Thursday; morning
One, two, three, four walking like a man
Hitting like a hammer
She's a juvenile scam
Never was a quitter
Tasty like a raindrop
She's got the look
Ethan's hand unsteadily reached for his smartphone, though it ceased its motion midway as its owner decided that he might listen to this song until its end. It was always a pain in the ass to wake up this early for work - it was still dark, but this new app he downloaded replaced his alarm with a random mix of his favorite songs, making that whole experience a tad less unpleasant.
Smacking his lips and willing his still-tired eyes to open, Ethan Winters took his sweet time getting out of his warm and cozy bed.
As he stood up and stretched his muscles, the man turned around to regard his now empty bed. A sudden recollection caused him to pause his brief morning exercise routine.
He was reasonably certain that he'd gone to bed yesterday just by himself; the fact that there was nobody else there now seemed to support that notion…
Yet, he couldn't shake that ineffable feeling that he had shared the bed with some other person that night. A warm, lovable person…
Frowning, Ethan rattled his memory in search of an answer that could explain his peculiar feeling. It had to be a dream of some kind, he realized after thinking for a couple of seconds. Folding his arms, he struggled to recall the details…
Had he met a woman in that dream? No - a woman came to him. Her face was shrouded by darkness, concealing her features; she spoke nothing but unintelligible whispers. Try as hard as he might, he could not decipher the visitor's identity, but one thing he knew for certain - he still remembered the deep affection he felt towards that person in his dream.
It had to be his wife Mia, then. Who else but her occupied such a special spot in his heart?
The man nibbled on his lip as he pondered the peculiar dream, with his own reasoning appearing even to him as shockingly unconvincing. Was it truly Mia, or was it a certain redhead who was likely snoozing in their guest bedroom right now?
In a move that was uncharacteristically rash of him, Ethan marched straight towards the guest bedroom in just his boxers. The sudden longing to see Daniela with his own two eyes could not be denied.
To his great surprise, as he quietly opened the door to her bedroom Ethan was treated to an empty room with the bed itself neatly made.
That whole sight was so bewildering that Ethan froze in place for several seconds as his brain struggled to process Daniela's absence. The man couldn't help but momentarily question his own sanity - did his visit to Daniela's house, and all that occurred afterwards even happened? Could he have merely dreamed it all?
A drop of cold sweat beaded on his forehead as he took a step further in his grim musings. What if his PTSD came back in a vicious relapse - what if there was no Daniela in Valencia.
Vivid nightmares, violent flashbacks - it wouldn't be the first time Ethan contemplated his own sanity like that, but the very notion that Daniela was not real shocked him to the core. The man gritted his teeth, anger and fear boiling to the surface. He found himself vehemently in denial of such a scenario - not just because of the unenviable implication it would have for his mental faculties, but also due to his desperate desire for Daniela to be real. He longed for her to be a part of his world. He treasured that bond they had forged in such a short amount of time.
Could it all be fake? Just a product of his damaged mind? The very notion was repulsive beyond words, causing goosebumps to appear on Ethan's skin.
Pitter-patter of tiny feet attracted his attention, breaking the man of his anxiety-driven reverie. Turning around to regard the new presence, Ethan smiled with fatherly affection despite his tumultuous thoughts. The sight of his precious Rose never failed to lift his spirits.
Still dressed in her dark pink pajama that Mia had bought her, Rose yawned cutely as she stood in the doorway to the guest bedroom.
"Oh, did I wake you sweetpea?" Ethan approached the child while considering whether the volume of his alarm could've disturbed Rose's sleep. It shouldn't have been loud enough, but maybe he'd have to reassess that.
Rose shook her head. "No, daddy! I just don't wanna sleep anymore!" The surprisingly energetic girl hopped in place for a couple of moments before settling down and trying to sneak a peek behind Ethan's relatively solid frame. "Is Dani up? I wanna play and draw with her!"
Ethan couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief as he felt a tremendous weight being lifted off his shoulders. Rosie's rather straightforward desire turned out to confirm that he was not, in fact, crazy.
The comfort he derived from the knowledge that he was not a raving lunatic was almost as sweet as the realization that Daniela was not a mere product of his mind - she was as real as was the bond between them, and that brought Ethan no shortage of joy.
Glancing behind his shoulder at an empty and seemingly neatly made bed, Ethan realized that they still had to contend with the issue of Daniela's current whereabouts. Just what is that capricious redhead was up to on this fine Winter morning? A small part of Ethan immediately worried that her penchant for mischief might yet cause them trouble, yet a bigger aspect of the man wanted to trust that Daniela could contain the worst of her impulses.
"I guess she is not here…" lamely concluded Ethan, causing Rose's eager smile to die down a little. In an act of spontaneous inspiration, the man decided to check his phone; what he saw there caused his mouth to split into a silly grin as he realized that yesterday's lessons in electronic communications were not in vain.
'Thank you for everything you've done for me yesterday, Ethan! I did not want to burden you with my presence in the morning, so I decided to go back to my house for now. Hope to see you later today! With❤️, your Daniela.'
Ethan couldn't help but smirk at her peculiar mix of formal style and cute emojis, but his next reaction was to feel the heat rising up to his face. Was she already his Daniela? The next thought caused raw dread to pool in his stomach.
What if Mia ever sees a message like this one?
Swallowing in anxiety of such a scenario ever occurring, Ethan did his best to redirect his attention back to Rose, "seems like Daniela went back home already."
"Aww…" Rose did not hide her disappointment, though she perked up rather quickly. "Will she come again?"
"Do you want her to?" Ethan inquired with interest, as he still remembered the notes of apprehension in Rose's posture from before.
"Yes!" Rose chirped back in an instant, before adopting an unusually pensive expression that looked a little out of place on her tiny face. "She can be scary sometimes, but I think that she really wants to be a good person…"
For a second Ethan simply processed a shockingly accurate and insightful observation from his four-year old daughter. To even be able to distinguish between wanting to be and actually being a good person at her tender age was astonishing. It was an unfortunate truth, however - while Ethan dearly hoped that Daniela genuinely wanted to become a better person, he could not call her one in good conscience. His respect for the dead would not allow him to.
Even with that all in mind, Ethan nodded as he approached the tiny girl to give her a loving pat on her blonde head. "I think you're right, honey. I am sure she will come visit us sometime soon."
Rose appeared happy to hear that. "Maybe Dani can read to me again? Her voice is so pretty…"
Ethan was in accord with that statement. Daniela's melodic voice was truly a soothing balm for his ears after a long day at work where he'd have to listen to the guttural barks of his boss and hoarse grunts of his colleagues. He wasn't opposed to hearing Daniela read to him as well, as ridiculous as that may sound considering his adult status. Then again, there were a lot of vastly different activities the man wouldn't mind performing with Daniela at his side… and a couple of them that would involve her being under or above him.
Get your fucking mind out of the gutter! Jesus Christ!
It was one thing to have a healthy libido and another to obsess over another person - especially if that person was not their chosen romantic partner - like that. It was with no shortage of effort that Ethan was able to dismiss these salacious thoughts and with no shortage of alarm he recognized just how frequent and intrusive they were becoming.
Ethan was sure that if Thought Police actually existed, they'd certainly find issue with his commitment to his marriage. Good thing it wasn't 1984 he was living in.
Likely blind to his musings and bored with his lack of response, Rose skittered off to continue her morning routine while happily chirping a simple la-la song.
In turn, Ethan took a moment to collect his disparate thoughts before returning his attention to his smartphone and Daniela's message on it. It would be rude to leave it without a response, but coming up with one proved to be harder than one may assume. In the end, after going through a number of iterations in his mind, Ethan settled on something rather simplistic, straightforward and non-committal, however.
'You're welcome. You wouldn't have been a bother. Sure, let's meet up later.'
Sending the message, the man couldn't help but cringe slightly at how stale it came up in the end. Shrugging that feeling off, he continued with his own morning, which included making a simple breakfast for himself and Rose as well as preparing for the day at work.
An hour later, Ethan bid his beloved daughter a goodbye kiss on the forehead and departed the house, safe in the knowledge that Laura would be arriving in a couple of hours after her own day at school would be over. A minor headache was starting to take root - mild enough that Ethan was certain that he could endure it without any medication as long as it did not get worse.
The day at work proved long and tedious, with the hours just dragging by. The lines of code on his screen appeared blurry and dull to Ethan's lifeless eyes. To combat the creeping boredom, Ethan found himself frequently checking on his smartphone, secretly hoping to find another update from Daniela waiting for him. To his chagrin, there was none; more than that, it was obvious that his boss Lorenzo was not too fond of him constantly distracting himself, judging by an occasional evil eye shot Ethan's way.
More concerned by the lack of correspondence from Daniela than his waning work ethic, Ethan decided to visit the restroom while bemoaning the fact that remote working was not a thing in this digital age. Taking his sweet time there, Ethan was unable to suppress the desire to sneak a peek into Daniela's day so far.
'What are you doing now?'
As he sent the message Ethan realized that it may have come across as if he was either a creepy stalker or a horny boyfriend. He was certainly not about to start sexting his hot neighbor while afforded a relative sense of privacy by the company's restroom, was he?
To his delight Daniela responded almost immediately. As he read her giddy answer he could vividly imagine a goofy grin adorning her pretty face.
'I am watching this cartoon about a sea sponge and a starfish - it is so captivating and entertaining - I am loving it! What are you doing, Ethie dearest?'
Ethan figured out what she was referring to instantly, after all, he also happened to enjoy this particular cartoon despite being in his teenage years when it was first aired. There was a certain depth to it… duh.
Regardless of that, he had no time to describe his current job in detail and he had some doubts about Daniela's capability to comprehend the compressed version - 'reviewing code' - due to her obvious lack of technical know-how, not that he blamed her for that. Knowledge came with time and experience, after all. Who could even begin to guess what Daniela would be able to master in a couple of years if she remained in this wider world - she had proved herself a quick study so far.
'Just work stuff. It's boring.'
Daniela's next response was as swift as the first.
'Aww… why don't you come over after work then? We'll have some fun.'
Ethan had no reason to doubt her words; nor the resolve to decline her generous invitation. Wetting his lips as imagined the message spoken in Daniela's seductive voice, he typed his answer.
'Sure. Expect me after six.'
Daniela offered no further words, yet her next message contained all the encouragement he needed with its array of cutest emojis.
Having concluded his business in the restroom, Ethan returned back to his workstation. Unfortunately, the mini-conversation he just had with Daniela achieved little beyond exacerbating his impatience for the work day to be over. Instead of glancing at his smartphone's inbox, he started burning holes in the bottom right edge of his desktop's screen - where the clock was located.
To his chagrin, the prospect of reuniting Ethan with Daniela was hardly an incentive enough for the time to start passing quicker and every goddamn minute just dragged on and on.
He did his best to just focus on his task at hand - which was to review a code by a rather skilled recent hire, yet it proved to be both frustrating and tedious in equal measures. The code was tantalizingly close to being free of issues - but not quite - making it all the harder for Ethan, as he could neither relax in his inspection of it, nor immerse himself in a proper correction mode.
Ethan suspected that this task was assigned to him by Lorenzo out of spite - since such duties were normally carried out by dedicated senior programmers, while Ethan's own job usually focused on connecting the overarching pieces. Of course, he could be just looking too hard into it, as the recent lay-offs left them somewhat understaffed and everyone was expected to pitch in.
Still, stealing a glance at his slightly overweight manager - who was just making his rounds around the office, Ethan was certain that Lorenzo had it in for him in particular.
When an appropriate time to take a break came around, Ethan all but rushed into the cafeteria, eager to escape this unbearably long session of dull intensity and Lorenzo's scrutinizing glares alike.
Filling his tray with a modest portion of fried chicken, baked potatoes and a meager amount of greens in a hopeful attempt to stave off the harm from the first item on his menu, Ethan was happy to discover that his friend and coworker Antonio also happened to be present in the cafeteria now.
Sitting next to him, Ethan couldn't help but note how dejected the man appeared as he sluggishly picked on his helping of tomato noodles.
While it was true that a respectable portion of Ethan's brainpower was dedicated to a certain redhead nowadays, that didn't mean he was blind to the distress of other people around him, such as his colleagues. In fact, Antonio's disheveled hair and eyes with black bags under them were features Ethan noticed even before Daniela's arrival. Any inquiries on the subject were deflected however, with Antonio waving off Ethan's concerns with evasive yet believable responses such as persistent lack of sleep or overabundance of work. Ethan had no concrete reason to doubt his friend's word, yet something felt off - not that the blonde father was the kind to press the seemingly minor issue.
The men exchanged short yet heartfelt greetings; regardless of Antonio's downcast state - or maybe precisely because of it - he was glad for the company. There was no cheerful banter between them as they quietly dug into their food, but that worked just fine for both Ethan and Antonio.
As they finished their meals, however, Ethan spontaneously recalled a couple of pictures that he took in Daniela's house - that of the collection of the Duke's unveiled artworks - including the painting by none other than Cassandra Dimitrescu herself. That recollection was accompanied by Ethan remembering how Antonio once mentioned his appreciation of fine arts.
Seeing it as just a harmless attempt to cheer his friend up and not an intrusion on Daniela's privacy, Ethan decided to share that moment of wonder he himself experienced when the redhead had demonstrated these breathtaking works of art, presumably acquired from talented painters from all over the world.
Ethan's hunch turned out correct and Antonio's eyes lit up with both surprise and excitement as he gazed at the number of recent photos on Ethan's smartphone. He had questions, naturally, but Ethan figured out that he probably shouldn't draw too much attention to Daniela's abode - even with trusted friends such as Antonio - so he made a mostly-truthful excuse that it all was just some private collection belonging to an acquaintance who sought to eventually open his own gallery.
Antonio appeared captivated by the pictures of exquisite paintings, but to his credit quickly realized that his persistent questions about their origin grew uncomfortable for Ethan.
Before parting to continue their day, however, Antonio asked Ethan if he could send him a couple of his snapshots so he could share them with his wife - who also happened to be an art connoisseur. Ethan saw no reason not to oblige the seemingly harmless request. Doing just that and seeing an earnest smile on his weary friend's face almost made Ethan feel like a good Samaritan; exchanging the firm handshake the two colleagues returned to their own busy workstations.
The rest of Ethan's work day turned out to be uneventful, with only one vibration of his smartphone causing him to snap his head with peculiar fervor. To his mild disappointment - a reaction that the man registered with a growing sense of unease - the message was not from Daniela, but from Mia. It was a casual 'How are you doing, honey?' - normally something that would've surely placed a smile on Ethan's face as he would reply back. Today, his response felt rather lukewarm as he mechanically typed back in nigh-abrasive manner.
'Fine. You?'
It was unsurprising that this particular conversation didn't go very far. No new information about Mia's date of return could be glimpsed as the woman subtly deflected the husband's inquiries into that particular subject. After a couple of minutes of texting, the duo wished each other the best and went on with their respective duties.
That did not last long, however, as Ethan's tedious day at work was soon at its end and the man hurried to bid his colleagues a brisk goodbye and rush to a certain redhead's residence. The powerful pull to see Daniela's beautiful face again or to hear her chipper voice once more was undeniable… and proved irresistible as Ethan soon found himself right on her doorstep.
In turn, Daniela herself proved to be a generous and welcoming host once again. The meal she had prepared for Ethan today might not have been a culinary masterpiece, but the man could certainly feel that it was prepared with love and care.
Their evening activities took shape of the continuation of their reading session from before, with the duo finding themselves comfortably snuggling on Daniela's couch as the redhead read about the misadventures of a pair of Soviet rogues.
In the dimly lit living room Ethan and Daniela alike enjoyed the atmosphere of peaceful joy; their cozy pose spoke volumes about the trust they had in one another.
Though it was naturally filled with precarious moments that threatened to cross the invisible line Daniela and Ethan both established at mutual accord, the evening was as pleasant as it was ultimately uneventful.
One peculiarity was when Ethan brought up the topic of Daniela's departure this morning; his reassurance that she was not a bother and that she shouldn't have left so abruptly brought a particularly alluring shade of pink to her pale cheeks.
Still, despite nothing major taking place during their quiet evening, Ethan found himself somewhat glad for it. They both had a fun and relaxing rendezvous; while it was tempting to take a step further in their peculiar relationship - neither side wanted to cross that line just yet.
In Daniela's enchanting company hours just flew by and before he knew it, it was already nine o'clock. Rose was likely sleeping soundly in her bed by now and Laura might've gone back home since the babysitter was now trusted with the keys to their household.
Nevertheless, Ethan knew better than to linger in Daniela's presence for too long. Comfort could easily shift into longing if he became too complacent with his displays of what was intended to be casual affection. Given enough time, his profound fondness for Daniela could easily blur the lines of what was good and proper friendship - straight into full-blown infidelity. It was only too easy to imagine his gentle caresses turning to possessive embrace; his chaste kisses to her pale cheek to lustful make-out sessions.
With that assumption in mind, Ethan's plan was to keep both himself and Daniela from succumbing to the forbidden desire that was so transparently blooming between them. A modicum of distance and a soft limit on the time they would spend together should do - at least in Ethan's mind that so desperately bargained with itself. The goal was for them both to enjoy themselves without descending into the chaos of adultery. To maintain this limbo in between love and friendship.
Of course, the deeper part of Ethan's psyche knew that such bargaining was foolish. It was certain that this precarious balance between friendship and romance could not be maintained forever - that it was just a question of time until he would finally give in. It whispered to Ethan that the only sure way of preserving his marriage was to distance himself from Daniela entirely; to forsake their relationship altogether.
Naturally, Ethan vehemently ignored all such musings coming from his own subconsciousness. He wanted to believe that he was in full control over the situation; that his commitment to his marriage was stronger than his affection for Daniela.
Even as the man bid the redhead a goodnight kiss on the cheek, he had faith that he would not allow their relationship to reach the next logical step - that he was stronger than that. That it was a deep regret that he couldn't stay the night by her side gnawing at his insides all the way home was but an annoyance, he told himself.
Such conflicting musings retreated to the back of his mind as he approached his house and noted the lights being still on the first floor. Was Rosie still awake and Laura still waiting for him to return? Ethan rose an eyebrow at that thought - it was already way past his little girl's bedtime.
Frowning, Ethan entered the house with soft steps, his sense of caution that got him through so much strife relatively in one piece suddenly kicking in.
That sense of danger abated but did not vanish completely once he spotted the still frame of Laura sitting on one of the kitchen's chairs, her face frozen in pensiveness as she stared out of the window into the night sky.
In fact, as he focused on the teenager's peculiar pose without revealing his own presence, Ethan felt a modicum of tension creeping into his muscles. Somehow the way she rested her elbows on the table while clasping her palms together and gazing into the distance gave the otherwise thin and non-threatening girl a sinister appearance. It was as if her pensive posture was somewhat reminiscent of the ones Mia had adopted before the two major shitstorms struck against the harbor that was his life. It presaged trouble.
The single light that was on in the kitchen was located behind Laura and it did little to assuage Ethan's fears. The minute shifts in the teenager's posture made for some peculiar shadowplay - turning mundane into monstrous.
A small - permanently damaged by horrible experience - part of his mind half-expected Laura to morph into an atrocious monster herself at an unexpected disturbance he was about to make, putting him in yet another fight for his life. Ethan couldn't help but visual Laura's youthful visage, twisted into something unfathomable, dripping with inky black oil and exuding nothing but malice and the bestial desire to mutilate him.
The wind howled in low tones due to the kitchen's partially open window and Ethan felt as if a pack of savage lycans was right on his doorstep. For a second or so he could swear that he could hear their bloodcurdling baying clearly.
As quickly as traumatic hallucination had arrived, so did it vanish within a heartbeat. The man took a further moment as a chilling shiver went down his spine, before gathering his wits in realization that it was nothing more than his mind playing tricks again.
Not in the mood to just continue standing still and staring at her like a creep, Ethan cleared his throat in a bid to draw her attention.
In opposition to Ethan's unspoken fears, the teenager reacted in a more ordinary manner - startled, Laura gasped before tensing up and skittishly glancing at the source of intrusion. Clearly frightened, the girl blinked her large eyes twice before registering the presence as the rightful owner of the house and her so-called employer - Ethan Winters.
"You've scared me, Mr. Winters!" Laura complained in a rather subdued manner while wringing her wrists, appearing genuinely frightened. In turn, Ethan heaved a swift sigh of relief as his worst fears proved unfounded. He could only hope that the teenager missed the signs that he was as afraid of her as she was of him for a second.
Gathering his wits while feeling like chastising himself for letting his traumatized memory conjure such a vivid illusion, Ethan tried his best to reassess his authority as the owner of this house.
"I didn't expect you to still be here, Laura." Ethan glanced at his watch despite being perfectly aware of just what time it was. "It's late."
Stating the obvious, the man found himself a tad annoyed with the teenager as he considered her lingering presence. First she complained that she had to wait for him to arrive due to not possessing the keys to the household herself; now she was still here despite being able to lock the doors herself after Mia had concurred that Laura was trustworthy enough to be given a copy of the key to the house. "You have the keys, do you not?"
A second after the words were out Ethan regretted the harsh tone he had employed. His irritation aside, he realized that a part of his current aggression towards Laura stemmed from his frustration at how easy it was to cause his PTSD to flare up again. Years had passed since his traumatic experience and thousands of euros were spent on professional help, yet the ghosts of his past were still tethered to him with ironclad cords. Another piece of aggression came from his imperfect and incomplete relationship with Daniela, which became akin to a limbo that demanded some kind of a resolution in the deepest recesses of Ethan's mind.
Clearly aware of Ethan's frustration, even if it was unlikely that she truly comprehend its sources, Laura stood up in a cautious way - unsure how to proceed. "Yes, but…" the girl wetted her lips, seemingly stuck and searching for words that would be appropriate for the situation at hand.
Ethan had remarkably little patience for her dawdling however. The headache that persisted for this whole day yet was nothing more than a minor inconvenience for the most of it suddenly took a turn for the worse, causing the man to massage his temples with an index finger and a thumb in annoyance.
"But what?" Ethan's question came off more akin to an irate bark, causing the petite girl to twitch before crossing her arms in clear discomfort, as if seeking to create an additional physical barrier between herself and a man who was several times stronger than her. Blind to her distress as he kept massaging his temples, Ethan continued in a condescending tone that was ordinarily quite out of character for him, "Rose is asleep, isn't she? Why are you still wasting your precious time here?"
Maybe it was his tone of patronizing disrespect that finally crossed the line. A sudden fire ignited in Laura's eyes as the girl straightened up while holding her head high. She was ready to stand up for herself.
"I wanted to talk." Laura's words flowed in a suddenly clear and precise manner, making it plain that the girl would not let Ethan treat her in such an unwarranted manner, regardless of the difference in the social standing between the two of them.
The unexpected firmness of her voice caused the man to pause in his ministrations. Yet the stress from his unfulfilled desires and the mounting headache caused him no shortage of annoyance, some of which spilled into his tone. "So talk." Mirroring the girl, Ethan crossed his arms in a show of strength - a display that meant to mask his own insecurity, or the boiling frustration within.
Laura took it as a challenge, instead. Their gazes connected and Ethan could immediately tell that this slim and harmless-looking teenager was undaunted by what most would interpret as an intimidating display.
Ethan looked at her with a measure of newfound respect, which was quickly tempered by the shame he suddenly experienced from the realization that he was trying to aggressively assert himself in front of such a young woman. The stress and uncertainty of his life was hardly an excuse to behave himself in such an improper manner. Ethan felt his whole body sag, sapped of strength and arrogance alike.
"Mrs. Winters called me."
For a couple of seconds, the man could only stand still with a dumbfounded expression on his face as he processed that straightforward statement. Seeing his shock must have emboldened Laura, as the girl continued while leveling a pointed glare at him.
"She asked to tell me all about Rose's 'new friend'."
Ethan swallowed nervously, mentally cursing his blabbering mouth. Why the hell did he have to tell Mia that Rose made a new friend? Why would Mia ask Laura about her? What did the babysitter tell her? A flurry of such questions rushed to the forefront of his mind.
Seeking a way to deal with rapidly mounting stress, Ethan marched towards the fridge, from where he was able to quickly procure a can of beer - a beverage not nearly as high in alcoholic content as he would've liked in the moment, but something that would have to do. "What did you tell her?"
Laura observed Ethan's furious motions with peculiar detachment. Ignoring his question, she made one of her own, instead. "Do you remember that it was Mrs. Winters who had first asked me to look over Rose when you had moved into the neighborhood, Mr. Winters?"
Pausing from chugging down the beverage, Ethan took a moment to inspect the teenager's face, which had regained those pensive qualities from before. "Sure…"
The teenager's lips twisted into a small smirk. "But did you know what request Mrs. Winters made to me back then?" Laura took Ethan's pointed glare as her cue to continue, "she told me that if something unusual - and no, she did not specify what she had meant by that - were to happen, I am to notify her first."
Ethan felt goosebumps appear on his skin as a wave of fresh anxiety washed over him. He knew that Mia had her secrets - that was nothing new to him. Yet Laura's statement shone new light on that irrefutable fact. Just what was the extent of information he was kept in the dark about? Was there something that concerned him or Rose directly that Mia knew and chose not to share? Did she even trust him?
"I see…" Ethan's capacity for coherent speech was severely impaired as his brain was assailed by a myriad of uncomfortable questions, both old and new. Of course, the dread from this newest revelation took priority. "So you told her about Daniela?"
It was a stupid question. Of course she did - why else would she have told him about how it was Mia who took Laura into her confidence. Mentally, Ethan was already preparing for a shitstorm that was surely brewing on the horizon.
"No."
Again, Ethan was left speechless for a couple of moments. It made little sense, yet it made just as little for Laura to deceive him - unless she planned to play a cruel joke. "No?"
Laura shrugged her petite shoulders while pulling an errant lock of ebony hair behind her ear. "No offense to Mrs. Winters, but I've always liked you more than her, Mr. Winters." She giggled at Ethan's slack jawed expression, before providing the reasoning. "For Mrs. Winters this was never anything more than a business transaction, but you've always treated me with warmth and kindness - almost as if I was a member of your own family…" Laura's merry mood suddenly soured and her glare hardened. "At least until this Daniela woman came along."
Sighing, Ethan finished his drink before dropping it into the trash bin. He wouldn't go as far as to claim that Laura was akin to a second daughter to him, but she was definitely right about them having a cordial relationship. The man certainly felt instant relief from the knowledge that Mia still remained in the dark about this whole Daniela situation and that he still could broach it on his own terms, but he'd be a liar if he claimed that a needle of remorse was not piercing his chest right now. This whole last week was not fair to Laura, but more than that, she definitely did not deserve this bitter - almost hateful - tone that he had just used with her.
"You're right…" Ethan addressed the teenager, feeling just a bit of pressure evaporate. "I am sorry for acting this way…" Some things felt outside of his control, but this one was most certainly not among them. "This week has been hectic as hell, I am not going to lie, but that hardly justified me disregarding your schedule and your feelings, Laura."
The girl gave an uncertain nod at that, as if prompting Ethan to continue. Ethan did just that as they locked their gazes. "Believe it or not, but I do value our friendship. You're a good kid." In a quick gesture that likely surprised her, the man closed the distance between them before placing a hand on her petite shoulder.
Straightening up, the girl seemed truly shocked for a couple of seconds, making Ethan briefly wonder if he had made a mistake by approaching her like that. She glanced up at him with clear conflict in her brown eyes while nibbling on her lower lip. A beat passed and a beautiful smile lit up on Laura's face.
"I am not a kid!" Laura laughed with playful indignity, appearing genuinely happy, nevertheless. Some unease remained in her frame, though she did not protest the physical contact.
Emboldened by her positive reaction, Ethan ruffled through her ebony locks with nearly parental levels of affection. "I am sorry for putting you in this position…"
The teenager hummed in acknowledgement of that fact, though it was plain that she was also basking in the positive attention she was receiving. She remained silent for half a minute, considering her next words. "I wasn't sure what to do. Would telling Mrs. Winters everything be the right thing? All I really know is that this Daniela woman is really important to you…"
"She is…" Ethan returned his hand to his side, while considering just how observant and restrained Laura was. Not every adult would resist the impulse to pass judgements even when they had only limited information to go on with - this teenager proved herself to be more mature than some grown men and women Ethan was acquainted with.
An aspect of him, burdened by terrible memories, wanted to confess everything to Laura right then and there. It took some effort to dismiss that desire, as Ethan knew that some secrets were too dangerous to let out. Still, there was a tidbit he could afford to share.
"I owe Daniela more than you could possibly imagine, Laura." The girl's big brown eyes widened at the implication; Ethan wasn't done, however, as he continued in a solemn tone. "But she isn't in a good place right now… she has her own issues and she could use a friend to get through them."
Laura nodded in understanding. "I take it you're that friend." Her lips shifted into a coy smirk once again. "Or maybe more than a friend?"
Feeling that unwelcome heat creeping up to his face, Ethan could only shoot the teenager a scalding glare. Judging by how she burst into laughter in the moment, it was anything but. "You little…" The man was unable to muster enough anger to find this presumptuous display as offensive however and could feel his own lips split into a wide green at her unleashed mirth.
"Anyway…" Ethan gently placed his right hand on Laura's shoulder again while lightly clearing his throat and reestablishing eye contact. "I do apologize that you got sucked into this mess and I really appreciate your discretion, Laura."
The teenager nodded, though she was not out of questions just yet. "What will you tell Mrs. Winters once she gets back, though?"
Ethan winced and scratched the back of his head. That was a very good question, indeed. He had no real answer at this moment. "I'll… I'll figure something out, but you can count that I won't keep Daniela's existence a secret from Mia."
"Huh…" the girl appeared to be genuinely surprised at that statement, with her eyes widening a little. Ethan wondered if she thought that he planned to have a lasting and secret affair with Daniela. Did he?
Apparently aware that Ethan had retreated back into his inner musings, Laura started to slowly make her way towards the exit, her small purse in tow. "Anyway, I should probably get going - still got some homework to do…"
Somehow the suddenly dejected tone of her voice swiftly took the man out of his self-absorbed reverie. Glancing towards the teenager's face while matching her unhurried pace, Ethan was easily able to discern the familiar worry lines that were so common to those who had much on their mind. Despite the flow of their conversation taking a distinctly positive direction, it didn't take him long to assume that something else was weighing hard on Laura's mind.
Considering how unwilling Ethan himself was to share the deeper truth about Daniela's existence he realized that it would not be entirely fair to pry into her business, yet his desire to provide reassurance to this troubled teenager proved stronger than his prudence.
Trying to not appear too forceful, Ethan spoke his concern in a soft voice. "Is there something else that troubles you, Laura? If there is, I want you to know that I'd be happy to listen."
Apparently taken by his supportive tone, Laura ceased her motion before glancing at Ethan with a rather intense gaze. Her brown eyes adopted an inquisitive focus as if trying to divine the intent behind the seemingly heartfelt offer. For a moment the girl said nothing as she nibbled on her lip. Then a small sigh escaped her mouth; Laura averted her gaze and started wringing her wrists again.
Seeing such a reaction, Ethan instantly regretted his prying nature as pushing the girl into something she was uncomfortable with was the last thing he wanted, though her next words made him reconsider his priorities.
"When I came into your house today, I had full intention to blackmail you for money."
The sudden confession was as shocking as it was unexpected, causing Ethan to freeze in his tracks. His hands clenched into fists on their own volition even as his mind processed these staggering words. In a way it was not too outrageous, given her earlier peculiar pensive pose which spelled trouble, yet the man could still scarcely find the appropriate words to confront her with.
As if unburdened from withholding an awful truth, Laura appeared remarkably more composed - even coldblooded - as she rotated to face Ethan. Looking into her large brown eyes, Ethan had to forcefully suppress the vicious desire to violently lash out at this presumptuous teenage girl. Scoffing in disbelief, for several tense seconds the man could only wonder what could push a person to consider such a gross breach of trust.
Regaining some of his wit, Ethan sighed in disappointment and disbelief alike. "Just… why…?" He pointed in the vague direction of her own house - which was also located in this above-average income neighborhood. "Your family is –"
He didn't get to finish his sentence. With a fierce look in her eyes, Laura snapped, "What? Well-off? Rich? Just because we live in a nice house just like you do?" The girl had completely dispensed with the formal titles of address at this point.
She let out a bitter, short-lived chuckle before continuing her surprisingly passionate tirade. "A rotten apple can also look nice from the outside…"
Laura turned around to stare at some hanging painting Mia had put up on the wall in this hallway. It was not a cheap one - Ethan knew that much even if he failed to fully appreciate its postmodernist style. He did not get to ponder on that as the girl disclosed just what kind of skeletons were in her family's closet.
"Dad invested a lot into some 'promising' tech firm that then got bombed by terrorists two years ago. Mom got demoted because her whole company got taken over by a bigger fish and some asshole took over her spot, three months after that."
Laura did not sound upset as she delivered the unfortunate truth, only resigned. A part of Ethan - the part that got through what most would consider hell - wanted to immediately respond with something abrasive, like - tough shit, kid. The more compassionate aspect of the man took over, however, realizing that it just wouldn't be fair. Everyone had their own problems in this world and none of them ever got solved by measuring them against each other or arguing who had it worse.
Meanwhile, noting Ethan's lack of response, Laura continued in that same, matter-of-fact tone. "I barely see my parents now because of how much traveling and working they have to do just to pay the bills." Laura turned around again, facing Ethan. The man could see it in her brown eyes just how difficult it was for the teenager to let it all out. He gave her a supportive nod; the remaining anger he felt due to being deceived dissipated.
"We are deep in debt now. The only way I'll ever be able to attend the university I've always dreamed about is if they sell the house." She shook her head bitterly. "I don't want that for them… that house was their dream - it's important to them…" Laura's outer layer of composure was cracking, showing a vulnerable teenager beneath it. "Why should they sacrifice their dream for my own? It's just not fair…"
Ethan wetted his lips as he grasped the issue. He had not interacted that much with Mr. and Mrs. Serrano - Laura's parents, due to them rarely being around in the first place. When he did, however, he took them for hardworking and decent folks, yet somewhat reserved and distant.
Considering this newly discovered predicament, Ethan wasn't sure what to say. He knew full well the horror and violence of bioterror, but the economy-related plights were always something the man was mostly shielded from, even if he was aware that they affected much of the population, in one way or another. His own parents provided for his childhood and education; he was fortunate enough to find his footing in a stable and growing profession; his spouse Mia was never short on money either. B.S.A.A. was more than generous in their financial aid for victims of bioterror, as well.
Even despite all that, however, Ethan found himself quite capable to empathize with Laura's situation. He knew enough of this world of theirs to understand that sometimes economic volatility could be just as destructive as an outright conflict.
Without saying a word, Ethan stepped forward and engulfed Laura in a warm embrace. A genuine gesture of affection and support could be worth more than any words.
In turn, as if completely taken by surprise, Laura tensed up. Ethan hoped he was not crossing any boundaries by being presumptuous in what the girl wanted, but he still allowed himself to gently pat her on the back with his hand. "It's alright."
"Is it? I lied to you…" Laura sniffed in between her words, though her tense body steadily relaxed. "I wanted to extort you…"
"But you didn't," Ethan noted in a conciliatory tone, while tenderly rubbing her back. It was certainly with a new look that he regarded the girl in his arms now, though her confession did little to detract from her intelligence or perseverance. As he considered her situation, the man found himself quite taken by her ambitions or, more precisely, the way she refused to sacrifice others - whether family or friends - to achieve them.
As he continued to hold the girl in his arms, Ethan mused about the current state of the world with some resentment. The seemingly unending string of bioterror led to an increasingly technophobic society which placed less value on higher education than it once used to. Tuition fees for colleges and universities became prohibitively expensive while full scholarships were virtually unheard of by 2025. Without proper connections, even talented and dedicated kids had to have some serious cash behind them to be able to afford pursuing degrees.
Laura sobbed lightly, which Ethan understood to be an outpour of emotions she held within her petite body for a long time, with her ill-conceived plot to blackmail him being only the last straw. "There, there… let it all out…" the man whispered in a soft tone, even as he considered that he'd been comforting troubled women awfully often lately. At least it appeared that he was somewhat good at it.
In a way it was funny - murderous vampires and ordinary human students appeared strikingly similar in their moments of vulnerability. Of course, now was the time for somber support, not careless mirth.
A minute or two passed before Laura managed to regain her composure, with Ethan patiently waiting while providing what he had hoped was a gesture of comfort with his gentle arms.
Once she felt like she had enough of his fatherly-like embrace, Laura pulled back while gazing up at him with a soft smile playing on her thin lips. Taking a further moment to let out one last sniff and to wipe the moisture from her puffy eyes, Laura spoke in a slightly hoarse voice.
"You're a kind man, Mr. Winters."
Ethan mirrored her smile. Laura had been taking care of Rose for more than a year by now, becoming a trusted friend for his precious child and a welcome presence in his house. "I think we know each other well enough to skip the formalities. Just Ethan is fine."
The girl blinked at him in surprise, but nodded in acknowledgement after giving his suggestion a thought. "Alright… Ethan."
Ethan recognized that a peculiar friendship was born at this moment. By now he was obviously not a stranger to forging odd or unusual bonds, though, arguably, befriending someone much younger than oneself was far more normal than inhuman creatures such as Daniela or hardened warriors like Chris. Naturally, he did not see Laura in quite the same light as he did Daniela, but that hardly meant that they would not be able to enjoy each other's company in a purely platonic way.
In a rather earnest way to seal their friendship and to offer a helping hand to a person in need, Ethan addressed Laura's current source of stress. Despite the topic in question being rather major, the words flowed out Ethan's mouth with remarkable ease.
"Look, I'd have to talk to Mia about that before making a promise, but I think we could help finance your studies in Barcelona." Ethan scratched the back of his head and lowered his voice, "Maybe your parents won't need to sell their house, after all."
Laura's eyes came alight. "Really?!"
Wetting his lips with some nervousness, Ethan had to take a moment to reconsider his own offer. It was not a small thing he was handing out to Laura here - at least a five-figure sum, possibly approaching six-figure - definitely not a casual gift.
Mia was certain to be displeased about it. Did he really want to give his wife more ammunition to use against him? Even if he took the required amount of money entirely from his own savings, Mia would be sure to eventually learn of it and to give him hell for it.
Still, at that moment in time Ethan was certain that this was the right move to make to ensure Laura's happiness. More than that even, a small but persuasive voice in the back of his head whispered that it would win him the teenager's long-term loyalty - and that was something he was certain would be useful in the coming weeks and months. She had expected to obtain funds from him using underhanded tactics and clearly experienced crushing guilt from merely entertaining that thought - just how grateful would she be from gaining the financial support from his freely-given offer?
Concealing that selfish part of his motivation for this rash act of generosity, Ethan merely smiled and nodded, before offering his more altruistic rationale.
"You've done a lot for us - it's only fair for us to help you move forward, Laura. Not to mention that it would be a shame for someone with your drive to miss out on higher ed."
He wasn't exaggerating much in those regards. Laura was more than Rose's babysitter, thought that was her primary task, in which she excelled. With how often Mia was on one of her trips, it was Laura who would frequently step up in maintaining the Winters' residence - going as far as even occasionally preparing simple but heartfelt meals for the patriarch of the family after his long day at work.
Moreover, Ethan would often marvel at how Laura was able to handle her side job at his house while also receiving exceptional grades at her school, dealing with chores at her own house and even finding some, scarce as it was, free time to indulge in her hobbies or to mingle with her friends. Her efficiency and capacity for multitasking was outstanding, especially for someone her age - that was a fact that Mia had noted immediately, as she was quite similar to Laura in that regard.
"I…" Laura appeared genuinely at a loss for words, unsurprising, considering the magnitude of Ethan's offer. "I don't know what to say…Mr. Wi… Ethan…"
"It's alright…" Ethan tried to reassure the girl, though that only inflamed that sense of righteousness that had to be ingrained within her.
"No!" In a way that reminded him of Daniela, Laura pressed her clenched fists to her chest as her brown eyes widened in sudden determination. "I cannot accept something like that without offering anything in return!" Utterly ignoring any and all signs Ethan made in an attempt to dismiss her protests, Laura held his gaze before declaring her heartfelt intent, her normally healthy levels of self-esteem momentarily forgotten.
"I'll definitely pay you back one day, but for now - if there is anything, anything that I can do for you - you just have to tell me."
Ethan had to resist the impulse to cringe at how overly eager the teenager appeared right now - someone of a lesser character would be sure to abuse such fervor. Naturally, he had no desire to exploit her or rope her into doing shady activities, though he'd definitely be keeping her offer in mind. Perhaps she would be amicable in assisting Daniela in acclimating to human society, though he'd need to properly acquaint them first.
Regardless, Ethan could breathe easy once again as a potential obstacle became someone he could hopefully rely on. This new peculiar friendship was certain to have its own pitfalls, but the man figured out that it would be possible to navigate them with little effort as long as he refrained from abusing his position of seniority.
With both of them rather tired after a long day and an accord of a sort between them reached, Laura did not linger in the Winters' household for much longer.
Seeing her out and bidding her a goodnight, Ethan allowed his weary body to crash on the couch next to a large plasma screen. His headache somehow vanished over the course of this lengthy talk - to his great relief as he realized that subtle fact - but the creeping exhaustion from the eventful day got its claws deep in his body and mind alike.
Mindlessly scrolling through TV channels while sipping on another can of cold beer provided much needed respite for the tired man. Fully relaxed, the tangible and rational worries left his thoughts completely, though that did not make Ethan feel entirely at ease.
A peculiar, inexplicable sense of dread remained. It had no discernible source nor specific meaning, yet there was the slightest hint from the depth of his subconscious self. It was a feeling of uncertainty, manifesting in a strange premonition that something bad was set in motion today. Ethan's razor-sharp sixth sense warned him about the dark clouds on the horizon, but without any explicit rationale behind it, it remained just that - an insubstantial foreboding; a mere feeling which one can ignore, which was exactly what Ethan did as he finished his day and eventually drifted off to sleep in his cozy bed.
Author's Note:
I am really sorry for such a lengthy delay :/
Hope this update was at least somewhat worth the wait considering that it acted more akin to a filler in addition to connecting the loose threads before the finale of this part of the story, Expect the next chapter to contain A LOT more Ethan/Dani moments while the one after that will be more... horror/violence oriented.
Anyway, don't wanna burden you all with a lengthy author's note, but as always - feel free to express your opinion or to ask any question in the comments, and I'll be glad to respond!