1 year later

Nothing compared to the feel of the wind in my hair, warm sun on my back to confirm I was, officially, alive.

"Alma come inside!"

Elizabeth's silhouette would never outline her inner self, it only immortalized her illusion. One she spent her entire human life casting.

No one would ever the woman who worked at the flower market. One who had wet petals crunching beneath her beautiful feet as buckets brimming with water were splashed across dry and brittle petals and snapped stems. The woman who, every single morning, promenaded through the heart of an English garden.

That person who cherished traditional Japanese tea services. No soul would ever know such a tale or live long enough to tell it. The legendary creature would always remain.

From her first breath, Elizabeth was not supposed to know wide-eyed joy. Sometimes the world needed a monster, to keep each one on their toes. Around her, the world still purred, frenetically.

I dragged my feet, making noise to let her know I was on my way home. Slowly, I closed the front door behind me.

"Sometimes I want to slap you in your whole face."

I couldn't help myself, so I laughed like a fool. She humored me. Elizabeth constantly forgot to switch that sour mood. Elizabeth didn't bother to reply to this, not even crack a smile. Before I realized she threw me over her shoulder and made her way to her bathroom.

Her purple dress sparkled.

She placed me on the sink and filled the bathtub with water. Then clothing off, shoes off. She used to have people for these kinds of things. So she assumes I need the same. I knew she was ignoring my reaction. Embarrassment did not belong in her dictionary.

"Besides your birthday present is coming and you will not meet him looking like this."

Hours passed but never have I been cleaner before. She trimmed my hair, brushed it while complaining about the knots.

Happy birthday to me!

A tiny smile tugged at the corner of her mouth and an unfamiliar panic rose in my chest.

"You'll like him. He's not so bad."

She says that about all the vampires I meet.

"I don't want a boyfriend granny."

After that, she insisted on me wearing lingerie, even a dress, and Pigalle Platos.

"They took my children from me, but not you, they would not dare."

I gave her a small smile and her eyes sparkled.