That familiar scent that greeted my nose—I could taste it upon my mouth. I made my way out of the bedroom—my lower back ached as I reached the bottom of the stairs.

Before I stretched I was greeted by a small petite puffy cheek child showing me her pearly white teeth. All but one missing space in the middle, she bumped purposely into me with childish glee in her land was an old book which she rested on the table.

"Daddy, daddy," she called as her little hands beat upon my legs excitedly.

I studied her with mixed expressions, almost like a scientist examining his experiment. I saw she carried the viper's eye shape and two nestled amber gems. I placed my hand on her head and rubbed her frizzy black hair. She jumped up and down with her hands outreached to me. Her gestures were simple to read—I picked up this little one to her own excitement.

Her strange amusement made me smile. Seeing in her in my arms, I instinctively kissed her cheek.

"Daddy," she said as she laughed, pulling slightly away.

When I had told Ash, I had a child all she did was laugh at me. I guess I really didn't seem like the father type.

It was there again, but stronger this time, that scent and it was coming from the kitchen. I wondered who was cooking breakfast.

"What smells so good?" I asked her.

Her hands pointed in the direction of the kitchen, "Mommy's cooking."

"What!!!?" I shouted louder than I expected.

She chuckled at my response as I headed towards the kitchen. Holding her tightly in my arms.

My face was set like a stormy sky, but as I made the turn into the dining room everything in me came to a halt. It felt as if someone had hit me with a tranquillizer dart—my mind turned confused and then calm.

I looked at the table there was a plate for me, I presumed, my daughter and two others. I glared at it.

Mallory walked in, placing down the cutlery, "Good morning."

Meeting my stare of curiosity and puzzlement, she responded, "It is for Ralph."

Shifting my eyes to her. "Why did he not do breakfast? "Or one of the other servants?" "Why are you doing it?" I asked.

Alice whispered in my ear as she cupped her hands together. "Mommy does not like Ralph's cooking, she said dinner was awful. Why didn't you have dinner, daddy?"

A secret it was supposed to be, but everyone heard. Ralph entered and gave her a teasing look as he passed by her. He was carrying a visible sidearm holstered around his waist.

"I was busy," I replied to her pouting face.

"Will you have dinner later with us tonight da--?"

"Apologise sir," he said, looking now rather defeated. We both looked down together at the food on display. I gently placed Alice down.

"Mommy said it's your favorite ---"

"Alice," Mallory called as she motioned with her hand, "Come here to me." Alicia scurried across the room.

"Sit," she said to her while Ralph and I also took our seats. This table was designed for an extensive family. The way we sat now the divide was very present on one side, Ralph sat on my right and I at the table head. Mallory mirrored me with Alicia on her left.

Breakfast was quiet, I could hear the police officers chatting outside. The passing and slight steps of the servants inside the house. Alice's fork and knife clanking on the plate.

Now and then the peace was broken by Alice, who had something to say, but besides that it was quiet.

Again, I did not eat much, almost nothing at all. I force myself to eat the food, despite it having no taste to me and I knew Mallory's cooking always had flavor.

I heard Ralph's chair slowly screeched as he got up to leave. I gave him a secret nod for him to feed Ash as well. Not so secret, I thought as Alicia was busy copying my motion.

This little girl, in one breath, I would like to reject her and send this harlot across the table packing. In the next, I had to admit she amused me even once or twice, made me smile.

I scratched my head as I thought of my mother. What would she tell me if she was here now? She would have been so happy to know that I have a child. In time, I will make sure I tell her about her grandmother. Yes, today I will spend time with her and get to know her as much as I can.

Life is too short and precious.

"Alice, come here," I said, after noticing she had finished eating.

She went to move, but Mallory responded first as her little legs barely touched the ground. "No, Alice, not yet, we will all spend time soon."

We? I said in my head. After today you can leave, but no words left my mouth.

As her fork clanked on to her plate. I smiled, accepting her game. I can play this too, after all a mere woman can't be worse than demons.

I saw Alice bursting with more energy than she was able to contain. One thing I didn't consider is what we could do together. This house wasn't really kid-friendly. Cartoons, I guess?

"Okay, what should we do today then?" Mallory asked, looking at Alice and then me. "I was thinking about watching  Inyanga Star and Other Constellations."

"No, I want to play games."

She listed games I had never even heard of.

Games as I looked at Ralph, who was wrapping up in the kitchen—he passed me.

"One moment I have something for the girl that might suit her," he said, as he headed up the stairs with two plates in his hand.

Mallory cleared the table, returned to the kitchen and turned the faucet on as she washed the dishes.

When she was done, she took Alice's hand and led us to the couch. There was a long, uneasy quiet between us, as the TV blared and the show played.

Even with immortality, life still seemed to come with a price, it was so similar to the U.A.C.

"I see you still held on to her."

"Held on to who?"

"Betty your second love."

"I couldn't ditch her, she is a part of me."

"No work today?"

"I am not going today. It would not be fair to her." I placed my hand on her head.

"Okay."

"What about you?" It was an underhanded jab since I already knew the answer.

Although I could not see it in Mallory's face, her tone changed as she responded.

"Domenic, you know, I do not work."

"The last three years you couldn't find one measly job?"

There was a pause as the TV played slightly higher.

"No one was hiring," she responded.

I motioned my head slightly. "So how did she and you eat?" "You both don't look starving or at death's door."

I pulled Alice's side as she chuckled.

"Kim, I was... am staying there. She took us and cared for us."

"Yeah, and that is pretty strange. Why? Why would she help you? All I know of that woman, she only operates for herself and profit, she disgusts me."

"Does she really disgust you or is it the fact that she and your mom didn't get along?"

"Why would you mention her name?"

"Because you need to wake up! At some point, Domenic and realize she wasn't as great as you think she was." Her face turned to meet mine." I know how Kim is, I get support from Andrew at times but overall they have a better heart than---"

"Shut up!" I shouted, " When your mom and dad died in that car crash eleven years ago. I was the first one there. I went! I attended! Me! Where were you when my mom died? For everything, we have been through that is the one thing I won't ever forgive you for!"

It caused Alice to react, "Don't talk like that to my mom!"

The suddenness of it silenced me, it was ironic.

I saw Ralph was coming down the steps and had all kinds of games in his hands. It made me wonder where they all came from until I remembered the study. His arrival, however, gave me the opportunity to escape the current situation. I got up as he made his way to Alice.

I gave my best smile and disappeared as I felt Mallory's gaze upon me; I headed towards the study. My head was still hot and it would only get worse if I stayed there.

I texted a message to Susie and a few of the staff at the office. It is not like I had to worry much. They were all more than competent to do their job. I was lucky to have found them all.

I opened the door to find Ash in her underwear laying on the bed. She quickly covered up. "Knock next time, won't you."

"Sorry," I replied as I averted my gaze, "but there is nothing much to see."

I felt a shoe coming my way and I dodge it. As I could hear her fumbling with putting on her clothes. "Heard you are playing house downstairs. I guess that didn't go too well because here you are."

I turned to see Ash's face looking at the box, my mother had left me. She seems captivated by the design.

"What is that?" She asked.

"A gift, a key my mother left me. I do not understand what it means."

"I see," she replied, "how many police are outside?"

"Aren't you able to detect things around you? Not nearly enough to stop one of those things."

"Yeah, I just wanted to know if I had the correct number, that is all. You think we will see it again?"

"It said, it cannot be killed."

"Ah, I remembered, but it's still only after you. You know I heard this strange thing on the news."

"What's that you are being searched for? Kind of saw that in the paper, along with all the others in the missing section."

"No this restaurant, I forgot the name of the area. They said a man was eating the people there it can over on an emergency call. However, when the police had arrived and the news team the whole place was clean as if no one was there. Everyone just seemed to disappear. What do you think of---"

There was a knocking on a door, then a pause.

"Domenic?" I heard a voice call, it was Mallory.

I looked at Ash, but it wasn't like she could hide. This room was filled with women's things.

Forcing me to do the smartest thing I could think of. I slightly opened the door just enough that I could squeeze through.

As soon as my body was through. I closed the door behind me.

Now, looking at her, I wondered what she wanted?

"Where is Alice?" I asked.

"She is downstairs playing the games, Ralph brought for her."

"Okay, good," I responded. "Then do you need something?"

"Look, Domenic, I know you for long enough to know something is wrong. How did you come to gain all of this money? Even the discussion about your mother... it is not important, just that girl outside, our daughter. You might not like what I have to say or me but promise me, you will take care of her."

"I promise to take care of my daughter. A promise I shouldn't have to make, especially to you."

"I know, but I am worried, thank you," she said, as she walked away. "I am sorry about earlier, come join us when you're ready."

I placed a hand on my head as I watched her disappear from my sight. It is best that I spend as much of my little time with her. It is a shame my mother couldn't be here to see her.

I felt a sharp vibration in my pants, I took out my phone to see a call from Mr. Cassis.