The sun peeked through the thin opening of the living room curtain onto the man who sat on the couch. The bustle of nature could be heard, the chirping of birds and playful squirrels running amok in the trees and chittering playfully. Caractacus was wide awake watching the late morning news. He was keeping a close eye on Iliana’s case, making sure that nothing changed now that the sheriff's office and investigators were heavily involved. He had to be careful of every move he made now.

He glanced up at the top of the stairs every now and then, hoping to see her standing there. He was tempted to just wake her up to be in her presence, but he didn’t want to disturb her just yet. He had heard her silent cries last night. A look of remorse washed over his face but it left just as fleetingly as it came.

“You can’t let her go now, the ungrateful girl will turn you in. You might as well have your way with her and kill her while you have the chance..”

“No, I can’t kill my Eva. Not when I just found her.” He muttered to himself as he stared at the television blankly. “She’s too perfect…”

A loud creak of wood snapped him out of his daze like state and he looked at the top of the stairs where the woman stood looking down at him with an expression that he couldn’t quite read. But he noticed that she didn’t seem as fearful of him as she was yesterday and he didn’t know how to process that information.

“She’s planning on killing you in your sleep, you should be careful-”

He narrowed his eyes at her as he balled his fist and then he quickly pulled a smile. “Good morning, darling. How did you sleep?” He asked as he watched her quietly descend the stairs. He kept his eyes trained on her.

Iliana was already fully dressed in a loosely knitted beige sweater and jeans that loosely hugged her figure. Her light brown hair was pulled back in a simple French braid. It was like he was staring at a portal through time. She looked just like his Eva.

~*~

“Cas, are you paying attention to me?” A female’s voice pulled him out of a daze. She had such a soft spoken tone that was shrouded with a heavy Spanish accent. Caractacus looked away from the sky, lifting his head at the female in front of him with a raised brow.

She wore a slight scowl on her face. She was a beautiful young woman who stood around four inches above five feet and dark brown hair that cascaded down her back like a waterfall of chocolate. She had sunkissed skin, and pale green eyes that seemed to lull you into a sense of peace. Eva was dressed in a beige sweater and dark washed jeans. Her feet were bare. She loved the feeling of the warm grass under her feet.

“You really weren’t paying attention to me, huh?” She asked as she placed a hand on her waist, jutting her hip out a bit with pursed lips.

“Quite honestly, no. I was watching the clouds…” He muttered as he sat up fully, running his hands through his hair for leaves and grass. “Was there something important that you were telling me?” He asked with a soft expression. One that he usually wore when he was in the presence of the exotic beauty that he loved so dearly.

She opened her mouth to speak, seeming hesitant then she shook her head. “It was nothing really, just silly little ramblings of mine.” She said with a dismissive wave of her hand and went back to picking flowers, assuming her bent over position in front of him. Immediately his eyes zeroed in on her backside and he clenched his jaw.

“You love to tempt me, don’t you?” He asked in a rather bland tone. She stood upright again and looked at him with a look of genuine confusion. “What are you talking abo-” Then it hit her and she grabbed a pebble and threw it at him. “If you kept your eyes where they belong, maybe you wouldn’t be in the predicament you’re in.” She rolled her eyes and went back to picking the flowers.

“It’s not my fault that you literally had your ass within my line of sight. Where else was I supposed to look, hm?” He asked as he stalked towards her.

“Back at the sky. Close your eyes, no?” She scoffed. He snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him, causing her to let out a small squeal of surprise and her lips curled into a smile of amusement.

“You think you’re real smart, hm?” He smiled as he planted a gentle kiss on her cheek.

“I don’t think I am, I know I’m smart and you asked a question and I gave you answers.” She scoffed.

He chuckled and wrapped his other arm around her and buried his face in her neck. “You drive me crazy, woman.”

~*~

“Hello? Are you alright?” Her voice pulled him from his thoughts. It was amazing to him that they even sounded so much alike, despite the fact that Iliana’s accent was less prominent, but it was noticeable with some phrases she spoke.

“Yes, I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” The man asked with a tilt of his head, his eyes still closely trained on her, looking for other similarities between the two.

“I don’t know, you seemed like you zoned out or something.” Iliana trailed off as she rubbed behind her neck and then dropped her hand to her side.

“Don’t need to worry about that. I’m fine and you look pretty this morning, but you should take your hair out of the braid and wear it down.” He reached out to touch her but she took a subconscious step back which slightly angered him.

“I like my hair in a braid and I want to keep it like this.” She said with slight defiance with all the confidence she could muster in that moment which seemed to anger the man more.

In one swift movement, a loud cracking sound could be heard. Iliana held her cheek as Caractacus gripped her by her upper arm, tight enough to cause pain and discomfort as he glared down at her. “Did I ask you what you fucking want. I tell you to do something and you do it. Do you understand me?” The man practically hissed. He was seething with anger. An issue that has progressively gotten worse over the years.

Iliana looked up at him with slight shock that the man actually slapped her. Her cheek was stinging and she felt her eyes tear up from the pain of it. She had half the heart to strike the man back but she only saw that leading to another issue.

“I asked, DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?” The man bellowed in her face. His face was red with anger, he shook her slightly, his other hand raised, ready to strike her again.

She swallowed her pride and took a deep breath and nodded. “I understand.” Iliana said through gritted teeth.

“Good.” He shoved her away from him, causing her to stumble backwards a bit into the couch. “Now take your hair down and meet me in the kitchen. We’re making breakfast together.” He said as he turned on his heel and headed towards the kitchen.

Iliana was glaring daggers into his soul as he walked away. She rubbed her cheek and started to take the braid down. “He’s worse than Santiago-” She muttered to herself and paced around in circles for a bit before walking to the kitchen to find him standing there expectantly for her.

“Thought I had to drag you in here. You were taking too long.” He looked down at her with an expressionless face but there was still a hint of annoyance in his tone.

“That would have been quite unnecessary-” She said rather curtly which made him step up to her, trying to intimidate her a bit.

“Are you getting smart with me?” He asked as he grabbed her chin and forced her to look up at him.

“I’ve been smart, I’m just getting here.” She responded curtly which made the man’s expression soften and he chuckled a bit. They seemed so similar. The same fiery personality hidden under the initial timid persona.

He ran his thumb across her bottom lip and leaned down as if he was going to kiss her, but paused. “Stop testing me, Evangeline.” He spoke in a low tone and let her go and stepped away to grab the eggs out of the refrigerator. “You do know how to cook, do you?” That brief moment had left him slightly aroused and bothered and he needed to quickly change the subject.

“Yes?” Iliana looked at him with a cautious expression as she stayed glued to the spot because she felt slightly uncomfortable to be in his vicinity at the moment. She wiped her mouth with the back of her sleeve and smoothed down her sweater and looked back at him.

“Great you can make the pancakes.” He said simply as he started to grab the utensils and other things they needed to cook. She walked over to the sink to wash her hands before a squeal on television prompted her attention and she hurriedly left the kitchen and stood in front of the big flatscreen.

Anton was talking to one of the news casters and in his arms was Zach who was wearing his normal scowl when she wasn’t around. “Yes, our main goal is to have everyone aware and alert of the situation because I know she’s out there and still alive and if anyone has seen any trace of her, please let authorities know.” Anton said as he looked from the newscaster then to the camera with a pleading look. He looked worn and tired. His hair was unkempt.

Iliana’s heart sank at his expression, his whole demeanor. She needed to get back home to them and end this horrible nightmare. “Lia, if you’re listening, just know that we both miss you and we’ll find you as soon as possible.” He said softly with a warm smile and Zach let out another little squeal at the sound of his mom’s name and started to sniffle.

“My baby…” She said softly as she reached out to touch the screen, wishing she could hold him again.

“A search party will begin at noon for the missing mother beginning at the spot where she disappeared, back to you at the station.” Then the television turned off and she saw the reflection of the man in it.

He stared at her with a blank expression and it quickly morphed into a smile when she turned to look at him. “You’re supposed to be in the kitchen helping me, silly.” He chuckled.

“But that was my baby…” She whispered with that same heartbroken expression. She longed to be with him and Anton.

“Get in the kitchen, Evangeline. I’m not going to say it again-” He said through gritted teeth as he pointed at it. Iliana straightened up quickly and hurried to the kitchen, not wanting to get struck across the face again.

He let out a sigh as she walked past him and he balled his fist. “You should use this to your advantage… to keep her quiet and happy. He sort of looks like Liam when he was a baby...”

“Hm, I guess you’re right. We have to keep Eva as happy as possible. We don’t want her to leave us again. We can have another little Liam.” He muttered as he walked into the kitchen to see her working on the pancake batter in silence.

The rest of the breakfast preparations were full of silence and tension that was thick enough to cut with a knife. Caractacus sat across from her, watching her movements closely. He looked at the bruise that was forming on her cheek. “I’m sorry for slapping you.” He said softly.

“Don’t mention it.” She muttered as she reached to grab another pancake from the serving plate. He noticed that this would be her fourth one. He stopped her by pushing her fork away from it and she looked up at him with slight annoyance.

“Don’t look at me like that, I refuse to have a fat, sloppy bitch around me. You need to watch what you eat-” He moved it away from her more and started to wipe his hands with a paper towel.

Iliana’s jaw clenched and her fist tightened around the fork she was holding. She was tempted to stab it right through his eye but she knew the man could easily overpower her if she made any sudden movement. She noticed that he was watching her closely, he was still distrustful of her. She instead stabbed the fork into the table and stood up, grabbing the empty dishes to take them to the dishwasher.

He stood and handed her his. “It’s time for you to go back to your room. I’m going to go run a few errands and I’ll be back.” He said as he placed a hand on her lower back. Iliana brushed him off and stepped away from him and walked herself to her room, stomping up the stairs as she went, making as much noise as possible which made the man hurry after her.

“YOU’RE TRYING TO UPSET ME, AREN’T YOU?” He shouted as he stood in the doorframe, walking towards her. Iliana was sitting on the bed with her arms crossed and one leg over the other with an air of defiance about her. She just stared him down.

“I’m trying to be calm and patient with you, but you’re making it so difficult.” He whispered as he placed a hand around her neck. “Do you know how easy it is for me to snap this pretty little neck of yours? Do you?” He leaned forward, his lips centimeters from hers.

“You’d be doing us both a favor by putting me out of my misery-” She kept eye contact with him, she meant what she was saying at that moment. His hand twitched, ready to cut off her air supply but he let her neck go and backed away, nodding his head slowly and slammed the room door behind him and locked it from the outside.

“Insufferable, ungrateful little-” He muttered on his way out of the house.