ALEKS

I gasped when Lanthe showed me my place of temporary residency; a bungalow only a short distance from their palace/mansion, which was built near the water surrounding the island. It was way bigger than our cottage but smaller than the mansion and it was simply stunning. The outside was painted in a cream color, with a matching cabana nearer to the beach. A small pool, a gym and a clothes line were also erected near the house. It was perfect.

The inside boasted a huge, gorgeous open-plan kitchen with a white breakfast bar, huge red cabinets, a black fridge, a six-plate stove, a microwave, a freshly and fully stocked pantry, an ice-cream machine, an effing brick-oven and numerous other kitchen implements that almost made me want to squeal with glee. Almost but not quiet. I could see big blender for my smoothies, a food processor for every other thing and a huge oven for my baking. With a kitchen like that, I thought maybe I could survive staying in Abattohn for the foreseeable future.

The house also had a four-sitter dining hall, a black and white themed sitting room with leather couches and a huge screen television, and four bedrooms. It was perfect and the kids would love it. I told Lanthe as much and she laughed before giving me a new cellphone she would communicate through and telling me we would be going shopping for more clothes during the week. According to her, not only was I grossly under packed but the weather in Abattohn was unpredictable so we had to pick up a few things. Maybe I should have disputed having a bunch of strangers offer me a house, food and a new wardrobe, but I had one strategy and one strategy only. I would be as complacent as I could be and hope it’s enough for them to keep me in my kids’ lives. After I assured her I wouldn’t be needing a chef or a maid to help around my new accommodation, Lanthe left.

As soon as Lanthe left, I took a closer look around the house I would be staying in indefinitely. The main bedroom was big and neat with a wonderful view of the sea and a sliding door that led to the water and a couple of beach chairs. A wonderful and light scent of mint and peach air freshener scented the air. The room had a huge bed, made with light colored sheets and lots of pillows. A small cabinet stood a little off the bed and it contained slippers, gowns, towels, blankets and everything that would make the coldest winter comfortable. Most of the furniture was marked with the big cursive ‘H’, which I finally understood was the ‘Royal Signature’. There was also a huge closet, a golden full-length mirror, and a chandelier. The bathroom was also big with a huge tub, a spacey rain-shower and a heat-able toilet. My suitcase and the box of chocolates from before were placed on the coach near the bed. Everything about the room was welcoming and stunning.

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I could tell that a lot of consideration had gone into the kids’ separate rooms because they were both customized. I suspected Lanthe had spoken to them while I had gone to fetch our clothes but I was still impressed by the speed at which they’d arranged the place to our best comforts. The one next to mine was basically Elena’s paradise with a unicorn and marshmallow theme. The bed was shaped like a giant pink marshmallow with a small unicorn coach besides it. On the bed were numerous pillows and more stuffed animals than I’d ever thought necessary for a bed. Her closet was packed with pink robes, blankets and slippers. A little corner at the side contained a desk and a pink laptop, along with a box full of numerous toys like blocks, tea-cup sets, dolls and pink cars. It too had its’ own in suite bathroom.

Adrian’s room was of a similar design and components except it was simpler with a normal bed and a dark blue theme. There was also the noticeable absence of dolls and toys but his computer was bigger. The last room had a white theme and overlooked the main house.

I wasn’t terribly tired since I had woken up quite late and I was too wired to fall asleep again without any information on my kids. I decided to pass time by making supper for us, it was getting a bit late anyway, and trying to get myself accustomed to the kitchen since I was planning on spending a lot of time in it. I also planned to start hitting the gym again. I had let myself go too long without serious workout and I wasn’t feeling particularly safe. Not quite, so I would work out so that I would at least have a fighting chance, come what may.

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I’d figured things out at the kitchen and was laying the pie dough in a greased baking dish for the French Bourguignon Pie I’d made when a knock sounded on the door. My heart beat fast at the thought of Leukas and the kids at the other side of the door. How would I even act towards him? Did I invite him in? Did I act like I hadn’t wronged him so badly? Did I show how sorry I was for hurting him?

Turns out I needn’t have worried, because even though the man who was carrying a seeping Elena looked bizarrely like Leukas, he was not. The first thing that clued me in on that fact was the bright smile he gave me. Leukas would never smile so wide. Especially not for me. Adrian hugged me briefly before hurrying into the house, murmuring something about washing off the smells of the city.

The man whistled as he looked at me, a playful, wicked glint in his eyes. “I should have known the woman Lue knocked up is a total babe. Damn girl. Turn around for me?” I was shocked by his audacity and his manner of speaking. So friendly and carefree, he was nothing like Leukas and Jason, he was more like Lanthe. I also couldn’t get over how much like Leukas he looked but how different his mannerisms where. I finally laughed when he waggled his eyebrows at my baffled expression and moved aside to let Atlas Hyades in.