Though his actions, words and expressions had considerably reduced in intensity, probably due to the fact that Penelope had just saved Stella. But he was still a lot vary of Penelope as he enveloped Stella in his large arms and backed away. Stella let him do that, waiting for him to calm down before she tried to explain anything.
"Who is she? What is she doing here? And why was she holding shortcake's hand?" Allen asked, finally ready for some answers.
Stella sighed and opened her mouth to reply, but June beat her to it. "She is Penelope. She's a cousin of Den's and used to live at his home back when we were young." June began, "I invited her to my birthday party. I do it every year, since Penelope is also a very good friend of mine, but she never shows up now. I am not sure what made her change her mind this year." she added the last sentence looking at Penelope, who shrugged with a nonchalant attitude.
Allen frowned and blinked as the name registered in his mind. "So you are Penelope!" he exclaimed, and continued, "The one I've heard so much about. The best manipulator to ever exist!"
"The second best apparently." Penelope mumbled, but of course everyone in the attic heard it. It was then that it hit Stella, where she had heard Penelope's name. It had been back when she had just discovered that she had powers. She had just shown them to everyone, and all of them had been very shocked.
They had tried to gouge out the extent of her powers, and Sharp had explained that her strength was about half as that of a normal vampire, and speed the double of it. And then it had been upon Allen to check her mind powers. And it was then that he had said, "Stronger than Penelope."
Allen blinked and Stella finally landed on her feet as he let go of her. He was still looking at June as if expecting her to shout, 'It's a prank!!' But June only nodded, and the much needed explanation was given by Simon as he got to his feet and dusted his pants. "Yes Allen. She is the same Penelope you have heard so much about." he said, "The one we insisted was a much better manipulator than you."
"Yes. As a matter of fact I am that good." "No. You're just too easy to read." These two sentences came out simultaneously from Penelope's and Stella's mouths respectively as they answered something Allen was thinking.
Stella face-palmed the next instant and muttered, "I know, I know. I'm sorry. It's just . . . . I've been through a lot in the past five minutes." She walked to the window of the attic after saying that, massaging her temples. Stella did not notice Penelope at first look very confused upon Simon's thoughts and narrowing her eyes at him the next. She apparently did not like what he was thinking.
But before Penelope could say something, Allen cut in with, "Now there's two people I can't read. Great! I just keep getting weaker and weaker."
This sentence of his relieved the tension and everyone laughed as June said, "He's got his priorities sorted out." with a shake of her head.