Erin stopped over again at the Octagon House (she knew Matt was still at the library). Erin knocked on the door, this time wasn't as weird and Emmeline had been expecting the girl this time answered the door. She smiled sweetly at the girl opposite, "I thought we could have tea and chat on the veranda, it is a lovely afternoon."
Erin nodded, "That would be great, thanks."
Erin followed the woman to the veranda where there were two chairs set up. "Sit here and I'll get the tea ready."
"Um, I was wondering if I could help you?"
Emmeline looked at the girl for a moment before answering, "Of course, that would be wonderful and of course very much appreciated."
Erin set her purse and keys on the chair and followed Emmeline back into the rustic kitchen. "Just let me know what I need to do."
"Of course, why don't you get some water from the canister over there." Emmeline pointed to the a tin in the corner of the kitchen with a spigot.
Erin nodded taking the teapot over after pressing the spigot there was no water coming out. "Um, there's no water."
"Hmm, I'll have to have Gregory or Matthew refill it later." Emmeline said to herself, then to Erin, "Why don't you take that tin over there and fill it out back from the well. Okay?"
Erin nodded, how hard could it be she thought to herself. If they were living like this, she could do it too! Erin grabbed the tin and headed outback in the direction pointed by Emmeline. She looked around the yard and found what she thought might be the well, but she had no clue how she was going to do it. She stood there for a couple minutes just staring at the well.
"You know you actually have to pump the handle to get water, you can't just will the tin to fill." Ania said, she was invisible up to the moment she started to speak. Ania was smiling and trying not to burst out laughing as she spoke.
"Yeah, yeah of course! I know that." Erin turned back and looked at the well not moving.
"Need help?" Ania asked when Erin still hadn't moved.
"Yes, yes please. I mean I can do it if you just show me?" Erin nodded vigorously. Thank goodness Ania was here, thought Erin to herself.
Ania looked at the helpless girl and shook her head. Ania went to the well and placed the tin so that the water would fall in without creating too much of mess. Ania then demonstrated the lever to the silly girl.
"Thank you Ania!" Erin spent no time following the directions of Ania. She filled up the container and quickly realized how difficult it was! They do this all the time...for everything?! No wonder Matt was built like a god!
Erin brought the tin back inside the kitchen and and filled the tea kettle. "Um, Emmeline what should I do now?"
"Put it on the stove. I'll get it lit and in no time we will have boiling water for our tea. Thank you dear for helping, but you are a guest, why don't you make yourself comfortable. The tea and Welsh cakes will be done shortly." Emmeline said but truthfully the girl was just in the way but, she didn't want to be rude. Emmeline did truly appreciate the gesture.
Erin stepped out of the kitchen and out of the way, but she stayed in the doorway so she could watch everything that Emmeline did. Erin found herself fascinated and had even more respect for the woman in front of her! After the tea kettle whistled and the Welsh cakes came out of the oven they headed back out to the veranda.
Emmeline just watched the human who attempted to display the appropriate ettiquette, but was failing... miserably. However, Emmeline again appreciated the attempt of the human girl.
She didn't despise the human in front of her. She just felt ...she just had strong feelings that she couldn't quite understand. How can one be in a competition with Erin when Emmeline wasn't even in the race to begin with. Emmeline was just a spectator in their lives. As Emmeline's feelings began to spiral, the cold spot began to develop. Emmeline wasn't even fully aware until Erin shivered.
"Wow, it cooled off so quickly!"
Emmeline nodded, trying to contain her feelings thereby controlling the developing cold spot.
***
Somewhere in the world, in a nondescript office building a man was sitting at his desk he was mindlessly twirling a pen in his fingers as he stared at his computer intently.
--Knock Knock--
"Come in." The man said, his eyes not coming off the screen. Two men came in, clearly ex-military and most likely dishonorably discharged by their looks. The men stood at attention waiting for the man to give them permission to speak.
The man lifted his brown eyes from the screen and set his pen down beside his computer.
"Speak." the man barked, "I have things to do and I will be leaving shortly. I don't have time for this."
"Sir, we haven't found any evidence of his rebirth."
"Hmm. Keep looking. When you find him, you know what to do." The man went back to looking at his computer, but he continued speaking to the two men. "I want less of a fuss than the previous murders. I don't mind the death of the family, but it was too noisy. I don't like governments looking into my affairs. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir." They turned to leave.
"Cliff stay, I have something to discuss with you."