Elenor watched from the front window, as the child backed down the drive. Once the car was out of sight, her focus turned to the reflection staring back at her through the glass. 'Any minute now,' she thought. A few seconds later the old wrinkled face that stared back at her began to change. She watched as the wrinkles smoothed and sun spots faded. The roots of her grey hair began to flow deep brown and spread to the tips, cascading past her shoulders.
She breathed a heavy sigh of relief, the girl drank the tonic and some of her life force had been transferred to her.
She hurried to the mirror on the wall, to see her new complexion more clearly. Her skin was filled with youthful collagen again, and she looked 20 years younger. 'I could pass for her mother,' she thought excitedly. She wondered what would happen if she gave her a double dose. 'The child is truly a fountain of youth,' she thought.
She never thought she'd be stuck raising a child for thirteen years, especially one that wasn't hers. They were disgusting little beasts, but this one had its benefits. If her master ever found out that she used her for this, she would end her. Why shouldn't she take a little something for herself, when there was so much there for the taking.
It wouldn't be long now, just a few short months and she would be free to live her own life and she could put this mess behind her. Until then, she would siphon off some of that power and her master would be none the wiser.
She thought back to the day her freedom was stolen and this home became her cage, everything changed for her that day.
Elenor made her way down the sidewalk checking the numbers on each house, searching for the correct address. Finally she came to a two story, pale blue house, with a large front porch. 2118 adorned the area to the right of the door in shiny gold numbers, just above a black mailbox.
She straightened her dress jacket and skirt, and made her way toward the front door. As she reached for the gold plated knocker, the door opened. A woman with fire red hair and emerald green skirt suit greeted her. "Good afternoon, you must Elenor," she smiled sweetly and stepped aside. "Please come in."
"Thank you for considering me, Mrs. Smith." She stated, stepping inside.
Elenor took in her surroundings, she was standing in a entryway, to her right was a large dark wood staircase. To the left was an archway, that led to the living room, and straight ahead was a hallway, which led to what she assumed was the kitchen.
"I've been looking forward to raising children." She lied.
"I'm very pleased to have you." She stated. "My daughter has more energy than I can keep up with, which is why I posted the position." She stated.
The thought of harvesting that energy made her warm and fuzzy inside.
"Would you like a cup of tea?" Mrs. Smith asked.
"I'd love one." She replied.
"Right this way," she led her through the hallway, to a large kitchen, with a big rectangular island in the center. A medium size square table sat off to the left side against the wall, "Please have a seat," she offered. Elenor's obliged, and took a seat facing the mistress of the house.
She rang a small silver bell that sat on the counter. Elenor gave a questioning look to the Mrs., but she didn't bother to enlighten her. A moment later an older gentleman dressed in a butler suit, stood before them. "Ivan, please prepare the tea." She ordered.
"Yes ma'am." He bowed and made his way to counter, to do as he was instructed.
"Ivan this is Miss Elenor. She will be caring for our dear Olivia, moving forward." She informed.
"Pleasure to meet you." She lied.
She hated these pleasantries, but it was necessary to reach her end goal. The mask she wore was an essential piece, in earning the mistresses trust.
"Honor to meet you Miss Elenor." He replied with a slight bow, and turned back to prepare the tea.
Mrs. Smith took the adjacent seat, at the table.
"Pardon me Mrs. Smith, when will I get to meet Miss Olivia," she asked sweetly. Elenor hoped to be done with this quickly and be on her way before nightfall.
"My daughter is currently taking a nap, she should be up within the hour. I will introduce you then." She replied with a small smile.
"What are the expectations of her care?" Elenor asked. A slight smile graced the mistress's lips but quickly faded.
"She isn't like other children." Mrs.Smith stated with pride. "Her care will be less conventional than what you are accustomed to."
"She is rather gifted."
'They all think their children are gifted,' she thought with irritation. There was nothing special about any of the ones she came across in the past.
"How so," she inquired.
"She has more energy than any child I've ever seen, you'll see when you meet her." She stated.
"That is the way of children. If we could bottle that energy for profit, we'd be amongst the wealthiest." Elenor stated with a laugh.
'Which wasn't far from the reason she was even here today,' she thought.
"I agree." Mrs. Smith replied, with a tight smile.
"Because of this, her focus is almost nonexistent. Like a humming bird, jumping from one thing to another, instantly." She stated.
Ivan made his way to them, and sat a small teacup with saucer full of hot steamy liquid in front of each of them.
"Thank you," Elenor smiled.
"Would you like any sweeteners or milk, Miss Elenor?" He asked politely.
"I'll have sugar, please," she replied.
Ivan sat a small white bowl filled with sugar cubes on the table along with the pot of tea.
"You may leave Ivan,' Mrs. Smith ordered.
Elenor's sweetened her tea with two cubes from the sugar bowl and took a small sip. "This is delicious." She commented after the hot liquid hit her tastebuds.
"It's an old family recipe. It's said to clear the impurities from our bodies, that we were never meant to ingest," she stated with a knowing smile.
Elenor took another sip of the delicious tea, and another, and another, until the cup was empty. It was like her body wanted to consume every drop and still she wanted more.
"Would you like another cup of tea, Miss Elenor," Mrs. Smith asked.
"Yes please," she replied.
"It seems my family's recipe has taken another admirer," Mrs. Smith commented, pouring her a fresh cup.