The inside is just as magical as the outside. The walls seem to shimmer, though I assume that's just a trick of the eye.
In the kitchen, there's a boy. He's got raven-black hair, and holds a cup of coffee. "Was wondering when you guys would finally come in. Mum got you tea, and got the others coffee."
Evelyn smiles. "Thank you, Liam. Everest, this is Liam, one of Marie and Lucia's siblings."
Liam nods and bows. "Liam Parr, my lady. Coffee?"
"Yes, please." He hands me a cup. It's red, seemingly cracked and broken after usage, and the coffee is steaming. Evelyn takes a cup as well, hers with some kind of boiling red liquid. She takes a sip, and smiles. "Liam, you can go join the others, if you should want."
He nods. "A'right, mum. Marie went sulking, though, so good luck with her." He bows to me again, and heads out through the kitchen door, whistling some kind of tune.
I turn to Evelyn. "Explain. I don't just want some watered down version, tell me everything. Why do those kids call you mom? How old are you anyways? Where even are we?"
She nods. "Well, I assumed that would come up. The kids call me mom, not because I am their biological mother. I've raised most of them since birth, as my own. They are my children, the children of this area. As for how old I am...well, I lost count. I've been alive since 1581, dear, one could assume I forget quite a bit. I'm immortal. We're still in Vermont, despite what the land may look like. There's a force field, surrounding this house, and there has been for quite some time. It's to perpetrate all those myths, you know, the ones you grew up with?"
"Why did a boy lead me back to this house, then? Yesterday some guy stole my necklace and ran down to here. Why?" Magic can't be real, besides the fact, but I don't bring that up in the presence of Evelyn.
Evelyn laughs. "Oh, I must've forgotten! That was Andrew, one of my other children. Originally, we had wanted you to join us yesterday, however that obviously did not happen. But, you're here now, and that is most definitely all that matters."
"How many children do you even have, if I may ask?"
"Oh, only 5. Plus Calliope, the raven, but she's more animal than human..." She trails off, almost as if distracted by a thought. Odd, but..some people just have weird pets, I guess. Besides, this woman is most certainly more than a little crazy. I mean, she claims to have been alive since 1581. And that force fields exist. So...she's totally one of those people my parents warned me to stay away from. But what they know won't hurt them, right? It's not like they'd really care, anyways, they'd just be proud of me for even trying to make some friends...well, I guess I'll stay.
"Uh...how'd you guys come to live here, anyways? I've never seen any of you guys around..." God, I sound like an idiot...
"That's the thing. When we step out of here, we often look slightly..different. It's nothing major, normally just a change in eye colour...it's designed to keep the council from finding us. It's a new technology, though things similar to it have been developed after centuries of hiding..." Evelyn seems almost lost, with that. How long has it been since she's been outside of here, I wonder.
Then, another one enters. Another boy, with brown-ish hair. He nods to Evelyn, and gets another mug down. "So, who's this? Have you picked up another stray, or did old Demetrius finally get it right?"
Evelyn sighs. "Noah, meet Everest. Everest, this is my oldest, Noah. He's a shape-shifter. And, for the record, Everest is not a stray. I located her a few weeks ago. Demetrius...," She sighs "Demetrius had no role in the finding of Everest, and will likely not be helping myself or Beth find any children any time soon."
Beth...wait. "Miss Evelyn, I know someone named Beth. She works at the coffee shop, down the road...is that the Beth you mean?"
"Oh, yes, Beth! She's a friend of mine, also a guard. Though she's too young to host children of her own, she helps out here. Everyone mostly knows her as Aunt Beth, though. We've known each other for..way too long." She laughs a bit. "Anyways, should you like to see the menagerie? You'll be able to meet Calliope there, and some other...unfortunates." She sets her mug down into the sink. 344Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTijmh96z4
"Uh, sure. But I still..do have a few questions. If that's alright, Miss Evelyn."
"Don't worry, my dear, they'll all be answered with time. You don't have to call me miss, either. Too formal for me." She wrinkles her nose, and nods. "Come on. Into the menagerie."
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