Being The Vampire King's Cinderella

51. Past Enemies, New Frenemies (part 2)

Serene 💗

     Jenifer sat quietly on the sofa with a tea cup in her hand and one stocking covered leg over the other. She was dressed as if she was preparing to go on a business trip, with a full dark blue suit and white working blouse underneath. The moment Serene entered, she lowered the cup from her lip and looked at her. Serene stood glued to where she was. She eyed the woman, not daring to go closer or step inside the room fully. Despite the shock, there was only one question she wanted to ask.

     "How did you know that today was my day off?"

     "I asked around."

     "You came down here before."

     It wasn't a question much more than it was a statement. Since when did the great dragon bow down to talk with sheep?

      "I don't know what you're talking about," Jenifer replied before taking another sip of her tea.

      "Good. Well then, you know the way out."

     She had her shoulder against the door post and her hand gesturing for Jenifer to make her departure.

      "How do you like your life here so far?" The witch asked. Serene sighs, letting her limb drop. "Have to admit, the palace does have great tea, even the ones they prepare for servants is amazing beyond a doubt. If the tea placed there for the hired help is so delightful, I wonder breakfast in the morning for royals taste like."

      "What do you want," Serene asked, frustrated.

      "Nothing, just--"

     "People like you don't come down here for nothing," Serene retorted.

     Jenifer stopped talking, only raised her head a bit and tightened her lips the way she would when she was upset.

     I better stop. No matter how much I rather not see her, she knows my secret Noe, where to find me, and how to get to me. Snapping at her won't get me anything other than her form of revenge.

     The girl leaned her back against the post and crossed her arm, softening her posture. "Did you come to take me back?" She said in a calmer voice. Her eyes watched the woman's every step.

     Her stepmother tilted her teacup.

     "Hardly." She said.

     Serene cocked her eyebrow.

     "It's better than you're here," Jenifer got up. "More convenient actually."

     "Stay right there," Serene told her. Jenifer rolled and opened her mouth, then seemed to change her mind and close it with a smile.

     "Why are you here," Serene asked more calmly.

     "You tell me, why are you here?" Jenifer retorted. "With your parentage you'd have thought that Elaine would've put you in the best guest room but here you are scrubbing toilets."

     Parentage? The dragon knows about the relationship between them? She needed to ask, she needed facts, remained still with her stoic expression. Jenifer might have more knowledge than her, but she wasn't the best source.

     "But it's better that you're here," Jenifer repeated. "I need you in the palace, where we can help each other out."

     Silence crept over the two, being so deep that they could hear each other's breathing.

     "You need me? Sure." Serene crossed her arms and rested on her right leg. "But why? I don't work for you anymore."

     "You don't, but you will."