ã€ŠProject: cure for those demons.ã€‹


 Chapter 1

    It was a cold, dark space with nothing to be heard or seen. It was only a deep and almost

    empty space there Ellen were floating. She felt like she had been there for an eternity, which

    were hard to prove true or false.

    Pictures of her death cause flashed through her mind, causing her to once again curl up like a little ball.

    ¡± I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m really sorry¡±, she mumbled silent to herself and tried to curl up so it wouldn¡¯t be anything of her left.

    It had all started when she had taken a "magical pill ,as the person wished to call it, by one of the

    customers of her father. The pill would help Ellen get the courage to live her own desires out and to

    caught the one she was holding close to her heart.

    She truly believed that it was true and took the pill and waited while searching up some good advices on

    the internet of how she would catch her beloved father, this could have been the chance that she had

    waited for.

    When the pill kicked in her memory became weaker until only fragments remained, but to be honest

    the pill really did help her live her desires out. All in a disturbing matter that Ellen never had wished

    for.

    The first fragment she had was from inside her fathers "working room". It was a dark filled room, with a

    lot of cans. Ellen had never been in there before and wished to be impressed of how her father''s working room looked like, but it seems like her body and mind was separated from her thoughts.

    Without knowing the reasons, she was... Angry?

    She looked at a small bottle in her hands, it gave her a strange feeling of satisfaction. That was

    something she had wished for, something that she liked.

    Ellen covered her eyes, she really didn¡ät wished to see it all happen again. It had really been an

    unforgiving act she committed, without any chance to be forgiven by anyone.

    Ellen couldn¡ät see anything but could hear her little sister talking with her, she seemed to be upset by

    something. After something in the dark was slammed to the floor Ellen regained her vision.

    Laying at the floor was her little sister Alice with her face twisted in pain after hitting the clinker clothed

    floor. Ellen herself was sitting on top of her and smiled, " It¡äs hard to believe that something so obscure

    as you have tried to seduce our poor father".

    Ellen wished it all to stop, this was not the desire she had wished for when taking the pill. She had only

    wished to gain courage enough to tell her father about her true feeling for him. Not to hurt that weak

    and dirty playing little "princess".

    Alice was mumbled something in pain that Ellen couldn¡ät hear. Ellen''s body was no longer the kind girl

    she used to be and answered her sister with one across the face.

    "Don¡ät try to act weak as usually, it isn¡ät working at me. You can trick and gain sympathy and love from

    father, but it really won¡ät work on me. I am not as stupid as everyone else"!

    She wanted to stop this madness but she seemed to be a mere marionette for her own desires or what

    ever what was driven her.

    Sure Alice had always used the fact that she was weak to gain sympathy and to charm others, but she

    really didn¡ät deserve this treatment. If that even was true since she had been weak since birth and

    needed some extra care.

    Things were really about to go down when Ellen all of sudden picked out the bottle she somehow had

    gained in her father''s workroom and downed the content before throwing the bottle to the other side

    of the room and grabbed her sister''s trout in a firm grip. Forcefully she made Alice drink some of the liquid

    while swallowing the last herself. Ellen did feel disgusted that she act like that and at the same time

    terrified since she knows deep inside that it was something bad with the liquor. Alice looked at her,

    teared up by her strange behaviour. Only to be meet by a smile and some more beating.

    Ellen opened up her eyes and looked at the roof, it had only been a dream. It really didn¡ät happened

    again. She wasn¡ät in that strange void again, she really wasn¡¯t there.

    She rose in the bed and let out a heavy yawn. It had been at least 3 years since that happened and

    she did die. Almost bringing Alice with her, almost bringing that little "princess" with her if it shouldn''t

    been because her father had called the ambulance. Then being charmed by her and waiting by

    her side, letting Ellen die and sent to that void all alone.

    It sure had been a horrific act by Ellen and she knew she never would be forgiven for it, but it was hard

    to believe that she deserved to both be locked up in the void for what had felt like eternities and to die

    without anyone by her side. Forced to remember her terrible act over and over again until she finally

    was saved and revived by her father.

    With a heavy sigh she walked out of the bed and straight to the window. The view outside the window

    was like it had been taken from a history book about the Victorian age. Old two-floored houses with

    pointy roofs and big windows, filled with so-called "upper-class" people that always looked disliking at

    their house. Ellen dropped another heavy sight and walked over to the wardrobe that she and her sister

    shared, picking out a red dress that clearly wasn¡ät made for someone with her body. She looked at

    herself in the mirror at the other side of the room and saw the same usually disappointing person as

    always. A not good looking, flat girl that almost reminded of a rectangular box. A truly disappointing

    view in comparing with her, now, time glass formed little sister. Not even her shoulder long hair was

    worth to compare with Alice''s silk like white hair that reached halfway her back.

    Ellen dropped yet another heavy sigh and dressed up in her sister''s dress.

    It had really been 3 years since she died, 3 painful years she had spent in that void before being revived.

    During that time the years had passed for her father and sister. They had both become older and got the

    time to die once, of which Ellen found it hard to believe that they died. Even harder to believe was that

    they now were "living" in the afterlife.

    Both her father and sister were spending their morning in the kitchen, Alice was preparing breakfast

    while her father waited at the table for it to be done.

    "Good morning Jack" she happily greeted her father, trying to ignore Alice.

    Her father that was a thin build man looked back at her, "good morning Ellen".

    He had scolded her harshly so Ellen had been worried that he had revived her so he could kill her with

    his own two hands. Ellen suspected that she had been saved by telling him that she was acting weird

    because of the pill she had taken, she wasn¡ät forgiven but it seemed a little calmer then at first.

    Just by fluke in the confronting about what had happened that evening Ellen opened her mouth a little

    to wide and exposed her love for him.

    Ellen took a place in beside him around the table. Jack had that day told her that they wasn¡ät bound by

    the rules they once had followed, so if she could show herself worthy. She maybe could have a chance

    get closer to him. But then she at least had to start by calling him his name and not father, if she did that

    they could make up the fact that she was adopted. Which could make it possible for her to get her wish

    through.

    "Good morning Ellen", Alice suddenly interrupted while serving Jack a cup of coffee.

    Her now well develop body irritated Ellen, she had become a beautiful woman with all her bodyfat

    placed around her chest. Not to mention that Ellen always had an advance since she always had been

    older then her, but not even that was true anymore.

    "Good morning" Ellen answered in a monotone voice. She really couldn¡ät trust Alice, who know, she

    could still be trying to steal poor Jack from her.

    Soon Alice served the breakfast and everyone enjoyed it during silence. It was one thing that hadn¡ät

    change since before she died, all the time everyone was gathered around the table it was silent so you

    almost could cut it to pieces. Jack had never told any of the girl why he wanted it like that, but he had

    made it clear that he wanted it to be like that.

    " I would like to exterminate your artificial parts when I come back home", Jack declared

    before finishing of his last coffee. Ellen first looked dumb fooled at him as if he was joking, before it

    became clear. She wasn¡ät used to the fact that he had been forced to give her an artificial heart and

    lungs.

    "Oki", Ellen answered with plain happiness.

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.It was something that had to be done to make sure that she would stay alive with him.

    During the day Ellen didn¡ät had to do anything special but making sure that she kept training her

    body. It mainly seemed to be because the body of hers had been weakened during the time she

    was dead, however that now could have happened.

    A thought suddenly struck her. If she had died in the other world, wouldn¡ät that mean that her body

    had been buried there to. Which would make it very complicated for her father to get his hands on

    her body in this world. Right?

    Ellen stopped and looked at the plain, one colour wall paper, as if it holds the answer away from her.

    It was all very strange but maybe she could ask him about it when he examined her. If he now

    wanted to tell her. Of course she wouldn¡ät pressure him for an answer, but it would be nice to know

    how that possible could have happened.

    " Would you like some tea Ellen"? Alice asked her when she passed the kitchen.

    Ellen glared at her and nodded slowly. She sure didn¡ät like the fact that Alice would make something

    for her, but this far she needed the help she could get.

    If they had warmed up the water at a cooker, she could easily have done it herself. Even if they had

    used a stove, she could have made it herself. Or anything that would have been typical for the Victorian

    era.

    But instead of using any of those this world had invented a strange gear that gave of heat of while spinning.

    Of which Ellen still didn¡ät understood either how it worked or how to use.

    Something similar was used in Jack''s working room there she had woken up, but there the strange gear

    gave of a light instead.

    The noise from that kind of gear had been bothering her during the whole time inside the room, almost

    driven her mad.

    Ellen let out a light sigh and took a place around the table while Alice prepared the cup of tea for her.

    She couldn¡ät help but to look at Alice from time to time, her body looked even more perverted then

    when she almost had killed her. She had always had a strange charm to make others fall for her, but

    with a body like that she could and had probably spend every and second night with a guy.

    That is really a perverted little "princess" for everyone.

    Of course she couldn¡¯t help to feel a little bad for her. As Ellen had understood it, so had poor, poor Jack

    been arrested after it all. He was the one that had been suspected for Ellen¡¯s deed.

    Alice had been moved into a foster home, there she had lived until the day she took her own life. But

    she felt guiltier about that Jack had been judged for it and forced to live a hard life in jail before even he took his own life. She could almost see in front of her how he had to fight for survival every single day.

    Fighting for a so simple thing as being alive.

    ¡°Here¡¯s your tea Ellen¡±, Alice said and gave her a cup. Interrupting Ellen thoughts.

    Ellen gave a simple thank and took the cup of tea. It did bother her that Alice was so calm around her,

    especially since what had happened that night. Ellen had tried to kill her own sister, yet Alice had thrown herself at Ellen and hugged her tight when they finally met again. It was if she holds no grudge

    against her, or that maybe was what she wanted Ellen to believe.

    That little ¡°princess¡± could easily wait until Ellen dropped her guard and then take out her revenge.

    Either by almost killing her or even worse, snatch Jack way from her. It could only be a matter of time

    before she acted out her plans and took her revenge on the monster like culprit.

    Since Ellen didn¡¯t want to let her guard down and only sat silent around the table, sipping her tea Alice

    began to ask about Ellen¡¯s training was going. Slowly she got a normal conversation started about how

    life now was going and about the world they now were living in. The part that interested Ellen most was

    that Jack even claimed that Alice was adopted. Apparently it seemed like it was disgraceful to have

    children without a marriage. So therefor it was better to claim that they were adopted, which would

    mean that less people would threw an evil eye at poor Jack. Ellen couldn¡¯t help but to wonder if that

    meant it still would be okay for her and Jack to fall in love, without everyone would give him a hard time.

    She could only hope and trust Jack¡¯s word.

    The conversation lasted longer than their tea and until it was time for Alice to get out and buy food so

    she could make the dinner, just in time for when their father arrived back home. She even asked Ellen if

    she wanted to follow but Ellen quickly declined. Not because she was afraid that Alice would act out any

    plan, but instead because she still felt uncomfortable with this new world. A new world would mean new people, lot of new rules and norms. It was all new and she would need to learn it, at least if she

    wished to fit in. So it was better for her to stay inside instead of doing anything wrong.

    Ellen looked out at Alice when she left for her errand. That princess sure was lucky to have living in this

    world long enough to not be worry about looking like an idiot if she did anything wrong. Not that

    the shameless ¡°princess¡± would have any problem if she did something wrong and look like an idiot.

    Ellen laid on a metal clothed table in Jack¡¯s working room. Her upper body was nude and most probably

    a horrific view for even Jack to see, but it was necessary when he examined her artificial parts. They

    seemed to be well hidden behind a lid in Ellen back, or that was at least what she thought. It wasn¡¯t that

    it would be impossible for her to look herself with the help of a mirror, but she rather didn¡¯t want to see

    it herself. After all she was still hesitating if she still was really a human with parts like that.

    So far it seems like everything work¡±, Jack said in a plain voice.

    Of course it worked, it was after all him that had done it. Ellen let out a small sigh, he was a great person

    so he needed to hesitate a little less at himself.

    ¡°Have you apologised to little Alice yet?¡± He asked while Ellen felt how he clearly thumped at her heart

    with a finger. It was a like all her blood vibrated in her veins, easy said a very uncomfortable feeling.

    ¡°Not yet¡±, Ellen answered weakly. She really didn¡¯t wanted to hear that question since it was like the

    perverted ¡°princess¡± already had Jack in her iron grips. Which easily could mean that she already was on

    the way of stealing him away from Ellen.

    Jack dropped a disappointed sigh and tapped his finger at her heart more frequently. ¡°You have to

    apologise to her, don¡¯t forget how much suffering you caused her¡±.

    She knows that she had caused both Alice and him a lot suffering, but yet she didn¡¯t want to apologise to her. Or rather, Ellen was both drowning in guilt of what she had done that evening and she didn¡¯t have the courage to even talk about that time. So it was a really small chance that there ever would be

    an apologise, but that wasn¡¯t anything Jack needed to know.

    Ellen felt guilty to lie Jack right into the face when she said she would apologise to Alice. It was all out of

    necessarily, this wasn¡¯t a situation she wanted to be in for any longer. Only the singel fact that Jack

    seemed to be angry was more than enough, that or also involved that night only made it even worse.

    Jack didn¡¯t spare any nagging and went on for another couple of minutes before he finally stop, closing

    up the lid at her back before leaving the room for his library.

    Ellen looked frustrated after Jack when he left the room. He could have spent some more time with her

    instead of hurry of to the library. And that extra time could have been without nagging her about

    apologising to Alice.

    Except from the frustration of the nagging, Ellen got the same feeling as when she had woken up a bit

    from Alice that night. By some reason she had taken distance from Alice and then fainted. A voice she

    know well could be heard. Following the voice, she could see Jack beside Alice, even though it all was

    very blurry she knew clear that it was him.

    Feeling weak she did her best to talk, ¡°Father, can you please call an ambulance¡±.

    Jack looked terrified at her before he picked up his cell phone to make the call. He never once left Alice.

    ¡°Father, I don¡¯t feel well. Do you think i will survive?¡±. Jack looked serious at her and finally talked with

    her, ¡°I am sure you will survive. You are a very strong girl after all¡±.

    Ellen had felt betrayed by both him and her own little sister. Couldn¡¯t Alice let their father be with Ellen

    during a time like that, and couldn¡¯t he have tried a little harder to break free from her charm.

    Ellen let out a heavy sigh, did Alice already control father with her charm or was it someone other that

    controlled her poor, poor beloved one. Who ever it was, Ellen had to find a way to snatch him back.

    The faster the better.

 chapter 2

    It had been two weeks since Ellen woke up. Yet she almost seen nothing beside the inside of their home. Alice had tried to make her follow for the shopping, but so far it had been impossible.

    Ellen looked sceptical at a woman that had come to do work at Jack¡¯s library. According to both her father and sister the work was simple and should be quick.

    But that wasn¡¯t the big problem Ellen had noticed, instead the problem was that the woman seemed to get close to HER Jack. Which she couldn¡¯t accept.

    Sure it could be difficult for her to blame Jack if he did fall for it. That woman was after all a really well developed woman, at least comparing to someone that already was underdeveloped comparing with her own sister. It almost seems like there was something that wished to see her fighting to hold on to him. Otherwise it should have been an old, fat and disgusting man that should do the work, not a developed woman with long blond hair and a pair of small white bird wings, an angel in other words

    Luckily the work she did was smoothly and it didn¡¯t take too much time. Still Ellen kept an eye at the angel the whole time, there were no chance she could be sure that the angel wouldn''t try anything funny. And the work she did looked very simple, even so that someone like Ellen herself would have been able to do it.

    They had just finished their breakfast when Alice opened her mouth and spoke out on a stupid idea. ¡°Since you haven¡¯t been outside the house yet, I would like you to follow me out for the shopping today?¡± Ellen did disagree and turned to her father for support. She wasn¡¯t ready for that yet, the new world still seemed very uncomfortable.

    ¡°Maybe it really is time for you to see how this world are like¡±, Jack said to Ellen''s disappointment. He could at least try to help her a little bit, maybe just by question Alice''s idea.

    Ellen looked frustrated at him, only to be meet by a small smile. She should just open her mouth to say something when Jack drank his last coffee, ¡°Then I trust you Alice to take care of Ellen when you go out¡±. Then he left for work like a greased lightning, leaving Ellen to her approving destiny.

    Alice seemed to be very satisfied with the mess she had created, just like the horrible little ¡°princess¡± she was.

    ¡°Will you help me with the house chores today to?¡± she asked, probably trying to pour some salt in the wounds.

    Jack had asked her a few days earlier if she could help ¡°little Alice¡± with the house chores since she didn¡¯t do anything other than just walking around. Sure she could have denied to help her, but since it was him that asked she found an opportunity to prove that she was a mature woman and was fitting to become his wife in the future. If it had been Alice that had asked from the beginning, the result wouldn¡¯t have been the same. There was no chance that the little ¡°princess¡± would be allowed to use her.

    Alice tried to start up a conversation while they were cleaning, which Ellen easily could live without. There was no need for her to fall into of the ¡°princess''s¡± traps.

    ¡°Are you still in love with father¡±? Alice blurted out all of sudden to Ellen''s surprise.

    ¡°Why do you ask¡±? Ellen tried to counter.

    She had tried her very best to hide her affections to Jack. All so that girl wouldn¡¯t find out.

    Alice giggled and looked at her with a smile, ¡°If you aren¡¯t, then it¡¯s nothing. But if you are, it¡¯s all fine¡±.

    Ellen looked sceptically at her. This had to be one of the traps she had expected from the horrible little ¡°princess¡±. A trap of with the goal of ruining her chance to envelope with her beloved father.

    ¡°I hold no special emotions to Jack¡± she lied and tried to throw Alice off trail.

    Even if it was a small lie, Ellen could still tell that it cut in her soul to tell it. She had to make up for it later on. Both for her own sake and for Jack''s sake.

    Alice let out a sigh, ¡°So that is how it is.¡±

    ¡°If that how it is, then you maybe not will take every chance you get to flirt with him. He can get the wrong idea.¡±

    Ellen really didn¡¯t like the fact that she had notice all her attempts to get closer with Jack. It had been supposed to be a secret to avoid giving Alice chances to mess things up. Had the thieving ¡°princess¡± kept an extra eye at her to make sure that she could keep Jack all to herself.

    Alice started to clean again without saying anything more to Ellen.

    Had it been the only reason that she started that conversation, had it only been that she wanted to know what¡¯s between her and Jack. And what had Alice meant with ¡°it¡¯s all fine¡± if she loved Jack? Didn¡¯t she have any problems with Ellen loving him, or was it another try to set her up in another trap?

    Ellen stood dumbfounded for rather some time, thinking deep into if there was any other meaning with Alice''s strange behaviour.

    Alice snapped Ellen out of her thinking with a gently complain about how she at least could clean while thinking of whatever she was thinking about.

    ¡°I still don¡¯t want to follow¡±, Ellen said with a highly annoyed voice.

    The time had come for when she would follow Alice out to buy some food. Ellen had decided to give it a try to get away. She really didn¡¯t want to go out, it was more comfortable in the house, there she could get the chance to learn more about the world without the risk of looking stupid.

    Alice didn¡¯t bend a bit and succeeded to force Ellen alongside.

    When they left the house she was meet by the stares of the neighbours. They seemed to be bothered by her presence, without even knowing her.

    ¡°Is it only my imagination or do our neighbours stare intensely at us?¡± she asked Alice while she locked the door behind them.

    Alice gently shake her head, ¡°They do stare at us since we are an incomplete family and we aren¡¯t a family of the higher class.¡±

    She seemed to be used to it already or she couldn¡¯t care less about it. Either it had been like that since they got there, or she just was a careless and nonchalant ¡°princess¡±. Both of the alternatives were highly possible, so it was just to make a guess of which one was right.

    As they walked it stood clear for Ellen where the richer and the poorer lived. In the area where they lived it had many big wood clothed houses with gardens, some of the houses was even painted in different beautiful colours. While the houses changed the closer they came to marketplace.

    They became more and more plain, looking like they were simply made to keep three of more families at the same time. Not to mention that they were built in an almost factory like fashion.

    ¡°We are heading towards an area there they are a little poorer, they have a marketplace with slightly cheaper prices then the shops in our area.¡±

    Alice tried to explain it as. They had earlier been forced to try save quite some money to be able to revive Ellen, so they had simply been cutting the edges of what they had been able to.

    Ellen felt surprised about it as she at the same time understood how it could have been necessary.

    It must have been expensive to get not only one artificial part, but two. Not to mention that it was important parts so she could survive.

    At least they did seem to do kind of well, economic seen.

    A lot of beggars had gathered up alongside a street close to the marketplace, holding out their hands and begging for money. Just by looking at them it was clear that some of them were stuck in an addiction, while other seemed to be more honestly begging for money for food.

    ¡°Don¡¯t ever give them money.¡± Alice almost ordered her when she noticed her looking at them.

    According to Alice there had been a lot of people that had been followed and then mugged because they had given a beggar money. And the beggar that had received the money had been found the next day, robbed and beaten to death.

    Those poor beggars seemed to live in a rough dog eat dog world. There a simple ¡°mistake¡± could lead to nothing other than death.

    The marketplace was swarming of people and to not getting lost of each other Alice ordered Ellen to hold her hand.

    Alice that once had been the baby sister seemed to have matured and acted like how an older sister should act. Ellen felt both embarrassed and guilty. She had failed at being a good older sister, instead of acting kind to Alice she had tried to kill her. Sure it was under the influence of that pill, but it still didn¡¯t change the fact that she did try.

    Ellen let out a heavy sigh while Alice lead her through the market. She didn¡¯t pay much attention to anything until Alice stopped at a stall.

    ¡°Good morning Alice.¡± a dark voice greeted.

    Ellen looked up and meet the eyes of the owner.

    ¡°Did you bring a friend today?¡± he asked and cracked a smile Ellen found downright disgusting.

    ¡°No, she¡¯s my sister.¡± Alice didn¡¯t even bother to look up from the vegetables he sold while answering him.

    His smile grew bigger and his whole tone changed as he asked Ellen a couple of question of what she liked and likewise, as if he tried to trick her that he cared about who she was.

    The only thing Ellen could believe that he cared about was the opportunity to gain another potential customer.

    After Alice had got her rear in gear and bought everything they needed before they took a well-deserved break.

    Ellen felt mentally tired after talking with the owners of the stalls they had visited. It was no wonder Alice had ignored them and their greed dripping ¡°sweet talk¡±. Ellen might need to learn that to, otherwise she might end up simply biting their head of.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it nice to come out of the house?¡± Alice asked when she came back after buying two cookies they could eat at during their little break.

    Ellen couldn¡¯t deny that it was interesting to see how things looked like in this world. But she could have survived without talking to those horrible and false stall keepers. She understood that they needed customers to survive, but it would have been so much comfortable if they had at least been a little honest in the way they talked.

    ¡°It ain¡¯t all wrong to see this world¡± Ellen answered plain before taking a bite of her chocolate cookie.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it little Alice?¡± someone suddenly asked.

    Ellen followed the voice and noticed a woman walking toward them. She seemed to be quite some years older than them and more well developed than the little ¡°princess¡±.

    She faced only Alice while standing in front of Ellen, ignoring her as if she wasn¡¯t there.

    ¡°Good day Taija¡± Alice greeted with a bored tone.

    Had that ¡°princess¡± played this woman until she got bored of her. Ellen noticed that the woman had a pair of bat like wings at her back. Was she also one of those strange looking people in the city?

    ¡°May i ask who my little Alice is spending her time with?¡± she asked Alice.

    Ellen felt slightly annoyed, she was sitting right there, so she could have asked her directly instead.

    What was it with that woman, did she had a wish to get beaten up or maybe be strangled with her own long black hair?

    ¡°To start with, I''m not yours. And it¡¯s my sister I spend time with.¡±

    Alice was clearly annoyed by Taija''s question, and with her lack of surprise when the woman asked the question it most probably wasn¡¯t the first time she had gotten that question.

    Taija turned and faced Ellen, ¡°So you are little Alice''s sister?¡±

    Ellen swallowed her spite against that woman in an instant. ¡°Yes, i am her sister.¡± It was a challenge to try not sound angry. To be honest she would have loved to chew her head off.

    ¡°The one that had lost in your last life and wasn¡ät found here when you arrived?¡± Taija didn¡¯t even turned away from Ellen while asking that. Instead she seemed to try spy into the very core of her soul.

    ¡°Anyway, if you are her sister since then. You are more than free to give me advices of how I can see an even cuter side of little Alice.¡± she continued without waiting for Alice''s response.

    A cuter side if that obscure little ¡°princess¡±, was it something wrong with this woman?

    Like a lightning Alice grabbed Ellen''s hand and lead her away from Taija.

    ¡°I am sorry Taija, but we don¡¯t have time to talk more now.¡±

    Ellen followed her like a ragdoll. Surprised that the little ¡°princess¡± show of a weakness, maybe that was something she could use against her in the future. Hopefully it could be used as a great weapon to hindrance her from snatching Jack away.

    Alice excused for Taija''s behaviour a couple of times when they had arrived home and started to prepare the food.

    Ellen had tried to sneak away when they did return but had been caught and forced to help.

    She had spent far too much time with that little ¡°princess¡± already, yet she had to help her to prepare the dinner. Sure she might make an impression on Jack, but probably not as much as if she had been making it herself. If she had known how to cook that is.

    ¡°So, how has your first day outside the house been today?¡± Jack asked when they had finished eating.

    Ellen shined up. He talked with her.

    It wasn¡¯t far too often he did, but he really did it today.

    Happiness bubble inside of her.

    ¡°It was nice to see a little of this world.¡± she answered, smiling like one of those false stall owners.

    ¡°But you might need to train a little at being a woman.¡± Alice interrupted with a bitter tone.

    Jack asked Alice a little of how Ellen had acted ¡°unwomanly¡±, of which Alice dragged up every little piece of how Ellen acted. She could almost have simplified it by saying that Ellen had acted ¡°unwomanly¡± by just leaving their house.

    Since Jack was there she quickly apologised for the faults she did.

    ¡°Next time I meet someone, I will act like Alice did to Taija and just apologise before run off.¡±

    That was the only thing that she could use against the horrible little ¡°princess¡±. Of course she wouldn¡¯t do it. But it had probably looked really bad if she did, just like the little ¡°princess¡±.

    ¡°So Taija did bother you again?¡±

    To Ellen''s disappointment he was just laughing at her attack against Alice. He didn¡¯t even seem to think it was anything wrong with it, instead it seemed to amuse him.

    ¡°She did bother me. But it wasn¡¯t for so long this time.¡± Alice answered after dropping a sigh.

    Jack tried to encourage her to spend some time with that woman, saying that she was a good woman.

    Ellen felt Jack had tried to encourage Alice a little too long while and was fed up with it.

    ¡°Father, when is the winter tree blossom celebration?¡± Alice interrupted him with. Most probably so was even she fed up with his encourage. Which genuinely surprised Ellen, the little ¡°princess¡± was fed up with the attention she got. That was impressing.

    From what Jack had heard so was the winter tree celebration in two weeks.

    Ellen got stuck in her thoughts, she couldn¡¯t remember that she had heard about that before.

    ¡°Can you please tell your sister about it Alice.¡± Jack said before he left for his library, again.

    He must have noticed how lost Ellen had been when they started to talk about it, but he could have told her himself. Instead of leaving for that dusty old library.

    Happily Alice began to chipper about how this world, or at least this land, celebrated the winter tree blossomed as a sign of that the winter was coming. Even though it seemed to only exist one season. It never did fall any snow or got cold like in their old world.

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.Everyone in the city celebrated the blossom of the winter tree, so of course they also had to join. They were a part of the city after all.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem to be any restricting about drinking here, so we can drink if we wish to.¡±

    Alice seemed to look forward to the last point she made, looking at Ellen with a smile.

    Ellen didn¡¯t even feel surprise that the little ¡°princess¡± looked forward to drink, it had to be one of her great hunting seasons. Searching for one poor wasted soul that she could have her way with.

    Yet the celebration seems to be something Ellen felt she could look forward to. Maybe it could be a chance for her to learn something new that could help her snatch Jack out of ¡°princess''s¡± iron grip.

    She looked forward to this chance, even if the chance didn¡¯t exist it could be something she could enjoy. There was still also the chance she could spend some time with her beloved Jack.

    The following weeks Alice still forced Ellen to follow her to the marketplace.

    Ellen almost begged Jack for support to avoid it, but he didn¡¯t seem to be able to care less. It could be good training for her and Alice could help her to get better.

    That princess really had a good grip of him, otherwise he never would have forced her to something like that.

    One week passed and Ellen felt more comfortable outside the house. Sure it wasn¡¯t anything that she ever would say out loud, but she really started to enjoy her time outside the house. Even the fact that the ¡°princess¡± gave her advices about of how to fit in. But that was a really heavy secret that would follow her to the grave. Not even after the first time Ellen got tricked and sent to the marketplace alone, using all advices that Alice had taught her. Not even then she had any thanks or even good words for Alice. Not even when she succeeded to avoid to lose the money by carry an empty bag, not even then. It had been feeling bad not to thank her by then, she had after all saved her from losing the money.

    Ellen got sent to the marketplace earlier than usual to be able to take an extra look around. She felt that it was unnecessary to do that. The only thing that could happen by being at the market longer then usually was that Ellen would feel sick by those stall keepers attitude, was Alice trying to make her suffer?

    After she had bought what was needed she headed back home, only to stop on the way.

    There was a shop that she must have passed every day without even noticing.

    Sure it was a small shop, but she found it hard to believe that she had missed the big cog formed sign.

    Many different kinds of cogs could be seen through the window, so it had to be a shop for those that worked with cogs and gears.

    A sudden idea stuck Ellen, maybe there could be a chance to help Jack by learning about cogs.

    He had been locking himself up in his library every day since she was revived, and there was a big chance he had done the same thing before that to. Not to mention that he a few days after Ellen''s revival had started to spend far too much time at his work. Whatever that could be.

    If she learned about that, maybe there could be a way for her to help him, maybe not with either his studies of his work, but at least in the house.

    If Ellen was really lucky maybe Jack was studying things about gears, maybe he wanted to learn more after using it to revive her.

    Then they had something they could talk about that the ¡°princess¡± most probably couldn¡¯t butt in at.

    Ellen nodded for herself before entering the shop.

    The first thing she noticed was that all cogs and tools in the shop, they were organised in a somehow organised chaos.

    ¡°Welcome to my shop,¡± a man said out loud from behind the counter.

    It looked like he could be around two heads taller than her and most likely three times broader than her.

    He was one of those people that had appearance which was influenced by an animal, in this case a bull.

    He strokes the outer tip of his long beard that framed his face. A shipper beards as some would like to call it.

    ¡°Little miss, do you know that we don¡¯t replacing you dress if it gets damaged in here?¡±

    Ellen looked at him and smiled, ¡°I will be careful.¡±

    She hadn¡¯t thought about that her dress could be damaged in there, so she felt lucky that he pointed it out.

    ¡°Then what can I help this little miss with?¡±

    Ellen lightly explained that she wished to be able to help her... father, and therefore wished to learn how to work with cogs. Hoping that the man could help her.

    The man started to Stare at her before he began to laugh. ¡°I apologise little miss, it¡¯s just that you are so small and wishes to learn a job that can be really heavy.¡±

    Ellen didn¡¯t know how she would feel about it. He didn¡¯t hold the same painful attitude as any other shopkeeper she ever meet, he felt more honest than any of the others. At least he could laugh at thing he found funny and then honestly apologise, still without the horrific greed dripping way to talk.

    ¡°Do you wish to say that there¡¯s no chance I could work and help others with that?¡±

    She tried to sound serious but found it hard since he already amused her with his laughter.

    ¡°Not really, it¡¯s just a warning that working with this can be a really heavy work. So you don¡¯t think it only involves light work as with light giving gears and likewise.¡±

    He tried to both stop the laughter and caught his breathe, while cracking a forced smile.

    Ellen gave his words a short thought. She hadn¡¯t thought about what it involved to work with it, but it could still be worth to learn about it all. She could after all still help Jack and with a little help, she maybe also could earn him some money and show him that she had matured.

    ¡°I still wish to learn about it.¡± Ellen answered and gave him her best smile.

    The man burst out in another laughter and walked over to a bookcase close by, picking out a book.

    ¡°This is a book with the basic fact for cog technicians, I suggest you start with this. And because you have amused me, I will give you a discount.¡±

    The price he asked for was so low that Ellen could have paid it even without the extra money that Alice has given her so she could enjoy her time at the marketplace.

    ¡°By the way little miss, may I ask why you wishes to help your father?¡± the man asked curiously.

    ¡°Because he must have worked hard to revive me.¡± she said happily. Hoping the man wouldn¡¯t ask her further about her relationship with Jack.

    A silence greeted her answer, a heavy and intensive silence.

    The man looked fast too the door and then at her again. ¡°You seem to be a nice girl and I don¡¯t want to see your head served on a pole like a Barbecue stick. So I will suggest that you don¡¯t tell anyone else that you have been revived.¡±

    Ellen looked surprised and confused at him. Wasn¡¯t it normal for people from another world to be revived?

    He had probably seen how horrible stupid and dumbfounded she looked.

    ¡°It maybe was legal there you come from to revive someone, but it isn¡¯t here. If it would come out in public both you and your father will be executed. With or without your agreement.¡±

    ¡°What are you reading Ellen?¡± Alice asked when she entered their room, as if she owned the room by herself.

    She had bought the book the day before but hadn¡¯t been able to read by then. It had come like a big surprise that both she and Jack could be executed because he revived her.

    Had that also been a plan by that little ¡°princess¡±? Hoping Ellen would say too much and that she would be executed by herself, since there wasn¡¯t any chance that she would allow Jack to die because of her.

    ¡°I am reading a book about basic cog technics.¡± Ellen answered short and sceptic. If that really had been the ¡°princess¡¯s¡± plan, she was a worse person that Ellen ever could have guessed.

    ¡°Why are you reading that?¡± Her voice was bitter and her eyes felt like they tried to pierce her soul.

    It was surprising, the little ¡°princess¡± had earlier had no problem to handle almost any situation without giving any bitter reaction, with exception for that woman Taija.

    ¡°I just want to study it.¡± Ellen had no intention to expose her plan so Alice could interrupt and mess with it.

    Alice had given her a forced ¡°good luck with the studies¡± before going to bed. By some reason Alice seemed to have something against Ellen''s studies, not that it really mattered to her. This was after all HER chance to gain some extra affection points from him, and it was nothing that the ¡°princess¡± could do about it.

    Ellen turned back to her book. She had been lucky that the sky allowed the moon''s bright shine to light up the pages. It was like something wished to tell her that this was the right way for her to go, it was the right decision to prepare to help Jack, somehow.

    Ellen really had done the right decision to start learning about how to work with cogs and gears.

    She had one evening walked in to the library and tried to make herself look like a fool by asking Jack to explain one thing from the book. Of course it wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t understand it, but she wanted him to spend some time with her.

    Which had turned out to be a huge success. He explained it in a very soft and understanding way, even encouraged her to come and ask if there was something else that she didn¡¯t understand.

    Ellen ended up staying in the room with him, both reading a different book in the gently light from the light bringing gear.

    It had all been perfect if it shouldn¡¯t be that the gear gave of a very frustratingly clicking noise as it turned, just like the one in the room there she had woke up.

    The celebration of the winter tree''s blossom had finally arrived.

    Ellen had looked forward to it when she first heard about it, but it had slowly fade away since a lot had happened around her. Most of it had been according to Alice''s plan, but it was also because she did start to read the book that would bring her closer to Jack.

    All three of them had walked to a park together and found a place there they could look at the winter trees. Jack had opened a bottle of wine and treated the girls, encouraged them to drink as much as they wished for. Today was after all the only day they were allowed to do it by him.

    Yet he later just left Ellen in the ¡°princess''s¡± mercy when a shady looking man called him over.

    The last thing he did before leaving was to once more point out that they were free to drink as much as they wanted.

    Ellen emptied the cup of wine after another. If she would spend the celebration together with THAT ¡°princess¡± instead of him, then she could as well be wasted enough to maybe not snap at her about all the bad things Alice could do.

    Alice tried to hold her sister''s rhythm, but it seemed to be harder for her then she had thought.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it a beautiful view we have?¡± Alice asked while sitting beside Ellen, looking at the close by winter trees.

    Ellen couldn¡¯t deny that it was a beautiful view they had got, of course it would have been better if Jack had been there to see it with them. Looking at all those trees, clothed with leaves in a gently light blue colour and with flowers that almost looked like they had been hanged up by a gently ¡°princess¡± like Alice herself.

    She suddenly froze up for a second when she noticed what she had thought, the wine had probably starting to get to her head. It had been a great luck that it was just a thought, she wouldn¡¯t be able to survive if she had said something like that out loud.

    ¡°It is a beautiful view we have gotten, yes.¡± Ellen answered while she tried to ignore the stupid thought that just had passed by.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t the reflection on the leaves around the bright flowers remind you of the pictures in the school books about the galaxy?¡±

    Ellen looked up in the tree they sat under, her sister had a point. The small and gently reflections at the leaves reminded of stars around the sun, or in this cause the bright winter tree flower.

    Surprisingly, the time she spends drinking with her sister didn¡¯t bother her. Instead she was actually enjoyed it, maybe because the wine made her let go off the regular guard she holds. Or maybe it was just that the wine made the ¡°princess¡± hold less grudge against her and therefore it was easier for her to relax there.

    ¡°Well if it isn¡¯t the little missy.¡± Someone interrupted the casual talk they had fallen into.

    Both of the girls followed the voice and noticed a big bull like man with a shipper''s beard.

    ¡°Good evening Mr... Mr shop owner.¡±

    Ellen gave him a light bow as she talked. It bothered her that she couldn¡¯t remember his name, or did she even ask for it in the shop?

    The man laughed loudly, ¡°I think we never presented ourselves in the shop. I am Chris.¡±

    A relief was showering over her, she hadn¡¯t forgotten his name after all so it was all fine.

    ¡°Nice to meet you Mr Chris, I am Ellen.¡±

    He turned to Alice, ¡°And might this little miss be a friend or girlfriend to you?¡±

    If Alice''s look could have killed, he had been dead in front of them.

    ¡°No, this is my little sister Alice,¡± Ellen answered with a light giggle before she reacted that the wine really must had gone to her head.

    Upon her words Alice moved closer to and leaned at her, as if she wanted to indicate that Ellen belonged to her.

    Chris burst out in another laughter.

    ¡°My apologies girls, I could never had guessed that.¡±

    Ellen cracked a smile, she did really enjoy this man''s attitude. Stall owners would have tried their best to cover it all up, but not him. He simply spilled all his beans over them after an apology. The city might need more people like him.

    After the strange and messy greeting Chris treated them at some liquor. It was the first time Ellen had tried it and most probably also the last time. It seemed to be the same for Alice, that in difference from Ellen needed two cups wine to get rid of the burning taste.

    Together the three of them talked and drank the evening away.

    Alice did pass out and was sleeping on the knees of her sister. She was far more beautiful when she was sleeping, it was no wonder that this girl could charm any man and woman.

    If Ellen just had been born with only a little beauty from this ¡°princess¡±, then maybe she could have looked at herself without being disappointed.

    After drinking and talking far too much Jack came back from wherever he had been, greeting Chris shortly before packing their things up and going back home.

    ¡°What have you been doing all this time father?¡± Ellen asked as she leaned at Jack.

    She was starting to feel weak and had serious problem walking straight. This wasn¡¯t something that would happen often, if this was how she felt after drinking, she could live without it.

    Jack never answered her question. Maybe because he was both giving a piggyback ride to that lucky, lucky little ¡°princess¡± and supporting Ellen.

 chapter 3

    They hadn¡¯t even finished preparing the breakfast when Jack wished to talk with Ellen.

    She was feeling tired after the celebration during the earlier evening, the wine seemed to really have affected her sleep.

    ¡°Do you know where I am taking you?¡± He asked her when they left the kitchen.

    Ellen didn¡¯t know, but in her heart she wished it to be the bedroom so they could become one, but that was most probably not the case. But she could still hope and wish, right.

    Jack lead her to the room there she once had woken up after being revived.

    ¡°I used this room to learn about gears to revive you, and since you have started to study it now. I think you might have a better use for it then I do.¡±

    Ellen froze up and looked dumbfounded at him. Did he really gave her a room to work in with gears or had she misunderstood something.

    He handed her the key to the room and patted her on the head as if he wished to praise her.

    ¡°Make sure to learn how to be a good cog technical and make me proud Ellen.¡±

    Ellen shined up like a sun and promised to do her best. Since Jack really had trust in her, she really needed to do her best. Maybe there really was a chance for her to help him later on. That was what he wished to tell her, wasn¡¯t it?

    ¡°I will make you proud.¡± Ellen outburst loudly.

    This could really be her chance to prove herself to better than that little ¡°princess¡± Alice.

    All she needed to do was to learn and start working with it, then help Jack somehow and her goal would be proven.

    Alice must have known what had happened when they were gone. At least Ellen thought so since she got a really bitter glare when she and father came back.

    Alice never said anything bad to her, but it was clear that she had some problem with it, maybe it was the same bitterness as when she noticed that Ellen started to study it. Could it be that the ¡°princess¡± started to feel threatened since things didn¡¯t go as she had plan?

    The breakfast passed like always.

    Sure it was how Jack wished it, but Ellen couldn¡¯t deny that it wouldn¡¯t hurt if there was a little talk.

    That was one thing she would change when she and Jack developed their relationship and she became the woman of the house.

    Just like the fact that Jack left the house almost without a word after finishing the breakfast and that he locked himself up in the library after coming back home.

    Alice had more or less thrown Ellen out of the kitchen after she got to know what had happened outside the kitchen.

    ¡°Then you can play with that for today.¡± She had said before telling her to go. Alice had tried to hide that she disliked the whole thing, but she was acting like she always did in their past life. So Ellen recognised the behaviour far to well. Seemed like that the ¡°princess¡± hadn¡¯t matured so much after all.

    The room, or workshop as Jack wished to call it, was in the same mess as it had been the day Ellen left it after spending the night there.

    She had just been revived and Jack offered her the possibility to spend the night with Alice, he himself was about to go and sleep after being awake for two days straight. Ellen had roughly declined the offer about spending the night with Alice. Who in the world could know what the grudging ¡°princess¡± could have done to her if she got the chance.

    Ellen dropped a heavy sigh, it wasn¡¯t even worth the time to think about that and decided to organise all the things Jack had in the room.

    <hr>

    Alice cleaned up after the breakfast while muttering for herself.

    ¡°Why are you starting to work with something like that?¡±

    Ellen had finally come back to so called life, and is starting with that. Will she disappear again like when she snapped that evening. It was horrible to almost be killed by her beloved sister, but it was even worse that Ellen had died that evening. Her beloved sister had left her and it was all about to be repeated.

    Alice let out a sigh. Was it right by her to let her sister go to that room? Sure she looked really happy to get allowed to use the room to practice and work by their father. And she hadn¡¯t been that happy, or even close to it, since she had been revived. Not even when they finally met again after all those years.

    At least she herself had been happy and hugged her sister tight, if Ellen had been more fragile she was sure that the spine would have snapped. Not that it really mattered if it would have snapped since father was there. So he could have fixed it somehow, with or without help from his co-workers.

    Her emotions were in a mess. Why couldn¡¯t Ellen be happy to see her little sister again?

    Or rather, why couldn¡¯t she show it of like during the winter tree blossom? It wouldn¡¯t hurt, right?

    Alice had been so happy that she called her little sister, even if Ellen looked like she had said something wrong afterward.

    Alice had fallen asleep happy later on, only to wake up and hear how they talked about those cog things.

    Why did they have to talk about something like that?

    She clenched her hand and slammed it into the table.

    Why did emotions have to be so complicated, why did they have to become a big mess?

    It could have been so much better if they were easier to control all the time instead of becoming a pain in the rear.

    Alice took a couple of deep breaths, she had to handle them no matter what. She was a grown up woman after all, so it would be a shame  if she couldn¡¯t control these emotions.

    When she had calmed her emotions she began to do the basic house chores.

    She had done it by herself for so long, so it didn¡¯t really bother her that Ellen wasn¡¯t there to help her. And right now it almost was a good thing that Ellen didn¡¯t help. That meant Alice could try to sort out her thoughts without caring about another part.

    Why did Ellen have to be happy to study that, it were so many other less bothersome things she could have studied. So many other things there it was a less possibility for her to disappear. Yet she did chose that.

    Alice dropped a heavy sigh, did she need to keep an extra eye on Ellen from now on? Or should she let her run free until she disappeared?

    Alice thought long and hard while cleaning the house.

    It hadn¡¯t felt like long when she noticed that it had become time to get food for dinner. Her thoughts seemed to have made her lose her sense of time, but at least she noticed when it was time to leave in time.

    Like a small lightning bolt she left the house for the marketplace, also leaving Ellen behind.

    She would liked to have her sister with her, but if Ellen was happy in that room it would just feel bad to disturb her.

    Alice had almost got everything she needed for dinner and headed toward the last stall when she heard a painfully familiar voice from behind her.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it my future wife that is out shopping?¡±

    She had already gone through so much already today, this wasn¡¯t really something she wished for now.

    ¡°Taija I have told you before, I am not your future wife.¡± Couldn¡¯t that woman understand it once for all. And if it just was a kind of a joke, then couldn¡¯t she just stop? Or at least just for a while.

    ¡°Alice, you sound irritated. Have anything happened?¡± Taija asked worried.

    That woman was mostly fooling around and teased Alice, but of course she had a few times when she was serious. It was easy to hear in her tone, and now was one of those times.

    ¡°It is just a small something.¡± Alice tried to cut it short. Taija didn¡¯t need to know about it. It was after all Alice and Ellen''s problem, and their alone.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me about it? Maybe I can help you with some wisdom of an elder sister.¡±

    Alice ignored her.

    ¡°It can also be good for you to ventilate your thoughts and maybe your emotions.¡±

    She caught Alice¡¯s attention. It could be a point in it, maybe it could be good to ventilate it. Maybe it could result in that it become easier for her to handle those cursed emotions.

    Alice let out a sigh, this could easily be a really bad decision. But it could be worth to give it at least one try, just to know if it helped her or not.

    <hr>

    It finally started to look like there was someone using the workshop, finally.

    Ellen had arrived to a workshop that had looked worse than she had remembered waking up in.

    It was like there hadn¡¯t been someone there for a long, long time. And also it looked like the former owner had left in a hurry.

    Ellen let out a heavy sigh, how could her beloved Jack leave it in that kind of mess?

    Sure he might have a lot if things to think about, but still, leaving it like it were.

    The tools had all been organised at a table, while the cog and springs was roughly organised at another table.

    Ellen looked at it all and put her hands at the hips. It wasn¡¯t much she had done, but she still felt satisfied with what she had achieved so far.

    She cracked a victorious smile and rise her hand. It was probably nothing that could stop her by now.

    Her smile quickly faded away when she noticed how dirty her hands was. Her dress was full of dirty handprints and dirty marks from all those things she had moved during her time there.

    It maybe could be a good idea to get a pair of working clothes, otherwise she would probably be a world champion at washing clothes in the close future.

    She could probably trick the ¡°princess¡± to do the cleaning, but that would probably upset her beloved father. In the end it was best if she washed the dress herself, if the horrible ¡°princess¡± just could show her how to clean the dress.

    ¡°Please come in.¡± Ellen screamed after hearing a gently knocking on the door.

    Alice looked in, looking around curious before laying her eyes at Ellen. It didn¡¯t even take her one second before she looked angry at Ellen.

    ¡°You have to go and get yourself washed off before the dinner, NOW. And bring down that dress with you.¡±

    ¡°I will, and I will wash the dress myself too if you show me how to do it.¡± Ellen said apologetically to Alice.

    Ellen had really got dirty inside the workshop, really, REALLY dirty.

    She noticed it herself when she had seen herself in the bathroom mirror.

    Walking toward the kitchen she dropped a sigh. Why didn¡¯t she thought about the risk of becoming dirty before she start to run around in the workshop? It could have saved her both time and dignity if she just had thought about it. What would Jack say when noticing how dirty Alice''s dress had become.

    ¡°You have to wash that yourself Ellen.¡±

    They had just finished the dinner when Jack spoke up.

    ¡°Father, she already offered to wash the dress herself. So I will bring her along and show her how to do it the next time.¡±

    Alice seemed trying to cover up for her. It was new, did she have any second thought behind it or was she just gently for once?

    Jack looked sceptical at Alice first and then at Ellen.

    ¡°You better get out and buy some clothes that you can work in later on.¡± he said with a sigh.

    Ellen had already decided that, she would go and buy some working cloths the next day.

    ¡°Do you know a good place to buy it?¡±

    Neither Jack or Alice knew any good places. Which meant she needed to ask Chris for help, and that also meant that she needed to keep silent about that Alice dress had become dirty because she ran around in the workshop. He had after all pointed out to her to be careful with her clothes at his place. So he would most probably try to make fun of her if he got to know that she had done it at home instead. If she knew him right after those short meetings they had.

    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    Ellen helped Alice to clean up after the dinner as a kind of apologising gesture for the dress, even if she didn¡¯t think she deserves it.

    Directly afterward Ellen went to pick some wood so she could warm up a bath to seriously wash herself off. She could really need it after a day in the workshop.

    ¡°What will you do?¡± The little ¡°princess¡± was curious as always and almost glared at Ellen carrying the wood.

    ¡°I will take a bath to clean myself, shall I tell you when I am done. If you want a bath?¡±

    Ellen sat in the bathtub and let out a sigh. She was taking a bath as she had decided, but not as she had been thinking.

    She looked over to the other end of the bathroom. That horrible so-called ¡°princess¡± had more or less forced her to take a bath together ¡°just like good old times¡± as she wished to call it.

    She was probably only trying to show of her body for her, otherwise she wouldn¡¯t take her time undressing.

    ¡°It seems like I am heavier than my big sister¡± Alice giggled when she joined Ellen in the bathtub and caused the water to flow over.

    Ellen only responded with a fake smile, did that girl tried to make fun of her or was she really that dumb?

    They almost sat on each others feet in the bathtub, so Ellen thought about to give Alice a kick for that so-called joke. Just for good measures.

    But she decided to not do it in the. Not because she somehow would feel sorry for the ¡°princess¡±, but it would be a pain to explain it for Jack later on. And what would she do if he started to dislike her.

    ¡°Ellen, what are your connection with... Mr shopkeeper¡±? Alice asked in a strangely serious voice.

    Ellen starred intensely at her. What did she really meant, was she really that stupid?

    ¡°He has just sold me a book and said that he would help me to study. Why¡±?

    It was something strange with her little sister. Was she worried that her plan would fail because of Chris?

    ¡°Are you sure? It sounded like you were close to each other when you started start to talk about cog and gears during the winter tree celebration.¡±

    To start with, hadn¡¯t she been passed out when they talked about that? And if she was awake, why didn¡¯t she said anything? Ellen needed an answer to the question.

    ¡°If you was awake, why didn¡¯t you said anything? Then we could have talked about something there you also could have joined.¡±

    Alice avoided Ellen''s look and answered with a bitter tone, ¡°You seem to be happy while talking about it, so it felt bad to disturb. And it was more comfortable to be allowed to fall asleep to your voice.¡±

    Ellen could once have understand Alice, but it seemed to belong to the past. Now it seemed like she had changed to more or less a stranger.

    Of course it could be that Alice just tried to cover up that she had been shy, which would deeply surprise Ellen. Or did she only act according to a plan?

    Ellen let out a sigh, it was no way to know what she really was planning. And it was probably impossible for her to tell what was a plan and not.

    Maybe it would be better for her own health to try to relax a little more around Alice. Until it came up something directly connected with Jack. Otherwise there could also be a risk that he turned against her because of it.

    There was also a chance that Ellen had the upper hand since she now had something special that she and Father could talk about. Maybe that was the reason Alice acted so strange, she tried to regain control.

    During their time in the bath Alice once more forced herself on Ellen.

    This time she forced her upon helping Ellen wash her back.

    Ellen tried to avoid it, but it all failed. That little ¡°princess¡± seemed to have a strange force to get her wish through. Could it be something she had used again poor Jack to?

    The next day Ellen woke up earlier then usually. Alice was clinching upon her arm, almost as if it had been a stuffed toy or something.

    Ellen turned at looked at the clock in the room. It was this time that Alice usually woke up and prepared breakfast for them. During Ellen''s first time alive again, she had woke up when the ¡°princess¡± left the room.

    Ellen pulled her arm out of Alice grip and left the bed. Since Alice still was asleep, she could gain some extra points from Jack by making breakfast. She didn¡¯t know the measures for everything, but how hard could it really be?

    <hr>

    Alice slowly woke up and quickly curled up under the covering.

    It was a lot colder than normally, had it arrived a cold period in the city? Why was it so cold here, couldn¡¯t it be like in their old world? A good temperature in every room of the house, without being forced to light up a stove.

    Could it be that they had been in a colder period for one or two days already, but she didn¡¯t notice it since Ellen was there with her?

    Stupid Ellen, where did she go on a cold day like this? If it was the room father borrowed her, she better have some real working cloths or be working nude.

    The clock had already passed her usual time for waking up to prepare breakfast for her father and sister. Without even wanting to she left the bed.

    It didn¡¯t seem like everything was right with her, she was feeling weaker than the day earlier. And during that day she even suffered from a hangover.

    If it hadn¡¯t been that they had celebrated the winter tree blossom and taking a bath together, then Alice would have been worried that it had all just had been a dream.

    She let out a tired sigh, hopefully Ellen had decided to be a extraordinary kind soul and prepare the breakfast for once. Or maybe just for trying to gain some good points from father. Even if her sister didn¡¯t wanted to confess it, she still had a special place in her heart for him. It was so clear almost a blind could spot it.

    After much of hesitation Alice got out of bed.

    When she arrived to the kitchen so were both Jack and Ellen there.

    Ellen was preparing breakfast just as she had hoped. Even if she seemed to do a little more breakfast than usually, but at least she tried to get it right.

    After some short morning greetings Jack looked worried at Alice. ¡°How are you feeling Alice, you look a little pale.¡±

    Did she look pale, did that meant she was sick? It could explain why she was freezing.

    Father put his hand on her forehead, ¡°You are a little warm Alice.¡±

    She could feel how Ellen starred holes into her.

    Ellen had said she no longer had any interest in him, but what was this if not jealousy?

    ¡°Ellen, make sure that little Alice is resting today.¡± father said before leaving.

    He had been looking worriedly at her from time to time during the whole breakfast. It was almost so she felt bad for worrying him that much.

    Alice was forced to rest by her sister, but since she didn¡¯t want to spend her time alone in the bedroom she simply occupied the sofa in the living room.

    She could not feel happier. Just like when she was younger, her beloved sister was taking care of her.

    Alice had before often felt bad for having Ellen taking care of her every time she was sick. Which had been a lot more often then not.

    But now she was just happy about it. It only proved that Ellen cared about her, even if father had told her to take care of Alice.

    <hr>

    Ellen let out a sigh while taking the leftovers to the basement. She had tried her best to both making the right amount breakfast so there wouldn¡¯t be any leftovers  and to make it better than that little ¡°princess¡± did it. Both had failed miserably.

    She made breakfast for him, just like Alice. Yet Jack didn¡¯t say anything or even praise her.

    Had she done something wrong or was she just not as good as that horrible little ¡°princess¡±? Which she needed to take care of, as the cherry on the top.

    Alice had occupied the sofa, even after Ellen had told her that it would be better for her to rest in the bedroom. At least it would be less noises for if she had gone to the room.

    The ¡°princess¡± had fallen asleep seconds after she took her place at the sofa, with a silly yet happy smile.

    Ellen began the cleaning of the house, even if she didn¡¯t have help it still needed to be done.

    To her surprise it was much heavier than when they did it together. How had Alice succeeded to clean it all by herself before Ellen got revived, or did she even clean alone before that?

    When it was time to shop for the dinner Ellen had not even cleaned half of what used to be done.

    She silently cursed that Alice had got sick. If she hadn¡¯t got sick they would have been done by now.

    It was only for her to hope her sister would get better soon, so she could help with the cleaning again.

    ¡°Sister, it¡¯s about time to buy food for dinner.¡±

    Alice seemed only half awake while sitting up on the sofa.

    Of course Ellen knew to well that it was about time to go out to buy food, she didn¡¯t need that little ¡°princess¡± to tell her.

    ¡°Sister, do you have anything small for me to eat?¡±

    Did that high horse ¡°princess¡± think Ellen was a maid or something? Ellen dropped a heavy sigh and started to walk towards the basement, ¡°I will get you something light to eat.¡±

    May Alice get better soon.

    Ellen meet Chis outside his shop. He was locking it up.

    ¡°Hello Chris.¡± she greeted him.

    ¡°Hello Ellen.¡± He seemed surprised to see her. ¡°Are you going to the marketplace?¡±

    Chris was closing his shop early to buy some food.

    As Ellen understood it, he was about to get visited by an old friend. And because of that he was about to prepare a fine dinner.

    ¡°Do you know any special food that can be good against colds?¡±

    They had only come halfway to the marketplace, but it could be good to know in beforehand.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what can be good against it, but my mother often made soup when we had a cold. And it always seemed to make us all feeling better.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t really the answer she had been hoping for, but if that was the only advice she could get from him she could give it a shot.

    ¡°Are you believing you are about to catch a cold?¡±

    ¡°No, Alice has caught a cold and I wish for her to get well.¡±

    Chris praised her for being a wonderful and kind sister.

    Of course Ellen left out the fact out that she already was tired of doing the cleaning herself. It sound much, much better that way.

    Ellen got some advices on how to make the soup better.

    To those that didn¡¯t knew them, they could have looked like a pair. Which didn¡¯t really bother Ellen, as long Chris and her knew the truth.

    Back at home she made the soup, using all the advices she got from Chris. It ended up being a great success. She was even praised by Jack, praised by his whole stomach.

    Even Alice liked it and ate a lot. That Alice also praised her was nice, but it almost didn¡¯t matter. As long that the ¡°princess¡± would get better. So she could start helping with that horrific cleaning again.

 chapter 4

    Alice curled up under the blanket, she was still feeling cold just like the day before.

    Tired she could hear how they were moving around in the house. Not even trying to move around silently, instead they walked around just as loudly as ever, if not even worse.

    ¡°Why can¡¯t they be silent?¡± she muttered for herself and curled up even more under the covers.

    She felt a little better than the day before, but she wasn¡¯t well yet. It was a pain to be sick, it was just boring. Even cleaning would have been more fun. Which she now left for poor, poor Ellen to do alone.

    A light guilt built up in her. It really wasn¡¯t fun to clean the house, and even less to do it alone. Yet her beloved sister, that didn¡¯t even do it well, had to do it alone while Alice herself was just taking it easy.

    Alice spent some time to build up and try to ruin the same guilt before she heard that Jack left the house.

    She couldn¡¯t spend the whole day in bed, so now it was time to get out of bed. Freezing she left the warm bed to go and get dressed. Silently she cursed the cold rather then her own warmer body.

    ¡°Good morning Ellen,¡± she greeted when she arrived to the kitchen.

    Ellen had already started to wash the dishes, but as the kind person she is, she had left some food at the table for Alice.

    ¡°Good morning Alice, are you awake now?¡±

    Ellen sounded uninterested in her voice. Maybe she was bored of taking care of Alice already, or it could be that she already had start to drown in her own thoughts.

    ¡°Did father said anything about that I hadn¡¯t got up when he left?¡± Alice asked when she took her place around the table.

    Not that she really cared about it, but it could be a good question to start up a conversation with her sister.  Ellen did after all cared about their father by whole her heart, so it could be a good opportunity to start it.

    ¡°Jack asked me to let you rest and to take care of you.¡±

    He didn¡¯t said anything in other words. Not that it really mattered a anyway. All that mattered was that her sister was there for her. Everything else was nothing of interest.

    ¡°Will you occupy the sofa today to?¡± Ellen asked when she got the dish from Alice.

    ¡°It is really relaxing to have you around me, so I will use the sofa again.¡±

    Alice had decided to rest in the sofa before even leaving the bed. She did really relaxed in an other way when Ellen was around, in comparison of if she would rest in the bedroom, alone.

    To her surprise Ellen had already put a blanket and an extra pillow on the sofa. She was really caring for her, even if it could be because father told her to, but still.

    Alice took her place in the sofa and covered herself with the blanket. It was still just as cold as it had been in the bed, but it felt so much warmer.

    Slowly she sank into slumber, listening to Ellen while she cleaned the room. Alice couldn¡¯t have been happier, she was not alone in the house anymore.

    Alice didn¡¯t know how much time that had pass when someone woke her up.

    The one that woke her up was no other then The annoying woman Taija.

    ¡°What are you doing here Taija.¡±

    She didn¡¯t know if she was having a bad dream or if that woman had sneaked in with or without permission. Either way Alice didn¡¯t like it.

    ¡°I can to see how you was doing little Alice. I heard that you had caught a cold and decided to bring you some good tea.¡± Taija didn¡¯t seem to care that she could be sick by staying close to her. But in case she got sick later, it would be her own fault later.

    At the table beside the sofa were two steamy cups of the.

    ¡°Want to try some?¡± Taija asked and leaned over Alice to help her up.

    Alice gave it a thought. It could maybe do her well with some tea, otherwise it at least could be nice. If it was the right kind of tea, that is.

    Taija helped her when she would sit up. It was a gently but unnecessary act by her. Alice could have handled it herself, but she was still somehow happy by the act.

    Alice took a sip of the tea, it tasted better then she had been expected. Someone had probably already add honey to it, just to her taste. She took a look at Taija, that woman couldn¡¯t have done it, right?

    Taija asked if it had be to her taste and upon agreement said that it seemed that Ellen likes to pamper her sister. According to her Ellen had ask if the tea was bitter and put honey in it after she got to know it was.

    Alice smiled for herself, her beloved sister really, really cares for her.

    Taija gave Alice advices about how to stay healthy. Almost nagging it into her.

    That was until Ellen left for buying food at the market.

    ¡°Are you still worried about your sister''s studies?¡± She asked Alice as soon Ellen had close the door behind herself.

    ¡° Yes, but at the same time she do seems to love studying it.¡± Alice feelings about it was split. She did want her sister to stay there and to be happy, but she seemed to be as most happy when it came to study cog and gears.

    Taija seemed to understand the dilemma, at least to a point there she could calm Alice worries.

    They talked about it for a while until Taija decided that Alice needed to rest.

    Alice found it fascinating that the woman that once only had bothered her was able to help her calming down. Someone seem to have gone through a change.

    When Taija would leave Alice stopped her to ask for one last thing.

    <hr>

    Ellen came back home and noticed that Taija had left the house. Alice in other hand was still occupying the sofa and slept loudly.

    That little ¡°princess¡± was acting like a spoiled child today, getting up late at totally ignoring everything that needed to be done. If it wouldn¡¯t been that Jack had told her to take care of her sister, she would have put the princess into cleaning duties right away. Not to mention that it was a chance that the ¡°princess¡± not even was sick anymore, she could just use it as an excuse to not do the cleaning.

    Ellen''s thoughts changed very quickly when she laid her hand on her sisters forehead. The girl was more or less burning up inside. Maybe she wasn¡¯t really well after all.

    She let out a sigh and walked to the kitchen, starting to preparing the dinner. She would wake Alice up a while before the dinner was done so she could get herself washed of before joining the table.

    If that sick little ¡°princess¡± was like now, then she probably wouldn¡¯t have recovered by the next day. Which meant that Ellen would need to do everything by herself, AGAIN.

    While preparing the dinner Ellen couldn¡¯t help but to think of how it would be if Jack got sick. It at very least had to be better than taking care of this little ¡°princess¡±. And in difference from now, she would have enjoyed every second of it.

    She could almost see herself taking care of him in any cloth that he wished her to wear, if any at all. Ellen would have done it, no matter of how embarrassing it would have been. All for him and only him.

    Even if she didn¡¯t want her beloved to be sick, it was a wonderful thought.

    Ellen woke up Alice before dinner just as she had thought of doing and sent her to wash herself off.

    The ¡°princess¡± had never looked as she should, normal, and looked even worse now. Almost to a point so Ellen felt bad for waking her up. It was easy to see that she really wasn¡¯t well.

    Jack hadn¡¯t arrived home when she was done with the cooking and after half an hour of waiting they decided to eat without him.

    Ellen felt a little bad for it, but it was nothing she could do about it. Hopefully it was only his work holding him up. Hopefully. Otherwise if anything would happen to him, Ellen didn¡¯t know how to react.

    To her happiness Jack arrived while she washed the dishes, unharmed and fine.

    The next day was no difference from the day before, Alice was still sick. Sure she seemed to be feeling much better than the previous day, but still sick. So it was ANOTHER day she needed to do the cleaning herself.

    She was getting sickly tired of doing the cleaning alone, why couldn¡¯t that little ¡°princess¡± get over the sickness?

    Ellen glared at Alice that laid sleeping in the sofa, sleeping peacefully. It was a view that annoyed Ellen even further. If she could have, she should had forced Alice to help. And if that really hadn¡¯t been possible, Alice would have been sent straight to bed there Ellen didn¡¯t need to see her.

    As if it wasn¡¯t enough already Taija came to visit the little ¡°princess¡± to. Sure that woman was better than the ¡°princess¡±, but it was still annoying to see them just sit and talking without doing anything to help.

    They seemed to be acting strange this day, it was like they kept an eye at her. For whatever reason it couldn¡¯t be good. Could it be that the horrific little ¡°princess¡± had decided to take help from that woman to take actions against Ellen?

    Nothing happened before she got out to buy the food to cook dinner.

    During Ellen''s time to and from the marketplace she tried to figure out what they possibly could be planning and how she would escape if they did anything.

    Hadn¡¯t that little ¡°princess¡± done enough by just taking it easy while Ellen worked her rear off?

    Back at home again she was greeted by Taija and Alice in the living room. Taija looked worryingly glad, at least in comparison with Alice. She looked like she wanted to run away, far away.

    ¡° Your sister wishes to tell you something.¡± Taija chippers happily and pushes Alice to the front.

    A rarely shy view of the shameless ¡°princess¡± could be seen as she wriggled uncomfortable.

    ¡°Since you have taken care of me during this days I have been sick¡± she started before turning to Taija. All the response Alice got was to be pushed closer to Ellen.

    ¡°As thanks I want to give you this working cloths.¡± She said out loud and reached out a pair of clothes to Ellen.

    Surprised by the act, she only looked at Alice for a few seconds before she caught up what just had happened.

    ¡°Thanks.¡± Was the only thing she could say right off. Not that she wasn¡¯t grateful, but how would she react by this act. It could be a kind of trap, but at the same time it didn¡¯t feel like that. The ¡°princess¡± shyness seemed far to realistic for it to be a trap.

    Ellen took the cloths and felt the was heavier than normal clothes, even the texture was different.

    And with those clothes she had what she needed to spend time in the workshop again, even if she needed to first finish all her duties.

    She had finished the book she bought from Chris just a few days earlier and had found the information simple. It wasn¡¯t more then simply lay a puzzle, without an image. A burning interest lit up inside of her, she wanted go to the workshop. NOW. Even if she knew that she still needed to both cook, eat and take care if the dishes after the dinner.

    Ellen cracked a smile for herself and thanked Alice once more. Even if her sister act like a spoiled little princess from time to time, maybe she had some good sides. Giving her own sister a well needed pair of working clothes, just because she took care of a sick little ¡°princess¡±.

    After everything was done for the evening, Ellen walked and changed to her working clothes. They was truly heavier than the other cloths, and a bigger size then they needed to be. Of which didn¡¯t bother her at all, it was instead almost better that way. Now it was so she could keep them for quite a while, even if she grew a little. But the very best with that the cloths was bigger than necessary, was the fact that they hide her disappointing and rectangular body. The more that was hidden, the better.

    It was both inspiration giving and disappointing for Ellen to come back to the workshop.

    The little more organized chaos that she had done, before Alice picked her up that day, was still there as she had left it.

    Little by little she began to organise and out everything at place there she knew she could find it later. After quite some time it looked like someone really was working there, at the very least it looked like someone spend time there. It was a lot better then when she first had got allowed by Jack to spend time in the room.

    During all the cleaning Ellen thought if she really could help Jack, could there really be a chance that she could help him with some simple cogs? Could that really be the answer to whatever he was doing?

    She meant whatever Jack now was doing maybe couldn¡¯t be help by it, what he did could be so much more advanced than Ellen ever could think of. Maybe it would be best to ask him about it later. But at least not until she had come somewhere with her studies, by doing like that she probably could help him own money at very least.

    By the time she finally was done with the cleaning of the room it seemed to very silent in the house.

    Ellen felt tired, whatever the clock was, it was time for her to get some sleep. She took the candle she had got from Alice, if it would be dark when she was done, and lit it before she turned off the light giving gear in the room.

    It was all dark in the house. The darkness gave the whole house a different atmosphere, almost chilling as if Ellen would have taken a role in a horror movie.

    She was glad that her sister had given her the candle, otherwise it would have been terrifying to walk through the halls.

    At last she arrived to the bathroom and looked at her reflection in the mirror, gently shined up by the candle. She wasn¡¯t as dirty as the first time she had cleaned the room. But she still needed to wash off her whole body before going to bed. She still needed to wash the dress that she had got dirty during the first time, so she didn¡¯t needed to do the same thing with the bed.

    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    After getting herself washed off she sneaked to her and Alice''s bedroom, in her underwear. She had been an idiot to not bringing her nightclothes to the bathroom before starting her work in the workshop.

    The whole room felt unusually cold and she really looked forward to take her place in the warm bed, even if it was beside Alice.

    Ellen had to make sure to get a clock in the workshop. She couldn¡¯t be up this late every day since she after all still needed to do the house chores the next day. Even if Alice would stop being sick, Ellen still needed to help. She had after all noticed how much of a pain it was to do them herself, so there was no longer a chance she would be thinking of letting her sister doing them alone. Not only because of the pain of doing it alone and that Jack had told her to help Alice. But she also had to do something to thanks her sister of getting her those working cloths.

    Ellen let out a big yawn. She had fall asleep right away when she had gone to bed, but it didn¡¯t change the fact that she got less sleep then usually.

    She was very tired and it had been the first and last time she was awake that late. Just to make sure it was the first and last time, she would get a clock in there before she spent another evening there.

    "Did it got late yesterday?¡± Alice had kept an eye at her sister the whole morning to make sure she helped with the cleaning.

    ¡° I couldn¡¯t see any clock, but both you and Jack had already went to bed.¡±

    Alice looked serious at her before dropping a heavy sigh, kindly offer to both come and tell her when it was time to get to bed. And to give Ellen a clock, from another room, that she could set up in the workshop.

    It was a very kind offer, by a little ¡°princess¡± that is.

    After much cleaning and dozens of heavy yawns, she got sent out by Alice to buy the ingredients for the dinner. Especially marking out that Ellen only would walk straight to the marketplace and home. No stop for any spare talk, neither visit any more stores or stalls then necessary.

    Ellen silently laughed for herself on her way there. Alice behaviour had remind her of what a worried mother could have said to her children to make sure they stayed out of trouble.

    Straight to the marketplace and straight home. She wished to visit Chris''s shop, but didn¡¯t. Not because Alice had said so, but rather because she was far too tired to do it.

    Jack came back just in time for dinner, which he had failed to do the day earlier.

    When he saw Ellen in the kitchen he gave her a smile before asking her to come and help him.

    The help he wanted was to carry in a couple of things that was wrapped up in old cloth.

    They was a lot heavier than they looked, and Jack had carried those himself from there he had bought them. He had to a really strong man. Probably a lot stronger then both Ellen and Alice, together.

    ¡°What is it you have bought Jack?¡± Ellen was curious about what it was they carried into their house.

    ¡° I talked with a co-worker about how I was proud of how my smart daughter had started to study how to work with cogs. And he helped me to create this to make it easier for you to start the basic training. ¡°

    He had proudly talked about how Ellen had start to study? Ellen froze up for a second, happier than ever. He really liked that she was studying it. Could that mean that there was a chance she really could help him with his work, could she really be some use for him?

    When they had carried everything to the workshop they began to open it all up.

    The big package contained two pieces of metal plates, filled with holes. And the smaller packages was poles that she could put in the holes and connect cogs to, so she could experiment with how she would put the cogs in future projects. The plates could also be put together in an L form so she could use different angels.

    ¡° Now it should be easier for you to practice. And how does it goes anyway?¡±

    Ellen was so impressed and thought so hard about what she would start to practice with, so Jack had to repeat himself one more time.

    ¡°I did first got my working clothes yesterday and spend the evening to organize the room, so I haven¡¯t got the time to really practice yet.¡± It sound horrible to say it. She had bought the book before the winter tree blossom, burning to start studying and practicing it. Yet she only had used the time to finish the book, nothing more and nothing less. But it would be some changes to that. Now she even got help by Jack to practice, so now she really had to do it. He was counting on her to learn and help him, even if he hadn¡¯t said it she know it was like.

    It could maybe be a good idea to take Alice offer and ask her to tell her when it was time to sleep. After all she couldn¡¯t be this tired everyday.

    The dinner passed by as silent as ever. Jack hadn¡¯t said anything more to Ellen after the question about how the practice went. Was he disappointed at her slow process?

    If that was the cause, then she really needed to prove herself. She now had a chance to come closer to him, so it would be a shame if she wasted it.

    Just as she earlier had decide she asked Alice to come to the workshop and tell her when it was time to sleep. Until then she should start to practice with the tools Jack had bought her.

    It felt like she just had started when Alice came in, both telling her that it was about to time to sleep and bringing her a clock to hang in the workshop.

    The time had aggressively rushed by, leaving her with so much more that she wanted to try. But it as only for her to do the next day, just as disappointedly it was. The only remaining thing to do this day was to wash herself of and get some well deserved rest.

    ¡°So you have got tools to start some real practice now?¡±

    Chris was smiling with his whole face. It seemed like he didn¡¯t have much hope for her earlier, but it maybe was about to change soon. Ellen had got the time to buy another book from him this day, and felt even more motivated to learn and practice more cog and gear technically then before.

    After the breakfast Jack had declared that he would come back later then usually, and it would go on like that until he said otherwise. So there would be no need for them to wait for him or even make dinner for him. It seemed that he had a lot of do at the work. Ellen got worried that there was a risk for him to overwork himself, so she had to help him as soon as possible. Therefore she needed to learn more about it, and all as fast she could.

    ¡°Yes. My father bought me them and is encouraging me to learn more. So I would like a book about the special kinds of gears, like them that gives heat or light.¡±

    If she wanted to be useful she needed to learn about that special kind of gears. She barely knew anything about them, except from that the light giving gear gave of a kind of light and that the warmth generating gear gave of heat. So it could be a good point to start with that.

    It didn¡¯t take Chris long to find the book Ellen wished for. Even if his shop was messy, it seemed like he knew where he had everything.

    ¡°Here are the book you are searching for little miss.¡± He placed the book at the counter and gave her a gently smile.

    Ellen paid for the book and wished she could stay longer, but according to Chris''s clock it was about time to get home so she and the little ¡°princess¡± could start cooking dinner. After a short thanks and bye, Ellen left for home.

    At the way home she cursed her aching muscles, they had start to hurt by the time she woke up at the morning. It could be because her body wasn¡¯t used to the weight if the cogs. Sure they wasn¡¯t that heavy, but she could give it that it was heavier than the other things she normally did.

    Hopefully the ach wouldn¡¯t last long, this had been the first time she practiced it so it was probably something that only would be a pain for a couple of days or so.

    Ellen sat in Jack''s library and reads the new book. She could and probably should have practice instead, but had thought about it and decides that it was better if she balanced her study and practice. By doing that she could learn a bit more, hopefully.

    Alice had asked Ellen after dinner if she should come over to the workshop and tell her when it was time to sleep, just like the day earlier. She even looked surprised that Ellen had decided to read the book in Jack''s library instead. Of course Alice still was allowed to come and tell her when it was time to sleep. The time would most likely pass by as while she was practicing, so it was better to be safe than sorry.

    She only got to read a little of what she wanted before Jack walked into the room. He looked more tired then usually, at least as Ellen had seen him.

    ¡°Welcome back home Jack.¡± She gave him her best smile. Jack only gave her a short murmur as response before walking over to the bookshelves, picking a book and taking a place in a armchair without saying anything further.

    He really had to be exhausted by the work, if he didn¡¯t even had the energy to really answer her. Ellen felt that she really needed to help him, he couldn¡¯t go on like this far to long.

    ¡°Jack, what are you working with and how can I help you?¡±

    She needed to know that, if she knew it she could easier help him. Or at least she could pay some extra energy to the parts of her studies that could be more useful.

    Jack sat silent for a while, thinking before he spoke up. ¡°I am creating crystals like the one you probably saw in the chemistry class while you was alive.¡±

    Ellen know what kind of crystals he meant, she had seen pictures if it but never made any.

    If she remembered correctly they should be easy to make, at least with the chemicals of the old world. But it wasn¡¯t sure that they had the same chemicals here, so Jack really must be a smart person to do it anyway.

    ¡°How can I help you with gears if they are made by chemicals?¡± Was it even possible for her to do anything for him? Insecure started to crawl up her spine, she couldn¡¯t think of anything that could help.

    ¡°A co-worker had thoughts about that a purifying gear maybe could make them more pure. So that is what I wishes my beloved daughter to find out.¡±

    It sounded good, but it could have sound and been a lot better if he shouldn¡¯t have gone back to the book while saying it. But at least she now know what needed to be done.

    The only question that had strike Ellen from time to time was if Jack would pay for her work alone, or would his co-workers help him pay for her. They should do it, they was after all also make a profit if the crystals gets better and sells for a higher price.

    <hr>

    Alice let out a silent sigh and looked at her beloved sister that seemed to be in some deep thoughts.

    Jack must have said something to her again, maybe asking her for even more than he already had done. Sure Ellen had spending a lot of time thinking about what she learned and had been bursting out with some gently and happy energy. But this time it was different, it wasn¡¯t that happy feeling about it. Instead it was an annoyingly serious feeling about it.

    ¡°Can you please do some cleaning while thinking?¡±

    Ellen had stopped cleaning while diving into herself. That was really no problem itself, but it felt like it was indicating that she sooner or later would only just disappear. Leaving Alice alone, again. Now when they finally could spend some time together again.

    She only wished her sister to be happy, but was it worth it if she all of sudden would be gone? Was it worth to let Ellen help their ¡°beloved¡± father, it could easily push her over the edge. Alice knew it would be like that, yet she was so stupid that she followed Taija''s advice to support and encourage Ellen studies. Just how stupid could she be?

    The only thing that actually seemed to at Alice''s side was that her lovely sister still tried to help her with the cleaning. But it was clear that it was bothering Ellen. Was it taking far to much time that Ellen would have wished to study instead? Would she hate Alice in the end because of it?

    Alice hoped that Ellen would clear her mind during her trip to the marketplace, but it didn¡¯t seemed to work as she had hoped. Ellen was still in her own thoughts.

    Maybe it should be best to just send her to the workshop after the dinner, so she could work some thoughts of and maybe more of her usually self the next day. Even if it would enlarge the risk of Ellen''s disappearance.

    ¡°I have done some thinking Alice.¡± Ellen began after they had finished the dinner. Alice felt really surprised, her sister had done some thinking. She could never have guessed...

    ¡°I need to study harder to be able to help father, So if it¡¯s possible I would like to spend every second day to study.¡±

    It didn¡¯t sound like a far to bad idea, at least it was a lot better then if Ellen would have wished to spend everyday only to study. And if Alice wanted, she could easily cheat a little with the cleaning during those days. Not that it was a great risk she would do it, but she could.

    ¡°You mean that you wishes to only do the cleaning every second day, and leave the other days to me?¡± Alice noticed how mean it sounded first afterward. She didn¡¯t mean it to sound like that and would just apologise when she noticed her sister was. Smiling?

    ¡°I thought a little about that to and I believe that we don¡¯t need to clean every day. So why don¡¯t you spend most of the day as you want? Except from that there¡¯s still a need for you to make dinner, but I will make up for that somehow.¡±

    Ellen had really thought things through. Much more than Alice first had thought.

    It really did sound like a good idea, but what else should it be when it came from her smart sister.

    Maybe she could spend the time in some way she wanted.

 chapter 5

    It was the morning of the first day that Ellen more or less had decided to be a free day.

    Alice had got up the usually time to prepare breakfast for them all. Ellen had been studied late, again, and came to the kitchen when Alice almost was done with everything.

    ¡°Good morning sister.¡±

    Ellen seemed to be only half awake. Maybe she had to consider how she should work to still be something like a human the next day. If it wouldn¡¯t be that Ellen should practicing the whole day, it would have been a pain to keep an eye at her. Ellen was already daydreaming to much while they were cleaning.

    ¡°Ain¡¯t Jack awake yet?¡±

    Alice looked at the clock, he usually woke up by himself. But today seemed to be a exception and it was starting to get late.

    ¡°Can you put everything at the table Ellen?¡± She asked in a very demanding tone and left to wake Jack up.

    There was no chance that she would let Ellen wake him up. No chance at all. She would have taken all the advances that she possible could at their father. Even if she claimed to not even love him anymore.

    Alice let out a sigh and looked at the door to her father''s room. It was one thing that Ellen was tired at the morning and maybe overslept a little, but he was a grown-up man that should take care of his growing daughters. Didn¡¯t that mean that he should act like an adult?

    ¡°Jack, it¡¯s time to get up!¡±

    It didn¡¯t take many seconds before she could hear him swearing.

    Was that man really her father?

    Either she or Ellen did look like him. Sure Ellen acted like him when it came to forget everything around them while studying. But otherwise there wasn¡¯t any similarities between them and him.

    It would have been wonderful if he had declared that they was adopted because of that. But no, instead he thought it was better to just claim it was because it was disgraceful to have children outside a marriage. What did father think he could win by doing that?

    Alice let out another sigh while walking back to the kitchen.

    Ellen looked disappointed at her when she stepped into the kitchen.

    Alice couldn¡¯t help but to feel happy inside. It was clear that she had hoped it was Jack that came.

    She was a terrible liar when she claimed that she didn¡¯t love Jack anymore, it was a terrible cute act by Ellen.

    The breakfast passed rapidly as Jack almost only threw the food into his mouth and told them to wake him up earlier next time, at the same time.

    Soon he ran out from the house like a spring, leaving the two girls alone with their breakfast.

    ¡°It can¡¯t be healthy for him to stress away like that¡±.

    Ellen looked down at her food, she seemed to have start thinking again. Thinking hard and deep.

    Sure she had a point that it couldn¡¯t be healthy for Jack to do like that. But shouldn¡¯t she be thinking about herself first? It couldn¡¯t be healthy for her either to study that much, and then try to balance it with the house chores.

    Don¡¯t get her wrong, she¡¯s very glad that Ellen help her with the chores, but shouldn¡¯t she really be thinking about herself a little more?

    During the short time that they cleaned after the breakfast, Ellen was stuck in her thoughts.

    It was really annoying Alice. They had decided that both of them should clean after the breakfast, but instead Ellen cheated and buried herself in her thoughts. Leaving most if the work to Alice alone.

    ¡°I think I can handle the last things myself now. So you can go to the workshop and work off some steam.¡±

    She got tired of it and decided to do it herself. It was better that way, or at least it got done better that way. Instead of that Ellen only would do the ¡°half hearted, deep thoughts¡± cleaning.

    Alice had both clean the last in the kitchen and the most important cleaning in the house, which was almost nothing. According to Ellen''s idea, the rest of the house would be clean the next day, so what should she now do? Alice had no idea herself and just stood there dumbfounded.

    It was the first time she actually had spare time to spare, so she had never thought about doing anything else then the house chores. Most of the reason was that she had promised Jack to do it everyday since the first day they found out that they could brining Ellen back to life.

    Alice let out a sigh and walked to the kitchen to boil some tea. They had found it out together, but Alice herself had been most if the driving force behind it. Sure Jack was the one that both had worked and earned money for it, but it should still not have been possible if it wasn¡¯t for Alice.

    Ellen came into the kitchen while Alice waited for the water. She cracked a small smile when she noticed her sister was making tea, ¡° If it¡¯s tea you are making, can you please make one cup for me to and bring it to the workshop?¡±

    Even if she didn¡¯t like that her sister was study, she was determine to take care of her. So said and done, Alice took the tea Ellen had requested to the workshops. She had been there before, but this was the first time that Ellen had looked so busy in there. Sure she only read a book, but it didn¡¯t change the fact that Ellen really was sucked up by the study.

    After making sure that her sister had noticed that the tea had arrived to the workshop Alice left without saying another word.

    Ellen was so concentrated at her work so it felt bad to disturb her, even if it just had been to tell her that she had bring her the tea.

    Alice took her time to drink her own tea while thinking about what she would do during her free time. She could clean the house in a calmer pace, but that would violate the agreement she had done with her sister. In the end she didn¡¯t found an answer of what she should do.

    After she had finished her tea she let out a heavy sigh. She still didn¡¯t know what to do so she could as well get to the marketplace to see if she could find some inspiration there. It couldn¡¯t be more boring then just doing nothing in the house, and she need to get over there sooner or later anyway.

    Only leaving a small note behind she left the house.

    She could gave told Ellen that she left, but after seeing how hard she tried to study it didn¡¯t feel right.

    At the marketplace it didn¡¯t took her long to find something that she could spend her spare time at.

    There was a lot of stalls that sold cute cloths. Many of them should have looked lovely at Ellen, but they was VERY expensive. Almost if they thought some people pulled money out their rear.

    Alice looked close at some of the cute cloths, they didn¡¯t looked to complicated to do. It was almost that even Alice could make them, even if she wasn¡¯t as smart as Ellen. The only thing that could be a problem was to create the pattern for the cloths, but it was something she probably would learn over time. At least if it wouldn¡¯t turn out that she was an idiot.

    After buying what she needed to get started she bought what they needed for the dinner and returned home.

    When she returned home she would bother Ellen a little, only a few seconds. Alice had bought textile to make Ellen a shirt, and therefore she needed to bother her sister to take length and a measure around her waist. Whenever Ellen agreed to it or not.

    Back at home she began walking toward the workshop, first in front of the door she could hear that their father was talking with Ellen. After listening for a little while she noticed that it was about how Ellen would help him with his work.

    Alice began to walk toward the kitchen, it was most probably not a good idea to disturb them.

    Why did he have to return early this of all days? Couldn¡¯t it have been late as usually, or even the next day?

    <hr>

    Jack had arrived home early and come into the workshop and interrupted her studies.

    If it wouldn¡¯t be that it was Jack, she would have been irritated. But it was he beloved one, and he was even bringing her good news.

    It seemed like his co-workers had agreed to let Ellen help them with getting a better product. They also had decided at a small budget and to support her with a special gear, that they thought could do the trick.

    ¡°The budget we gives you are 5 gold, so use it wisely.¡±

    Ellen looked at the pouch she got from him, it didn¡¯t look like much. But it was most possible more then she could think. Her eyes wandered of to the two gears she had received. Neither did they look very special, except for that they all had a propeller in the middle.

    ¡°The gears you got is purifying gears. As they can purify a small amount of dirt, we believe that they can make the crystals purer to.¡±

    They believed?

    ¡°So you don¡¯t know if it is working at all?¡±

    Jack shake his head in response and claimed it was for a cog technician to find out. Pushing it all over at her.

    Couldn¡¯t they at least have known if it worked or not before leaving the work to someone else? What were they, idiots? Or didn¡¯t they care if it success or not?

    Ellen began to examine the gears and crystals, still silently cursing THEM for not knowing if it will work or not. It all could have been so much easier if they had known. That should have meant that Ellen could have spent the time to just put it together instead of doing a lot of experiments.

    She let out a loud sigh and start to look at the crystals Jack had gave her. They looked like crystal they could dig out of a mounting and really not like something created by human hands. No of the crystals she got was clear, instead it looked like fog had been collected in them. Was it the fog inside they wished to get rid of to rise the value?

    Anyway she noticed that they felt fragile, it could most probably be made to dust by just dragging it against the table. So she needed to be careful when she handled them, It would only be a pain explaining to Jack if she broke one of them. At least he seemed fond of the crystals and had given her straight orders to give both crystals back after trying to purify them once. So he could test how good it had gone, or that was what he had said.

    Next up was the purifying gears she had got. Just like when she had talked with him, they didn¡¯t looked very different from other cogs. Except from the propeller in the middle of it. But they did feel really different from other cogs, they were a lot colder. Since it wasn¡¯t that cold in the workshop Ellen came to the conclusion that they were made in by a different material. The propeller in the other hand felt warmer, so it also had to be made in a different material. She could probably need to read some more about it, or ask Jack about it. He had to know something, either what it was made of or how it worked.

    Otherwise he wouldn¡¯t give a request like this to his beloved daughter, right?

    Ellen walked to wash herself off.

    Alice had come and disturbed her during the gear examination, telling her that it was time to get ready for the dinner. Alice had curiously glanced at the gears and crystals that laid at the table without saying a word. Had she seen any if those things before? She most probably had, she had after all spent around a year together with Jack in this world before Ellen had been revived.

    Ellen let out another heavy sigh, why couldn¡¯t it have been her that got that possibility?

    Even if she and Alice had talked about taking it easy this day, it seemed like Alice had put her all into making the dinner as always. Was her sister a workaholic that didn¡¯t knew how to take it easy, even when a calm day was thrown into her face?

    ¡°Don¡¯t you have a book about how gears work?¡±

    Jack looked sceptical at her.

    The dinner had been silent as always, but when they all had finished it Ellen decide to ask him about how the purifying gear worked. But his response gave Ellen a feeling about that it had backfired.

    ¡°I do. But I thought that I could ask to save some time.¡±

    Jack started to explain for her that she was a grown-up, working woman. So she should be able to handle it herself.

    Ellen would have loved that he called her a grown-up woman, but not a time like this. Whatever different time would have been fine, but now it was like he just indicated that she was on her own.

    Maybe there was no other choice then to ask Chris about it, he would most probably accept that she asked for help and advices. He had already said that he would help her. Sure that had been while talking about studies, but he would also help her when it came to work, right?

    Jack had left for his library, again, and the girls had started to do the dishes.

    ¡°Is it a hard request Jack have given you?¡±

    Alice seemed curious about Jack''s request, maybe because she wished to find a way to get even closer to Jack herself. As it wasn¡¯t enough that she already had him spellbound with the food she made, which not even Ellen would deny was tasting great.

    ¡° It ain¡¯t an easy request he have given me at least.¡±

    Ellen was exhausted by her thoughts that was spinning around in her head like headless chickens, so she didn¡¯t even feel like finding a way to avoid Alice horrific try.

    ¡° What are you suppose to do with those strange cogs and crystal like things?¡±

    Ellen tried to simplify how she would try to find a way to make the crystals purer with the gears, which no one really know worked or not.

    Alice lit up irritated like a torch.

    How could they leave a request like that if they didn¡¯t even know if it work or not. Wasn¡¯t that just like they tried to use her? Trying to save money by abuse a girl, for the sake of saving a few coins.

    Ellen feel glad that her sister thought somehow like her. Maybe ¡°the princess¡± had something like a heart after all, maybe those kind act earlier hadn¡¯t been fake.

    Back in the workshop Ellen picked up her book about special gears.

    Jack could have a point in what he said earlier. Ellen was a grown-up and she had decide to start working as a cog technician. So maybe she had gained some more responsibility just by those facts alone. And then it was best to try find out some more information and think about it herself before asking around for help.

    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    It was easy to find the information about the purifying gear in the book. Who even had organized the information in the book did know what they did.

    It wasn¡¯t much information about the gear in the book, but it was about what she needed to know.

    Just like she had thought the gear and propeller were made by two different materials, if which she never had heard the name of neither of the metals before.

    It worked by spinning above the object that should be purified, propeller towards it, of course. And somehow it drags out the impurities out of the object. The more solid the object were, the harder it was to drag the impurities out of it. The chart that was written in the book only reached to dirt. Then it didn¡¯t seemed like it could go further, or maybe they just hadn¡¯t found a way to reach further after that.

    There was also a breaking point at the gear, hundred rounds/minute. Which could explain why they hadn¡¯t reach further then dirt, that needed the gear to spin at least ninety-five rounds/minute.

    Ellen let out a heavy sigh, if dirt was the most solid thing it could purify. It meant that it could be so much easier if she crushed the crystal before even trying to purify it, but that also meant that it would be impossible for customers to buy whole crystals. Which most probably was the whole idea of selling them.

    So she needed to find a way to purify them in one piece, which could be a hard task since the gear had a breaking point that almost was reached while purify simple dirt. She almost knew that she would break at least a couple of gears while working with it, so it could be a good idea to ask Jack if they supported her with more gears if both of them broke. And she also needed to find a way to go around the breaking point.

    This could turn out to be much harder then she had thought at first.

    When Ellen decided to get some sleep the others had already went to bed. Once again she walked through the house in the light of a single candle. It felt creepy just like the first time. It was still like a scene out of a horror movie, there anything could jump out of the shadows and attack her.

    Ellen violently shake her head, she was getting really tired. If she got feeling like that it really was time for her to get some sleep. She are a grown-up woman now, so she needs to act like one instead of acting like a child.

    After taking of her working clothes and washed of herself, she walked to the bedroom in her underwear. First of because she had forgotten her nightclothes there, and second because she felt to tired for even care if she worn the nightclothes or not. She never did in her last life, so if Alice hadn¡¯t given her the nightclothes she never would have worn them.

    Ellen did try not to wake Alice up when she sneaked into the bed, but the luck wasn¡¯t at her side.

    ¡° Working late today Ellen?¡±

    ¡°The princess¡± seemed to be barely awake as she turned to her sister and talked.

    Ellen didn¡¯t got a chance to answer before the next question was thrown at her.

    ¡°Did you find any solution for the task Jack gave you?¡±

    Why was that little ¡°princess¡± so curious about that? Did she hoped that Ellen would fail Jack so she could get closer to him, AGAIN. That wasn¡¯t anything Ellen would allow, not for anything in the world.

    ¡° I have a couple of ideas that I will talk with Chris about, so I think everything will work out my way.¡±

    It was almost a lie, she sure had one idea. But it was barely good enough to gain her confidence. There was probably so much more she would need to look and think over again and again until she really had succeeded. If she even could finish the task successfully.

    ¡°Then you can go and visit him after we have finished most of the cleaning, so will I pick you up after buying what we need for dinner.¡±

    It was actually a good idea, for coming from her. Her idea meant hat Ellen could get in touch with Chris faster then she had thought from the beginning, which was at least one day earlier then she had planned herself. It also meant that she could get more help and maybe even finish the request faster. Maybe Jack could be happier that way to, maybe he even would praise her richly.

    But first if she needed to ask Jack about the purifying gears. To do the work she had to find a way to surpass the breaking point, and that meant there were some risks that the gear would break. And if she won¡¯t get more from him, it will be a pain.

    ¡° Ellen, it is time to get up.¡±

    Why did Alice have to be an early bird. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to sleep a little longer, like when she was sick.

    ¡°Ellen, we have to get up and make breakfast.¡±

    Was this how the little ¡°princess¡± would be after a ¡°free day¡±? If that was the case, then Ellen might need to consider if she will allow Alice to have ¡°free days¡±.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t go up, you might miss you chance to talk with Jack.¡±

    She had a point that Ellen needed to talk with him, but it probably wasn¡¯t that the ¡°princess¡± had in mind.

    Was she really ready to use Jack to get Ellen out of bed? To get what she wanted. Use poor, poor Jack?

    At last Ellen left the bed, still only half awake. Silently cursing both Alice and the fact that she needed to ask Jack about the gear. Sure it couldn¡¯t be helped, but still. The air and cloths felt cold against her skin when she got dressed. They should really need to do something about that, at least Ellen thought so.

    The breakfast passed silent as always. Ellen really wished to change that, but last time she had tried she got totally ignored by the two others. It really had to be changes when she finally got together with him. Whatever they wished for it or not.

    ¡°Jack, can I ask you a question?¡±

    Only by talking she seemed to bothered him. He looked disliking at her and cracked a irritated smile.

    ¡°Go ahead Ellen.¡±

    She hesitated if she would go on and ask him the question. But since she already had bothered him, it was probably best to ask him the question.

    ¡°If the purifying gears would break, is it possible for me to get more if them?

    Jack widens his eyes and starred surprised at her.

    ¡°Do you have any plans to break the gears?¡±

    ¡°No, not at all. But since I probably will need to keep speed close to the breaking point, there is a risk that the gears break.¡±

    Jack didn¡¯t give her an answer to her question. He needed to think about it and talk with his co-workers about it.

    Ellen could only accept his answer and wait for the final answer, no matter how annoying it was. She would also have loved to ask him why he did look bothered by her question. Wasn¡¯t it normal for a cog technician to make sure how the situation looked like before really starting?

    Ellen was in deep thoughts while cleaning, she really needed to find a solution to the problem.

    Could the gear spin faster than the breaking point, if it was less than a minute. If that possible could work, then she maybe had a chance to purify the crystal to Jack''s liking. Otherwise she at least had a point to start from and work out from.

    ¡°Ellen, can you please spend some energy at cleaning instead?¡±

    Couldn¡¯t that ¡°princess¡± just shut up? She had some serious problems accepting that Ellen had a lot to think about, was she afraid that she would lose Jack to her? If that was the case, it would only be serving her right.

    ¡°I will.¡±

    There was no idea to even think about starting an argument with her about it. It was after all Ellen herself that had come up with the idea of that only every second day would be a ¡°free day¡±. And today was not one of those days.

    Ellen began to clean again, for a short while before she got stuck in her thoughts again.

    Alice got clearly more irritated by every time she had to tell Ellen to start the cleaning again.

    ¡°Please Ellen, go over to Chris and go through all your thoughts with him. I will do the last cleaning myself, but just for today. I want YOU to really DO some real cleaning next time. Without getting stuck the whole time.¡±

    Alice had got tired of Ellen after telling her to start cleaning again seven times, at least.

    Ellen frantically ran to her workshop, put both one of the purifying gears in a small bag while grabbing one of the crystals before leaving.

    While running she couldn¡¯t help but to feel sorry for Alice. She had just hold on to their agreement, yet Ellen had failed to hold on to het part of it. She probably didn¡¯t mean aby harm by constantly interrupt her thoughts. Maybe Ellen had to do something for her later on. Only maybe.

    She at last reached Chris''s shop, it felt like she had run for much longer than she had. But now she could probably settle a few of her thoughts. If she only could do that and get an answer from Jack, which of course would work late, it could be quite some less thoughts to annoy her next time she would clean.

    ¡°Chris, I might need some help!¡±

    She had just opened the door when she spoke up to him with a loud voice. Without a thought if there was anyone else in the shop.

    Chris looked up surprised at her from behind the counter. When he realized it was her he cracked a wide smile, ¡°Starting to feel like home here?¡±.

    Ellen ignored his comment and began to explain the task that she had got from her father while walking toward him. Chris listened carefully and nodded to show that he was following.

    ¡°So simply said, you wish to ask a couple of things that you are wondering about?¡±

    Ellen nodded in agreement, she had to know if she wished to finish Jack''s request.

    ¡°Then let us see what I can help you with.¡±

    Chris started with examine the purifying gear and the crystal. According to him the gear was made in a high quality, which meant it could take some more punishment then usually. And the crystal was nothing like he had worked with before. Not that he really had worked with purifying gears either, more then installing it once at an other workshop.

    ¡°So you want to find a way to surpass the breaking point for the purify gear?¡±

    He seemed to be in deep thoughts while asking. Maybe he was heavily hesitating that it would work?

    ¡°Yes, that is what I want. I believe it¡¯s the only chance to make the crystal purer.¡±

    ¡°And you believe you can surpass that by hold a higher speed for a shorter while, then letting it slow down. Before you repeat the same patter again?¡±

    Chris was right on how she had thought, but the only problem was if it would work and for how long it would work. If it even work that was.

    ¡°Have you tried to hold the maximum speed yet?¡±

    Ellen looked surprised at him, she actually hadn¡¯t try that yet. But the maximum speed could only purify a part of dirt before breaking. And even if the crystal was fragile, it was still more solid then dirt. So it wouldn¡¯t work, at least she didn¡¯t believe it would work.

    Chris burst out in laugher when he noticed Ellen''s expression.

    ¡°What do you say about coming back when you have tried that, so will I also give your little idea some thought and see if I can come to a solution.¡±

    He didn¡¯t took her seriously, but of course who would have? A girl that just have started as cog technician comes in and ask for help, before even trying anything herself. She couldn¡¯t really blame him.

    Ellen let out a sigh, ¡°Is there something so I can adjust the speed? So will I try both the idea and the highest speed before the breaking point.¡±

    When she walked out of the shop she meet Alice, walking home after visiting the market place. She still seemed to be just as irritated as back home.

    There maybe should have been an apology to Alice, but Ellen found it hard to think so. Sure she had failed to hold their agreement, for a good reason. If she could finish the request then Jack maybe should be home more, and Alice also wanted that. Right?

    After Ellen had helped to finish the last of the house chores for the day, she as usually went to her workshop.

    She had earlier bought a kind of spring from Chris that could help her adjust the speed on the gears.

    Which meant that she had to start working on the request now. She had everything she needed to start, so there was no longer any excuse for her to not do it.

    Starting with to out up those practice plates she had got from get beloved Jack, followed by some gears and then followed by an other kind of gear. That was spinning by itself if it got in contact with a specific kind of metal, and the more amount of metal that touched it the faster it span. With that she could try and see if it made any difference below the breaking point. Of course she would try to use the spring to, still believing that the spring could be the answer.

    She tried both of the methods. The only thing she noticed really happened was that the purifying only resulted in some slightly naughty smell. But otherwise the crystals looked just like before.

    She would have loved to give tone of the crystals another charge with the spring, but after the third charge the gear had crumbled to pieces.

    Jack and his co-workers had to be sponsoring her with purifying gears, otherwise she would run out if money in no time.

    She let out a defeated sigh. Those crystals was the only ones she had, so now after she had experimented at them she needed to leave them to Jack for analysis. Which meant that there was nothing more to do this day.

    The only thing she could hope for now was that Jack either had or would have taken home more crystals that she could work with. If he hasn¡¯t it meant that she had nothing to work at during the next day, which was a day she could all spend at working. As long as the ¡°princess¡± didn¡¯t want a revenge for this day. But then she would only show how rotten she was and that she didn¡¯t cared about their dear father.

 chapter 6

    Ellen''s first attempt to purify the crystals had failed.

    After Jack had done a analysis on them it turned out that there was almost no difference at all, except for that their value had dropped . He had been slightly frustrated at her when he told her and almost scolded her.

    The only good things that had happened her in it all as that he did bring crystals with him everyday so she could go on with her work, and that they had decided to sponsoring her with purifying gears while she did the best she could to help them.

    After weeks of working on the problem she was called to his library by Alice.

    He had worked late as usually and Ellen had walked to the workshop after the dinner as always, trying to do some work.

    She had seen and heard a couple of things some days earlier that was bothering her and she needed an answer from Jack.

    ¡°You know I am losing money by letting you destroy the crystals right?¡±

    He was clearly angry and stared right into her.

    She knew that and she tried her very best to finish the quest. Or at least she had tried her very best earlier.

    ¡°Jack. May I ask a question?¡±

    ¡°What are the crystals I am trying to purify, they ain¡¯t collecting objects, right?¡±

    Jack looked even more angry at her and shake his head.

    ¡°A few days ago I overheard a conversation by two people that clearly was junkies. They talked about a drug they called crystals and described it. Everything they said fitted perfectly with the crystals that I am helping you to purify. I ain¡¯t purifying a drug, right father?¡±

    ¡°Yes you are.¡±

    He didn¡¯t even tried to hide the fact of what he made her do. And it terrified Ellen even more, would he just spill the fact just like that if he was arrested to? What would happen to everyone if he was arrested, what would happen to Ellen and Alice? Could he even be arrested?

    He tried to motivate the making of the drug with that they needed money to survive. And that money came from him selling that drug. Would he ever stop selling the drug they would be finding themselves at the street with all the other homeless people. Which was a situation that Ellen most probably wouldn¡¯t be able to survive in, not Alice either for that sake. Not to mention that only the fact he was losing money put them in the risk to get thrown out at the street. So if she didn¡¯t want that to happen, she had to solve the problem.

    <hr>

    Alice looked angry at her sister, she wasn¡¯t only slacking off when she would be cleaning. Now she was even being only stupid and ignored her own needs.

    Ellen had left for her workshop as always after finishing the last house chores, but she never left the workshop. Not even when it was time for breakfast. Which was the reason Alice did bring some food and tea with her.

    Ellen wasn¡¯t allowed to even think about not eating, not during Alice watch at least.

    Ellen was bitterly muttering while eating the food.

    She really seemed tired, there was a high possibility that she hadn¡¯t slept anything during the night.

    Alice did feel very uncomfortable with the fact that Ellen had start to ignore her needs, if she didn¡¯t stop it she was in risk of both disappearing and get badly harmed.

    To avoid it so was either Alice forced to make sure that Ellen took care of herself, or Ellen had to solve the problem of Jack¡¯s request. Neither of the problems was easy to solve.

    If Alice only could have been as smart as her sister, it would have been so much easier. Then she really could have helped, somehow.

    The table there Ellen had all her stuffs was a mess, paper was mixed with cogs and other stuffs. The thing that she seemed to be working at also stood there. Or at least Alice thought it was something that she worked at, because it didn¡¯t looked like something anyone would worked on.

    It was just a pair of plates out together, and some different cogs and stuffs set up. Just by looking at the thing it was impossible to tell what she was trying to do.

    ¡°Ellen, How are you trying to make the crystals from father better?¡±

    She had only heard that Ellen had been asked to make the crystals purer, what it now could mean?

    One of the reason that Alice always had idolised her sister was because no matter how bothersome Alice could be, Ellen always respected her. Just like this time when Ellen tried to simplify the answer so Alice easily could follow what her sister meant.

    She looked sceptical at the purifying part, it felt unbelievable that a part like that could purify anything. And if it wouldn¡¯t have been that it was Ellen that told her that, she would never had believed in it.

    Alice looked a little closer at the cog that they said would make the cog better, if it wouldn¡¯t have been for the propeller it sure looked like any other cog.

    Alice left the workshop after given Ellen a worried look. She had already started to work again like if Alice never had bothered her, but she seemed to have a little more energy now then before Alice had forced her to eat.

    She let out a heavy sigh, it had all become a mess after Jack given Ellen this task. He even seemed to start being a little worried for her. But it was mostly overshadowed by the fact that he show irritation because Ellen both was slacking off more during the cleaning and that Alice tried to cover up for her sister. Sure, he had a point when he said that she needed to learn to balance the house chores and work. But was he really someone to complain about that. When he worked as hardest, he never did any house chores. Not that he didn¡¯t even try to do any of the chores afterwards either.

    Ellen did at least try to balance it, even if it wasn¡¯t going well.

    Alice let out another sigh, it felt like it just was to swallow it. There probably wasn¡¯t much that neither she, Jack or any friend could do to help her. At least she didn¡¯t thought so.

    Worried for Ellen she left the house after doing her chores. The only positive thing with day could be that she and Taija had decided to meet at the marketplace. But it was only because Taija had promised to help her with ideas for making Ellen a dress, which didn¡¯t even seemed like a good idea anymore. At least not as long Ellen worked like she did. And who knew for how long she would work like that.

    Taija started with a glad greeting when they meet, but stopped in the middle of it.

    ¡°And just how are you feeling Alice?¡±

    She know that Taija meant well with the question, but it came out very rude because she stopped her glad greeting to ask.

    ¡° I am just slightly tired, I didn¡¯t got a good sleep last night.¡±

    It was better to pull an innocent lie than to try explain the situation for her. The lie itself was also trustworthy, mostly since Alice already had been suffering from sleeping problems.

    Taija let out a light sigh and tired sigh. It seemed like she had fallen for the lie, and it was probably for the best.

    After a light conversation they began to search for a beautiful textile Alice could use for her next project. In Alice mind it was no longer sure that the project would be a dress to Ellen. But it was not easy to say it straight out to Taija, she was just as stubborn that Alice could be. So she would not only go on and nagging her to do it, she would probably also suspect that it was something going on.

    And that was nothing Alice wanted to go through.

    After looking at all the stalls had to offer and Alice had made up a couple of good excuses they walked to get some frozen cream that Taija had promised to treat Alice at.

    Alice found it impressive that there was people that offered frozen cream since it didn¡¯t existed any refrigerators in this world. But it could be because of cog technicians it all was possible to make it on demand.

    ¡°Can you please tell me what¡¯s going on Alice?¡±

    Alice took the frozen cream Taija handed her and gave her an evil look, ¡°There is nothing going on.¡±

    It didn¡¯t seemed like she had been able to trick Taija after all. She maybe needed to learn how to trick Taija later on, otherwise it could turn out bad time after time.

    Taija didn¡¯t trusted Alice answer and continued to nagging Alice, she even did some bad guesses and pinched the problem.

    ¡°If you are worried about your sister, it only proves that you have a bothersome sister.¡±

    Ellen wasn¡¯t a bothersome sister, even if she didn¡¯t made the life easier for Alice. Even if she was slacking off during the cleaning and made Alice worry for her... Maybe she was a little bothersome after all, just a little.

    Taija patted her on the head as if she had seen her whole mind patter.

    ¡°Will you still make up excuses for not buying textile to make your sister a dress?¡±

    ¡°Even if I make her a dress, it isn¡¯t a big chance that she will wear it.¡±

    They ate the last of the frozen cream in silence, then when they were done Taija dragged Alice along to a stall. They had talked about how beautiful the textile was earlier.

    ¡°Pick a textile you wish for Ellen''s dress, so will I help you make it.¡±

    That wasn¡¯t a request or offering, it was an order to Alice.

    Being bossed around by Taija, she at last choose a textile. It was a textile in a darker blue colour with patterns of light blue wintertree petals. It was somehow fitting Ellen.

    Taija took up the textile and looked at it for a short while,¡± May I please out an order at a new piece of textile, or have a big discount.¡±

    She hold up the textile and pointed out a small hole in it, not even big enough to put a finger through it. But it was clearly more then enough to catch her attention.

    Alice wondered why it was such problem with a small hole like that, it was just a tiny hole after all.

    Taija first looked at her as if she just remembered how inexperienced Alice was.

    ¡° Even if it only is a small hole, it don¡¯t takes much for it to get bigger and bigger. If you only get your finger through it, it will be bigger and soon it can swallow you whole hand. All because there was a tiny hole to begin with.¡±

    Alice looked at her own hand for a second, ¡°Will the hole get bigger if I would press my clinched fist against it?¡±

    Of course she know the answer herself, but she wanted to hear it from Taija to.

    Taija had all right to look at Alice as if she was an idiot, which she also did. ¡°It will still be bigger, but you will need push harder.¡±

    Could it be the same thing with other materials, like the crystal? If that was the case she maybe could be able to relax soon enough. But before she did that, she needed to let Taija bosses her around for a while. She could have helped Alice and Ellen more then she ever could believe. Even if she could behave like a cuddle loving hag from time to time.

    <hr>

    Ellen silently cursed the situation.

    It wasn¡¯t enough that her father had given her a more or less impossible task, it also turned out that what she did was horrible. Even if he tried to motivate it with that they needed to let other suffer so they could survive themselves. But would it really make it more accepted?

    She had tried to change the machine for the better, but according to Jack there were no changes in the crystals. At very least not enough changes for her father and his co-workers to be pleased.

    Which meant the first of the three week she was given to success had passed, a third of the time before they got thrown out at the street. And to Jack''s advises she hadn¡¯t told Alice about it. Her heart wouldn¡¯t be able to bear the pain of knowing what could be waiting them if Ellen failed.

    The worries had started to take out their rightful parts of Ellen life. It was bothering her when she was sleeping, when she actually took the time to get some sleep. Her thoughts was circulating around the task all the time, making it harder to do the cleaning or anything else serious.

    After this was done, she would need to apologize to Alice for everything she needed to cover up for her. Even if things didn¡¯t turned out well and they got thrown out at the street.

    Ellen had been silently cursing her younger sister when she interrupt at the morning. She hadn¡¯t felt like eating, but still Alice had forced her to eat. Maybe a part of her princess like heart had some good parts after all.

    Ellen came to the conclusion that Alice didn¡¯t trusted her anymore since she came to pick her up when it was time for them to eat dinner. Even if she probably only meant well with it, Ellen couldn¡¯t deny that it was slightly annoying. She somehow felt that she was about to process with the task, but it wasn¡¯t the first time she felt like that. And every time it had turned out to be wrong and she just was at the same place as before.

    Ellen had just washed off herself and walked toward the kitchen. The annoying ¡°princess¡± had ordered that Ellen would join her for a bath together, as a punishment for that she had helped less with the cleaning lately. If it wouldn¡¯t have been because it was true, she would have ignored the request and walked straight back to the workshop after eaten dinner. But since Alice wasn¡¯t meant to know about it, she had no choice to follow her request so Alice wouldn¡¯t suspect anything.

    She dropped a heavy sigh while washing, Jack had been looking irritated at her during the dinner, without saying a word to her. His message was clear, he wanted her to finish the request. But if he didn¡¯t want Alice to know, he maybe should try to act normal. Instead of going to the library without a word directly after he was done eating.

    Of course he needed to think about how to cover up the money he was losing at Ellen''s work, but it could have been done in a smother way.

    ¡°Ellen, can you please start to warm up the water for the bath?¡±

    The bath was more or less the same as last time. Alice had already decided that she once again would wash Ellen¡¯s back, which she accepted without even trying to avoid it. She after all owed Alice a lot after being taken cared of and the fact that she did cover up much for her. Most probably it was enough so she never ever could pay it of.

    ¡°Ellen, will you get to sleep in time today?¡±

    It really was clear that Alice didn¡¯t trust her at all but, of course, who would do it after seeing how bad she acted since Jack gave her the deadline.

    ¡°I think I will.¡±

    It maybe would do her well if she got a good night''s sleep. At least it couldn¡¯t do it any worse, not more then that she lost a couple of hours work.

    She could hear Alice giggling from behind her,¡± That sounds great.¡±

    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.¡°Ellen, about the work you do. Have you been thinking about the forms of the cogs?¡±

    Of course she had, or she had at least giving it a small thought.

    ¡°If I push my fist against your back, you feel it, right?¡±

    Alice pressed her fist against her sisters back and she could clearly feel the whole thing.

    What was she up to, what should happen next. Was she about to hit her in the back?

    ¡°If I push my finger against your back you feel that to, right?¡±

    Had Alice broken? What did she wanted to point out? Of course she felt that Alice pushed her finger against her back. Where there a reason why she wouldn¡¯t feel that?

    ¡°You feel it even if I said that I am pushing less now then before?¡±

    Yes?

    ¡°Do you think the form of propeller at the cog can affect how much it... purifies?¡±

    Ellen started to understand where Alice wanted to tell. If the propeller of the purifying gear was the fist, it needs to push more to feel it. But if the propeller was like a finger, it could push less and yet be felt. Because it was a smaller area it connected with. Maybe it could help to purify the crystals, a part at a time.

    ¡°Do you think it could work Alice?¡±

    Alice wasn¡¯t sure, but did drag up what Taija had said about a small hole in the textile. Which meant it a whole hand easily could get through there if it started with a hole and a finger. Or, as Alice thought, and cone formed object.

    That maybe could solve the problems, a cone formed propeller.

    She had to make sure to talk about that with Chris. He had after all tried to help her as much he have been able to. Maybe he also know how to get a propeller like that?

    ¡°I hope it does, of course I don¡¯t know since it isn¡¯t my area of expertise.¡±

    Alice went on cleaning her back, silently humming something unclear. Whatever it was about, she seemed to be happy. Maybe the ¡°princess¡± praised herself for the idea, which of course she could do. Alice had come up with an idea that Ellen wouldn¡¯t have found out on her own.

    ¡°Will you go to Chris''s shop tomorrow?¡±

    Ellen had been thinking about it, but was still hesitating since it wasn¡¯t a free day. She had already made Alice cover up enough for her.

    ¡°Pardon me, I mean. You will go to Chris''s shop tomorrow, the earlier the better.¡±

    Ellen was surprised, was the ¡°princess¡± a person to order her around.

    ¡°You will help me clean until I say otherwise. Then you will go to Chris and talk through the idea, maybe also get a real chance to solve it. So maybe you can help me with the cleaning later on, WITHOUT spacing out.¡±

    Was that what she wanted? Was it just about that she wanted Ellen to get the request done, so she could start helping Alice with the cleaning again?

    After remembering how intensive she had cursed that Alice was sick, it was clear that Alice would wish for that. It was a real pain to clean alone.

    Almost instinctively Ellen started to walk toward the workshop. If it wouldn¡¯t been that Alice grabbed her to drag her to the room, she had probably ended up in the workshop for the rest of the night.

    Ellen found it easier to clean than the other days, maybe because she really was in debt to Alice now or maybe because she knew she could have an answer to the impossible task.

    She however noticed how she seemed to surprise Alice, that almost didn¡¯t even need to tell her what to do.

    Ellen wouldn¡¯t be able to deny herself that she felt very proud. She hadn¡¯t done this well in a long time, or maybe ever.

    The cleaning was done faster then usually and it didn¡¯t took Alice long to tell her to get her stuff and leave.

    Almost like last time Alice sent her to Chris, Ellen more or less ran to change cloths and grabbing a purifying gear and the money before leaving. Believing this could be the end of the horrific task.

    If all future tasks was this complicated, then maybe she need to think through if she really should work with this. It was far more stressful then she ever could have thought.

    For the second time since she got the request, she ran into Chris''s shop screaming.

    ¡°Chris I need your help again.¡±

    Once again he made a jump by the surprise, ¡°Can you please stop doing that as long you ain¡¯t dying?¡±

    Against her will Ellen had to calm down for Chris to even listen to her. Finally calm she told him the idea Alice had come up with. He had never heard of an idea like that before, but it didn¡¯t sound like an idea of a madman. It maybe could work, if they had the right tools that were.

    ¡° Ain¡¯t you knowing anyone that sells parts like that?¡±

    Chris gave it some serious thoughts, ¡°I don¡¯t know anyone that sells parts like that, but I know a person that maybe can create parts like that.¡±

    Someone that could create parts like that, wasn¡¯t that both really difficult and expensive? And to begin with, did it really exciting people that made custom-made gears?

    ¡° I can take you there and help you make an order.¡±

    The left Chris''s shop and headed toward the marketplace.

    Ellen was nagging the whole time with the question if it would be expensive, of which Chris tried to tell her that it wouldn¡¯t be that expensive. Still she couldn¡¯t help but to worry the price.

    When they had passed the marketplace they came to a shopping area Ellen never visited before.

    Just by arriving there it was clear what it was for kind of shops there. All signs signified what they was working with, and it only seemed to be different crafts.

    She found it very interesting that they all had gathered at this street. But still she didn¡¯t had the time to think about that now. She could come back anytime, now she needed to think about the help she was offered to solve the task she was given.

    Chris lead her into a shop that had a gear and a hammer at the sign.

    Just by telling from the sign, it didn¡¯t seem to be an exclusive shop. Which was good since she already had spend a small part of the budget she got from her Jack.

    ¡°Good day Angela, Where have you buried your father today?¡±

    It stood a girl behind the counter, or rather a half dragon. She looked irritated at Chris with her red eyes, ¡°He isn¡¯t buried, and he is only here in the other room.¡±

    She turned and looked at Ellen, moving some of her long and green hair. Cracking a small smile, ¡°Do we have a new customer?¡±

    Ellen took a step forward and curtsy to her, gently presented herself.

    Angela broke out in a giggles, and soon after that a laughter from the room behind the counter could be heard.

    ¡°There is no need for you to be that formal Ellen.¡±

    She just had ended her sentence when Chris pointed that out, and the person that had laughed in the other room came in.

    ¡°That¡¯s is right, you don¡¯t need to be formal at all here.¡±

    That man was also part dragon. A bald, muscular dragon that looked to be a little shorter than Chris.

    ¡°Good day Sour, are you still alive enough to work?¡±

    ¡°As long I ain¡¯t buried, I am alive enough to work.¡±

    Ellen looked wondering at the men, but soon turned to the girl.

    ¡°As I said, you don¡¯t need to be as formal as you are. As long you ain¡¯t informal like them.¡±

    Ellen nicked understanding as answer. It was most probably only in this company she ever would get away acting like that. In other companies she would probably ended up both hanged and burned.

    ¡°So what do little miss need help with?¡±

    Chris seemed to have told him that it was Ellen that needed his help.

    She slowly started to talk about to build a cone formed propeller for a purifying gear for a work.

    Just like when she had told Chris about it he looked surprised, neither of them seemed to have heard about it before.

    ¡° To start with, I did forgot to present myself. I am Sour, the owner of the shop.¡±

    After a quick greeting he was on it again,¡± That propeller you want, shall it be in one piece or so you can build it after need yourself?¡±

    Ellen didn¡¯t know what was best. It could be a good thing if it was in once piece, but it was bad if it needed any changes later on. If it in parts it was easier to lose or break a single part, even if it was good that she could make small changes.

    ¡°She will have it in pieces since she still might need to do changes.¡±

    Chris spoke up for her. Probably for the best since she didn¡¯t know herself.

    ¡°You know that it will be expensive, right.¡±

    That was just what Ellen had been fearing, yet Chris had told her not to worry.

    ¡°Sour, you greedy bastard. Do you remember that you owe me seven golds? We can cross that out if you wish.¡±

    ¡°Then you will get the parts for three gold.¡±

    Ellen lost her breath for a second. If Sour was owning Chris seven gold and it still costs three gold, it mean it would have cost her ten gold. And even worse, why did Chris put out money on her. No less then seven gold.

    She looked terrified at Chris, that only meet her with a smile.

    ¡° See it like I am investing money at a future cog technician.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t satisfied with his answer, ¡°Then it would only be fair that I work for you to make sure you get your money back.¡±

    ¡°Then you can tell me when you are done with this work and are ready to work again. So will I use your body from time to time.¡±

    He burst out in laughter when he saw Ellen''s surprised and shocked face. Use her body from time to time, wasn¡¯t that a really bad way to say that he would take help from her with some works? As he expressed it, it sounded more like he would use her body for his own satisfaction. And that was only something she ever would allow Jack to do.

    ¡°Father, I do think your boyfriend are trying to cheat on you.¡±

    Ellen looked even more surprised at Angela, boyfriend? Father and boyfriend? Didn¡¯t that meant that Chris and Sour would be a pair?

    ¡°We ain¡¯t even a couple, right Chris?¡±

    Chris burst out in a laughter, ¡°Not a chance. I prefer girl and not dirty old men.¡±

    Soon all except Ellen was laughing, was that they kind of joke they could make in this group?

    ¡°But anyway, you wish it in pieces? Is there A special day you want it done to?¡±

    Sour seemed to have gotten back in business mode. Just how quick could that person''s mood change?

    ¡°If you can make it today, I will reward you with a kiss.¡±

    Once again they seemed to be at it, If it only was that they were joking. If they was joking, they sure did put a lot of fake emotions into it. Which made it really difficult for her to tell.

    Both Chris and Sour left to finish her request. As Ellen did understand it, they had worked together a couple of time when they had been owning each other money.

    Ellen had been left alone with Angela, that still stood behind the counter.

    ¡°So, what are you working at?¡±

    She was curious at Ellen''s work, but it turned out to be because she aimed to be a gear smith like Sour. If Ellen was lucky, she maybe could do deals with Angela instead of Sour later on. She did seem to be a more serious person than her father.

    The two girls talked a little about work, but mostly about their everyday life.

    Ellen found herself really enjoying talking with her newfound friend, but the talk only lasted until Chris and Sour came back.

    For being a complicated request, they seemed to finished it very fast.

    ¡°You gear parts are in the box.¡±

    Sour walked to the counter, pushing Angela aside and looked greedy at Ellen.

    After a light sigh Ellen walked up to the counter, it was no need for her to take him or anything he did serious.

    After Ellen had paid the three gold they thanked greatly before leaving. Both if them seemed to have things to do.

    Ellen felt she needed to get home as soon she could to try the idea out. The faster she finished Jack''s request, the sooner she could stop the threat to get thrown out at the street. And the faster could Alice stop covering up for her.

    Ellen had started put together the propeller she bought from Sour.

    It was simple to put together and change. He had done a really good job, so she really needed to thank both him and Chris next time she meet them.

    Ellen was checking over the last things before testing her new kind of purifying gear when someone knocked at the door. Just as Ellen thought it was Alice that came down to see how she was doing. Alice had curiously greeted her when returning home and wondered how it had gone. Ellen had told her that she had got the things she needed, and even offered her to join when it was time to try it.

    The idea was after all Alice''s from the beginning, so it was the least thing she could do for her.

    Not to mention that Alice also had offered herself to bring some food to the workshop.

    ¡°I hope it work.¡±

    It felt like Alice tried to bring them unfortunate, otherwise she wouldn¡¯t have expressed it like that. Not like Ellen was sure that it would work out as they wished, but at least she didn¡¯t say anything like that.

    Ellen took a deep breath and wished for it to work before giving it a try.

    It started out just fine, but soon a clinking noise began. Ellen ran to stop the spring from charging up again, she couldn¡¯t afford if anything was about to break.

    As soon the gear had stopped spinning Ellen began to investigate what could have happened.

    Alice stood behind and wondered that had happened, seriously worried if anything had gone wrong.

    All Ellen could find in the end was a small glass like lump. A closer examination of it began as Ellen had taken it to another table. The lump seemed to be porous enough to break into a powder if it was dragged against the table. Could this thing be a part of the crystal?

    Ellen frantically walked over to the machine to take a look at the crystal, which had become more clear. Maybe this could be this, maybe the problem could have been solved.

    ¡° I will give this another try.¡±

    Alice didn¡¯t seem to follow what just happened.

    After lowering the speed she gave it another try, with almost the same result. The lump was bigger this time, but the crystal was more misty.

    Ellen explained what she thought those lumps was the impurities in the crystal. But it was no way for her to know, so she could only document the speed and which number at the box the result was in.

    That way Jack and the other could tell her which result they wished for.

    This meant she soon had completed the horrible task, and that meant she soon could go back to her normal routines. Maybe even forgetting that it is a drug she is making stronger to avoid getting the whole family out at the street.

    ¡°Ellen, don¡¯t you think it smells?¡±

    If it as the same smell as the other experiments, Ellen had gotten use to it after all the time she spent in the workshop. So it was only natural that Alice would notice everything that Ellen had gotten use to.

    According to Jack she had finally made some processes, and he wanted Ellen to try all different speeds she could to get the best result.

    Ellen could finally calm down and do her normal routines during the day. Then at the evening she tried the different speeds.

    It probably wouldn¡¯t take her long to finish the request.

 chapter 7

    ¡°You have finally start to bring us some good result Ellen¡±

    Jack was satisfied with Ellen''s progress and praised her for her efforts.

    Yet the task wasn¡¯t finished yet, she had tried a lot of different speed on her prototype. But she hadn¡¯t got the result they wished for yet. It seemed like the result they really searched for was beyond the breaking point.

    Ellen had already passed the breaking point with the old kind of purifying gear, so it was easily done with this one too. Yet she lowered the speed a little in comparisons with the old one since the current one had more parts that could break.

    After giving it a few tries she put a stop to it. It was not worth to go further and risking that the gear would break, especially since it had a value of ten gold.

    To make it easier for them to understand she simply expressed that she had reached the breaking point, so couldn¡¯t they say anything more about it.

    ¡°I am so proud of you Ellen.¡±

    Jack gave her a tight hug. Her hard work had finally paid off, she was closer to him now than ever before. It was the first real hug since she got revived.

    ¡°Can you make me even prouder and build that machine according to a couple of wishes we have?¡±

    Of course Ellen could do that. If this was the response she got by only doing that, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder how it would be if she builds that machine. Would that result in a tighter and warmer hug, a kiss or maybe some more intimate bonding between them?

    Ellen stood in her workshop and did some plans of how the machine would look like.

    According to their wishes they wanted it to be a little smaller than now, and they wished it to contain two purifying gears. Both of them at different speeds.

    It was a little harder to fit in since she had believed that it only would have one gear while she was building the prototype. But it still was nothing her hunger for Jack''s love couldn¡¯t find an answer to.

    She looked at the purifying gears she got from them when she started. She didn¡¯t have any use anymore, maybe she could make a deal with Sour so she got a cut if he got those gears. If he made other purifying gears, then he maybe could use them as material.

    Of course she could try to make a deal with Chris to, but it felt like she would win more at a deal with Sour. And she was already owed Chris to much after how he paid a part of the price for those specially made gears.

    That sounded like a good idea, if she could get that through that was.

    Ellen began to take some measures of where she had to put the holes in the plate she somehow should order. Jack and his co-workers had left some measures of how big they wished the machine to be, which meant that she had to make the machine smaller than the prototype itself.

    It meant it could be a pain to fit everything in, if she was unlucky. But since she had solved the biggest problem, to drag the impurities out of the crystal, she felt that she had the luck at her side.

    Even if she got most of the idea from Alice, it was still herself that found the solution.

    While taking the measures and making, something like a, blueprint of how the machine would look like, she couldn¡¯t help but think if what she did was right.

    Making a drug stronger so it would ruin people''s life even more than it already did. Could they really be sacrificed as nothing so she and Jack could live happily in the house? Was it really the right thing to do?

    She meant, they also had a life. Probably both before and during the beginning of their addiction. But it would all be ruined by her creation, only so she could help herself to live with her beloved one.

    Ellen let out a heavy sigh. She could think that she would have a hard time to survive on the street, and it would be even worse for Alice. So maybe it was as Jack had said after all, that those people needed to be sacrificed.

    It was hard to believe, but it was probably the closest thing to an answer she could come.

    After making the drawing of how it would look like, she decided to leave so fast she could after breakfast the next day. The sooner she could get that task done, the better. Or at least she didn¡¯t need to look at the machine and think of its purpose.

    It was for the best, trying to forget what purpose the machine had and that she made it for Jack. But of course she would remember that she did something for her beloved.

    After saying bye to Jack when he left for his work the next day, she helped Alice with the dishes.

    She could easily just left without helping her sister. But since Alice had done so much to help Ellen during the hectic time with the work, it was the least she could do.

    Ellen didn¡¯t really care about Alice, but she holds some pride in herself as a good person.

    After a gathering the things she needed, she left with a quick bye.

    Ellen had thought to visit Chris first to get some of the gears she needed, but he wasn¡¯t at the shop. She turned her back to the shop and cursed him. Of all days he could be somewhere else, it just had to be today.

    She would like to get some advice about how she would handle Sour. That person hadn¡¯t left a good first impression with her. Neither should Chris had done, if she didn¡¯t know him from before.

    A thought suddenly struck Ellen.

    It maybe was a good thing that Chris wasn¡¯t at his shop. That meant she had whole her new budget to buy what she needed from Sour.

    And if she would run short on money, it probably would be easier for her to make up a deal with him than that dragon.Which more or less meant that it maybe was better to buy the plates she needed to before buying the last things from Chris.

    The only problem was that she didn¡¯t know anyone that worked with plates so she might be forced to get out in unknown water.

    It was uncomfortable but not really anything she could do about it. She needed to become an adult woman that could do things herself, someone that could be good enough for Jack.

    During the whole walk to Sour''s shop, she thinks of how to get a good deal with him. Without creating a mess for herself. If she¡¯s lucky maybe Angela would be there, she could help Ellen to get a better deal. As long they didn¡¯t lose too much in it.

    ¡°Good day¡±. Ellen walked through the door opening and noticed that Sour had a customer.

    If she had known that she would have taken some more time before getting there.

    ¡°Good day little missy, how can I help you today?¡±

    It seemed like she didn¡¯t bother him too much by getting there. Maybe the other man next to the counter wasn¡¯t a customer, but only someone that just was visiting him.

    Ellen began by thanking him for the last work and continued with what she needed this time.

    She tried to sound as polite as she could. There was no help she could get from neither Chris or Angela.

    ¡°So you would like two more of that purifying gear?¡±

    Ellen quickly confirmed it and pointed out once more that she wished it to be in one piece, in different from last time.

    Sour started to mutter for himself, most probably about what he needed to get done and how much it would cost. Ellen suddenly throws in her offer to give him the old purifying gears if she could get a lower price.

    The other man burst out in laughter, surprising both Sour and Ellen. The next second Sour also started to laugh.

    ¡°Are you poor, trying to get a lower price by offering him other gears?¡±

    She had paid the man no attention earlier, but she really couldn¡¯t ignore him now. If she only knew she was allowed to fight in the shop and how to fight, then she would have punched him in his face. Shaving off his long beard and forced him to eat it.

    But as it was now, she could tell that she wouldn¡¯t have a chance against him. He was just as wide as Chris, only around maybe a head shorter. And both of them was walking mountains of muscle masses.

    ¡°Well, I only have a budget of nine gold to finish this work.¡±

    Ellen had been worried that she wouldn¡¯t be able to finish the work with that small budget. But hopefully the expensive thing with that special gear was that it was in parts.

    ¡°Sour, it¡¯s impressive that you have been able to help a baby girl with horrible eyes like her.¡±

    If she only could have been fighting him. Not because he really was wrong, she did something horrible and maybe it could be reflected in her eyes. But he could at least tried to say it in a different way.

    ¡°The eyes are said to reflect the person''s soul, and my soul might be horrible.¡±

    She tried to make it sound like a joke, but she couldn¡¯t say that she really was lying about it. She was after all working on a machine to make a drug stronger.

    The men were silent for some seconds before they broke out in laughed again.

    Sour asked her to show her drawing of how she wanted the machine to be like and took a close look at it when she put it on the table.

    ¡°Can you help her with the plates for a reasonable price brother Beard?¡±

    The other man walked up beside Ellen and looked at the drawing, ¡°Do you have the money with you little baby girl?¡±

    She placed her whole budget at the table. Sour took four of the gold coins while the bearded man took three coins. ¡°I will only take three coins if you help me preparing the plates, under my conditions.¡±

    Ellen looked sceptical at him, was he really one that she could trust? Sure Sour seemed to trust him, and Chris seemed to trust Sour. So it couldn¡¯t be something bad, right?

    His shop was more or less in front of Sour''s shop.

    Even if Sour shouldn¡¯t have offered this man''s help, it was a big chance that she would have gone there anyway. Especially since Sour would need a couple of hours to make her the gears.

    The man''s workshop had a lot of machines Ellen never seen before, not that she even had tried to look into the art of blacksmith.

    ¡°Can you please seek for the plates you want so will we cut them, but I would like to see that there are as little scraps as possible.¡±

    Ellen found some plates that were a little smaller than she had drawn at her blueprint, but it would still work out fine. After writing a little reminder there she searched for the remaining plates which shouldn¡¯t take long to find.

    ¡°I have found the plates I need. With as little scrap as possible, Mr...¡±

    Did she ever get to know his name at Sour¡¯s shop?

    The man laughed raw at her, ¡° Don¡¯t you like to call people by nicknamed?¡±

    It wasn¡¯t the problem, she had no problems with that. But she did prefer to call others by their name, unless they stood her really, REALLY close.

    ¡°Anyway, my name is Thom and as you must have noticed by now so am I running a blacksmith.¡±

    Ellen greeted him properly and told him again that she had found plates she wished to use.

    Thom was the only one using the machines in the workshop.

    Mostly because he knows how to do and she wished her machine to be out of good quality. She did get the offer to use it while he kept an eye at her. But she politely declined.

    Of course it wasn¡¯t only him that kept an eye at her, Ellen also needed to keep an eye at him and the work. She was the one that had drawn the blueprint, so it was her task to make sure the holes were made at the right place.

    After quite some time it seemed like everything had been done.

    It had gone smoother than Ellen had thought. All her fingers and limbs were still attached to her body, and her eyes were unhurt.

    ¡°If you need some training, then you can come over here if you are in need of work.¡±

    It was surely a simple joke by Thom, but he somehow sounded serious about it.

    Sure it could be a possibility Ellen could take if she would somehow fail at everything else.

    After thanking him once more for the help with the plates and the bolts, to put it together, she walked over to Sour''s shop.

    Those plates all of sudden felt heavier then while she worked with them. Not to the point when she needed help to carry them, not that she wouldn¡¯t decline the offer, but maybe she would need to train her body a little.

    She didn¡¯t stay long in Sour''s shop after receiving the specially made gears. It would be a lot better for her if she got the last things and got home as soon as possible.

    The faster she could finish Jack''s machine, the better.

    Ellen and Sour exchanged thanks and wished each other luck before she left.

    To her surprise so had Chris came back to his shop when she walked back.

    It was just her luck that he had to be there when she no longer was in a screaming need of help.

    She walked in there for a short visit to get the last things she needed to finish the machine, exchanging only a few words with him.

    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    Back home she walked straight to the workshop without even greeting Alice.

    She just wished to dump the plates and gears as soon she could. It had been easy to carry in the beginning, but it didn¡¯t take long before her strength started to drain. If she only knew that she possibly would be able to lift it again, she would have taken a small break earlier.

    She really needed to train her body if she wished to do this in the future, at least if it would continue to be this heavy.

    Slowly she began to put together the shelter of the machine so she could start to put in the springs and everything else.

    She didn¡¯t feel like she got a long time to work before someone knocked at the door. It was some gently knocks, so it was most probably Alice that came for a visit.

    Ellen let out a light sigh and walked over to the door, unlocking it and letting Alice in.

    ¡°Why was the door locked?¡±

    Ellen made up a small lie about how she must have locked it unconsciously. It had honestly been because she didn¡¯t want to get distracted by the others in the house, but it would be to indirectly say that she would like to get distance from Jack. So the little ¡°princess¡± did not needed to hear that, at least not before Ellen had got a good grip of him.

    Alice told her that she had missed the dinner since the door was locked and because she didn¡¯t seem to react when Alice called for her.

    After a quick apology, Alice offered her to come down with some simple food so she could eat and still do her work. The ¡°princess¡± seemed to understand the importance of finishing the task from Jack, yet she didn¡¯t seem to like it.

    ¡°I will most probably try it tomorrow, do you wish to join?¡±

    It was the least Ellen could do for her sister. Alice might act all high and mighty from time to time, but she still did her best to help Ellen.

    Ellen woke up and gasped for air.

    A dream had put a drastic end to her sleep. A dream that really indicated that Thom had a point in what he said. She had horrible eyes, which meant she had a horrible soul.

    The world had been tainted by a thick black liquid in her dream and the people found it hard to even live there.

    Ellen had slowly found out that the liquid was the drug she helped Jack with, and that she was the reason that it now flooded the world. All the people in it was those that had fallen and would fall victim to it. They did even know her part in it and blamed her for it.

    Regretting her decision to take part in it she walked up and walked to the bathroom to wash off her face. She had made a horrible mistake and it was far too late to make it right. The machine had been finished the day before, she and Alice had also even got time to test it.

    The ¡°princess¡±  had been really impressed by the result and praised her much. Sure it was nice to be praised, but it didn¡¯t feel that good because of the machine''s real purpose.

    <hr>

    Alice had let Ellen sleep when she went up to make breakfast. Her poor sister had looked so tired and exhausted the last days, so it maybe could be good for her to get some more sleep.

    Not to mention that Ellen might need to get some more time to think things through. She had seemed to be bothered by the completion of the machine. She might have found out what those crystals really was about. And as the kind person she was, it could be a problem with it.

    Alice had known all the time that those crystals weren¡¯t anything else than a drug. Jack had after all been making them the whole time since they arrived in this world.

    She wished she could have told Ellen about earlier, but this had been a chance for her to get closer to her beloved one.

    Ellen came down to the kitchen just in time for Alice to go and wake Jack up.

    ¡°Good morning Ellen, can you take over here while I go and wake father up?¡±

    Her sister had lost some weight during the time she had worked with the task, it was a horrible view. But she at least she did seem to have noticed it herself.

    ¡°Can you please tell Jack that I wish to talk with him about the task?¡±

    Jack had fallen asleep in a chair while reading a book in his room.

    Alice let out a light sigh, the oldest person in the family seemed to be the one that she needed to look after the most. Sure she needed to take care of her sister to, but it was all a different matter. Ellen seemed to try getting better at taking care of herself, but still needed more time to really do learning it without failing.

    ¡°It`s time to rise and shine father.¡±

    Jack seemed to be exhausted, maybe he would need to take a couple of days off to get back on the rail. But he would need to notice that himself, in comparison to Ellen she wouldn¡¯t tell him. He had, after all, worked like that since the beginning of their lives in the afterlife.

    ¡°Is it already time to get up my little princess?¡±

    Alice ignored the nickname he used for her, it was never anything she asked for to start with.

    She walked back to the kitchen through the hallway.

    That man that called himself their father really needed to learn his manners, as soon as possible.

    It was one thing that he called her a princess, even if it wasn¡¯t anything she really wished to be called.

    But to start nonchalant starting to change clothes, while she still was in the room. It was a little too

    much.

    Had he started to fall under the curse of her horrific body, that she never even had asked to get?

    Just like far too many disgusting persons, that barely looked at her for the person she was. Instead, they tried to eat her body whole with their eyes.

    Alice let out a heavy sigh, she hated herself and she hated her body. Why couldn¡¯t she have been born with a stronger, protective and mother like body as Ellen?

    Ellen was annoying curious about why it had taken her so long to come back to the kitchen.

    Alice tried to brush it off by telling her that she had got stuck in some thoughts on her way back.

    She knows exactly was her sister was suspecting, but she had absolutely no interest in that man. She

    had never and would never have.

    After the breakfast Ellen and Jack went to talk in private.

    Alice always got worried when they did that, she didn¡¯t know how many times her sister had seemed bothered by something afterwards.

    This time it seemed like their talk had a good outcome, at least Ellen did seem to be a little happier.

    When Alice was done with the few chores for the day she left for the marketplace, of course after telling Ellen.

    Alice had just arrived at the marketplace when Taija found her and noticed that she seemed happier than the last time they meet. She did, of course, asked for the reason behind Alice happiness.

    She explained that her sister''s task finally was done, most probably with a satisfying result.

    ¡°That¡¯s it great, isn¡¯t it Alice.¡±

    Alice couldn¡¯t deny that she was glad that she had gotten some advice from an adult, even if it was someone like Taija.

    She had most probably never been able to handle it herself, especially since her beloved sister had been neglecting her own health for the task. She had wanted to scold her heavily when she first had noticed it, but had instead chosen to follow Taija''s advice and support her sister as much as possible.

    ¡°Have you confronted your beloved sister about your worries while she handled the task?¡±

    There, had been no chance for Alice to do it yet. At least not a chance she had chosen to take.

    ¡°I have been thinking to talk about it when I will take measures for her dress.¡±

    She had decided to do like that since some time ago, but she still didn¡¯t know how to express her worries. It could end well or bad, either way would be uncomfortable.

    Taija must have seen that Alice found it uncomfortable and offered to stand by her side when she would confront Ellen.

    ¡°Let us call it that I will help you taking measures.¡±

    Alice agreed, it sounded much better that way.

    Together Alice and Taija walked around the marketplace to seek for inspiration for Ellen''s dress.

    Alice was still hesitating that her sister would wear it, but it was worth a try. Especially since she had proved Alice wrong when she hesitated that Ellen could take care of herself.

    After they had searched up enough inspiration and made up a plan Taija pointed out one thing that Alice had forgotten. She didn¡¯t have a sewing machine.

    To her luck Taija had one she could borrow, or even buy if she wanted.

    Jack was working late and missed the dinner.

    It had almost become an annoying norm for him. Sure they needed money to survive, but he could at least try to spend some time together with his family.

    Alice could see at Ellen that she had started to worry about something again. It was probably about that machine again. Didn¡¯t she wanted to part from it, or was it because it was a tool to purify that drug?

    Neither of the possibilities would surprise her. She after all was both a proud and kind girl.

    When Jack finally came back home he had some other people with him.

    They didn¡¯t say a word to either of the girls when Jack leads them to the workshop to pick the machine up.

    Ellen looked really small and weak as a little kitten when they carried it out to a wagon. Saying bye to Jack, then left. Without a single ¡° thank you¡± to Ellen, that made the machine so they could put more food on the table.

    Alice woke up in Ellen''s arm in the morning.

    The poor sister hadn¡¯t been able to feel any better during the rest of last evening.

    She had walked around in her own thoughts, still looking like a lost kitten, the whole time.

    Alice smiled to herself. At least Ellen looked more relaxed now while sleeping.

    It would be bad to wake her up. Maybe she deserved a day off? Alice could wake her up later when Jack had left and she had done most of the chores.

    She carefully wriggled out of Ellen''s hug. She had love to stay in her protective sister''s arms for a while more, but someone had to make breakfast for Jack.

    Jack was already in the kitchen when she came in.

    It looked like he was in hurry, and yet it wasn¡¯t time for him to leave yet.

    ¡°Good morning father.¡±

    He made a small jump and turned around slowly, before letting a relieved sigh out when he saw it was Alice. ¡°Good morning princess.¡±

    ¡°What are you doing this early?¡±

    He hesitated before answering, ¡°It had been decided that we shall do a business trip with the work. So I have to leave earlier than usual.¡±

    Alice only nodded to his answer. It somehow did sound like a lie.

    ¡°I would like you to follow me on the business trip, little princess.¡± He continued and looked serious at her.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t it be better to ask Ellen to follow you, since she created that machine for you?¡±

    Jack straight up declined it, he had been thinking that Ellen would be taking care of the house while they were gone. Just like the responsible and grown-up person she was.

    <hr>

    Ellen slowly woke up and felt horrible.

    She had dreamed the dream about the black liquid again. It was like even her soul tried to tell that she was a horrible person.

    Getting dressed and walking to the kitchen she noticed how silent it was in the house. Was Alice out at an errand already?

    She looked at the clock, it was later than usual so Jack had probably left for his so-called work. But what could her sister do for an errand this early?

    If it was a task for Jack, it was bad. It was one thing that Ellen made something horrible for him, but Alice should never be allowed to do any bad tasks for him.

    When she heard Alice opening the door, she walked to ask her what she had done. It wasn¡¯t her sister that came through the door, instead it was many uniformed men.

    One quickly forced her down on the floor when he noticed her, giving her a heavy punch in the chest and put a gun in her face.

    ¡°Where is Mr Jack?¡±

    Ellen was too shocked to answer and got another punch across her face. ¡°WHERE IS HE?!¡±

    The other men searched through the house while Ellen got beaten some more.

    ¡°He isn¡¯t here.¡± One man confirmed and stared down at Ellen, ¡°And this girl is only adopted by him. So she has probably only been left here.¡±

    Ellen tried to ask what was going on, but it was all for deaf ears.

 chapter 8

    Ellen stood in the hallway and stared angrily at a paper they had left her.

    It wasn¡¯t enough that they had given her a light beating and forced her to stand outside after being stripped to her underwear.

    She maybe could have forgiven them a little if it had been that she was allowed to dress again before being forced out, but of course not. Ellen had been standing there, almost nude while they tried to find clues of where Jack could be.

    Before those guards left, they handed over a paper to Ellen.

    She all of sudden wished to cry. The paper was proof that she had until the next day to leave the house.

    After that the town owned the house, until they had paid a fine of thousand gold.

    Ellen has really tried her best to create that machine to Jack so they shouldn¡¯t be forced out at the street, yet she still was thrown out like that. Could it be the price she had to pay for creating a horrible machine like that?

    Why did this happen?

    Why were they searching for Jack, and where were he and Alice? Had they left her to herself and run away? Did they know this would happen? What was really going on?

    Ellen turned around when she heard a shocked noise.

    Alice had come through the door without her noticing it and was now starring surprised at Ellen, still standing in her underwear.

    ¡°What has happened sister?¡±

    Alice looked like she had gotten away from all humiliation that had happened Ellen. Maybe she should give the little ¡°princess¡± a taste of it?

    ¡°We have just lost our home and Jack is wanted for something.¡± She should have loved to give vent to her anger at Alice, but it wasn¡¯t her fault this had happened.

    It felt more like it was Ellen''s fault they couldn¡¯t stay in the house, this was the price they had to pay for the horrible machine she created.

    Alice stood frozen in shock.

    This was probably more than the ¡°princess¡± could take.

    ¡°Alice, can you please make some tea while I get dressed. So can we drink while talking about what we will do now.¡±

    They had to make up some plan to be able to survive, and since Alice was so shocked it was probably best that Ellen took the control. Otherwise no one knew what could happen.

    The sisters tried to find out what to do, but couldn¡¯t find any good answers.

    Taija came over for a visit after what had felt like an eternity, wondering what they were talking about.

    Ellen explained that the guards had searched for Jack, humiliated her and given her a paper that the city took over the house the next day. So they were more or less homeless and was now trying to make up a plan of how they should handle it.

    ¡°Then, do you have a plane?¡±

    Ellen looked irritated at Taija. That cheeky question was nothing she wanted to hear now, or ever at all.

    She took the silence as an answer.

    ¡°What would you like to work as live-in maids in my home?¡±

    She probably meant well with the question, but Ellen couldn¡¯t help to feel that she tried to use their situation.

    Without any better alternatives both Alice and Ellen had agreed to Taija''s offer. They had packed some clothes and a few other things before they left their now former home.

    Ellen knows that it maybe was and probably looked stupid that she carried the prototype with her, but if it wouldn¡¯t end well at Taija''s place she could sell some part for money to survive a little while longer.

    ¡°Do you want help sister?¡±

    Alice has offered to help her a few times since they left the house, but Ellen had declined the help every time. If even Ellen that probably was stronger then Alice got exhausted to carry it, Alice would most probably collapse and slowly die if she tried.

    ¡°Are you moving little miss?¡±

    Ellen recognized the voice after all the times he had helped her.

    She stopped up and put the prototype on the ground, starting to talk to him. After a short and simplified version of how they had lost their home he patted her on the head, ¡°Then it¡¯s great that you have someone that helps you and that I have another temporary work offer for you.¡±

    ¡°If I am allowed to borrow her from you, that is.¡±

    He looked at Taija with a smile. Wouldn¡¯t it have been better if he had asked Ellen directly?

    Taija cracked a small smile,¡± It all depends on if I choose to make them my personal maids or the households maids.¡±

    Ellen looked at Alice that looked just a confused as Ellen. It had never been anything said about they becoming her personal maids, not that they were in a position to be picky.

    After a little while they decided at which amount Chris would pay Taija to be allowed to borrow Ellen.

    ¡°See you tomorrow morning little missy, and I hope you will feel home at madam''s place.¡±

    Chris quickly left after giving her which time they should meet at his shop.

    Ellen didn¡¯t know if she should be glad or irritated. It was great that Chris asked her to help him with a work, but how should she really feel about that he borrowed her from Taija. Sure she will work for Taija as a maid, but was it the same as if she owned Ellen?

    ¡°Shall we buy some food so we can make dinner when we come home?¡±

    Taija looked smiling at them. Either she was hungry or just wanted to taste something made by Alice.

    Ellen was sure that it was the latter option, almost enough to be betting money at it.

    She hadn¡¯t been mistaken, It was that Taija wished to eat something cooked by Alice. Clearly proven during, for them, unusually dinner.

    Every second and third bit she took, she praised Alice some more.

    Ellen finds it highly annoying, the food wasn¡¯t that great. Neither was Alice, at least not to be praised that much. By a person that lives in a mansion.

    ¡°Miss Halluv, Who are those persons?¡±

    Taija suddenly went silent and looked at a girl that just had come into the kitchen.

    ¡°Good afternoon Sain, how has your day off been?¡±

    After a short answer by the girl Taija explained that Sain also was a maid in the mansion.

    Just by looking at the ginger hair, tail and ears Ellen made a guess that the girl was partly fox.

    ¡°Good afternoon Sain, I am Alice and I will be in your care as a maid from tomorrow and on.¡±

    The false ¡°princess¡± put on her most polite behaviour.

    Ellen followed up, present herself just like she would have to anyone else. Only to be met by irritated glares from both Alice and Sain.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t let Ellen talk with Mr Halluv.¡±

    Ellen felt more frustrated, she only did present herself as who she is. It ain¡¯t that bad.

    Taija began to giggle, which made it even worse. ¡°Would you like a bite of the food Alice have made?¡±

    Back at the room Ellen''s irritation started to calm down.

    It wasn¡¯t enough that Alice and Sain complained at Ellen manner, or that Taija had praised Alice too much about the food. No, of course Sain also had to praise the ¡°princess¡± for the food.

    That was far too much to happen under just one day, and it was without taking up that Jack had disappeared. Or that they had lost their home.

    ¡°Ellen, you know you have to make sure to hold a better manner when you talk. Right¡±

    She didn¡¯t want to hear more about that from Alice, as if she hadn¡¯t found that out herself already.

    Ellen agreed to avoid further talk about it before changing to her nightclothes and joining Alice in the bed.

    They could have gotten separated rooms, but Alice begged to share a room with Ellen. Just like it had been since they ¡°found¡± each other again.

    ¡°Sister, You know father''s crystals are bad. Don¡¯t you?¡±

    Ellen starred surprised at her sister. Did Alice know what those crystals actually was?

    ¡° I found it out when I asked Jack after hearing about them in the city. Yet I had to finish the machine to make them stronger.¡±

    ¡°Why did you have to finish it?¡±

    Ellen let out a light sigh. ¡°Because it was said that we would be thrown out at the street if I didn¡¯t.¡±

    Alice gave her a hug, ¡°So you finished it for us? I am proud of you Ellen.¡±

    Ellen wished to tell her sister that there was nothing to be proud of, at least not the fact that she made the drug stronger and yet failed to keep them in the house. It was rather something that she would try to hide with all her might.

    ¡°You must get up now is you shall help Chris today.¡±

    It was another morning that she wished to curse the ¡°princess¡±. Why did she have to be a morning person?

    Alice had changed into a ¡°working clothes¡± she got from Sain the day earlier. A dark coloured dress and a white apron to that. She did look something like a maid, which is a fitting position for a high and mighty person like her.

    When she was sure her sister was awake she left the room.

    Ellen slowly dressed up in her casual clothes and noticed how Alice had put the working clothes in a bag.

    She was still taking care of Ellen, even after all that had happened. Even after she had failed her task to make sure they could remain living happily in their old house.

    When Ellen walked into the kitchen she noticed that it only was Alice there.

    ¡° Shouldn¡¯t the fox girl help you with the chores?¡±

    ¡°She is, but right now she is waking up Taija.¡±

    It didn¡¯t seem to bother Alice that the fox probably tried to get away from some of the tasks.

    After being ordered to start eating before everyone had arrived Ellen began to eat. Thinking if this wasn¡¯t similar to a family father would have it. Eat before everyone else so she could get away to the work and earn money for the family. The only thing that would be off in that thought, was that it should mean that Alice was the family mother. Which not even were possible.

    Ellen had almost finished eating when Sain came back, leading a clearly morning tired Taija.

    It was hard for her to keep back her laughed. She herself was tired in the morning, but Taija was even worse. Being in need of someone to guide her to the kitchen.

    Upon leaving to meet up with Chris at his shop everyone wished her a good working, once again as if she was a family father.

    After a quick greeting with Chris, Ellen borrowed a room in the shop to change clothes. She had been lucky that Alice had picked up them up before leaving their home. Even if the little ¡°princess¡± complained that it needed to get washed.

    As if Ellen didn¡¯t know it herself.

    Chris explained what their job was and how he had planned it.

    The work itself sounded very simple, it was only to change some cogs in a machine. The only thing that could do it complicated was that it was a bigger machine, so it was needed two persons to handle the big gears.

    While explaining everything for her she noticed how that walked through both the marketplace and the area that both Sour and Thom had their shops.

    At last they reached an area that was filled with a lot of big buildings, most probably factories if Ellen would make a wild guess.

    ¡°Is it your first time here?¡±

    It was. She had barely seen anything else than the walkway between her old home, the marketplace, Sour''s shop and now recently Taija''s mansion.

    If it wasn¡¯t because she had decided to start as a cog technician, she would probably not seen anything else then the marketplace besides the house.

    They walked through a door to one of the factories and stayed there until a man noticed them, and walked straight to them.

    ¡°Do you have any businesses here?¡±

    Chris politely explained that they were the repairmen that would fix a machine. The man nodded to their words while annoyed was written all over his face.

    ¡°That`s great, Then can you please start your work instead of standing here. I don¡¯t wish to lose more money.¡±

    The rude and heavily overweight man lead them through the factory and to a machine.

    ¡°Here it¡¯s. Now get your work done so we can start to use it again.¡± He left with those last words.

    ¡°Can you feel how the ground is vibrating less and less?¡±

    The man had got out of the reach of hearing and Chris expressed his disliking with a joke.

    Ellen could only agree after being met by that horrible manner. That ¡°blob¡± would need to get his fat rear in gear and do some real work done himself, or at least try to work out and lose half of his weight.

    After those short comments Chris gave her a smile, ¡° Are you ready to work now little missy?¡±

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.Before she had a chance to answer, Chris Walked up to the machine and opened a door-like lid and gestured her to follow him in through it.

    The inside of the machine looked a lot simpler then she had thought. But of course, the only machines she had seen the inside of was the machine she created for Jack and some from the TV back in the old world before she died. And that was really different from the world she exists in now.

    The most important gear they needed to change was one with a big blade, but they should also change the cogs that looked worn out. Of which some locked the big one in place.

    Chris expressed his gratitude to Ellen after she stopped him from taking down the smaller cogs.

    The stupid bull didn¡¯t even consider marking up which cog that belonged where, so it could have been a pain when it was time to put everything together again. Stupid bull.

    <hr>

    Sain expressed an impression that Alice picked up how they wanted to have the cleaning of the house done.

    It wasn¡¯t much if different then how she had done back in the other house, so Alice couldn¡¯t help but think that Sain was simply overreacting. But she couldn¡¯t deny that it felt good to be honestly praised for something so basic as cleaning.

    It seemed like it had been a good decision to take Taija''s offer.

    They had once again a home and even some good company. Alice didn¡¯t need to work as hard that she did before and could even take a few breaks together with Sain, that was a lot more talkative than she first had given the impression of.

    It also seemed to be good for Ellen. She didn¡¯t lock herself up in the workshop to study, but instead she actually spends some time together with Alice. Maybe it was because of Chris, but she even came home in time to eat dinner together with everyone else.

    Not even Taija bothered her too much, at least not while she was cleaning. But of course Taija did leave the mansion a while after breakfast every day and came back in time for the dinner. After the dinner was another story, if she could get hold of Alice that was.

    The second day they lived in the mansion Taija left as usually after breakfast, but she came home earlier that day. Drunk, or rather heavily intoxicated.

    ¡°Ellen, can you ask how miss Taija is doing?¡±

    They were in the middle of the cleaning when Sain first noticed Taija staggering through the door.

    Alice was surprised that she came home that drunk, and just by looking at Sain so was it not common. She put away what she had in her hand and walked over to talk with Taija.

    ¡°How are you doing Taija?¡±

    Taija threw herself around her, holding her tight. ¡°I am so glad you are here sweetheart.¡±

    Alice looked back pleading at Sain, that apparently had taken the chance to flee. She must have used Alice to make sure she could escape herself.

    ¡°What has happened?¡±

    She felt betrayed by that false fox, but the only thing she could do for now was to find out what was up with Taija. Then she could search up that fox and hug her throat, tight while squishing the air out of her.

    It was the first time a grown-up woman hold on to her while sobbing. ¡°I and an important friend took a day off to drink some wine together. But now afterwards I found out how horrible it must look that I am intoxicated in the middle of the day.¡±

    Sure it didn¡¯t look good that she was intoxicated like this, but if someone would see her cry like this. It would be even worse.

    ¡°It probably isn¡¯t anything to care so much about since it¡¯s rare.¡±

    The best thing to do was probably to try calming her down, maybe even let her sleep, and talk about it the next day when she was sober.

    Alice leaded Taija to her room while still being hugged. It was a slow process, but they finally reached Taija''s room.

    On their way there Alice saw the betrayal fox again and gave her a hateful glare. When Sain noticed them her ears and tail shot up in the air before she once again retreated, as if her life depended on it.

    Next time she got hold of her, Alice really needed to hug her throat.

    ¡°It`s wonderful that I have a wife at home that can take care of me.¡±

    No. You don¡¯t have a wife that takes care of your drunk bump, you have a maid that takes cares of a drunk woman. Not that she really cares about Taija being drunk, but more that it¡¯s her responsibility to take care of her.

    Alice let out a sigh. Normally when Taija indicated that she was her wife, she holds a playful tone. But she sounded more serious now.

    She didn¡¯t pay Taija''s comment any attention and helped her to bed so Taija could sleep and sober up. And most important, leaving Alice out of her stupid behaviour.

    ¡°Will you still be by my side when my father comes home, no matter what he says?¡±

    She was about to fall asleep and started to cry again, showing clear signs of being afraid.

    Was there even a risk that Alice and Ellen would get thrown out when Taija''s father came home. They were working to be able to live there. Or rather, she was working and Ellen would start to work so soon she was done helping Chris.

    At last Taija got calm enough to fall asleep and Alice left the room. Maybe it could be a good idea to ask Sain about Taija''s father, so she had an idea of what could be waiting, before strangling that naughty fox.

    Alice did found out that Sain had got both the time to get out and buy ingredients and start to prepare for the dinner while Alice was taking care of Taija. So she could almost forgive her for running away, but only almost.

    Upon asking about asking about Taija''s father, Mr Halluv, Sain thought it wouldn¡¯t be any problems at all. As long she didn¡¯t let Ellen do the talk.

    Alice had already proven herself to be able to work hard and hold a polite attitude, which couldn¡¯t be said about Ellen.

    <hr>

    Ellen let out a sigh. She had helped Chris for three days now and everything was going smooth. But she did feel bothered, not by the work but by what Alice had told her.

    There was a risk that ¡°Mr Halluv¡± comes back home soon, and because of that Alice wishes her to behave more polite and lick his ¡°high-class rear¡±. As if she wasn¡¯t good enough when she acted like herself.

    She let out another sigh. To make it all worse so was the now transporting the gear with a blade on it, with horse and waggon. Which gave Ellen quite some time to think.

    ¡°what are you thinking about Ellen?¡±

    All her thinking seemed to have caught Chris attention.

    ¡°Is it wrong to act like normally if you are a maid.¡±

    Chris didn¡¯t see anything wrong with act normally as a maid, so long the normal behaviour wasn¡¯t rude and really impolite. Of course it also mattered if the maid was employed by the household, or if they were employed by a specific person.

    He was quick to point out that he hadn¡¯t seen any behaviour by Ellen that could cause her any problems.

    Ellen was satisfied with his answer and it only proved that Alice was overreacting. But of course she might need to think about how she handles that old man.

    ¡°I have a friend that works here, he will help us sharpen the gear.¡±

    They had finally stopped, in front of Thom''s blacksmith. So he was also a friend of Chris''s. For some reason Ellen wasn¡¯t even surprised. She could see Sour, Chris and Thom stick together, especially with that strange sense of humour of theirs.

    ¡°I know him, helped me with the task from father.¡±

    Chris let out a light laugher as they started to load off the gear, ¡°I see. Then it¡¯s no need for a presentation.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t any needed at all, Thom recognised her directly when he saw her.

    ¡°So you are working for Chris?¡±

    He didn¡¯t seem to suspect that, but of course she didn¡¯t work with him during that time. It hadn¡¯t even been any talk about it, so how could anyone know.

    ¡°You needed to do some training last time you were here, so what about you get some training now?¡±

    Thom handled her a tool to sharpen the blade on the gear and expected her to help him.

    ¡°She might need some training, she got really tired to only carry out the gear to the waggon.¡±

    Sure she had got really tired when she helped him carry the gear but he could at least try to sugar-coat it at least a little. She wasn¡¯t as fragile and pathetic as other girls but she was still a girl.

    Nothing got better since she got exhausted by sharpening the blade. Which made Chris and Thom teasing her even more. With a playful tone of course, but it still only made Ellen hesitate more if she had made the right decision to work as a cog technician.

    ¡°Maybe better to let little Ellen get some rest for the day.¡±

    It was about time to stop work for the day when Thom spoke up. Which wouldn¡¯t have been a problem, if he hadn¡¯t chosen to use the chance to make fun of her.

    ¡°Agree, she does look tired.¡± And of course Chris would join in at it too.

    If it wouldn¡¯t be that the bull had helped her when she first bought the gears from Sour, she would like to just give him a piece of her mind and then leave.

    Chris told Ellen that they could meet at Thom''s place the next day. So should they finish it and take it straight to the factory again. All before they parted at Chris''s shop.

    Ellen let out a sigh while walking back to the mansion, it had felt like the work had been heavier than usual. The men could have a point that she needed to train, even if she didn¡¯t want to agree to it.

    She let out another sigh, all other work she could get as a cog technician couldn¡¯t this heavy, right?

    Yells could be heard from the mansion when she arrived. It was the ¡°princess¡± that screamed at someone, and she seemed angrier than she ever heard before. If she even had heard her sister angry before, that was.

    ¡°Why do you even think you have permission to tell a father how to treat his dumb daughter?¡±

    ¡°If you shouldn¡¯t have tried to break her, it would have been a different thing. But you tried to shatter your own daughter into pieces.¡±

    Ellen walked in and directly got their absolute attention. It was no way she could back of and keep herself out if it anymore. And just by seeing how angry that old, fat and bald man was. She couldn¡¯t act like she normally did. It would probably only make it all worse.

    ¡°I beg for pardon sir, but may I ask what the problem is?¡± Her own words sounded horrible, but it was a matter of survival right now. If he was Taija''s father it meant that he was the person owning the mansion, which also meant that he easily could throw them out at the street.

    ¡°Finally, some proper behaviour. In comparison to that little slut''s behaviour.¡±

    If Ellen only would have been allowed to beat that fat bowling ball. It was one thing that she thought bad about her sister, but gods may have mercy at the others that did the same.

    ¡°I deeply apologise for my sister''s behaviour. May I be rude and ask if this will affect our work as maids Taija?¡±

    According to the fat idiot that was the problem itself, his ¡°dumb¡± daughter hadn¡¯t asked him about employing them. What was wrong with this ¡°person¡±? Getting angry because his daughter decided herself to employ two maids, was the bowling ball a child?

    ¡°Then I wish to apologise both myself and my sister for our wrongdoing.¡±

    Polite Ellen, be polite and don¡¯t take the first possibility you get to beat him. He sure seems to deserve it, but he ain¡¯t worth it.

    ¡°Now it really starts to look like something.¡± He seemed to have calmed down after the apologises and some deep curtsies. Maybe this could be a chance to secure their place as maids there.

    Ellen apologised again and gently offered him their services as maids.

    Pointing out, especially, that Alice was good at most of the house chores. Which includes that she was more or less a master chef.

    She did her best to secure her place thereby pointing out that she was a trainee cog technician, so she could offer some help with that and also most of the other house chores.

    The scariest part was that she needed to point out that she for the moment was helping a co-worker, but would start to help out in the mansion when the work was done.

    After quite some thinking The man finally broke the silence. ¡°That does sound good. Then if your sister can make an acceptable dinner, you are allowed to stay. But don¡¯t forget that you have to behave, otherwise you have to leave without a second chance.¡± He glared at Alice when he said the second part.

    They really were off to a ¡°good start¡±, all thanks to that small and bitchy ¡°princess¡±.

    Later in the room Ellen asked Alice what had happened.

    According to Alice, so had both Mr Halluv and his maid both unfairly critic toward Alice before they had started to ask what she even did there. Sain had laid up some good words for her and it had seemed to been accepted. But then Taija had arrived back home and said that Alice was one of her personal maids, that was when Mr Halluv had started to scold her until she broke down in tears. That was also the point when Alice started to protect Taija, and it all got out of hand.

    Ellen let out a sigh. Alice had proved herself to be a bad girl by going against him instead of taking care of Taija afterwards. It could have got them thrown out at the street if it wasn¡¯t for Ellen. But the fat bowling ball called Halluv did show himself to be a jerk off, so it maybe had been worth it if she had given him a beating.

    It had been a really rough day. First, had she been made fun of by both Chris and Thom. Then she has come back to the mansion and been forced to solve a problem so they had a place to stay. And to finish it all of, she had been questioned by Mr Halluv''s maid. Which Ellen didn¡¯t even notice during the big conflict. She turned out to be in charge of all the maids. She really did a bad job of showing who was the boss during the conflict, instead she seemed to be enjoying to punish people afterwards. Just like she would do with Alice.

    When Ellen asked how bad it would be she said that it wouldn¡¯t be too harsh. Alice had after all shown some regret after Ellen had started to talk to Mr Halluv.

    Why had it all got a messy end like this?

    Ellen let out yet another sigh, this had been really tiring. All she could do now was to hope that the next day would be better.

 chapter 9

    Ellen let out a sigh. The job would be finished as soon she had tightened those last bolts. She should be happy, but no. It was only depressing that the job soon would be done since it meant that she would need to be in the same household as that fat bowling ball Mr Halluv.

    ¡°How is it going missy?¡± Chris had been talking with the fat blob and given the rapport of how the work was going.

    ¡° If there ain¡¯t more to fix than we said last time. So are the job finished when I have tightened these bolts.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s perfect missy. You have done a great job.¡±

    Chris clapped her on the back. If she now really had done a great job, then maybe there was a chance that he would ask her to help him again.

    The thought made her feel a little better about it all, but she couldn¡¯t deny that it would be a pain to be in the mansion the rest of the time.

    ¡°The owner wants to see us after we have tried it.¡± Chris pointed out just as Ellen was finishing it.

    It had taken on Ellen''s nerves when they tested the machine. A strange noise could be heard, but it seemed like she was the only one that had found it strange. All they that worked with the machine regular called it normal. If they found it normal, then it was no surprise that they needed to change quite some cogs.

    After collecting all their tools and stuff they walked to the chief''s office.

    ¡°Ellen, please put up your best behaviour while we are talking with the chief.¡±

    Chris pointed it out when they stood before the office. He didn¡¯t seem to think that Ellen knows she need to do that without him telling her. But it was just like Alice seemed to have thought before Ellen talked and ensured their place at the mansion. So long it was about survival so was she ready to put up a facade.

    He knocked at the door, waiting for an answer before he walked in while Ellen followed him.

    To her surprise she noticed Mr Halluv behind the desk together with THAT maid, that was serving him some tea at the moment.

    ¡°So you was one of the repairmen Ellen?¡± It hadn¡¯t taken him long to notice her, even though she had been standing partly behind Chris.

    The bowling ball had good eyes, it could be good to remember to later on.

    Ellen curtsey, ¡°Yes I am mister Halluv. I was offered the chance to help Mr Hornhold.¡±

    She didn¡¯t like that it was him that was the chief. It could have been anyone else in the world but him. Especially if that jerk off still was pissed by the conflict between him and Alice two days earlier.

    That could be a receipt for disasters.

    After a short moments silence Mr Halluv let out a sigh.

    ¡°I believe you wish to get paid Mr Hornhold. But I would like a discount because you have taken help from a maid from my mansion. And since you have done a good job and finished it faster than expected, I would like to make a contract so I contact you every time we need to repair a machine. Of course for a slightly lower price.¡±

    He wanted a discount because she was a maid of his mansion? Was that fat old geezer really that dumb or was it only really good at acting that way?

    To Ellen''s surprise so was Chris gladly accepted his offered contract.

    Wasn¡¯t that geezer the only dumb one? Chris couldn¡¯t be this dumb, right?

    Or didn¡¯t he have any other choice, if that was the case. Was it because of her involvement?

    Chris asked Ellen for help when they should make a calculation for the price. He thought it was better if they were two that could think through what could be a hindrance when a machine needed to be repaired.

    Ellen didn¡¯t feel like helping with it since the fat bowling ball had abused the fact that she lived in the mansion, but since it was Chris that asked her for help she decided to help anyway. But not without pulling a couple of small lies within their calculation. Adding a little more time than it took and a couple more cogs than really were necessary.

    If Halluv wishes to play dirty, so could she. Not to mention that he deserved it, without any hesitation.

    At last Chris and Mr, Marco, Halluv signed the contract that they had designed.

    The bowling ball smirked happily for himself when they walked out of the room. She was sure that she even could hear him break out in a love song when they had closed the door behind them.

    That geezer would really need to learn a thing or two about thinking on others than himself.

    With or without a serval beating.

    ¡°You really do need to do some training missy.¡±

    They had just come back to Chris''s shop and Ellen was exhausted after carrying most of the tools.

    Chris had resonated it all with that she needed to train anyway, and if she could take most of the tools it wasn¡¯t half as bad as he had thought. It had most probably only been that he tried to provoke her, and like the idiot she was she swallowed the provoking.

    ¡°I think you might have a point.¡±

    But the question was only about when she when and how she would train.

    Some jogging could be good, but it could be hard to get out during her working pass. And it was probably not safe for her to go out during the evening. The morning could be a good time, but that would mean that she needed to get up earlier than before. Which really didn¡¯t speak well with her.

    ¡°If you have caught your breath, how about take one or two glasses of wine to celebrate that the job is finished.¡±

    He had put away all the tools while she had been thinking.

    It couldn¡¯t be a problem if they took a glass or two, right? They had after all finished the job and it was still quite some time until she would go back to the mansion the bowling ball haunted. And if she was lucky she could yet the chance to ask Chris how much he lost in the deal because of her. If she only knew that she could somehow make up for it, hopefully.

    <hr>

    According to Ellen so should they be done with the work this day, finally.

    Alice was for the moment alone with both Sain and Mr Halluv''s maid, Mair, in the kitchen.

    They had just finished their breakfast and Mair was preparing another breakfast for the old stupid man. She told Sain to show Alice how they should clean and so on. Little did she know that Sain already had shown her, but it didn¡¯t really matter as long Mair just kept quiet afterwards.

    Of course she couldn¡¯t, ¡°Alice, I do wish to talk with you after I have given master Halluv his breakfast.¡±

    If it was more about the conflict between her and Halluv, so was it unnecessary. She had already got a mouthful of that, and that was enough. She couldn¡¯t see that she did something wrong by protecting Taija. That man did deserve that treatment, end of story.

    She was more worried about Taija for the moment. She hadn¡¯t come out of her room since the conflict.

    It was so Sain had been requested to go up with some food to Taija, only to notice that the door was locked. So Mair had been forced to unlock Taija''s door so they could get in to leave the food.

    In the end she had also tried to have a serious talk with her, but had been sent out right away.

    And where was Mr Halluv during the time his daughter could have needed him, in his room without any care of her. Of course.

    That man had to be a failure as a father.

    Sain and Alice were almost done with washing the dishes when Mair came down again, telling Alice to follow her.

    They had walked to a different room when Mair turned around and gave her a mean glare.

    ¡°Do you know why I wish to talk more with you?¡±

    ¡°Most probably because I was in the conflict with mister Halluv two days ago.¡± She still didn¡¯t regret to stand up for Taija. She still didn¡¯t regret yelling at him.

    ¡°To start with, It¡¯s master Halluv since you work here as a maid. And second, it¡¯s not what I wish to talk about.¡±

    ¡°If you ever get caught in a conflict between Master Halluv and the young mistress again. Don¡¯t interfere. And if you really wish to take care of the young mistress, so can you take care of her afterwards. Otherwise you will just make her worried and she will lock herself up like now.¡±

    Did she actually give Alicen some advice for how she would support Taija?

    It was surprising that she even cared, after ignoring the problem for more or less a day. But if it was her advice so was it worth to give it a try.

    ¡°I understand.¡± Mair had probably more knowledge then Alice about this.

    Mair ended it all by telling Alice that the conflicts between Mr Halluv and Taija probably never would end before Taija got a home of her own. So it could be best if Alice knew what she would do during those kinds of events.

    Alice walked into the living room there Sain already had started to clean.

    ¡°How did it go Alice?¡±

    Her ears perked straight up upon her own question, she did really seem to be curious about what had been said. Not that she really could blame the fox.

    After a short explanation that it only had been about giving Alice some advice for how she should support Taija better. Sain looked her with ¡°was that all¡± written all over her face.

    There were times when Alice wish she could take revenge at Sain, and now was one of those times.

    It was great that it only was that Mair wished to give her some advice. If it had been more punishment, Alice would have considered leaving the mansion. Which meant that Sain would have been forced to handle all the chords and Mair on her own.

    After a light sigh so did Alice start to clean.

    There was no need to think about it all, the only thing that mattered was that it hasn¡¯t been anything serious.

    Of course it was also important that they still lived in the mansion. Otherwise all Ellen''s effort would be in vain, and that also involved her tries to keep Alice away from the streets.

    Her beloved sister knew that Alice would have got a problem to survive on the street, and therefore had fought with all her might to avoid it. Ellen was truly a wonderful sister.

    While cleaning Alice noticed that Halluv had sneaked out if his room, in where he could have stayed until he knew how to treat Taija better.

    ¡°Good morning master Halluv.¡±

    He glared angrily at her upon her greeting and curtsy to him.

    He could glare all he wanted, she can have been considered doing wrong when she stood up for Taija. But now she really didn¡¯t do anything wrong, she only did what was expected from her as a maid of the household. So no matter how irritated he could be, there wasn¡¯t any reason for him to punish her.

    ¡°Mair, we are leaving!¡±

    He was on his way toward the door as he screamed for her. Just like the good maid Mair was she rapidly answered his summoning. Also did both Alice and Sain, to wish them both a great day and a safe trip.

    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    To be honest, Alice honestly only wishes Mair a safe trip. She almost hoped that Mr Halluv would be involved in some light problem, only so he could start to understand how wrong he was treating his own daughter. And by light, it was just something that maybe could give him a brushy or two without putting his health into danger.

    Only after Halluv and Mair had left, Alice noticed how negative her thoughts toward Mr Halluv had been. She had never been this spitefully toward anyone earlier, not even those that really would have deserved it.

    Was it all because of Taija? That most of the times turned out to be a pain.

    Speaking of the devil, Alice noticed that Taija timidly looked into the room like a frightened animal.

    ¡°Have father left?¡±

    Was she really that scared of her own father? That wasn¡¯t how a family should be.

    ¡°They have left and won¡¯t come back until after dinner.¡±

    Sain quickly answered and followed up with a question about if Taija wished to have some breakfast, of which she wanted and Sain left to make some for her.

    As soon Sain had left the room Taija gave Alice a hug, ¡°I am so glad to have you by my side.¡±

    She was very grateful that Alice had been standing up for her against her father, but she needed to be more careful so she didn¡¯t get thrown out if the mansion.

    He had after all the power to do it, no matter what anyone else said. Not even Taija herself could stand up against him.

    ¡°Are you feeling well? You have after all been locked up in your room for more than a day.¡±

    Taija hugged her tighter, ¡°I am just fine, and it is even better now that I know you still are by my side.¡±

    Alice felt relieved that Taija was fine, but did she really need to hug Alice this tight?

    Taija left as usually after she had eaten the breakfast.

    Whatever she was doing, it seemed like it was nothing she thought about giving up.

    Alice couldn¡¯t help but thinking why she couldn¡¯t get along with her father, neither why the old man had the last word. Wouldn¡¯t it be better if they kept respect toward each other and made the rules together as one?

    Just like an ordinary family, or at least an ordinary family in the other world.

    Sure it was a big difference between the old world and this world. But it sure could have helped a lot of families. Or at least she wanted to think it would.

    After some cleaning and even more thinking Alice was sent to the marketplace to buy the food for dinner.

    Alice let out a bothered sigh after buying everything she needed.

    It was a pain to get back to the mansion. If she could have avoided it, she would have done it. But as it was now, she had no other choices than to return there.

    Even if Taija could be a bother there, so wasn¡¯t she the reason that Alice didn¡¯t want to return. The problem was that Mr Halluv was there.

    It would never have got this uncomfortable if Jack hadn¡¯t been doing what he did.

    Then they could probably still have been living in their old house, still happy.

    Not to mention that Ellen also could have been happier. So much happier together with the man she does love, even though she wants to deny it. She could deny it as much she wanted to, but Alice knows her sister far to well to fall for that lie. Not to mention that Ellen time to time was sleep talking and said his name.

    Why did father have to act like that, it would have been so much better if he didn¡¯t.

    With another sigh she began her way back to the mansion.

    She couldn¡¯t drag out the time more than necessary. The dinner still had to be done and Sain had said that she would help with it.

    All so Sain could get some advice and tips about how to make more delicious dinner. Not that the food she made tasted bad, but she had claimed herself defeated by Alice''s cooking.

    ¡°The food smells great.¡±

    Taija had only come back to the mansion when she started to praise then for the food. She had first been on her way to praise Alice for the food, but had changed her mind when she noticed that Sain did also help with the cooking.

    She was quite that opposite to Ellen that first commented the smell when she noticed that Sain was helping. She would probably have commented it more, if she only had been more honest. But it was probably nothing none of them would see anything of in the closest future.

    Almost everything indicated that the dinner could have been a wonderful time together if it wasn¡¯t for the fact that Ellen had ¡°bothered¡± written all over her face.

    She might have tried to hide it, but just like when it came to her love for father it was pointless for her to try to hide it from Alice.

    She knows her sister from inside and out.

    Alice and Ellen got a short time alone both before and after dinner. But Ellen still didn¡¯t come out and told Alice what was bothering her. Didn¡¯t she had enough fate in her sister to tell what was bothering her?

    ¡°Can you please make some tea for us?¡±

    They had gathered around the table for some chatting and Taija thought it could be nice with some tea during that time. Which she wasn¡¯t wrong about, it was always nicer to have something to drink while chatting.

    They had been chatting a while when they got some ¡°unwanted¡± disturbance.

    Mr Halluv and Mair walked in, or rather Mair tried to lead in the old man. Alice quickly got up from her seat to help her.

    She wouldn¡¯t have been surprised if Mair''s spine would have snapped while she tried to support his massive weight. The poor soul.

    Alice silently cures every second of supporting Mr Halluv. If it wouldn¡¯t be that she did care a little for Mair, so would she have left this wasted and fat man to crawl his way up to his room. If he wasn¡¯t intoxicated enough to fall off the floor, that was.

    When they had led him to his bed Mair sent Alice out of the room after a quick ¡°thank you¡±.

    Before leaving Alice asked her if she wanted some tea after she helped him to bed, she could also join the small talk downstairs if she wanted to.

    ¡°Did you got father into bed?¡±

    Taija did seem to care about her father, even though they didn¡¯t seem to get along all the time.

    ¡°Yes. Mair is still there though, but she will come down soon.¡± She started to boil up some new tea water for Mair. The poor soul could need it after a day with him.

    ¡°Maybe I should ask you to help me get to bed too?¡±

    It was hard to tell in Taija was trying to make a bad joke or if she was dead serious. Just like a couple of times before it was laid up as a joke but she did sound serious.

    ¡°That would be something to see.¡±

    Sain started to laugh at the idea.

    ¡°If the young mistress hasn¡¯t written anything in the contract about it, there is no need for you to do it.¡±

    Mair had arrived while they joking about it without anyone noticing her.

    ¡°How far can a contract go when it comes to taking care of someone?¡±

    Alice had been wondering since she first had heard of personal maids, but had never taken the chance to ask.

    ¡°To start with so are the water boiling Alice.¡± Alice rapidly poured up the water and asked Mair what kind of tea she wanted before giving it to her.

    ¡°Then to answer your question, so isn¡¯t I sure how far it can go. But I have heard of those that had to sexually stimulate their master''s desire.¡±

    All the girls looked surprised and disgusted at here.

    If a contract could force a maid that far, then it was sick. Just sick.

    ¡°It could maybe be fun to go that far with you, little Alice.¡±Taija looked greedy at her until Mair distracted her.

    ¡°What have we said about you getting to close to the maids, young mistress?¡±

    It sounded like something like that could have occurred before.

    <hr>

    Ellen sighed as she picked up her nightclothes from the bed.

    She had never thought that the day could be any worse after she left Chris''s shop, but she had been wrong.

    The day had been bad only by the fact that they finished the job and she now had to work at the mansion. Not to mention that the fat bowling ball had forced a discount from Chris, only because she lived at the mansion.

    To make it all even worse so had Alice been nagging her the whole time, since they came to their room, about what was bothering her. And when she finally gave in to Alice and told her that Chris had to give the fat bowling ball a discount because of her, Alice had just tried to brush it off as ¡°only that¡±.

    It wasn¡¯t something like ¡°only that¡±, it was about economic survival. But it might be something that Alice didn¡¯t understand.

    To make it all worse Alice had also been criticizing her about that she was bothered about that, and even pointed out that Ellen was going straight down the path that Alice had been afraid of.

    Upon an explanation from Alice it turned out that the little ¡°princess¡± had been afraid that Ellen would get lost in work. Abandon both her and the home because of the work. And stop to care about anything other than work.

    Ellen had found the whole thing so stupid so she had burst out in laughter.

    At second thought it maybe hadn¡¯t been the best idea, Alice did seem very upset when she marched out of their room. So maybe Ellen took it a little to far by bursting out in laughter, even if it was a hilarious stupid thing to be worried about.

    Why couldn¡¯t Jack had been there? He would have understood why Ellen was bothered by it.

    He could have understood the importance of economic survival, it was after all something that even he had been thinking about.

    Tired Ellen got changed into her nightclothes and blow out the candle, the day couldn¡¯t be any worse now. Nothing could do it worse.

    The next day the bowling ball comes down and greets everyone during breakfast, but quickly points out that he would like to talk with Ellen.

    Leaving her breakfast for a while she follows him to a room, that turns out to be a workshop.

    ¡°Since you and your co-workers did a good job at the factory, I was thinking that you maybe could do a better job as a handyman than a maid.¡±

    Sure he had a point, if she only was allowed to study about it first she probably could do a better job as a handyman than a maid.

    ¡°If you agree to that, so can you have this workshop where you both can study and work.¡±

    The workshop was well equipped both with tools and books. So she could without both study and work without any problems.

    ¡°I am very grateful and accept you offer mister Halluv.¡±

    She was sure that the man only tried to save a couple of gold by making her the handyman of the mansion. Not that it really mattered since she got the chance to learn more before she left that godforsaken place.

    Ellen had been organised the tools in the workshop when she suddenly remembered the prototype that she kept in the room.

    She hadn¡¯t paid it much attention since she had been busy with the work since she arrived at the mansion. If she took it to the workshop, she maybe could find a better use for it then what it first was meant for.

    Ellen would love to demolish the prototype since it was made to do those crystals stronger, but she felt a strange kind of proudness for her first creation.

    ¡°Would you like some tea Ellen?¡±

    To her surprise it was Sain and not Alice that came and offered her some tea. But on second thought it couldn¡¯t have been Alice. They still hadn¡¯t talked with each other since their fight last night.

    Sain looked around curious in the workshop while Ellen drank the tea, ¡°So you can repair and build things inside here?¡±

    It was like she never had seen a workshop before.

    ¡°If I have the necessary material, tools and knowledge. Yes.¡±

    ¡°Is it possible for you to create something that can heal someone''s heart?¡±

    Ellen starred directly at her. Was she serious or did she tried to make her feel guilty of what she said to Alice?

    ¡°I haven¡¯t heard of anything that possible can do that, neither I have the knowledge of it.¡±

    It was no way she would feel guilty about it, she only gave Alice her honest thoughts.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t it be good to get knowledge and practical experience of it before you break it?¡±

    Sain took the plate she had served the tea at with her and left the workshop.

    Sure Ellen maybe had taken a step to far by laughing at what her sister was afraid of. But more than that she had only given Alice her honest thoughts. She hadn¡¯t done anything wrong, it had only been that Alice didn¡¯t understand what it all was about.

 chapter 10

    Ellen was slowly getting used to her role as a handyman in the mansion.

    It had been a slow start since there was a couple of areas she needed to study more before even start working with it. But it had turned out just fine in the end.

    She couldn¡¯t help but feel proud of the important work she did there. Even if she only was there until she and Alice could afford to buy back their old home.

    Ellen and that little ¡°princess¡±.

    They hadn¡¯t talked since their fight. She hadn¡¯t come back to the room and lived together with Sain until she finally got a room of her own. Alice didn¡¯t even want to come closer to the workshop more than when she really needed to.

    She was really childish for acting like a spoiled princess. It could be so much easier if she just tried to understand Ellen''s point of view when it came to the economic survival. An apology wouldn¡¯t be wrong either, since it was the ¡°princess¡± that had done wrong by turning a blind eye at such important thing.

    Ellen dropped a heavy sigh and turned on her prototype.

    She had made a few changes to it so it now could pull dust out from clocks and other gear-driven constructions.

    It had taken her quite some thinking and trying before finally succeed with it. But had all been worth it.

    The machine that was made for a horrific purpose had finally shown to do more than only harm, which she honestly never could have guessed.

    The time had been flying by and it was time for the wintertree blossom once again.

    Ellen was humming for herself while working on a task in the workshop.

    It was a simple task she had got from the fat bowling ball, that was proving that he really took every chance he got to save some few coins. And in this case it had been that he asked Ellen how much it would cost to build small lamps to hang up during the winter tree blossom.

    In the end it turned out that he would save a few copper coins and with that Ellen had to do studies about light giving gears.

    It was morning and they would be celebrating at later on.

    The other girls had been chirped happily about it during the breakfast, which only made Ellen gladder that she had found a speed at the gear so it gave off a more dimmed light.

    Even if Sain had joined Alice''s side, so could she at least make sure that they had something extra to enjoy during the celebration. Only because they did their best to make sure that the household was so comfortable as possible.

    Ellen spends the time between breakfast and dinner with the fine adjustment of the lamps. It wasn¡¯t really necessary, but she couldn¡¯t find a reason to why she wouldn¡¯t do it.

    Not to mention that it was calmer in the workshop than in the rest of the mansion.

    Ellen had just finished the last fine adjustment of the lamps when Sain came to tell her that she should wash herself off, even if she needed to use a steel brush to be really clean.

    Taija had spent some time to make clothes to them all, so it was more important than ever to be clean.

    Sain and Alice had spent most of the day to make the snacks for the celebration, while they had let Mair too pick out the wine.

    Ellen almost felt guilty that she had spent her day to work with the lamps. They seemed to have been really busy with breakfast, snacks and then dinner. So they had probably not got a chance to calm down during the day. If Ellen would have helped they could have taken at least a short times break.

    They all changed clothes after dinner and started preparing to leave for the wintertree celebration.

    ¡°Mair, please make sure that those small girls don¡¯t create any problem during the celebration.¡±

    ¡°And Taija, make sure to behave like a woman during the celebration. There will be consequences if you stain our family name.¡±

    Mr Halluv wouldn¡¯t join them for the celebration since he and some other rich and greedy, fat lumps would have their own celebration. But left Mair in the group to keep an eye at them.

    They had both wished him a safe trip and made sure that they had everything they would have with them before leaving.

    Ellen got helped by Mair to put up the lamps in the tree they had chosen to sit under while the other three packed up the food and bottles.

    Alice and Sain had been putting a lot of effort to make the snacks. Or at least Ellen thought they had since it did look delicious.

    ¡°How about some wine?¡± Sain offered herself to pour up some wine to both Ellen and Mair while Alice was doing the same to Taija.

    ¡°Please do Sain.¡±

    Mair had already explained for them that she wouldn¡¯t mind their different role during the celebration. The celebration was after all meant to be used to have a good time together and a time for them to get to know each other better.

    Ellen was quick to notice one difference from the last and first time she celebrated the wintertree blossom. The other groups around them weren¡¯t starring as they did when it just was her, the ¡°princess¡± and Jack. Where they more accepted as a group like this than a father with two adopted daughters? Or could it be that they already then suspected Jack for creating the crystals?

    She didn¡¯t get far too much time to think about that before she got forced into a conversation with the rest of the group.

    They had been talking like there was no next day, and been drinking in the same way.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you like that wine?¡± Mair looked surprised at Alice that had grabbed a bottle to look closer at it.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t I can sacrifice myself to drink it up for you.¡±

    Sain had been drinking just as frisky as Alice, but seemed to have lower tolerances. The poor fox couldn¡¯t even sit straight anymore.

    ¡°I really like the wine. So I did want to look up what wine it was so I can buy it when I am old enough.¡±

    Alice gave of a gently and shining smile that easily could melt every male''s heart in an instant.

    Apparently even Taija''s heart. At least it seemed like that since she threw herself into hugging little Alice, rubbing her cheek to cheek.

    Ellen couldn¡¯t help but cracking a silly smile. Her sister was really popular, which wasn¡¯t surprising with that cute behaviour.

    Alice was probably the best sister that she ever could get. Cute, kind and strangely forgiven. All the trails that Ellen herself hadn¡¯t got. Not that it really bothered her for the moment.

    At last Mair declared that it was about time to get back home. And she sure did have a point.

    Both Sain and Alice had passed out, while Taija seemed far to wasted for even walking.

    ¡°You are strong Ellen. But can you carry two persons at your back?¡±

    Ellen glared at her, was she wasted enough to believe that or was she just stupid?

    ¡°You have to high thoughts about me.¡± There wasn¡¯t anymore for Ellen to say before looking around to see if there could be any solution to the problem.

    ¡°Oii, baby girl!¡±

    A short and fat man had noticed her and greeted. And judging from the greeting it had to be Thom that had noticed her.

    Ellen had to take the chance, calling him over and asked him for help to carry one of the girls home. On second thought, carry Sain home so would she herself carry Alice.

    ¡°You know that the service will cost. Right baby girl?¡±

    ¡°Of course, We might have a bottle of wine you can take.¡± Ellen had expected that he would ask for a kind of fee.

    ¡°That is a little too much. I would rather have you follow me and the other guys out on a bar trip instead.¡± He burst out in a laughter and patted Ellen on the head.

    Did and done.

    Since they didn¡¯t meet each other so much, so would they decide a date to get out through Chris.

    All the problems were solved and everyone in the household got home, without giving Alice defenceless body a chance to charm Thom by pressing the breasts against his back.

    Ellen had to make sure that she protected her sister.

    Back in her room Ellen silently cursed the reality. She had got really exhausted from carrying Alice back and then to her room. Thom had even been laughing at her for getting so tired by carrying her sister, which wasn¡¯t wrong. Something needed to get done about it.

    <hr>

    Ellen was leaving the house again.

    She left in the morning and didn¡¯t come back until about the time for dinner.

    She hadn¡¯t told anyone what she was doing during the time she was gone, not even Sain that Alice had sent to ask.

    Alice let out a heavy sigh, she was worried about what her sister was doing and didn¡¯t tell anyone about.

    Could it be that she had found Jack, or even a more sinister man? She couldn¡¯t have done that, right?

    ¡°Daydreaming about your sister again?¡± Sain gave her a small playful push.

    Sain already knew the answer, but she would never miss a chance to tease Alice for her almost ¡°in-love-like¡± thoughts toward Ellen.

    ¡°You did notice that she was exhausted two days after the wintertree blossom.¡±

    ¡° Wasn¡¯t that because she did start to do some small training?¡±

    Sain really didn¡¯t understand the problem. Ellen got exhausted during the morning and then tired during the rest of the day. It really wasn¡¯t like her. And then it was the problem that she had started to leave the mansion regular after Mr Halluv left for a business trip with Mair.

    ¡°Pardon, I noticed that Ellen left. Do you know when she will come back?¡±

    Taija had arrived too the room with an old clock in her hands.

    ¡°If it¡¯s that you want Ellen to clean the clock so can I help you.¡±

    Sain seemed to be sure at her words. And it shouldn¡¯t surprise Alice if she knew how to use ¡°that¡± machine after all those times she brought different things to Ellen to get cleaned. Not to mention that she also had spent some of her spare time in the workshop together with Ellen too.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it better to let Ellen clean it?¡±

    Taija seemed to be unsure about the idea, but Sain didn¡¯t give up until she got her will through.

    <hr>

    Ellen let out a light sigh as she walked back to the mansion after meeting up with Chris and another.

    She felt bad for running away from her duties like that, but she didn¡¯t have another choice. The meeting had been very important for her very life.

    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.The only two things remaining for today was to ask Taija for a week off and then leave for meeting up with Chris again. She really had no other choice.

    A shocked, short scream could be heard behind her when she was about to open the door to the mansion.

    Turning around she saw Sain, looking terrified at her. And a woman looking confused at the fox.

    ¡°Please Madam Lillium, can you please go to Taija''s room and help?¡±

    The woman frankly passed Ellen and straight into the mansion.

    ¡°What is going on?¡± Ellen felt unsettled. The whole situation was strange. Why would that woman help with, and what was it they needed help with.

    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I used your machine to clean a clock from dust.¡±

    If that was all and the clock had got damaged, she didn¡¯t need to act that panicked.

    ¡°I thought I turned it off... but I didn¡¯t... Alice got in the way and collapsed.¡±

    It only took a second for the words to sink in.

    Alice got in the way for that machine and collapsed afterwards. That machine that could pull impurities out from crystals.

    She ran as fast as she could to Taija''s room. What had that machine done with her beloved sister? Was she badly hurt and how was she doing?

    ¡°HOW IS ALICE DOING?¡±

    Ellen burst into the room like a hurricane and aim straight for the bed there she noticed that Alice was laying. Only to be stopped halfway by Taija.

    ¡°Ellen please let Lilly examine her in peace before you go over there.¡±

    There was no way she could allow that. She needed to get over to Alice as fast as she could, over to her poor little sister.

    Even if she put all her effort to break free from Taija, she couldn¡¯t.

    Minutes passed slowly as she only could see that woman doing a checkup at Alice.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what has happened, but the girl seems to be physically well.¡±

    It was promising words from Lilly, but it still didn¡¯t calm Ellen down.

    ¡°Taija, if that girl is close to this girl so can you let her come here¡±

    Upon being released Ellen walked rapidly over to Alice side and took a good look at her beloved sister.

    ¡°Is Alice really fine?¡± She needed to hear it again. She wanted to be sure.

    ¡°She¡¯s fine as far I can see, but I will examine her some more when she wakes up.¡±

    ¡°Can someone please tell me what has happened? I didn¡¯t get the whole picture from the fox when she took me here.¡±

    Lilly seemed to want to know as much Ellen did.

    ¡°I tried to use a machine to clean a clock from dust and it went wrong. Alice got in the way because I did wrong.¡± Sain guilty sneaked into the room, on the edge of crying as she told them.

    She was clearly feeling ashamed by what she has done. For good reasons.

    ¡°HOW COULD YOU BE SO CARELESS WITH A THING LIKE THAT?!¡±

    Ellen was angry into her bare soul and screamed at the fox. Turning around and giving her an angry glare.

    Sain didn¡¯t have the courage to face Ellen while spilling out another weak and pathetic apology. Which only irritated Ellen even more.

    Her sister had been hurt and all the idiotic fox could do was to give her a pathetic apology. She needed to shake some sense into the stupid little bastard. She really had to.

    Lilly caught Ellen when she started going toward Sain. ¡°You better take it easy.¡±

    Ellen tried to break free from her, but she seemed to be stronger then Taija.

    ¡°HOW CAN I BE CALM WHEN ALICE!..¡±

    She could feel a small puff from inside her body.

    It couldn¡¯t be happening right now.

    ¡°How can I be calm when Alice have got hurt?¡± She couldn¡¯t scream anymore. It felt unpleasant to breathe, even hard to breathe.

    ¡°Did anything happened Ellen?¡±

    Taija seemed worried about Ellen''s sudden tone change.

    ¡°Nothing happened.¡± She didn¡¯t have to know about it until after Alice had turned out to be fine.

    No matter how hard it could be to breathe so was it most important that her sister was fine.

    ¡°Something did happen, didn¡¯t it?¡±

    The woman holds tighter on to Ellen.

    It didn¡¯t make her feel any better, it didn¡¯t help her at all.

    ¡°No, nothing happened.¡±

    No matter how deep she tried to breathe, so was it like she only had a small, small pipe to breathe through.

    ¡°Ellen please. If something did happen, please tell us. Otherwise you might worry your sister when she wakes up.¡±

    Sain was the only one that had chosen the right words to grab her attention. Alice. She did have a point. If Ellen just let it go on, it could be even worse for Alice later on.

    She calmed down very quickly. She couldn¡¯t let Alice worry more during a situation like this.

    ¡°May I examine you Ellen?¡±

    Lilly talked gentler than before, almost as if she was talking with a scared animal.

    ¡°If you do, will I still be able to stay by Alice''s side?¡±

    It was even more uncomfortable to breathe now than when the problem started.

    ¡°It all depends on how bad it is.¡±

    ¡°What is happening with Ellen?¡±

    Lilly had just finished the examination of Ellen when Alice woke up and spoke with a tired voice.

    Ellen was so happy to see her waking up that she was in loss of words.

    ¡°How are you feeling miss? Do your body feel strange?¡±

    Lilly wasn¡¯t even looking at Alice, but instead starred frustrated at Ellen.

    She now knew that Ellen had a serious problem, and that she had tried to hide it.

    ¡°I just feel a little dizzy, but otherwise fine. But is it something with Ellen?¡±

    ¡°It is something strange about her breathing. Something really bad.¡±

    ¡°Can you please tell us what is going on Ellen?¡±

    Taija sounded more serious than ever before. First asking Sain to leave the room and then gave Ellen an even more serious look.

    There was no chance for her to be able to hide it anymore. Not even to make sure that she could stay by Alice side.

    She slowly began to tell them about the artificial lungs and heart she had got from Jack, then she came to the worse part that the artificial air tube she had was damaged. She was running short at breathe a couple of times during that time.

    ¡°So you need to get that changed? Yet you are trying your luck so you can stay by your sister''s side?¡±

    Lilly was spot on.

    ¡°If Ellen goes to get it done now, may I follow to make sure she¡¯s really is getting help?¡±

    Alice was talking in a plain tone, but expressed herself as if she was worried.

    Ellen couldn¡¯t help but feel more worried about her than herself. It wasn¡¯t like her sister to talk in a plain tone like that.

    ¡°Are you still feeling fine? And can you promise to tell us directly if you feel ill or strange? So you don¡¯t act like a child, just like your sister.¡±

    Lilly had been about to deny Alice''s request, but Taija was quicker to speak up.

    Disliking it, she first gave Taija a glare before turning to Alice.

    ¡°I would recommend you to rest for a while longer.¡±

    Alice made it very clear that she wanted to follow Ellen and that she could rest afterwards.

    Lilly had just let out a heavy sigh before she let Taija help Alice while she herself helped Ellen, leaving for Chris''s home where she would get the help she needed.

    Even though they walked calmly, so was Ellen forced to ask to rest a couple of times.

    She really needed help by now. Only because she had tried to break free from that woman. If she wouldn¡¯t have done that, then she would have been able to hold out until the next day.

    It had gone very wrong, and it all was that woman''s fault.

    ¡°Are you coming for a visit today with some friends?¡±

    Chris was surprised to see all of them when he opened the door.

    ¡°Yes, the air tube broke. So I am in need of getting help to change it, really soon.¡±

    She avoided to tell him the parts that she both was forced there and that she had tried to hide it.

    ¡°I see, then we shall prepare for it directly.¡± He didn¡¯t even finished the sentence before turning around and walk back into the house, leaving the door wide open so they could follow him.

    ¡°Hey Jill, It¡¯s time for you to do some work!¡±

    A Girl with purple, long twintails came out from Chris''s living room and looked surprised at them.

    She seemed to be at the same age as Ellen. The same length as her, but was in differences from Ellen very skinny.

    ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯t come until tomorrow?¡± She turned her look to Ellen.

    ¡°Do that mean that it couldn¡¯t wait anymore?¡±

    She could take a wild guess.

    They had all followed to Chris''s working room when Jill kindly asked Ellen''s company to leave the room. ¡°I would like to keep my practices as a work secret. But if you want to hear her, then you can sit close to the door.¡±

    She was a travelling cog technician, so she had picked up much of her knowledge a little here and there. But she was very secret with much of it, for some reason.

    ¡°Can¡¯t at least I get allowed to see my sister getting help?¡±

    ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s still a no. But I will tell you as soon we are done.¡±

    Jill was a strange person, apologizing for wanting to keep it a secret. Didn¡¯t she had the rights to say no without further questions?

    Even if it was Alice that asked?

    Taija and Lilly lead the ¡°princess¡± out of the room. She still didn¡¯t seem to feel better than when she first woke up. But she would get better, Right?

    ¡°Chris, please turn around and stare into the wall. And you...Ellen? Start to strip.¡±

    Ellen really didn¡¯t like the way that girl gave her orders, but couldn¡¯t have been happier that she asked Chris to turn around. She wouldn¡¯t like to give him nightmares by showing her body.

    ¡°Now, jump up at the table so we can start.¡±

    By a reason so was she acting as if she were in a hurry.

    Laying at the table she could feel Jill''s cold fingers running over her back, opening the lid.

    ¡°Jill, the wine won¡¯t run away. So you don¡¯t need to hurry.¡±

    Chris had been allowed to turn around again and was now serving Jill with tools.

    ¡°I know... But if this girl stays here for the evening, so might I finally have some female drinking company.¡±

    That was the reason she was in a hurry?

    ¡°The tube is more broken before... Chris please be ready to hand me the other one while I take this one out.¡±

    Ellen didn¡¯t get any air at all. She breathed all she could, but didn¡¯t get any air.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be scared girl, It won¡¯t kill you. And if it kills you, so will you only die once.¡±

    Jill''s word was everything but comforting. If that was all she had to say, so could she just as well keep quiet.

    The rest of the process went smoothly. It hadn¡¯t been long Ellen was without air, but she dearly hated every second of it.

    ¡°Do you want to keep the old tube as a memory?¡±

    Jill hold the old tube in front of her. An old leather tube, filled with holes.

    Why in the whole world would she like to save that?

    Want to beat that girl, will not beat that girl.

    ¡°No?¡±

    Really want to beat her, not allowed to beat her.

 chapter 11

    Lilly had examined Alice many times since the accident. Many times, every day.

    Alice was displeased with all the examinations. It would have been enough with only once or twice every day, not three or four times.

    The examinations had turned out fine enough for Lilly and Taija to let Alice visit her sister.

    Jill opened the door to Chris¡¯s home and welcomed Alice, as if she did own the house herself. Of course with a wine bottle in one of her hand.

    That person was the greatest reason why Alice felt she had to visit Ellen regularly, which she also would have done even without Jill there. But that woman could have a very bad influence at Ellen.

    Jill had been drinking every time Alice had come over to visit her sister. Maybe not so she was intoxicated, but she was still drinking.

    ¡°Visiting you sister again girl?¡±

    Alice followed her through the hallway, wondering if she had started getting brain damages.

    ¡°Yes, I am here to visit my sister.¡± Why would she otherwise even place her foot in Chris¡¯s home?

    Just like all the other times She had been visiting Ellen, so was she getting some training from Chris.

    Sure they called it rehabilitation, but it didn¡¯t seem to be more than some fragile words.

    Real rehabilitation would mean to train Ellen so she could return to a normal life afterwards, but Ellen wouldn¡¯t have any problems with that. And the training looked more like it was all about building muscles.

    ¡°Jill can you make some tea for our guest? So will we just finish of the rehabilitation.¡±

    Just like the other times so was they sent to the kitchen while Chris forced poor Ellen to finish the training.

    ¡°You still look wondering about your sister¡¯s training.¡±

    Jill started to boil some water while Alice took a seat around the table.

    ¡°You call it rehabilitation, but it seems to be nothing more than normal training.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you think rehabilitation sounds better than training?¡±

    Alice knew it. It was just a Fragile word they were using for some simple training. They were just trying to keep Ellen away from her, she saw right through it.

    ¡°It can be a hard work to work as a cog technician. So if she doesn¡¯t train, so is there a risk she can get injured.¡±

    Did Jill seriously think that Alice wouldn¡¯t see right through that, right after she had been able to see through another lie?

    It wasn¡¯t much more said between them until Chris and Ellen arrived, just in time for the tea water to start boiling.

    Poor Ellen looked worn out. The training had probably been hard for her, even if she already was strong.

    There wasn¡¯t much time it was silent around the table, and if it got silent so was Ellen very quick to ask about Alice or Jill¡¯s everyday life.

    ¡°How are you feeling after the accident with that machine?¡±

    Ellen asked one of the few questions Alice didn¡¯t want to hear. She had been questioned enough about it by both Taija and Lilly. Every day and a couple of times each day since the accident.

    Sure she knew that her sister only meant well with the question, but it didn¡¯t change the matter that she still didn¡¯t want to hear just that question.

    ¡°I am only fine. It was only a short while after it happened I felt a little dizzy.¡±

    Fine, enough. Please understand that it wasn¡¯t anything she wanted to talk about.

    <hr>

    Ellen felt much better after asking Alice how she was doing.

    She had been worried that her sister still felt something after it. Something that wouldn¡¯t go away, something dangerous.

    She and Jill were in the workshop to make sure her parts worked as they should.

    Ellen considered herself to be lucky that Jill agreed to check it up. If it had been Chris that would have done it, so would she have died out of shame.

    ¡°It was the first time I have heard someone getting ¡°purified¡± like that by a machine. You seem to be a very strange family. One that has got ¡°purified¡±, one that has artificial parts and a father that is gone.¡±

    That was right, Jack was still gone. Ellen hadn¡¯t heard anything from her beloved one since the evening before they lost their house.

    Where could he be, had there been something happening him?

    ¡°Soon it will turn out that he has revived you and that he was the one creating that machine.¡±

    Jill was laughing. But it came to a sudden end when Ellen, without thinking, agreed to it. Only to seconds later noticing it and point out that it wasn¡¯t Jack that had created that thing.

    ¡°So, he did revive you?¡±

    Ellen was terrified by what she had agreed to. Chris¡¯s warning echoed in her head. She had done a mistake, she didn¡¯t mean to put herself and Jack in danger.

    ¡°Can we please keep this a secret Jill?¡±

    She sounded pathetic while pledging like a scared dog.

    ¡°First you should strip and take your place at the table. Then I might keep it a secret if you answer my questions and calms my curiosity.¡±

    Ellen did as she was told. Stripping and taking her place at the table.

    ¡°First of, did he dig you up from your grave or did he got you in another way?¡±

    ¡°He can¡¯t have dug up my grave, since it ain¡¯t around here. But I don¡¯t know how he got hold of my body, sorry.¡±

    Why did she even apologised, it wasn¡¯t like she had done anything wrong.

    ¡°Then, if he had money he can have bought your body from a special place.¡±

    Bought her body? Was it possible to buy someone¡¯s body in this world, even if she wasn¡¯t originally from this world?

    ¡°But if that is the case, I hope your lower parts didn¡¯t hurt when you woke up. If he bought your body, it was sold to him as an¡­ ¡°adult toy¡±¡­¡±

    He would never have done that, he wasn¡¯t that kind of person. Jack is a loveable person, that not only would wait for Ellen¡¯s agreement but also wait for only her.

    ¡°But anyway, you better think further before you quickly answer questions.¡±

    Jill talked seriously while looking at the lungs.

    Ellen couldn¡¯t do more than agree with her. She had been lucky to dodge another bullet.

    It could have been the end for both her and Jack if the secret came out.

    Back in the room she temporary lived in, she took a seat at the bed.

    Jill was right, Ellen really needed to be more careful. She couldn¡¯t be the reason that Jack would die again. She couldn¡¯t be the reason that Alice was left all alone again, now in their afterlife. When they once again could live together in the neitherworlds.

    It couldn¡¯t be happening again.

    Poor Jack, he had to been crying so much over her death back then.

    If she just only hadn¡¯t done that decision then they could have lived happily ever after. Just like it should be as soon Jack comes back. The two of them should live happily together, loving each other from the core of their hearts.

    He had to come back, he had to. Whatever the reason was that he had left, it couldn¡¯t last forever. Ellen missed him by whole her heart.

    Days passed and soon it was time for Ellen to return to Taija¡¯s mansion.

    She almost found it sad. She had started to really enjoy the time she spends in Chris¡¯s house, and even the time she spent talking with Jill. Which had turned out to be from the same world as Ellen, but it was supposed to be a secret between the two of them.

    Nothing had really changed when Ellen came back to the mansion.

    Even Sain seemed to be the same as when Ellen left, still very uncomfortable because of the accident with the machine.

    Sure it had turned out fine since Alice was still well, but she wouldn¡¯t tell the fox that she was forgiven. Sain had been an idiot for trying to use the machine without really knowing how it worked. So she deserved some kind of punishment.

    Ellen turned a page in a book about light giving gears, she had been lucky. Nothing had broke during her time at Chris¡¯s place and neither had the fat bowling ball come back, so there was nothing for her to do.

    Except maybe keeping an eye at the ¡°princess¡± that by a strange reason had started to spend more time with Taija, the woman that she earlier had shown great dislike against.

    They were both following Taija¡¯s old habits. Leaving in the morning and coming back around the time when the dinner was served.

    It had been one thing if it happened only a few times, but it seemed like they did it every day.

    Even after the day that Mr Halluw came back from his business trip.

    Maybe it had been that he told Alice to follow Taija around to keep an extra eye at her, but then he could have thought a little longer. Because the fat bowling ball had sent Alice with Taija, it was Sain that was left to do the dinner. And even if the food was eatable it wasn¡¯t even close to as tasty like when Alice did it. Which simply was meaning that the fox wasn¡¯t only doing stupid things, but she couldn¡¯t cook as good as Alice either. Couldn¡¯t Alice at least teach Sain how to cook before starting with whatever she was doing, or at the very least try to teach her how to somehow cook?

    There was quite some light giving gears that stopped working in the mansion, at the same time.

    Sure Ellen had got a couple of days to recover, but it would have been so much better if there had been just a few at a time.

    The calm day becomes hectic as she needed to fix them as soon she could.

    ¡°Damn those gears.¡± Ellen muttered and cursed the gears as she worked to fix them. Only a few at the time, was it too much to ask for?

    ¡°Want something to drink Ellen?¡±

    Sain had come up to her and offered her some coffee.

    ¡°Is it hard to repair those cogs?¡±

    The fox seemed curious, just like before the incident with the machine.

    ¡°It ain¡¯t really hard, but it takes some time to find out what is wrong.¡±

    Ellen wanted to fix most of them today so it would be calmer the next day when she would join Chris and the others for a drink. All because she had asked Thom for help at the last wintertree blossom.

    ¡°Is it possible for you to repair those in the hallway before it gets dark?¡±

    Was the fox afraid of the dark? Since she specifically seemed to want to get those in the hallway fixed.

    ¡°I will fix some in the hallway, and then some in the kitchen. So we at least will have some light.¡±

    It was better to fix only a few in every room, so they had light. Even if it wouldn¡¯t be as strong as usual.

    The evening came quicker then Ellen had expected, but at least she had succeeded to do as she had thought, and even a little more. Most of them were repaired, so it would be calmer the next day. If nothing else broke.

    She looked at the machine that had hurt her sister, it was something needed to be done with it so the same kind of incident wouldn¡¯t happen again. There was a risk that the next time wouldn¡¯t end so well as this time. Next time someone could be seriously hurt.

    There was some knocking at the door.

    Ellen should just begin to open up the machine to see what she could do.

    After letting out a light sigh, she screamed that they could come in.

    ¡°Pardon Ellen.¡±

    Alice and Taija came into the room.

    ¡°Can I ask you for a favour?¡± Alice had a small irritating smile.

    ¡°Sure?¡±

    Ellen didn¡¯t like her sister¡¯s smile. It gave her a bad feeling.

    ¡°Can we borrow your machine for a while?¡±

    Did they want to borrow that machine that hurt her? Why would they like to something like that? Hadn¡¯t she got enough of it?

    ¡°Is there any special reason you want to borrow it?¡±

    Ellen really didn¡¯t like the idea of that they should borrow it, but maybe they could have a good reason for it.

    ¡°We want to find a way to help others with the machine.¡±

    Her sister seemed to be sure about her thing, but it could just be that she wished it could help others.

    ¡°I believe that it can be better if I explain it.¡±

    Taija spoke up in a serious voice.

    ¡°As Alice said we want to see if it can help others. According to her so was she feeling slightly emotional numb for a while after the accident.¡±

    There was another reason to not letting them borrow the machine. Nothing good could come out of that, and why hadn¡¯t Alice told her anything about that.

    ¡°So little Alice got the idea that the machine maybe could help those that are crazy and those with emotional problems. Maybe even more.¡±

    ¡°So what you are trying to say is that you want to try to use it at others to see if you can make them feel better?¡±

    Ellen didn¡¯t like the idea at all. Had they even considered the risk that someone could get hurt by it? And was that the reason that they had been leaving regularly lately?

    ¡°We have even talked with Lilly about it, so she will be helping us.¡±

    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.It had taken Ellen a longer time than planned to fix the remaining lamps.

    Mostly because of the visit by Alice and Taija the last evening.

    She didn¡¯t like their idea, even if the promised to be careful and that Lilly would be there to help if anything happened. It could still end horrible bad, which was hard to tell if they even had spared a thought.

    They said that Lilly was about to help them. But could she really help if something went wrong while using the machine? Not even Jill had heard anything about using purifying gears on humans, or other human-like beings. Yet she had at adventures in a lot of different places for a couple of years.

    Ellen let out a sigh as she sat at her chair in the workshop, looking at the machine that was created with a horrific purpose.

    Was that the reason those guards had searched for Jack? That he created the crystal drug? But wouldn¡¯t that mean that they just as well could have jailed Ellen for her involvement in it?

    As always Alice used her intoxicating charm to get her will through, and Ellen found herself dumb enough to fall for it, again.

    ¡°Is it your first time going to a bar?¡±

    Chris had come to pick her up so he could lead her to the bar that they all would meet. And just as he was guessing so was it her first time to visit a bar.

    She had been too young in the other world and too uncomfortable in this world. But was a little more at ease now that she had company by Chris and the other two guys.

    ¡°It¡¯s the first time I visit a bar, yes.¡±

    ¡°Then I would recommend you to not drink so much that you can¡¯t get home.¡±

    Even if it shouldn¡¯t have been her first time at a bar, so would it still be a bad idea to drink so much that she couldn¡¯t get home. What was he seriously thinking, was he even thinking?

    It was only a small bar they would meet the others at, but it was still filled with more or less intoxicated people. Which wouldn¡¯t have bothered Ellen, if they should have at least try to speak in a normal tone. But instead they seemed to enjoy scream out what they wanted to tell each other.

    Chris lead her straight into the bar and toward a specific table. There Thom and Sour already had taken their places.

    ¡°So you got hold of our usual table.¡± Chris sounded glad. Could it be that he wanted to sit around this specific table, for some strange reason?

    ¡°And I see that you got hold of that baby girl. That is wearing a dress?¡±

    She had decided to wear a simple dress, not too flashy and not too worn out. But did Thom really needed to express it like if he never ever could have guessed that Ellen would wear a simple dress?

    ¡°That is almost like I reacted, but without sound rude.¡±

    That was also one way to express it. Thanks for nothing Chris, jerk.

    ¡°I think you look great in the dress girl.¡±

    At least one of the guys tried to be nice.

    ¡°She is too young for you Sour.¡±

    ¡°She is FAR to young for you brother.¡±

    Ellen couldn¡¯t help but believe that it was something wrong with the company she found herself in. But she still took a place around the table as Thom called over the waitress to order four beers.

    ¡°Is the beer a little too strong for the little baby girl?¡±

    Thom interrupted the chitchat in the group, when he noticed that Ellen made grimaces while drinking the beer.

    ¡°It¡¯s tasting very different from the wine I have been drinking earlier.¡± Simple said, the beer was drinkable but still not tasting good.

    They had made fun off Ellen and fallen into even more chit-chatting, slowly falling in at talk about gears and the connections between their jobs.

    ¡°Is it possible for a purifying gear to help a person that feels emotional ill?¡±

    Sour had led the conversation into that Ellen had ordered a special made purifying gear. And everyone seemed to know a little about that kind of gear, so maybe she could get some information that would save some from getting hurt.

    None of the worthless guys did know anything of how that gear could affect a person, and did turn it against her. Forcing her to tell them about Alice¡¯s idea. Of course after they had promised to try to help Ellen if possible.

    ¡°It¡¯s the first time I ever hear the idea to use a purifying gear like that.¡±

    The other agreed with Sour, that honestly seemed to think very hard about it. And even if he was the one with the most knowledge about gears, so were they all taking part in a discussion about if it was possible or not.

    ¡°If you want so can I ask around if there is someone that might know something.¡±

    Chris¡¯s idea was good, but at the same time it could be a bad idea. If Alice had right with her idea, so was there a risk that someone else would steal the idea and use it themselves.

    Thom once again called for the waitress and ordered something.

    ¡°I think brother beard is thinking that it¡¯s time to invite a girl to our alliance.¡±

    Alliance? What were they now talking about?

    ¡°You see baby girl. We are holding together in something like an alliance, there we all do our best to help each other. Of course it isn¡¯t possible all the time, but we are still doing our best.¡±

    Thom seemed to have seen that she didn¡¯t follow and began to explain it.

    ¡°So easy said so are we trying to hold each other¡¯s back, especially when it comes to prices.¡±

    Chris followed up and explained that they often put prices for each other only a little more than what they had paid for it themselves.

    ¡°But I am new at this area, and since I haven¡¯t worked for long so is there a bigger risk for you to lose money by inviting me.¡±

    The waitress had come back with a bunch of shot glasses on a  plate while Ellen had tried to express herself. The glasses were filled with a transparent reddish liquid.

    ¡°You are right, we might lose money by inviting you. But we might also earn some money, both when you are working normally and if you and the other girl will continue to do experiments.¡±

    So, according to Sour so was the already knowing that they could lose money. But they still wanted to try since there was a chance they also could earn some money.

    ¡°To get into our alliance, you need to empty four shots of red absinthe.¡±

    Chris seemed to enjoy the situation.

    ¡°Without throwing up.¡±

    Thom was even worse and laughed as he talked.

    <hr>

    The machine that Ellen created for their father got a new name at Lilly¡¯s clinic, where they tried to find a way to use it.

    ¡°Angel¡±, Taija and Lilly decided to call it for ¡°Angel¡±. Only to really separate it from the two other machines that Lilly had at her clinic. How could they even come up with a name like that?

    ¡°Taija, are you still feeling bad that we took the ¡°Angel¡± before little Ellen came back home?

    Taija had disliked the idea of taking the ¡°Angel¡± the morning after Ellen had allowed it, which neither Alice or Lilly had seen any problems with.

    ¡°Yes. Ellen has said that she didn¡¯t mind that we did like that. But still.¡±

    Taija was really a worrywart about it, even after Ellen had allowed them to take it.

    Ellen hadn¡¯t even come back to the mansion that night, she had instead been sleeping in the same house as that bad woman.

    Alice wouldn¡¯t get surprised if it turned out that Jill also had been out drinking and tricked Ellen to drink far too much.

    Alice quickly pulled herself into the reality and continued to think of how they would use the ¡°Angel¡± correctly.

    They had lowered the speed since she collapsed at the old speed, and had been trying without result for a few days.

    She was sure that it was because they neither wanted to try the old speed again, and that they didn¡¯t want to target the head. Alice was really sure it was because of that.

    Sure she had collapsed, but it still couldn¡¯t be that bad.

    And since they had Lilly there, so could they take bigger risks.

    Alice closed the door behind her as she walked into her room, letting out a heavy sigh.

    It had gone another day without result, which for the moment made it five days without any results or likewise. So many days had been wasted, because the others are too afraid of leaving their comfort zones.

    They need to set the ¡°Angel¡± to spin at a higher speed, they need to take risks.

    They can¡¯t stay stumping at the same spot all the time and thinking about to give it up because it doesn¡¯t lead anywhere.

    Alice had even asked Ellen for advice, and even if she didn¡¯t say it out loud she was agreeing to that they needed to use a higher speed.

    Even if the books only was about how to get impurities out of things. There was honestly nothing said that it was like that with humans.

    Everything was annoying.

    Taija and Lilly that was too afraid to go forward and out of their comfort zone. Yet Alice couldn¡¯t force them since she needed their help.

    Ellen that only could help her with information on how the gear would work at normal things.

    The ¡°Angel¡± that maybe would lose its chance to make Ellen famous.

    It was all annoying.

    Alice began to undress and noticed her own reflection in a mirror on the other side of the room. Even though it was dark she felt that she saw the reflection clear.

    A thin and weak girl, almost dripping of disgust for every breath she took. A girl that didn¡¯t even deserved to be a part of either this or the last world. A girl that only deserved to die alone, just like Ellen did once.

    Why couldn¡¯t she look more like Ellen? Be strong, look healthy and beautiful. Or at very least not look like she did now.

    They had called her beautiful since she was young, always overshadowing the true beauty with the eyes of the blind. Always standing in the way of the only one that truly deserved to be called beautiful, always getting cared of by the only person with a pure heart. Always¡­Ellen.

    Alice violently shakes her head. It wasn¡¯t time to think about that.

    She had to find a way to make Ellen famous. Like the smart and wonderful sister she was.

    Alice had to give Ellen what she truly deserved.

    Ellen had now even helped Alice get rid of the one truly annoying thing, her ability to feel emotions. They were still gone since the incident and was no longer welcome back.

    Alice did her very best to fake all emotions, but couldn¡¯t help but to worry about if Ellen had seen through her act. Which wouldn¡¯t be surprising since Ellen was a very smart girl.

    <hr>

    Ellen had been working to change the broken warmth giving gear that had broke in the bathroom.

    Or she had rather been changing it while she had been thinking.

    The little ¡°princess¡± had decided to take the prototype before she came home after the drinking with Chris and the others. Sure it had been a little too much, so she had got carried home to Chris¡¯s house and been sleeping there during the night. But they could still have waited to take it until she came home.

    It didn¡¯t get better either that Alice and Taija have been out of the mansion, trying to find a way to use it.

    Alice had shown clear signs of getting worn out, but didn¡¯t say anything about it herself. Yet it was so clear that it was impressive that neither Taija or that doctor did anything about it.

    ¡°Pardon Ellen, there is someone that wishes to talk with you in the front door.¡±

    Sain was standing in the door opening, looking worried at her.

    That fox knew that she wasn¡¯t forgiven yet. Which she wouldn¡¯t be for quite some more time, but still she didn¡¯t need to be afraid of talking with Ellen.

    ¡°Okay, I will come right away.¡± More disturbance during her work, wasn¡¯t that just wonderful.

    ¡°I would like to ask you for some help with a job offer.¡±

    Chris had come over to ask for help from here with a work.

    They walked to her workshop to talk without disturbance. Especially from Sain that looked curious at them from a door opening to another room. She really still was curious about gears, even after what had happened to Alice.

    ¡°So you want to ask me for help to turn some old steam driven boats to gear driven?¡±

    That sound far more complicated than the last time he had asked her for help.

    ¡°Yes, I asked for that. I believe it can be some good training for you and you will probably also learn a new thing or two, that you can have use of in the future.¡±

    Ellen didn¡¯t have so much knowledge about warmth giving gears, so it would mean that she needed to do some more study to. Even if she would work with Chris.

    ¡°The work is at a bigger scale and further away than last time, so to save time so will we take in at a cheap hotel nearby.¡±

    ¡°How much time do you think it will take?¡±

    She had to know. She would need to ask Taija for allowance to work with him during that time, so she had to know what she would ask for.

    ¡°I believe it will take about two weeks.¡±

    It had already got late when Ellen walked to the door of Mr Halluw¡¯s workroom.

    She had waited for Taija and Alice to come home so she could ask Taija about the job offer. But it didn¡¯t seem like they would come home this day, and she needed to tell Chris the next morning. So she needed to ask that fat bowling ball.

    Why did they have to be gone for the night just this day? Any other night would have been fine, but not this day.

    ¡°I apologise for interrupt your evening Mister.¡±

    She curtsied for the man as she came into the room. Which she felt that she wouldn¡¯t need since he just was an old fart that happens to own the mansion she helped out at.

    ¡°What do you want Ellen?¡±

    He didn¡¯t even bother to try to hide his disliking for her.

    ¡°Since miss Taija hasn¡¯t come back and probably won¡¯t come back for the night, I will need to ask you for allowance for a work offer that I got from Mister Behorned.¡±

    Why did she have to be so disgusting formal in this world? It was a big pain, and especially when it was to those that didn¡¯t even deserve it.

    Ellen began to explain the situation as good she could from the information Chris had given her.

    The fat bowling ball clearly didn¡¯t like the fact that she would be gone for two weeks. But seemed to not mind the fact that it was warmth giving gears she would work with.

    ¡°I understand the situation, and do gives you the allowance to help Mr Behorn with the work.¡±

    He was probably only hoping that she would learn something that he could have use of later on.

    Ellen was back at her room when she dropped a heavy sigh.

    She hated being polite toward that man, and even more hated the smile he had when she left the room.

    He was making plans to abuse her knowledge for his own winning, wasn¡¯t he? At least that was what his disgusting smile was telling her.

 chapter 12

    Alice had followed Taija and Lilly out for a well-deserved lunch, only to come back to a catgirl laying in front of the ¡°Angel¡±.

    The poor girl had by some reason sneaked in and somehow activated the machine, while she must have been standing right in front of it. Getting affected by it just as Alice had.

    ¡°She seems to only be unconscious.¡±

    Lilly had walked straight up to the body and searched for signs of how the girl was doing.

    Alice felt relieved. If the girl would have got seriously hurt by the machine, so where there a risk that Taija and Lilly would like to have stopped the researching. Or at least she thought they would since they still didn¡¯t want to get out of their comfort zones.

    She took a look at the machine. If the girl was fine, it meant that the ¡°Angel¡± was safe to use at that speed. Which meant that they could go a little further, even try to aim more for the head.

    ¡°Wonder what she is doing here?¡±

    Taija was just as curious as Alice.

    They hadn¡¯t invited the girl to the clinic, and she seemed to not be known by any of them.

    ¡°She might be a thief that hoped to find something to steal.¡±

    Lilly was most probably right at it. Since no one of them even had seen her before and they had absolutely not invited her to the clinic. Yet they did decide to take good care of her and carried her to a bed where she later woke up.

    Upon some questioning, it came out that she indeed was a thief and had trespassed in hope of finding money. She had got a little curious about the ¡°Angel¡± and touched it, which had activated it and left her unconscious.

    The reason that she had searched for money wasn¡¯t to feed herself, but instead it was that she needed to finance her crystal addiction.

    Crystal, like the one that Jack created. And that he tricked Ellen into making them stronger, ¡°to help him¡±.

    Lapin, as it turned out to be the catgirl¡¯s name, was surprisingly open about her addiction. Which could be because she apparently was feeling dizzy after the incident. But otherwise she seemed to be just fine, and ready to get thrown out if they would wish to do that.

    Just to be sure that the girl was fine so were Lilly suggesting that they took turns to look over her.

    Those two was afraid that something would turn out to be wrong and that Lapin would be suffering because of it.

    Taija took the first turn and was told that she would wake Lilly up if she noticed any difference in Lapin¡¯s condition.

    Alice and Lilly shared the bed in Lilly¡¯s working room. A small bed that wasn¡¯t made for two people to share at the same time.

    She wished to be able to tell Ellen about this incident. Even if it maybe would scare her sister at first, so was she sure that this could be a step in the right direction.

    Lapin had shown emotion after waking up, so it didn¡¯t go as ¡°bad¡± for her as it did for Alice. Only that was a prof that it was good, even if they would need to research it more. But that maybe was something they could trick Lapin into helping them with.

    The girl had after all trespassed and by only that committed a crime. So with the threat of leaving her to the guards, she might agree to it. If only the other two could agree to follow the idea, which really wasn¡¯t guaranteed at all.

    They had been able to, almost, sleep through the Taija¡¯s pass when she suddenly came in and interrupted their sleep. Lapin¡¯s condition had changed, her heartbeats had increased and she seemed to be feeling sick.

    Lapin seemed almost depressed when Lilly examined her. She had been calm when she woke up, but now she only acted depressed and anxious.

    Alice recognized the behaviour, she had seen it far too often back in the other world. But had never understood what it was about until an ex-junkie had come to the school and talked about drugs.

    Lapin, that stupid small and addicted girl was simply dope sick. Or had withdrawn symptoms in better words. Which even the increased heart rate proved.

    Alice tried to simplify what she knew and told the others about it. Harshly pointing out that there was nothing they could do about it.

    ¡°So it will be all better if I smokin` a crystal?¡±

    Of course so would a junkie try to find a way to be allowed to go on with the addiction.

    ¡°Of course it all can feel better if you do, but if you want to stop with it. So is this a good opportunity.¡±

    Alice knew how mean she sounded, but she was serious about it. If that girl would like to get free from that addiction, so was this a perfect opportunity.

    ¡°Was you not feeling sick when you woke up?¡±

    Lilly seemed to somehow understand the situation.

    ¡°No. I felt very at ease when I woke up. Didn¡¯t even felt the carvin` that was painin` me back when I came here.¡±

    So simply said, she had been feeling at ease and got rid of her carvings for the crystals, because of the ¡°Angel¡±. Which really had to mean that the machine could be used to help others, even if it only was temporary.

    ¡°How long do you think this will be painin` me?¡±

    ¡°Probably for a week or two.¡±

    It was a hard question, Alice didn¡¯t pay much attention to what the ex-junkie said about time after finding out what it was for kind of behaviour. So there was no chance that she could answer that question honestly. But a lie and a kind smile seemed to be enough to calm the girl.

    While sitting of the time with the Lapin so was Alice trying to hold a conversation about everything and nothing, except crystals. Which Lapin in the end succeeded to lead the conversation too.

    She talked about it as in was her lover. Explaining how it had helped her get back up after a period that she had been physically and sexually abused.

    No wonder that the girl was addicted to those things if she used it to escape problems that she needed to solve. Maybe it really was about time that she got a grip of her life and solved those problems. Just by the way she talked and acted she seemed to be a nice girl, so it would be a waste if she died by the hands of those crystals.

    Alice tried to fake her emotions so it would give off a feeling that she cared for the girl, which she surprisingly did. It was a hard task, and something that she felt she needed to train. But at least it did seem like the girl was buying it.

    Like help sent from somewhere Taija and Lilly came into the room.

    ¡°Do we interrupt a good conversation.¡±

    Alice had succeeded to sit off the whole time while keeping an even more depress acting Lapin calm.

    That had to be the first and last time she did something like that, it had been a huge pain. Especially to try to lead the conversations away from crystals, time after time.

    ¡°So how are you feeling Lapin?¡±

    Lilly was quick to take over the conversation, all to Alice happiness.

    ¡°I feel. I feel horrible. Sad, down. Really awful.¡±

    To everyone¡¯s joy so was it only that she felt awful mentally. But physically she seemed just like the last time that Lilly examined her.

    ¡°How long ago was it that you last smoked, and has it been becoming worse since you woke up?¡±

    That was just a pair of stupid questions that even Lilly would be able to figure out with her rear.

    Lapin didn¡¯t really know how long ago it was since she last smoked a crystal, but she was indeed feeling worse than when she first woke up.

    ¡°It`s like the world is fallin` apart around me.¡±

    ¡°If you were feeling a lot better when you woke up, that can be because of the ¡°Angel¡±. So do you want to take the opportunity to get treated by it again?¡±

    Alice felt like she needed to push it up their face for them to even think about taking the opportunity.

    ¡°Do you really think that will help?¡±

    For the first time since Alice took the turn so was Lapin showing genuine happiness.

    ¡°There is a possibility that it will work, but there is also a risk that you can get hurt by it.¡±

    ¡°If it can help me from wantin` those shiny crap, so am I ready to risk it. And it ain¡¯t anyone that will care anyway.¡±

    Lapin seemed to be sure about what she did want, and didn¡¯t care about what hinders that could be in her way.

    ¡°How can you say that Lapin, don¡¯t you have friends and family that will care?¡±

    There were no real friends that would care. All her so-called friends were other junkies that only cared about her since they would help each other to get those crystals they needed. Otherwise they were barely friends, barely knowing each other.

    Her family wasn¡¯t something to mind either since they had thrown her out after she got lost in her addiction. So she was simply nothing else than a nobody to them by now.

    Taija showed clearly that she regretted to have asked that question.

    She knew that the reality wasn¡¯t kind to those with small flaws, but she seemed to never think that it could be so harsh as Lapin painted it up.

    ¡°So by knowing that, do you still really want to get the treatment?¡±

    ¡°I really do want to get the treatment.¡±

    ¡°Even though there are chances that you will get hurt, and that the treatment is under development?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I DO still want to get the treatment. I want to stop carvin` for those shinies.¡±

    That was it. They could now go a little further with their experiments. With Lapin there, they could really see how the treatment worked at someone. Finally making use of the ¡°Angel¡±, and making a name for Ellen.

    <hr>

    Ellen couldn¡¯t believe that she already had worked with Chris for two weeks. It really hadn¡¯t felt like it was for that long, it felt like more about a week or so. And that was even if all her muscles had screamed in pain after the first few days there. He had warned her when she started to study it that it was a heavy work, but she could never have guessed that it would be that bad.

    ¡°Do you have all your stuff?¡±

    They had been gathering all the things they had got in the hotel room that they had shared.

    It was finally time to get back home. Not that she hadn¡¯t enjoyed the time that she spent with him, but she wouldn¡¯t mind getting some time alone from time to time. Which had been more or less impossible.

    ¡°I am all ready to go.¡±

    The work with installing the warmth giving gears had gone really smoothly, mostly thanks to that Chris had acted like a great working leader.

    Sure they had worked late into the nights a couple of times, but things like that do happen. And especially when there is someone that don¡¯t quite know how to install those things.

    ¡°Do you think someone has missed us back home?¡±

    Ellen didn¡¯t really care, but asked anyway since it could be nice to hold a small conversation while sitting in the waggon.

    ¡°How knows? Maybe, maybe not. It¡¯s something that we will find out.¡±

    Chris was apparently not in the mood of talking, showing it by giving her an answer she couldn¡¯t follow up at.

    Ellen let out a light sigh, if he didn¡¯t feel like talking she wouldn¡¯t force him.

    Instead she started to think about what possibly could have happened at the mansion. How much work would there be for her to do?

    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.It couldn¡¯t be too much, right? She had repaired the light giving gears only a short while before she left for this work.

    Which reminded her. How had it gone for Alice and Taija, had they find a way to use that machine to help others? Had there been anyone else hurt by it? If there was, then she would make sure to take it back and not letting anyone else even touch it.

    It was after all from the beginning created for a bad deed, which most probably meant that it only would do bad for everyone.

    Why couldn¡¯t just Jack have taken that machine with him?

    Two machines would have meant double the effectivity, right?

    And even more important, why did he have to leave like that? Why hadn¡¯t he come back, or even giving a sign that he was okay? Or simply that he was alive. It would have been so much better than that she needed to wonder how her beloved was doing. Wishing to search under every rock for him during all the free time she had.

    Ellen let out another sigh, she wanted to be by his side once again.

    Walking back to the mansion from Chris¡¯s shop the city looked like it always had done. Nothing had changed since the day that Jack revived her, nothing except that he no longer was there.

    Could it be that he hide somewhere in the city, maybe she needed to start wandering around and asking for him? But would it really be safe for her? If it was that he had fled to protect her and Alice, would it really be a good idea for her to do that?

    The thoughts filled Ellen¡¯s mind until she succeeded to shake some of them off, in front of the mansion. It would be a bother to think about that while she spends her time there, in the mansion. Someone could find out and start to ask a lot of stupid questions.

    ¡°Welcome back Ellen.¡±

    Sain came up beside her and greeted her welcome, making Ellen do a small jump by surprise.

    It seemed like the fox had been out and done some shopping, which more or less showed that Alice and Taija still were doing the same thing as when she left.

    ¡°Thanks Sain.¡±

    The first things Ellen had to do in the mansion was to leave her stuff in the room and then tell The fat bowling ball that she was back.

    She would rather have told Taija, but since that woman wasn¡¯t there, she had no other choice than to tell him. Again.

    Ellen had taken a place in her workshop and enjoyed the sweet fact that she was alone.

    She had got a list from The bowling ball, of what she had to take care of in the mansion. But had decided that it could wait until the next day. Now she only wanted some enjoy the calming feeling of being alone.

    A knock at the door and Alice came in. So much for that calming feeling of being alone.

    After getting a quick hug and being welcomed back by her sister, Alice began to talk about that they had found a way to use the machine to help others. Even calling the machine for ¡°Angel¡±.

    It did sound great, and Ellen couldn¡¯t deny that she was glad for her sister¡¯s discovery of the machine with a bad purpose. Even better was the fact that they had found it out without anyone getting hurt.

    Alice invited her to come over to the clinic the next day to see how they did use it.

    She was curious to see how that, now, so-called-Angel possible could help others, so she accepted the invitation right of. Sadly she could only be there for a short while since she had to do all the things that needed to be done in the mansion. But it was still better than not to see it at all.

    Left alone again she took a look at the list, it should not be hard for her to squeeze in the visit at the clinic. Most of the things that needed to be done were after all very simple.

    So simple that it all easily could have been done in a couple of hours if Chris had helped her.

    Ellen had almost missed how lively the breakfast was. With Chris so had they often only been making up plans of how the work of the day would look like, nothing more and nothing less.

    Which of course had its own charm, just like it had its own charm that they could just sit there and talk about everyday things.

    Mair told everyone what would be done during the day, or rather she told Ellen and Sain what they needed to do during the day. While giving Alice some glares from time to time.

    ¡°Pardon me Mair, might I ask a small question?¡±

    Since Ellen had been given some few tasks outside the repairing she needed to ask the head maid if it still was possible for here to visit the clinic. Of course she would do her best to make sure that she could finish all the task she was given.

    Mair really seemed to unlike the idea, but since it turned out that it was her machine they were using she did soften up a little.

    Ellen was allowed to follow and see how the machine worked, but she really had to make sure that she took her time later on to finish the other tasks. Even if she would have to work late.

    ¡°It was about time that you came.¡±

    Alice first patient for the day had already arrived, thinking it was disgracefully that Alice wasn¡¯t there upon her arrival.

    Which didn¡¯t make any sense since the hag would get the treatment anyway.

    Alice apologised as if she had done something wrong.

    It wasn¡¯t even the hag that would get treated herself, but instead her son that was sitting in a chair close by.

    She talked about how Alice needed to help her son, in a way that didn¡¯t only paint up her son as a pathetic creature but also disgusted Ellen so much it sent shivers down her spine.

    It was no wonder that she had got a bad view of the ¡°higher class¡±, not when they did prove themselves to be jerk offs like that.

    The hag didn¡¯t follow her son in for the treatment, all to Ellen¡¯s relief.

    She wouldn¡¯t have been able to listen to that disgusting nagging more than she already had.

    Alice was acting strangely professional when talking to the boy and leading him to a chair, a short distance from the ¡°Angel¡±.

    Taking her place behind the machine and started it. There was no difference in how she used it from how Ellen had used it herself. The spring charged up the purifying gear and as soon it went off, the boy fainted.

    If it hasn¡¯t been that Alice quickly told her that it was going just as it should, so would Ellen had run to the boy to check so there was no damage done.

    The boy was only unconscious for a short while, and as soon he woke up so was Taija called into the room to help him out.

    ¡°That is how it¡¯s working. And please look here Ellen.¡±

    She opened the machine and picked out a box where the impurities would have been collected. Ellen was surprised to see small statues like scraps in there. All reminding of humans, but some with wings. Disfigured body part and some even remembering of mythical creatures.

    ¡°These are the demons that were torturing the boy. They come out at shadow like creatures, but it doesn¡¯t take long for them to become these statues like things you see here.¡±

    Ellen was impressed by the whole thing and felt that she had seen enough, even feeling that she needed to think through a couple of things.

    Like how it could be that it worked and what those things Alice called demons could be.

    Only a few days after Ellen had visited the clinic so was Taija starting to act, strange?

    She had been showing clearly disliking to follow her father¡¯s orders earlier, but all of sudden she started to do it. Leaving together with the fat bowling ball instead of Alice, probably not even visiting the clinic anymore. When they came back, so did she often directly heading to her room, locking herself in and not even coming out for dinner with the rest of them.

    Alice even seemed to try to get in contact with her but without success.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to follow me in, I can handle this myself.¡±

    Ellen had to talk with that damn, fat bowling ball. He had dared to give Alice an ultimatum to either stop her work at the clinic and come back as a maid at the mansion, or straight of leaving the mansion.

    ¡°But I want to help you.¡±

    Alice seriously wanted to follow her sister in to show her support, and once again Ellen falls for her cursed charm. Once again letting her get her will through.

    ¡°I apologise for disturbing Mr Halluv.¡±

    She didn¡¯t get the chance to say much more to him before he noticed Alice and pointed out that he wouldn¡¯t change his mind. Yet Ellen would try to threat with that if Alice was forced to leave, so would even she leave. Upon which the fat bowling ball only pointed out that it wouldn¡¯t bother him at all, since he wouldn¡¯t need to pay her anymore.

    Ellen was seriously cursing that bastardly fat bowling ball while collecting her clothes. Nothing she said mattered to him, because he could do just like he wanted to. Really rubbing it in their faces time after time.

    Both the sisters had packed their clothes and belongings during the night and was ready to leave the first thing in the morning. It was only Mair and Sain that bid them farewell. Taija was still locking herself up in her room and her father didn¡¯t seem to even care that they were leaving.

    Ellen had hoped that at least Taija would have come out to say bye to Alice after all the time they had spent together. But it turned out to have been only wishes and nothing more.

    ¡°I apologise for asking you this favour.¡±

    ¡°I see no problem with it. If you need to have a place to live while trying to get your own home, so are you more than welcome to live here meanwhile.¡±

    Ellen had decided to ask Chris for help, but had never guessed that he would accept without a second thought. Almost making her feel that she was simply using him.

    ¡°We will of course pay for our time here.¡±

    Alice seemed to feel less guilty about it, pointing out the most obvious thing.

    ¡°Of course, of course. I already know that, and I do expect Ellen to help me with some jobs to when it¡¯s necessary.¡±

    Once again they had a place to live, and once again they were sharing the same room. All to Ellen¡¯s disliking. But luckily so would Alice still be spending most of her days at the clinic, so there could still be chances that she could get some time for herself. As long Jill didn¡¯t disturb her too much that was.

    ¡°So you will be living here from now on?¡±

    Alice had gone to the clinic and Chris to his shop, so Ellen was all alone with Jill.

    ¡°Yes. We will be living here until we get money to buy our own place, or in the worst case a house to rent.¡±

    Jill looked at her and smiled.

    ¡°If you want to rent a house, so will it be more expensive than to buy a cheap place. It¡¯s after all not as easy to rent houses in this world.¡±

    In this world? Did that mean that she had experience from other worlds, or was she only comparing it with the old world?

    ¡°So how will we do now Ellen?¡±

    The night had arrived and the two sisters had gone to bed, small talking about the situation.

    ¡°It ain¡¯t much we can do right now. But one of the things we can do is to start saving up money to buy a house.¡±

    Alice seemed displeased with the answer, but what else could be expected from a little ¡°princess¡±? She might have hope that Ellen could do some magic to solve the problem, but there was no chance that Ellen could do either that or solving the problem on her own.

    Why did Jack have to leave? It had been so much easier to solve the problem if he had been by Ellen¡¯s side. Not only had there been one more that earned money, but he could probably have found a much better solution than she ever could. He was after all a lot smarter than her, and he knew a lot more of how the world worked as a whole than Ellen did.

    Not only did she needed to solve the problem and find a way for them to purchase a house. It also had to be before Jack comes back. He would be so proud of her, getting a house where they all could live. A home where their love could grow strong. Maybe it even would bear fruit some day. A child between them, a sign of how strong their love was. Their love, between them. Only them.

 chapter 13

    ¡°As a citizen so will the other trust you more, and you will be able to charge higher for your services.¡±

    Alice had asked Lilly about the benefits of becoming a citizen.

    She and her beloved sister had talked a couple of evenings about how they would do to earn money so they could buy themselves a home, instead of living with Chris and ¡°that woman¡±.

    Alice had got the idea that it maybe could be better to become a citizen, but had decided to ask Lilly about it first.

    ¡°So if I and Ellen become citizens, so will we gain more trust and can set higher prices?¡±

    ¡°Of course, but that also includes that you will need to pay some taxes to. So you win some and loses some.¡±

    Alice still found it very tempting. Even if the had to pay taxes so was it still really good that they gained some trust. Only by gaining trust by the others so was there a chance that they could get some more customers.

    ¡°It will also be possible for your sister to take a patent on the things she¡äs building. Not to mention that it will be easier for you to buy a cheap house, if you still want to move out of Mr behorn¡¯s house.¡±

    Lilly described that it would be possible for them to buy a house that the city had taken.

    Giving those hunted for smaller crimes a chance to be free once again. Without Lilly telling her, so was Alice knowing that there would be a risk that they could set Jack free if they would buy back their old house.

    Which wasn¡¯t good at all. If Jack would get free from his charges, so could it mean that he might come back. And knowing her sister so would there be a risk that Ellen could try to get him into the family.

    That would be really bad since there wasn¡¯t the slightest chance that he would stop with his crimes. And if the city would start to hunt him again, so was there a big risk that they would lose everything again.

    Lilly helped Alice with the patients that came for treatment since Taija all of sudden had decided to leave, for unknown reasons. It could have been one thing if Taija had given her a small reason why she had to leave, instead she had only been throwing it in her face like a bolt from a clear sky.

    But thankfully so had Lilly stepped in, which meant that Alice now had to learn how to act from her.

    It wasn¡¯t the same thing as trying to imitate how Taija showed her emotions, Lilly had a more professional and almost annoying way of showing emotions. But in the end so was it sadly the only way for her, since she still couldn¡¯t feel any emotions.

    When the patient left so couldn¡¯t Alice help to think about what had happened to Lapin.

    She had just like this patient got the treatment and left, but then she hadn¡¯t come back again.

    There were great chances that she had relapsed and too ashamed to come back, or she could have simply dropped dead somewhere by too much treatment. Which she had come to get every single day.

    Alice really hoped that it only was that the girl had relapsed. Not only because it could be bad for both herself and Lilly if it came out that one they gave treatment to just dropped dead. But it would be even worse for her beloved sister to find out that the ¡°Angel¡± had killed someone.

    ¡°Are you still thinking about if you shall become a citizen?¡±

    ¡°Yes I am.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t a good idea of telling Lilly about what she really was thinking about.

    That woman had been partly against the treatment from the beginning and could probably stop helping Alice any given moment if something like that occurred. Therefore she wouldn¡¯t tell her. The word about the treatment had already spread, so it was going well for them right now.

    Alice was probably earning enough money to be able to rent or buy a house in a couple of months, but it seemed it could go even faster if she could convince Ellen to be a citizen with her. So that they could move out of the house and away from ¡°that bad woman.¡±

    It didn¡¯t happen much more at the clinic for the rest of the day, so Alice got more time to ask Lilly more about the benefits of being a citizen.

    She let out a heavy sigh. They had closed the clinic for the day and went different ways.

    The latter part of the talk had led nowhere. It still sounded like a good idea, but she would like to know more that could motivate her sister to agree to it.

    The possibility could be a good motivation for her, but would it be enough? She meant, Ellen sure deserved to become famous because of she built the ¡°Angel¡±. But would she accept it herself, or did Alice need to force it down her throat?

    Back at Chris¡¯s house so had Ellen cooked the dinner.

    It had been a long time since Alice had been eating something made by her sister. But overall so had it been quite some time since Ellen cooked anything at all, which was easy to notice.

    The food didn¡¯t taste bad, but at the same time so wasn¡¯t it as tasty as when that ¡°crooked woman¡± cooked it. Which of course Alice couldn¡¯t say out loud.

    Both Jill and Ellen took some wine to the dinner. It seemed to be a bad habit that her beloved sister had picked up from ¡°that woman¡±, at least it wasn¡¯t anything she ever had done before. Only another sign that ¡°that woman¡± wasn¡¯t good for Ellen. Not good at all.

    Alice discreetly tried to lead the usual small talk during the dinner toward the idea of the sisters becoming citizens. Which failed horribly when Jill noticed what Alice try to do, and decides to tell it straight out. ¡°That woman¡±, just ¡°that woman¡±.

    ¡°You think we should become citizens Alice?¡±

    Ellen looked curious at her when she started to tell the benefits that Lilly had told her.

    She did seem to be interested in the whole idea. Yet she did follow Chris and Jill when they treated it like a joke. Alice tries to go with the benefit of Ellen being able to take patents on things she creates, which also get shot down as a bad joke.

    No matter what Alice said, it was treated as a joke.

    Didn¡¯t Ellen want to become a citizen, being able to buy or rent a house and be registered as a real family? Even after she did seem interested when Alice started to talk about it?

    Somehow Alice was glad that she no longer felt emotions. Otherwise there was a risk that she would get upset and tell ¡°those idiots¡± a thing or two.

    Everything was going downhill from there, Ellen continued to drink with ¡°that woman¡± after the dinner. Joining Alice in the bed later on, intoxicated.

    Almost desperately, Alice took another chance to talk with her sister about the benefits of registering themselves as citizens. But once again it was simply treated as a joke.

    Ellen didn¡¯t seem to take anything she said seriously, almost every time following up with a stupid comment.

    ¡°Ain`t you a serious one?¡±

    It was the last comment that Alice could take from her sister before giving up.

    Of course she was a serious one. She wanted them to be able to live their own lives without living in someone else¡¯s house. She wanted them to be able to stand at their own two legs.

    Not to mention that she wanted her beloved sister to gain all the fame and respect she really did deserve. Everything that Alice had received during the time Ellen had been taken care of her as a child, everything that she right of had stolen from her beloved sister.

    <hr>

    Ellen woke up alone in the bed.

    Alice seemed to have left without waking her up. Maybe because of anger since she had been joking with Alice the day before. It could also be that the jokes maybe had gone a little too far, but in that case so could Alice have said something about it.

    It seemed like it would be nice weather, which meant that she really should take her time this day to go and visit a couple of people.

    Alice wasn¡¯t the only one that had been thinking about becoming citizens. Ellen had thought about it earlier and even asked both Jill and Chris about it. Which maybe could be the reason that the ¡°little princess¡± became last night¡¯s laughing stock.

    Ellen got dressed and walked out in the kitchen, there Jill already was sitting.

    ¡°Are you up already?¡±

    Jill usually wasn¡¯t up around this time in the morning. Sure both Chris and Alice had left for their respective job, but Jill still usually didn¡¯t go up from around dinner time.

    ¡°No, I just came back from a scroll in the city and haven¡¯t go to bed yet.¡±

    Ellen wasn¡¯t even surprised and took some of the coffee Chris had left behind.

    If it was something that Ellen had learned during the time she had lived in Chris household, so was it that she didn¡¯t have a bad lifestyle like she earlier had been thinking. Just by looking at Jill she could say that she herself only had a half bad lifestyle.

    Sure Jill was a travelling cog technician, which could explain a little of it. But it didn¡¯t explain why she lived like that while she had a house to live in.

    ¡°Are you thinking about what your little sister tried to tell you yesterday.¡±

    Ellen took a sip of the, now lukewarm, coffee when Jill asked the question with a smile.

    ¡°I am, but I still want to hear more about it from other parties.¡±

    Which was exactly what she had been thinking to do this day. If it hadn¡¯t been that Alice hadn¡¯t brought it up so could it had waited a few more days, that way so could Ellen had thought it all through herself some more.

    The plan for the day was that she would ask Taija, Sain, Thom and Sour about the benefits of becoming a citizen. As well the cons that came with it.

    Out of all of them, so did she think that Taija probably had the most information about it, or at least the best information. So there was where she was about to start.

    The mansion stilled look boring, as it always had. And even if she and Alice had spent quite some time there, so was it still no place that she wanted to return to.

    It was Sain that opened the door when she knocked at it.

    ¡°Ohh¡­ Ellen, why are you here?¡±

    She was clearly surprised to see her. Which of course wasn¡¯t so surprising, especially since they had got on bad terms with the fat bowling ball before they moved out.

    ¡°I would like to have a short talk with Taija, if it¡äs possible.¡±

    Taija was out and the fox didn¡¯t know when she would be back.

    It meant that there was one person less to ask about it, one of the more important people. But since there was nothing to do about it so was Ellen asking Sain about it instead.

    Sain gave more or less the same information that Alice had pulled up the day earlier. And there seemed to be much that Sain didn¡¯t know about it. There were many of the more complicated questions that were left unanswered. Please let Taija come back soon.

    ¡°Well, is it not Ellen that comes for a visit?¡±

    Ellen hated to hear that voice, she really didn¡¯t want to hear it now.

    ¡°Good day Mister Halluv.¡± She curtsied to the fat, old man that walked down the stairs.

    Even if she acted polite to him, so wouldn¡¯t she have minded if he been fallen down the stairs instead of walking. Especially since he decided to throw them out after Alice had succeeded to find a way to help others with her machine. And he most probably had something to do with that Taija had left the clinic.

    ¡°You are just the girl that I want to see now.¡±

    That was surprising, he wanted to see her? Did that mean that he had some plan to use her?

    It was exactly what he had planned. He wanted her to install gears in a newly bought house. Just like the cheapskate fat man he was so was he trying to press down the price as much he could.

    Ellen didn¡¯t accept it, until after it turned out that it was Taija that would live in the house. First then Ellen could consider doing the job for that price.

    Taija had after all saved both her and Alice when they lost the house, even going so far to offer them a job. So she could really do it for Taija¡¯s sake.

    ¡°So you have already got home the cog and gears to the house, so there will technically be nothing more I need?¡±

    Ellen had made sure that she had got it right, otherwise it could be a pain since he wanted the job to be done in just a couple of days.

    ¡°All the cogs that you need should be in the house already. So it¡¯s just to start early tomorrow morning.¡± She hated that he still tried to order around like she still was living in the mansion.

    Taija didn¡¯t come back during the time she did spend there talking. So there was nothing else to do than walking to Sour and Thom to ask them what she needed to ask them. She also needed to ask Sour and later on Chris about some advice about how to install gears smoothly in a house. She needed to set her pride at the line when installing those gears in Taija¡¯s future house.

    The installation went smoothly after the advice she had got from both Chris and Sour. Especially Sour had been very eager to give her good advice. But the advice from Chris about how to hide the cogs had been the best of them. It was almost impossible to see where they had been hidden. At least Ellen thought so herself, but at the same time so hadn¡¯t she cared about it or done it ever before. So a real professional would probably say otherwise.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    The fat bowling ball visited a couple of times during the time Ellen was working with the task, and so was Taija. Both of them seemed overall to be satisfied with her work. The bowling ball pointed out a few flaws, but it was only small things that were easy to fix.

    Taija really seemed pleased with the work, but from time to time she looked really displeased with it all. Especially when her father had a young man as his company.

    Ellen did try to ask Taija if there was something that bothered her, but the question was shut down every time. So she gave up at asking, but still couldn¡¯t help but wonder.

    ¡°It all looks great. You did a good job here.¡±

    It was rare that the bowling ball praised her, but maybe it now was because she no longer lived in his mansion.

    ¡°Taija will move in here today, so we will hold a small celebration for her.¡±

    Ellen got invited since she had ¡°been a great help¡±.

    She didn¡¯t believe a word he said. Sure there might be a celebration for Taija and she got invited, but it was hard to believe that it was because of the other reason. There was a greater chance that he only tried to show off that he was a ¡°great employer¡±, or trying to make her feel that she was in debt to him. Which wouldn¡¯t work since she already seen through it. But she still wouldn¡¯t decline the invitation, only in respect to Taija.

    ¡°You really are beautiful.¡±

    Ellen had been slightly happy the first time she heard it, but would have been happier if it would have been Jack that told her that. ¡°It all depends on¡­ And in your eyes, I rather not be beautiful.¡±

    The fat bowling ball had forgotten to mention one thing about the celebration. And that was the fact they didn¡¯t serve much food and that there would be a lot of alcohol, together with many idiotic young men.

    They drank themselves stupid and tried to flirt with Ellen, which did her best to shot them down as fast she could.

    ¡°I heard that you have a beautiful sister, do you have any advice for me to how I can get between her legs?¡±

    ¡°You can start with to get beheaded and roll your head on the floor toward her, to even have the slightest chance that is.¡±

    And if he wouldn¡¯t behead himself so Ellen would love to do it for him. She would rather do that for him and leave him at the spot, than to let him even getting close to Alice.

    The men had really become drooling idiots after they had started to drink.

    When invited so had Ellen hoped that there would be some good people to talk with, but it all seemed like they were all driven by their pervert desires. Which also included the man that had been held The bowling ball company while Ellen worked at the house. The person that turned out to be Taija¡¯s fianc¨¦, which seemed to be an even bigger idiot than the rest of the men.

    He was her fianc¨¦, yet he succeeded to get his way with a few maids in the house. Even brag about it for the others.

    Ellen didn¡¯t really care that Taija had a fianc¨¦, it was her own decision. But couldn¡¯t she at least had been trying to find someone that didn¡¯t think with his behind?

    ¡°Why do a little miss like you sitting here and sipping wine all alone?¡±

    The fianc¨¦ came up to her and started to talk. May something has mercy at him if he even dared try to have his way with her. ¡°I can¡¯t directly see anyone that would be worth talking with here.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t a direct lie since most of them already had proven themselves being idiots, but she could still have tried to talk with Taija. Which might have bothered Taija.

    ¡°Well then, do you like travelling?¡±

    Ellen had a hard time expressing herself about travelling since the closest she came to it was the work at the ships with Chris. But she would like to see more of the world, just like Jill. Travelling around in the world and see what knowledge it had to offer.

    It was the first time during the evening she felt she could enjoy. Talking about travels, and advice for travelling. Finally, someone to talk with.

    She didn¡¯t regret a thing when she looked at Taija¡¯s fianc¨¦, lying unconscious at the floor.

    The conversation had been really great, until he decided he had enough and suddenly stole a kiss from her. Even trying to stick his disgusting tongue into her mouth.

    Everyone in the room looked at her. A young and ¡°weak girl¡± that all of sudden had risen and knocked the young man out cold, without any signs of hesitation.

    Ellen walked at her way back to Chris¡¯s house.

    She had got thrown out without getting paid for the work she did in the house. The stupid, fat bowling ball called it a compromise so she wouldn¡¯t get accused of beating ¡°a nobleman¡±. If she had known it would end like that, she wouldn¡¯t have hesitated to beat that ¡°noble¡± idiot some more.

    He had after all stolen the kiss that was meant for Jack. Her first kiss that was meant for Jack, her first kiss. But it couldn¡¯t count, right. He stole it. He did it against her will, so it couldn¡¯t count. Right?

    It was impossible for it to be like that, she still had had her first kiss for Jack. It couldn¡¯t be any other way, right?

    ¡°Already back Ellen? How did the celebration go?¡±

    Chris greeted her when she walked into the living room where he and the two others were sitting.

    ¡°It went pretty good. Until I punched an idiot out cold.¡±

    Ellen was forced to tell them everything that had happened, and had to explain that she wouldn¡¯t get paid for her work in exchange for not being accused of ¡°beating a noble idiot¡±.

    ¡°You have to be careful Ellen, it would have been really bad if you had been accused of that.¡± Of course Alice had got worried about that, but let out a relieved sigh upon talking after hearing that they would overlook it.

    ¡°Was he still breathing when you were finished with him?¡±

    At least Jill seemed to understand the hatred that Eller holds about the incident. In differences from Chris that seemed more amused by Ellen¡¯s violent response.

    ¡°He was still breathing, I only hit him once. And Chris, don¡¯t you dare to laugh.¡± Ellen was really not amused by Chris¡¯s behaviour. That idiot had stolen a kiss from her, it really was a big deal.

    ¡°How about we hold a celebration for Ellen strong personality.¡± Jill rose and walked to get some more wine and booze to drink.

    Chris had joined their small ¡°celebration¡± until he decided to get to bed so he could get up and to the shop the next day.

    Alice wouldn¡¯t work at the clinic the next day, so she joined Jill and Ellen until she passed out.

    ¡°Jill, you don¡¯t know Alice so well, but don¡¯t you think she acts strange?¡±

    ¡°I agree. She¡¯s acting strange, she¡¯s acting just like Alice.¡± It hadn¡¯t been what Ellen meant. She felt like Alice had been acting strange since she started to search for a way to use that machine. It almost was like she had done a bad decision to try the machine at herself, or something like that.

    ¡°Then I would suggest that you ask her about it. I personally find her behaviour very cute.¡±

    ¡°You might have a point, I might need to ask her directly about it.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t deny either that she¡¯s a very cute sister, even if she acts like a little princess from time to time.¡±

    Jill burst out in a giggle.

    ¡°I think we are looking at the word cute in different ways. I mean, if I wouldn¡¯t have a girlfriend already. Then I would probably be aiming for your sister, just like lady Lillium.¡±

    ¡°Aiming for Alice like, lady Lillium? Do you mean ¡°that¡± doctor?¡±

    A few seconds after Jill had agreed, Ellen understood what she had been meaning.

    ¡°You mean that both you and ¡°that¡± doctor, both like girls?¡±

    ¡°That took quite a while for someone so smart as you to figure that one out.¡±

    Ellen found it hard to believe that Jill and ¡°that doctor¡± were lesbians, of course she didn¡¯t know anyone of them very well. But at least what she had seen of Jill, she didn¡¯t act like a lesbian. She hadn¡¯t been hitting at either Alice or Ellen. She hadn¡¯t been peaking at them while they were taking a bath, or at least not that they had noticed. Neither she had been trying to abuse them those few times that they had been taking baths together.

    It could maybe be time for Ellen to protect Alice from both ¡°that¡± woman and Jill. Which would be best done by that they moved out so soon they could.

    ¡°You are thinking some quite bad thoughts, ain¡¯t you?¡±

    Jill seemed very displeased and moved closer to Ellen.

    ¡°If you are worried about me taking your sister, how about you allow me to play with you instead?¡± Her eyes were shining of mischief and the faint smile she had was giving off a bad feeling.

    ¡°It can¡¯t be done here, right?¡± Ellen tried to make a distance between them both, all in vain.

    ¡°Not here, but it is easy to solve.¡±

    Jill acted like a devil, with the giggling of a young girl.

    <hr>

    The living room was empty when Alice woke up on the floor.

    No sign of either Ellen or Jill, or even what had happened after she had passed out.

    She was thirst, she felt sick. She didn¡¯t want to live right now, especially when Ellen wasn¡¯t in the room.

    Alice began to walk toward the kitchen, the throat was dry. She had to get something to drink. The head was killing her. What were they talking about the last night? Was it something important?

    Change of route, almost running. She needed to throw up, she had to reach the toilet quick. It was coming up, halfway up her throat already. Alice reached the toilet just in time, throwing up what her body couldn¡¯t handle.

    She must have been an idiot to believe that she could keep it up with Ellen and Jill. And if her sister would have seen her now, she should have been laughing at her.

    They talked about Taija yesterday, Taija and her fianc¨¦. Could the idiot that stole a kiss from Ellen be the reason that Taija stopped at the clinic? And why didn¡¯t Taija stepped in when her fianc¨¦ did what he did? Didn¡¯t she noticed it until it was too late, or didn¡¯t she even bothered with it?

    There was a chance that she needed to ask Ellen about it, but to start with so did she need to get to the kitchen. Alice didn¡¯t felt like drinking water anymore, she really had to get rid off that disgusting taste in her mouth. Water wouldn¡¯t do it, tea. She seriously needed to drink some tea.

    Alice searched the house for her sister while the water was boiling, but without result.

    Could it be that Ellen had left together with Chris in the morning? She really hoped it was Chris she had left with, and not that ¡°bad woman¡±. If her sister had left with her, so was there no guarantee that Ellen would be fine when she came back. Jill had some really bad influence at Ellen, it had been proven so many times already. Please let it be Chris she has left with.

    Alice took it easy the whole day and thought about how she would do to earn more money. They really needed to get out of Chris¡¯s house and away from ¡°that woman¡±. She was really bad for poor Ellen. She had already been picking up the bad habit of drinking wine more or less every day.

    It would somehow be better if Jack had been there, but at the same time so would it have been worse. There was no way that she could entrust Ellen¡¯s health to him, not after the way he acted when he left them.

    ¡°Are you awake?¡±

    Chris was already coming back, but alone.

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m awake. Have you seen my sister today?¡±

    Just as Alice had feared so had Ellen and Jill left the house together. At least Chris thought so since they already were gone when he woke up in the morning.

    ¡°Can we trust that Jill keeps an eye at Ellen?¡± Alice had decided to help Chris making the dinner. She was feeling a lot better than she did in when she woke up, so the least she could do was to help in the household.

    ¡°Both yes and no.¡±

    Both yes and no? How could he say that as if it was normal? And what did he mean?

    ¡°You can trust her since she never would turn her back toward those she sees as friends. And no since she can get some stupid ideas while drunk. Which she wouldn¡¯t hesitate to drag others into.¡±

    Alice understood it a little better after Chris explained what he meant. And it did feel a little better to hear that she didn¡¯t turn her back to those that she saw as friends. All through Alice still didn¡¯t trust her, but it was a little better.

    They had got the time to cook the dinner, eat and even start a small conversation before the two ¡°lost¡± girls finally came home. Both of them was wasted and Jill was supporting Ellen, that really didn¡¯t seem to feel well.

    ¡°Have you been drinking the whole day?¡± Chris was the first one to break the silence that came with their arrival, asking them the question as if it was a normal event.

    ¡°Not drinking the whole day, but most of it.¡± Ellen¡¯s voice was weak. She must have reached her limit.

    ¡°Ellen, it might be best if you go to bed. So can we talk about what you have done tomorrow.¡±

    ¡°We were simply selling your sister¡¯s soul to Lucifer himself.¡± Alice was just about to rise and help Ellen to bed when ¡°that woman¡± just had to open her mouth. Rambling nonsense that didn¡¯t make Alice feel any better about that they had been out. There was no chance that Alice could be amused by a comment like that, especially not now.

    ¡°Jill helped me, do a thing. So please don¡¯t look at her like that, Alice Morfine.¡± Ellen noticed Alice¡¯s spiteful glares aimed for Jill.

    ¡°Morphine, the painkiller?¡± Chris looked really surprised when Alice questioned her sister.

    ¡°Morphine shall also be calming, and it¡¯s spelt with ¡°F¡± instead of ¡°PH¡±. So it¡¯s different.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about Ellen?¡± Alice understood that Ellen was playing with the word, but couldn¡¯t understand what she meant.

    ¡°Simply said, we are now citizens, and we are so calming that our family name is Morfine. With ¡°F¡±.¡±

    After the short explanation so was she finally following what Ellen meant. She had been out to register them as citizens and a family. She had been doing a really wonderful thing and then been celebrating it.

    Alice hadn¡¯t been wrong to think highly of her beloved sister. She could never ever have gotten a better sister.

    ¡°Then I think we all should do some more celebration.¡± Jill let go of Ellen, shouted and went to pick up some wine.

    Ellen smiled, collapsed and passed out.

    Alice tried to help Ellen. She hadn¡¯t been wrong before, there was no chance she could trust ¡°that woman¡±. Ever.

    They had to move out so soon they could, so Alice really could protect her beloved sister. Protect her sister, protect Ellen. Far, far away from ¡°that woman¡±.

 chapter 14

    The sun shined outside. With an unforgiving strength.

    Ellen felt sick, she felt weak. What had really happened during the time she and Jill were drinking? If she would go after how her head felt like, she had most probably been hit by a big sized truck.

    It had been a really bad idea to keep up to Jill¡¯s pace. It was the first and hopefully the last time she had done something like that.

    How had she come to bed? She had a vague memory of that Chris already had gone to bed, and Alice must have done something else. At least she hadn¡¯t been interacting with them.

    Another vague memory appeared.

    Hadn¡¯t she and Jill walked out to talk with Lilly? It had been something they would talk with her about.

    It must have been a dream, it really had to be a dream. Otherwise it would mean that a scene she saw in her mind was true. A scene there both Jill and Lilly had been cuddling Ellen. It really had to be a dream, it really has to be a messed up dream. But if it would turn to be right, that would mean they had been outside. Which meant it easily could have happened more.

    She remembered a big building, and it happened something inside. Both she and Jill were glad?..

    She had become a citizen, that was what had happened. She remembered it clearly, but couldn¡¯t remember the new name she picked. She remembered she talked something about ¡°drugs¡±. She couldn¡¯t, right? She really couldn¡¯t have picked that as a name right? She hadn¡¯t and would never do that, right. Please right?

    <hr>

    ¡°So you have finally decided to become a citizen?¡±

    Alice was glad to share the news with Lilly, silently still holding on to her high thoughts about Ellen.

    ¡°Yes. I and my sister finally become citizens.¡±

    ¡°That is great, then we have to change the sigh so others can see that you also are working here.¡±

    Lilly was quick to check the calendar.

    She needs to ask for help to pick down the sign, and she would use her free time to get help with that. By some unknown reason so did she to want to have it done so soon it could be done.

    ¡°How comes it was this sudden change in your and little Ellen¡¯s mind?¡±

    Alice explained that they all had been drinking and out of nowhere decided to do it. It did sound much better with Alice version than if she would have told the true story behind it.

    They drank, Alice passed out. Ellen decided to do it for some strange reasons and then continue to drink with Jill until she also passed out. It really didn¡¯t sound as good at all.

    Alice had just finished giving Lilly the reason when her first patient arrived for the day.

    ¡°Good day, I am Alice and are the one that will give you the treatment.¡±

    Lilly stopped her in the middle of the presentation.

    ¡°Pardon Alice. As a citizen  so should you present yourself as ¡°Doctor Morfine¡± instead of only your first name.¡±

    Doctor, what title sounded weird in her ears. But she has to talk with Lilly about it later on.

    ¡°Oki, I am ¡°doctor Morfine and are the one the one that will give you the treatment.¡±

    It really did sound strange, but it was something that she could grow used to.

    ¡°So you have some strong medicines at your office?¡±

    It was another calm day at the clinic, so they had once again taken their places around a table and drank some tea. This day talking about medications.

    In comparison to Alice and Ellen last world so was this world underdeveloped in the medical area. Which maybe was something that Alice could use for her own winning. Not that she would try to corrupt the world, but she maybe could get some extra money that Ellen could use for her works.

    ¡°Yes. I have strong medications at my office. All from normal painkillers to morphine.¡±

    To morphine? ¡°Is there nothing stronger than morphine?¡±

    In the other world so had there once been heroin. A chemically cleaned substance from morphine.

    ¡°Morphine is really strong and is the strongest there is.¡±

    Lilly looked confused at her, probably still not knowing that she was from another world. If it hadn¡¯t been that Taija had told her about it and she only acted stupid.

    ¡°Sorry, I am just wondering. I don¡¯t know much about medication.

    Did she really need to tell Lilly that? Sure, she had asked but Alice had only been working as a maid before coming to the clinic. And most of it hadn¡¯t even been work, but an ordinary life.

    Lilly locked the door to the clinic when they were done for the day.

    ¡°So, let us go and get the sign done.¡± She dragged Alice along.

    ¡°Wait, you want me to follow?¡±

    She didn¡¯t want to follow and wait for the sign to be done. She just wanted to get home and see how Ellen was doing. Her beloved sister had after all come home the day earlier, horribly intoxicated after a night and day out with ¡°that woman¡±. And Ellen was still sleeping when Alice went to the clinic, so she really did want to know how her beloved sister was feeling.

    Lilly didn¡¯t bend for what Alice wanted. She had already decided that Alice would follow and didn¡¯t take no for an answer.

    ¡°So, is there someone you like?¡±

    She started a conversation at the sign shop. Or rather, she tried to spy into Alice private life. ¡°No, there is not anyone I like.¡± And even if there were, so were there no reason for Alice to tell her. Not only because she wanted to keep it to herself, but she didn¡¯t even want to talk with Lilly for the moment.

    ¡°Do Lilly have someone you like?¡±

    Please just let the time pass by quickly, so she just could get home to Ellen.

    Their conversation didn¡¯t lead a where, and could hardly be called a conversation. Both of them only gave very short answers to each other¡¯s questions, nothing more nothing less.

    Fortunately it didn¡¯t take a very long time for the sight to be done. It was after all only some letters that would be put in place. ¡°Doctor Morfine¡±, spelt out below Lilly¡¯s name.

    It looked surprisingly good, except that the title ¡°doctor¡± was connected to her name. But, once again, so was probably only a problem until she got used to it.

    It had to be something wrong with the citizen of the neitherworlds. Only a few days after they had got the new sign up, so was the patients systematic increasing. And everyone seemed to be more comfortable with the treatment. Almost as if they didn¡¯t seem to have trusted her earlier.

    And the price that she once had set and got complains about being too high, was now being too cheap. At least as some of the patients wanted to express it.

    ¡°You are a citizen, so it should have a higher price.¡± It was one of the kinds of comments she got about the price for the treatment.

    <hr>

    Ellen had been sent out by Chris to change a couple of gears and cogs in a customer¡¯s house.

    He had been using her help from time to time with easy works like this, which she didn¡¯t mind at all. Since it gave her some more time to think about other things, and especially the dream that involved Jill and ¡°that woman¡±. Ellen had talked with Jill about the dream and asked if it had happened. Only to be met by amused laughter. So she hadn¡¯t helped to answer that question, or even did try to answer it.

    But at least there was still hope that it only was a dream, even if it didn¡¯t change the fact that she still felt slightly embarrassed close to Jill because if it.

    ¡°I am really grateful that you could finish the work so soon.¡±

    For being a person of the higher class, so was the customer very nice. In differences from some Ellen had met before.

    ¡°You are welcome. It was only some cogs that needed to be changed, so it¡äs an easy job.¡±

    If all of the higher class would have acted like her, Ellen wouldn¡¯t be holding any bad thoughts at all against them.

    Beginning her walk back to Chris shop she thought through that she and Alice had become citizens. She was really grateful that she had got some common sense even if she was so wasted as she were during that time. Sure she could have picked a better name, but it was still better than the name she dreamed that she had picked.

    Morfine, since she had heard that she and her sister had a calming effect at some. But why did she thought it was good and pick a name after a drug in the end?

    Still thinking she noticed a specific person in the crowd. The man that she did really hate by her whole heart. Taija¡¯s fianc¨¦. He seemed to be flirting with yet another woman. Hadn¡¯t he learned how bad it could go after Ellen had knocked him out cold?

    She wouldn¡¯t have minded beating him some more after what he did to her. She wouldn¡¯t even have hesitated to do it now, but she had been too surprised for doing it when it happened.

    By some reason he noticed and recognized her, quickly leading the new woman deeper into the crowd. He seemed to be afraid of her, not that Ellen could blame a fig like him for it. He had all rights to be afraid, very afraid.

    Wouldn¡¯t it have been so many people there, so would Ellen have interrupted his disgusting affair. And would she have noticed him in an alley without anyone around, she would have taken the chance to beat some sense into him. At least that was what she wanted to do, but the real question would have been if she would have done it.

    ¡°I am back!¡± Ellen walked into the shop, shouting so Chris would know even if he wasn¡¯t behind the counter. But he was behind the counter this time, talking with Thom.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it the little baby girl that comes back?¡±

    Thom was still calling her that. She had even asked him to not do it since she wasn¡¯t a baby girl, but he didn¡¯t even bother to listen at her request.

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    She had just given a short rapport of how the work had gone and put down the tools close to the counter.

    ¡°We are talking about how well it goes for doctor Morfine, your sister.¡±

    It somehow sounded wrong that they called her a doctor. She couldn¡¯t be a doctor without studies, right. Or wasn¡¯t it necessarily in the neitherworlds? Could anyone that help others call themselves a doctor? Might be something that she needed to ask Jill about.

    ¡°She has got much more work to do.¡± Chris could easily say that again. Only two days after Ellen and Alice had become citizens so had it come more people that wished treatment from her. Since then she had started to come home later.

    It was strange that it could be like that only by a simple reason as they become citizens. Maybe most of the people in the city were very narrow-minded and only trusted people that were like themselves.

    ¡°I wonder how long that will be?¡± It couldn¡¯t hold on like that forever, right?

    According to Chris and Thom so wouldn¡¯t it be surprising if it stayed like that for a very long time. Mostly since Alice had succeeded with something that no other had. So there wouldn¡¯t be anywhere they could get the same treatment, at least for quite some time.

    Ellen was out in the town again, this time walking toward Chris¡¯s house. He didn¡¯t have more work to her, at least for now. Which didn¡¯t feel good. She needed to make sure that they moved out of Chris¡¯s house. Not only because it would be a pain to be alone with Jill from time to time because of the dream. But she had also noticed that Alice gave Jill very mean glares from time to time, as if she by some strange reason despite her.

    So the sooner the moved out the better. Otherwise there could be a chance that the ¡°little princess¡± took a step to far, which surprisingly hadn¡¯t happened yet.

    ¡°Are you out for a walk sister?¡±

    Yet another person that Ellen didn¡¯t want to meet.

    ¡°Yes. I am waking back to the house after finishing the work for Chris.¡±

    After their drunk adventure so had Jill started to call her sister. Which made Ellen more worried if the dream really had occurred.

    ¡°I see. By the way, have your sister forgiven you for the little adventure we did?¡±

    ¡°She did say that she has forgiven me, but it really doesn¡¯t feel that way.¡± Please don¡¯t call it an adventure. It made Ellen feel embarrassed again. An adventure made it sound that she learned something new with Jill, in this case so was it something that she really didn¡¯t want to learn. Something that not even should be said.

    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look so uncomfortable, I had a really good time and hope you also had a good time.¡±

    Jill giggled and started to search her bag, picking up a pipe. Long almost Asian looking pipe, or at least Ellen thought so.

    ¡°How will you make your sister forgive you?¡± Jill filled the cup of the pipe with tobacco while talking.

    ¡°I think the best way is to do something for her.¡± Words would probably have no effect at the ¡°little princess¡±, so the best alternative would probably be to do something for her.

    ¡°In that case, will you do something for her at the clinic. Or will you talk with her about a cheap house and then install gears there when you have bought it?¡±

    Both ideas from Jill sounded great. But since they probably didn¡¯t have enough money for a house yet, so would it probably be best if she did something that could help her at the clinic.

    ¡°Want a taste before we go there?¡±

    Jill offered her the pipe, but Ellen declined. She didn¡¯t smoke, so it would probably only taste bad.

    ¡°Then let us go, I would like to see the clinic.¡± Putting the pipe away, the began to walk toward the clinic.

    It was really good that Jill followed her there, otherwise so wouldn¡¯t she have found the clinic. Not that she never had been there before, but she had forgotten the way after all that had happened. And it was all that fat bowling ball¡¯s fault since he made a great mess around that time.

    Almost in front of the clinic, Ellen did start to recognize the area.

    This was great, if she could do something for Alice she would be doing it without hesitation. Even prepared to build another ¡°angel¡± if it was needed.

    A girl with catlike features stood in front of the clinic, dressed in worn-out clothes and looking lost. At a closer look, so it wasn¡¯t only the clothes that looked worn out. Her hair and the girl herself looked like she had been suffering through a lot.

    ¡°Can I help you with something?¡± Ellen couldn¡¯t leave the girl alone, if the girl was lost or something so could Ellen at least try to help.

    ¡°I am searching for a clinic that shall be around here somewhere.¡±

    The girl¡¯s eyes looked horrifically tired, like if she had cried for days.

    ¡°If you are searching for a clinic run by Lilly Lillium and Alice. This is the place.¡± Jill forgot that Alice had a last name, but of course it could easily happen since they hadn¡¯t hold it for long.

    ¡°Alice? I think it might be her that I want to meet.¡±

    The girl followed them into the clinic while small talking with them. For looking so small and worn out, she was surprisingly outgoing.

    It turned out that her name was Lapin, and she had apparently been in touch with the clinic earlier.

    ¡°Good day Ellen, what can I help you with?¡± Alice still talked very different in comparing with how she did talk at home. At the clinic she almost sounded, well-behaved?

    ¡°I have a small thing that I want to ask, but to start with so are there a visitor here.¡±

    Lapin walked up in front of her, slowly and carefully.

    ¡°Is there a possibility to get help again?¡± She did sound and looked really ashamed while talking.

    Again, had the girl been there before? Had she got help from Alice before?

    ¡°I am glad to see that you are fine Lapin. May I ask why you stopped coming here?¡±

    It turned out that the cat had gone through something, lost an important friend and then fallen back to her crystal addiction. After that so had she been so ashamed that she didn¡¯t come back.

    Crystal addiction, as the kind of crystals that Jack made? The kind of crystal that Ellen helped to make stronger.

    If Alice didn¡¯t want to help the poor girl, so would Ellen have to step in. It was after all kind of her fault that the girl had relapsed. She was the one that made them stronger, so she had some responsibility try to help those that had fallen ill because of it.

    ¡°Do you really want to kick the addiction this time, by whole your heart?¡±

    It was not often Alice sounded that serious, not to mention that she glared at the girl as if she wanted to pierce her soul.

    ¡°I promise, I really want to kick it. I have even taken some distance from my friends that still takes those shines.¡± She was really serious. Still showing small signs that she was uncomfortable, but who wouldn¡¯t when taking a step into suffering.

    Lapin followed Alice into the room where the machine was. After a short time so was Alice helping the girl out and to a chair where she could recover some more.

    ¡°So, what do you want to ask Ellen?¡± Alice walked up to Ellen again with a big smile.

    ¡°After what happened when I was drunk that day, I feel that I need to do something for you.¡±

    ¡°You isn¡¯t accepting that I forgive you and feel that you have to do something for me to accept it. You don¡¯t need to do something for me, it was most probably not your fault that it all happened.¡± Her angry glares were clearing what she meant. She wanted to point out that it had all been Jill¡¯s fault, and right off tried to kill her with her glares.

    ¡°But of course, if you really want to do. There is something I would like to ask you do for me.¡±

    <hr>

    ¡°How are you feeling Lapin?¡±

    Lapin had recovered enough and joined Alice behind the counter. ¡°I am feelin¡¯ kinda good. Or at least I am not carvin¡¯ for the crystals.¡±

    For being so ashamed before, so was she very open about the addiction again. But it could be because of the ¡°angel¡±.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know that you were a doctor.¡±

    Just as when Lilly called her a doctor, it didn¡¯t feel right. She hadn¡¯t been studied medication or anything like that, so it still felt wrong for her to hold that title. Even if Lilly had told her that a doctor was one that treated those that needed it, and that was exactly what Alice did. So she was a doctor, even if her area had nothing to do with treating the body itself.

    ¡°It came with that I and my sister became citizens.¡± She cut it very short, but it was enough to answer Lapin¡¯s question.

    ¡°You are lucky to been able to become citizens.¡± Her voice was filled with jealousy. Didn¡¯t she only need to wait until she had kicked that addiction and got a job before she could become a citizen? Maybe it was too far away for her to see or even believe it.

    Back in Chris house so had everyone else been eating already and was sitting in the living room talking.

    Alice was all alone in the kitchen as she warmed her food. Not that she felt alone, but it could be so much nicer to have someone to talk with.

    ¡°Good evening Alice.¡±

    As long it wasn¡¯t ¡°that woman¡± that kept her company.

    ¡°Evening Jill.¡± There was no need to even greet her proper or even looking at her. She was a no good woman, so Alice really didn¡¯t feel that she needed to pay her any attention.

    ¡°Do you hate me because I and your sister went out on an adventure and left you behind?¡±

    If it only would have been that easy so wouldn¡¯t it have big this big deal.

    ¡°No.¡± Get it, don¡¯t even try to be friendly. Alice didn¡¯t need to talk with the one giving her beloved sister some bad habits.

    After warming the food she took her place around the table, on the opposite side of ¡°that woman¡±. That apparently hadn¡¯t caught up to what Alice wanted to have said.

    ¡°You know that you won¡¯t hate me less only by ignoring me.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡±

    Did she need to spell it out for that idiot? She didn¡¯t like her, and that was it.

    ¡°I was behind your sister when you asked her to make a machine that drags extracts out of plants.¡±

    ¡°I know, I saw you.¡±

    ¡°Do you know which plant it will drag the extract out of. Or would you like to get help from a traveller?¡±

    Jill finally caught her attention. She had ideas of what she wanted, but not how to get it. And the plant she wanted, that was something she didn¡¯t know about yet. She had plans to search through books and ask around. But it could go just as well by asking ¡°that woman¡±. If she knew something that could be useful, that was.

    ¡°Do you know what you want?¡± Jill seemed to be serious about her offer.

    ¡°I know the effects of what I want, but not how to get it.¡±

    As payment for the treatment that Lapin achieved, so was she working behind the counter at the clinic. Or rather, she tried to work. Withdrawal symptoms was a big problem, not to mention that she could either read or write. It was already a wonder that Alice hadn¡¯t thrown her out since there had been some problems. Even if Lilly tried to help the girl, which only went so-so. But at least it took a little weight off Alice¡¯s shoulders.

    It had been around two weeks since the number of patients started to increase, and it was still increasing. Enough to force Alice to ask for an extra key to the clinic so Lilly didn¡¯t need to wait for Alice when she was forced to work over. It was one pain that she could save Lilly from.

    ¡°Alice, are you making sure to not overworking yourself.¡± Lilly kept an eye at her like a worried mother. Not that Alice dislikes it, but it wasn¡¯t necessary. It was only a waste of emotions, vaulted emotions. That Alice couldn¡¯t feel. If it only would have been the same thing about bothering thoughts.

    <hr>

    In Chris¡¯s workshop so had Ellen done some small adjusts at the new machine that Alice had asked her to make.

    A machine that somehow reminded her of the one that they now called ¡°angel¡±. But this machine was very special. Ellen would have dropped the project after her sister had told her it would be used to create something stronger than morphine. If it wouldn¡¯t have been that Ellen did the simple mistake to promise to create it, no matter what.

    ¡°That should be it.¡±

    She turned to Jill that had a bunch of strange flowers. It was those the purifying gears would pull the extract from. A flower that Jill helped them getting in a horrible quick way. She didn¡¯t tell them how, but she had got help from a friend she said. May not Jill be doing something bad and illegal. It was already enough that she voluntary tried the extract for them, which both Ellen and Alice had been protesting about. But yet she got her will through in the end.

    ¡°I think it looks good.¡±

    Jill mixed it with water and injected it, looking like a functional junkie. The dose Jill took was only the half of morphine that Lilly would give. Alice thought it was best done like that since she tried to get something stronger than the other.

    They had to find what they were searching for to ¡°the princess¡±. Jill lightly cut her body to see how much she felt, which apparently wasn¡¯t any at all. A side effect with that she took it was that she had a hard time to even stand up. But she was frightening happy through it all. May that thing never get into the wrong hand.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it will only be doctors that will get their hands at it. So there will be no one there isn¡¯t in need that will get it.¡±

    Jill was fully recovered and spoke to calm Ellen.

    ¡°She got a point, and they will hold even close to it since it¡¯s so strong.¡± Chris had joined them for some drinking in the living room.

    ¡°I really hope so.¡± Ellen still wasn¡¯t sure. The same thing had happened in the other world, and there it didn¡¯t matter how tight they hold to it.

    ¡°Pardon!¡± Someone screamed while entering the house. Ellen was closest to the door, so it did falls upon her to and check it.

    Alice was in the door opening and lending at poor little Lapin, wasted enough to not knowing which side was her behind.

    ¡°What has happened here?¡± She ran to help to support her sister, offering Lapin in as she leads Alice.

    ¡°Ellen, I am glad to have a sister like you.¡± Alice gave her a weak hug as they walked.

    They were all surprised to see Alice like that.

    According to Lapin so had Lilly first off, made sure that they didn¡¯t have any work the next day. Then she had taken them all to a bar where she treated them at some drinks. Nothing stronger than normal, but it had apparently bit Alice very hard. And only Alice.

    ¡°It didn¡¯t hit me that hard sister.¡± Alice hadn¡¯t let go of Ellen when they took their place on the sofa.

    ¡°Little miss, why don¡¯t you stay for a drink?¡±

    Both Jill and Chris insisted that the little cat would stay for one or a couple of drinks, even offering her a place to sleep if it got too late. They couldn¡¯t after all send out a fragile girl in the middle of the night.

    Lapin was hesitating at first but still choose to keep them company in the end, after some pressure.

    They had been drinking and small talking half the night away when Chris decided that it was enough for everyone. He had learned the hard way that at least Jill easily could drink the whole night away.

    Alice that had been hugging Ellen as if she was glued to her sister, suddenly let go of her sister at the middle of the floor when they headed toward their room. Crying rivers, screaming. Without a reason or likewise.

 chapter 15

    Alice was crying, crying her tears out. She couldn¡¯t understand why, but she wanted to know why.

    She was still not holding any emotions, yet she did cry like that.

    ¡°Ellen, why am I crying?¡±

    As if Ellen would know. If there was anyone that would now, it was herself. And only herself.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, has it happened anything Alice?¡±

    Had it happened anything? She had been worried about things, thoughts had been bothering her. But it couldn¡¯t be this bad, there was at least no of the thought that she could remember for the moment.

    Had anything happened when Lilly dragged her along to the bar? Had it been anything that happened together with Lapin that made her this sad? There was no chance she could know. Alice herself didn¡¯t know.

    ¡°Miss Alice, is there somethin¡¯ wrong. Do you want me to go and get Miss Lillium?¡±

    ¡°There is no need for you to do that.¡± Not only would it be a pain if anyone else saw her clinging to her sister like an overgrown crying baby. And there was also nothing that Lilly could do to help her. Whatever the reason for her crying like that was, so wasn¡¯t it physical.

    ¡°How about we let little Alice sleep, so can she and her sister talk about it tomorrow when she¡¯s sober. Or they can talk about it until they fall asleep.¡± For once, it sounded like Jill had a good idea. That woman might only be bad because of her bad habits.

    Ellen helped Alice undress and getting to bed.

    ¡°Ellen. Am I a bother to you?¡± Alice noticed herself that she did sound strangely weak as she spoke and hold her beloved sisters hand in a firm grip.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t find you as a bother.¡± Ellen gave her a tight hug. That would mean that Ellen didn¡¯t lie, right. Her beloved sister wouldn¡¯t lie to her, she couldn¡¯t lie to her right?

    But wouldn¡¯t that mean that Alice shouldn¡¯t lie to her beloved sister?

    ¡°Ellen, will you be angry at me?¡± She shouldn¡¯t lie to her beloved sister.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know if I don¡¯t know what it¡¯s about.¡±

    ¡°I have been lying when I said that I was fine after the incident. I don¡¯t feel any emotions, and has only been faking it since it happened.¡± Alice hugged her tighter. She was a good sister telling her the truth, right? Ellen couldn¡¯t be mad at her when she did the right thing.

    Wrong. Ellen was angry at her for not telling the truth earlier. But it couldn¡¯t matter that much for Ellen, she was still by her side. Sure she maybe should have told her earlier, but it could still not be that bad. At least Ellen wasn¡¯t angry for so long, but she wanted to talk more about it at another moment. And as the wonderful sister she was, she didn¡¯t leave Alice¡¯s side for even a second.

    Stressed Alice looked around herself, nothing but a black void. Ellen wasn¡¯t there. Not her, not anyone else in the house or anyone at all.

    ¡°Are you back to make me suffer again?¡± The voice came from a shadow-like creature, slightly visible in the void. Yet Alice recognised the figure. She was one of the most important persons that had supported her when Ellen had died and Jack been arrested. She had been a reason for Alice to live on for a while longer.

    ¡°Are you ignoring me again?¡±

    Alice did never ignore her. She tried to tell her, but there were no words that rolled over her lips.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you know that she did only use you?¡± There was another one behind her. No, there was many of them. Surrounding her.

    Alice would never use anyone. She has never been meaning to use anyone, it hasn¡¯t been anything she wished for even once.

    ¡°At the very least you did us the favour and killed herself.¡± There was still no words that left her mouth as she wanted to protest. Sure she had been happy to finally meet her beloved sister again, but there was still no good that she had taken her own life.

    ¡°Using people, only thinking about yourself. That¡¯s the ¡°small princess¡± that we all  are despising.¡±

    She wanted to scream at them when they all agreed. That was not how she was, she was not only thinking about herself.

    They faded away, leaving Alice scared with their words. Their false and disgusting words. Pure lies, it was all pure lies. That wasn¡¯t at all how Alice was.

    ¡°They didn¡¯t tell the truth, right Alice?¡± Sain, She was there. And questioned if their words were true? Hadn¡¯t she shown the opposite during the time they worked together?

    ¡°How can you question that when you know the truth?!¡± Is what she wanted to say, but¡­ She did scream?

    Alice¡¯s voice had come back, just when she tried her hardest to force it out. Making her scream at Sain instead of asking her in a normal tone.

    Sain took a couple of steps back, looking terrified at Alice. ¡°So that is the kind of person you are, I didn¡¯t know.¡±

    It was a misunderstanding. Sain had misunderstood her, she wasn¡¯t like that at all. She was a kind and good person, and not bad like the other before. But before Alice got the chance to explain anything so had Sain faded into the void. Why did that happen to her?

    ¡°So that is the true colours of our little Alice.¡±

    Please, not that woman now. Really not now. It wasn¡¯t only Jill that had joined her in the horrible void. It was also Chris, Lilly and Lapin.

    ¡°Nothing those people said was true, right miss Alice?¡±

    ¡°They all agreed to it and she screamed at the fox for question her. I would guess that is the true face of her.¡± Jill answered Lapin¡¯s question with a serious voice.

    ¡°Little cat, watch out so ¡°that evil princess¡± ain¡¯t using you.¡±

    ¡°I would never try to use any of you.¡± Couldn¡¯t Jill just zip it instead of pushing Alice downward?

    ¡°So you are not using Lapin to work behind the counter to save some small coins instead of hiring a real worker?¡± Why was even Lilly against her? She out of everyone would know that Lapin was allowed to work because she wanted to do it, and also because she couldn¡¯t pay for the treatment. But that had been her own idea.

    ¡°Miss Alice can¡¯t use me in a bad way for that. She saved me and I am offering her my heart and body.¡±

    ¡°Then we will remember that the day she results in your death.¡±

    How could Lilly even say something like that? And how could Chris that had been silent all the time come up with such absurd comment? It was all absurd, nothing was like it should be. Something was wrong, really wrong.

    ¡°Alice, do you remember me?¡±

    Taija? Taija was behind her. And of course she remembered her, not only because of all she had done for both Alice and Ellen. But she had also supported Alice when she had a hard time to swallow that Ellen started studying to become a cog technician.

    ¡°Do you still remember me if you don¡¯t see me?¡± She covered Alice¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Of course I still remember you.¡± Why would she forget Taija when she didn¡¯t saw her?

    ¡°Please do remember me. Please.¡± Taija moved her hands so Alice could see again. Giving her a bitter smile before slowly fading away.

    <hr>

    Ellen felt horribly tired. It was the first time ever she had slept that unregulated. Time after time had she woke up after dreaming bad dreams about how what she had created hurt her sister. She had become relieved when she saw her sister beside her in the bed, peacefully sleeping. Which had allowed her to fall asleep again, but the same pattern had repeated itself again.

    ¡°You look horrible sister.¡± Jill was sitting in the kitchen and really knew how to charm another girl.

    No, she wasn¡¯t allowed to greet her good morning with the fist.

    ¡°Yes, I am kind of tired.¡± Ellen went straight to the coffee and poured up a cup. She needed it to wake up some more after the horrible night.

    ¡°Was you too worried about your sister to be able to sleep as you should?¡±

    ¡°No. It was some bad dreams that messed with my sleep. Which of course can be because it was the first time Alice had been THAT intoxicated.¡± It could have been a reason that she had that many bad dreams, but it would be a bother to tell Jill about it.

    Ellen took a sip of her coffee before realising that Lapin wasn¡¯t there, yet she had been staying there for the night. According to Jill so had Lapin left when they got up, after a wonderful night together. Which off Ellen didn¡¯t take the ¡°wonderful night together¡± part seriously. It was after all no chance she could take Jill¡¯s word literary. Not that Ellen could care less if anything happened between them. It would be only their problem, unless it wouldn¡¯t turn out that Jill had forced it upon poor Lapin. Then it most probably would be a greater problem for her.

    Their conversation as usually turned in to a lot of shit chatting about everyday things.

    The talk got interrupted first when it got closer to afternoon, by Alice that finally had woke up.

    ¡°How are you feeling Alice?¡±

    No answer. Either she didn¡¯t hear or she was ignoring her older sister. Walking over and getting a glass, filling it. And drinking it just as fast.

    ¡°I am feeling better now Ellen. Thanks for taking care of me last evening.¡±

    Ellen still didn¡¯t know why Alice acted as she did last evening, but it could be that the alcohol got the better of her. Just like Jill said. Which it had to be, it couldn¡¯t be that she became emotionally unstable. At least if it was true as she said the last night, that she doesn¡¯t feel emotions anymore.

    ¡°By the way, how does it goes with the extract?¡±

    Of course it was the first thing that Alice had to think about. Wouldn¡¯t it had better if she had been worried about herself to start with. Or was she an idiot that first of all thought with the wallet?

    ¡°We have succeeded to get an extract that is strong, it¡¯s only half the amount as the other that is needed.¡±

    Ellen still didn¡¯t like the idea of that they produced it, but hopefully the doctors would hold tight to it as Jill and Chris said.

    ¡°Do we have enough to both send to a doctor and use to take a patent at it?¡±

    ¡°We should have enough, I will also give you information about how to contact a supplier. So you can get more of the plant until you can grow it yourself.¡±''

    May the contact not be a shady person. Alice doesn¡¯t need to get involved with anything bad more than necessary.

    Alice had got what she needed and used her free day to take patent at it and everything else she would.

    Ellen and Jill were still sitting in Chris¡¯s house, but they had moved into the living room.

    ¡°Do you think that extract will lead to anything good?¡±

    The worried wouldn¡¯t let go of Ellen. Had she been a part of something that would ruin the life for thousands of people? Sure what she had been a part of creating was meant to be medication, so it was very different those crystals. The extract was only created to help others, while the crystals were simply made to earn money and making people addicted to it.

    ¡°I think so. At least it isn¡¯t the same as those crystals.¡±

    Ellen couldn¡¯t deny that. Sure both could most probably be abused, but the extra t wasn¡¯t meant to circulate at the street.

    ¡°The extract is more relaxing, and if it comes out at the street so won¡¯t the addicted make a fuzz before they fall.¡±

    Ellen looked surprised at Jill. Did she just try to paint up a picture if that the addicted would be calmer before they ¡°fall¡±? Like it was a good thing?

    ¡°Can you please tell me what you mean.¡± She really must have misunderstood what Jill wanted to have said. Jill was a good person so there must have been a misunderstanding.

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.¡°I mean. If anyone gets addicted to it, so will they not make a fuzz like those that are addicted to crystals does.¡±

    She hadn¡¯t misunderstood anything. Jill had really expressed it that way, as if she held a grudge toward mankind. Even though she was one herself.

    ¡°Don`t look so surprised sister. I think even you know the world is filled with idiots. And I have been visiting places where they have been able to live a normal life even if they were addicted to something similar.¡±

    Ellen couldn¡¯t deny that the world was filled with idiots, but found it hard that Jill had found a place like that.

    ¡°How can they live a normal life while addicted?¡±

    Jill didn¡¯t know really how the community was built to succeed with something like that, but would to try finding that out next time she was there. Which easily could be anytime she was close by.

    The conversation leads into that Jill told small stories of lands and cities she had visited. Answering all question that Ellen had, which of those she didn¡¯t know she still tried to answer as good she could.

    ¡°Of course I will see if I can find the answers at some more questions while at my next travel.¡±

    ¡°So, when will you travel next time Jill?¡±

    ¡°I will be leaving tomorrow.¡±

    Couldn¡¯t she have told Ellen that a little earlier? Tomorrow was far to soon, she could have given her a few days to swallow that Jill was leaving. There was so much that she wanted to know about Jill¡¯s journeys.

    ¡°Don¡¯t look so sad, I promise you that I will be back with new stories and knowledge.¡±

    Even with a promise like that so was it still too soon.

    Alice joined and listened to Jill¡¯s stories when she came back after her tasks. She didn¡¯t seem to mind the fact that Jill would be leaving. But what else could be expected from a ¡°princess¡± like her? Never cares about anything else than only what she finds interesting herself.

    Ellen sat alone in Chris¡¯s workshop.

    She had never wished more that Chris would have got a job to her, but she hadn¡¯t been that lucky.

    Ellen had got up earlier than usual that day to say bye to Jill before she began her journey, but it turned out that she had left during the night instead of the morning. Didn¡¯t she want to meet Ellen before the journey?

    Walking over to the machine she changed the box containing the extract. Had it always been this deserted in the house while Chris and Alice had left? In that case, it hadn¡¯t been anything that she ever had reacted to earlier.

    <hr>

    Alice looked out the window.

    How was Ellen doing? It had been two days since ¡°that woman¡± left, and Ellen had seemed to be down then. Had Jill really grown that close to her sister during the time they had been living there? Sure they had spent much time together in the house. But did Ellen really needed to miss the woman that gave her a lot of bad habits? ¡°That woman¡± had almost acted like if she wanted to destroy her beloved sister, so she wasn¡¯t good for Ellen.

    ¡°Are you thinkin¡¯ on somethin¡¯ miss Alice?¡± Lapin had walked up to her without her noticing and surprised her.

    ¡°I am only thinking a little about my sister.¡±

    ¡°It hasn¡¯t happened your sister anythin¡¯, right?¡±

    Alice explained that Jill had left and that Ellen now was sitting at home, all alone. Leaving out the fact that Ellen seemed to be down. Just as Ellen hadn¡¯t told anyone about the secret that Alice didn¡¯t felt any emotions.

    ¡°If it is that you are worried your sister will get lonely and bored, wouldn¡¯t it be enough to buy her some books?¡± It was a really good thought by Lapin. Really innocent and cute, but it wouldn¡¯t be enough to satisfy Ellen.

    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you create some good work for Ellen?¡±

    Create some good work for her? How would she be able to do that, and what kind of work should that have been. The only work she really had created for her sister was to build the machine that pulled the extract now called HM out of the plants. And she had no more ideas like that.

    ¡°I mean, if you want to move, why don¡¯t you buy a house that Ellen can install some gears in?¡± Lilly must have seen how lost Alice was after the first comment and decided to join in. The idea didn¡¯t sound like a bad idea. Even if the biggest problem in Chris¡¯s house had been solved, so couldn¡¯t they live there forever.

    ¡°That sounds good, but I don¡¯t know if we have to money to buy a house.¡±

    That was the only problem that could set a halt to the idea. Alice didn¡¯t know how much they had in the bank. Sure she had been there and deposited money from time to time, but she couldn¡¯t remember the balance.

    ¡°Isn`t it only to go over there then and ask before you look at houses.¡±

    ¡°Of course I will follow you there and help you find a good house.¡± Lilly was a too kind person, it wasn¡¯t the first and most certainly not the last time she helped Alice.

    Both Alice and Lilly had a spot in the middle of the day when no one of them had any patients. So they would use that time to do the buying. Lapin offered herself to stay at the clinic so they didn¡¯t need to lock, and so could she help visitors to book a time.

    There had been many patients lately, and there had been three doctors that had left orders at HM, so there should be some money she could use.

    Alice sent out her last patient for the moment. Lilly was still at her office with her patient, so it was only for Alice to wait.

    Lapin Eyed though the calendar, almost as if she searched for something.

    ¡°Searching for something Lapin?¡± The cat threw the book close and look worried at Alice.

    ¡°No. Not really¡­¡± She didn¡¯t seem to be honest, so Alice had to pressure her a little bit to make sure that she wasn¡¯t up for anything bad. Not that Alice suspected her for anything, but better sure than sorry.

    Slightly ashamed Lapin spills out that she still problem with some words, so she was searching for words she didn¡¯t know and might need to ask about.

    ¡°I am glad that you are trying your best at the work.¡± Alice tried to praise her, but she was trying to push it away by telling that it was the least she could do after Alice had helped her kicking the addiction. Yet it seemed like some of the praise reached through to her. Little Lapin was blushing while trying to sound very serious.

    Which reminded Alice of how Lapin had reacted the first time she got paid. She had first been thinking that it was a simple joke,  trying to give back the money. But then Alice gave her the money and said it was payment for the work she had done, the poor girl had been so nervous that it had looked like she would collapse. Shaking and stuttering she had thanked for everything, now believing that they paid her to leave. It took much explanation to get everything straight, and in the end so had she been blushing and thanked as if she had got an important gift from her beloved one.

    ¡°Do you still enjoy your work here?¡± It was a question that needed to be asked. Even if she couldn¡¯t everything so was she learning quick and worked hard. So Alice would like to keep there as long she possibly could.

    It had been a strange day. It all started with that Alice had been thinking about her beloved sister. Then after that so had everything been flowing like water. Some good talk and some evidence that Lapin still tried to get better at her task. The bank and finding out how much her balance was. Reading about houses and look at some pictures of them. Finding a house that they dared to call ¡°more-or-less-ran-down¡± that Alice had fallen for, that also turned out to be their old house. That house wasn¡¯t run down, it could happen that it wasn¡¯t as beautiful like the other houses at the street. But it was nothing wrong with it.

    Alice tightened her grip around the key and document that proved they had bought the house. But it could have been a mistake to buy it. Jack could easily come back now and ruin the life of her beloved sister. May it not happen, Ellen didn¡¯t need that. By all sake, may it not happen.

    <hr>

    Ellen had been out in the city to try to find information about something ¡°new¡±.

    Someone had created a car driven by gears, or automobile as they wished to call it. She had asked some other cog technicians that she had got to know through Chris and Sour, but no one of them did know anything about this ¡°new¡± thing.

    Instead of running around like a curious cat so had Ellen decided to go back to Chris¡¯s workshop to draw some ideas of how it could work. Not that she found far too many flaws with her own ideas for it to ever work. But it only made the challenge greater.

    Alice had first acted that she had been interested in what Ellen was doing, but had then handed out a document and a key at the table. Telling her that it was to their old house, which needed to get some gears installed. A task she found Ellen fit for.

    ¡°So that is how it¡¯s, we will move out when I have fixed the house.¡±

    Of course they needed to tell Chris about it, it was after all his house his house that they would leave. Not a second too late, they had already been bothering him far too much during the time they had lived there.

    ¡°So it will be time for you to leave then?¡± Chris didn¡¯t seem to enjoy that he would get the house for himself. But of course Ellen couldn¡¯t blame him, it could be a similar feeling to hers when Jill left. So she could somehow feel his pain. Not that it somehow would change their decision.

    ¡°Yes, we will move out when I have installed and fixed everything in the house.¡±

    Ellen would finally be able to get her very own workshop, which wouldn¡¯t be so well equipped as the one in the mansion. But it would be her own.

    ¡°Then I expect there to be a small celebration when you move in there.¡±

    That was the spirit. Of course they would celebrate when they were moving in, even if it was their house to begin with.

    Ellen entered the house the very next day. A thick layer of dust told a story of how abandoned the house had been since the day they were thrown out. And every room sang a song of how happy she had been with Jack there. She would have loved to look over what needed to be done so she and Jack could have moved in together. Not that she hated to move in with Alice, but it would have been so much better if the had been the man of her love.

    Even if the house wasn¡¯t the most beautiful house on the street, so must it still have cost much. Which meant that Alice must earn kind of much money. She had even money to put out for everything they would need to buy. Maybe ¡°the princess¡± was earning enough to survive herself in the house. Ellen wouldn¡¯t mind living there from time to time, but it was tempting to get out at journeys as Jill did.

    See lands that she otherwise never would have got the possibility to see, getting a hold on some knowledge that she otherwise wouldn¡¯t even know about. Maybe even find Jack in an exotic land and fall in love all over again.

    Ellen violently shook her head. Even if it made her feel better so wasn¡¯t it time to daydream now. She needed to do what needed to be done. Alice would come to the house after she had finished her work and give her opinions on what needed to be done in the house. First that, then moving in. And first after those two steps were done so could Ellen start to plan her own next steps.

    A journey or a hunt for her beloved, it would come. It would come sometime after moving into this house, and not earlier.

 chapter 16

    It was almost a normal and boring day at the clinic, except that Alice holds Lapin¡¯s hand in an iron grip. Pulling her into the treatment room She looked with pleading eyes that begged to be saved at Lilly.

    Alice really did have high hopes about Lapin, so to give her a bigger role at the clinic she thought that Lapin could at least try to be an assistant. Which Lapin at first had thought to be a kind of joke, until Alice had given her a mischievous smile and grabbed her by the hand.

    Lapin did a wonderful job of explaining what happened during the treatment and could fill some parts of information that Alice couldn¡¯t, due to the fact that she no longer felt emotions.

    Patient that once earlier had been a pain in the behind because of his worried behaviour, was easily got calmed down by Lapin. Which did a really good job, even if it was her first time treating someone. Not to mention that Lapin had trained hard to improve her talk to make sure patients wouldn¡¯t suspect her to be from the lower class.

    The treatment went quicker than usual.

    Alice maybe really had to consider taking assistance from Lapin more than she had thought from the beginning. And if it did this quick when it was her first time, then it could easily go even quicker when she had learned the routines. Which of course wouldn¡¯t be so hard since Ellen wouldn¡¯t let her use the ¡°Angel¡±.

    ¡°You are a horrible person Miss Alice.¡± Lapin came back after leaving the patient outside. Looking horrible tired and worn out. Apparently so had the patient somehow got worried after the treatment when Lapin helped him out. She had done her best but without result. To her luck so had miss Lillium come and helped her out.

    Alice apologised, she hadn¡¯t thought that it would turn out like that. Even if it could be good if the girl to see that all patients weren¡¯t easy to handle. She had only been unbelievable unlucky that it was her first patient that turned out bad.

    Luckily Lapin was very quick to forgive and was soon showed how to empty the ¡°Angel¡±.

    Lapin looked at the small ¡°demons¡± that Alice picked out of the ¡°Angel¡±. Even after all the times she had got treatment, so had she never got the chance of seeing those things.

    ¡°So these are the things that make people feel like they do?¡±

    She was really smart for being that young, not to mention that she caught up at what Alice said very quick.

    <hr>

    Ellen looked satisfied at the light giving gear she just installed in what once had been her and Alice bedroom. With that done so was almost all the light giving gears set up in the house, only one or two remaining.

    Next step should be to install some warmth giving gears, at Alice¡¯s request. ¡°The princess¡± had thought that it got too cold from time to time, so she wanted Ellen to install it in all rooms. Including Ellen¡¯s workshop, but that wouldn¡¯t happen. Her workshop, her rules. Ellen was happy with the workshop as it was now, so there wouldn¡¯t be any major changes. Except for installation of an extra light giving gear or two. But it was all her own decision.

    Somehow she felt happy that Jack wasn¡¯t there. If he had, then he would probably have been stuck in Alice iron grip. Which would have made it so much more difficult for Ellen to stay strong. She could handle her sister so-so, but was straight off at the losing end when it came to Jack.

    Ellen let out a heavy sigh, she really wanted him to be by her side. Showering her with his love and taking care of her. Supporting her and just standing by her side. But he wasn¡¯t there but instead somewhere else. So there was not anything she could do about it, except to make sure that he had a loving home that he could come back to.

    Ellen felt she still needed advice about installing warmth giving gears. Sure she had helped Chris install at those boats, but that was a different matter. That had been boats and not houses, which meant there should be things she needed to think about. Therefore it was better to ask about it than to risk burning their home to the ground.

    She should ask Chris when she arrived home, but first off she would talk with Sour about it. She needed to buy the warmth giving gears anyway, so she could as well start there.

    Angela was standing in behind the counter, looking as beautiful as always.

    ¡°Good day Ellen. It was a while ago, how is the beloved little missy doing?

    It had been a while since Ellen meet her. She had only meet Sour, but Angela had always been somewhere else. Making Ellen remember that Angela hadn¡¯t even been joining them at the bar.

    But what did she mean with calling her ¡°beloved little missy?¡±

    ¡°I would need to buy a couple of warmth giving gears.¡± Ellen couldn¡¯t spend far to much time there only chitchatting. She was there to buy those gears that she needed for the house. Which didn¡¯t even give her the time to ask about what Angela did call her.

    ¡°Starting a new project again after that machine?¡±

    Angela didn¡¯t know that the machine that Ellen had created only was meant to making those horrible crystals even worse. But of course so didn¡¯t the others know about it either.

    ¡°Not really, I will install cogs in the house that I and my sister has bought.¡±

    Angela didn¡¯t bother to hide that she was impressed and asked some more questions as she served Ellen.

    <hr>

    Ellen had done a really good job with installing those cogs, making it look so simple that even Alice herself could do it. She was so proud of her beloved sister. Hardworking and serious. She could even dream of a better sister than Ellen.

    According to Ellen so was the installation going very smoothly. Almost all the light giving gears was installed, and soon she would start with the warmth giving ones. After that so would there be no anymore more chilly evenings in the house. They could then just sit in a comfortable heat, without being forced to pull a blanket around themselves.

    Ellen had looked a little strange at her when she made the request, as if she didn¡¯t think some evenings could be chilly. But of course her beloved and strong sister maybe had a little higher cold resistance than Alice. Either way so could it also be good to have them installed if the weather became really cold.

    Soon it would only one thing that could destroy their happy life together, and that would be if their stupid father came back. Sure Ellen would most probably be really happy to see him, and if she still holds feelings for him so would it be even worse.

    It would probably be for the best if he never came back. Not because Alice hated him, but she simply found out it to best if he didn¡¯t come back.

    ¡°Are you thinking about your big sister again?¡± Alice already knew what Lilly wanted to ask when she came up to her. It was always the same question when Alice spent some time to think things through.

    ¡°Yes. She¡¯s doing a really lovely work at the house, so I was thinking about how proud I am over her.¡±

    She wouldn¡¯t even try to bother explaining anything about Jack for Lilly, it wouldn¡¯t be worth the time. Not to mention that Lilly didn¡¯t have anything to do with it. So instead she talked about someone she enjoyed talking about. Her beloved sister.

    ¡°She`s doing the work herself?¡±

    ¡°Yes, she¡¯s doing the work herself. And is doing a really good job too.¡±

    ¡°How is doin¡¯ a good work?¡± Lapin had left her place behind the counter and joined the conversation.

    Alice would like to said that it was Lapin that did a good job, just to see her reaction. But she couldn¡¯t tease the girl too much.

    ¡°Little Ellen is handy and is installing all the cogs herself in their new house.¡±

    As soon she understood that they talked about Alice sister, she didn¡¯t hesitate to show how impressed she was. Curiously asking small things about both the house itself and which kind of cogs they installed.

    Alice really liked Lapin. She had without hesitation joined their work, without even knowing how to read or write. Which she had shown herself being determined to learn. She did her very best to learn from all those small mistakes did. No one of them was big enough to give them serious problems. And she did seem to learn from it, it had never been the same mistake twice.

    Patients also seemed to like that she acted as Alice¡¯s assistant. Which she had got better at after came over the uncomfortable feelings about it, and of course got a couple of pushes in the right direction.

    ¡°So you invited both of your co-workers?¡± Ellen finished the sentence for her over the dinner.

    They had been more or less working the same hours since Alice bought the house. Leaving in the morning and in the evening so did Alice pick up Ellen in the house. Which most probably was necessary to make sure that Ellen didn¡¯t work the whole night.

    ¡°Yes. I hope that you are fine with that Ellen.¡±

    Of course she was fine with that, she was dumb to even ask that. Ellen herself had also invited two other persons, out over Chris. Not to mention that they would celebrate Ellen and Alice moving into their own house. So they should invite their friends, or in this case co-workers.

    ¡°How much longer will it take before we can move in?¡±

    Alice would like to move in this very day, but Ellen was most probably not done yet. So it would be enough to know around how many days more it would take. Then she also had the possibility to prepare their clothes so it only was to grab and leave.

    ¡°I think it will take two days more, in worst case four days.¡±

    That was great. Alice would make sure that everything was prepared in two days, which wasn¡¯t so hard since they only had clothes to pack.

    ¡°We will hold the celebration in six days.¡±

    Lilly declared that they would plan to make sure they had a short working day that day. So could they all go together directly from the clinic to Alice¡¯s new home.

    Alice and Ellen had decided to hold the celebration some days after they had moved in. So would they have time to settle down in the house, and it would put a less pressure at Ellen while installing the cogs by giving her some extra days. Not that it would have been a problem anyway since she did a really good job already, and most probably would be done in two days.

    <hr>

    The warmth giving gears took a little longer to install than the light giving gears. But of course there were more Ellen needed to think about with the warmth giving gears.

    They could have been able to move into the house already if Ellen hadn¡¯t fallen for that ¡°spoiled princess¡±, want to have that warmth giving gear without a reason. They could have moved out from Chris¡¯s house and finally stop bothering him with their time there. Which they already had done for long enough. Not to mention that they partly occupied his workshop with the machine that pulled extract out of the plants, which¡¯s request only had increased.

    Ellen let out a sigh, it wasn¡¯t much remaining until they could return to their usual life. Only a couple of gears remaining, the celebration that the moved into their own house and Jack would come back. Or rather, Ellen hoped that he would come back. He couldn¡¯t stay away forever, right?. He had to come back to his beloved girl, didn¡¯t he?

    It was probably the only thing that would be missing for quite some time more. They could try to get everything back to what it was before, but it would never be the same without him.

    Now thinking about it, for it to go back to the same. Wouldn¡¯t Taija also need to come back? ¡°The princess¡± only natural enemy. If it hadn¡¯t been that Taija¡¯s fianc¨¦ beaten up by Ellen, so would it have been a nice idea to invite her. But that jerk off really got what he deserved. Which couldn¡¯t have fit well with Taija since, since who wanted their beloved fianc¨¦ getting beaten up.

    It was still not time to think about that, she needed to get going with the house so they could move in. And so she could make sure that Jack had a lovely daughter and house that he could get back to.

    Ellen was somehow not even surprised. She had finished the installation of all the gears, and both of the sisters had moved their clothes into the new house. When Alice dragged Ellen to the bathroom for taking a bath together.

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.Sure she might want to show her appreciation, but why did it have to be in the bath?

    ¡°I am really glad for what you have done in the house and that you could do it so smoothly.¡± Alice sat behind her and gently washed her back and hair, chippering like she was a small bird.

    ¡°It is I that should be grateful for you both buying the house and to let me do the installation.¡±

    There were no lies. It really was Ellen that should be grateful that Alice had earned the money that was needed to buy the house and to buy everything they needed. She had only done the necessary installation, but it was her sister that was the only reason it could have been done.

    In exchange for that Alice washed her, so was Ellen washing Alice back and hair too. Which she more or less had to force upon her. The dumb ¡°princess¡± had no intention to let Ellen do it from the beginning, so she had to use her only trait that surpassed Alice. Her muscles. Which made Alice realise very quickly that she didn¡¯t have any chance against Ellen.

    ¡°So what will you be doing tomorrow Ellen?¡±

    It wasn¡¯t much for her to do, since all the work in the house already was done.

    ¡°I will look over all the gears again, one last time. Then after that so will I do a little cleaning of the house and some cleaning in my workshop.¡± It sounded wonderful to say ¡°My workshop¡±, really implying that it belonged to her and only her alone.

    ¡°I see, will you make sure to clean the house well then?¡±

    Ellen didn¡¯t even want to answer that question. Of course she would do, it was after all their house. And it should be just as well like when Jack lived with them. Not to mention that some cleaning could give her a good chance to think more about that ¡°new¡± thing they called an automobile. Which she hadn¡¯t got time to think about since the day Alice gave her the key to the house. But now after getting back her own workshop, she maybe could find something out about it. And maybe even try to build something in connection with it in there.

    Ellen was cooking the food for the celebration. Her shoulder length hair was still wet since the short bath after a turn in the workshop.

    Alice had during that morning tried to convince her that Alice would do the food herself after she had finished the work, but had given up after Ellen asked about how long she wanted the guests to wait. It was much better Ellen did the food so they could eat in peace when everyone had arrived.

    Of all the guests so was Alice¡¯s co-workers the only people that Ellen didn¡¯t have a clear picture off. Sure she had met them both, and ¡°that¡± doctor had treated her. The girl had she both lead into the clinic and she had helped Alice home once, but neither of them had given a clear picture of who they were.

    Not that Alice had meet Agnes yet either, but that girl had been very open to Ellen during the time at Sour¡¯s shop.

    The first guests that arrived were Agnes and Sour, bringing a bottle of burnwine as a gift.

    ¡°So this is your house? It looks good.¡±

    ¡°Yes, but I would rather express it as that it is my and Alice¡¯s house.¡± She didn¡¯t want to leave out the fact that it was mostly thanks to her sister that they even got the house.

    ¡°I see. You also look beautiful.¡±

    Ellen was wearing a simple shirt and blouse. If he thought that she looked beautiful in that, then he would probably lose his mind when he saw Alice. After she had changed clothes that was. Lose him mind just like all other men did.

    Agnes was a really kind girl and kindly asked Ellen if she needed help in the kitchen.

    ¡°You are so lucky to have a big house to share only with your sister.¡± Agnes seemed to be jealous about that Ellen lived together with only Alice.

    Ellen would have like to told her that she rather would have lived together with only Jack, but didn¡¯t since she then would need to tell her about Jack to. Not that it was a problem, but it could be kind of hard to explain if it came out that he was her father.

    During the small talking it came out that Agnes had been living with her mother earlier, but has all of sudden decided to move in at Sour¡¯s place. Both because she could help him with the shop and get some experience, and that it could be easier to find a partner in the city than in a small town.

    Alice arrived with both her co-workers and with Chris, that they meet at the way home.

    ¡°Cheers for Alice and Ellen¡¯s new home.¡±

    They should just start to eat when Lilly took the chance to toast for the sisters. On which everyone followed.

    ¡°How badly food poisoned will I get if I eat the food?¡± Chris just had to start with his bad jokes. Both Lilly and Lapin looked shocked at him, before they questioned why he even asked that.

    ¡°I promise that it won¡¯t be that bad.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I helped do cook some of the food.¡± Agnes followed up at Ellen¡¯s answer. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if she was used to jokes like that, she was after all living with Sour.

    ¡°In other words, you should be happy if you wake up tomorrow.¡±

    Alice¡¯s co-workers didn¡¯t seem to know what to believe. They couldn¡¯t be used to that kind of jokes, which only showed the difference between the two groups.

    No one seemed to have gotten food poisoned by the food. At least not when they had finished the meal and went to the living room for some chit-chatting and drinking.

    ¡°What is your sister working with?¡± Agnes was curious, but who wouldn¡¯t be that after Alice¡¯s suggestion that they should do a toast for Lapin. That had been ¡°promoted¡± to Alice¡¯s assistant.

    ¡°She works with to help people that are feeling bad, down and things like that.¡±

    It was a very simple explanation, but Ellen didn¡¯t know really what Alice was doing anything else than that. Except for maybe teasing that poor cat, which had been clear during the dinner. Ellen had only knowledge of how the machine was used first, but it could have changed since then.

    Agnes still didn¡¯t follow, so she tried to explain it a little more in hope of she could make it somehow understanding.

    Lapin carefully joined the conversation and gave some more information that Ellen couldn¡¯t.

    ¡°No wonder that Alice wants your help as an assistant if you know that much.¡± Agnes praised the girl, that quickly looked away shyly. She didn¡¯t seem to be used a being praised, maybe Ellen would need to have a talk with ¡°the princess¡± about praising her employees. Because this girl really seemed like a really good and gentle girl, so she should be one that Alice needed to hold close.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know very much. I still have much more I need to learn before I really can help miss Alice.¡±

    Alice should really hold on to this girl, she wasn¡¯t only smart and willing to learn, she also had a very cute personality. So cute that it wouldn¡¯t surprise Ellen if she would become the front girl to get more customers, which she wouldn¡¯t even blame the guys for.

    The evening progressed and the alcohol flowed, during a whole lot of small talk.

    ¡°Ellen can I please ask you for a favour?¡± Alice quickly walked to her sister¡¯s side.

    ¡°Sure, no problem.¡±

    ¡°Please protect me.¡±

    The alcohol had got to Ellen¡¯s head again, so she didn¡¯t hesitate to help her sister. But what would she protect her from, was she far too intoxicated again?

    ¡°Alice please come here.¡± Chris came walking. He really seemed to have got far more than he could take. But it seemed that Alice wanted to be protected from him.

    Ellen rose and took a stand between her sister and Chris.

    ¡°Can you please move so I can get to my lovely Alice?¡±

    Lovely Alice? Did he liked Alice, or had he only been charmed by her as all guy got?

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t seem to be in your company for the moment. So please do try again when you ain¡¯t drunk.¡±

    ¡°Can you please move Ellen. I really do want to get to my beloved Alice.¡±

    Could he please don¡¯t sound so desperate when he talks. He could be too drunk to notice it himself, but he sounded straight off pathetic.

    ¡°Can you please move before I need to use force to reach my beloved?¡± Chris still hadn¡¯t given up and had yet been asking her desperate for a while. Ellen was still standing strong, not even thinking about to moving.

    ¡°You mean force like a challenge?¡±

    She did just more or less challenges HIM, which was much bigger than her. And without hesitation, much stronger than her. Only to protect ¡°that princess¡±?

    ¡°A challenge sounds good. I win and get Alice. You win by beating me senseless.¡±

    ¡°Sure, Indoor or outdoor.¡± There was no chance that Ellen either could or would back off now.

    Chris, in differences from Ellen started to look unsure about it. Ready to back out of it.

    ¡°Behorned, don¡¯t be wussy and fight like a man. You can¡¯t back off against a girl.¡±

    Ellen had become Chris¡¯s punching bag. She was on the losing end of the fight, a fight she had picked because of ¡°that vulgar princess¡± that couldn¡¯t even protect herself from those she charmed. ¡°The princess¡± that she would have let solve this problem herself.

    Was this the punishment ¡°that princess¡± wanted her to suffer through because she loves Jack. The man that revived her and without hesitation would have protected her now. Why did she even did this? Had the alcohol totally shut down whole her brain capacity? She really would have let ¡°that perverted princess¡± doing this herself. A ¡°perverted princess¡± that charmed men like her would deserve a beating like this themselves.

    Throwing a punch, miss and got hit in the face.

    Ellen didn¡¯t want this, it hurt. She felt dizzy after all Chris¡¯s punches, she didn¡¯t deserve this. Yet she couldn¡¯t give up, she needed to win. She couldn¡¯t let herself go through this without giving Chris a payback for the punches.

    Not to mention that Sour also would get back later on. Encourage Chris to fight. If Agnes didn¡¯t kill him after she ran over there to scold him, so would Ellen make sure that he wouldn¡¯t see the sun tomorrow.

    Ellen didn¡¯t react that she threw a punch toward the side of his waist, even turning her body to put more force in the punch.

    Hit, Chris reacted and stopped up. Lending forward in pain or shocked by the hit. Ellen felt very dizzy. He wouldn¡¯t stop after that hit, right. And he said that she needed to beat him senseless, then that was what she needed to do. Putting all her power into one hopefully last punch, aimed for his face.

    Chris laid unconscious at the floor.

    ¡°Good fight little missy!¡± Sour tried to cheer for her after she had won, as if he wasn¡¯t the big reason it began.

    ¡°Thank for helping me Ellen.¡±

    Next time ¡°that princess¡± wanted help, so would she need to find some other idiot to help her.

    Ellen noticed how the little cat was looking at her with big eyes when Chris woke up again. Was that timid cat looking up at her in some way, or was it just an illusion that Ellen got.

    ¡°That was a good fight Ellen, I could never have guessed that I should lose.¡± Chris seemed to be okay when he woke up, and did seem to accept his loss against her.

    ¡°Since I announced my love, who is up to fight against Ellen for Alice love.¡±

    He wasn¡¯t fine at all. Coming up with an idea like that, he couldn¡¯t be okay. Even if it only should be Sour that she had to beat, so where there no chance that even would think about fighting more.

    ¡°I like Alice, but I am not suicidal and rather suffer through the time it takes for her to accept me.¡± Lilly liked Alice, wouldn¡¯t that mean she likes girls? The strange dream about how Ellen, Lilly and Jill surfaced again. That really couldn¡¯t have happened, right? Why couldn¡¯t she have got a serious answer from Jill? There was no chance she could ask Lilly about it either.

    ¡°I won¡¯t accept you in that way, ever.¡±

    Alice was still hiding behind Ellen, giving Lilly a dead cold answer. Which didn¡¯t even surprised Ellen. Since Alice had lost her emotions, how should she possibly be able to fall in love?

    ¡°Then, how about you sour. Will you take on Ellen to reach Alice¡¯s heart?¡±

    Couldn¡¯t Chris just give up? Would he ask the girls later on too?

    ¡°To be honest, so would I like to take on little missy. But it would be for her heart itself and not her sister¡¯s.¡±

    For her heart? Did that mean, that he rather would be with her than her sister?

    ¡°Sorry mister. She belongs to me and only me.¡± Alice hugged her from behind and peak out while talking to him. Guess that even she had her cute sides sometimes.

    ¡°Sorry Sour. I have another man that I like.¡±

    ¡°And it ain¡¯t Behorn. So come here brother, so will we drink ourselves senseless.¡± Sour was very quick to follow up at Ellen answer. As if he already knew it from the beginning.

 chapter 17

    Ellen stood at her table in the workshop without doing anything.

    It wasn¡¯t that she couldn¡¯t or wanted to do anything, but rather that she couldn¡¯t get any rest in her mind to do anything.

    It had gone two days since they had held the celebration for them moving into the new house. That had ended with some confessions, and that Ellen had beaten the sense out of Chris. Sure he had been drunk and been the one that had challenged her, but it still didn¡¯t make up for the fact that she had been beating a friend.

    At first so had she not felt bad for it at all since it was he that challenged her, but the regrets had started to sneak up at her first the next day. She was a monster, a monster that didn¡¯t hesitate to beat him up.

    It would have so much better if she had forced the ¡°perverse princess¡± to spend some time with him instead, that way so could Alice maybe been taking care of the problem herself. That way she maybe could learn how bad it could be for her to charm all the men around herself.

    It hadn¡¯t been only Chris that had been charmed by her little sister, but she had also got a grip of her co-worker Lilly. Which apparently seemed to have a thing for females. And easily explained that she wouldn¡¯t go through the same thing as Chris, all because she wasn¡¯t suicidal.

    It hadn¡¯t been that bad with the fight between Ellen and Chris, right? Ellen wasn¡¯t that bad so it would look like a suicidal act to challenge her, right? It couldn¡¯t be that bad. It just couldn¡¯t be that bad, Ellen really wasn¡¯t like that.

    Maybe she could get some rest in her mind if she apologised to Chris? Not a simple apologise but a real apologise that could prove that she wasn¡¯t a bad person that could beat a friend without any signs of hesitations at all. But then again, would it really be a good idea to go over to Chris¡¯s shop? What should she do if Sour was there, what should she do then?

    Chris wasn¡¯t the only one that Ellen really had hurt during that evening. Sour had confessed his feeling for Ellen, the first one that ever done that. Yet she had right off stomped and pulverised his feelings by rejecting him, without any second thoughts. He really had to hate her for her harsh rejection. Even if he probably tried to cover up his disappointment by acting like the rejection was something he did expect.

    She had been really horrible that evening. Enough for it to scare even herself. But nothing good will come out from just let it be.

    Ellen stood in front of the door to Chris¡¯s shop. It was hopefully best to start with apologising to Chris, not because she looked lighter at that she had beaten him. But he had helped her so much since they first were thrown out off the mansion, and had even taken her in for jobs so she could learn some more as a cog technician.

    With a light sigh, she opened the door and walked in.

    ¡°Good day and welcome to my shop.¡± He was alone in the shop and greeted her has usually before he noticed that it was Ellen.

    ¡°Welcome back to my shop Ellen, how can I help you today?¡± He acted like the beating never had occurred. Not that it could be seen at him, but Ellen had a cut in her eyebrow that hadn¡¯t healed yet.

    ¡°I came to apologise for beating you senseless during the celebration.¡±

    Ellen felt better when Chris burst out in laughter at her apologies. Telling her that she didn¡¯t have to apologise for it since he had got tipsy and was the one that started it.

    Tipsy wasn¡¯t quite the right word, we had been more like wasted. And it still didn¡¯t justify that she had done what she did. Which she pointed out for him.

    ¡°So you want to really show that you are sorry for it. If that¡¯s the case, I have a job offer that I would like some help with.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t so different from normal was, but since he expressed it like that so did it seem like he had understood what she wanted to say.

    <hr>

    Lapin had been working harder after the celebration. Maybe she needed that little push in the form of declaring that Lapin would be Alice¡¯s assistant in front of the others.

    She didn¡¯t hesitate as much she did before, almost proving that she could be at the same level as Alice. She was almost already doing a better job at meeting patient¡¯s than Alice did. But of course that could be because she still was feeling emotions, which could be both a blessing and a curse.

    If the girl was unlucky so could she end up just like some nurse assistants in Alice old world, silently suffering because they read to much into the patient¡¯s emotions and that they had their own conflicting emotions. Or it was at least as it was said, and there was most probably some truth in it.

    Not to mention that Lapin had shown signs of being more tired than usual, which wasn¡¯t good at all.

    Alice had looked in the calendar and noticed how booked they actually were. Because of that so was she playing with the thought that she maybe could need to show Lapin how to use the ¡°Angel¡±. Of course she would let the girl learn it progressive and look over it, very carefully.

    ¡°So, are you having good use of that girl?¡± Lilly walked up to Alice while she looked at the girl talking with a patient that just had been treated.

    ¡°Yes, I do really appreciate Lapin¡¯s help.¡±

    Just like Lapin had started to work harder since the celebration, so had Lilly started with a strange attitude.

    ¡°Just be careful that that girl doesn¡¯t try to replace you at the clinic.¡±

    There was it going again. Lilly had started to question everything she could about Lapin, like she did suspect Lapin for working with a second thought in mind. Which Alice found unbelievable stupid. Most because Lapin was a really honest girl. So it had to be pure lies that Lilly tried to spread by some unknown reason. Since it was first at the celebration that Alice had declared that she truly would make Lapin her assistant, so could it could be something as stupid like jealousy. In that case so would it mean that Lilly disliked that Alice picked up an assistant while Lilly didn¡¯t.

    ¡°I find it very difficult to believe something like that.¡± Alice said it right out, like many other times the last two days when Lilly had started the idiotic conversations like that.

    ¡°I hope you don¡¯t make a mistake that will ruin you. And don¡¯t forget that I have warned you.¡±

    Just like Alice was sure that It was all lies, so did Lilly seem to believe in her obvious and stupid lies.

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±

    Lapin had finished her talk with the patient and walked up to them for joining their conversation.

    ¡°We ain¡¯t talking about anything special.¡±

    Alice tried to avoid that Lapin found out about the conversation. Since she felt emotions in differences from Alice, so could she get hurt by ¡°that woman¡¯s¡± lies. And there could be a chance that it would lead to her leaving the clinic with a broken heart. Alice couldn¡¯t allow that to happen when she wanted Lapin¡¯s help.

    <hr>

    Ellen followed Chris to the job that he wanted some help with. By what he had said so was it a small hotel that wanted to have a bunch of gears installed, which didn¡¯t sound that bad. Until she saw the hotel that was. Only by looking at the outside of the¡±hotel¡± it looked like it could collapse any given second, may the inside look better.

    The outside looked really bad and the inside did look just as bad. The walls and everything else there looked like it would break by the bare touch of even a little girl.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t touch anything Ellen.¡± Just like Ellen so didn¡¯t Chris seem to have any high thoughts about the ¡°hotel¡± either.

    A man that reminded Ellen about Santa Claus was sitting in the reception. If Santa had gone from a fat, alcoholic to a teeth-less anorexia old fart. His long white hair was messy and his face was worn out enough to give innocent babies nightmares and leave it scarred for life.

    That man was the one owning the hotel. Showing Ellen and Chris around he explained what he wanted for gears to get installed. Especially pointing out that they only could take a few rooms at the time when they installed it, he still needed to be able to have rooms that customers could live in. As if he thought that they didn¡¯t have realise it already. Did the man think they were stupid?

    The man leads them to the rooms where they would start and asked them to look over the rooms and give a plan of how long it would take to get the gears installed.

    He did at least leave them alone when they were about to do the planning, explaining that he couldn¡¯t hold their hand since he needed to sit in the reception.

    ¡°How much of this work falls upon us Chris? Will we only install gears, or will we also repair the walls after we are done?¡±

    Not even Chris could have been stupid enough to accept that they would repair the walls after the installation, right? Not that it would have been hard to restore to its ¡°former glory¡±, it would only be to throw the planks up again and nail it at the place. Without any sense at all.

    ¡°We will only install the gears. There are repairmen from another place that will take care of the walls.¡±

    ¡°Good, it would have been feeling bad to put makeup at an old decayed corpse.¡± Ellen let out a relieved sigh.

    Chris let out a laugh and explained that it still was a job, even if it was at an antique building like this. And he had taken the job offer, so he had to make sure that it got done. But he also felt for the poor people that would need to do the other parts.

    ¡°I thought it wasn¡¯t legal to revive old corpses.¡±

    Ellen still found it hard that they would be working in a hotel this old. If it shouldn¡¯t be that she agreed to the work as an apology for beating Chris, so would she have considered if she really should do this work.

    The job would have so much easier if ¡°Santa¡± should have been satisfied with having the light giving gears at the wall instead of at the roof in the middle of the room. Because of that so would they be forced to even pull down some of the planks in the roof.

    As it wasn¡¯t enough that they would need to measure out where they would put every gear, the cogs in the roof would also be forcing them to work in uncomfortable working height. The work would be some pain, but as Chris said so was it still a job. And he had also warned her when she first started the studies to cog technician, the jobs wouldn¡¯t always be easy.

    ¡°Santa¡± did seem to be very displeased when they told him the plan of how long the work would take, yet he accepted it. He had probably been hoped that it would take a shorter time. Ellen thought that it wasn''t that much time, so it was probably only about that he would have loved to use the room even during the time that they were working. In other words so was he just greedy and wanted to be able to rent out the rooms the whole time. Not that he even seemed to rent out many rooms to start with.

    Since Alice and Ellen moved in their house so had it become a habit that both of them talked about their works during the evening. Criticizing their works and co-workers, or praise their co-workers if they felt like doing that.

    In only a few days it became a very special time together, even enough that Ellen started to really enjoyed the time that she listened to the ¡°spoiled princess¡¯s¡± stories.

    ¡°Lilly has become very strange. She took her freedom today too to grab me behind, again.¡±

    Alice didn¡¯t seem to understand that Lilly seemed to try hitting at her. Or at least Ellen thought she tried to hit at her sister, especially since it seemed to have started after the celebration when she had expressed her love for the ¡°princess¡±.

    ¡°She maybe tries to gather some material for the evening when she haves her own time.¡±

    Of course Alice didn¡¯t understand what Ellen wanted to have said. She was strangely innocent for being a ¡°pervert princess¡±, if it wasn¡¯t that she only acted like she didn¡¯t understand.

    ¡°It was only a childish act by her, so what material would she be able to gather from that?¡±

    It could also be that Alice was far too stupid to understand what was going on. May she never had met a pervert. That meant it could end really bad for her if she wasn¡¯t understanding simple things like that.

    Ellen explained how the hotel looked like. The pain that the hotel was about to fall apart, yet they would do the job. The pain that they need to take down a lot of planks and then working in an uncomfortable working height.

    Alice couldn¡¯t say much about it but tried to show that she pitied her sister. For being a girl that couldn¡¯t feel emotions so was she a very gentle girl that seemed to still care about her sister.

    ¡°The owner of the hotel is looking like ¡°Santa-gone-bad¡±, and with that so do I really mean BAD as old food.¡±

    Ellen tried to draw up a picture of how bad that man looked, of course she had some space to make it worse. Which she also took.

    ¡°Santa, it makes me thinking about those times we celebrated Christmas.¡±

    Ellen could clearly see the connection Alice made. They really looked forward to Santa visiting them when they were young children. It had been a time they were really happy, so many good memories. Both together with Jack and their mother.

    ¡°Yes, the times we celebrated it all together. We both together with Jack and mom.¡±

    Ellen let out a light sigh. They had been a wonderful time, but it was only during times they did celebrate it together as a whole family. Then one year so had the world turned at them.

    Their mother had gone out to do something during Christmas morning. But she never did come back, instead so had it came a man closer to the evening to talk with Jack.

    ¡°Your mother won¡¯t come back anymore.¡±

    Jack did his best to explain to the young girls that their mother had been involved in an accident while she was out. She didn¡¯t survive, so she would never come home again.

    The girls were protected from the suffering of the funeral, by being left at home. Just like they was protected more from suffering by that they stopped to celebrate Christmas. All because Jack loved them and wanted to protect them by whole his heart.

    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.Now, as more matured women, so did both Ellen and Alice question his decision. They couldn¡¯t understand the decision he had made, not even if he once expressed that it only was to protect them.

    As it was now, they would actually have wanted to go to the funeral. Neither of them could now remember their mothers face, and no one of them felt that they had given her a real farewell.

    Ellen let out a heavy sigh.

    She was at the hotel again and helped Chris, which made her feel that she wanted to question how smart Chris was.

    She had brought the practice plates that she once got from Jack, only to try a thing. Just as she had expected so was it easy to put the plates in place and then simply set up the cogs so it fitted, marking up which cog should be where. Then remove it all, drill and set them up. It was so much simpler than to measure out where every cog should be.

    Chris had praised her for deaf ears. That solution was so simple that even a child could have thought about it, so how could it be that he hadn¡¯t thought about it?

    ¡°This is really great, things seem to go quickly thanks to you.¡±

    He could stop it right there, she didn¡¯t want to hear something about it. The idea had been so simple, so just please stop it.

    ¡°Do you think we will need to ask the owner about keys to the other rooms?¡±

    Ellen didn¡¯t hope that they would be standing still without anything to do, if they should surpass their time plan.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that will be necessary. But I think there won¡¯t be any need for us to work over.¡±

    That did sound good. It was another thing that Ellen could appreciate, not working over. Get the possibility to get home so she could make some food for both her and Alice.

    One room was done and another room was almost done. It was only to put the gears in place, the gears that they would get first the next day. So in other words so was there nothing more they could do in that room for the moment.

    Walking through the hallway to reach the next room she noticed a face that she hadn¡¯t seen for a while.

    ¡°Taija, are you here?¡±

    Taija had been walking quickly, almost running to get past them. But stopped when Ellen asked. ¡°Good day Ellen, I didn¡¯t see you.¡±

    It was an obvious lie. Ellen saw her before she noticed it was Taija. She had all off sudden picked up her pace as if she tried to escape. Not to mention that she seemed to be uncomfortable with talking to Ellen.

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    Ellen was curious. This wasn¡¯t really the place where she expected to see someone like Taija.

    They had just got down the planks they needed in another room when it was about time to end.

    ¡°How big possibility do you think it is that ¡°Santa¡± will come and look over the work after we left?¡± Ellen was slightly tidying up the room and put everything in neat piles.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I think there at least is a possibility that he will come and check.¡±

    Chris seemed to be pleased that Ellen thought about that. If he was like some other customers so was there a big chance that he would come and check. But of course so had no of the other customers been that old and worn out, so he could be a totally different case than all the others.

    ¡°Do you think that Taija lied to me, Chris?¡±

    They had left the hotel and was on their way home. Ellen couldn¡¯t let go of the thought, she was a little worried about Taija. She said that she had been visited a friend at that hotel, but it didn¡¯t really felt like it was true. She had after all first tried to avoid Ellen, and acted very uncomfortable while talking with Ellen. Then she had left very quick when she got the chance. Even if it would have something to do with her fianc¨¦ so wouldn¡¯t she act like that, right?

    ¡°Maybe, maybe not.¡±

    That answer didn¡¯t help at all with the question, but it did show that it was no use to ask Chris about it. He was clearly not interested to talk about it at all.

    Ellen continued to think about it. If Taija had problems Ellen would like to help her. Taija had after all done much for both her and Alice. So it was almost her responsibility to help her. No matter how much or little she actually could do for her.

    ¡°See you tomorrow.¡± They had reached the point where they walked separate ways.

    First now Ellen reacted that it had started to get dark. It was something magical when the sky got it¡¯s Scarlett colour. It gave off a calming, almost smothering feeling.

    It was by moment like that Ellen almost envied her sister. It had to be wonderful to not being able to feel emotions. No chance to feel lost, worries or powerless. It had to be really wonderful.

    If Ellen also had lost that ability, so maybe she could think something out during this situation. Instead of only being split between the feeling of being powerless and worried if she was wrong on it. Maybe there wasn¡¯t anything going on with Taija, maybe she only had visited a friend.

    Ellen let out a sigh and continued her walk home.

    It should have been so much easier if she would have got someone to talk with that about.

    Why had both Jack and Jill left? It would have been so much better if she could talk with one of them.

    Jack could have given her advice and points from an adult point of view. And even being the only one that really could make all Ellen¡¯s worried disappear in an instant, not to mention that he would have understood her.

    Of course it would have been just as fine if she could have talked with Jill. She might not be as old and wise like Jack, but it was possible to speak openly with her on a different level than with Jack.

    There was no chance that Ellen could talk with Alice about it. Not only was she blessed with not feeling emotions, but it was at the same time a curse. She would never understand Ellen¡¯s worries, not to mention that it should feel wrong toward Taija. She had after all felt uncomfortable with Ellen, so there was no hesitation that she would feel even worse with Alice.

    Once again she longed for Jack.

    Everything would have been so much better if he only could have been there. If he only had been there during the celebration, so wouldn¡¯t it have ended as it did. He would have been the one that would have protected Alice as the hero he was. He would have given Ellen a chance to fall in love with him all over again. Couldn¡¯t it have been Jack that she saw at the hotel instead of Taija? She could have been so much happier then. Even if he wouldn¡¯t have been to come home yet, so could she at least have got some answers to the questions she had.

    <hr>

    Lapin was still working really hard, but she was still showing signs of being tired. Now worse than before.

    Could it be so bad that she had found out about Lilly¡¯s lies? Which of course still hadn¡¯t stopped yet. She went on nagging about that Lapin could have second thoughts while working at the clinic.

    Alice still thought of it as pure lies, and even if it wouldn¡¯t be a lie so wouldn¡¯t Lapin be able to steal the work. The thing that did most of the work was the ¡°Angel¡±, and it wasn¡¯t an easy machine to copy. She had even asked her beloved sister about it once when she complained at Lilly¡¯s bad attitude toward the girl. Which off even Ellen agreed that it was a bad behaviour.

    Alice had shown Lapin how to use the machine the day earlier and was now supervising Lapin using it. The poor girl was visibly worried, but she did still use it right. All she needed was that Alice looked over her in case something would happen.

    It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if she made any mistakes, she looked tired earlier and it was even worse now. Lapin looked so tired that it almost was a wonder that the girl still was awake. If something was going on so did Alice have to find it out before something could go really bad. But that question had to be asked behind on the opposite side of the door from Lilly. Otherwise so would there be a risk that it would come to no end with Lilly¡¯s bad attitude. So it was not only to save Alice from hearing it more, but it was also hopefully a way to save Lapin from it.

    ¡°Am I doing anything wrong miss Alice?¡±

    Alice had been far gone in her thoughts, so Lapin got worried that she had done something wrong. ¡°No, I was just thinking. But we can look it over one more time.¡±

    Just as Alice had thought, so wasn¡¯t it necessary. But it was better to look an extra time, mostly since she asked while she had a patient in the room. So it was best to look to calm down possible worries that the patient could have got when Lapin asked. It was one of those tricks that Alice had noticed helped very well to calm many worried patients when Lapin was unsure, check it and tell that it¡¯s right. Then before using it, check one more time.

    The treatment went just as smoothly as always and Lapin helped the patient out in the waiting room. It was one of those that still was feeling kind of well after the treatment. It had become more and more common of those that searched the treatment. Alice had tried to find out why, but didn¡¯t have much to go with except for their demons. Which was more strange looking than most of the others, but also less in comparison with other patients.

    ¡°Is there anything happening Lapin?¡±

    Lapin had just come into the room again and closed the door behind herself, looking surprised at Alice for the sudden question.

    ¡°Since the patient was feeling well so was I going in here again to empty the machine.¡± She spoke in panic and looked horrific worried as she began to explain all from why she talked with the patient as she did, and to why she decided to walk in and empty the ¡°Angel¡± before the patient had left.

    ¡°I was more wondering how you are feeling, you seem to have been really tired lately.¡±

    Lapin had jumped to conclusions that Alice was talking about the treatment and got worried that she had done something wrong. She had a really cute behaviour, almost that it could be interesting to tease her and see how she reacted.

    ¡°I see.¡± Lapin let out a relieved sigh and took a deep breath.

    She calmly explains that she didn¡¯t sleep well there she lived for the moment, so she was spending much of spare time to search for a new place. And she thought that she was at her way to find something, so she would soon be able to sleep well again soon. That so she could do her very best at the clinic.

    Alice offered her to live in their house until she got the other place, but she declined it right off. She was very thankful for the offer but it wasn¡¯t necessary since it should be better very soon.

    Thankfully that It wasn¡¯t anything really bad and that it was almost solved, Alice dropped the subject and helped her emptying the ¡°Angel¡±.

    ¡°Good day.¡± To Alice surprise so was Taija standing in front of the counter when she and Lapin walked out from the room, greeting with a careful voice.

    ¡°Good day Taija, can we help you with something?¡±

    It had been quite some time since Alice last saw Taija and couldn¡¯t help to wonder why she had come to the clinic. She had left all of sudden and had not come back until now.

    ¡°She will be my assistant from today and forward.¡±

    Of course Lilly had to be there too, couldn¡¯t she be hiding in her room a little longer.

    Assistant, had Lilly been that jealous at Alice for picking Lapin as an assistant so she had decided to pick in Taija for help? If that was the case, she seriously was a childish person. But in that case so would Alice show her how an adult would behave.

    ¡°I see, then I welcome you to the clinic Taija.¡±

    Lapin followed up at Alice greeting and also gave a shy curtsy.

    Not very surprisingly so was there a lot of whispering between Lilly and Taija. And it would probably only be more of it now on.

    ¡°What do you think they whispering about?¡± Lapin was clearly curious about it, but avoided to ask them about it as an advice from Alice. Alice could only hope that it wasn¡¯t anything bad they were talking about, and that Lilly didn¡¯t try to pull Taija along in that bad behaviour.

    In the best case so was Taija only asking for advice about her fianc¨¦, which hopefully wouldn¡¯t bring any problems to the clinic.

    <hr>

    ¡°Are you sure you didn¡¯t overdo it when you pulled the information out of her?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    Chris cared about Taija at all the day before. But today he talked much more about her. Sure it could be because of that Ellen took her freedom and pulled Taija into one of the rooms they worked in, questioning her. Slowly pulling out the information that Taija had withholding from her, which turned out to be worse than Ellen had been worried about.

    Not only did Taija found out that her fianc¨¦ cheated at her time after time, even pointing it out for her father to get some support. But since he was important for a big business deal so didn¡¯t he care much about it and blamed Taija for not being good enough for him. She wasn¡¯t good enough for a man that she didn¡¯t even love in the first place and only was forced into ¡°loving¡± by her own father, because of a business deal.

    The fianc¨¦ had also tried to make her change her whole life and tried to keep her locked up in their house. When that hadn¡¯t been possible so had her father made sure that the fianc¨¦ meets Taija¡¯s sister from another town, which happily could find herself live with that man for her father¡¯s sake.

    Taija got thrown out of the family right at the spot when her sister arrived and had since then been taking temporary works to be able living at that cheap hotel.

    ¡°Do you think that she could get a job from that woman?¡±

    ¡°A job, I think so. In best case a real home too.¡±

    Ellen had suggested that she would make contact with Lilly. Taija had probably worked together with Lilly earlier. On second thought Ellen wasn¡¯t sure, Taija had been gone for most of the day while she worked at the mansion. It could have been that she helped Lilly, right?

    ¡°Otherwise I might be able to offer her a place in our house.¡±

    Ellen hadn¡¯t done it from the beginning since it would probably only be a bother to have a third person in the house. But was ready to let Taija live there if it was necessary, only to help her since she had helped them so much already.

 chapter 18

    It had been two weeks since Taija started to work at the clinic.

    Lilly hadn¡¯t stopped the questioning Lapin yet. Which Alice had hoped for when Taija started to work as ¡°that woman¡¯s¡± assistant.

    There was too much going on. Once again Alice was glad that she didn¡¯t feel emotions, otherwise so was there a risk that she would have broken down by now.

    Not only was Lilly acting like a jerk. But Lapin had left a small worried warning for Alice to keep her eyes at Taija, she was acting to careful. Just like someone that did their best to hide their addiction. She pointed put especially that it didn¡¯t mean that she thought Taija took anything or something like that, but it was still better just to be really sure.

    She clearly showed off to be a better person than Lilly, that accused Lapin of having second thoughts. While Lapin could worry about Taija like she was a family, because she cared.

    It was also because that Ellen would go on a small celebration with those that had been involved in the work at the hotel. Which of course includes Chris.

    Alice found it hard to trust him since he acted like he did the last time he was drunk during their celebration. Would he act just as bad even if Alice wasn¡¯t there? Would he try to take some advances at her poor sister at the bar? Would anyone in the group try to take advances of her? Or would they just leave her at her own when she was drunk?

    It was really far too much to think about now, far too much for Alice to think about.

    <hr>

    It had been no problem when Ellen first joined Chris and Thom at the bar, but only after a short while so had Sour joined with his daughter.

    Sure, every one of them that was involved in the work was welcome, but it felt strange to sit around the same table as Sour after rejecting him that harshly last time. Even he seemed to find it uncomfortable, maybe he really hated her after all. Ellen hadn¡¯t even taken the time after the celebration to apologise to him for her horrible behaviour.

    ¡°So, what is up between the baby girl and brother wing?¡±

    Of course Thom had to notice that they both were uncomfortable and ask about it.

    Chris told Thom what had happened between them, trying to point fun out of Sour for being rejected like that. He didn¡¯t seem to care at all if Sour was hurt by the whole thing.

    ¡°And while you express it like that. Don¡¯t forget that I wasn¡¯t the one that tried to corner my love interest, challenging her sister and did lose.¡± Sour countered with telling the story about Chris had cornered Alice, ending up in a fight with Ellen. Which he had lost.

    ¡°So you two guys got your hearts crushed?¡± Thom burst out in low laughter and ordered in some beers, so that their hearts could be healed faster.

    ¡°Baby girl, did you used and sneaky tricks against Chris, or were you really able to knock him out cold fair and square?¡±

    Both Sour and Agnes talked for Ellen, asking how he even could come up with the idea that Ellen would use any sneaky tricks. She was a very strong and honest girl. And would never, ever, use any dirty tricks against a friend as he indicated.

    Ellen felt a little better. Even if she had rejected Sour right off the bat, so didn¡¯t he seem to think bad about her.

    ¡°Ellen is really a strong girl. I don¡¯t think there is many that will be able to take a beating like that, and then beat the senses out of me.¡± Chris¡¯s words were probably meant to be positive, but she didn¡¯t feel like that. In her ears it sounded more like he praised her for being strong like a guy, even though she clearly were a girl. There was no chance that he did see her more like a guy, right?

    They had been drinking both beer and a couple of shots absinthe over some small talk.

    Then when they all were drunk and happy so had the idiotic guys got the idea that they should hunt some females. Even did even try to get Ellen to come along at it.

    Both Ellen and Agnes had declined and left the bar with some good advice from the guys. ¡°Make sure to beat the senses out of any possible idiot that tries something funny while you going home.¡±

    Agnes had asked if Ellen wanted company home, most probably worried that something could happen to her. Ellen had declined but thanked for the offer, it was after all just as big chance that anything could happen to her when she walked home. So it was better she did just like Ellen and walked straight home.

    Swaying from side to side of the street Ellen slowly walked home. She had been drinking a little too much, because of those idiotic guys. She was walking home ALONE, because of those idiotic guys. She was feeling angry, because of those idiotic guys.

    They had during the time at the bar pointed out how strong and independent she was, almost painting up a picture of how she was more of a guy than a woman. And then the idiots had offered her to come along when they should hunt girls, as if SHE would have any kind of interests in that. Only to make it worse, so hadn¡¯t they offered Agnes a chance to come along. Without saying it, making it clear that she was a woman in differences from someone like Ellen.

    So was Ellen. She was also a WOMAN. Even if she was strong and independent so was she still a WOMAN. Why couldn¡¯t they see her like one, what had she done wrong? All she had done was to work as a cog technician, and protecting ¡°that princess¡± from Chris once. None of those things should be enough for them to start to see her as a guy, right?

    If it was that she got seen as ¡°that princess¡¯s¡± knight in white armour, so should mean that it was all ¡°that princess¡¯s¡± fault. That damn ¡°princess¡± seemed to be ruining her life again, just like before. Stealing her beloved Jack from her, stealing all the beauty from their mother. The beauty that the two of them were meant to share.

    Why did ¡°that princess¡± have to do all that against her, why did life have to be unfair so it wouldn¡¯t even punish Alice?

    Ellen could feel how all of the poison that she drank during the evening was about to find it¡¯s way up. Wobbly walking over to a house, lending against the wall and threw up.

    Couldn¡¯t everyone see that she was just as weak as any other girl? She seemed strong, but she was really weak. She wanted to be taken care off, she needed to have someone to take care of her. She wasn¡¯t independent, she needed someone. She wasn¡¯t strong, she was just a normal girl. Why couldn¡¯t anyone see that? Why couldn¡¯t she get treated as she deserved, why couldn¡¯t she just get treated as she DID deserve?

    She didn¡¯t want to get praised only for the work she did, for the things she found out. She wanted to be praised for how beautiful she was. How fragile and delicate her personality was.

    Was that really too much to ask for? Couldn¡¯t she at least got that small deserved treatment from a guy? Couldn¡¯t she get treated like that by Jack, couldn¡¯t he come back and fulfilling her small wish?

    She could hear someone nearby. There had to be people in the houses, watching her. Laughing at how a GUY acted like that, in her mind so she could really see that happening. They were laughing at her, they couldn¡¯t understand how unfair life was toward her.

    Hard, cold?

    Ellen couldn¡¯t remember it, but she had apparently continued her walk and fallen to the ground. But it didn¡¯t matter anyway, she was apparently a failure as a woman so she could as well just lay there.

    ¡°Why are a lovely girl like you laying here?¡± Of course someone had to bother her. Why couldn¡¯t she just be allowed to lay there and feel a little sorry for herself, was it too much to ask for?

    ¡°I just LOVE the feeling of the cold sipping into my body.¡±

    Couldn¡¯t that idiot see that she had tripped over? Did everyone around her have to be an idiot? She didn¡¯t want to stay with someone that couldn¡¯t use the brain, so she could as well rise and get home.

    Her knees hurt, they had to been taking a small beating when she did fall. If this had been the only time that was. At least the person was kind and smart enough to help her rise, maybe she had been a little rough with her answer to him.

    He helped her with very gently movements, in differences from how those idiotic guys would have helped her. Maybe there was someone that actually did see her as a woman.

    She was about to thank for the help and turned toward him, getting a glimpse of his face before she had to throw her head to the other side to let some more of that poison to get up.

    ¡°JACK?!¡±

    She had to look really hard to make sure that she hadn¡¯t seen wrong. It really was her beloved one, it was really him. She started to cry rivers and almost throw herself at him.

    ¡°It is really you. You are really Jack, right?¡± She hugged him tight as she spoke, it had to really be him. It couldn¡¯t be wrong, it couldn¡¯t be a dream.

    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s me Ellen, my beloved daughter.¡± He hugged her with one arm and patted her on the head.

    His voice, his lovely chest. The way he acted, it really was her beloved father that she had longed for during all the time. He really was back, back with Ellen.

    ¡°Where have you been Jack? What have you been doing this whole time?¡±

    It was so much she wanted to ask him, so much she had to know.

    According to Jack, so was he falsely accused of something, so he had been forced to go into hiding. He had tried to keep an eye at them while doing it, but had found it very difficult to only look at them from a distance. It was first now that he had the luck to really meet up with his most beloved and smart daughter. He had been so lucky.

    ¡°Since it has been so difficult to see you, so am I wondering how you are doing?¡±

    ¡°Everything is going fine now, we had some problems. But it wasn¡¯t anything that couldn¡¯t be solved.¡±

    Ellen looked up at him after have buried her face in his chest. She knew it could sound like she was the reason that the problems were solved, but she wanted to get praised by him. It wasn¡¯t wrong, right? It couldn¡¯t be anything wrong with wanting to get praised by the beloved one, right?

    ¡°I am so proud of you. You are truly a really smart and wonderful girl so of course you solved the problems that you and your sister have been facing.¡± He praised her. Sure he did mention ¡°that princess¡± to, but he was proud over her.

    ¡°I have a small favour to ask you for, that can help me solve my problems.¡±

    Jack suspected that there could be someone following him, so he didn¡¯t have much more time he could spend with her. But at the very least he decided to lead her to the house, he couldn¡¯t after all let a woman walk alone in the middle of the night.

    ¡°If it will help you to be able to come home, so will I do anything.¡±

    It was far to short time for him to explain it to her, but he wanted to meet her at a specific caf¨¦ the next day so he could explain a little more for her. A caf¨¦ where he knew he was safe, so it wouldn¡¯t be any problems.

    They were by the house and he was ready to leave, but not after giving Ellen a ¡°bye kiss¡± at her forehead. Ellen had to be the happiest woman at the planet that given moment, and she should be even happier when her beloved finally could move in with her again.

    <hr>

    ¡°Can you please give me ¡°the reason¡± to why I shouldn¡¯t trust Lapin?¡±

    Alice had grown really tired of ¡°that woman¡¯s¡± attitude about Lapin. Which recently had become even worse. If there were ¡°a reason¡± that Alice shouldn¡¯t trust the girl, she could spit it right out.

    ¡°The reason is that¡­¡± Lilly suddenly cut herself short. Alice knew what it all was about, Lapin had come back into the room after emptied the ¡°Angel¡±.

    ¡°You better ask her yourself, so can you see how ¡°good¡± that girl can be.¡±

    ¡°That stupid woman¡± left with Taija and went into her treatment room.

    Alice let out a light sigh. Why did it have to be like that, Lilly just seemed to hold up with that questioning about Lapin. Taija wasn¡¯t better since she always stood behind Lilly, agreeing to her words with silence.

    They started with working as a supporting group toward each other at the clinic, and she had thought that it would be like that during the whole time they all worked under one roof. But she had clearly been very wrong, Lilly¡¯s part in the ¡°supporting¡± was more or less to work against her and Lapin.

    Maybe she really needed to force the cat out of the box about Lapin, and ask her directly about if she knew what Lilly meant with a reason Alice shouldn¡¯t trust her.

    ¡°Would you like some tea Lapin?¡± Alice walked pass Lapin toward the small kitchen area, when she interrupted Lapin¡¯s talk with a patient. Looking as kind and innocent as always, making it impossible to suspect her to be up to something bad.

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.¡°Yes please miss Alice.¡±

    If the whole thing at the clinic wasn¡¯t enough, so had Ellen also started to act even stranger since their celebration at the bar. She had told Alice that she had been asked by someone to help with a bigger project, someone but wouldn¡¯t tell who it was. And she couldn¡¯t tell her anything about the project either since it was very secret.

    Which only made Alice think more about it. Who in the whole world would ask for a project to be kept very secret, and asked their employees to also keep the identity of the employer secret. The whole thing smelled very fishy, no one that followed the law would act like that. But it got even stranger that Ellen seemed happier than earlier. Which almost indicated that the work couldn¡¯t be of a bad nature, if Ellen all off sudden hadn¡¯t got a taste for illegal activities. Which only sounded like a really bad joke while knowing how kind Ellen was.

    Alice noticed herself that her mind had slipped. The tea water was already warm and Lapin had taken her place around the table, looking at her with a smile.

    ¡°To start with, how is the house searching going?¡± Alice had served the tea and decided to start with a question that still was important. Sure Lapin didn¡¯t look as tired like before, but she was clearly still tired.

    Once again Alice offered a helping hand since she still hasn¡¯t found a new place to live, but once again Lapin declined since she wanted to handle it herself.

    Alice tried to lead the small talk in a direction there she comfortable could ask about if Lapin knew what ¡°reason¡± ¡°that woman¡± criticized her for. It couldn¡¯t be crystals. Alice would have noticed that, right?

    Just like Alice tried to lead the conversation in a specific direction, so was Lapin leading it in other directions. It was like she knew that something would come up.

    ¡°Will you really just sit her and small talk with her?¡± Lilly had apparently left her office and decided to interrupt their conversation.

    ¡°I thought you should ask her for the reason.¡±

    ¡°Why do you have to try to turn Alice against me? Why can¡¯t you let her trust me? I am trying to do my best to deserve her trust.¡±

    Sure Alice was tired of Lilly¡¯s attitude, but Lapin had apparently overheard some of it. At the end flying up and lashing out at Lilly, making sure that Lilly knew how tired she was of it.

    ¡°If that is the case, wouldn¡¯t you deserve it more if you told her the reasons why she shouldn¡¯t trust you.¡±

    Lapin sank down in the chair and shamefully avoiding Alice wondering look. Whatever it was, she sure still was hesitating about if she would deserve to be trusted after telling Alice about it.

    ¡°I¡­ I did a lot of bad things while I was addicted to those crystals. Like stealing, robbing and even tricking a lot of kind people.¡± She was shaking.

    ¡°I also got thrown out by my own family and lived with some friends that I have turned my back now. So I am living on the street for the moment, because all of the cheaper hotels know how bad I am since the addiction.¡±

    ¡°And even though I don¡¯t belong to a family anymore, so am I having a big debt that I am trying to pay.¡±

    ¡°Not a citizen any more, no home and havinga debt. That truly is good enough reasons to not trust her.¡±

    Sure the debt could be the only thing that could bring any problems, but the rest of it. It wasn¡¯t even worth Alice the time to think about. No matter how ¡°good reasons¡± Lilly thought it was.

    ¡°So you have been lying about having a place to live?¡±

    Lapin shamefully nodded to Alice question. The poor girl was honestly felt bad about it.

    ¡°By the way Lilly, if there¡¯s a problem that Lapin isn¡¯t a citizen and not don¡¯t have a home. How does it come that you trusted me after I got thrown out from Taija¡¯s home?¡±

    Lilly¡¯s idea that Alice was a special case was so stupid that she didn¡¯t consider to even following up at it. If she hadn¡¯t been sure ¡°that woman¡± was childish before, she would have been sure by now. Idiotic, it was a really idiotic idea to call it a special case.

    She turned and looked at the poor girl again, something had to be done about her problems. ¡°How does it work with debts Lapin?¡±

    <hr>

    Ellen buried her face in Jack¡¯s chest again, it was the best thing ever.

    She had met him at the caf¨¦ that he had decided that day, spending a really wonderful time with him. He had told her that she couldn¡¯t tell anyone that she meet him, not even Alice. Which she hadn¡¯t thought about doing anyway. Jack was Ellen¡¯s beloved, and only Ellen¡¯s. So she wouldn¡¯t give Alice a chance to take him away from her. Not a chance for everything in the world that she would let Alice try to take him away from her again.

    The help Jack wanted from Ellen was to tune an automobile so it would go faster. Which would make it possible for him to get from point A to B faster, and make it easier for him to catch up with information about how to solve the problem with being falsely accused. Sure he could move more rapidly with her help, but she couldn¡¯t see how it really would help him. Yet she accepted his request. He did after all say that it could help him to be able returning home to Ellen faster. Which really might be true.

    ¡°How is it going with the automobile Ellen?¡±

    She would like to have stayed like that in silence for a little while longer, and simply enjoyed the reality. ¡°It is going forward, there¡¯s a little to small space to work with inside the motor, but I might be up at something.¡±

    She had been spending her first two days to examine the automobile to sort out good and bad ideas. Which meant that she only had used two days to truly work with the request. Some of the ideas that she had thought was good had turned out just plain bad, but at least she got some new ideas from them.

    ¡°I am proud to have a girl this smart.¡±

    He praised her, he seriously praised her. That was much of the motivation that she truly needed to get through everything that was happening.

    Alice didn¡¯t only try to stick her nose where it didn¡¯t belong about this job. Even though Ellen told her that it was a secret, and that she wasn¡¯t allowed to tell her anything at all.

    The last day Alice had also bring home her assistant, and THEN asked Ellen if Lapin could live there with them for a while. Sure, that itself wasn¡¯t a direct problem. Even if Ellen¡¯s chances of truly relaxing decreased. The problem was that she first picked the girl home and then asked if she could live with them. If Ellen wouldn¡¯t have agreed to it, what should have happened then? Would Alice have been nagging about it until she got as she wanted, or would she have sent out the girl after getting her hopes up?

    ¡°That princess¡± seemed to really have her moments when she didn¡¯t use her brain, AT ALL.

    ¡°Will you be building something outside the motor?¡±

    Jack started to curiously ask about the work, interrupting all her thoughts.

    Ellen would love to do that, but it would involve some risks since it easily could get up dirt there that would damage the cogs. And if she set up some protection it could be a pain to repair it.

    Jack came up with more suggestions that Ellen punctured one by one, of course there were a few that was so stupid Ellen wondered if he had forgotten his brain somewhere while he had been hiding.

    It could sound like she punctured them for the sake of fun, but she thought through ever suggestion very carefully. Sure, some of the ideas could have worked temporarily. But no one of them sounded like they would last forever. Which was what Ellen wanted. She wanted to do a work that would last forever and really help Jack with what he wanted to get done.

    ¡°I am sure that I will find a good solution soon.¡± Ellen explain in a panic-like matter when she noticed how disappointed Jack looked.

    She must have sounded really mean to him. She must have sounded like she only made up bad excuses, which really wasn¡¯t the case. She only wanted to do a great job, a wonderful job that she could be proud over.

    ¡°I know that you will do that sweetheart.¡± He hugged her and hold her tight. Telling her that he really believed in her through the simple hug. Not to mention that he clearly showed off that he cared for her, by whole his heart.

    ¡°How about we stop for today, so can you get some rest and time to think it all through at home.¡±

    He did show how important she was to him. Even thinking about her health at a time like this.

    Ellen would like to stay there for a while longer and spend some more time with him. But since he still was hunted so could neither of them remain there and Jack had to continue his investigations of the false accuses.

    Ellen looked at the building where she worked for the moment, it did look like a normal house. So no one would ever expect that the building had a really big workshop in it. Ellen would have thought it was a normal house at least, she had been really surprised the first time. She could never have guessed either that or that it existed a group that tried to solve those false accuses. Which strangely enough should mean that it happened quite a few people.

    The neitherworlds was a truly strange place if that was to the norms.

    Ellen would have loved if it was a little calmer back home. It had been a small pain when it only was ¡°the princess¡± there, since she loved to be close to Ellen. Now there was a cat there too, it was still not that she had any problem with her. But she was acting very insecurely in the house, which she hopefully would stop doing as the time passed by. Maybe she even could spend more time with Alice later on too, so that Ellen could get ¡°that princess¡± off her back. And get some real chance to relax in her own house.

    Back at home Ellen got surprised when Alice and Lapin were warming up all the food again, so they all could eat together. It was the first time since Ellen started to work for Jack that they would eat together. If it wasn¡¯t Lapin¡¯s idea, so could it maybe be that there was a chance ¡°the princess¡± did have a heart. If it wasn¡¯t that she only tried to create a possibility to ask Ellen more about her job.

    ¡°Pardon miss¡­ Ellen? Do you want some wine with the food?¡±

    ¡°Not today, but thanks for asking.¡± The cat was a really kind and gentle person, even asking her about that. But she really needed to do something with that insecurity, it was annoying. She was sharing the house with them, she would act that she also lived there instead of acting like a guest.

    ¡°How is the job going Ellen?¡± They had just started to eat when Alice just had to ask that question. She really just had to.

    ¡°I can only tell you that it¡¯s going forward.¡±

    When would her stupid sister learn that it was no use for her to ask about the job, Ellen would never tell her about it. Not even if she would have been allowed to tell Alice about it.

    ¡°Is it really that secret?¡±Lapin looked at her with curious eyes.

    ¡°It is.¡±

    ¡°Ain`t it a pain to not being able to talk about it, not even others that might be workin¡¯ with the same thing?¡±

    ¡°It`s no big problem.¡±

    Ellen pulled a quick lie, the cat did have a point in what she said. It was annoying to not be able to ball the ideas with someone else, even without telling them about Jack. Only the ideas themselves, it could have helped a whole bunch.

    Ellen noticed that there was a big difference between how Alice and Lapin curiously looked at her. ¡°The Princess¡± was looking at her in a way that spelt out problems. She seemed to be ready to stick her nose where it didn¡¯t belong.

    While the cat was looking at her in a more honest curious way. She wanted to know, only for the knowledge sake. But was accepting a no as an answer.

    Ellen walked into her room, without even turning on the light giving gears.

    She had heard about how Taija had become more careful around both Alice and Lapin. Which Ellen could understand since Lilly a couple of days before had done some really stupid moved by attacking the reasons why the cat wouldn¡¯t be trusted. Did Lilly even think about that she was aiming for points there even Taija could be the target? Ellen couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for Taija.

    Walking over the bed and took a seat so she could look out through the window.

    Why could it have been so Jack could come back? Sure she was more than happy to see him every day, but it still wouldn¡¯t have been wrong for him to move in with them again.

    Since Alice and Lapin shared a room, so could him and her shared room. Just like the lovely couple did in the movies Ellen saw once in the time. It wouldn¡¯t have been too much to ask for, right

 Chapter 19

    It was really a beautiful day, everything seemed to be perfect. The sunshine felt gentle and carrying, and even the bird¡¯s chippers seemed to be dripping off joy.

    Ellen had got a day off for the first time since she started to work for Jack, requested by himself. And to Ellen¡¯s surprise, even offering her to meet up during the day. A date in other words.

    She did know that he still was hiding from the guards that wanted to lock him down. Which meant they couldn¡¯t meet anywhere, but the place he had said they should meet at. It was a more or less rundown bar. Really not the optimal choice for a date.

    ¡°You don¡¯t really look to be from here.¡±

    She knew the voice behind here to well. She had been simply been standing and look at the bar, wondering if she had got anything wrong.

    ¡°But you still do look beautiful.¡± Jack walked up beside her as he spoke and praised her for her clothing. Even if she had borrowed the red dress from Alice. Maybe ¡°that princess¡± had some good points, at least when it was about clothes. Ellen had done a good decision to ask Alice to borrow the dress.

    ¡°Would you like to have a beer?¡±

    He suggested that they would take a beer, as the first thing during a date? Was this really how dates would be like? Or did Ellen only a had a childish view of how dates should be like?

    ¡°I can take one beer.¡±

    Ellen followed him in at the bar and decided that she could take at least one beer with Jack¡¯s company. Did he have a different view of how a date should be? A more adult-like date?

    Ellen took a place around a small table while Jack went to order the drinks.

    Without his company by her side, so was she starting to think about his clothing for the day. He had the same shirt as he had used the three last days, easily identified the annoying stains at it. The other clothes weren¡¯t as easy to identify if they were the same as he used the last days, but it was at least clear that he hadn¡¯t put any thoughts in to dress up for her. Was he even thinking of their meeting as a date?

    It really didn¡¯t feel like that. Not dressing up and using the same old clothes, not even care about to do a so simple thing as combing his hair.

    At the same time so couldn¡¯t Ellen help but feeling split about it. The reason that he didn¡¯t dressed up could be so simple that he still was hunted by the guards. So it could be that he had to fit in to not raise any suspicious?

    ¡°Are you thinking about anything my beloved girl?¡± Ellen snapped out of her thoughts when Jack came back and talked with her.

    It wasn¡¯t worth the time to think about it. The date had only just started, so it would only be better. And even if Jack and Ellen had a different view of how a date should be, so was sure that they would come to an understanding.

    ¡°Nothing more than how nice it¡¯s to spend some time with you.¡± It was no lie. She really enjoyed that she had got the chance to spend time with her beloved one, even if she would have loved if it was a little different.

    Jack served Ellen her beer and took his place around the table, look everything except excited about having a date with his beloved daughter. Not to mention that he looked really tired and worn out again, in differences from how Ellen had reacted that he had looked better during the time she had talked with him at the workshop.

    Had it happened anything since the day before? Had there been any problem that had hindrances him from sleeping, or get any real rest?

    ¡°May I ask what you have been up to since the day you left our home?¡±

    Ellen had hesitated to ask about it, but gave in to her curiosity. in the end She really wanted to know what he had been up to and if he had been doing fine.

    ¡°I have been doing my best to hide from the guards and all other kinds of threats.¡± He gave her a glare. He didn¡¯t seem to like that she was curious about it. Not that it bothered her a bit for the moment, she really wished to get a better picture of how everything looked like.

    ¡°May I ask what you are accused off, and how it¡¯s going with solving it?¡±

    Jack made it, very, clear that he couldn¡¯t tell her much without risking to involve her in it. And no matter if she wanted to know more to be able to help him, so wouldn¡¯t he tell her since he really didn¡¯t want to get her involved. She needed to remain out of it so she could keep taking care of her little sister and hold up a home that he could return to when everything was solved.

    Ellen still tried to get a little information, resulting in that Jack stared at her with knives and daggers.

    ¡°I think I have found a way to solve the problem. But I need more time to find out if it will lead anywhere.¡±

    The only information he could give her didn¡¯t tell her anything more than that he maybe was onto something. Ellen knew that she had gone too far when she tried to find out what it all was about, but she could never have guessed that he would give her that angry look. She felt guilty for sticking her nose up where it didn¡¯t belong, just like how ¡°that princess¡± did.

    Jack walked to order a new beer. He had emptied his own during the talk, and he could maybe want to give Ellen a chance to recover from her guilt. Just like the caring person he was.

    She might need to pay a little more respect to what he didn¡¯t want to talk about, instead of giving in to what she wanted herself.

    It was a really bad start on their date. It hadn¡¯t gone on for long, yet she had already got at his wrong side once. She could only hope that he still wanted to continue the date, even after what she had done.

    It didn¡¯t seem like Jack had any bigger problem with that she had been too curious, or so had he noticed her regrets over it. At least he still wanted to talk and spend time with her.

    ¡°Since I couldn¡¯t get a clear picture of how little Alice and you have been doing during the time I have been gone. So can I ask how it all had been going?¡±

    It was their date, yet he wanted to talk about something that involved ¡°the princess¡±. Why did it have to be like that, it was Ellen¡¯s and his date.

    Sure both she and ¡°that princess¡± was his beloved daughters, so of course he wanted to know. But did he really had to know about it right this moment? He could have picked any moment during the time they were in the workshop, but NO. Instead he wanted to know about it during THEIR date.

    Ellen would have loved to ignore his request but she had already got at his bad side once, so it would be a bad idea to risk it once more. In the worst case so could he cancel the date and leaving her, letting her love for him hang loose forever. It wasn¡¯t anything Ellen could risk, not for her whole life.

    She began to tell him from the beginning of how they had got help by Taija and then had found their ways to work up from there. Consciously extra marking out what she had done. Even if ¡°the princess¡± was the biggest reason that they actually were able to survive, so couldn¡¯t it be wrong by her to point out her own strong points. Of course with some exaggerations, but it still couldn¡¯t be wrong. Right?

    After Ellen had told him so did he told her that he was proud of her. Which was satisfying, but would have been even better if he didn¡¯t express it a very plain voice. And if he wouldn¡¯t have gone to get a new beer afterwards. Of course this time after asking if she also wanted one.

    They continued to talk for a few hours more before Jack suggested that the would go for a bite.

    During the time they spent talking so had Jack been able to drink 6 glasses of beer, and had got a little tipsy.

    Was that really how a date would look like? Was he really supposed to be tipsy during a time that was meant to be wonderful? Or was it so simple that he had got bored with her and drank to be able to stand the time he spent with her? Drinking at a really cheap looking bar. It didn¡¯t felt like a date at all, it almost didn¡¯t even felt like she was spending time with the man she loved. But instead as if she was spending time with a co-worker that had some bad habits.

    Did he even wanted it to be a date, did he really even wanted to spend time with her?

    The restaurant that he led her to was a good looking one, maybe they had been at the cheap bar since he was a little short on money. So they had only been there so he could treat her at a better restaurant later on.

    The inside, was simply disappointing. It reminded Ellen off the hotel where she and Chris had installed gears.

    Worn out, a corpse but this time so had someone been better at putting makeup at the corpse. Which of course didn¡¯t change the fact that it still was one, even if it looked better.

    ¡°This restaurant serves some really good food, and is one of the places where I know that I am safe.¡±

    The second part could explain why they were at a worn down place like that during a date. Ellen had forgotten the fact that he still was hunted. She could accept the settings more, even though it still wasn¡¯t perfect, if she holds that simple fact in her mind.

    Ellen started to get enough of the so-called ¡°date¡±.

    Jack not only didn¡¯t even try to dress up for the date. Not even care about using new and fine clothes but instead still chooses to wear the same clothes as a couple of days ago. Not to mention that he got tipsy while talking about Ellen and Alice¡¯s everyday life. As if she would have bored him halfway to death.

    While they ordered food, he didn¡¯t care about giving Ellen any advice off what she would order. He did also almost ate the waitress up with his eyes, without even doing anything to try hiding it from Ellen.

    This really couldn¡¯t be how a date would look like. Wasn¡¯t a date supposed to be a time there two persons paid all attention and all the time to each other? Which really couldn¡¯t be said about this so-called ¡°date¡±

    Ellen gives the ¡°date¡± even more thoughts as she noticed that Jack still was tasting all the waitresses with his eyes, even after the time she had spent thinking. Couldn¡¯t he at least have a little more shame than ¡°that princess¡±? Couldn¡¯t he at least think of the fact that he was on a date with ELLEN?

    She was considering leaving when they got their food. It felt bad to leave the food just like that, especially when there were people that could kill for getting that meal.

    ¡°What is it Ellen?¡± Jack seemed to have noticed that she was in a bad mood, first, when they started to eat.

    ¡°Are you seeing this as a date?¡± She stared daggers at him. There was no idea to even try to hide it when he was acting like that, she didn¡¯t even want to hide her irritation from him. He was acting like an idiot, so he fair and square deserved her anger.

    He did see it as a date with his most beloved daughter, but couldn¡¯t give her a good answer to why he acted as he did. Almost trying to paint it up as if he didn¡¯t notice himself the acts he has done wrong, like if that was how he acted while Ellen wasn¡¯t there.

    It almost seemed that he had been honest with that he hadn¡¯t noticed what he had done wrong. After Ellen did tell him, his behaviour changed rapidly. He was no longer looking at the waitresses and give her all his attention. Even going so far that he feed her with some small pieces of his food.

    Ellen¡¯s attitude toward the date also changed for the better. She could never have guessed that her beloved one was really clumsy when it came to things like love. It made her fall more in love with him, she really wanted that the time for the two of them to live together would come soon.

    <hr>

    Lapin had got really good at the work, so Alice could more or less just stand and only look. The girl had also become more secure at how to use the ¡°Angel¡±, almost only asking for Alice to check the machine when they had a more worried patient. Of course by then only an act to get the patient calmer, which was a trick that she also had learned very quick.

    As it was now, so could Alice enjoy her work more than when she had been alone. It was less stress and she got more time to think through things. Like what the reason could be that the patients needed the treatment. Not that she possibly could solve the problem for them, but it was still interesting to think about. But since she didn¡¯t want to ask the patients about their private life, in respect for them, so was she only trying to read it by looking at the ¡°demons¡± that had got pulled out of the patient.

    It was one thing that really helped her take her mind off other things. Like who Ellen was meeting.

    Her beloved sister had borrowed a red dress from here this morning since she should meet up with a friend. Or that was at least what she said, but the truth had to be that Ellen would go on a date. Otherwise so wouldn¡¯t she have put that much effort to look pretty, not that she didn¡¯t look extremely pretty from the start. And she knew Ellen to well, she never dressed up like that to meet a friend. So it had to be something very special this time.

    Alice opened the ¡°Angel¡± when Lapin leads out the patient to the waiting room. This was her chance to give her thoughts about Ellen a rest, or at least it could have been.

    There was a strangely low amount of ¡°demons¡± in the box, but one really caught her attention. A ¡°demon¡± that looked like a normal girl. No deformed body part and no sign of wings or anything. A totally normal girl like Alice. It was the first time she saw a ¡°demon¡± like that.

    Did that man had a woman or girl that he was sickly worried about? A girl that he liked or a that worried him?

    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    Worried about love?

    Alice couldn¡¯t help to think more about what kind of person that Ellen meet. Hoping it was a good person that really would do his best to put her sister before anything else. And never ever would even think about hurt or cheating at her. He really had to be a good person. Ellen did only deserve the best, and that really had to be the best.

    If it would turn out that he was bad for her, Alice wouldn¡¯t mind to hunt him down. To the end of the world if necessary, and then bury him deep down below.

    ¡°What are you thinking about Miss Alice?¡± Lapin had come back. Had Alice been spacing out that much?

    ¡°I am only thinking about Ellen.¡±

    ¡°And more?¡±

    A while after Lapin had moved in with them so had she started to somehow see through some of Alice¡¯s behaviour. Of course so was there a chance that she had done it earlier too, but then it was first now she shows it clearly and asked Alice more about it. She had even almost started to take a strange kind of joy in seeing through Alice.

    "I am thinking about what kind of person my sister is meeting.¡±

    She could spill some of her thoughts, leaving the little more hateful for herself. Lapin could see through her a little bit, but luckily she wasn¡¯t able to read Alice¡¯s mind. And the girl didn¡¯t need to know the hateful ones, or rather she was better off not knowing about them.

    ¡°I think that sister has found a good person. She¡¯s a really smart one after all.¡±

    Lapin¡¯s way of expressing her thoughts took a strange turn from time to time when it only was the two of them. Even calling Ellen for simply ¡°sister¡±, which maybe could be because Alice sometimes simply called Ellen for ¡°my sister¡± most times when she talked about her. Or maybe the girl only had got so comforting in Alice company so she started to talk like she did with her friends.

    ¡°I really hope so. I don¡¯t want her to be hurt.¡± Alice spoke while she emptied the ¡°Angel¡±.

    ¡°She is a smart person so I don¡¯t think there should be a problem. But when do you think that she will let us meetin¡¯ him?¡±

    Just by the way that Alice knew her sister, so would it take at least take until they were a stable couple before Alice was allowed to meet him. Then it maybe would happen, otherwise so would she try to stretch it out as far she possibly could. She was after all a very careful and delicate girl.

    After they had finished eveything after the treatment, so did they go to the kitchen area of the clinic for some tea. Just like they always had started to do between the treatment, so they really could take it easy and small talk.

    Alice noticed that Taija stood outside Lilly¡¯s office. When she saw them she gave Lapin an angry glare before retreating in at the office.

    ¡°She maybe has a good reason to dislike me.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t the first time Taija acted like that toward Lapin, and only Lapin. Of course so had the girl had noticed it, but she didn¡¯t seem to care about it. Which was a big difference with how she saw Lilly. Lapin did still hold quite some grudge against her for trying to turn Alice against her.

    ¡°Since we talked about sister¡¯s love before, so am I curious about if you have someone you love Miss Alice?¡±

    The girl was truly curious. Even her ears perked right up and her tail was swaying playfully from side to side. It was some of the times that it was impossible to miss that she was a cat. And to Lapin¡¯s disadvantage so was it betraying her if she even would try to deny that she was curious. Which already had been proven when she had asked Ellen an innocent question about her work once. Instead of hearing anything about the secret work she did, Ellen told her about another work. Which had satisfied Lapin''s curiosity, but she had still denied that she had been curious from the beginning when asked about if she was curious about gears.

    Alice gave the question some thoughts. It was hard to tell if she was loving someone. Didn¡¯t the whole concept love involve emotions, special emotions toward someone else? Would it even be possible to be in love with someone if she couldn¡¯t feel emotions to start with? Was the emotions that a person loved someone the same kind of emotions as other emotions, or could it be something that even Alice would be able to feel?

    ¡°I don¡¯t have anyone I love¡±. Until she knew the answers herself it was best to paint it up that she didn¡¯t have anyone.

    ¡°Not even him¡­ mister¡­ mister bull?¡±

    Chris? Sure Alice held special thoughts to him, but it wasn¡¯t anything that possible ever could be love. She could only see him as a pathetic excuse to a human for challenging Ellen, which was both smaller and weaker than him. And that wasn¡¯t even all. He had also followed up at that dragon¡¯s provoking, and then he had lost. Not that she had thought any different of him if he had won, it didn¡¯t change the fact that he had challenged her sister. SISTER.

    ¡°No. Absolutely not.¡±

    ¡°How is it about you Lapin? Do you have someone that you love?¡±

    Lapin¡¯s curious smile disappeared in an instant.

    ¡°I do have someone that I like.¡± The girl¡¯s face turned red as an apple and she started to move uncomfortably in the chair. Almost giving off the feeling that she was forced to answer. Which she more or less was since Alice had answered her questions about it.

    Alice found her behaviour very cute and innocent.

    ¡°I see. Is it someone I know?¡±

    It wasn¡¯t. That made Alice even more curious about how it could be that Alice hadn¡¯t met that person, how they had met and likewise.

    ¡°I won¡¯t risk your trust and the job if I tell you, right?¡± Lapin had gone from embarrassed to seriously worry almost in an instant. Looking at Alice with teary eyes, as if she was on the edge to start crying.

    ¡°Are you involved with anything bad he¡¯s doing, and is it something that will risk involving the clinic or me and Ellen?¡±

    It wasn¡¯t. Alice let out a relieved sigh. If it didn¡¯t risk involving any of the persons in question, it shouldn¡¯t be any problem. Right? Sure it could still hurt Lapin, but it was nothing Alice could do about that. Even though she really hoped that nothing bad would happen to Lapin.

    ¡°The one I love is the person that sold me the shines when I was addicted to it.¡±

    ¡°But I won¡¯t get together with that person before all the sellin¡¯ has come to an end. So it¡¯s simply to watch and love until that person starts followin¡¯ the law.¡±

    Lapin quickly followed up at herself. She was clearly really afraid of what Alice would think about her, yet she showed that she couldn¡¯t abandon her love for her dealer.

    ¡°Then I hope that he will stop selling crystal soon so you and he can get together.¡±

    Alice would like to have a talk with that dealer. He made a cute little girl like Lapin wait for him, so he could sell some more and destroy more people¡¯s life.

    Not to mention that she really hoped that Ellen had made a better decision that Lapin. Otherwise she wouldn¡¯t know what to do. More than to make sure that he would pay for those bad thing he did.

    <hr>

    Ellen let out a tired sigh as she sat in front of the table in her workshop.

    The day had been wonderful and she loved every second of the time she had spent with Jack. Even if it had a rough start so had she honestly enjoyed it, by whole her heart. She thought that she had been the happiest girl in the world when she had got a kiss on the forehead, but it had turned out to be nothing compared with how happy she had been when Jack had offered to feed her with some of the food from his plate.

    Sure she had picked some good food herself, but it had turned out to not be as wonderful as the food Jack feed her with.

    She felt how her face getting warmer only thinking about it. Sure, she had been angry at Jack at first. But now she loved him more than ever before. Loving him for treating her like a lovely woman after she pointed out what he has done wrong earlier. Which didn¡¯t matter any more. HE loved HER. He treated her like his lovely princess. Ellen could never have guessed that it was that wonderful to be treated like that, and could even understand why Alice had acted like she done from time to time. It was a wonderful feeling that she easily could get addicted to.

    Not even the fact that Alice once again tried to stick her nose where it didn¡¯t belong could get Ellen irritated. And that the cat was honestly curious about how the date went without asking more about how it was with after Ellen declared that she wouldn¡¯t tell. It was so cute, the opposite of how it was when ¡°the princess¡± tried to find out about how the date had gone.

    Ellen has even been glad while taking on a few requests from Alice, which wondered if there was a possibility that she could build another ¡°Angel¡±. And since Ellen didn¡¯t really have the time for that while working for Jack, she wanted to have a blueprint of the machine instead. The very next day if it was possible. Which easily could be done.

    Ellen looked happily at the blueprint of the machine. The machine itself was so simple that it was impressive that no other person had built it already¡­

    Her happiness died out in seconds. Did Alice want someone else to build her machine?

    It couldn¡¯t be, right? Ellen had said that she would build it as soon she was finished with the ongoing work, so Alice would need to wait. Instead so had she asked for the blueprint of the machine. Why did she want the blueprint of the machine? She wouldn¡¯t have any use of it herself, she couldn¡¯t use it somehow without help. Did she have help from someone else? Alice wouldn¡¯t do that to her own sister, right?

    Ellen¡¯s thoughts got interrupted by a big yawn. Looking at the clock she noticed that it already had passed the time she usually went to bed. So it was no wonder that she was starting to get tired.

    Letting out a heavy sigh, she had on top of all already promised Alice that the blueprint should be done this very day. So even if Ellen wouldn¡¯t like to give it away, she had to do it since it had been promised. Had it been a mistake from her side to promise her something like that?

    Ellen had left the blueprint at the table and walked to her room.

    It was hard to part from the paper, but she had promised. And if it¡¯s promised, it has to be kept.

    The room was just as lonely as always, especially now since she had spent the whole day with Jack. Wonder if he was just as happy about the date, just like Ellen. He had started to act better after Ellen had got angry at him, why? He had acted differently before Ellen told him, was it how he normally acted. And in that case, why did he act like that?

    Ellen shook some sense into her head after changing to her sleeping clothes. There was nothing wrong with Jack more than that he had been a little clumsy.

    Some people maybe was more clumsy when it can to love? It had to be like that, right?

    <hr>

    Lilly was acting strange when Alice and Lapin arrived at the clinic. Greeting them like she had before she had turned against Lapin. Even ignoring the fact that Taija had retreated by herself to Lilly¡¯s office, as always.

    ¡°Good morning Lilly.¡±

    Alice didn¡¯t care that Taija had escaped and would act normally until ¡°that woman¡± show what she had on her mind. Alice was after all a mature female and not a childish woman like both Lilly and Taija.

    Lapin Tried to follow Alice¡¯s good example, yet she couldn¡¯t cover up her disliking for Lilly when she greeted her.

    ¡°Have you got a blueprint of the ¡°Angel¡±, will we get a new one here?¡±

    Alice had put the blueprint at the table while she started to boil up some water for tea.

    ¡°Yes, we will get a new ¡°Angel¡±. May I ask why you are so friendly all off sudden Lilly?¡±

    It seemed to be a bad idea to keep acting like nothing was going on, mostly because Lapin held herself close to Alice. Looking very irritated and uncomfortable, as if she wanted to tell Lilly a thing or two but couldn¡¯t.

    ¡°To put it simply Doctor Morfine, I have been thinking that it might be better to get back to the time when we all could get along.¡±

    ¡°And you say that after even trying to turn miss Alice against me?¡± Lapin didn¡¯t waste any second before answering Lilly, still trying to hold back her anger.

    ¡°I thought doctor Morfine deserved to know the things that you did try to hide.¡±

    Sure Alice thought something like that too since she easier could help Lapin by knowing what was going on. But she couldn¡¯t say that Lilly had tried to do it in a good way, it was quite the opposite. At least it sounded like ¡°that woman¡± was more serious than usual, otherwise she wouldn¡¯t have talked to Alice as ¡°doctor Morfine¡±.

    ¡°So you have been thinking and decided to accept Lapin?¡±

    Lilly agreed. She had decided to accept the girl since the secret had come out and she was seriously trying to do something about it.

    ¡°Then I will accept you too. But don¡¯t think that you will gettin¡¯ my respect until you truly deserve it.¡±

    Lapin was acting like a stubborn child, but it was understanding. No one should get any respect they didn¡¯t deserve, especially not after acting as Lilly did.

    ¡°Then I would like to know why Taija still is keeping her distance from us¡±

    If they all should get along as before, didn¡¯t that mean that even Taija would be a part of it?

    ¡°She has her reasons, but she will become a part of our group to when the time comes.¡± Lilly talked in an irritating nonchalant voice.

    May Taija¡¯s reasons be much better than ¡°that woman¡¯s¡± reasons. Which it most probably was, Taija was after all a much gentler and kinder person than what Lilly was. That was one thing that Alice had learned after all the time she had spent with Taija.

 Chapter 20

    Ellen took another look at the automobile. It looked just the same as when she had started to modify and tuned the motor. It looked no different at all, just like Jack wanted it.

    He had said that no one should be able to spot anything that could point out the automobile along with other automobiles. Which Ellen really had succeeded with, at least she thought so but it would be up Jack to decide.

    She had worked with the automobile for a really long time by now and Ellen had started to grow slightly tired at it. Sure it was still a challenge that she liked to face, but it was the fact that she couldn¡¯t talk with anyone about how she could do to make a better job. If she just could have asked at least Chris about it, so could it have been going so much smoother. Not to mention that she would have found it so more interesting to ball the ideas between them.

    Letting out a sigh she took a look at the motor again.

    The work with the motor had gone so much quicker after the date with Jack two weeks ago. The motivation that made the work flow like a river, had slowly died out. And she wouldn¡¯t have minded another date with him, but there was a risk that the job would be finished before there were any chances that she got invited to another one. Not to mention that it probably would be hard for him to actually date her. He still needed to hide from the guards no matter how much they both could wish for another date. So even if he had places that he felt safe, it could be a bad idea to overuse those places. It could after all end with that they got their hands on him and that Ellen never would see him ever again.

    ¡°Good day angel, how¡¯s the job going.¡±

    While thinking about him so did he arrive in the workshop, greeting her and asked about the automobile as soon he arrived. It had been the same during the whole time Ellen had worked for him, first ask about the job with the automobile and then ask about her.

    ¡°The automobile should go faster now, without increasing the risk of it breaking down.¡±

    The tests she and a stranger had done had at least been giving them that result. The automobile should be able to go double the normal speed, so even if they didn¡¯t succeed to really force it to its limits. So will it still go much faster than other automobiles.

    ¡°That sounds great.¡± Jack walked up to Ellen beside the automobile and looked at it. This could be the moment of truth, it could be now that he would decide if she had done a great job or not. Not only because she wanted to help him, but it was more because her pride as a cog technician was on the line. Which almost weight higher than her own wish to help him. Strangely enough.

    ¡°It seems to at least look good, It doesn¡¯t show any difference at all. Great.¡±

    That really was great, that meant it was one problem out if the way.

    ¡°I will take it out and try it later on, so you can take the rest of the day off and come back tomorrow to see if there is something that needs to get changed.¡±

    It sounded good. At least he was satisfied with her work at it this far.

    ¡°If you will use it, please be careful. I don¡¯t want my beloved to get hurt.¡± Ellen tried to sound just as charming as ¡°that princess¡±, but it seemed to fail horribly. Jack only nodded in response without giving her more attention than the automobile.

    She dropped a heavy and loud sigh before heading toward the door. It was no hesitation that he had heard her sigh, yet he didn¡¯t pay her any attention.

    Bitter about that he didn¡¯t pay her any attention she started to think about the workshop to ease her irritation.

    Ellen started to find it strange. According to Jack so were it a group that helped him to solve the false accuses. But that would mean that there have to be enough people that got falsely accused, for someone to get the motivation to start a group like that.

    Ellen had thought about a few times earlier and found it more and more unbelievable. It could be that Jack had lied to her. But only to calm her worries for him, it did sound a lot better that there was a group helping Jack. Instead of him being all alone, it had to be like that.

    Ellen was still thinking about it when she walked through the marketplace and saw a special person in the corner of her eye. A red little fox, carry things that clearly was far too much for her.

    ¡°Good day Sain.¡±

    Ellen walked up to the fox and greeted her, thinking about offering her a hand. But by mistake scared her so she made a jump and dropped some of the vegetables that she held.

    ¡°Ohh, it¡¯s you Ellen. You scared me.¡±

    Scared, you didn¡¯t say? Ellen could never have guessed.

    She helped Sain to pick up the vegetables she had dropped and took a bag to carry from the fox to ease the burden for her.

    Ellen still mostly remembered Sain because of what she did to her sister. Not that Ellen still held any grudge against the fox anymore, since it had been a mistake. Both Alice and Taija had pointed it out for her. And even if Ellen had problems accepting it from the beginning so had she matured up and accepted it as the time passed by.

    During their talk toward the mansion, they came into talking about how the job at the mansion looked like after Ellen and Alice had left. Which only turned out to irritate her. Taija¡¯s old fianc¨¦ had married Taija¡¯s sister and got her pregnant, but was still flirting with other girls and maids. Without trying to hide the fact about the other girls. He did also threaten the maids to fire them if they told anyone about it.

    Maybe Ellen had been to easy at the swine when she did beat him at the celebration, she would maybe also have castrated him somehow during that time.

    The rest off what Sain told her was things Ellen already had heard from Taija, but she still listened without interrupting the fox.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that it would be a good idea if they saw you.¡± They had arrived too the mansion¡¯s gates, and Ellen could somehow understand what Sain wanted to have said. The fat bowling ball was most probably still angry since she had beaten that swine.

    Ellen arrived too their own house, still feeling sorry for that poor fox that needed to work in ¡°that¡± mansion. If they ever would need a maid or a housekeeper, so would Sain be the first one to ask. But a time like that would most probably never come.

    The door to the house was locked?

    Of course, she had finished her job earlier this day. So neither Alice or the cat had come back. Checking her pockets for the key, checking more frankly. She couldn¡¯t find it. Had she dropped it during her work? No. She would have noticed that, and so would Jack have done. She couldn¡¯t have dropped it either when she helped Sain, the fox would without hesitation have noticed it.

    It struck her, she had let Lapin borrow the key since she and Alice didn¡¯t always end at the same time. So that meant that Ellen had to wait until one of them finished, or go to the clinic and get the key. Which reminded Ellen of Alice request two weeks ago. She wanted an ¡°Angel¡± and the blueprint for the machine, so she could let someone else build the machine for her since Ellen hadn¡¯t got the time back then.

    Someone else would build ELLEN¡¯s machine? That was something she couldn¡¯t take, not as a proud cog technician. If someone else had or was building the machine, So did Ellen have to prove that she could do it much better than that person. And she had the time to do it now when the work for Jack was as good as done.

    ¡°Can I help you with something Miss?¡±

    It was Angela behind the counter in Sour¡¯s shop. Which had started to call her Miss after the last celebration at the bar.

    ¡°I would need to talk with Sour and order a specially made gear.¡±

    It was best to order the purifying gear first since it could take a couple of days to get done.

    ¡°Sour is unfortunately out for the rest of the day, but do you think it¡¯s something I can make for you.¡±

    Angela shined up in hope when she asked if it was something she could make. Of course it should be something she could make, but the problem was that it needed to be good like last time or better. So it was better if Sour did make the gear for her. But since Angela seemed to be eager to get the possibility to help with specially made gears, so would Ellen try turn to her when she needed something. It couldn¡¯t be wrong to turn to her instead of Sour, she was after all Sour¡¯s daughter. Not to mention that Ellen found it easier to talk things through with her.

    ¡°That actually sounds kind of difficult.¡±

    Ellen had got asked to come back the next day to talk with Sour about it. But just for the fun of it, so was she also telling Angela about it to give her a taste of it.

    She was a really smart person, not because she followed what Ellen told her about it. But instead because she knew her own limits of what she could do by herself.

    ¡°I think it can be kind of difficult to make, but of course I haven¡¯t seen how gears are made.¡±

    ¡°Maybe Sour can let you see how he makes them while you ask a thing or two?¡±

    That way she could maybe pick up a thing or two that could help her later on.

    Ellen spent some time talking with Angela before heading off to both Thom and Chris to see if she possibly could buy a few things on credit, only so she could start at the machine to Alice

    <hr>

    Alice let out a big yawn while sitting in the kitchen area of the clinic.

    She had been sleeping really bad the last days, but it was first this day that she felt too tired to concentrate on her work. She had been spacing out from time to time, so it had ended with that Lapin decided to take action. The girl had first asked Alice how she was feeling and upon hearing that she was tired the girl had offered to take over. Only so Alice could get some rest.

    Lapin was just as kind and hardworking like always, even started to keep an eye at Alice. Not in a matter that showed she didn¡¯t trust her, but instead only giving if a feeling that the girl cared about her.

    The sleeping problem had started after Alice took the blueprint to the Clinic and ¡°that woman¡± saw it, simply asking what she had for plans for it. Upon which Alice had told her, only to receive the question if she tried to make herself important.

    That wasn¡¯t the case, she would never try to make herself look important at the cost of her own sister. The stupid question had annoyed Alice, but she didn¡¯t pay it much attention. Until she should try to sleep that evening. By then so had Lilly¡¯s words echoed in her mind, connecting more and more to the horrible dream where she had been accused to use others.

    It was all lies, she knew it herself. But yet so couldn¡¯t she get the thought out if her mind, and it got worse and worse by every day. Until only a few days ago, when she started to only could get a few hours sleep every night.

    She wasn¡¯t using anyone to get what she wanted, she didn¡¯t try to make herself important. It really was just lies.

    ¡°Do you want to go home now and get some sleep?¡±

    Lapin had just finished the treatment of another patient. Alice hadn¡¯t noticed that the girl walked up to her. It could have been nice try to get some sleep, but how would it look like if Alice left before her assistant? Only to get some sleep? It wouldn¡¯t have looked good at all, but she was truly grateful that Lapin offered her the possibility.

    After declining the offer, Alice started to think at last time when her mind had been in a mess. It had been when Ellen started studying to become a cog technician. Taija had made her open herself up a little and talk about it, eases up her heart. Maybe that could help again, but the problem was who she would talk with. She didn¡¯t want to talk with Lapin about it, even if the girl stood up for her in the dream. Yet so would it be wrong by her to talk with her about it. Lilly wasn¡¯t even worth thinking about since she wouldn¡¯t understand anything. Taija would have been a good idea, but she was still hiding at Lilly¡¯s office almost all of her time at the clinic. Ellen? Ellen¡­ She was a very smart and strong person, but yet Alice didn¡¯t want to open up like that for her beloved sister. Bothering her with any of her own small problems.

    It turned out that she couldn¡¯t talk to anyone about it after all, so she needed to find her own solution to the problem.

    Nothing had got better when Alice had gone to bed.

    Ellen came back to the house and went straight to her workshop, even locking the door behind herself. Which usually was something she never did. When it was time for them to eat, so was Lapin knocking at the door for a couple of minutes before she got any response.

    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!Ellen seemed to be in a really bad mood, she said next to nothing during the dinner and locked herself in again after she was done eating. Something must have happened, otherwise she wouldn¡¯t have acted like that.

    Was it because of her work, or had she been at another date that had gone horribly wrong. Could it be that the person she met had done something wrong?

    Alice tried her very best to ignore the bad thoughts before it got out of control.

    Lapin entered the room, undressed and sneaked to the bed. Before she noticed that Alice was awake.

    ¡°I am sorry, did I woke you up?¡±

    She was just as gently and kind as always.

    ¡°No, I just haven¡¯t been able to fall asleep yet.¡±

    ¡°Thinkin¡¯ about sister?¡±

    She couldn¡¯t tell Lapin about anything, right?

    ¡°You know, I talked a little with her before comin¡¯ here.¡±

    ¡°I thought she was angry or somethin¡¯, but it turned out that sister is a strange one.¡±

    Ellen wasn¡¯t strange, she was just a little special with some own traits.

    Lapin hugged Alice from behind and talked calmly with her.

    Explaining for Alice how she had been knocking constantly at the door until Ellen finally opened.

    The girl felt that Ellen was strange since it turned out that she hadn¡¯t even reacted to how she acted herself. Ellen had been engulfed by her own thoughts of something, which seemed to make her act strange. And the reason that she had locked herself up in the workshop was all because she had some work to do. And once again she hadn¡¯t reacted at her behaviour, she didn¡¯t even know she had locked the door behind her.

    ¡°Sister is a really strange one.¡±

    Alice couldn¡¯t help but think of herself as stupid. She assumed that her sister was in a bad mood since she acted as she did. But didn¡¯t even once thought once about asking her about it. Instead she had only feed her bad thoughts until they filled up her mind. She really was an idiot, wasn¡¯t she?

    Alice knocked at the door to Ellen workshop and waited a short while before she entered.

    Ellen was working with something and didn¡¯t notice Alice until she first called out for Ellen.

    ¡°Are you also visiting me today Alice.¡± Just as Lapin had said so didn¡¯t Ellen seem to be in a bad mood.

    ¡°How are you doing Ellen?¡±

    Ellen took and looked at herself and then brushed off some dirt from herself. ¡°It seems like I am just fine. If it¡¯s that you wonder the same thing as Lapin, so wasn¡¯t I even noticing the behaviour myself.¡±

    ¡°Okay. May I ask what you are working at?¡±

    Some of Alice thoughts got to rest upon hearing that, so she turned her attention to what her sister worked with, What had made Ellen think so much that she acted differently from normal. It did somehow remind her of something she had seen earlier.

    Ellen explained that it was the ¡°Angel¡± that she had asked for two weeks earlier. But it was first now that Ellen had got the time to start working with it.

    ¡°So you are done with the other work?¡±

    Ellen pointed out that she still would go there the next day to see if there was something that she would need to adjust. Yet she didn¡¯t seem to be glad that the work was done, not even after working with it for so long. Was there any reason for that, could it be that it was at that work she daily meets the person she was dating?

    ¡°The ¡°Angel¡± will be done in about two days, if nothing comes up.¡±

    That was great, that meant that they could give even more patients their treatment at a faster pace.

    Ellen said in a strong and sure voice that the machine she builds would be much better than the other one Alice had ordered, following up how with the question what Alice would do with 3 machines.

    ¡°Why would I have 3 of them when I only need 2? You aren¡¯t thinking about making a third, right?¡±

    Both Ellen and Alice seemed to be confused by each other¡¯s statements.

    It turned out that Ellen had thought that Alice had asked for the blueprint so someone else could build the ¡°Angel¡± for her. An idea that Alice wouldn¡¯t even think about, not as long Ellen could build it for her. It didn¡¯t matter if it couldn¡¯t be done in an instant, she had been able to work with only one ¡°angel¡± for so long. So she could just as fine work with one for quite some time more.

    Ellen made a very cute face when she understood that she had misunderstood why Alice had asked for the blueprint. Alice wished she always could remember that face.

    ¡°Then why did you asked for the blueprint Alice?¡±

    Alice explained that she had decided to take a patent on it, since Ellen wouldn¡¯t take her time to do it herself. So now it was only the two of them that was allowed to build it.

    Ellen didn¡¯t mind that Alice took patent at it, she was most probably knowing herself that she would take quite some time to take patent at it, is she even took the time to do it.

    Alice knew her beloved sister¡¯s weak points, which of one was that she was far too kind.

    Ellen had simply said that she would take a small bath before she also went to bed.

    ¡°Isn`t it nice to have some ¡°sister-time¡± from time to time?¡±

    Alice hadn¡¯t taken a no as an answer when offering Ellen to keep her company in the bath.

    Ellen didn¡¯t answer her question, but it was clear that she enjoyed that special time they could have together like that. Otherwise she would have declined Alice. Ellen was a really strong person after all, so there wouldn¡¯t be any problem for her to do that.

    Alice looked closely at her sister. If Alice just would have got a little of her sister¡¯s beauty so could she have been able to live happily. With only a little of the beauty so shouldn¡¯t she have looked like the corpse of a loose woman. And if she would have got a little of her sister¡¯s strength too, then she could have been standing at her own. Instead of needing other¡¯s support all the time.

    Just why couldn¡¯t it be like that? She could have been one of the happiest girls in the world.

    ¡°When will you date your friend again?¡± Alice was curious. She wanted her sister to be happy, and Ellen had also grown much more beautiful after the date. Both physically and as a person.

    ¡°I don¡¯t date anyone.¡±

    Ellen was embarrassed and answered in a panic-like matter. Denying that it had been a date, even if she had called it a date when they had asked her about it the very same day. But if course she was over the top happy during that time.

    Alice couldn¡¯t be happier that she had gone and talked with her beloved sister.

    Lapin had already fallen asleep in the bed, sleeping deep and drooling. Yet she looked very cute and innocent. It had all been thanks to that girl that Alice had been able to spend that wonderful time with her sister.

    Alice let out a yawn, it was really time for her to get some the sleep. If that was possible that was.

    <hr>

    Ellen had found one problem the night before when she talked with Alice.

    Just as Alice said, so was the job as good as finished. That had made Ellen think about if she still would be able to meet Jack. Of course it couldn¡¯t be as regular as it was now since he didn¡¯t need to come and check her process every day. But they still would meet from time to time, right? Or would he need to go into hiding again, just like when they lost their home? If it was like that, then she really wished that he should find problem after problem with the automobile.

    ¡°Welcome back my beloved angel!¡± Jack was strangely happy to see her, almost scary happy.

    ¡°You did a really wonderful job with the automobile. I am really proud of you. Thanks to you, I can solve all my problems quicker.¡±

    That sounded great. If he could solve the problem quickly so was there a chance that he could get back to her faster. And then start to live together with her again.

    Ellen felt really happy and got even happier when he walked up to her and gave her a tight hug. ¡°I am really proud of you.¡±

    Ellen¡¯s face got warm and she felt embarrassed when she hugged him back. She had never believed that he would get this happy and proud for her to finish a simple job. It was after all only her job she had done, so was she even deserving this treatment from her beloved one?

    He kissed her on her forehead. Ellen didn¡¯t know how to react anymore. Would she even give him a reaction to this behaviour, what should she do in that case?

    He hadn¡¯t found any problems when he had been out and tried the automobile the day before. Even enjoying to be able to drive around once again to his heart¡¯s content. He found out that everything was even better when he tested the highest speed, which was much better than he thought it should be.

    ¡°Since you did a wonderful job, would you like to spend the day with me in another city close by?¡±

    He invited her on a date, in another city. It should be the first time for her to leave this city. But there was still a big problem that they needed to think about.

    ¡°Is it really a good idea if they still are searching for you?¡±

    If it would be a big risk for Jack, so couldn¡¯t it be a very good idea. She didn¡¯t want to risk that Jack would disappear again and leave her all alone.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry, I know some places where I can move around without risking getting caught.¡±

    How could there be so many places where wanted persons could walk around safe? Sure, Ellen didn¡¯t want Jack to get caught and found it good that there were places he could be safe and get a chance to relax. But it also meant that there could be murderers hiding at those places, which would be a big risk for both Ellen and her beloved one.

    ¡°Don`t you want to go on a date with me?¡±

    Did he really need to express it like that? Of course Ellen wanted to go on a date with him, but she as just worried about the risks.

    ¡°Will there be time for me to go back home and change clothes?¡± If she would go on a date with him, she needed to look pretty for him. Which she never could do in her working clothes.

    Ellen sat in the automobile with Jack toward the other city.

    There hasn¡¯t been any time for her to get home and change clothes. If she wanted to go on the date with him, so did they need to leave right at the spot. Ellen almost found it strange until Jack expressed his worries that there could be someone that spotted him in the city.

    The way he was driving on was in a really bad condition, and absolutely not made for automobiles to drive at them yet. But of course it was probably only a question of time before it was changed, it was after all not long ago that someone ¡°created¡± the automobile.

    Ellen could at least not deny that she was glad to be there with Jack. Even if Jack didn¡¯t pay her any attention at all.

    She had been thinking from time to time how interesting it could be to get out at journey just like Jill did. And this could be the first taste she could get of it. Which Jack only add a bitter taste too when he acted like that. Thoughts had passed from time to time about how she and Jack could get out on some journeys, while slowly growing grey together. but if he would act like now during those journeys, it would only have annoyed Ellen.

    Instead of talking with her, so was he more or less in his own world. If this was really was how it should be, then she rather would go on a journey with Jill. Then she would at least have someone to talk with, and maybe even learning something. Not to mention that Jill might have some more experience than Jack when it came to travelling.

    Ellen was still curious about the city and asked if it was famous for something or likewise, but Jack didn¡¯t seem to think that there was anything to tell her. Not a word.

    He left the automobile close to a house of an allied, as he chooses to express it. Then they left to go into the city.

    ¡°There¡¯s a hotel here close by that have wonderful food and drinks. A perfect place for a date.¡± He grabbed her hand and gently pulled her along. He seemed to be eager to get there together with her.

    If the hotel had wonderful food and drinks, then it was the only thing that it aimed for. The inside of the hotel looked just as bad like the restaurant that he had treated her for lunch during the last date. Easy said so was there nothing to even be impressed by.

    ¡°Pardon mister, would you like a room and some company?¡± The old man in the reception started to talk with Jack and offered Jack a room.

    ¡°I would like a room with room service for me and my girl?¡±

    His girl? Was Ellen supposed to feel flattered or what? What did he really meant with ¡°his girl¡±.

    ¡°I can offer you better girls than her.¡±

    ¡°I want her and only her.¡±

    Ellen started to get worried, just what did they think of her? Just how did they see her?

 chapter 21

    Alice should have guessed that something fishy was going on when Lilly asked her to come along and visit a patient. She should have been able to see it with her behind.

    Alice had followed Lilly and ended up in a park, where they now were sitting on a bench. ¡°That woman¡± had forced her into a hug, a tight and unwelcome hug.

    ¡°May I ask why you are hugging me?¡± Alice tried to sound angry, which turned out to be harder then she had thought at first.

    ¡°You have been sleeping bad, haven¡¯t you doctor Morfine?¡±

    ¡°I think you are sleeping badly because you are thirsty for some love?¡±

    Sure she has been sleeping bad, but she hasn¡¯t been thirsting for love. Alice did know that much herself. What could even make ¡°that woman¡± to think something like that? And Alice had honestly tried her best to hide the fact that she had been sleeping really bad lately, could it be that Lapin had told her? It didn¡¯t sound like something that girl would do against Alice.

    ¡°There have been some small problems to sleep, but it is not much. And it really hasn¡¯t been because I have been thirsty for love.¡±

    Alice tried to pull out of Lilly¡¯s hug while explaining the situation. Which she didn¡¯t like at all. Why did Lilly have to give her a hug because of something like that? She could as well just talked normally with Alice about it.

    ¡°How can we be sure that it isn¡¯t like that when you even try to hide the fact that something is bothering you enough to disturb your sleep?¡± Lilly pulled her into the hug again. But this time it felt more like a caring and motherly hug.

    And what did she meant with ¡°we¡±? Did ¡°that woman¡± included Lapin, or had even Taija notice it? Didn¡¯t that mean that all Alice¡¯s try to act like that she was fine had been in vain?

    ¡°Do you want to tell me what is bothering you, and hopefully ease your heart?¡±

    Alice didn¡¯t like ¡°that woman¡¯s¡± idea. But she could maybe have a point. Alice had after all thought about it the last day without actually doing it, she had a little too low thoughts about Lilly. But since Lilly tried to "help her" so could she maybe give it a try. She didn¡¯t understand anything about the dream herself, so if she was lucky so could Lilly maybe give her some well-deserved answers or giving her a new perspective on it.

    Alice gave a rough summary of the dream that still was haunting her. Of course without pointing out anyone¡¯s role in it. Lilly only needed to know that it was people that made those points, not who had done or said what.

    ¡°By the dream itself,  I would like to think that you are afraid of what others will think about you. And that you are afraid that you will use others without knowing it.¡±

    It had been a mistake to even think that ¡°that woman¡± could help her, after all. Alice wasn¡¯t afraid of anything like that, she didn¡¯t care what others did think about her as long she could help those that were important to her.

    ¡°And those that stood up for you, they can be a wish that there will be some standing up for you when things get tough.¡±

    Why would Alice want others to stand up for her when she did her very best to do it herself and her beloved sister always was there for her? There would be no need for anyone else to stand up for her, no one.

    Lilly was plain stupid to even think about it like that. Why had she even thought about talking with a stupid person like Lilly to begin with?

    All it showed was that Alice still wasn¡¯t as smart as her beloved sister, that never would do stupid mistakes like this. It all also showed that Alice had to get even better at hiding the signs of that things was going through her mind. Much better at hiding it so no one else ever would find out about it.

    <hr>

    Ellen couldn¡¯t let go if the disturbing thought that the idiot in the reception was offering Jack another girl. It was Ellen that would keep him company, her and no one else. It was after all only some simple company that had been offered, right? Nothing else, right?

    The uncomfortable worry didn¡¯t want to calm down during the time it took walking to the room. But it was simply worrying, wasn¡¯t it?

    ¡°Welcome our temporary paradise!¡± They had just arrived in the room when Jack shouted it out, turning to her with a big smile. Ellen got a really bad feeling about it and took a step back, only to cover it up her mistake by closing the door behind them, as if it was what she was meant to do from the beginning.

    The rooms looked surprisingly good, which only made her worry even more. She might only overreact, but by a strange reason so was her whole body screaming at her to run from her beloved one. Which she couldn¡¯t understand since she wanted to spend more time with him.

    Jack laid his hands on her from behind, starting to caress her body.

    ¡°This is our temporary paradise, a paradise for only you and me.¡±

    She took a small distance from him and faced him, only for him to follow her and pull her into a hug. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be afraid my beloved. You are an adult, so there is nothing to be afraid of.¡±

    Even if his words were very, VERY,  gently so couldn¡¯t Ellen help feel anything except uncomfortable and afraid. She knows what he had in mind, there was no longer any doubt about it. Ellen wasn¡¯t ready for something like that and told him without a second thought.

    ¡°You will soon be ready.¡±

    Forcing a kiss upon her, just like that noble pig had done. Letting his hands wander down her back. She didn¡¯t want this. She wanted to do everything together with him, but this didn¡¯t feel right at all.

    ¡°You know I always have loved you the most?¡± He looked her in the eyes. His once lovely eyes, that now was almost only black and white. The only beautiful and caring eyes were far gone,  replaced with frightening and empty eyes.

    There was something wrong. This wasn¡¯t how her beloved ever would act. NO, he would seriously never act like this on his own. Not for anything in the world. He had to be replaced with a  horrible monster like a doppelganger or something. It really wasn¡¯t her Jack she was sharing the room with.

    ¡°You do know that you are really beautiful Ellen, the most beautiful angel in the world.¡±

    It tried to flatter her as it grabbed her behind and massaged it. Disgusting, whatever it could be that was going on so it was simply disgusting. She hates this, she didn¡¯t want it. She was afraid, she was disgusted about it.

    This couldn¡¯t be her beloved Jack, right? He would never act like this, right?

    Sure so had Jack acted strangely during their first date, and back then it had been enough for her to tell him about it. Would this be the same, would he stop if Ellen told him to stop. Could that really help? If it even was Jack that was there with her?

    ¡°Please. I beg you Jack, please stop this.¡±

    She found herself sound pathetic and pleading. Almost that she hated herself for sound like that.

    <hr>

    The evening had arrived.

    Alice sat in their living room, small talking and drinking some wine with Lapin while thinking.

    Ellen had come back late for only have visited her now former workplace. Locking herself up in her workshop, just like the day before. But in differences from last time so hadn¡¯t she even come out to eat dinner together with them, instead so had she asked to be allowed to eat it in there.

    If it should be that she wanted to finish the ¡°Angel¡±, so wasn¡¯t that to take it a little to far? Alice had said the day before that she had been without a second ¡°Angel¡± for so long, so it really didn¡¯t matter if it would take a few days or weeks.

    ¡°Worried ¡®bout sister again?¡±

    Of course Lapin had seen through Alice again. Which made her suspect more that it had to be that girl that had told ¡°that woman¡± Alice had some problem sleeping.

    ¡°Want me to go and talk with her?¡±

    ¡°If she still locks herself in tomorrow, I will talk with her myself. But thank you for the offer.¡±

    The girl was really to kind. So all of sudden it got harder to believe that she would have told ¡°that woman¡± about that Alice has the problem with her sleeping. Which really meant that there was a risk Lilly had seeing through her.

    ¡°Are you sure, you are lookin¡¯ kinda frustrated. As if you want to drag sister out from the workshop and get some talkin¡¯ with her, right now.¡±

    Alice was looking frustrated? Just how much could Lapin see through her? Was Alice even frustrated? She couldn¡¯t tell herself if she even felt frustrated.

    ¡°How can you tell?¡±

    If Lapin could spell those things out for Alice, then she could be better at hiding it. If she really showed off what she couldn¡¯t feel, that was.

    Lapin explained how she could tell. All the small things that no one probably ever would notice, and even less being able to control. She seemed to take pride in her ability to read it out, she even seemed to find it enjoyable to explain it for Alice. At least Alice thought so after noticing how Lapin¡¯s tail started to swing playfully from side to side.

    ¡°So you notice small things like that?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It did help me much durin¡¯ the time I begged for money so I could buy those shines. It helped me to know what I should be sayin¡¯.¡±

    Of course. No matter what kind of person that Lapin would ask, if she could hit the right spots while asking for money so would they most probably give her more than if she didn¡¯t aim for those spots.

    ¡°But if I will be honest, so am I gettin¡¯ worse at it. There are many times I find it hard to see how you are feelin¡¯.¡±

    Was that a try to tell Alice that the girl tried to keep an eye at her? As if she cared, which of course wasn¡¯t surprising when Alice thought of how worried she had been about how Alice would see her after finding out about those ¡°secrets¡±.

    ¡°Sometimes it¡¯s almost as if you are empty.¡±

    Lapin quickly apologised when she noticed that she had been spoken out her thought aloud. She hadn¡¯t meant to be rude or anything, it had just happened by mistake.

    ¡°To be honest so isn¡¯t I feeling any emotions anymore, but I would like you to keep it a secret.¡±

    Since Lapin almost had seen through everything already, so could Alice as well tell her the whole truth. While thinking about how she would answer all the questions the girl could have.

    ¡°That¡¯s explainin¡¯ a lot.¡± Lapin didn¡¯t question Alice at all about it. Accepting it right off the bat, as if she didn¡¯t care much about it at all. After Alice questioned why Lapin accepted it so fast so did Lapin only say that it was how Alice was, so there was really no reason to ask Alice more about it. And only accepting Alice as she were, just like Alice accepted Lapin as she were.

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Ellen let out a heavy sigh.

    The start of the day had been so good. She had been so happy that Jack both were satisfied with her work and that he did take her out for a date. He couldn¡¯t be a bad person, he really couldn¡¯t. Sure he had acted a little strange, but he still couldn¡¯t be a bad person.

    Being at a date with someone like Ellen, as he even saw like an adult. Trying to treat her like an adult and did his best to help her feel more comfortable.

    Ellen looked at the machine she was building to Alice. She wanted to build on it after the incident with her beloved one, only to organise her thoughts so she could get a clear view of what she had done wrong. But it wasn¡¯t possible for the moment, she really couldn¡¯t find any answers or even get the rest to build at it.

    A pain, it was all a great pain in her rear. A pain that she clearly couldn¡¯t ignore.

    Only to bring some calm to her body so was Ellen deciding to take a bath.

    First when she sat in the water so could she calm down. All the thought from earlier slowly faded away. The feelings of disgust and worry slowly got washed off. The only feeling that didn¡¯t leave her was the bittersweet feeling from kissing Jack and the feeling of how pathetic and weak she was. Which of course she could live with, only because they showed what kind of person she was. Even if she should have wanted to deny it with her whole heart so wasn¡¯t it possible anymore.

    ¡°Is there a place for one more person in the bath, or do I have to wait till you are done?¡± Lapin came into the bathroom, sounding surprised when she had noticed Ellen and asked the stupid question.

    She could understand that the cat was surprised since Ellen had gone straight to the workshop after coming home, so she probably didn¡¯t expect to see Ellen in the bath.

    ¡°There is enough place for one more.¡±

    Ellen would have loved to spend all the time alone in the bath and had no thoughts about getting out of the bath yet. But since Lapin also would need to work the next day, so did Ellen have no other choice then to let the cat join the bath so she could go to bed afterwards.

    Lapin unembarrassed start to undress in front of Ellen.

    It was hard to believe that the cat had lived with them for quite a while now, especially when seeing her body. It was skinny as if she hadn¡¯t been eating for a couple of days, which got really easy to see thanks to her pearl white skin.

    ¡°Do you like what you are seein¡¯?¡±

    She had noticed Ellen looking at her small body. Ellen quickly turned away her head from Lapin, hearing a small giggle as a response to how she acted.

    ¡°Do I need to tell you, sister, that you are lookin¡¯ beautiful.¡± Lapin had taken her place in front of Ellen in the bathtub, staring at Ellen with a gentle smile.

    Ellen didn¡¯t answer the cat and looked away in a different direction. What was up with that cat, did she always act like that in the bath? If that was the case it was no wonder that she and Alice took baths together from time to time. And why did the cat called Ellen for ¡°sister¡±?

    ¡°Ain`t you curious why I am flirtin¡¯ with you?¡±

    Lapin leaned towards Ellen and talked in a playful tone. What was up with the cat? Why did she act strangely, just like Jack had? Why wasn¡¯t Ellen hated it as much like she hated Jack acting like that?

    ¡°Yes. I am curious why you acting like that.¡±

    Lapin leaned against Ellen¡¯s chest and looked innocent at her.

    ¡°I¡¯m a lil'' tipsy.¡±

    That could maybe explain a little, but it wasn¡¯t much. There had to be more to why Lapin acted like that.

    ¡°Get used to that you live here and act like you are livin¡¯ in the house, you have been thinkin¡¯ like that. Ain¡¯t that right?.¡±

    ¡°You have been lookin¡¯ at me as if I wouldn¡¯t have the debt.¡±

    ¡°You have accepted me bein¡¯ curious.¡±

    ¡°You are lookin¡¯ at me now, like why is this idiot actin¡¯ as she doin¡¯.¡±

    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.¡°You act like an elder sister and don¡¯t look at me any different than anyone else. And I do love that you are like that.¡±

    A kiss at the cheek, the cat kissed her? Why? Sure she had been true in everything she said, but that wasn¡¯t enough to give Ellen a kiss. It wasn¡¯t even something that Lapin would love that Ellen did.

    ¡°I would love to treat you like we treated each other in the inner circle while I was addicted.¡±

    They were eye to eye when Lapin declared it with a mischievous smile.

    ¡°And how did you treated each other?¡± Tipsy or not, Lapin gave her a bad feeling. Nothing as bad as when she was with Jack, but it was still a bad feeling.

    ¡°Do you know how ¡°playful¡± a person can get durin¡¯ the shiny¡¯s rush?¡±

    By the way that Lapin Expressed the word ¡°playful¡±, Ellen understood what the cat was trying to say. And Ellen had already been in contact with it once this day, so it didn¡¯t need to be a second time the very same day.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to get anywhere close to that.¡±

    Lapin looked surprised at her before shining up like the sun and giving her a kiss on the mouth, taking her place on the other side of the tub.

    ¡°Then we can shake it off like a joke if you don¡¯t want it. But the offer will remain if you would change your mind, I would like to have a lil'' play with you as thanks.¡±

    ¡°That cat¡±, ¡°that cat¡± was really acting badly. Shake it off as a joke? Just what was wrong with her? This couldn¡¯t be a joke, there was no way that it could be a joke.

    Ellen was both confused and irritated when she decided that she had got enough of it. Walking out of the bath, getting dressed and heading to her room.

    Ellen laid at her bed in her room, without even turning the light giving gears on.

    The day had been a mess, so much pain and things to think about. Not only had Lapin asked her if she would hate ¡°that cat¡± after what happened, apologising and still trying to pull it off like a bitter tasting joke. Ellen hadn¡¯t been answering her, but found it hard to not forgive her. Sure she really didn¡¯t like the cat¡¯s behaviour, but she still didn¡¯t feel there was anything bad meant with the way she had behaved.

    Ellen let out a heavy sigh. She could forgive her, but it would be a pain to face her from now on.

    Just like it would be really hard to face Jack.

    She had asked him to stop what he was doing to her at the hotel, which he had done. They had ordered some food and talked for a very short while before he started with the same behaviour again. Hugging her, stroking her body. Kissing her and even nibbled at her neck. Ellen tried to endurance it for his sake, for her love to him. But it turned out to be impossible after he started to touch her body, in under her clothes.

    She asked him to stop, she begged him. She screamed at him, nothing helped. It all ended when her only way out was to punch him in the side of his waist.

    He had sunk to the floor and looked both disappointed and sad at her, showing her that she had done wrong. Ellen had fled the hotel after that and found a train so she could come back to this city and then walking the straight way home. Locking herself up in the workshop.

    The whole time after punching him, so couldn¡¯t she think of anything else than that she had done something horrible to Jack. Jack can¡¯t have meant anything bad with how he had acted, he maybe only wanted their love to blossom. Yet it felt so horribly wrong for Ellen. He called her an adult, she did clearly prove that she wasn¡¯t an adult. He was ready to support her the whole way through it, and she punched him as thanks for everything he did to support her. There was no chance that he could accept her after that.

    Ellen rolled over and buried her face in the pillow. It shouldn¡¯t be more than right if she had died at the spot in the bed. After what she had put her beloved one through. He only wanted to deepen their love, he only wanted THEIR love to blossom.

    ¡°So what is going on between you two?¡±

    They were all sitting around the table to eat breakfast as Alice asked.

    Ellen had started to think more about Lapins flirting in the bath during the night, which could have resulted in that they could have ended up in a very embarrassing situation the day before if Ellen wouldn¡¯t have chosen to back off. With that in mind so did Ellen find it embarrassing to face Lapin the next day as they all ate breakfast together.

    Lapin must have been ashamed for trying forcing herself upon Ellen, and also had a problem facing her. Which of course ¡°the princess¡± had noticed.

    Lapin did the only right thing and told Alice what she did, still trying to pull it off as a bad joke while she was tipsy. All in vain, Alice didn¡¯t buy it either. Taking a very serious talk, almost scolding her until Lapin promised to don¡¯t do that again and apologised once more to Ellen.

    ¡°Are you done with the work at that place?¡±

    Yes, she was done with the work at that place. Yet she both wanted to get over there again and at the same time never see that place again. She had been able to calm her mind a little during the night and sorted out some thoughts. But she would still want to meet Jack and apologise for her behaviour the earlier day. She didn¡¯t want him to hate her for the horrible thing that she did to him.

    ¡°By the way Ellen, you don¡¯t have to work in two days? Right?¡±

    Ellen had forgotten that it was time for the winter tree blossom again. If Alice wouldn¡¯t tell her, she would probably not noticed until the very end.

    ¡°I have invited those at the clinic, will you invite your friend too? Of course as long ¡°they¡± can behave themselves after drinking.¡±

    It was no hesitation on which two people that Alice was thinking about, but of course she did right to think twice about them. ¡°They¡± were after the reason behind the fight last time they all celebrated something together.

    Ellen locked the door behind her as she left the house. Both Alice and Lapin had already left for the clinic.

    She wondered if ¡°that cat¡± had acted that strange toward Alice too. On second thought so was it hard to believe since Alice didn¡¯t felt any emotions, not to mention that Lapin seemed to have a higher respect for Alice than for anyone else. Which of course could be because that Lapin maybe had tried but got put on place.

    Ellen shook her head before she headed toward Thom¡¯s place. It wasn¡¯t even worth thinking about. The first thing she needed to think about was to do the errand that she would have done the last day. The day she spent with Jack and proved herself to be an idiot. NO, it wasn¡¯t time to think about that either. She could think about that while she was working at the machine. Doing like that so it would not only be easier to think, but she would also reduce the risk to get interrupted. And there would be fewer people that would see her. Her own paradise, her own home where she set all the rules herself.

    ¡°We were waiting for you yesterday Miss.¡±  Angela was standing behind the counter again in Sour¡¯s shop.

    ¡°Sorry, I got a little busy yesterday.¡±

    She gave the same apologise that she had given both Chris and Thom. Both could understand how easily that happened as a cog technician and accepted it. Only seconds before they were demanding their payment.

    ¡°Busy? You weren¡¯t on a date, were you?¡±

    Angela shined up like the sun and starred curious at her.

    ¡°You are blushing, tell me how it went. I won¡¯t tell anyone. And dad is out but will come back in a while.¡± Angela gave Ellen no chance to recover after the first question.

    She couldn¡¯t tell how, but somehow she had talked Agnes into that she hadn¡¯t been at a date. Ellen had to make sure that she was careful around Agnes, otherwise she might find out everything about Ellen. All those connected questions she had asked, they could probably end up with the answer to which colour Ellen''s underwear had. If Angela would have wanted to find that out.

    ¡°Only a simple work then, that¡¯s boring.¡± She was clearly not pleased how the ¡°truth¡± had turned out.

    ¡°If it isn¡¯t the missing girl we waited for yesterday.¡±

    Sour finally came back. Which meant Ellen was safer in the shop than when she was alone with Angela.

    Ellen quickly apologised again before they started to talk about the specially made gear.

    ¡°Another machine of the same kind?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it can be to good use at the clinic.¡±

    Sour was impressed by Ellen¡¯s will to help her sister.

    ¡±By the way. As we know, it¡¯s the winter tree blossom in two days. I have invited both Chris and Thom, you two are also welcome to join if you want.¡± Ellen was just about to leave when it struck her that she hadn¡¯t invited them yet.

    ¡°We would love to join, and I promise to bring a crowbar if dad tries to start a mess again.¡±

    Angela was the one that answered Ellen, giving a brute promise.

    Sour only cracked a smile. Almost if he had been hesitating about joining, in that case so was it most possible because of the mess that he and Chris had made the last time.

    ¡°In that case, I would appreciate if you don¡¯t kill him. There is still a chance I need his help with custom-made gears.¡± If Angela could make bad jokes, so could Ellen. At least now that it was jokes and not Lapin¡¯s so-called ¡°jokes¡±

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª-

    Alice stood in the kitchen and packed the snacks she and Lapin had done the last evening.

    It was a beautiful day and promised an even more beautiful evening, that they all should be spending together. For the first time as a really happy household, even if they had been a kind of happy household even in Taija¡¯s house. But it was the first time for this household with Alice and Ellen¡¯s ¡°family¡±.

    The snacks and a couple of bottles burnwine. That was more or less everything they needed for enjoying the celebration.

    Alice took the basked she had packed everything in and carried it to the living room where the other two was waiting.

    ¡°Can you please carry the basket Ellen?¡±

    ¡°Sure she can, she¡¯s strong and has the muscles for it.¡±

    Lapin answered for Ellen. Alice didn¡¯t think the basket was far too heavy for herself to carry, but had asked Ellen since her beloved sister had once again locked herself up in her workshop while Alice and Lapin made the snacks. So it was simply a small payback for Ellen since she avoided to help them.

    They would all meet up outside their home before going to the park. All so they wouldn¡¯t miss each other. Ellen had invited both Chris and Sour, together with two others. Alice knows Sour¡¯s daughter and believed that she could behave. But she still was uncertain about the three other guys. Not to mention that she was a little worried about Lapin.

    She had without any hesitation started to flirt with Ellen when she had got tipsy. So both Alice and Ellen had decided to keep an eye at Lapin during the celebration so she wouldn¡¯t do any stupid mistakes. Especially since she both was younger than them both, and she had been very excited since the morning. Which of the reason have to be that she had more of a real family to celebrate with, most probably it was the first time she celebrated it without being addicted and together with a ¡°family¡±.

    Lilly and Taija were the last people to arrive.

    Taija looked very uncomfortable and Alice could guess why. Taija was according to Lilly not interested to join. Yet Lilly had said that Taija should join, no matter if she needed to drag her along in the ears. So Alice could only guess which dirty tricks ¡°that woman¡± could have used against poor Taija.

    ¡°CHEERS!¡±

    Lapin had picked a good place for them under one of the trees in the park.

    Eating, drinking and some small talk. Just like it should be during these celebrations.

    ¡°So I heard that I missed a small fight during the last celebration.¡±

    Of course the fat man with a beard needed to drag up something they didn¡¯t need that wonderful evening.

    ¡°You should have seen it, Ellen was awesome.¡±

    It seemed like Alice would need to tell Lapin to not following up on things that could destroy others dignity.

    ¡°I have heard, brother Horn got beaten in the end.¡± He couldn¡¯t shut it, could he?

    He picked up two bottles and handed to Chris and Sour.

    ¡°I heard about you to brother Wings, for broken guys alliance.¡±

    The three idiotic guys cheered before the fat man asked if there would be a reply.

    ¡°Doesn`t that depend on if Ellen will protect Alice again.¡±

    Lilly, why did ¡°that woman¡± had to follow up at their stupid conversation?

    Ellen murmured something before she picked out the snack out if her mouth. ¡°Who knows?¡±

    ¡°Will sister protect me too?¡±

    Lapin followed up at Ellen¡¯s answer with a shy and wondering smile. Which the girl didn¡¯t even need to ask. Of course so should Ellen have protected her if it was necessary.

    ¡°What kind of girl would you like miss Alice?¡±

    The moon had already taken its place in the sky. Everyone was more or less intoxicated, but could still be considered being a good company.

    ¡°Would you like a girl that is pushy and wants to ¡°play¡±, or would you like a shy and innocent girl?¡±

    Lapin had come up to her, while Alice looked at the beautiful sky, hugging Taija¡¯s arm. As if she was worried that Taija would flee.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Do you like a pushy girl that likes to ¡°play¡±, or a shy and innocent girl most? What personality do you like the most?¡±

    It had to be a stupid idea that Lilly had forced upon Taija, and of course so had Lapin followed up at it.

    ¡°I like shy and innocent girls the most.¡±

    Lapin pushed down Taija beside Alice and told her to stay before running back to Lilly¡¯s company.

    Poor Taija had looked very uncomfortable while Lapin held on to her, but she seemed to have calmed down a little after Lapin left her there.

    Alice picked a wooden glass and pour some burnwine in it before handing it to Taija. ¡°I apologise for Lapin¡¯s behaviour. I will take a talk with her tomorrow about it.¡±

    ¡°It`s no need, I can talk with her myself. But thanks for helping me.¡± Taija accepted the glass and gave Alice a small smile.

    ¡°How does it comes that you help me after I have avoided you for so long?¡±

    Taija¡¯s voice was filled with shame and together with her shy body language so was Taija really cute. Just like Ellen and Lapin was from time to time.

    "You might have your reasons, just like Lilly had her reasons to not trust Lapin before. But I believe that your reasons are much, MUCH better than Lilly¡¯s.¡±

    Taija couldn¡¯t be a bad person after how much she had helped her and Ellen. And she had proven herself many times that she was thousands of times better than Lilly. Which of course Alice maybe needed to thanks later on if she could solve the problems with Taija.

 chapter 22

    The sun was unforgiving strong and shined straight into Alice room.

    She had just woke up and suffered a bad hangover. Not to mention that she had no memories of how she had got home, or how anyone else of them had come home. Because the other had also come home last day, hadn¡¯t they?

    Lapin at least seemed to have come home. Sharing the bed with Alice, all of sudden give her a tight hug from behind. Pulling Alice close to her, which happened from time to time during the mornings.

    She had to get stronger, pulling Alice so easy toward her and pressing her whole chest against Alice¡¯s back.

    It first then it hit Alice that something was wrong. To start with so wasn¡¯t Lapin that strong, neither her arms was that big. Not to mention that Lapin was flat as a board and bony, which wasn¡¯t the case for however it was that hugged her from behind.

    Alice did her best to move without waking the person up, facing whoever it was. Taija? Alice did share the bed with Taija?

    She suddenly remembered that she had made up with her, solving all their problems and spending most of the evening talking.

    Lilly had interrupted their talk once, to give Taija a kiss and wish her¡­ good luck? Hadn¡¯t Lilly after that been ¡°playful¡± with Lapin, hopefully not by force. Which really shouldn¡¯t be the case, Lapin herself proven herself to be ¡°playful¡± from time to time. So Lapin shouldn¡¯t have got forced to something like that, right? Lapin would have been able to set down her foot, right?

    Wasn¡¯t it unusual cold under that blanket?

    Alice noticed that she didn¡¯t have her usual sleeping clothes. She didn¡¯t have anything else than her underwear? How could that be? She always wore a kind of clothes while sleeping, so didn¡¯t she do it this time. And how could it be that Taija did seem to only wear her underwear? At least it felt like that when she pressed her body against Alice.

    If it shouldn¡¯t have been Taija that was sleeping beside her, she wouldn¡¯t have hesitated to wake her up and ask what had happened. But Taija looked so happy and peaceful while sleeping for the moment, so it would have been wrong waking her up. Not to mention that it could be good for Alice to also get some more sleep to ease the horrible hangover.

    <hr>

    Ellen sat in the kitchen and drank her usual morning coffee. On the other side of the table was Lapin sitting and drank some tea.

    Ellen had shared her bed with Lapin and they had both woken up a little while earlier.

    ¡°You¡­ are a¡­ horrible person.¡± Ellen glared at the cat, that only responded with a mischievous smile.

    ¡°I asked you if I was allowed, and you were actin¡¯ really cute and insecure.¡±

    Ellen had woke up beside Lapin, NUDE. Both of them. She had weak memories of how Lapin had asked to ¡°play¡± a little with ¡°sister¡±, which Ellen had accepted as long it didn¡¯t go too far.  It hadn¡¯t been that she was curious about to ¡°play¡± with the cat, neither because she was curious about the more adult actions. It only happened. It did only happen since Ellen was wasted and stupid. And it was only some cuddling and skinship, nothing more. NOTHING MORE.

    It did bother Ellen that she allowed it. Allowed it with a person that lived under the same roof as a family member and that she almost saw as a family member. Not to mention that it was a girl, a GIRL.

    But what honestly bothered Ellen even more when she thought about it was that she hadn¡¯t been able to take that step out in adulthood with Jack. The man she loved over everything else, the man she even had hit before fleeing like the pathetic and horrible child she was. Yet she could ¡°cheat¡± at her beloved without feeling guilty about it. If it even could be called cheating with a girl, on only that level.

    All she felt was confusion because she spent that night with Lapin in that way. No guilt, not feeling bad for jack about it. Only confusion.

    ¡°And you did enjoy it.¡±

    Lapin only had to try pouring salt in the wound, didn¡¯t she?

    ¡°I am not so sure.¡± Ellen didn¡¯t even look at Lapin. She felt too embarrassed to face her when she pointed that out.

    She didn¡¯t feel that she enjoyed that it happened, but she couldn¡¯t say that she hated it. It wasn¡¯t that she had liked it, but at the same time so had she liked to be close to someone. Someone that took care of her, someone that really wanted to take care of her. It was all a pain, even to barely thinking of.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to talk about it?¡±

    Before Ellen could answer so was Alice entering the room.

    For being a ¡°princess¡± so did she look awful. Must have been that she drank a LITTLE too much during the winter tree blossom celebration, which only was to express it lightly.

    ¡°What did happened yesterday?¡±

    It really did seem like it had been a little too much for her, so she didn¡¯t remember and had to ask while warming some water for tea.

    ¡°To start with so was you making up with Taija.¡± Alice probably knew that already, or she had found it out upon waking up beside her. At least so had the two of them decided to share bed last night, but of course so could Taija have changed her mind.

    ¡°But you didn¡¯t make out.¡±

    ¡°We left that for you and Lilly.¡± Taija entered the kitchen and answered Lapin¡¯s bad joke, making the cat smile shyly and blush.

    Ellen remembered that the cat and Lilly all if sudden had started to kiss, of course to the guys liking.

    ¡°She also stole a kiss from Angela.¡± Ellen just had to point that out for Alice.

    ¡°How did the poor girl took it?¡± Alice seemed to appreciate that Ellen told her and glared at Lapin while asking.

    ¡°She was a little upset, and would probably have beaten Lapin to a pulp at the spot. But after some talking so could we decide that I will bring Lapin to their shop today, so she can settle it there without too many people seeing it.¡±

    The cat seemed to be both ashamed and a little worried about what should come.

    ¡°Please Lapin, learn something from this.¡± Alice sounded somehow like a mother. Which almost was surprising.

    Chris and Lilly had once again expressed their love for Alice, just as wasted like last time. But it didn¡¯t turn out in a fight this time. Not even when Thom made some small moves at Lapin. Which only resulted that most of the group gave him really spiteful glares. They all seemed to see the cat as a child, which of course she was. And that meant that no one of the guys could make any move at her without being a part of the world¡¯s scum.

    Alice offered Taija some tea and poured up for both of them before they left the room.

    ¡°Was miss Alice disliking that they expressed their love again, or was it that HE tried to make a move at me?¡± Lapin had made sure that Alice was out of reach for hearing her when she asked.

    ¡°Just by the way she reacted, so would I like to think it was that they did express their love.¡±

    Ellen found Alice behaviour strange. ¡°That princess¡± had never been disliking to be able to charm anyone before. Could it be that she had started to grow tired of it, or could it be that simple that Alice was about to grow up? Either way so did it still irritated Ellen that ¡°the princess¡± could charm both males and females. If Ellen just could have got a little of that charm, she maybe could have been able to live happily with Jack a little earlier.

    ¡°Sister, did you hated the cuddle last night?¡± Lapin all of sudden seemed to be ashamed of what had happened last night.

    ¡°Are you worried since we talked about how Angela disliked that kiss?¡±

    Lapin nodded weakly. She seemed to have been noticing that she could be a little too pushy, and that she could force people into what they didn¡¯t want. Which Ellen thought that she already should have known about herself from the beginning. It should after all be easy to see if a person wanted something or not.

    ¡°I don¡¯t hate what happened, and I don¡¯t like what happened. But I did allow you to do it and didn¡¯t tell you to stop. So it¡¯s a special thing that happened, and it wasn¡¯t any wrongdoing by you.¡±

    Lapin shined up slightly by Ellen¡¯s answer.

    Ellen had the chance to say no, but she never did. All in differences from Angela that got it forced upon her, without any questions asked. So it was two opposite kinds of causes. If there should be a problem with what the cat did to Ellen, she would have been a part of the problem herself since she didn¡¯t tell Lapin to stop.

    ¡°When will we go to the shop? So I can apologise?¡±

    ¡°Since both Sour and Agnes was wasted yesterday, so am I thinking it will be best a little past noon. When we can be sure that they both have woke up.¡±

    Lapin looked uncomfortable at the clock, it was quite a while remaining.

    They could have been going earlier, but Ellen had her own reasons to why they shouldn¡¯t go yet.

    The first reason was that She hoped that Sour could have finished the gear by the time they got there. So even if it shouldn¡¯t have been finished the day before so would he have some extra time to get it done.

    And second¡­ Lapin had been rough at Ellen during their time together, like a hungry beast. Even if Ellen had asked her to be gentle. So it was a payback for ¡°that cat¡¯s¡± behaviour. Seeing her being uncomfortable while being forced to wait. Not to mention that the payback was affected by all the thoughts that she had awakened. All the thoughts about the things with Jack she awakened with her stupid idea to ¡°play¡± with Ellen.

    Ellen had felt a little happy when they left home for the shop. Both because Alice and Taija had offered to cook the food, which meant that she could spend all her time to be putting the machine together when she came back. And a little thanks to the small revenge at Lapin.

    Ellen maybe had been wrong being a little glad while they walked to sour¡¯s shop.

    If Angela had been a little upset the day before, she was clearly pissed off by now. FAR over the top. She gave Lapin a loud scolding that made Ellen feel guilty for bringing the poor cat there.

    ¡°It`s a little late to tell you little Missy, but my daughter does have a really bad temper.¡±

    It indeed was a little late for Sour to tell her that. If Ellen would have known, so should they have left when Lapin first had asked to leave. During that time so could Angela maybe still have been a little tired and gone easier at her. Either way, so might Ellen need to apologise to Lapin on their way home afterwards.

    Ellen had got the gear as she wanted, with some explanation she felt bad about. She started to put the machine together as she recalled the conversation with Sour and Angela.

    She had asked if it was better then the last one, and got the question if the strength at the machine for Alice¡¯s treatment mattered. Which it had to do, since it took all emotions from Alice while it now only took the ¡°demons¡± from others. Which of course she didn¡¯t tell them the fact about Alice.

    ¡°If we take a heat giving gear as an example. If you have tuned it in so you get a piece of meat cooked during a specific time, and then change the gear to another with a different strength. The piece of meat can be either under-cooked or overcooked during that specific time when the last one cooked it perfectly. So simply said, if the strength is changed so will other things need to get changed.¡±

    Angela, a person that didn¡¯t even worked as a cog technician, could easily find that out. So how could Ellen, that worked as a cog technician, have overseen that?

    It was sad, it was pathetic. She was a failure as a cog technician. She could see it clearly herself, she knows it far too well herself.

    It wasn¡¯t even all that had happened. On their way home so had a person come up and start to talk with the cat. A woman, about Alice size. And just by looking at her it was clear that she was stuck in addiction. Ellen didn¡¯t like that someone like that talked with Lapin, and liked it even less when it turned out to be one of the cat¡¯s old friends. Ellen got a bad feeling and remembered some of the old stories she once had heard in her past life where former junkies had relapsed because they meet some old friends.

    Lapin had said that she would come back home later, after she was done talking with her friend. Ellen had hope in Lapin and accepted it like the idiot she was, going home to continue building at the machine. She didn¡¯t tell Alice about it when she came home. She still believed in the cat, but would still keep an eye at her when she returned.

    She had hoped that she would be able to relax enough during the winter tree blossom to make some of all the thoughts to fade away. But she had been wrong. If she hadn¡¯t got enough to think about earlier, so was she really having enough of it now.

    Why couldn¡¯t Jill had been there with her? It would have been so much easier to handle everything. She could have talked with her and eased her heart, she could have listened to Jill¡¯s stories from her journeys. It could have been so much better, and Jill maybe also could have given her some advice to be calm and relaxed as her. Just like she was before she left for that journey¡­

    That maybe could be it, maybe it was a journey Ellen could need. A journey so she could take a break from everything and see the world. A break from ¡°that princess¡±, ¡°that cat¡±, Chris and the other guys, her life and Jack. Wait! Why would she want to take a break from her beloved one? Sure she maybe could become more of an adult during the journey, but it didn¡¯t justify that she even would think like that.

    Had she picked up bad habits from ¡°the princess¡± during their time together? Bad habits to stop caring about people. It couldn¡¯t be, it was just stupid to think like that. But of course so wasn¡¯t she feeling bad about not being able to spend a night with Lapin, while she not even could spend a few hours with him? Why wasn¡¯t she even feeling a little bad about that? She would feel bad for not being able to spend that special time with Jack.

    <hr>

    Ellen had done a really good job at putting the ¡°Angel¡± together during the day after the winter tree blossom. Alice couldn¡¯t be more than proud of her, her beloved sister even made sure that the ¡°Angel¡± arrived at the clinic the very next day.

    Lapin had come with a strange idea when the ¡°Angel¡± arrived, that they should make sure that it worked as it should. That itself wasn¡¯t strange, to be honest. But that she was volunteering to get it tested at herself was. Of course they didn¡¯t want to from the start, but after a little talk so was it tested at her anyway. And it was after that the girl started to act really strange.

    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Alice half-hearted looked at the pages in the calendar at the counter, while trying to keep an eye at Lapin. The girl had started to write a lot in a small notepad. Alice had at first thought that she wrote notes to herself about the work, and tried to sneak a peek at it. Lapin had noticed her and had shut it close before Alice could see anything. She didn¡¯t want to answer questions about what she wrote int he notepad.

    It could still be seen as innocent, as if she was trying to plan something to surprise them. Yet it worried Alice since the girl also grew very careful around everyone at the clinic. And it all started the day after the winter tree blossom, the day after she told her that she had met an old friend. Which She now meet every and second day after work.

    Alice had seen her friend once, and she didn¡¯t like what she saw. A poor girl that reminded her of how Lapin had looked when they first found her at the clinic. Another person that used crystals? Either way, Alice still didn¡¯t like it. Not even when Lapin first should have met the friend during the day after the celebration. Alice had got it explained by Lapin herself and had since then kept an eye at Lapin to really make sure that she didn¡¯t show any signs of taking crystals.

    ¡°Are you thinking about something Alice.¡±

    Taija smiled gently at her. They had talked much during the last two weeks after the celebration, like if there never had been any problem between them. Whatever the problem now could have been, Alice didn¡¯t remember. Even if she remembered one part from the celebration that she didn¡¯t want to remember, which she rather should have exchanged for knowing the problem.

    ¡°Not really.¡± She didn¡¯t want to tell the other about Lapin. Especially not since they already had shown how bad they could treat the poor girl.

    ¡°Okay. May I ask how the sewing is going.¡±

    They had talked about it the day they both woke up in the same bed. Back then Alice had forgotten all about it after they had lost their house. But if course she had started at the project once again, even taken Ellen¡¯s measures once again. Her beloved sister had after all grown a little, just like herself.

    Taija was as always giving her advice of how she could do Ellen¡¯s dress really cute.

    Alice didn¡¯t like the situation at all when she came home.

    She had lost track of time while talking with Taija, so Lapin had already left when she began to walk home. And at home so her beloved sister had told her that Lapin had been home and said that she would sleep at a friend¡¯s place.

    Ellen tried to tell Alice that the girl was acting like any other girl would have acted, but the bad thoughts started to nagging at her mind. She didn¡¯t want to think bad about Lapin, but it was really hard to not. Lapin was a really kind and gentle girl, so why did she act so strange like that.

    ¡°Lapin, can you please tell us what is going on?¡±

    Lapin hadn¡¯t stopped the strange behaviour after another week, and now so had Lilly decided to take action to find out what was going on. Grabbing Lapin''s arm so the girl couldn¡¯t escape.

    Alice had tried to find that out during some talking with Lapin about it, but she denied that it was anything strange going on. Everything was just as it should according to her. Alice was only overthinking it. Which could be partly true. If it wasn¡¯t that Lapin had stopped to come back home. She stayed at her friend¡¯s place all the time and didn¡¯t even want to tell Alice about where she lived.

    Lapin was clearly getting more and more worn out by every day that passed. Which was worse than while she searched for a place to live. But she didn¡¯t want to tell her what she was doing. And the notes she regularly wrote was simply no of Alice¡¯s business.

    Alice had tried to catch her for some more talk after the work was finished, but the girl had always got away. Every day so had Lapin been able to avoid Alice.

    ¡°There is nothin¡¯ goin¡¯ on.¡± Lapin broke free from Lilly and glared angrily at them.

    ¡°You have been acting really strange, and that is without mentioning that you even are avoiding miss Morfine.¡±

    Lapin showed clear signs of being ashamed of herself, but was still pointing out that there was nothing going on and that she didn¡¯t act strangely. She really, REALLY didn¡¯t act strangely.

    ¡°Lapin, can you then please tell me why you are so tired?¡±

    Alice had to point out one thing. She would have to love to ask about why Lapin stopped coming home, but it would most probably fuel up Lilly even more. And Lapin that earlier had been a so kind and gentle girl did deserve to get a chance to protect herself.

    ¡°Please, I have told you that it is nothin¡¯.¡±

    Lapin¡¯s body was lightly shivering. Was she angry or could it be that she was afraid? Afraid that there would come out thing she didn¡¯t want them to know.

    ¡°Can you please tell me what you are writing on the notes that you hide?¡±

    Alice had to get some answers from Lapin. She needed to. Otherwise so wouldn''t there be any chances for her to solve whatever was going on. But once again so did she declare that what she wrote only was for herself and no of their business.

    They seemed to be pressuring her too hard, the poor girl was about to cry. Alice didn¡¯t know what she wanted anymore. She wanted to protect Lapin from what was going on, but at the same time so did she want to find out what was going on. Why did Lapin acting as she did?

    ¡°That friend that you have said that you are meeting, she isn¡¯t using crystals. Right?¡± Lapin froze up and looked down at the floor after hearing Taija¡¯s question. It wasn¡¯t good at all, everything was pointing towards what Alice didn¡¯t want to believe.

    ¡°Are you taking those crystals again?¡± Lilly shamelessly asked the question that maybe all of them would like to know the answer at.

    Her body was shaking, she murmured something before looking up at Lilly. Screaming some curses in her face, ran pass everyone and dashed out from the clinic.

    Alice had told Ellen when she arrived home. Told her everything that no one of them wanted to suspect Lapin for.

    ¡°So you are thinking that she¡¯s taking crystals again?¡±

    They all thought so, after seeing how Lapin reacted to it. She got angry because she got exposed, didn¡¯t she? And not wanting to expose anything about what she did or even lived for the moment, it only seemed to strengthen their worries. No matter if they, honestly, didn¡¯t want to believe that it was true.

    ¡°How can you be sure about that?¡±

    ¡°I saw Lapin on my way back from Sour¡¯s shop, she was looking really upset. Is it possible to know it¡äs true without any proof?¡± Ellen didn¡¯t believe it and of course so Alice didn¡¯t want to believe it either. But if it wasn¡¯t true, why wouldn¡¯t she tell them anything about it all. If it just would have been that she wanted some distance from them, it wouldn¡¯t have been harder than to just tell them. Alice would have accepted it, just like Ellen sometimes locked herself in her workshop to get some distance from everyone else.

    So what could it else be, it had to be something and that was what it all pointed toward. There was no chance that it could be mistaken for anything else.

    Their conversation didn¡¯t lead anywhere and ended with that they walked separate ways. Her beloved sister walked to her workshop as usual, probably to think things through. She was after all a very smart person, so she must be able to see it even if she doesn¡¯t want to believe it.

    Alice walked to the bathroom. She also needed to think it all through, she didn¡¯t want to believe that Lapin had relapsed. But since it had to be the cause, she needed to think about how she would go through everything.

    If there was something that could help Alice think clear so was it a warm and wonderful bath. Feeling how her body got relaxed in the bath, just letting the thought organise themselves.

    ¡°Why did it all end like this?¡±

    She had been keeping an eye at Lapin the whole time, tried to help her when it was needed. Hold the girl¡¯s back tight at the clinic. Caring about the poor girl. Where had it gone wrong?

    Had it been that Alice cared too much about Lapin, holding her back far too tight? Missed something important that lead to this downfall? Could it have been better if Alice had tried to hold her back from that friend? Was it that friend¡¯s fault that it ended like this, or was it Lapin¡¯s fault? It couldn¡¯t, Lapin was a smart girl after all.

    Could it have been that it was Alice¡¯s high thoughts about the girl that had made her miss the signs that could have told her that it would end like this?

    Alice had helped Lapin getting clean twice, would there be more times? Would Lapin come back later on and ask for help like last time? Would it be right by Alice to give her a third chance? It couldn¡¯t be wrong, right? But if Alice helped her a third time, how did she know it wouldn¡¯t be a fourth and fifth time?

    Alice pulled her legs toward her and hugged them.

    It could have been easier if she would have got someone to talk with during the bath. Ellen should have been good, if she only could have kept a little more open view on it in differences from the conversation before.

    Maybe could have been better with Taija in this case, at least they would have been able to really talk about it. And Taija was probably also knowing Alice better than Ellen did. At least it seemed that way when they talked earlier. They had got really close after the celebration. Alice could feel how her face got hot. She didn¡¯t need to remember that now, she didn¡¯t even want to remember it.

    The bath had got the better of her, so it was really about time to get out of it. Out if the bath, dress and straight to her lonely bed.

    <hr>

    It was a lovely morning and Ellen sat in the kitchen and drank some coffee.

    It was a beautiful morning at least, but it couldn¡¯t get further from lovely than it already was. It had been a week since Lapin might have gotten falsely accused of relapsing and left. There had been no signs of Lapin in any way. And that was even if Ellen had spent some parts of the days wandering around in the city, looking for any signs of Lapin. Sure she had also tried to find new ideas for things she could do to, but mostly to look for Lapin.

    It wasn¡¯t only because she wanted answers on what it all was about, which she was determined to get. Even if it would mean that she needed to pull the poor cat into an alleyway and swipe the ground with her. Ellen really needed to get some answers so she could help ¡°that princess¡±. Or rather, ¡°former princess¡±.

    Since Lapin had got accused and left, Alice seemed to have been greatly overthinking it all. Probably blaming herself for ¡°that cat¡¯s¡± choice, whatever it now could be for a choice that she had decided upon. All Ellen knew for the moment was that they had tried to pressure her telling them something that she wanted to keep to herself.

    Ellen needed to get her hands on ¡°that cat¡± so the worries for her sister could come to an end.

    Someone was knocking at the door? Could she be so lucky that the cat came straight to her, now that she knew Alice was at the clinic?

    ¡°Lapin?¡± Ellen opened the door and asked, hoping for the best. Maybe there was a chance that she could get some quick answers at the spot.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s Jill. ¡°Sister¡±¡°.  Jill was standing in front of the door with a smile, which grew even bigger when she noticed it was Ellen.

    ¡°So you are the ¡°sister¡± to the cute little cat girl?¡±

    Cute little cat girl, Lapin?

    Jill had just come back to the city when a young cat asked if she could do her a favour. She led Jill to the house and asked her to leave a pouch to her sister before she turned and ran away.

    By Jill¡¯s description of the cat so did it have to be Lapin. Probably more worn out now, but it was still her.

    ¡°So where is the pouch that you should give me?¡± Ellen didn¡¯t care if she sounded rude or demanding. There was probably a good reason that Lapin wanted Ellen to have that pouch. In the best case so could answer some questions.

    Jill handed it over. Ellen carefully opened it and started to read a note that was inside.

    ¡°What is going on Ellen?¡±

    Ellen had by some reason dragged along Jill to the clinic, running as if her life had depended on it. Which wasn¡¯t far from the truth. Their economy depended at it.

    Leaning against the counter at the clinic, still trying to catch her breath. She handed Alice the note from Lapin.

    ¡°Lilly, we might need to test one thing.¡±

    Lapin had written that there was a chance that HM had reached the street. She had got her hands on the powder that she heard should have the same effect as it. Ellen handed over the pouch to Lilly. At closer examination so was both kinds of powder looking the same, so they really needed to test it.

    ¡°I have tried the real thing, so I can try this too.¡±

    Jill had a point, she was the one that HM first had been tried at. So maybe she could tell a difference, otherwise they needed to find another way to test it.

    ¡°Jill? In that case, so might it hurt a little.¡± Lilly had a wicked smile as she seemed to recognise Jill.

    ¡°Miss Lilium? You ain¡¯t mad, right?¡±

    To make the story short, so did Lilly explained that they had spent a night together for some years ago. Cuddling and having a good time, until Jill got tired while Lilly was full of energy. It all ended with that Jill threw Lilly out, nude. Locking the door and gone to sleep.

    But thanks to, something? So did Jill started to hunt Lilly down to cuddle the ¡°cute demon¡±. Until the point that Lilly couldn¡¯t take it anymore and did the stupid decision to get rid of her wings, that she thought was the core of her problem with Jill.

    Jill didn¡¯t hunt her anymore after that or rather. She didn¡¯t meet her anymore after that, and her decision back then still bothered her. Maybe she didn¡¯t have to do it, Jill might have left her alone anyway.

    ¡°She won¡¯t kill me, right?¡± Jill was still too tired after the running to fight back against Lilly. Desperately asking the other three since Lilly didn¡¯t answer her.

    ¡°She¡¯s a kinder person than you, so she might only do a small ¡°mistake¡± and push the needle too deep.¡± Taija that answered her didn¡¯t seem to even feel sorry for her. Which of course neither Ellen or Alice did. Jill had done a horrible thing to Lilly, so she deserved what was coming to her.

    The last thing that was written at the note was nothing that neither Alice or Ellen had noticed in the mess. It was a simple little message from Lapin. ¡°I won¡¯t be back for a while. Kiss. Lapin¡±

 chapter 23

    ¡°I meet a dealer that had something new to offer. He said that it was HM, Isn¡¯t that the drug you produce and sell? I got a little of it and send it to you. If it¡¯s the same thing I hope you find how it has got out on the street.

    There will be no need for you to search for me. I won¡¯t come back for a while.

    Kiss Lapin¡±

    It could have been a beautiful day.

    Ellen was drinking her coffee alone in the kitchen again. Alice got help from Lilly to both make sure that the production of HM stopped and to talk with the doctors they were sending it to.

    It had been wonderful the day when they didn¡¯t have to produce it at home anymore, and instead so had they let some trustworthy people do it for them. Trusted by Lilly and some others, it wasn¡¯t worth much in the end. Was it?

    The powder that they had got turned out to be the exact same thing as HM, of course so had they found it out after closer inspection by Lilly with some help of alchemist. It was HM that apparently had leaked out at the street somehow. It could either be a doctor or one of those that had produced it that could have leaked it. But anyway so was it still really bad.

    Why did always had to go bad for this family? First Jack got set up, then Alice lost all her emotions. Lapin got into something strange and didn¡¯t want to be found, and now this?

    If it exists something of a supernatural nature, it truly had to hate this family.

    Someone was knocking at the door.

    Since Lapin had written that she wouldn¡¯t be back for a while so was Ellen sure at who it was.

    ¡°Good morning Jill, how can I help you today?¡±

    ¡°Do you have any coffee to share?¡±

    Of everything that Jill could have said, so was that the first thing. Sure she was honest, but still. She could have started with asking about how things were turning out after they found out that the powder really was HM.

    Ellen let her in and they went to the kitchen where she poured up some coffee for her.

    ¡°So, is there anything else than coffee that you have on your mind?¡± She had just handed Jill the cup and returned to her own coffee at her side of the table.

    ¡°Yes. I started to think about one thing yesterday that I have to ask?¡±

    ¡°Have you got your artificial parts examined since the last time at Chris¡¯s place?¡±

    No? She hadn¡¯t, was it already time for that? Shouldn¡¯t they be checked twice to three times every year? Ellen was so far away from the right answer she could get. Even a so simple thing as an artificial arm should get examined every second month, but a heart or lungs should get examined once or twice every month. And that was still at the border to be too little.

    Since Ellen hadn¡¯t got her heart and lungs examined since the last time at Chris¡¯s place, so was they deciding to do it. After they had finished their coffee of course.

    ¡°So where is your little sister?¡±

    ¡°She`s with Lilly and visiting the doctors we have sent the drug to. Trying to find out if they know how it has leaked to the streets.¡±

    Did Jill even care?

    ¡°So she¡¯s out with miss Lilium?¡±

    Jill smiled mischievously upon hearing Lilly¡¯s name. She didn¡¯t seem to have learned anything from Lilly¡¯s revenge. Ellen still found it hard to believe that Jill had been acting like that toward Lilly once in the time. But it was only proving two things. One, Jill could be a horrible person if she put that side out. Two, she was older than what Ellen first had thought. Wonder just how old Jill was, she looked to be the around the same age as Ellen but apparently she wasn¡¯t. It would be rude to ask her about her age, right?

    Ellen had stripped her upper body and laid at her stomach in her bed. As Jill had said, it had to be much more comfortable than the table in Ellen¡¯s workshop. Which of course Ellen couldn¡¯t deny and was glad that Jill had thought that far for her sake.

    The only thing that was bothering her about laying on the bed like that, was that it reminded her of the night she spent with Lapin. Easily said, a big mistake from her side. Even if Lapin had been pushy, so was it mostly Ellen¡¯s fault for accepting it from the beginning. Not to mention that she hadn¡¯t told Lapin to stop.

    ¡°So how have things been doing since I left, have I¡­ missed anything?¡±

    Jill talked in a curious tone, but did hold up in the middle of it to force the lid open. Maybe Jill had a point when she said that Ellen¡¯s parts should be examined more often. Even if it wouldn¡¯t be much of a difference between the times it happened, so would at least the lid not be stuck as it was now.

    ¡°It hasn¡¯t happened much since you left. Alice bought the house, I did install all the gears. A girl moved in and lived here until recently.¡±

    It had been feeling like it happened much, but thinking about it. There wasn¡¯t much that did happen, at least not that Jill could find interesting. Of course Ellen could¡­ Maybe she could ask Jill how she would do with Jack. She hadn¡¯t got the courage to try finding him since the horrible thing she did to him in the other city. Maybe Jill could give her some good advice about what she should do.

    ¡°Can I ask for some advice?¡±

    Jill was really one of the few that Ellen could talk openly with, in differences to many others. Sure she was still worried about the result, but it was better than don¡¯t have anyone to talk with at all.

    Ellen carefully explained that she had been dating Jack, leaving out the fact that he was her father. It was a fact that no one really needed to know about. She went on with how they had been leaving to have a date in another city, where he had tried to gently guide her to become an adult. But she had been a horrible person to decline his help and then punched him when he showed that he cared for her. Only so she could flee in shame, without making any attempts at all to contact him afterwards.

    Jill listened carefully to Ellen story while examining the parts, making small sounds to show that she still was following.

    ¡°It all is looking fine.¡± She was done and closed the lid in Ellen¡¯s back, almost as if she hadn¡¯t listened to Ellen at all.

    ¡°So how often are you meeting him, and how often did you meet him before?¡±

    To be honest, they hadn¡¯t meet anything before Ellen started with Jack¡¯s request with the automobile, and after the project was done. They hadn¡¯t met at all, but that was Ellen¡¯s fault alone.

    ¡°I see, and he hasn¡¯t even tried to get in touch with you?¡±

    No? But he was set up and forced to hide from guards, so it was a pain for him to move freely.

    ¡°Are you really the right person for him if he doesn¡¯t even try to contact you, even though there might be things that are happening around him.¡±

    ¡°He is the right person. He has done nothing wrong. It has only been I that have done wrong this far while he has tried to help me and at the same time keeping a low profile.¡±

    Jack had proven that he loved Ellen far to clear many times. It was Ellen that was the problem, even cheating at him with a girl. Taking the step that she couldn¡¯t take with him, without any hints of hesitation and without even feeling guilty about it afterwards.

    ¡°It is nothing wrong by being afraid of taking the last step out in adulthood. It comes when you are ready.¡±

    Sure, Jill could maybe have a point. But it seemed that she honestly didn¡¯t care about the problem itself. Because it wasn¡¯t her problem?

    ¡°I apologise that I don¡¯t see it your way and that I am too lazy to pull my head out off my behind to see it your way.¡±

    She must have noticed that Ellen wasn¡¯t very pleased with the answer. Trying to make up for it by explaining why she didn¡¯t look far too deep into it.

    <hr>

    Alice looked out of the window in the carriage and let out a heavy sigh.

    Why had everything gone so wrong? Would it have been better if they should have produced HM at home instead of getting help from others? Would it have been better if they shouldn¡¯t have sent it to any doctor?

    Luckily so had all the doctors shown no signs of being the one that sold it to the street, and even accepting the fact they shouldn¡¯t get any more HM until the problem was solved. Which was the biggest and probably the hardest task for them to handle.

    The doctor that had been the first one that they sent it to had advised them to sell the rights for HM to the state. Believing that it could help them solve the problem.

    The forest area they passed through reminded Alice of the peaceful start in this world.

    She had found herself being taken cared of by some kind people in a small village after they had found both her and Jack in the forest. She was still unsure of how she got there, but it didn¡¯t matter since it was really wonderful people that found them while they were passed out. It could have been so much worse if the wrong kind of people found them.

    Their life had been so calm and peaceful, but Alice still couldn¡¯t find any spiritual rest there. Her beloved sister wasn¡¯t there with her, so how could she really be relaxed or even happy back then. She was really lucky to have Jack as her father. Because of her selfish wish to be with her sister so did they moved to the city, where it could be easier for Jack to grand her wish. He worked harder than ever before and succeeded to revive Ellen. Granting Alice¡¯s selfish wish, only for her sake.

    ¡°Miss Morfine, is it your first time outside the city?¡± Lilly tried to get Alice attention.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s the second time.¡±

    ¡°Then I hope that you are fine that we sleep at a hotel tonight. We are only halfway home, and the night is about to fall.¡±

    Alice didn¡¯t saw any problem with that they should sleep at a hotel. It could after all be really dangerous to be out during the night. Only in the city, there were some roughs. So it was probably even worse here. Not to mention that there would be wild animals that could cause serious problems. If they should scare the horse that pulled the carriage, there was no way to know how it would end.

    They had got lucky to get a driver that had been in the town before, knowing a place where they could get a room too a cheap price. Otherwise there could be a risk that they still would have been searching when the night arrived.

    ¡°Do you think it is a good idea to sell the right of HM to the state, as the doctor suggested?¡± Alice considered the idea, but it felt wrong to do it.

    ¡°Doctor Svensson? Yes, I think that it can be a good idea.¡±

    Lilly poured up some wine in a glass and took a sip.

    They had been eating dinner and was now in the twin room they had rented, with some wine that Lilly had picked for some ¡°social drinking¡±.

    ¡°Why do you think it can be a good Lilly?¡±

    ¡°The state is greedier than you and have tools to stop potential threats of losing money. Even if they are forced to play dirty to get their hands at the responsible person.¡±

    Wasn¡¯t that meaning that they wouldn¡¯t hesitate to set someone up to gain a bigger profit.

    ¡°Don`t that mean that they could trick you in different ways to take the whole profit?¡±

    She thought that she had got a good reason to be worried, but Lilly could only see that as a try to make a bad joke. She couldn¡¯t see that if it wasn¡¯t that the one that sold it was playing very dirty.

    ¡°Are you thinking about mister Jack?¡±

    Alice wasn¡¯t thinking about him to start with, but would like to hear if Lilly had any information about him that she didn¡¯t know.

    Jack had started to make those crystals and sold it as medication, which was a reason that the state later on had bought it. Alice knew that he had created it and sold it as medication, but didn¡¯t know that he sold the rights. According to rumours so had Jack continued to sell it, even though he had sold the rights to produce it. But it was there Lilly¡¯s knowledge ended.

    That could explain why he suddenly had started to earn so much money, he achieved it from two different ends. It could also explain why he had asked Ellen to help him make it stronger, which gave birth to the ¡°Angel¡±. The crystals got stronger after Ellen was done with the machine. That could be a reason to why he ran away so shortly afterwards. The state had noticed his dirty play even more by then, since it became more obvious when people were affected. Therefore they tried to hunt him down and set a stop for what he was doing. Or at least it sounded like a good explanation and could be partly the truth about what he had been up to. Just like an explanation to why he all of sudden ran away.

    <hr>

    Why did the sun have to shine so bright? Ellen had just woke up and sat in her bed, looking out the window.

    Jill was sharing the bed with her. Had it become a bad habit of sharing her bed with other girls when she drank? Why had it ended like that, why had it started first after she did that horrible thing to him? More important, why was she only wearing her panties? It couldn¡¯t have happened something again, right? Maybe it should be best if Ellen decided to never drink again, it couldn¡¯t end like this every time.

    ¡°Good morning sister.¡± Without Ellen noticing so had Jill woke up, now also sitting up in the bed.

    ¡°Good morning, may I ask why we both are partly nude?¡±

    Ellen noticed that at Jill wasn¡¯t wearing anything, at least not at her upper body. There was no way that she would look at Jill¡¯s lower body under the blanket to find out if she had any clothes at her lower body.

    ¡°I usually don¡¯t wear anything else than panties while sleeping, and you didn¡¯t want to wear anything. Saying it made you feel captured.¡±

    Jill let out a big yawn and turned to Ellen and inspected her body.

    ¡°You have a beautiful body, even if you called it ugly yesterday. And didn¡¯t want me to look at while you undressed.¡±

    Ellen didn¡¯t know what she should say. Sure she didn¡¯t think she had a beautiful body, but why in the whole world had she expressed it like that. To no one less than a friend like Jill.

    ¡°We talked much yesterday until we did fall asleep. And there is a little of that I would like to talk with you about.¡±

    ¡°So I will go and make some coffee so we can drink and talk, so I hope you join soon.¡±

    Jill got out of bed and dressed while taking, before leaving the room.

    Ellen let out a sigh, wondering what she now had said while she was drunk. It couldn¡¯t be bad. at least it didn¡¯t seem like she had done something wrong this time.

    Ellen got out of the bed and walked to the mirror, looking at her own disappointing reflection. Jill had to been trying to pull a lie. There was no way that anyone could find her beautiful, no one.

    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    After getting her coffee she took her place on the other side of the table, looking serious at Jill.

    ¡°What did I say yesterday that you want to talk about?¡±

    ¡°You talked about that you were curious about travelling the world.¡±

    So that was what Ellen had talked about, it had only been thoughts this far. But Jill was at least the right person to talk with about it.

    ¡°You know the world ain¡¯t fit for everyone, right?¡±

    Ellen could have found that out with her rear. She did her best to collect information and knowledge so she could handle whatever it threw at her.

    ¡°Good, but I won¡¯t let you get out on a journey like that.¡± Jill sound dead serious and stared down Ellen. She really wasn¡¯t thinking of allowing Ellen to do it, no matter if Ellen accepted it or not.

    ¡°Then what will I need to think about and learn that can make you change your mind? And accept that I will be exploring the world?¡±

    It didn¡¯t matter what Jill thought or if she allowed it or not. When it was time for Ellen to get out on the journey, she would go.

    ¡°It`s far too much to even being able to tell you about it.¡±

    Well thanks, that did really help her. Now she knows exactly what to do.

    ¡°So what about that you follow me when I go on a journey?¡±

    That sounded much better than if she would have gone herself. Jill could be her guide,  not to mention that she would be some really good company.

    ¡°I would love to do that.¡±

    ¡°Good, then grab your money so will we start to prepare.¡±

    Of course after the coffee.

    Jill had taken Ellen to a couple of shops where she had bought a bag and a couple of other things. Ellen had asked Jill how long she possible could wait for Ellen, she still wasn¡¯t sure about if she really would follow her at the journey yet. In worst case so would Ellen have to wait until next time that Jill came for a visit, which Ellen would do if it was necessary. Just as Jill had said so was it probably for the better that Ellen followed Jill, at least the first time.

    Jack? Standing at the middle of the street and flirting with two women.

    Ellen didn¡¯t thoughts things through, forcing the things she holds on Jill and walked over to him.

    ¡°Can you please tell me what you are doing Jack?¡± Why was he flirting with them? Didn¡¯t he already have Ellen? Hadn¡¯t he only given her some space to calm down and think over her actions? He hadn¡¯t dumped her, right?

    ¡°Ohh it¡¯s you?¡±

    The women looked wondering at her, probably wondering what she wanted. Which of, it was Ellen that should have been the one wondering about what they wanted. They were shamelessly clinging on to HER Jack.

    ¡°Pardon my disgusting daughter, my ladies. She is mentally sick and believes that she loves me.¡±

    Disgusting, sick? Why did both he and the women looking disgusted at her? Why did they start to whisper spiteful words to each other, that they clearly knew Ellen could hear. Why?

    ¡°Yes, she is truly disgusting. She even tried to have her way with me, and tried to beat me when she failed.¡±

    She did try to have her way? She didn¡¯t. Sure she had beaten him, but it wasn¡¯t because she didn¡¯t get what she wanted. It wasn¡¯t even what she wanted. She did want to spend that special time with him, but she was horrible and couldn¡¯t right there.

    Why did he have to tell them that, not to mention that he said it out loud so everyone could hear him? Why was everyone looking disgusted at her? Why did Jack treat her like that?

    ¡°I even had to use crystals to be able to endure her, truly a DISGRACE to our innocent family.¡±

    Ellen didn¡¯t know what to say or even act. Why did Jack act like that? Why had he gone from gentle and kind to THIS? She wanted to cry, she wanted to die all over again. Even that horrific void that she once spent time in the void would be better than this.

    Jill walked up to Ellen, grabbing her shoulders and walked away with her, without even saying a word to Jack or those women.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the man you loved¡­ I don¡¯t even know what to say.¡± Jill was seemed to try to find a way to comfort her, but it didn¡¯t go well for her. Not that it really mattered, Ellen wouldn¡¯t even be bothering herself listening to her. She wanted to fade away, she wanted to die. She wanted answers on what just had occurred.

    <hr>

    Alice was running home from the clinic, as fast as she possibly could.

    She needed to get home, NOW! Ellen had locked herself up in her workshop when Alice come home after the trip with Lilly. Alice hadn¡¯t thought much about it since Ellen still come out to eat and then back into the workshop. It could have been a new project, and she still would have believed it. If it wasn¡¯t because the last patient for the day had shared some information with her.

    ¡°Can you tell me just what is going on Ellen? Have you meet our useless and idiotic father?¡±

    She threw up the door to Ellen¡¯s workshop and cornered her sister. She needed to spite out her thoughts. Her inside was burning and needed to get it spat out at the one that deserved it.

    Ellen¡¯s eyes were red by crying, her whole body was shaking. She was afraid, she was uncomfortable.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t met Jack.¡± It was a transparent lie, so easy to see straight through. Not to mention that she didn¡¯t even want to look at Alice and tried to turn her whole body away from Alice.

    Alice grabbed her sister¡¯s shoulders and forced her to face Alice. There was no way that Alice could overlook this. She was disappointed at her sister, she had to make her understand that.

    ¡°You can¡¯t be this stupid right? He has at least used you once. It has been so clear to see, so you can¡¯t have missed it. The only time he has come to you is when he is in need of something. Both the time with the ¡°angel¡± and the date. He only used you to fulfil his own disgusting desires!¡±

    Alice could see how even Ellen had realised it. Her stupid sister was crying, but it didn¡¯t matter.

    She started to violently shake her sister, it needed to be done.

    ¡°I am really disappointed in you, I thought you were a really smart person. But I seem to have been so wrong. You are disappointing, even making sure to get rejected by ¡°you beloved IDIOT¡± in the middle of the city.¡±

    Alice didn¡¯t stop shaken Ellen until Taija had arrived and grabbed her from behind, pulling Alice away from her sister. She had seen how Alice had reacted back in the clinic and decided to follow her.

    ¡°Can you please calm down a little Alice?¡± She asked while Alice was struggling to reach her sister again, she needed to get out her disappointment in her sister.

    ¡°Is it wrong to follow your heart?¡±

    Ellen¡¯s voice sounded like she had broke, plain and weak. She didn¡¯t move her body at all after Alice had let go of her.

    ¡°In this case it¡¯s, so you it¡¯s only wrong ¡°SISTER¡±.¡± It was hard to believe that they were sisters now when Ellen had done something like that. She was so much smarter than this, so why did she acted like this? Why hadn''t she seen what Jack was out after? Couldn¡¯t she have told her that she had got contact with that IDIOT again so that Alice could have kept an eye at her sister?

    Taija had lead Alice to the kitchen and made some tea for both of them.

    Alice had calmed down a little, she didn¡¯t need to spit out more things at Ellen. At least for now.

    ¡°Alice, can you please tell me what is going on?¡±

    Alice let out a heavy sigh, most of it was circulating in the city already. So could she as well tell her the truth before she heard the rumours that were circulating.

    ¡°To explain it simply, so have Ellen been in love with our father for a long time. He didn¡¯t pay her any attention, except for when he wanted to use her for his own benefits.¡±

    ¡°The day you let us move into your mansion, he escaped the law because he had been producing a medication that he sold to the state. He only tried to get me to follow him and ignored Ellen, ready to leave her behind as if she didn¡¯t matter and that he couldn''t see her as a family member.¡±

    Alice looked down at the table before letting out another heavy sigh.

    ¡°I thought that Ellen had noticed it and decided to go on with her life, without him. She didn¡¯t even talk about him after he left, so I really did believe that. But it turned out to be wrong, and she did an ENORMOUS mistake. Too stupid for a smart person like her to do.¡±

    Her thoughts were heavy. Almost crushing her mind. She couldn¡¯t understand how someone smart as Ellen could do a mistake that stupid.

    Taija let out a giggle, rise and walked behind Alice. Giving her a tight hug. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it will make you feel better. But love can make people do very, VERY stupid things. I am also guilty of doing that?¡±

    It didn¡¯t help at all, she still was disappointed in her stupid sister. Even if Taija also was guilty of doing the same thing.

    ¡°Did you know that it was I that asked Lilly to find reasons of why you shouldn¡¯t trust Lapin?¡±

    ¡°Why did you do that?¡±

    That was hard to believe that Taija had asked that of Lilly, just like that Ellen had done her mistake. Taija did seem like a very kind person.

    ¡°The little girl was getting to close to MY BELOVED Alice, and I even asked Lilly to go through with it when we found out that I and the girl had the same problem.¡±

    That could explain why Taija had been avoiding Alice when she accepted Lapin anyway. Guilt because of it.

    Beloved? That wasn¡¯t anything that she needed to hear now. She had tried to avoid to think it since she remembered Taija expressing her feelings for Alice at the night of the celebration. Alice really didn¡¯t need more to think about after all she already had to think about.

    ¡°Can you let me live here with my beloved and Ellen, at least until things calm down for you two.¡±

    Taija might have good intentions with her question, even if it might be partly so she can get closer to Alice.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that will be a problem. That can maybe be good for both me and Ellen. But I might need to tell you one thing about the ¡°beloved¡± part.¡±

    It really could be good for both Alice and Ellen, or at least they could play dirty and ¡°talk¡± through Taija. But for the other part, there was still some problems remaining. Taija claimed that she loved Alice, but there was no real way for Alice to give her a response if she loved Taija back. It couldn¡¯t be possible to love someone if there were no emotions, right?

    ¡°So, have you been thinking about if you want to do the deal?¡±

    Alice and Lilly were talking while drinking tea around the table at the clinic.

    ¡°Do you think it would be wrong if I make that decision on my own?¡±

    Alice would love to have talked with Ellen about it, but it had been two days since Alice had lashed out at her sister. Which of course she did deserve after doing a stupid and obvious mistake like that. After Ellen had talked quite a lot with both Jill and Taija, she had started to join the meals again. But Alice and Ellen still didn¡¯t talk to each other.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think it would be wrong with that. You are after all an adult.¡±

    Lilly seemed to be sure about her thing, and she had a point. Alice is an adult, she doesn¡¯t have much experience but she was still an adult. She couldn¡¯t anything that could help her with the deal. But she would have both Lilly and doctor Svensson by her side during the deal, making sure to help her get the best deal.

    Alice decided that she wanted to do the deal, which now would be set in four days.

    She and Taija were walking home from the clinic. It had been a horrible time lately, Lapin had left. HM had got out at the street and she had got into a fight with Ellen, which she wouldn¡¯t forgive until she seriously apologised for doing a mistake like that. Alice was after all not the one that had done a mistake, so it really was Ellen¡¯s fault.

    Now She even needed to worry about the deal, which could end with her either winning or getting skinned alive.

    ¡°Are you thinking about the deal Alice?¡±

    ¡°Yes, how will we possibly know if we are getting tricked while doing the deal?¡±

    Taija halted Alice and patted her on the head. ¡°How do you know if you are getting tricked when you buy food at a stall?¡±

    Alice understood Taija¡¯s point. There was no chance of knowing it for sure. So it was only for them to keep their eyes open at the deal.

    Taija had moved in with Alice, taking care of both Ellen and Alice.

    Even accepting the fact that Alice had some problem giving a response to her love, according to the fact that she didn¡¯t feel emotions. It was nothing that had bothered Taija at all. If Alice had problems to feel emotions, then there were surely other ways that could tell what she ¡°felt¡±.

    Taija sure had some high hopes about it.

    <hr>

    Ellen could almost feel Jill¡¯s breath in her neck, while she worked at a small thing in her workshop.

    Ellen was grateful that Jill had been coming over daily since the day ¡°THAT princess¡± overreacted. Really forced her into a corner and had been stomping at her, when she already was broken after how Jack treated her.

    Her once beloved that really turned out to be nothing better than a turd. She had honestly been an idiot to believe in him, believing that he seriously loved her. But of course, how would anyone be able to love her when she looked like she did and was a horrible person like she was. It was clear now, she had always had a feeling of it. But the hope had been holding on to her.

    She might need to thank Taija later on too. Ellen had got the possibility to ease her heart with both Taija and Jill¡¯s help. But it was mostly thanks to Taija that she could handle the situation with Jack. She seemed to have more understanding of how loved worked, at least in differences from both Jill and ¡°that princess¡±.

    Jill blows her in the ear.

    ¡°You are not working.¡±

    ¡°Why must I work?¡±

    Jill had started by keeping some distance from Ellen when she arrived first after the fight between Ellen and Alice. But she had come closer and closer with the time, now far to close.

    ¡°I find your project very interesting and inspiring. So I want to see more of it.¡±

    Even though the small project wasn¡¯t interesting, so was Jill somehow finding it interesting. It was only a small thing that would be something similar to a screw gun, which in the end turned out to be slightly harder than Ellen had thought. Yet she had some small ideas of how she should solve all the problems.

    ¡°By the way sister, are you still thinking about joining me for the journey?¡±

    Did she even need to ask that? If She had been hesitating before, so was that then. Now she wasn¡¯t even thinking about it, she had to follow her on the journey.

    There was after all nothing that held her back anymore, not Jack, not ¡°that princess¡±, nothing.

 chapter 24

    ¡°So I and Alice will leave early in the morning the day after tomorrow to make the deal. We will also be gone for two days. So can you please take care of the house while we are gone?¡±

    Taija had come to the workshop and explained for Ellen and Jill about the situation that Alice was in.

    They thought that it could be the best way to solve the problem with that HM had leaked out at the street. Ellen had been thinking about that idea too, but she didn¡¯t take the chance to talk with Alice about it. Which first was because Alice had left with Lilly, then Ellen had locked herself up because of Jack. Then at last so was it that Ellen didn¡¯t even bother to talk with Alice after how ¡°that princess¡± had overreacted.

    ¡°No problem. We will take care of the house.¡±

    Ellen understood the situation, and it was a thing that Alice and they had to decided to handle. So there was honestly no other choice for Ellen but to accept it since she wasn¡¯t a part of the solution.

    ¡°I have seen Taija here every day since you and your sister¡¯s fight. Have she moved in?¡±

    Yes, Taija had moved in by some reason after the fight. And now she took care of both Ellen and Alice, making sure that they actually could face each other without that anything worse happening. Which had been for the better, even if no one of them seemed to even want to talk with each other. Of course that wasn¡¯t a problem. And before Ellen even wanted to talk with ¡°that princess¡±, so would she like an apology for that horrific overreaction earlier.

    Jill let out a short laugh and walked up behind Ellen, placing her hands at Ellen¡¯s hips. ¡°She¡¯s taking care of you now, will it be fine if I take cares of you later on?¡±

    ¡°Of course, I expect you to both be my guide and take care of me.¡±

    Jill was sounded just as jolly like always, so Ellen felt she needed to answer her.

    ¡°Of course? My beloved one is expecting me to really take care of her.¡±

    Jill moved her hands and hugged Ellen under the arms, almost acting like she did hold some feelings toward her.

    ¡°You are joking, right?¡±

    ¡°You have a really cute reaction, almost so I might want to do something immoral.¡±

    <hr>

    Taija came back into the kitchen after talking with Ellen in her workshop.

    Alice was really grateful that she wanted to help her with Ellen, even if it meant that Alice used her as a messenger to tell Ellen things. But it¡¯s necessary until Ellen her sister has come to her senses and apologises for that, incredible, stupid mistake.

    She had started to cook the food before she asked Taija to tell Ellen about what was going on. The whole time so had she been thinking about how it honestly should have been her that should have told Ellen, even if she didn¡¯t want to do it until she got the apologies from her. It was after all Ellen that had done wrong, it was Ellen¡¯s fault. Yet, Alice was her sister.

    It was a big pain for her to even try to sort her thoughts out.

    Taija comes up to her from behind and hugged her tight.

    ¡°I have told Ellen, do you want me to do something more?¡±

    Alice tried to get out of Taija¡¯s hug, this wasn¡¯t a good place for Taija to hug her. Since she didn¡¯t know how she felt about Taija, so was it best to keep it low until after she had found a way to find it out.

    ¡°Can you please help me with the cooking?¡±

    Alice couldn¡¯t break out of Taija¡¯s hug, no matter how hard she tried. Sure she knew that she wasn¡¯t a strong person, but it really showed up now when she not even could break free from Taija.

    Alice thought about what her feeling possible could have told her about love, if they still had been there it was. Was there something that she felt for Taija, or? Alice did want to know, but no matter how she thought about it so was it still impossible for her to find it out at her own.

    Ellen and Jill had been just as boring as always during the meal, eating without a word said. And as soon they had eaten up, they left the house.

    Alice let out a sigh, she didn¡¯t like that Ellen went out with ¡°that woman¡±. Last time they had been gone for a whole day, without a word about it. Alice view of Jill didn¡¯t get any better, especially not after hearing what she earlier had put Lilly through.

    ¡°Are you worried about your sister?¡±

    Taija and Alice were sitting the living room and drank some wine. Alice hadn¡¯t felt for tea, it was too much going on for her to enjoy even be able to enjoy it.

    ¡°Of all that worries me, that might be the least problem.¡±

    Taija had told her that Ellen was working on a project inside the workshop. She didn¡¯t think much about it, but Alice knew that it easily could mean that Ellen was thinking things through. Maybe it could be that she was about to come back to her senses.

    ¡°Then it¡¯s the deal you really are worried about.¡±

    Of course it was, she was worried about the deal. How couldn¡¯t she be that, it was not like she could stop thinking about it? Even if she had so many people that would help her, so was it impossible for her to calm her mind. There was after all so much that could go wrong. She could be most unlucky and leave the deal skinned and ready to be served on a silver plate.

    ¡°You can calm down Alice, we will all be there to help you.¡± Taija did her best to help Alice calm her mind. She was experienced when it came to making deals, so she would really use everything she knows to help Alice with it. She had much knowledge since she had been at her father¡¯s deals, all the way from when she only was a little child.

    ¡°I must say that it was the most boring times in my life.¡± She tried to point it out the last part as a joke, which actually helped to calm Alice¡¯s mind.

    ¡°Can you tell how I feel?¡± It suddenly struck Alice that Taija had seen straight through her of how messed up her thoughts had been.

    ¡°Of course. You are having a really clear body language, so it¡¯s easy to tell some of your feelings.¡±

    ¡°It has always been like that. It¡¯s so cute that it made me miss to notice that the emotions were gone.¡±

    Cute and clear? Alice didn¡¯t know that, can it really have been so clear that it made it possible for others to not notice that she was defective? And how could it be so clear when Alice had tried her best to hide how she was feeling. Had she really failed that bad?

    A light and warm feeling spread in her face. It had to be an explanation for that, right? Couldn¡¯t it all stop for now?

    <hr>

    Ellen and Jill had hit the bar after they had finished the dinner, now sitting and drinking some beer together.

    ¡°Sister, I think something is going on with Taija and your sister.¡±

    Ellen didn¡¯t care. If it was something going on, it would be Taija¡¯s lose falling for ¡°that emotionless princess¡±. It wasn¡¯t really anything that Ellen even cared about.

    ¡°Do you think they only have been waiting for us to leave, so they could get their time for some heavy cuddling?¡± Jill had waited for Ellen to drink from her beer before saying it, making her spit out some of it over the table by surprise.

    Those two, HEAVY cuddling? That wasn¡¯t even anything she wanted to think about, but yet her mind builds up a picture of just that situation. She knew she was blushing. Jill had found out that Ellen easily blushed when the conversation leads toward things like that, which of course she used as much as she could.

    ¡°Then how about trash talking that man and drink till we drop?¡±

    Jill ordered in more beers while giving her opinion of what they could talk about.

    Ellen didn¡¯t like the suggestion, but Jill couldn¡¯t care less. And instead asked if it could be that she only believed that she had loved him because she had looked up to him as a parent. Slightly mixing it up because those feeling could be very similar, calling it ¡°something similar to Electra complex¡±. Which she of course needed to give Ellen a light explanation first. It turned out to be very similar to the situation that Ellen had been in. Simply said the whole concept of a girl falling in love with their father.

    Ellen ordered in four shots of absinthe, she could need it if she even should be able to survive this evening with Jill.

    ¡°At least, of what I have understood so would I like to say that you didn¡¯t love him.¡±

    ¡°You spent a night cuddling with a cute girl, but you didn¡¯t feel bad that you were cheating at him. Only thinking about how you could do it with her but not him.¡±

    Jill had got her beer and handed one to Ellen.

    She had got it more right than wrong, and she did have a point.

    ¡°And I believe that you are afraid of love, since you hold on to him even though he left you for a long time. Afraid of falling in love with another person.¡±

    She couldn¡¯t be serious, Ellen wasn¡¯t afraid of falling in love. It had only been that she waited for him because she thought there was pure love between them.

    Sending over two of the four shots absinthe to Jill, while painting it up very clearly.

    Jill emptied one of the shots and walked over to Ellen, making her drink it mouth to mouth.

    ¡°If you ain¡¯t afraid of falling in love, so am I look forward to seeing you fall in love with me.¡±

    <hr>

    Alice came into the kitchen for making some breakfast before she and Taija should leave for the clinic.

    There were no signs of Ellen. Maybe she had come back during the night, without making noises and wake up Alice for once. No, she found a small note left in the table. Ellen had been out the whole night, only coming home to write that note to Alice. Telling her that she still would be out with Jill during the day, but Ellen would at least come back sometime during the day.

    There was no reason for Alice to not dislike Jill. It was probably her idea that they would go out at an adventure, again. Hopefully so would Ellen come back unhurt this time too.

    It had been a boring day, only talking about the deal between the treatments. Sure it gave Alice a clearer picture of how the deal would be, but it still wasn¡¯t calming her mind. There was still so very much that could go wrong.

    There were only two small things she could calm her mind a little, which of one was that Ellen seemed to have matured a little. She was at least leaving a note before this adventure with ¡°that woman¡±. It wasn¡¯t great, but it still was something. The second thing was that she had both Lilly and Taija at her side through the whole deal. Which they all should leave for the next morning, so they could relax and get the time to make up a plan before the deal.

    Alice had hoped that Ellen was back by the time they got home from the clinic, but she wasn¡¯t.

    Ellen didn¡¯t come back until the night had fallen. Both she and Jill was so wasted that neither of them would have been able to walk straight, even if they had tried to do it.

    ¡°Sorry for being back so late and being wasted.¡± Ellen apologised for it when they meet them in the door opening. Maybe Alice could forgive her sister this very time for it.

    Ellen suddenly threw herself at Alice, hugging her closely.

    ¡°You know that I love you over everything else, don¡¯t you?¡±

    Just how drunk was Ellen, and just how would Alice react to this? Ellen had been loving and protective from time to time when she had been drunk. But it had never been like this.

    ¡°You are a really cute set of sisters.¡±

    Taija joined the hug after Alice had given her some pleading looks for help.

    Ellen glared at Taija for a moment before letting go of Alice and hugged Taija instead. ¡°Can you please put your heart into taking care of little Alice?¡±

    Alice face got warm, did she meant that Taija would take care of her during the trip. Or did she know that there maybe was something going on between them? A mischievous look from her sister did spell it out for her. She knew about it. Ellen knew that Alice was trying to find out if there was love between her and Taija.

    ¡°We don¡¯t even know if we can be a couple!¡±

    Alice had to explain it, there maybe wasn¡¯t anything between them. There maybe couldn¡¯t be anything between them, ever. There were no emotions involved, or at least so couldn¡¯t Alice tell if there were any emotions involved.

    ¡°Is there love between you and Taija?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    Ellen just had to ask the most annoying question. She knew it just as well that Alice didn¡¯t feel emotions any more, yet she asked something like that. Alice had told her while they were living in Chris¡¯s house.

    ¡°Taija. Alice ain¡¯t as dumb as I can be, so you better really do your very best to take care of her. And make sure not to hurt her. Please make her happy.¡±

    Ellen acted like she didn¡¯t know, hadn¡¯t meant that Taija would take care of her as in a relationship? Alice didn¡¯t really know what to do now, she had exposed that it maybe could be something. Except that she might need to help poor Taija. Taija tried to tell Ellen that she wouldn¡¯t hurt Alice, yet Ellen didn¡¯t buy it and almost threatened her.

    ¡°I promise you Ellen, I will tell you if Taija does something against me.¡±

    ¡°I think it could have been really nice to celebrate this, but I believe that I and Ellen will need to get some sleep. So we can maybe celebrate when we are all here again.¡±  Jill supported Ellen while talking, in a tone that almost was as if she tried to remind herself that she wouldn¡¯t drink anymore more.

    Alice and Taija agreed and sent the drunkards to bed before going to bed themselves. They would need their sleep, they had to get up early the next day.

    ¡°It isn¡¯t every day someone gets confessed to by the younger sister while threatened by the older sister. I must be a very lucky person.¡± Taija laid beside Alice and talked happily.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t a confession.¡± Alice didn¡¯t like the situation. She had been talking to much back then. She had more or less expressed that her heart was somewhere she didn¡¯t know. And that there could be something going on between her and Taija.

    ¡°But you still expressed your feelings, and that you can think about being in a relationship with me. That really is close enough for me.¡±

    Taija sounded happy, was it even a situation to be happy about? Would Alice also have been happy, if she still had been feeling emotions? Should she have got happy for small things like Taija, would she had been overjoyed right now?

    ¡°You was so cute back then Alice, do you want to sleep or cuddle?¡±

    ¡°Sleep¡±

    Taija shouldn¡¯t ask for things that she only can give when her heart is involved.

    Alice jumped out of the carriage and stretched her body.

    They had just arrived at the hotel where they should live during these two days during the deal. She was tired, even though she had been sleeping most of the time it took to get there. By a strange reason so couldn¡¯t she get any rest during the night. It could have been understanding if it had been all because of the deal, but she hadn¡¯t even spent a thought on the deal. It had all been all because of Taija, more correctly because of her comment about cuddling. It had left Alice unable to sleep and reacting every time Taija had moved in the bed, almost as if she had very low thoughts about her¡­

    ¡°Do you want to stay out for a little while longer, or do you want to follow us to the rooms?¡± Lilly forced out Alice from her thoughts.

    Of course Alice should follow them in.

    She started to think if she really should be there. Alice didn¡¯t have any kind of experience about anything like that. She would probably only be a bother. Maybe it had been better to ask Lilly and Taija to do it for her. But wasn''t that meaning she only would use them?

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.¡°Isn`t that a little of how it already is like?¡±

    Lilly sat on the bed Taija should sleep at in the twin room Alice and Taija shared.

    She had a point, Alice was already using them. Using them just like the people said in her dream.

    ¡°We only askes you to come along while doing the deal. We will after all need your signature after we are done playing with him.¡± Taija called it to play with him?

    ¡°And don¡¯t worry about it, we will do our best to eat him alive. Lilly will be to big help, she¡¯s a beast when it comes to pressure someone.¡± Lilly clearly disliked Taija¡¯s words about her but still agreed to it.

    Did they try to be funny to help Alice relax? It did somehow help her relax a little. If that now was what they tried to do. Otherwise so would it mean that they were unserious about it, which meant that even Alice would need to keep her eyes open so the deal didn¡¯t end badly for her.

    Why couldn¡¯t Ellen had been there with them? Alice knows that her beloved sister never would be unserious when it came to things like this. Ellen had also proven that she knew how to act in bad situations, like when she was up against Mr Halluv.

    ¡°Will this really go well?¡± Alice didn¡¯t want to not trust them, but she couldn¡¯t do anything but to worry.

    ¡°It will go well, we will give our best to create the best deal for you.¡±

    Both Lilly and Taija was serious about it, and Alice didn¡¯t have any other choices than to trust them. Why couldn¡¯t her sister have been there with her? It would have helped her to be more relaxed about it.

    They were sitting in a big office together with the buyer.

    It was finally time to get over with it. After this so wouldn¡¯t Alice need to think any more about it, if it didn¡¯t go really bad that was.

    Lilly and Taija had promised that they would do their best, and according to Lilly so had even doctor Svensson promised the same. Which had meant more if Alice had heard it from him herself, but the buyer had arrived earlier. So they hadn¡¯t got the chance to talk to him yet.

    ¡°I have heard that it¡¯s you that is the one that made the HM. You must be a very smart woman.¡±

    The buyer really tried to softening up Alice, but it wouldn¡¯t work out for him. She already disliked his words.

    An older bald man, that looked like he had been eating for at least four people the last couple of years and still did regularly.

    ¡°Yes. I am Alice Morfine and is the one that made HM. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡±

    She needed to give off a good impression. Even if it wasn¡¯t anything anyone had told her about was it common sense to know that others would treat you better if they had a good impression of you. Even giving him a light bow from her place in the chair.

    Most of the talk in the deal was things that Alice didn¡¯t understand anything about. But there was of course points that she could understand. Like that HM had reached the street, which lowered the value. And that there would be thoughts spent to that they were two people that would survive at the money. Which probably only wasn¡¯t anything more than kind words.

    Taija that had said she had the biggest experience of deals didn¡¯t say anything, only sitting and writing notes. And Lilly that Taija wished to call a beast, turned out to really be a beast when it came to pressuring people. Really taking a stand against the man.

    After hours of talking so did the buyer leave a price, which was the one that Lilly had said she could get if HM hadn¡¯t reached the streets. Lilly had really done everything and had helped Alice get a good deal.

    ¡°I would like to call that price cute and question if we really have been thinking it all through.¡±

    Taija spoke for the first time during the meeting and smirked to the man, in a fashion that even could have given Ellen a bad feeling. She was upon something, beginning to talk while looking from time to time at her notepad. Again so was it much that Alice couldn¡¯t understand.

    But out of what she understood so was there a much wider market that he hadn¡¯t mentioned. There was a much bigger value in HM than he painted up. Then it was also the small thing that no one of the other had been thinking about, like the patent for the machine that apparently would follow. Ellen¡¯s machine.

    Before he left a new price Taija took herself the freedom to tell him that they could find others that easily could give them a price that they would be satisfied with. His old body shivered when he heard it, he seemed to know that she knew how big the market actually was.

    The three of them was back at the hotel, sitting in the resultant and celebrating.

    ¡°You called me a beast. If I am that, just what are you. The devil herself¡±

    Lilly had got just surprised as Alice when Taija started. If they had made the man walk away in shame like a dog before, so had Taija made him serve them his tail at a silver plate after she was done with him.

    ¡°Not really. That title is already taken, so I am only waiting in line.¡±

    Taija seemed to be really satisfied with her part in it. Which had resulted in a higher price and cut, even giving an extra amount when they would be building a new machine.

    ¡°I think that Alice should listen to a request from Taija.¡± Lilly just had to disturb the peace when they sat around the table and the wine was about to start flowing, didn¡¯t she?

    ¡°It can maybe be a problem, there are things I can¡¯t do.¡±

    Alice thought it was best to put it out straight, Taija knows there were things Alice couldn¡¯t do but Lilly didn¡¯t.

    ¡°You can at least listen to a special request that Taija has been holding on to for some time.¡±

    ¡°Is there some special request you have?¡±

    Either if she wanted or not, Lilly sure did have a point. Taija had done so much for Alice, just by helping with this. And if Alice considered the other thing to that Taija had done before, she really was in big debt to Taija. Maybe more than she ever would be able to pay off. So it actually wasn¡¯t more than right. No matter what it could be that Taija could ask about, so wasn¡¯t it more than right. Even if it would turn out to be a more intimate request, which Alice really hoped it wasn¡¯t. Only thinking about that it could be that made her face grow warmer.

    ¡°Isn`t she cute Lilly.¡± Taija only giggles to Alice reaction.

    ¡°That special request that you thinking about Lilly, I have already done that. I have already got the possibility to tell her my feelings.¡±

    Only telling Alice her feelings? She couldn¡¯t think of herself any other way than being stupid for thinking far too long. She felt her face getting even warmer as she thought about it. She had been an idiot for thinking that Taija would make a request like that.

    ¡°I took my chance to force my feeling upon Alice while she was upset about her sister.¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t force them upon me. You told me them while you did offer to help me and Ellen.¡±

    Alice had to correct Taija, the way she expressed herself made it sound like she was a bad person.

    ¡°You charmed her and tricked her to let you move in at her place, while she was upset.¡± Lilly didn¡¯t listen to Alice at all.

    ¡°Charmed her, tricked her and is waiting for the chance to have my way with her.¡±

    ¡°Can we please order some absinthe?¡± Alice couldn¡¯t take much more if this without risking to make her face burn from inside out. According to Ellen so could absinthe help with handling problem from time to time.

    ¡°Going out hard? Then we should order three absinthe so we all can cheer.¡±

    Carriage? How in the whole world had she got there? ? What had really happened the night before?

    At the very least so was all the three of them in there, both Lilly and Taija was sleeping. They had gone out hard during the celebration, just like Lilly suggested. Which turned out to be a little too hard. Could it be how Ellen¡¯s adventure with Jill started? One of them getting the stupid idea of going out hard, and then they stick to it. Maybe Alice can have judged her sister a little too hard if it could happen so easy that even Alice could fall for it.

    Alice started to wonder how her sister was doing, she had after all left without a word. Even after Ellen had been acting so cute the day before they left.

    Taija let out a light sigh, still sleeping. She was just as beautiful and cute as she was kind.

    Alice let out a heavy sigh, she had been trying so hard to force herself to not do anything without feelings. Even denying herself the mental satisfaction of allowing her own heart to fall in love. She could still not feel emotions and most probably never would ever again. But it didn¡¯t change the fact that she would like to have someone to call her¡¯s, someone other than her sister to always stand by her side.

    She gave Taija a kiss on the cheek at leaned toward her as she had done before waking up. Her body seemed to hold some affection toward Taija, her mind didn¡¯t have anything against her. So was there even a good reason for her to question the concept that she couldn¡¯t fall in love since she couldn¡¯t feel emotions? Was there a reason to not accept Taija¡¯s emotions and be by Alice side. Maybe they both could win something at doing so.

    ¡°Thanks a bunch for the help.¡± Alice tried to talk clear, but the hangover had kicked in and her head was killing her.

    ¡°You are welcome, see you at the clinic tomorrow.¡±

    Lilly didn¡¯t seem to have escaped the hangover either, in differences from Taija that seemed to be totally fine. Life was really unfair.

    Ellen and Jill weren¡¯t home to greet them when they returned back. Maybe they had gone at an adventure again, or so was they just out for some business.

    Taija led Alice to the sofa and more or less ordered her to get some rest while she went out to buy food, ending it by giving Alice a kiss on her forehead. Alice didn¡¯t like that Taija would take care of her after that they both had a rough night. Apparently so had they been drinking until the carriage arrived. But she could still not deny that Taija¡¯s idea wasn¡¯t bad, she probably needed to get some sleep anyway.

    Taija let Alice sleep until the cooking was done. There was still no signs of her sister or ¡°that woman¡±. Alice would have loved to tell Ellen everything about how the deal had gone, how wide the market was. That they were getting extra for one of HER MACHINES, and not to forget how everyone had helped them to make the deal possible.

    A knock at the door? It couldn¡¯t be Ellen, she would have walked straight in. She was after all also living in the house, their home.

    It wasn¡¯t Ellen, but it was someone that Alice wanted to see. Lapin, together with that strange friend of her¡¯s from before she relapsed.

    ¡± We are really sorry to come here like this, but I was asked to come here and would like to ask for a favour.¡±

    Her voice dripped of shame, for understandable reasons. She had relapsed and tried to hide, making the whole clinic turn at her and she been running away. Which got even more clear after the message there she wrote she had met a dealer.

    ¡°How about that we all eat some food first.¡±

    Taija had inspected both the girl¡¯s bodies while Alice been looking at Lapin without minding the other girl after noticing who it was. When looking closer so did it really looked like both the girls could need to get some food. Lapin had been skinny since she moved into the house, which wasn¡¯t as bad like now. And the other girl looked even skinnier, it was like if no one of them had been eating for a couple of weeks.

    The girls had tried to decline, but after some of Taija¡¯s rough dealing so was they eating to get allowed to ask for the favour. Not that they really looked sad that it had turned out like that, they had probably been hoping for being offered to eat with them. Which they did by their whole hearts.

    ¡°To start with, can we get to know what really was going on back then? Why did you try to hide it instead of asking for help?¡± Alice still wanted to hear the whole story about that so she maybe could find out what she had done wrong.

    Lapin didn¡¯t answer, just like last time.

    ¡°She did her best to try helping me kick the crystals addiction. All by herself.¡±

    Lapin¡¯s friend spoke up.

    Apparently so was her name Kulta, and Lapin had spent so much time she could to help her to stop using crystals.

    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you ask for help, or even tried to explain it for us?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for help since it was MY try to do somethin¡¯. My try to find a way that maybe could help others in the same situation, without any need to pay for the treatment.¡±

    Lapin tried to explain how she had been thinking. But in the end it didn¡¯t turn out as she wanted, she hadn¡¯t been able to change anything. She couldn¡¯t help anyone and even relapsed herself.

    ¡°So you want to get some help from us so you and Kulta to kick the addiction?¡±

    It was clear that they wanted help with that, no one of them hesitated when they answered.

    ¡°Miss Alice, I meet sister last day. And she asked me to give you this note.¡±

    When everything was settled so was Lapin suddenly that she had been asked to leave a note to Alice from her sister. Just as Alice had thought so was Ellen at an adventure with Jill, but this time they was visiting the neighbor city. Alice probably needed to take a real talk with Ellen when she came back home.

    ¡°Is there something that might be good for me to know about you too?¡± Alice needed to distract her irritation at Ellen and Jill¡¯s idea to go at a bigger adventure.

    ¡°Lapin is my girlfriend.¡±

    Kulta talked without any second thought, almost as if she wanted to point out the obvious. Lapin wasn¡¯t as calm as Kulta about it, blushing madly upon Kulta¡¯s respons.

    ¡°I have stopped dealing.¡± Alice had to make sure that Kulta didn¡¯t do it anymore and had asked about it. Of course so had Lapin pointed out for Kulta that there couldn¡¯t be anything between them until she had stopped dealing.

    It had been three days since the deal, and that they had got two new employees at the clinic. No one cared that they were more people there. Which could be because Alice explanation that it was easier to keep an eye at them if they were at the clinic everyone together. Not to mention that Lapin could do some of the work there, and Kulta was trying to learn what she needed. Of course it was also a kind of payment for the treatment they got, just like it had been the first time when Lapin had started to work for them.

    ¡°Doctor Morfine, there¡¯s a mail for you.¡± Lilly handed Alice a letter that had been sent to the clinic for her. Alice hoped that it wasn¡¯t anything about the deal, it really had to be a finished chapter.

    ¡°Is it anything interesting that you got doctor Morfine?¡± Everyone had gathered around her, curious as cats.

    ¡°Ellen and Jill have gone out at a big adventure. When they come back, I would like you to do me a favour Lilly.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡±

    ¡°Can you help me to first take care of Jill and then Ellen. They left without a word for a big journey together.¡±

    Ellen wrote that she had left with Jill for a journey, which she didn¡¯t know how long it would last. She had been thinking about going on a journey for a while, to learn more and to enjoy her life a little more. She had Jill would be at her side so there was no need for Alice to worry, but just to be sure that Alice wouldn¡¯t worry to much so would she write a letter to Alice from time to time.

    Alice was glad that Ellen did what she been thinking and wishing for, but she could have done it in a better way. She could have told Alice, in person. There was after all so much she wanted to tell and share with her. Like the question who she would be most angry at for their stupid behaviour, her or Jill?