Anna showered and put on her clothes. It was still five o'clock in the morning, but she was too excited and anxious to stay in her room. She went into Ian's room and saw that he was asleep, and that Adam had put a mattress on the floor and was also asleep. He had probably been there all night. Anna wondered if he didn't want to miss any of his son's time. If so, it was because he already knew that he would be leaving soon, and that wasn't a bad thing. He was prepared for that possibility. It was as if he was getting over it and understanding.
She closed the door slowly and went down the stairs that had almost killed her and her son. She had no feelings for it. It no longer affected her. She went into the kitchen, and Judith was already preparing the coffee. As soon as she saw her, she turned red.
"Shall I pour you some coffee, Anna?"
Anna looked at her suspiciously, calling her by her first name was unusual, but she remembered in time that customs were different there. She sat down at the kitchen table.
"Of course. It's been a long time since I've had coffee as tasty as yours."
Judite thanked her for the compliment and turned red again. Anna noticed.
"Did you bathe in the oil, Judite?" Anna asked shrewdly, but she knew why she was like this. Living with her father had taught her many things. He wasn't going to scold her for putting narcotics in her drink. Of course, it was Adam's order. And it was good that she had done it, because not only would she close that loop forever, and feel double pleasure, but she owed Adam a night like that.
Judith served her coffee and put cake, bread, butter and milk on the table. Anna ate with appetite.
"I've had a bath. Kate says he's going to... do it again." Judith said after a long time.
Anna looked at her.
"Do you want me to talk to Adam, so that Alexander will leave you alone?"
"No. I like what he does. I feel young again. I just feel ashamed."
"Well, you don't have to be ashamed. He's not doing you a favor, Judith. It's an exchange. He wants you and you can get orgasms from him, which I think you haven't felt for years. Enjoy." Anna said and then left the kitchen for the balcony and circled the mansion. She saw some men who recognized her and greeted her, and she also saw men who weren't there when this was their home.
She also had to consider that she had never been curious enough to go around the mansion. She was only doing so now because she needed to know if there was a shed or even a basement where she could interrogate Sarah without anyone hearing her, but she discovered that there wasn't and went back into the house.
She went back into the kitchen and it was very quiet. She noticed that Judith was preparing a tray with a cup of coffee and a roll with butter.
"Who is this tray for?
"For Sarah. Your mother's best friend."
Anna realized that Judith was trying to appeal to her not to be cruel to Sarah.
"My mother's best friend died many years ago, Judith. Sarah was never a friend to her. Mom was just a means for her to maintain her addictions and her romance with disgusting werewolves."
"Your son must be a werewolf and..."
"He'll never turn into an animal!" Anna shouted angrily.
"I'm sorry, Anna... I didn't mean to offend you."
Anna frowned at her.
"Judith... Is it just me, or are you afraid of me?"
"I'm sorry..."
"Stop apologizing." Anna said calmly. "You have no reason to do that. I don't know what you think of me, but I would never hurt you. For any reason." Anna said and saw that she had been holding her breath, and let it out, after Anna had said those words to her.
"You've come back different."
"Just older, but I'm the same."
"No. You're not the same person." She dared, even to wonder if Anna wouldn't punish her.
"What's different about me?"
"You look like the boss now."
Anna laughed.
"That's the look of someone who has lost everything but received twice as much. It's the look of someone who has won, and who knows he's going to fulfill the mission he promised."
"It's the look of someone who's going to kill." She said and picked up the tray.
Anna looked thoughtful at Judith's remark.
"Let me bring her the coffee myself."
"You won't like it there."
"I don't like the thought of being near Sarah either. But I will."
"The smell of her room... I think there's someone dead under all the garbage she's accumulated in that place..."
"No problem. I need to go there." Anna said, and took the tray from Judith's hands.
"Okay, Anna." Judite said and smiled at her for the first time. "Then don't say I didn't warn you."
Anna nodded and left through the kitchen door to go to the staff dormitory. However, she didn't know which room was Sarah's, and didn't intend to waste time looking.
It was with relief that Anna saw Mycon arriving and depositing his rifle on the balcony. She approached him.
"I need a favor, Mycon."
"Hello, Anna. You look even prettier than I remember."
"Good of you, Mycon. You look different too. You've gained body. Are you working out?"
"Yes, I am. It doesn't look good for a werewolf to be short."
"And your family, how are they?"
"My children are already quite big... The eldest already wants to follow in his father's footsteps, but his mother won't let him."
"I miss that little one..." Anna said, remembering that the boy sometimes ransacked the mansion's kitchen, and that several times, she had surprised him and helped him.
"I'll bring them here later to play with Ian."
"That's great." Anna said worriedly. Ian didn't like children very much.
"But what do you need me to do?"
Anna remembered the tray in her hand.
"I need you to be my guide to Sarah's room."