I already knew my way to the dining room, and as I walked downthe hallway, I was surprised by how familiar the place felt. I already recognized the small marks on the floor where at some point, there must have been a sculpture or pattern on the floor that simulated stars.
Before entering the site, I stopped, inspected my hands, massaged my neck to make sure I didn't have a bite mark, and then, after a long deep breath, I stepped forward.
"Good morning, dear," Lydia greeted me, sitting at the head of the table.
She was wearing a light blue outfit, had only sunscreen on her face, and her hair was pulled back in a ponytail.
"Good morning Lydia," I greeted her and sat in the chair to her left.
"How did you like our home?" she asked me.
"Yes, the hospitality has been wonderful, and even though I know I'm here for work, I've felt very comfortable," I replied.
"I'm very glad," she answered.
This time out of the kitchen came another woman, an older one, with her hair gray and pulled back. She was dark-skinned, with marked features and a thick build.
"What would you like to eat today?" the woman asked.
"I'd like orange juice and toast with cheese," I said.
"Just that? Breakfast is the most important meal," Lydia told me, and she sounded almost like she was my mother.
"Yeah, I'm just not very hungry today," I commented.
"That's okay," she breathed, wrinkling her lips. "You make me scrambled eggs, toast, and lots of bacon."
"Right away," she said and went into the kitchen.
"Where's the other girl?" I asked out of sheer curiosity.
"Magdalena? It's her day off."
"Day off?" I raised an eyebrow and looked at her dumbfounded.
"Yes, employees here get two days off a week," she said as if it was the most normal thing to do.
I couldn't think of my father and how he made his workers work without a break and many of those for miserable pay. This pack is so different from my father's that I sometimes question whether theyreally are shapeshifters. Or if I was just unlucky enough to be born in a cave populated by monsters, I called family.
The brunette girl brought the food, first serving Lydia's, then mine, and filling my glass of orange juice to the top before leaving.
"Bon appetite," I said to Lydia.
"You too, dear, enjoy your meal," she replied.
I felt guilty with every bite of bread and every gulp of game. I couldn't even look Lydia in the eye without thinking about how, the night before, I had had sex with her son in her own house. What kind of sick person does that?
"Are you all right?" she stopped eating and wiped her lips with a napkin. "You seem a little scattered."
I felt a lump in my throat. I looked at her and wanted to confess what had happened, but at the same time felt ashamed of myself.
"I'm fine; it's just that I haven't stopped thinking about my business and that when I get back, I will have a lot of work to do," Lydia didn't look pleased with my answer.
"Are you sure...is there anything else bothering you?" she insisted.
"Honestly, I'm totally fine."
"Good morning, Ladies." Eric came into the dining room yawning and with his face still puffy from having just gotten up.
