welcome back

As the doorbell rang, Anna ran towards the door. Even Alex and Mike who were sitting on the sofa tired stood alert as their gaze stopped at the door.

As the door opened, Evelyn and Bella entered with an elder man in the house.

"Oh my, Bella, Evelyn where were you?" she shouted as she hugged Bella and then Evelyn.

"Oh my god, you know how worried we were." as she continued hugging them she complained.

Her voice was worried as dark circles could be seen on her lethargic face. It was clear she did not sleep even for a second last night, it was already around noon.

Alex and Mike also came there as Mike hugged Evelyn. Alex forwarded his hand in the air towards Bella, but he retracted them back and scratched his head as he saw the blank and intense stare of Bella on him.

"Where have you gone?" Alex asked instead as he looked at the girl with worried eyes.

"You know we had searched all night for you. We looked at all the possible places, park, neighbourhood, cafe, we even went to check at the market. But you were nowhere." chipped in Mike, who had finally left Evelyn, much to her pleasure.

"I thought you both did not know much about this area." he continued looking at both of them as he hugged Bella now.

Saint Nicholas looked at Evelyn in surprise, had she not erased their memory before going or put them in deep slumber. What if they had followed her or had seen her using magic.

Evelyn coughed awkwardly as she felt the accusing gazing of Saint Nicholas over her. She coughed to clear her throat, 

"Ah, my bad. I took Bella with me as it was an emergency." she spanked apologising to them.

"What emergency?" spoke Alex furrowing his brows. another also looked at her intensely, waiting for her to speak further.

She did not want to lie, but she did not have a choice. So she continued, "well, actually, my father called me. He was struck in a taxi, and someone had stolen his purse.

Hehe, so he was not able to come and he needed cash urgently. I did not want to go alone so late at night, that's why I asked Bella to come with me."

She rumbled whatever came to her mind at that moment.

"But you could have informed us before going," spoke Mike.

"Yes, you even said Anna was calling Bella." continued Alex, "Bella, you sure are okay, right?" he confirmed. 

He had no trust over Evelyn who tried to be sweet every time. He found her nothing but a liar.

Bella tilted her head as she looked at strange expressions of Alex. Though she did not understand them, she still nodded her head innocently to reply to him.

"I am fine, Alex," she replied in her usual mechanical tone.

Though still not believing he looked back at Evelyn, listening to her rest of the story.

"Well, I was worried about my father, so I forgot everything in haste. I just wanted to reach him at the earliest so I brought Bella with me as she was present there," she replied scratching her head.

"But you could have called later," said Alex, still not sure about her words.

"Well, I thought of doing that. But I did not have any of you," she replied laughing awkwardly.

Alex accusingly looked at Mike as he asked, "you said you had Evelyn's number and even called her but her mobile was unreachable or switched off."

"Well, did I not dial in front of you? Then how could you doubt me?" he asked irritated at his doubtful gaze.

"Well, maybe the signals were bad. I had not checked my phone again and again. And when he gave me his number, I saved only nine digits mistakenly so I was not able to calm him. Hehehe." she looked at the sheepishly as she continued her web of lies.

"But.." before Alex could continue Anna jabbed him an elbow.

As she laughs awkwardly. "Its alright brother Alex, at least let them enter the house, before continuing your interrogation," she replied as she glared at him.

Could he not see that the girls' father was standing right behind her. Should he not give some respect to the elderly, since when did his brother become that dense.

Alex realised his sister's glare as finally, his eyes noticed a man in a suit standing behind them. He was so busy noticing Bella that he did not notice the man at all.

So, he nodded and stepped aside to give some space to the people to enter.

Evelyn took a sigh of relief as the interrogation finally ended. Then she glared at Bella accusingly.

They both were out. Yet no one asked a single question to her. They were just worried about whether the demon was okay or not. That Alex also gazed at her accusingly.

Shouldn't Bella be equally held responsible for whatever happened?

She took a deep sigh as she walked in further. As she settled herself in the warm room on the soft sofa, she felt much better.

Anna went into the kitchen and bought warm coffee for them to drink. 

"Oh, thank you dear." said the old man as Evelyn also passed a grateful smile.

Bella like usual took and grouped with a blank expression.

Alex followed the suit and brought the cakes and other dishes and put them on the table.

"So, how was your journey, where were you stuck?" they asked as finally everyone took the warm cup of coffee in their hands.

Their body was still shivering, it showed that they were out the whole night searching for them.

"Oh, it's fine my child. I apologise for making you all worried. I never knew Evelyn had turned this careless in the giving tasks." he replied to Alex but his gaze was settled on the mother elf who was biting her lip.