decision of mother elf

'Is her system getting damaged? If that would happen, she would lose her power to understand things.' she looked at her skin which was nothing but a facade to hide the monster she was within.

'If her system was damaged, she would lose the facade too. No, she wouldn't let this happen.'

She looked at the happy faces around the table, she wanted to be part of them. She wanted to live with them, she would not accept defeat so easily.

She clenched her fist with determination filled eyes and nodded her head. She heard the laughter of mother elf and looked back. Evelyn's eyes were shining, she had that ever so mischievous look on her face.

'Is she the one playing with my system? First water came out of my eyes, the way it was coming from Anna's eyes in her reverie and now she is not able to detect emotions.'

"Hurry up and eat Bella. We have to go shopping, you are taking too much time," said Anna with furrowed brows looking at her untouched plate.

Bella nodded, and took a piece of sandwich in her hands, nibbling to it she found mother elf staring at her and Anna, and then she heard him speak. "Can I come too?"

And before anyone could say anything, Mike smiled and replied with a bright face, "of course, we all will go together like a big happy family"

Anna and Alex coughed, they were sure, Evelyn was just another fling of Mike, and she was never going to be part of their family, but looking at her shiny silvery eyes they didn't have the heart to deny, so they also nodded, "of course, the more, the merrier."

Evelyn squealed and clapped, "oh, I love shopping, and giving gifts. That's the best part of Christmas, I would give a gift to all of you." Her silvery hairs were flowing and her silver eyes were shining like stars, the way she was talking happily, she was just looking like a fairy,

"With that, you look lady Santa Claus'' joked Anna, and mischievousness in Evelyn's eyes grew.

She smiled wide and replied, "you never know Anaa, you never know." Bella could hear the danger bells ringing. Now she wasn't sure anymore, was her decision right.

She just sat there nibbling her sandwich, like its weight was drowning her.

"Look who is in the couple dress" hooted Mike and Alex coughed hard, "he must have choked on his food" spoke Mike again further increasing his friend's embarrassment.

Alex glared at Mike, his face was red, with embarrassment or anger, no one knew. But his expressions were rather cute than being furious, at which Mike laughed hard heartily.

Anna also giggled from the side, Evelyn looked at Bella and Alex tilting her head, her mischievous smile changed into deep thoughts.

Bella blinked and asked, "is red a couple dress?" and they all laughed hard again. Alex was red with embarrassment, if possible he just wanted to sprint from there, the way he was shuffling on his chair as if nails were laid there. And decided to change clothes before going out.

But Anna has further plans in her mind, finishing her sandwich she spoke first, "Brother Alex, why don't you go and give food to the aunt and we will come, locking the house."

Listening to the reason, Alex has no heart to deny, "ok," he nodded and put sandwiches in a plate with a glass of shake as he went out of the house.

"Bella why don't you show our house to Evelyn '' said Anna again wanting to keep her busy too.

Bella, who was waiting for this opportunity, from the moment she had seen Evelyn, smiled and nodded instantly and moved forward with Evelyn.

The moment they all were gone, Anna looked at Mike and spoke, "Brother Mike help me in setting brother Alex and Bella together" her eyes were pleading and her face pitiful, although Mike knew its a trap, and all this pity was nothing but her acting.

But he still did not have the immunity towards it, he sighed and pinched her cheeks, "Anna, it's Alex's life, let him decide and it's not like he is too old, he is just 22."

He tried to put some sense in his small sister but the girl just shook her head.

"Brother Mike, if I will leave the decision of finding a girlfriend to brother Alex, I would never have a sister in law, you know how he is burning himself two shifts, the way he is working, studying and managing other things, it would be impossible for him to ever find a wife, much less a girlfriend."

Mike scratched his neck, he knew Anna was right, Alex had made himself very busy, but even if he had been free, he wouldn't have made a girlfriend.

He has covered himself in a cocoon where only Anna and he could enter, no one has any place in his heart. He may look kind and friendly but he is emotionally unavailable to others after his family's betrayal, but he still couldn't understand Anna's affinity towards Bella, so he asked again, " but why Bella, she is a bit... Different."

Anna smiled, she was anticipating this question so her answer was already, "I know brother Mike, Bella is different, she can't write, understand things like us, but there is an innocence in her heart, we can't bear another selfish betrayal, but most important thing is brother Alex like Bella, but he didn't know." she replied in a whisper keeping her hand on the side of her mouth. As if she was sharing her biggest secret with him.

"Huh, now how have you concluded that Alex likes Bella, I only saw him glaring at the girl?" said Mike with furrowed brows.