New Clothes

BETHESDA , Western District, 2420AA, The old Lady, Killion's grandmother opened the door to the porch and led them inside the little stone cottage. "This is a nice place you have here, madam." Havillah remarked wistfully even as she took in the cosy little living room and the cute furniture inside. There were three sofas, one of them a three seater and the other two, two love seats. Each of them was covered with a white loose cover that was decorated with an assortment of spring flowers in various stages of bloom. A small wooden coffee stood in the middle of the room and it too was covered with a similar patterned table spread. "Why, thank you my love. You can call me Nana as well." The old lady said as she continued walking towards an archway that was standing on the farthest end of the living room. "Thank you Nana." Havillah smiled, her eyes dancing as she stared back at the sweet little lady with the characteristic glint in her dark eyes. Now that she thought about it, her eyes were different from those of Killion. Her stature too but it was possible he inherited his eyes and larger built from the men in his family. Maybe his mother was green eyed too. She wanted to ask him but it sounded rude. She would have to wait to find out when they eventually met. "Nana, Havillah needs to freshen up and a new change of clothes. Will you look after her as I run across the street to find her something to wear?" Killion stopped her. "Sure, but why must you insist on getting it from them?" His grandmother turned around to frown at him. She was standing by a tall wooden chair with three others like it surrounding a large circular table. Oh so that was the dining place? Havillah thought to herself oblivious to the exchange that was taking place right before her. "Them " Killion said as he put air marks on the word for further emphasis. "May have a dress or a piece of outfit that can actually fit her." "Fine. Do whatever you want. You never listen to the old lady anyway." she huffed as she waved him. She then took up the kettle on the dining table and lumbered off leaving Havillah unsure as to wether to follow or remain waiting there in the living room. "Oh, and Havillah." The old lady turned back and solved her conundrum. "The bathroom is through that door," she said as she pointed to a door that until then had remained obscured behind a wall netted drapings. "Go down the hallway to the last door. There's a bedroom. There you'll find everything you may need." "Thank you Nana."  "Incase you need anything else. You know, like lady products. Holler at me and I will be there to attend to you." "Thank you again Nana. . I am sure everything will be sufficient." The old lady nodded and Havillah proceeded to find the said bathroom. "You'll be fine until I get back?" Killion stopped her and she turned around to nod her head. "I'll be back in a while. Let me try and get you something to change into?" she nodded again and began to pull open the door, anxious to get out the dirty clothes and into a tub of hot water. Killion smiled at her eagerness and turned to walk away. He was glad that everything had worked out well. Now to meet his mother. He thought as he headed off towards the Barrageway's residence. "Bathing salts, lavender oil, tea tree oil..." Havillah read out the labels and proceeded to pour out each into the steaming tub of hot water. She was mixing things up,  but she did not know any better. Anything to bring about freshness, she thought as she slipped out of her long Triban robes and the inner camisole before slid down the long tub, relishing the feel of hot water on her bare back. "Now, this is the paradise." She sighed, closing her eyes in unbridled delight. Havillah remained soaked up in the water for a long while, until it started to grow warm and she decided to begin scrubbing herself. She lathered her long hair with soap and rinsed it before stepping out in a fluffy towel and a matching robe for her body. As promised, she found a new toothbrush and oils for her skin. She opened the first bottle. Rose water. The second, coconut oil and the others were a blend of other herbs that she could not begin to name. Truly things were different here in this world just like she had noticed that there were somethings missing that she could always find back at home. Well, what they provided had to do. This was her life now and she would do well to remember that, instead of comparing the two worlds. Convinced that she was well groomed, Havillah discarded the towel and stepped out into the bedroom with just the robe carrying her camisole in one hand and her Triban robes in the other. Now that they were off, she could find time to clean them up. If the First failed her like it had done before there was always the human method, but then again...she eyed her brown robe cautiously. What if she ruined it? "Hi! You must be Havillah. Killion sent me to you with a fresh set of clothes!" A new voice screamed out too close to her face and surprised, Havillah stepped back into the bathroom. Why was she being so timid?  She scolded herself. She was a researcher and researchers were always braced for new things, but in her present state of undress. A sigh and she took a step back into the bedroom only to find Nana scolding the new face. "Selene you're scaring the girl with all your crazy antics." Nana said as she set down the tray in her hands. Trailing behind her, another woman joined in.  She was much younger than Nana but with a striking resemblance was closer to Nana than Killion. Like Nana, the woman had dark eyes and brown hair that were a far cry from the black hair and green eyes that she knew well. She had to be his mother, even though the two of them did not bare any obvious resemblance. His mother or his auntie she thought as she turn to look at the other woman that had scared her. "I am being friendly Kezzia. Not that you would know what that means-" Selene, the woman with the long brown hair and cat like hazel eyes responded and the old lady looked away sourly. Was there baby blood between the two of them? She looked to Killion's mother for answers. Unlike the other two, she appeared to be quite sedate. A look that very much reminded her of her own mother. "Hi," Havillah started to say, unsure of how to act after having witnessed their interactions. Hi was common greeting in this world, she could only hope tnough that it was appropriate for this kind of scenario. "Hi to you too Havillah. I brought you some new clothes....well, not really new, but they are new to you!" Selene finished with a loud pitched laugh that grated her ears and Havillah could not tell if the laughter was directed at her or at her own poor attempt at a joke. "Ah..." "Good afternoon, Havillah. I am Neema, Neema Lithewood,  Killion's mother." Havillah nodded feeling shy for having been so casual. She was right. This woman had a temperament like that of her mother. From her serious look to the formal talk that had her sweating in her robes. FJust like with her own mother, she felt like she needed her approval and when the woman didn't say anything more, it left her feeling quite unsettled. "Go on. Go ahead and try them." Selene prompted, shoving the small bundle of clothes into her hands and Havillah had no choice but to do her bidding. It was either that, or remain standing there awkwardly. Did they expect her to change in the room? Sure they were all women but strangers as well. What was she to do?  She fingered the parcel nervously. "You can use the bathroom Havillah." Thankfully, Nana intervened and she turned around grateful for an opportunity to leave the room. Had she knows this was what she was walking into then she probably wouldn't have bothered Killion. It was easier to bathe in the ocean than in this kind of environment that left her feeling quite venerable. Selene sounded friendly enough but it bothered her that Nana did not like her and then there was Killion's mother. Did she not approve of her as an acquaintance of her son? She was aware that such things were possible given her former life in the city. Connections were everything and therefore, everyone was careful who they related with. Back in the sanctuary that was the bathroom, Havillah placed the clothes on the sink and began to inspect them. All but one dress had floral prints, so she went with that one. It was a plain faded red dress with lace trimmings on the edges of both of its collars and on the hems of its sleeves. It was different from her camisole. Hugging her torso to her waist before flaring out at her hips, a design that was quite common among the humans. It was long and for that she was grateful, but even as she stared it,  she could not help the feeling that it was meant to be shorter but her height had messed up with it. **** "You look fabulous!" The woman, Selene, squealed as she exited the bathroom. "Thank you madam Selene. I am very grateful for these products." Havillah mumbled softly. "Oh it's nothing. Let me take care of that rag for you." The woman replied, reaching out her hand to grab the brown Triban robe in Havillah's hands. "No!" Havillah cried out in a bout of panic. She tried to step away from Selene's path, but the woman was too fast. Her fingers brushed against the robes and a crackling sound filled the air. The smell of ozone and the next moment, the woman was sent flying, crushing against the wall with a great thud.