Chapter 27 SETTLING IN
A MANSION
Klara descended the grand staircase after freshening up, now dressed in the clothes Mrs. Vladimir had given her the night before. The woman had brought her here, shown her to a room, and given her food. Despite the comfort, Klara hadn’t slept a wink; her mind replayed the horrors in the woods.
"Good morning, Klara," Mrs. Vladimir called gently from the dining area. "Come, let’s have breakfast"
Klara walked over, her hands twisting nervously in front of her.
"Let me introduce myself properly. I am Mrs. Vladimir. My husband passed many years ago, and my daughter died last year from cancer. You’re currently staying in her room and wearing her clothes. Now… introduce yourself to me"
Klara swallowed hard, her throat tight. "I’m Klara, ma’am. I’m an orphan. I left the orphanage last year, at age eighteen, with my friends. We lived together in a small house we could barely afford. We… we decided to go camping in the woods, and now… they’re gone"
Tears began streaming down her face, and she buried her hands into her lap.
Mrs. Vladimir’s expression softened. "I’m so sorry. Tell me… how did it happen?"
"They… it wasn’t human, ma’am," Klara whispered, voice shaking. "There was a demon… it—"
Mrs. Vladimir held up a hand. "Klara, maybe… maybe you were hallucinating. Fear can do strange things to the mind"
Klara’s tears only flowed faster, but she nodded, realizing she had little proof of what she saw.
"I’m sorry about your friends once again," Mrs. Vladimir continued gently. "This house has been empty since my daughter passed. You can stay here, if you’d like. I don’t mind. I stopped for you yesterday because… you reminded me so much of her"
Klara looked up, her lips trembling. "Thank you, ma’am… truly"
Mrs. Vladimir’s gaze softened even further. "What university do you go to, Klara?"
Klara shook her head. "None, ma’am… no money. But I would love to go to Volkov University someday"
Mrs. Vladimir’s eyes glimmered with a strange mixture of pride and sadness. "My daughter applied there last year… she was accepted. But… unfortunately, she’s gone now"
Klara’s heart clenched. She could almost imagine the emptiness Mrs. Vladimir had carried all this time, and in that moment, the grief of loss... hers and the woman’s... felt painfully intertwined.
"However, I have connections with the school. Consider yourself taking up her place because very soon, you’ll be attending Volkov University"
Klara’s eyes widened. "Really? You… you mean that?"
Mrs. Vladimir smiled gently. "Her admission can't go to waste right?"
Tears welled up in Klara’s eyes again, but this time they were mixed with relief, awe, and gratitude.
She nodded shakily. "Thank you… ma’am. I don’t know how to… how to repay you"
Mrs. Vladimir reached across the table, lightly placing her hand over Klara’s. "Just live, Klara. That will be more than enough"