Chapter 17 : Girls (5)
Alex entered the library and was shocked by what he saw. This "library" looked nothing like a typical one.
Firstly, books were scattered all around the room, and secondly, the place resembled a laboratory more than a library. There were vials containing strange substances everywhere, some even contained animal parts.
"But what is she doing in this room?" Alex wondered, taking in the scene.
"I'm upstairs," a voice called from the second floor.
Alex made his way upstairs, carefully avoiding the piles of books blocking the staircase. As he ascended, he found a young woman engrossed in something that looked like a microscope.
"Uhh... Scarlett?"
"Who else could it be but me?" Scarlett replied.
"What did you do to your hair?"
Scarlett paused her work and turned to face Alex, leaving him momentarily breathless.
What Alex witnessed was a young woman of striking beauty, with long violet strands gracefully cascading down her back. Her captivating eyes were of an intense red, like two drops of blood, seemingly piercing the very soul of anyone who gazed into them.
The glasses she wore enhanced her charm and accentuated her beauty. They perched on her nose, giving her a natural symmetry of her face.
Apart from his friend Felix and himself, Scarlett was the only one aware of the artifact's existence. He had brought it to her for research and to learn how to activate it.
After realizing that it would take her several days or even months to figure it out, Scarlett had given him some hint she had discovered on how to activate it, then sent him on his way.
"Yeah, I was able to activate it," Alex replied. He trusted Scarlett not to reveal his secret. He knew Scarlett was generally too absorbed in her experiments to engage in gossip or idle talk, which she considered a waste of time.
So, he was confident she wouldn't inform anyone else unless he gave her permission. Plus, given her maturity from a young age, Alex had always talked to Scarlett as more of a friend than just a daughter.
'Now that I think about it, my relationships with the girls are all quite different,' Alex pondered.
Indeed, his relationship with each of the girls was unique. Viviane was a daddy's girl who mimicked his habits and routines. Alice, on the other hand, constantly teased him, and her jokes sometimes pushed the boundaries between father and daughter, occasionally bordering on the suggestive.
Violette seemed to hold some grudge against him for reasons he couldn't fathom.
Lastly, Scarlett had an unusual and somewhat bizarre relationship with him. She came across more as a friend than a daughter.
They had discussed things together that he probably shouldn't have discussed with a daughter, and the feeling was mutual. Sometimes Scarlett talked to him as if he were a friend rather than her father.
While Alex was lost in contemplation about his relationships with his daughters, Scarlett responded with a surprised look, "Oh, really? So, what does it do?"
"Just as I thought, it allows me to increase my strength without any side effects," Alex replied.
Hearing this, Scarlett's eyes lit up like lanterns, and she quickly approached Alex, exclaiming, "Really? Let's try it!"