Chapter 7: Lupin and the Violin
For the next few days I wasn't hungry and too preoccupied with my readings that the days just passed me by.
My injury didn't bother me that much during that time...
I spent the time in my room lost inside my head. I commonly came to late at night, which lead to me stealing out during the late hours of the night to visit Saint's library. I lost track of time and slept as I felt the urge to.
So, many things had changed in the last few years...but regardless of what I read, massive battles outside the Vampire War, were not really mentioned. I read several articles on Van Helsings's accomplishments during the war and I also read a lot on Cardia's father. He was attributed to several of the major enhancements and newer inventions.
Several people would knock on my door throughout the day, but I ignored them, to engrossed in my research to be bothered. I was very invested in finding anything that could jog my memory.
That night everyone was gathered around the table, save Sierra.
Impey was playing with Sisi, as the rest of them discussed the events of the last few days. How the search for Fran was becoming more desperate, how the guard was stretched too thin, a string of robberies in downtown London that had everyone on guard, some files Lupin had memorized that contained confidential information, and more subjects of interest.
Cardia was mostly silent thought the whole meal.
Lupin leaned over to address her. "What's the matter Cardia? What's with the long face?"
"I am just worried about Sierra. I haven't seen her in a few days now."
Cardia's concern caused Fran to speak up. "...I noticed that some of my first aid supplies were missing today."
Lupin's face fell, this wasn't exactly the direction he had hoped the conversation would head.
Saint's spoke voice lingered over from the far side of the table. "I am worried about her , for the past several days some of my books have been going missing late during the night. Lupin, you wouldn't happen to know anything about it would you?"
Lupin shook his head denying knowing about the missing literature. "No, it wasn't me."
Impey got up from playing with Sisi. "I am going to take her something to eat for dinner!" The redhead's normally cheerful face fell. "...But she hasn't ate any of the food I placed outside her door these last few days."
The group was careful not to bring Van into the conversation, but the coldness radiating from that end of the table made it hard to ignore.
Lupin sighed reluctantly. "I don't normally approve of breaking into a woman's room...but this might be one of those exceptions to the rule."
Impey went into the kitchen to prepare a tray of food for Sierra.
Sierra on the other hand, was oblivious of what discontent she was sowing in the others.
She had managed to find something that interested her greatly. A old mansion fire, out in the seaward area of southwest England caught her attention. A before and after photo of a large mansion jogged something in her memory. Leaving her room for the first time in several days during the sunlit hours, she wandered back to the library to look for more listings for the fall of the house of Azrael.
Impey got his tray together and made his way up the stairs to Sierra's room with Lupin, Cardia, and Fran.
Saint decided to stay back with Van Helsing.
Saint continued to drink his tea as he waited for the war hero to to finish his newspaper.
"You know more than you are letting on..." Saint commented as he poured more tea into his teacup. "...and you have been busy coming and going for the past few days."
Van folded his paper up and set it on the table in front of him. "Are my coming and goings of any concern of yours?"
Saint smirked at the other male's defensiveness. "I try to make sure my household stays interesting, and yet, out of trouble."
Van leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. "I have been looking into a couple of things. Which now that you mention it, would you happen to have a rapier that would withstand training?"
Saint's smirk vanished as quickly as it had come. "You are looking for Sierra."
It wasn't a question but a statement.
Van sensed he was close to something, something very dangerous. "So you do know more about her." Van's voice was on guard.
Saint got up, leaving his tea on the table as he and to look out the window. "I too have been searching for her history." Saint pulled a large stack of papers from within his jacket. "I have collected what I know here in these notes."
Van leaned forward in interest. "So you have information then?"
Saint nodded and put the notes back into his jacket. "These do not make for happy reading. I have not approached my lady with my knowledge, as I believe she would be happier not knowing her past."
Van's eyes narrowed as he glowered at the count. "I do not think that is your call."
Saint shrugged, a very ungentlemanly gesture. "Who can say. Would you be better off not knowing your past, Van Helsing?"
The words were barbed but Van wasn't about to take the bait. His past weighted heavily on him, but it was also the source of his strength.
Cardia knocked on the door to Sierra's room. "Sierra?"
She called out, Impey, not being that shy, knocked louder. "Sierra! My angel! I brought you the fruits of my labor!"
Lupin put his ear up on the door as there was no response forthcoming. "It doesn't sound like anyone is inside." Lupin tried the handle next. "Looks like its open."
The room inside was well tended, but books lay piled in strange places. Tiny bookmarks and notes were sitting on the desk in a tiny, elegant hand.
Lupin went over to read them. "These are all notes." He struggled to make sense of them. "A list of events? Dates and times mostly."
Fran took the notes from Lupin and scanned them. "These people are all dead, the latest entry is up until 5 years ago..." Fran set the notes back down feeling guilty that he was reading them without permission. "...Maybe she just stepped out?"
Fran looked around as Cardia nodded. "I think we should leave."
Impey sighed and set the tray down on a spot he managed to clear off on the table. "Alright then! Let's go look for Sierra!"
The reach for the missing women did not last long.
Cardia waved to the rest of them as she and Lupin peered into the study. Sierra was in the room with a ring of books surrounding her.
Lupin pulled them back and everyone regrouped. "I think it's safe to assume she is alright for now."
Impey nodded and sniffed. "She looks like she needs something to snack on."
Fran mustered up his courage with a definite glint in his green eyes. "I am going in to talk with her."
Impey quick on his feet, jumped up and exclaimed. "I am going back for the tray!"
Lupin tugged gently on the hemp of Cardia's dress. "I think we can leave it to these two clowns for now. Why don't we go take a walk?"
Cardia shook her head. "No, I want to talk to Sierra."
Then, before anyone could stop her, Cardia stood up and walked into the room. "Sierra?" Cardia sat down just outside of the ring of books and tried to get Sierra's attention. "Sierra?" She tried again, this time a little louder.
I thought I heard someone calling me and I looked up from my book with interest. I blinked slowly, rather surprised to see Cardia sitting in front of me with worried look.
"Oh." I look out the window. "Good evening, Cardia." My smile was a bit forced.
"You're acting rather strange." Cardia observed.
I tapped a book in front of me. "I am a bit preoccupied at the moment, I apologize for the inconvenience... I suppose I am a bit like Fran when he gets engrossed in a project..."
"Everyone had been worried about you." Cardia cracked open the book I had just tapped. "What is this?" The pictures of a raging fire stood out to her, like the pits of hell photographed for the stake of history.
I cracked open another book. "My home...Or at least was used to be my home." I showed her a picture of the mansion before the fire.
"It was so lovely." Cardia's eyes grew sad. "But it burnt down did it?"
I nodded and took the book back from her with sad eyes.
"Do you know why?"Cardia asked me with interest.
I shook my head, unsure of why the mansion had burnt down. "No, that is what I am here trying to find out."
Fran peaked around the corner as he heard the conversation.
I noticed the dusty rose colored hair before he could duck back behind the door. "Fran?"
Cardia called out. 'It's ok Fran."
Fran's nervously laughter drifted out from behind the doorway. "You caught me, huh?"
Sierra cocked her head. "Is something the matter?"
Fran emerged from behind the door and walked over to sat down next to Cardia. "We haven't seen you in a few days...and we have been worried."
I looked into their concerned eyes, confused. "Why?"
Fran's mouth fell open is surprise. "It's been days since we seen you!"
I tapped my notes thoughtfully. "So, today isn't Thursday?"
Fran shook his head in disbelief. "No, its Monday. We haven't seen you in four days!"
"Four days?!" A chill went though me, as I realized I had been researching for days. I brought my hands up to my mouth in surprise."I am so sorry!"
Fran's nervous laughter helped cut the silence that ensured after my apology. "Hahaha...Here I was thinking I was bad at keeping track of the time when I got involved in a project."
Impey rounded the corner and heard everyone laughing with the room.
"Wow! Hey, Sierra!" Impey burst into the room full of excitement and happiness and set down a tray in front of me.
Impey's rambunctious entrance had frightened me at first, but the redhead's smile was infectious.
"I bought you something to eat! I hope you like Impey's secret surprise!" He smile widened as he uncovered the tray to unveil a five course meal heaping over the top of the tray.
"Oh my...Impey" My nose wrinkled at the smell in pleasure. " Is this really for me?! It smells so good." I fluttered my lashes at him and asked kind of timidly, unsure despite Impey's gestures, that it really was for me. "May I?"
Impey was all grins as he nodded. "Help yourself!"
I looked around at the others sheepishly and I felt myself beginning to blush. "Well, this is a little strange eating by myself... would you guys mind joinning me?"
Lupin slid into a spot beside Cardia and grabbed a sandwich without an invitation. "If it means joining you two pretty ladies, all it takes is a request." He started eating his pilfered goods slowly.
Fran reached over and plucked a couple of grapes off the side. "It it helps you to eat, I'll oblige."
Impey grabbed a tea cake and some biscuits. "Count me in!"
I looked at Cardia with wide eyes. "Please?"
Cardia smiled in spite of herself and took a couple of apple slices.
I smiled at everyone, happy everyone around me was supportive. "Thank you for joining me!"
The next morning, I awoke at a normal time and I joined everyone for breakfast.
"Good morning, my lady." Saint's soft smile graced me as I took my place at his right hand side.
"Good morning Saint!" I was all smiles, in an attempt to make up for my blunder from the last few days. Before I sat down, I bowed to him. "I am extremely sorry for the distress I caused everyone the past few days." I shot a glance down to Van's position, intending to apologize to him as well, but he was missing again. I sighed realizing I would have to wait.
"What is with the long face?" Saint's concerned voice brought my attention back to him.
"Oh, I was hoping to apologize to Van as well... "
Saint reached out his hand and patted mine. "It is a joy to see you on this fine morning."
I nodded to him as Lupin entered the room full of excitement and enthusiasm. "Sierra, today your going to train with me!" His voice resounded throughout the room.
"We have only a couple of days left before we capture Finis, so you should take some time to learn a few things from the master thief!"
I raised my eyebrows at him but readily accepted his invitation. "I am very sorry about losing these past few days. I would appreciate it if you would take some time to train me."
"I had planned to!" Lupin grinned at me as Cardia asked to work with Fran for the day.
Shortly after breakfast I was out running through the woods with Lupin for the morning.
"You're really fast." Lupin observed as we ran. "And you move almost as silently as me!" He laughed as I ducked behind another tree on instinct, keeping the game of tag going.
"You must have learned this somewhere." The thief peaked around the tree but didn't find who he was looking for.
I grinned down at him from my hiding spot. I had manged to pull myself up into the green foliage above him and I was waiting for him to notice me.
"Got you!" His voice rang out as he touched my foot.
"White is probably not an ideal color for that type of hiding." He lectured me with a shaking head. "I am really kind of surprised though that you got up there so quickly though."
We sat down to eat lunch some time later.
"Were you a thief in your past life?" Lupin tried to get me to open up with a smooth line and a smoother smile.
I chewed on my sandwich carefully, well aware of what the gentleman thief's game was. I choose my words careful as I replied. "No, I don't think so."
Lupin set down a glass of water in front of me. "Hmmm...well at any rate, I probably shouldn't have worried so much about you." He grinned at me. "You and Cardia both seem to be really good at this."
I picked up my glass of water. 'Thank you? I am pretty sure that I am not nearly as skilled as you."
Lupin did not miss the opportunity to boast. "Well, I am a master thief!"
I took a drink from my glass. "I was wondering about that. What is between you and Cardia?"
Lupin choked on his lunch. "Nothing." He sputtered, trying to deflect the question. "Nothing is between me and Cardia!"
I pursed my lips together and gave him an unimpressed look. "That's a lie."
Lupin looked at me out of the corner of his golden eyes. "Who says it is?"
I tapped this side of my cheek intently. "Call it a woman's intuition."
Lupin sighed and figured he should explain a bit. "You don't know how I daringly rescued our damsel in distress from the royal guard, do you?"
"No!" I threw myself forward with excitement. "You have got to tell me Lupin!"
Lupin's face flushed and held out his hands. "Ok!"
He laughed at my reaction and he tried to get me to settle down."Just calm down a bit."
Lupin told me all about how he devised a daring plan to steal Cardia right out from under the noses of Twilight, only to need to change the plan at the last minute because the royal guard showed up instead. Then the thief finished airily with how he had asked Carida what her dream was and how he, the dashing gentleman thief, promised to fulfill it.
Lupin smirked as I applauded him. "I think that is really noble, Lupin!" I had finished my lunch while the master thief ensnared me with tales of his heroic deeds. "I want to helpas well."
Lupin watched a dark shadow pass over Sierra's face. "...Though I am not sure what my past holds, I want to help my newfound friends. I want to help make Carida's dream come true!"
Lupin grinned at the woman's enthusiasm. "I am glad your on board with us. From everyone's reports, well besides Impey's, you did really well in your studies."
I put my palm up to my face morbidly embarrassed. "...Driving isn't really my strong suit..and neither is tinkering apparently..."
Lupin laughed at my groan as my face heated up under my hand as he teased. "It's alright, we all have our strengths and weaknesses."
I peaked my eye out from between my fingers as another thought struck me. "Van Helsing's wasn't bad?"
Lupin shook his head. "He said you were a bit to hasty, but thought with a bit more training you would be a good backup." Lupin frowned as he said this. "Thought I don't like the idea of a lady being our front lines, but Van was fairly adamant you probably stronger then most of us."
I pulled my hand away from my face. "Lupin..I am not sure what everyone is saying...but I have a confession."
Lupin was pulling away the picnic lunch we had just finished. "You can tell me anything."
I suddenly lost my nerve as he grinned at me. "Ah...never mind!"
Lupin's half smirking responded with "Well if your interested in me, my heart belongs to Cardia!"
I laughed at his devotion. "Good to know."
"Alright then!" Lupin finished packing up the lunch. "Now, I think we will work a bit with slight of hand with some rope tricks!"
That evening I learned, while I was fairly stealthly and good at hiding, I was not nearly as gifted with the ability to steal, escape constraints, or lieing.
Going home with Lupin was fun though...it reminded me of having a brother. That thought hit me like a ton of bricks as we walked back to the mansion.
Lupin noticed his normally cheerful companion had gone quiet suddenly.
"What's wrong?" He asked pinching my cheek between his fingers and pulled.
"Ummm yiivvv emmmind meeee ovvv ommeeeonnn…"
Lupin let go of my cheek. "What was that?"
I rubbed my cheek and glared at him. "You just reminded me of someone."
Lupin poked me in the side and I flinched.
"Alright!" He said stopping. "That wasn't because I remind you of someone you used to love right?"
I put my hand on my side wincing. "What? Yes? No?"
I was gingerly feeling my side, I obviously wasn't healed yet. Lupin waited for a more direct answer. "You remind me of my brother." I rubbed my side tenderly.
"What's wrong with your side?"
"I think I bruised a rib or two…"
Lupin reached out his hand to me concerned. "How did that happen? Have you had Fran look at it?"
I shook my head to both questions.
This time it was Lupin's turn to facepalm. "You shouldn't hide these things from us."
I shook my head. "It hasn't been bothering me too much..."
Lupin finally put two and two together. On why Van Helsing had been in such a sour mood while Sierra had been locked up in her room the past few days...along with the incident in Fran's lab. Lupin was deep in thought for the rest of the duration of the trip, and didn't say anything else on the way back to the mansion.
That evening after everyone ate, Lupin pulled out a map. "Does anyone know where Van Helsing's got to?" He inquired as he laid it out on the table. "I wanted to go over some plans with everyone so we had a few days to prepare."
There was silence across the room.
"No? Ah well, I guess we will start without him."
Lupin was weighing down the edges of the large blue prints as Van walked in the door behind him. Lupin turned around at the sound of heavy footfalls. "Ah, alright with everyone present, let's go over these plans."
We all crowded around the prints and compared notes. Once everyone was familiar with the plan we started to head off in our separate directions.
Lupin rolled up the plans and stashed them away. "Alright everyone, if no one has any questions, we will use the next few days to prepare in earnest. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns!"
I drifted over to Saint and tapped him on his shoulder lightly. "Saint, you wouldn't happen to have a violin that I could borrow would you?"
Saint put his hand under his chin. "Do you play, my lady?"
I wasn't sure, but something about the atmosphere and the time of day...made me want to reach for something...something musical. "I would appreciate the chance to try?"
Saint smiled boldly at me. "I can probably locate one. Please excuse me."
I caught Van exiting the room as Saint left out another door to locate my requested instrument.
"Van Helsing!" I hurried over to him and called his name.
"Go away." Van growled at me, and I backed off feeling like I had been slapped.
"That's really cold Van." Lupin was hanging around the door as well. "You could at least hear the lady out."
Lupin smiled at me and patted my shoulder. "If he gives you any problems, just let me know."
Lupin waved as he went to meet Cardia.
Van scowled at Lupin before he turned to leave once again.
"Van, wait!" I reached out to grabbed his coat sleeve.
"..." He glared down at me with cold eyes while I stared up at him. My eyes were full of resolve, even if I was slightly afraid of that glare he was giving me.
"I am not going to let go until you hear me out." I informed him just as coolly. "What happened the other day was my fault. I knew better and I should have stopped before that point."
I could tell that Van wasn't listening to me and I scowled at him. "You can blame yourself all you want, but you would be wrong."
This conversation wasn't going anywhere and I could tell that my words were not reaching him. I growled and grabbed his tie and yanked Van towards me with force. "Listen to me."
"No." The cold voice echoed in his eyes as Van reached up to forced my hand open with ease.
I ground my teeth in frustration, trying to thinking of what I could say to make him listen. I thought of an idea and acted on it before he could escape. I grabbed his hand and forced it to my damaged side.
Van's eyes held no prisoners as I forced him to acknowledge the bandage under my dress. "...You have been avoiding me."
I let his hand drop and he immediately put more distance between us.
"It is not your fault." I repeated again. "There is a bunch of things I could have done, and I failed to do them all properly. This isn't your fault. You did everything right."
I felt like if I keep telling him it wasn't his fault, he might listen, so I continued on determined. "That is the point of training. So, it doesn't happen in the field."
That statement finally resonated with him.
"I need you to keep training with me Van Helsing, not avoiding me." My eyes glittered menacingly as I warned him. "I am not going to give up on this."
Van finally relented and sighed. "You are a determined one."
I nodded to him and folded my arms together resolutely. "I want to go out with you tomorrow."
"That's a bold statement considering I bruised two of your ribs last week."
I grimaced at his harsh words. "When did you find that out?"
"Lupin cornered me after you got back. You should let Fran look at you before we train again."
I shook my head delaying the reason for delay. "No. Training needs to happen now."
Van's eyebrow twitched in agitation, along with the corner of his mouth. "I wasn't asking." His deep voice rebounded down the hall.
I glared at him stubbornly. "I wasn't asking either."
Saint walked up holding an artistic looking violin. "I am not sure what the young lady is asking, but I would think it wise to not argue with her. She looks quite determined." Saint presented me the violin.
I beamed at Saint as I accepted the violin from him. "Thank you Saint Germain!"
I tapped Van's chest with the violin bow and a warning glare. "After breakfast I will be training with you, Van Helsing." I walked out to the garden grumpily, looking to release some of my stress.
Van looked at Saint with a heavy scowl.
Saint smiled his normally polite smile. "If you are that concerned about it, why not let the doctor know?"
Van huffed and was about to reply as they both heard the first bright notes of the violin.
Saint turned towards the garden with interest. "I, for one, will not miss this show."
Van grudgingly followed the eccentric man out into the garden.
There, in full moonlight, Sierra was just finishing tuning the instrument. Eyes closed, she stood in the moonlight, slowly dancing the bow across the strings. A soft sweet melody drifted along the slight night breeze filling the garden.
Saint stopped to sit on the side of a flower planter. "Ah, the music of angels. It has been too long…"
Van said nothing as the sounds drifted around the night, raising and falling in a beautifully haunting melody.
Saint whispered in slight awe. "Look at the garden."
Van was hard pressed to take his eyes from the silver figure dancing around the garden in a white gown, but he managed to make an effort to examine the garden as he was instructed. All around them the garden had burst forth new blooms. It seemed like the garden had come to life, determined to grow a seasons worth while the music played.
I played a song, something from the depths of my heart. A sound of a soft spring rain, a warm summer's day at the beach, autumn's plentiful harvest, a winter spent around a crackling hearth. A song of seasons and friendship.
My feet paced over the garden in soft purposeful steps, letting the song guide my way. I felt so at peace, one with the world, that all my worries drifted away into the wind as the bow cut soft notes from the instrument at my chin. Feeling the song come to a close I let the strings guide me to their conclusion.
The last notes ended in a clear message of promise for the upcoming seasons, and the magic faded. Somehow the garden felt less full, as the music ended, and I opened my eyes.
Everyone was standing on the edges of the garden. "Wha…?" I didn't get a chance as everyone started to applaud.
"Very beautiful!" Cardia approached me first. "I had no idea you could play so well!"
I brought the violin up waving it nervously in front of me. "It was just a whim." I shrugged trying to pass it off.
Impey attacked me from behind, latching his strong arms around me in a bear hug that picked me off the ground with ease. "Oi! You were amazing! A complete masterpiece!"
I was stuck, with my arms pinned beside me and my side suddenly started hurting in earnest. "Thanks Impey, but please put me down!" My smile was a genuine one, and I was happy that others seemed to enjoy my makeshift playing. Impey shifted his hold but didn't let me down, but the pressure on my side relented to a bearable level.
Lupin came up beside Cardia applauding. "A very fine show, well done!"
I could see clapping from Saint and Van in the back as Impey lifted me up higher. I was almost sitting on his shoulder at this point. His face was a bit lower than mine as Impey grinned up at me and commented impishly. "Sierra need to eat more!" His bright green eyes sparkled at me in the moonlight. "You're so light!"
"Please put me down, Impey!" I pleaded with him as he proceeded to tote me around the garden.
Fran followed behind Impey, looking up with me earnestly. "I thought it was very artistic. I don't believe I have heard that piece before?"
I kicked a little as Impey hauled me around trying to get him to drop me as my pleas turned to a bit of panic. "You wouldn't have!"
Apparently, I was headed back to the kitchen as Impey literally carried me out of the garden. "This calls for a celebration!"
"What? Impey no!"
Fran laughed as he continued to follow us. "So, you just created that now?"
I handed out the violin and bow to Fran. "Fran, can take this before Impey makes me drop it? To your other question...yes."
Fran took the instrument gently in hand. "I would love to hear you play it again sometime."
I nodded as Impey lopped easily towards the kitchen, carrying me like it was nothing. "Sometime."
Saint stayed outside surveying his garden. It had gone back to being a normal garden, once the song had quit and Sierra had gone inside.
"What a mysterious power…" He jotted down a quick note in his logs. Leaning over to pick a freshly bloomed lily, he sniffed the flower dainty.
"I am not sure what this feeling is…"
If your interested in knowing what I had in mind for the violin song, I quite enjoy most of Taylor Davis.
I have her rendition of "Angel Beats!" as something along the lines of what I imagined the song sounding like.
You can find it in this link: watch?v=MFVzy-vosz8
