The day of Thorn's graduation arrived faster than she'd expected. The Winter Solstice would be in the following month but first she had to get through graduation. Thorn was excited to finish her schooling, to have the coven see her as a fully fledged witch and not just the daughter of a massacred family, or Father Blackwood's prodigy.

She stood just outside the graduation hall staring through the open double doors at all the chairs and family members who had come to support their children. Thorn had longed to see her father and brothers there, her mother too but that would never happen. There was a podium up on the stage where Blackwood would give a speech, candles lit the room making everything seem intimate despite the mass of people there. She could see Mavis and the rest of the Tremaine family – Mother, father, two brothers and three sisters; all older – with smiles on their faces. Thorn wasn't bitter but she did wish she could have felt her father's arms around her just once more, smell her mother's perfume, hear her big brother's voice and her little brother's laugh.

Suddenly arms snaked around her waist and a voice whispered in her ear.

"Guess who."

Thorn beamed as her eyes went wide. She'd not heard that voice in so long that she'd almost forgotten it. The hands released her and she quickly spun around to see a tall blonde man with grey at his temples and a smirk. His suit was three-piece, pinstriped and perfectly tailored for his broad shoulders. He looked as though he'd been shrouded in obsidian.

"Uncle Kylian!"

Thorn hadn't seen her maternal uncle since her father's and brother's funerals and that had been years ago. He was the only family Thorn had in all the world and she was delighted to see him.

"Hello, Thorn." He greeted in his perfect English accent.

"What are you doing here?"

The tall blonde man looked down at his niece with mock hurt in his brown eyes.

"As if I would miss my only niece's graduation." He plucked a box from his breast pocket and held it out for her. "Here, I got you a gift."

It was a long green jewellery box that looked old but well cared for and Thorn suddenly found herself excited.

"Thank you." She exclaimed. "You didn't have to, Uncle Kylian."

"It's not every day you graduate."

Carefully she opened the box to find a silver charm bracelet, each charm of which were protections symbols.

"It's beautiful! Thank you, Uncle."

Kylian smiled down at her.

"You're very welcome, Thorn. It belonged to your mother, Alarya wore it quite often as a child. You should have it."

The blonde easily helped the younger witch to put the bracelet on just as Father Blackwood appeared from seemingly nowhere. Thorn didn't notice him until the High Priest was practically on top of them.

"Are you prepared, Thorn?" He asked an that deep tone of his and she nodded.

"Yes, I think so." She turned to her uncle. "Father Faustus Blackwood, this is my uncle, Kylian Gethic. My mother's elder brother."

Kylian thrust his hand out and Faustus accepted it polity.

"A pleasure to meet you, Father Blackwood."

"Indeed. Thorn has spoken much about you."

Kylian flashed a smile. "All good I hope. I've not been around as much as I should have been, I spend too much time in England. Still, I couldn't miss my niece's graduation." A pause hung between them, hardly there. "Is it true that Thorn has taken over as the secretary for the Church of Night?"

Faustus took his hand back before it became awkward but still he nodded.

"She has, yes. Proven herself quite invaluable as well."

Thorn tried not to mew when he flashed her a momentary look of want. For the love of Lucifer, how did that man do that to her? Fortunately Kylian didn't seem to pick up on it and Faustus carried on as normal.

"Well, please excuse me, Mister Gethic, but I have to prepare for the graduation ceremony. I shall have a chair set out for you at the front, Thorn is at the top of her class after all."

"Thank you, Father."

Faustus walked away then into the hustle and bustle of the graduation hall; people automatically moved out of his path. Thorn and Kylian turned their attention back to one another.

"He seems nice." Said the blonde with a little sarcasm.

"Father Blackwood might seem standoffish but he is a very good High Priest. He has all but single-handedly restored the Church of Night to its former glory." She felt the need to change the subject then. "Will you be staying long?"

Kylian shook his head. "Not long, no. I have things I need to attend to."

Thorn deflated. "I was wondering if you'd like to celebrate the solstice with me at Mortimer Manor."

Thorn hadn't spent the solstice with anyone save for Caligari or Thomas in years. Kylian thought for a moment before a smile erupted from him.

"How could I refuse my darling niece? I would be delighted to join you, Thorn. As I said, I have business to deal with but I can certainly return before the Winter Solstice and we can celebrate together. I trust Ásvaldr is welcome?"

Thorn nodded. "Of course. Caligari will be pleased to have another familiar present. He's been somewhat lonely since... the deaths."

Kylian nodded in understanding and sympathy. "I can imagine."

Thorn looked over to the podium then to see everyone taking their seats and Blackwood donning his academic gown.

"We should take our seats, Uncle Kylian."

Kylian let out a little hum of agreement. "It seems you're right."

The pair made their way down the central walkway between the chairs until Thorn veered off to climb up onto the stage with the other graduates while the blonde took his chair with the rest of the families.

Thorn was elated to have someone there for her graduation, it might not have been her father, Gray or Alistair but Kylian was her uncle, her mother's brother, the only family she had left in all the world. He'd never been around much, even before her mother's death, for some reason Abraham Mortimer had never been too excited about Kylian's existence. None of that seemed important in that moment though.

Faustus took full command of the room the second he stepped up to the podium and started to speak. All eyes were on him as he praised the students and thanked the teaching staff for their work throughout the year. He paused a time to mention a few students by name, Thorn Mortimer being chiefly among them for her hard work and devotion to her schooling as well as their coven. When his speech ended and he had handed the diplomas out to everyone the choir sang as was tradition.

Thorn though, she kept her polished emeralds firmly locked on her Uncle Kylian. She still couldn't quite believe he was actually there. Unbeknownst to the young witch Faustus kept his attention subtly on her. So beautiful, so smart, so powerful and as of that day no longer his student. Perfect. Every now and again he'd look away from her and over the crowd so as not to draw attention to the true subject of his gaze, but the bulk of his time in that room was spent watching her.

Thorn sat with her legs together and neatly tucked at an angle which had pulled her skirt ever so slightly up her thigh. Faustus couldn't see the tops of her black stockings but he knew they weren't hidden by much. Was Thorn teasing him? Knowing Thorn Mortimer that was more than likely. She wore white as though professing an innocence everyone knew she didn't have. The sweetheart neckline made with white lace that cuddled her beautifully but no, no, Faustus couldn't focus on taking her or what was under that white dress; not with so many people around.

In all honesty he hated the graduation ceremony. It was much too long and frankly half of it was utterly pointless. Still, the families expected a fuss and it was his job as Dean to give it to them. As High Priest he couldn't just zone out of the occasion until he end so he did the next best thing, rake his icy eyes across the gathered crowd intimidatingly and nod politely as people spoke. Eventually the graduation celebrations ended with a prayer to their Dark Lord, Lucifer, and then everyone was finally free.

The graduates all went off to their families with smiles on their young faces while the teaching staff huddled together to congratulate themselves. Faustus though, he wanted to return to his office, he had things to do. However, his presence was expected, so he found himself milling around the hall being roped into conversation with different students and their relatives every now and again. It wasn't until Kylian Gethic greeted him that Faustus even realised he'd drifted over to where Thorn and her Uncle stood.

"Father." Said Thorn with a smile that he returned.

"Congratulations, Thorn."

"Thank you, Father."

Kylian smiled. "My niece has always been a hard little worker. So smart."

Faustus nodded in acknowledgement. "I completely agree. I would not have mentored Thorn were she not a highly intelligent woman." Father Blackwood turned his attention to the young witch. "Your command and understanding of conjuring is remarkable."

Thorn blushed a little. "Thank you, Father."

"My darling niece has invited me to spend the longest day with her. It has been quite some time since I have had family around me for the occasion. Have you any special plans for it, Father Blackwood?" The blonde asked conversationally.

Faustus glanced down only a split second before he responded.

"Regrettably not, no. My wife was lost to us this year so it will just be myself and my son, Judas."

Thorn perked up at that.

"How is he? Judas is such a sweet boy."

The memory of how quickly his son had taken to Thorn flashed through his mind then but Faustus pushed it away.

"Indeed. Judas is well, thank you for asking."

"You and he should join us!" Kylian suddenly exclaimed as though he had any right to. "It would be a delight to spend the Solstice with not only my sweet niece but the High Priest and his son too."

Well, her uncle had just backed Thorn into a corner.

"Yes, why not? You and Judas would be most welcome at my home, Father. It would be good for Mortimer Manor to be full of life once more. Your familiar is welcome also."

It was an excuse to be around Thorn rather than his son's nanny and he'd not got any better plans. The house wouldn't even be decorated; that had always been Constance's thing to do. She had adored the solstice. Faustus nodded after a moment.

"It would be my pleasure, Thorn. I'm sure Judas will enjoy it as well."

"Then it's settled." Grinned Kylian. "The four of us shall celebrate together!"

"Wonderful." Said Faustus though there wasn't really the emotion in his voice that was in Kylian's own.

Thorn smiled but Father Blackwood knew that look, it was her polite but irritated smile.

XXXX

For some reason I imagine Kylian looking something like Kevin McKidd. Not sure why but my brain is rolling with it.