Chapter 12
The apartment remained eerily quiet for almost an hour. If not for the movement of limbs and the constant gulping of Mike's emergency liquor, it would have been easy for each of them to forget that they were not alone. No one wanted to be the first to speak; no one wanted to tell Liz the story of their past together – in fact no one knew the whole story to begin with. Henry was turning over recent event in his mind, beating himself up for not seeing what was right in front of his eyes, not to mention his overly capable alternate senses. Vicki could not speak, for she knew if she did, the anger bubbling underneath her surface would emerge, and there was no controlling what her rage might induce her to do. All she could think about were the difference in Henry's eyes from the last time she saw him, begging her to go with him to Vancouver, and then now, barely recognizing who she was. He didn't have to say it, she knew those eyes all too well, even after all these years; every emotion played across them clearly as if they were a window into his mind, his soul. Mike, on the other hand, was fixated on the reason for coming on this trip in the first place, and against all his control, he could do nothing but picture Fitzroy violating his little girl. It was definitely not an image a father wanted to have in his head.
Liz had grown increasingly impatient of watching the other three current inhabitants of the apartment. She wanted answers, but no one seemed to be willing to give them to her. If her parents knew Henry, then he was the Vampire which they had respected for all those years, and yet now they were treating him like a criminal. And Henry! Well, he didn't even seem to register what was going on at first, he just got a dazed look in his eyes and didn't seem to be quiet…..there anymore. Not to mention he nearly tried to kill his mother-but why did she slap him in the first place!? She'd had just about enough, the tapping of her foot becoming increasingly louder and more frequent, and finally she nearly exploded.
"I don't know if anyone heard me, or you're all too busy running through soap opera scripts in your mind, but I would REALLY like to know what the HELL is going on here?!"
At this point, Mike put his flask back in his pocket and, as he was quite inebriated at the time, stumbled over to the chair nearest to Liz, plopping down roughly and mumbling, "It's funny you should mention hell………"
Liz shot her father a look, communicating that she was clearly not in the mood for jokes or sarcastic remarks at the moment. Since no one else seemed to be volunteering any answers, Liz took it upon herself to bring the conversation around to where she wanted it.
"Alright. Well, seeing as how we've pretty much established that you three know each other, I'm going to go ahead and assume that you both know what Henry is, correct?" Noting Henry had begun to stiffen, she sighed, knowing that this would involve a later discussion as to 'how to properly keep a secret' but at the moment her sanity seemed a lot more important that Henry's pride, because as edgy as her parents were, they were not a real significant threat to his well-being.
Mike's eyes widened and, after unsuccessfully attempting to stand up once, he remarked, "You do? And you still had…..had……..SEX with him!? Oh for Christ's sake what is wrong with the women in my life! You're all insane, that's gotta be it. No that IS it…….you're all fucking insane. Christ!"
"Detective," Henry snarled, "I would avoid taking the Lord's name in vain right now if I were you, after all you are in MY home……….."
"So what Fang Boy," Mike said, immediately sobering up and pulling himself to his full height in front of the smaller man. "You gonna bite me? Is that it," he laughed, shoving a hand into his hair. "Ooooo I'm soooo scared!" Mike retorted, while making spooky gestures in the air. "Oh wait, too late, you already did that!" He was right in front of Henry now, easily within reaching distance. Henry growled, ready to tear his throat out, when they both turned to the voice behind them.
"Alright, ENOUGH ALREADY! I've had enough god damn testosterone….sorry Henry…..for one night! Yes, Dad, I know that Henry is a Vampire, and from your reaction I pretty much figure so do you. So if this is the Vampire you and Mom have been telling me about for like, my entire life, why are you both trying to kill him!"
Henry's face softened slightly, looking towards Vicki for the first time since his apology. "You talked about me to her, that much?" he said, his eyes glistening. Vicky remained hardened, still unable to forgive him for leaving her life, yet wanting to kill him for coming back. Henry was about to take a step towards her, when Mike yelled from behind.
"No shit Fitzroy, she's only named after important people in her life," he responded, rolling his eyes. "Elizabeth, as in your mother, Mary as in your wife," he spat out the last word for emphasis. "DUH?!"
Henry's head was spinning as he turned to face his old rival. "But why?" It was then he heard Vicki speak.
"Because if you would have never left, she wouldn't have been born.."
Confused, Henry turned around. "What…." Then the wheels began to turn. Liz was turning 23 in August. He left Toronto a little less than 24 years ago. He knew, was positive in fact, Vicki had not been with either him or Celluci before their final battle….he would have smelled him on her. But if Liz was……they had to have………
Henry's eyes turned black, and he literally had to shove the beast back inside a tight space of himself, anger clawing its way to the surface. Turning to Vicki he let his fangs extend. He knew his powers wouldn't work on her, but he wanted to feel her fear, knowing what her answer would be. Surprisingly, she showed no anxiety whatsoever, just clear resolve.
"It didn't take long for you to go crawling back to him, did it? Was that how you fixed his life? Sacrificed yourself to make him feel better about his own inadequacy. How long did it take Victoria, a couple of weeks? Days?"
"Hours, actually," Mike interrupted, going to stand by Vicki's side, hatred coming off of him in waves. "You, being the bastard you are, left her crying in your living room, and she needed comfort."
"Oh and what, a hug isn't good enough these days?" Henry shot back, circling them slowly, as a hunter does with prey, "And I suppose you want me to believe this was her idea as well?" Henry shrugged his head towards Vicki, an arrogant smirk on his face.
"Actually," it was Vicki's turn to interrupt, "It was. In fact, I was so upset we used your bed. Our daughter was conceived in your apartment, on your bed, beneath your red silk sheets. And it was probably the best sex we've ever had….Is there anything else you'd like to know?"