Much to Eleazar's surprise and annoyance, finding a replacement for the deceased stud proved much more difficult than he originally thought. Such an exceptional bloodline was rare indeed, but after several weeks of constant searching he had finally located an animal of quality breeding. Unfortunately, the breeder wasn't inclined to part with such a superb beast. It took every ounce of talent that Eleazar possessed in negotiating and more money than he planned to spend, but the stallion was finally scheduled for transfer to the Vázquez ranch within the week.
Swiftly moving across a handful of providences under the cover of night, he made his way back home with a song in his heart. It felt good to finally be able to put this problem to rest once and for all. It had been hard work, but if it allowed him and his little friend to return to their normal lives, it was worth every moment.
Since the unfortunate death of the animal, the Spaniard had noticed Carlisle becoming more difficult to live with. The playful, happy child was being replaced with a quiet, serious, and somewhat withdrawn version. He didn't play anymore, which bothered the man more than he planned. All of the little one's energy was focused on his chores and whatever work he could come by to help him earn money to pay his debt. While Eleazar was pleased with the cleanliness of their home, he had begun to fear that in the end the boy's work would be for nothing. If he hadn't been able to find a horse to donate to Mr. Vázquez, he didn't know how he would have gotten the child over the guilt that had become his constant crippling companion. There were certainly times when Carlisle was his own worse critic, damning himself to misery that he didn't deserve, and this was proving to be one of them.
The dark haired man slowed and drew a relaxing, if unneeded, breath. Gracias a Dios that was over. Their lives could finally move forward again. It would be wonderful to see his little one's smile return. It seemed like a lifetime ago since he had allowed himself to be happy, and it wasn't until this very moment that Eleazar realized how very much he missed his friend's laughter. Thankfully that would soon change, and they would celebrate the end of the young boy's punishment. Maybe a visit to a museum or library would set things right. Carlisle loved such outings and the discoveries to be made within them. Sadly, Paris was currently off limits thanks to the Volturi, but surely there was something out there to pique the curiosity of his friend.
Crossing into their home providence, the vampire glanced up at the lightening sky. The night was beginning to give up it's dominion and the breaking dawn would have Eleazar's amigo up and about. Most likely he would soon be heading to work at the ranch to feed the horses and muck out stalls. Señor Vázquez had been only too happy to have such a hard worker and Carlisle's pocket benefited greatly from that fact. He had raised a good amount of money even if it was still only a small fraction of what he owed.
Eleazar softly groaned. As diligent as he worked, Carlisle would see another century before his debt would be paid at the rate he was going. That blasted animal had cost a small fortune. Why hadn't Carlisle chosen something less expensive to squish? Shaking his head of the thought, the Spaniard decided that the debt was already paid. The boy didn't need to know how much money was involved in fixing his faux pas, and the lesson being taught had already learned, and learned well. Carlisle now knew how to secure a saddle. He understood how his strength could cause injury and quickly learned to be cautious with other beings as well as horses. There was no good reason for the child to suffer through further punishment. After all, he really had always been good boy thanks to the good man trapped inside.
With the transfer paperwork in his pocket, the elder made a decision that drew a bright smile across his handsome face. Instead of going home, he would visit the ranch and share the news of his good fortune with his neighbor. He would then say that he was taking Carlisle out to celebrate. Señor Vázquez would surely understand and let his stable hand go with his tío to share in a little celebratory lunch. After a hunt and some relaxation, Eleazar would return and tell the rancher that it was his decision to donate the stud to where it would do the most good — The Vázquez champion breeding program. He didn't have the means to properly house such an animal anyway, and he and his nephew would be traveling out of the country for a time. The education of the young was so very important these days. The rancher would be happy. Carlisle would be redeemed. Everything would go back to how it should be with their only real concerns being the Volturi and his friend's physical restoration.
Eleazar's smile became even more radiant as his joy overflowed. He couldn't wait to see his little buddy, and share the great news. For once, nothing could go wrong.
"Señor Eleazar, I'm glad that you stopped by," the rancher said as he extended a hand in greeting.
"I have such surprising news, Señor Vázquez. I come right over to share it with you and mi sobrino." The man glanced around the stable, suddenly aware of how quiet it was. "Where is Carlisle? I thought he would already be at his tasks. He has learn much here that he usually can't wait to greet the day and rush over."
"The niño didn't show up this morning, and I fear that I know why," the man answered in a solemn tone.
The disappointed look in his eyes gave Eleazar pause. With an internal sigh, the elder gave a brief nod, wordlessly asking the man to continue.
"My son has obtained a new contraption called a bicycle. Why anyone would want to ride such a thing when a fine horse is available is beyond me, but he is very proud of it. He saved up for a year to make the purchase on his own. When it arrived yesterday, he showed it straight away to your Carlisle. The English was thrilled and shared every bit of my son's excitement with this brand new wheeled wonder. He wanted to ride, but learning takes time so Goyo tells him he would teach him later in the afternoon once he was finished with his own chores and lessons. Well, Señor, come afternoon both the device and your boy were missing. I went to your home concerned about his well being, but didn't find him there. I cannot help but think he's gotten up to some mischief."
Eleazar closed his eyes for a moment as he tried to think of any reasonable response to the man's accusation. Finding none, he exhaled in an explosive huff before meeting the man's gaze.
"He knows better than to borrow without asking."
" Sí. I don't doubt that you've taught him well, but shiny new objects attract children as much as they attract birds and boys will be boys. I'm sure it was just a moment of weakness. Most boys have trouble turning from temptation, but if it is as I believe, I ask that you see to it that the bicycle is returned."
"Without a doubt, it shall be. I will find my pícaro and resolve this matter swiftly. On that, you have my word."
"I'm sorry to have had to say such things to you. I truly enjoy having Carlisle around. He's a bright inquisitive child who has given no trouble whatsoever. I value your friendship and don't mean to cause trouble for the boy, but... "
"No, no, no. I needed to know. I can't bring him up right when kept in the dark. Children. They test us all. I can't say that answering my niño's challenges give me any pleasure, but we do as we must and this shall be taken care of. On that, you have my word."
"Thank you, Señor. I'm sure all will be made right. And now I must apologize. When you arrived you said you came with good news. We could all do with some of that. Please share."
Eleazar's brow furrowed for a moment. He had nearly forgotten why he had come to the ranch in the first place. Shaking his head to clear it, he forced the return of his earlier smile.
"Forgive me. I nearly forget. I won a game of chance and am in need of your unique advice."
The Spaniard was mildly shocked and becoming increasingly annoyed. Carlisle was not at the house when he arrived and the scent trail was cold. He knew better than to wander outside the areas his patron had approved for him, but then he also knew better than to steal from another.
"Ese chico necesita una buena nalgada," Eleazar growled under his breath while searching the trails he knew his friend liked to travel. "Y, por Dios, cuando tenga mis manos sobre él, le daré uno. I should have done so from start. Then there would have been none of this business. Eleazar, when he asks, you give from now on. This is final straw. No more. El niño debe aprender su lección. Play time is over. The belt for you this time, chico."
Eleazar continued to fume as he broadened his search, but as the day wore on with no signs of the lad anywhere, the man's anger turned to worry. Had they been found out? Did Carlisle inadvertently do something that had exposed what they really were to the humans? No, that couldn't be. Surely he would have heard of a commotion like that. The elder vampire suddenly felt sick as a thought came forward in his mind. Maybe the Volturi had caught up to them while he was roaming the countryside and already captured Carlisle.
"Santa María, di que no es así."
What would he do? What could he do? If the Guard had found Carlisle, they wouldn't know who he was. They would assume he was an immortal child like any other and destroy him on the spot. His little one would have been completely helpless against the Volturi enforcers. No adult vampire could stand against them. What chance would an innocent child have?
Eleazar felt an impossible pain deep within his chest. This was his fault. He never should have left his charge alone — not for days on end while he traveled through forest and fields. And for what? To replace a horse. The once important task now seems wholly pointless. He had managed to complete it, but at too high of a cost.
A low rumble rolled through the Spaniard while his lip curled up in a snarl. He'd kill the damnable beast if its acquisition had cost him his companion.
With that thought raging in his head, Eleazar closed his jet black eyes tightly and slumped down on the ground. He couldn't take his revenge out on an innocent creature. Carlisle wouldn't have wanted that. If there was anyone who deserved his wrath it would be the Guards who acted in haste, and the Volturi themselves who ordered such things without investigation.
A hard lump formed in the man's throat as grief washed over him. He had let his old friend down. He promised to keep him safe and find a cure, but he failed. How would he be able to live with himself? Centuries of existence knowing that your shortsightedness cost a friend his life — that would be pure hell. It was better to return to Volterra, confess his sin, and allow the Brothers to end his miserable life. Without his good friend there was no point in living.
A rustling sound in the nearby brush caused the vampire's eyes to snap open. A familiar scent drifted on the barely detectable breeze.
"Carlisle Cullen? Is that you?"
A slight fair-haired figure dashed away, racing through the vegetation. A wave of relief crashed over Eleazar as he instantly jumped back to his feet and gave chase. The boy was small, granting him an advantage over the taller man through the thickest of brush, but the elder had speed and experience on his side.
The child ran hard for several minutes before pulling up near a large tree. Glancing back down the path he had broken through the underbrush, Carlisle was puzzled by the engulfing silence. While he expected to see his defender racing up the trail, the open space was empty. The sounds of pursuit had ceased. Inhaling deeply, he scented the air, but detected no further sign of Eleazar. Could he have really outrun his protector? It seemed impossible, but what other explanation could there be?
Sighing with relief, the blond haired lad turned to continue on his journey at a more leisurely pace before a large hand gripped his shoulder. Fear rocketed through him and he tried to pull away, but Carlisle was no match for the older man's strength. Eleazar easily scooped him up and held him tightly to his chest.
"Put me down! Let me go!" the boy yelled as he struggled in his captor's arms. "No, El-zar! Let me down!"
Small fists pummeled the man's chest while the boy's feet kicked furiously, striking any body part he could reach.
"There's to be none of that, amigo," Eleazar sharply replied while shifting Carlisle to secure him over his shoulder.
"You can't steal me!"
"You stole you and caused much worry."
The child continued to punch his guardian in the back while he snarled and spit like a wild thing.
"Let go! It's not fair!"
"Not fair? Not fair? What is fair in Eleazar having to think the worse has happened to his friend? How's fair, Carlisle?"
"Put me down, El-zar!"
"I'll put you down across the knee right now. Is that what you wish?"
"No!"
"Then stop this fighting. You in big trouble already. Don't make for worse."
The Spaniard walked only a short distance with his battling miscreant slung over his shoulder before finding a spot to sit, but placing the child on his feet proved to be a mistake. As soon as he was steady, Carlisle took off again. This time, however, Eleazar was ready. He latched onto the ruffian before he could dive back into the dense brambles and make his escape, but that had done it.
All the fear, worry, and anger that the man had struggled with over the last few hours exploded in a whirlwind of rage. Several lessons needed to be taught and they may as well start now.
With an unbreakable grip around the child's wrist, the elder dragged him back towards the log in utter silence. Carlisle dug his heels into the soft earth, but to no avail. The elder's patience had worn thin and no about of protest was going to prevent the inevitable.
"El-zar, please," the boy began to whine, but his complaint fell on deaf ears.
Without a word, Eleazar sat down on the fallen log and drew the youngster face down over his lap.
"No, El-zar! No!"
The Spaniard raised his hand high to deliver the thrashing the boy surely deserved then paused. As his gaze fell on his squirming target, Eleazar became acutely aware of the tempest roaring within himself. His self control was slipping and he needed to stop before he did something he knew he would regret.
"Please, El-zar!"
The child needed to answer for his crimes, but what was he learning right now? The man could almost feel the terror pulsing through his little one's body and that wouldn't do. Filling his lungs, he held his breath and willed his anger into the trapped air. With his exhalation he felt the negative emotion leave his body allowing him to regain the control he so desperately needed to carry out this lesson.
"Don't spank me!"
Swallowing the thick venom that raw emotions had flooded his mouth with, a now calm Eleazar answered the lad with a firm, but not overly hard, swat to the rump that was swiftly followed by several more.
Carlisle bucked and kicked as he made a bid for freedom, but the Spaniard easily pinned him down with a hand against his lower back.
"No! El-zar, please. Please stop. Please. I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?" the man asked without missing a beat.
"I don't know," the boy cried
"Then I tell you why you get this spanking. You run away, Carlisle. You run away and disappoint El-zar. The Carlisle Cullen I know is brave. He doesn't run when he knows he be wrong. Maybe a changeling has been left in his place while I was gone? A naughty imp who doesn't know the right from wrong, eh?"
"Noooooo!"
"No? Then why you run? Why you make Eleazar chase after you?"
"I was afraid."
"Of what?"
"Being in trouble."
Eleazar exhaled softly as his palm continued to address his charge's poorly conceived plan of running.
"Why would you be in trouble, niño?"
"I don't knoooow," Carlisle wailed as he wiggled in an attempt to dodge the stinging smacks.
"Oh, I believe you do."
The child violently shook his head while his tears began to soak through his captor's pants leg.
"Did you do something that you know you shouldn't?"
After a moment Carlisle nodded before the fight left his body and he lay limp over Eleazar's knees.
As soon as the tyke submitted, the elder stilled his hand. The spanking had been more to gain Carlisle's attention than anything else. It hadn't been particularly hard, and the Spaniard knew there would have to be more to address the thievery, but for now he was only too happy to accept the child's surrender.
Gathering Carlisle in his arms, he sat him on his lap and hugged him close.
"You've no idea what scare you put in El-zar. You mustn't do such things."
"I'm sorry, El-zar," the boy whimpered against his neck while clinging tightly to him. "So sorry."
"Shh, hijo. I've got you. You be okay, but let's go home. We have much talking to do, hm?" the man said as he stood with his little monkey still hanging onto him for dear life. The elder vampire breathed a sigh of relief. At least he could take solace in the knowledge that the youth still viewed him as a source of safety and comfort.
He walked slowly towards their house, allowing the time and distance to help calm his temper further. There would be no belt. There was no need for such things. There would have to be much talking though, and he needed Carlisle to feel safe if he expected him to be truthful. One did not learn when scared.
As he walked, Eleazar became aware of how still and silent the child had become. The tears had dried and Carlisle's breathing was very soft and regular.
"What are you thinking, niño?"
"I'm a bad person."
The admission was hardly a whisper, but it made the adult cringe.
"I've said before, you are not. You're a very good person, Carlisle. The best that I've ever known. You are still relearning things as well as learning new things for first time. That can be very difficult. Is why I'm here to help. That's all I want to do. This you know?"
"I made you mad."
"Sí," Eleazar answered simply and honestly.
"I'm sorry."
The Spaniard stopped and, gently extracting the child, he placed Carlisle on his feet. Crouching down in front of him, he took the boy's hands in his and gazed into his troubled eyes.
"Why did you run?"
"I was scared."
"Of me?"
Carlisle didn't immediately answer. Instead he held his elder's eyes as long as he could before the pain of seeing the disappointment in them became too much for him to bear causing him to look away.
"Of how I make you feel."
"What is this? How you make me feel?"
Fresh tears coated the boy's eyes, but he kept them downcast.
"I make you sad."
Eleazar gave a half smile as he reached out and caught Carlisle's chin in his fingers. Lifting the youngster's head, he forced him to look back into his eyes.
"What you see, chico? Do you see sadness?"
The man's expression was soft and the previous disappointment had vanished from his bright gold eyes.
"You make me proud far more than sad. I don't expect perfect. That is too much to ask. All I do ask is that you learn from mistakes so the next time be better."
Carlisle immediately bowed his head.
"I've done something terrible."
"I listen."
"I took what wasn't mine."
Eleazar felt pride overtake any lingering anger and disappointment he may have still been carrying.
"Very brave to admit. Now you can fix by returning what you take."
The boy shook his head.
"I can't."
"Of course you can. I'll help."
"No, Eleazar. You don't understand. I can't take it back. I ..." He looked back at Eleazar and swallowed hard while struggling with the words that threatened to choke him. "I didn't mean to."
"You didn't mean to take this thing that wasn't yours?" the Spaniard asked, trying to fill in the gaps for the child.
Carlisle shook his head.
"I meant to take it, but..." A tear rolled down his pale cheek as he fought to hold the man's gaze. "I can't give it back, because I broke it."
*Translation:
Gracias a Dios - Thank God
Tío - Uncle
Mi sobrino - My nephew
Ese chico necesita un buena nalgada. - That boy needs a good spanking.
Y, por Dios, cuando tenga mis manos sobre él, le daré uno. - And, by God, when I get my hands on him, I'll give him one.
El niño debe aprender su lección - The boy must learn his lesson.
Santa María, di que no es así -Saint Mary, say it isn't so.
AN: I know. It's shorter than it should be, and I am working on resolving this little issue of Carlisle's ASAP. I just need some more Red Bull, coffee, and maybe chocolate. Caffeine is the writer's best friend.
None of this bodes well for sweet little Carlisle's backside. None of it. It's also a real challenge for Eleazar. With Carlisle starting to grow and "expressing" himself in ways he never as before, his buddy is really going to be put to the test as far as keeping his temper in check. He just might start having a touch of sympathy for old Cillian Cullen. ... Nah. Not really, but if I can get the tiny doctor to be to his teens, all bets are off. And while he would be loathe to do it, Eleazar's belt might be coming off, but not this round.
Thanks for taking the time to read and review. My goal is to address this unfortunate bike issue within the next week. Now where did I put that Red Bull?
