Chapter 11-Past, Present and Future
Selene
Not having to go to work today was both a blessing and a curse. I was happy to have the evening to be home and unwind a little. Tomorrow could be the change of the rest of my life and I desperately wanted to hold on to every precious moment I had left of the world I knew.
I remembered the time before this when my world had turned upside down. I had only had Onyx for a month at that point, and he was just a small black puff of a kitten. My parents had waited to give him to me two weeks after my birthday because they wanted to really surprise me, having known that I had wanted a black kitten for years.
One night they left me home for a couple of hours because it was their anniversary, and my father wanted to have dinner alone with my mother. The restaurant that they had gone to had caught fire. The police told me that witnesses said that my parents acted heroically, they saved every single person in that restaurant, diving in and out of the burning building to help frightened people. But just as they rushed out the last group of people, the ceiling collapsed on them and they died.
That's when I met Uncle Matthew for the first time, he was the only one who came for me, and despite the desperate calls made by neighbors and police to the few family members I had.
Father and Uncle Matthew's parents did not even respond to the calls that were made. They were never good to either son, having married out of convenience and never getting along well. The two boys they had as a result were nuisances that forced them together longer than they had wanted. I was both grateful and resentful toward them. I was grateful because father learned from his parents' mistakes on how to care for a child, and treated me with love and kindness, but I resented them because father was such a good man who did not deserve parents who were so awful.
Mother's parents were both dead, they like mother loved living among the humans but got too close; they let their secret slip and were killed by hunters. Mother was devastated from it; she was only twenty at the time. She told me that is how she said she fell in love with father. She said that he was there for her to cry, scream, break things and even just run off and do something impulsive. She said that he swept her off her feet and made her feel like things were going to be okay again.
As far as great grandparents, great great grand parents, and so on and so forth, they were scattered about the world, too distant form me and my parents to feel that their help would make any difference.
Uncle Matthew came, a complete opposite to my father. He stood tall and blonde compared to my father, who though he was older, was slightly shorter, and had hair that was the warmest of brown. Uncle Matthew was cold, clinical and yet he was my only hope. He took care of my parents' arrangements and said that I would be staying with him from now on. I was happy that he let me keep Onyx, but I was sad that that was the only bit of sweetness he ever bestowed on me.
I lived with him in his large house complete with live in maids. He stuck me in one of the smaller rooms that had a bathroom attached and immediately enforced rule after rule about how I would live and behave in his home, and how I needed to get decent grades and a job once I was old enough if he was going to allow me to be in his care.
When I first started living with him, I was only thirteen, and I was naïve enough to think that if I acted sweet toward him and always remained optimistic that I would capture his heart. I truly believed that one day he would warm up to me. Fast forward four years, and I am still "that niece of his."
But that was in the past, and what wasn't I had let go of long ago. As far as today is concerned, I did not want to be home because I knew I would inevitably have to face Uncle Matthew. He had never hit me before; then again I had never disobeyed him before either. I had no idea what he would be like when he came home. For the first time since I had been with Uncle Matthew, I actually hoped that he would ignore me.
I entered the house to see that Uncle Matthew was waiting for me. He stood at the top of the stairs, the same place he was at when he told me to stay away from Cole. "Selene." His voice was slightly sarcastic.
"Yes Uncle." Stay calm and it will be easier.
"Oh good, you can hear me. I was beginning to think that perhaps you couldn't, since it was just this morning that I had stood here and told you exactly what I wanted from you." He stepped down the stairs, hands in his pockets looking calm, but in a contemptuous way. "I never pegged you to be disobedient, I have told you what I wanted from you and you have complied, but what was so different about what I asked this morning?"
I did not speak; I knew he was not finished.
"No remark?" He asked eyebrows raised. "Hmm, that is surprising. Just the opposite of your father who never seemed to be able to quit running his mouth when he was alive especially when he made stupid errors in judgment as you have done."
I felt something in my body ignite. "Shut up!" I screamed. Literally screamed, I felt my face get red and hot and tears streamed down my face from strain.
"Excuse me?" He tried to say it mockingly, but the raw surprise was heard clearly.
"I said shut up. Stop trying to insult me and criticize me by insulting and criticizing my parents, especially my father!" My eyes became hot with tears. "You are just jealous! You hate that father got to have the family you always wanted, you hate that you could never be as strong and as happy as father was all the time!" My words were starting to come out staggered.
He showed the slightest bit of rage, opening his mouth to speak but then shutting it again as he saw me persist.
"You hate the fact that father was beloved by all who knew him and that you were just the pouty younger brother!" I looked him right in the face. "And you hate, that all of those things that father was that you were not, were the reasons why my mother fell in love with him over you!" I saw the maid peeking across corners watching my tantrums. All of the sarcasm left Uncle Matthews face, he stared at me as I continued. "I-I w-wish I was with them when they d-died, they were everything t-to m-m-me." I sobbed. "I wish I was with them and I wish tha-that I had died t-too, because trust me dying would be a much better alternative than l-living with you. I-I have tried for years to get you to l-love me and have been treated like I was some petty child that you had to deal with. W-why did you hate me? I did not do anything to you e-except try and love you and g-get you to love me b-back but I was never good enough. W-what did I do w-wrong?"
The tears spilled down my face. I found it hard to continue, but nonetheless I did.
"You are the only memory of my parents that I have." I looked into his eyes. "You were my mother's best friend; she told me stories of how you two were s-so close as children. Not only that but you are my father's brother, I'm-I 'm your big brother's b-baby, I should mean something to you." I sniffed. "I don't care what else you have to say. I'm not sorry I disobeyed you. All I have left to tell you is that no matter what happens tomorrow, I'm gone."
"Gone?" He asked speaking for the first time.
"Yes, if the Elders say no to me m-marrying Cole then I will find someplace else to go, maybe I will move back into my old neighborhood, but I'm done with staying here. N-now if you'll excuse me, I'm very tired and would like to g-go to bed." I passed him swiftly leaving him there in the foyer. I stomped up the stairs and saw from the corner of my eye, Uncle Matthew turn to look at me.
"Selene." He said softly. I ignored him, and went into my room; slamming the door shut and locking it loudly.
I was numb. I did not even know what I was thinking, but soon I pulled a small slip of paper out of my bag and went to the phone, hands shaking as I dialed. The phone rang twice.
"Hello?" Cole's deep voice asked. I said nothing. "Hello?" He asked again and then paused for a moment, "Selene? Selene is that you?"
I hung up the phone quickly, curling up into a ball and wrapping my large purple quilt over my body. Onyx, as if by instinct that something was wrong, curled up next to me. I glanced up at the clock on my wall to see that it was only three in the afternoon, but I did not care. I knew I would be too nervous to get any sleep that night so I took advantage of how tired I was then.
I heard a gentle tapping at the door. "Selene?" Someone tried to turn the knob, but the lock held true to its job and the person at the other end could not enter. I shut my eyes and let myself drift, not caring who was at the door, though I was sure I knew.
When I woke, I saw that the clock read two. Huh? That's not right, it was just three when I looked at the clock before, and how could time have gone backwards? That is when I realized it. I looked outside and saw it was dark out. It was two in the morning. I had slept for nearly eleven hours. I got up, my muscles felt tight and my head was heavy.
I decided to go down to the kitchen for something to eat. I hadn't had any lunch or dinner and though I still was not hungry, I thought it best to try and make myself eat something.
The one thing I did like about this home was the refrigerator was always stocked; from gourmet leftovers, to expensive cold cuts that made the best sandwiches and of course the practical things like fruit, yogurt and tons of things to drink.
I started out only wanting a turkey sandwich, but as I pulled that out I could not control myself from grabbing other things; roast beef, cheese, mustard, mayo, pickles, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, and some spinach. I formed a massive sandwich on a large sub roll and set it in the toaster to warm it up a little. While it heated I grabbed an apple, chips, and a huge bottle of water. I guess I'm hungrier than I thought.
I settled down at the counter with my midnight snack, taking a huge bite out of the sandwich I was very proud of. I heard the soft pat of footsteps become louder and louder as they came right into the kitchen.
Uncle Matthew appeared; he halted in his steps as he saw me. We did nothing but stare at the other for a long moment. I set my sandwich down and wiped my hands and lips with a napkin, then picked up my things and left to eat back in my room.
"I just wanted a drink of water; you don't have to leave if you don't want to." He said. I thought for a moment then I took my things back to the counter and sat in the seat farthest away from him. He looked uncomfortable as he filled a glass with cold water and sipped it at the sink, staring out the window as he did.
Meanwhile, I greedily wolfed down my food, finishing it far before he was done with his water. Normally I would have washed the things myself, but instead I loaded it into the dishwasher, knowing it would get cleaned later. "Selene." He said, as I brushed up the stairs.
"The escort will be here in a few hours, I should get ready." I did not wait for him to say more.
I had decided to wear my conservative, blue button down dress with a black sweater, and black ballet flats. I waited outside for the escort to come while Matthew got ready himself.
The escort pulled up in a black escalade, and got out long enough to open the door for me to get inside the car. I took a deep breath as I slid in the back seat. He shut it tight and drove to Elder Hall, silence rang in the car.
The sun had not even risen yet, though it was easy to tell that it would very soon, the sky had lightened, and the birds flitted out of their nests in search for their breakfast. I was regretting my choice of meals that I had had a few hours ago. My stomach was starting to twist with nerves. Uncle Matthew was following behind us. His letter, which I found by accident while I was grabbing my sweater from the coat closet, basically said that he was also needed at the Elder Hall, but that due to recent events he should go separately from me. I would find out later that both of our letters were changed at the last moment; so that way we could go separately from each other as a result of him hitting me.
Elder Hall, much to my surprise was in an underground facility of one of the town buildings. Not just any facility though, The Teahouse. "Sir?" I asked the man who led me into The Teahouse; and through a secret passage way that I had never come across.
"Yes Miss Hayward?" He asked not looking back at me.
"If The Teahouse is above Elder Hall, then why has this place been sold to humans?" I asked him. Ira is a vampire, she would have had to have been told that The Teahouse was over Elder Hall, and she would not have sold it to humans knowing that right? It could expose us.
"Ira was unaware of Elder Hall being under The Teahouse." He said. "You have not lived here long, so you don't know that Ira co-owned this place with her mother who knew about the Hall but never told her daughter, it just did not come up, Elder Hall is rarely used."
"But then how is it people meet in Elder Hall to get the Elders approval of marriage?"
"The Elders don't meet in Elder Hall for marriages unless there is an objection, or at least that is the policy that they have arranged. When a proposal is made, they will go to the home of the potential bride and meet with the families to approve of the marriage. Other than that the Hall is only used for serious vampire crimes; which are few and far between. As far as it being sold to humans, Ira's mother left this place to Ira a couple of years before you arrived, again forgetting to mention Elder Hall. Ira then sold it to humans by accident, because she did not know the truth."
We walked down a dim hallway toward a pair of mahogany doors. "So what are the Elders going to do about getting this place back to vampires?" I was surprised by my bold questioning, but I had given up be inhibited, at least for now.
"That's not your concern Miss Hayward." He said, finally looking at me. He opened the door and I stepped inside. Maybe that is why Cole is trying to buy it back. It might be an assignment from his great grandfather.
Elder Hall was beautiful, since it was underground there were no real windows, but the walls still had stained glass panes with elaborate colors and kaleidoscope patterns. Gorgeous tapestries stretched from floor to ceiling that were embellished with mythical creatures like dragons, phoenixes, and unicorns with eagle wings. The wood flooring was a cherry red that was spotlessly clean.
Other than that the room resembled a courtroom. Bench seats stretched out on either side of a center path that led to two big tables, one on the far left and the other on the far right which face a high pulpit-like desk, where all five Elders sat tall. I knew all of them were at the very least over a century old, but not a single one looked over the age of forty. Cole sat in the seat toward the right; I waited to be instructed as to where to sit.
"Miss Hayward." The center seated Elder acknowledged. "You may choose any seat in either pew in the front; your uncle will sit at this table toward your left."
"Thank you Elder Malcolm." I had not ever seen the Elders in person, but I did know each face and which name went with it.
Elder Malcolm was Head Elder, he was followed by Elder Jones; Cole's great grandfather, Elder Victor, Elder Henry, and Elder Richard. They would all pass their legacies to their descendents when they felt they were ready to retire; their descendents, should they accept the duty would take whatever position was left behind, meaning that if Elder Malcolm gave his position to his son, his son would be Head Elder rather than be the low man on the totem pole.
Uncle Matthew stepped in just as I sat; he gave me a side glance and flashed a quick glare to Cole as he obediently took his seat toward the left of the room. Elder Malcolm stood up tall. The other Elders as well as Cole and Uncle Matthew gave him full attention.
"We call this meeting to order. Cole Jackson Wilshire, you have asked Matthew James Hayward for permission to wed his niece Selene Rose Hayward. He had rejected your request and you have come to us to override his decision. Is this correct?"
"Yes Elder Malcolm." Cole confirmed.
"Mr. Matthew Hayward is it correct that you decline his request?"
"Yes Elder Malcolm." Uncle Matthew said through gritted teeth. Though he looked poised in his chair I could see his hands gripping the edge of the table in frustration and anger.
"Is it also correct that you are in fact her sole caretaker?" Elder Malcolm asked.
"Yes Elder Malcolm." Elder Malcolm nodded and sat back down in his chair.
"As you know," Elder Henry began. "The decision has already been made by the five of us, a decision I might add that we have come up with unanimously and that we feel is fair." The other Elders nodded in approval, I looked at Cole's great grandfather Elder Jones, who looked a little uncomfortable with the decision, but nonetheless did not speak up against it. "However, we will ask a few more things to make sure that we wish to continue with the decision."
"Mr. Matthew Hayward on what grounds do you decline Mr. Cole Wilshire's request?" Elder Malcolm asked.
"On the grounds that Cole Wilshire is a dangerous man who I might add has never spoken as much as four words to Selene when he asked me for her hand. I have reason to believe his actions are less than pure." He answered.
"Mr. Wilshire what have you to say about his accusations?" Elder Victor asked. The Elders were steadily writing notes in front of them.
"I say that Mr. Hayward is unaware of anything that concerns his niece, and he certainly does not know me, he cannot fairly judge my intentions." Cole responded smoothly.
A few Elders whispered things to one another.
"Mr. Wilshire how do you plan on caring for Miss Hayward?" Elder Victor asked.
"I plan on showing her respect and courtesy, showering her with all the love and warmth I can. She is a special young woman who deserves to be treated like a queen."
"Mr. Hayward." Elder Victor said, not responding to Cole's comment. "Do you think you treat her better than Cole could, keeping in mind the reports given to us by other families?"
"I am not perfect," Uncle Matthew said. "And I have made my share of mistakes, but I know she is safer with me than with Cole Wilshire."
The Elders nodded again and then looked to Elder Richard who looked at me.
"Miss Hayward." Elder Richard said looking toward me.
I stood up tall and bowed my head slightly. "Yes Elder Richard."
"In the past we have not dealt with such a tough case of a caretaker depriving a man for the hand of a young lady. As a matter of fact, since my reign as Elder, which has been well over fifty years, I have never seen it. That being said these four men and I have come up with a bit of a different solution." He paused for a moment. You could cut the tension in the room with a knife. "Miss Hayward, we are concerned over Cole's intentions on marrying you but we are also concerned over your safety and well being if you remain with your uncle." I nodded, looking over at Uncle Matthew who looked down at his desk in slight shame. Regardless, I still held true in my mind that no matter what happened I would not return home with my uncle, but the Elders did not need to know that. "That being said; Elder Malcolm." He motioned his hand for Elder Malcolm to finish.
"Thank you Elder Richard." He said, rising again. "Selene Rose Hayward, in the decision on whether or not Cole Wilshire shall have your hand in marriage, against your Uncle Matthew Hayward's request, we have decided…that the decision should be yours."
I looked at him in shock. My gaze when to Cole and then to Matthew to see they had faces which matched mine.
"Elder Malcolm?" I asked, confused.
"We think it is the best choice. Though I do regret to tell you that you must decide now. I apologize for not giving you more time to think it over, but the Elders would like to wash their hands of this situation. What is your decision?"
"I…"
