Disclaimer: Twilight is the property of Stephenie Meyer
This chapter is dedicated to Noble, Fadewind, M-Bianca94, DisneyFanatic2364 Alphabloodwolf, All the Little Flowers and BellaNessieCullen
Despite the fact Mal and I could not find our privacy for St Dwynwen Day it did not mean we could not observe it. We exchanged cards and gifts as usual. This year Mal presented me with a charm bracelet that held for a moment one malachite heart. He admitted that he was running out of jewellery ideas of things that contained malachite and so he bought the charm bracelet so that he could add a charm to it each year and have the charms set with malachite. I adored the idea although it would be impractical to wear the bracelet at all times; especially once more charms were added.
On the twenty-sixth I received news from Tony, Grace had given birth to a girl and they had named her Astrid. I couldn't wait to meet her, but there was much time before the summer and a lot of things to take place until I had chance to travel out to the Res.
Ardal was due to arrive on the third of February. Of course the children were excited, especially when they learned that we were going to meet him from the airport, Ardal having chosen to fly since the trip by road and sea was long and tiring, especially when one was travelling alone.
Since it was a Saturday Mal could come along too. In fact he thought perhaps he should go alone, but the children were adamant that they should come and meet Uncle Ardal all the sooner. After considering the fact that Ardal may wish a few minuets to get his mind in order before dealing with our hyperactive brood, I came up with a compromise. Mal would drop us off at a park and the children could play a while until Mal returned to pick us up with Ardal.
Fortunately it was a sunny day, but cold for it since it was still winter, but bungled up in coats the children would be fine. Not that the girls felt the cold much, not as Addie did, but he is human. Leda was not with us, but Alec had planned a father-daughter day for them so she would not feel left out. My children were a little put out at first, but they had to realise that Leda was a friend and not strictly family so there were certain activities she could not partake in.
The children had fun in the park and seemed almost unprepared when Mal appeared to call us back to the car. Ardal had decided to wait in the car but he greeted the children admirably enough when they jumped into the back of the car.
"Uncle Ardal, you're finally here." Seren declared as she hugged him.
"How are you liking Wales so far?" Zoë asked.
"Have you been here before?"
"Did you see our farm when you was flying over?"
"Is our farm on that flight path?" Seren asked her twin with a frown.
"Loads of planes always fly over all the time." Zoë replied with a shrug.
"Yeah, but they could be from elsewhere." Seren observed.
"Where's that?"
"Anywhere but here." Seren replied with a chuckle.
"It's good to see you girls again." Ardal said, finally managing to speak over the twins. "And you too Addie."
Aiden smiled at Ardal as I clipped him into his booster seat.
"This isn't me first time to Wales, but it is me first time to the south." Ardal stated, answering the twins' questions. "I haven't seen much of it yet and I don't think I saw your farm, I'll tell you when we get there and I know what it looks like."
"Then you'd best get in your seats girls so that we can return home." I observed.
The girls cheered as they sat in their seats and I clipped their belts into place. Soon we were heading home and the children were bristling with excitement and although Ardal was doing his best to entertain them he looked exhausted. I decided that I would find something for the children to do once we arrived home to give Ardal chance to rest a little before the children overwhelmed him.
Ardal had other ideas, for when I made the suggestion he asked if he could join in our swimming lesson once he had unpacked his bags, apparently he'd been looking forward to using our pool, as he hadn't had a chance to swim for five years since they closed down the Leisure Centre on Darren Down. That being the case it was hard to refuse him and so he joined our swimming lesson ten minuets after it began.
It had began as a true swimming lesson, the children demonstrating how well they had improved since the previous Saturday, but it became more of a swim and play once Ardal joined us wearing a dark t-shirt over his swimming trunks. I had not noticed previously, but now in the water and without the shield of his clothing it was easy to see that Ardal was on the painful side of skinny and that the weight had been lost quickly. Had I not known of his cancer I believe his appearance now would have given me a good clue. He appeared not to let it bother him however and therefore I would not mention anything of his illness unless he brought it up himself.
After our swimming lesson we returned to the house ready for some food. I was uncertain of when we would expect Alec and Leda back therefore I set some sandwiches aside for when they returned.
The day seemed to pass by swiftly, but it was a good day and a jovial start to Ardal's visit. Even his introduction to Alec went smoothly. There was no mistaken intent on Alec's part as there had been when he first met Mair, and Ardal was calm considering Alec was the first vampire he met.
The week seemed to pass by without much ado; it was a delight having Ardal around. He joined us on our nature walks and entertained the children with stories, little did they realise they were lessons from the Bible.
We informed Ardal ahead of time that Brendan would be visiting from the tenth. Ardal was happy with this revelation; he was quite looking forward to meeting further members of his family. He was also highly amused that we would be surprising Brendan with his presence.
Brendan had neglected to give us an exact time of arrival and so we spent the next Saturday lingering about the farm waiting for him to arrive. We dared not do much that took us beyond the back yard for fear of missing him.
We were sat down to lunch when the back door burst open and Brendan entered with his usual jovial greeting as Maggie followed, laughing behind him.
"Good day to you all, and how are my little nieces and nephews today?" He called as he entered the kitchen.
"We're great, Uncle Brendan." Mal said, "And there's…"
"Good to hear, good to hear." Brendan said, cutting him off. "Now come here the three of you, let me have a look at you."
The twins were in front of him immediately, happy that lunch was being interrupted. Aiden went to stand beside them too.
"Ah look at you three, you shoot up every time I see you. You'll be taller than me soon." He said with a wink. "And look at you birthday boy, so grown up."
Aiden giggled as Brendan ruffled his hair.
"And it looks like you have a few guests…" Brendan said, sweeping his eyes over Leda and Alec, but trailing off when he came to Ardal. "But no, it couldn't be." He gasped. "Aiden?"
"Yes Uncle Brendan?" Addie asked.
"Not you kid, him." Brendan said, pointing to Ardal.
"He's not Aiden." Addie stated.
"He's Uncle Ardal." The twins supplied.
"Oh yes, Mal said." Brendan remembered as Maggie came up beside him and looped her arm through his. "But you are Zoë's boy?"
"Yes." Ardal replied. "And you're me Uncle Brendan?"
"That I am." Brendan confirmed. "Well look at you, a spit of Zoë if ever I saw one, and you have her eyes. They were always such a beautiful blue. Just like our Addie's here."
"I look like her?" Ardal asked intrigued.
"Oh aye, well a masculine version of her obviously, but yes there is a lot of me sister in you. Not much of your Da, but there's a little there about the nose." Brendan replied.
"Did you know me father well?"
"I knew of him, wasn't really cool enough to run with his gang, but he liked the pretty girls. Guess that's why he got with Zoë even though she was a Raymond. We were never a family to get along and you can guess at the tension afterwards. Course the problems was more Da and his stupid religious views taken too far. You know he even riled at old Father Dermot once for not disciplining his flock over minor, what even the Pope I would reckon wouldn't count as sins." Brendan explained, descending somewhat into a rant at the end, but he seemed to realise and switched gears once more. "So you're a priest I hear?"
"Yes." Ardal replied. "I go by Father McGuire. It's the name the Church gave me."
"Wouldn't have had to happen if Da hadn't got involved." Brendan growled.
"Ah, but I always look to the positives. If Ma had me to look after she wouldn't have gone off to Dublin with you and I wouldn't have my little brother Mal." Ardal said as he smiled at his little brother.
"It might still have worked out that way." Brendan said grumpily.
"Yeah, but probably not." Ardal replied. "And if so, then the Volturi would have made a meal of me, or else a slave."
"That is true." Brendan conceded. "Ok. I think we should start this again, cause I came off as a bit of a father bashing jerk."
"You got your reasons, but if you want to." Ardal said with a shrug.
"Good day, Ardal, good to finally meet you." Brendan said jovially as he held out his hand.
"It's good to meet you too Uncle Brendan." Ardal replied, shaking Brendan's hand.
"So how's life been treating you my boy?"
"Fine…good." Ardal replied.
"Grand so." Brendan observed. "Sure we'll catch up soon enough."
"To be sure." Ardal said. "And who is your charming companion?"
"This would be me fiancée Maggie." Brendan said as he indicated Maggie.
"Fiancée you say?" Ardal questioned.
"We're finding it difficult to agree on the ceremony we'd like." Maggie explained, "I want something traditional while Finn McCool here would see us chanting in the middle of a field 'neath moonlight."
"Moonlight is romantic." Brendan said in defence.
"Perhaps for a clandestine meeting of two hearts divided by circumstance, but I only intend to get married once and when I do it must be in a pure white gown as I always imagined in me early days. You wouldn't want to ruin me childhood dreams now would you?" Maggie demanded playfully.
"Of course not, but…" Brendan protested.
"I know. You don't like the Church." Maggie said with a sigh.
"The Church isn't all that bad." Ardal said. "We just got some bad elements, like you got with the vampires."
"We don't fraternize with the likes." Brendan said firmly.
"How did you come to be a vampire?" Ardal asked, ignoring Brendan's protest.
"So I could track down Zoë." Brendan replied. "I sorta found out Jerry's secret and I managed to find the Ireland coven, but Liam wouldn't trust me as a human, thought he should just out kill me, but Maggie vouched for me. Knew I was sincere."
"I can tell when people are lying." Maggie explained.
"Well Maggie vouched for me, but Liam and Siobhan couldn't have a human running around knowing the secret so they turned me. After I got used to being a vampire Maggie helped me track Zoë down to here, but the Volturi had already taken her by then."
"That's sad." Ardal observed.
"It is." Brendan replied. "Of course I didn't know that at the time and all the locals could tell me was that they'd gone off to Cornwall and hadn't come back. So I decided to wait on a while, Maggie had to get back to Liam and Siobhan, they worry about her so. Then Mal came back and I learned the truth of what happened. I stayed on here then to watch after him since he had no one else in the world."
"If I'd known back then I would have taken care of him." Ardal said solemnly.
"I'm sure you would, but more likely I'd take care of you too, you would have only been eight yourself." Mal replied.
"I suppose." Ardal conceded. "I would have looked out for me little brother all the same."
"I know you would have." Mal said vehemently.
"Even if you would have looked ten years older than me." Ardal joked.
"We would have looked out for each other." Mal said with a smile.
Ardal nodded with a smile, but the regret that this never came to pass was evident in his eyes.
"Would it be like me and Seren look older than Addie even though he's older than us?" Zoë asked.
"Indeed that would have been the case." I replied.
Zoë looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Does that mean Addie will look as old as Uncle Ardal one day?" she asked.
"I…what?" Addie stammered looking around the adults in the room and seemed to notice for the first time how much older than the rest of us Ardal looked. "I different?" He looked upset.
"No, no you are the same." I lied and Maggie winced slightly, turning her back so Addie wouldn't notice.
"But Mag…" Zoë began.
"Zoë, please this is not the time." I snapped.
She gave me an angry look.
"Why? Because it upsets Addie? Why is he so special that he gets treated differently?" She demanded.
"Zoë." I said in warning.
"No. I'm fed up." And with that she stormed from the kitchen.
Seren looked around uncomfortably for a moment.
"I need to check on her." She said and disappeared out into the garden where Zoë had gone.
"I'll go talk to them." Mal said.
"No. I should." I realised. "You should attend to our guests."
"Shall I come with you?" Addie asked.
"You stay here and eat your lunch with Leda." I instructed before I too went into the back garden.
The twins were nowhere to be seen and so I utilised my dhampir skills to pick out their scents. The freshest trail led out of the yard, across the little track and over the wall. I began to worry that they would become lost in the stand of trees but as I approached the wall I heard voices.
"You can't let it get to you." Seren said.
"But you think it too." Zoë protested.
"I'm not sure."
"You do think it."
"Well it does seem like Addie is Mammy's favourite but I think it's because he's special." Seren said unsurely.
"But aren't all kids special? At least that's what they said on Twinkle, Shine, Story Time." Zoë protested.
"Well all kids are special in different ways, and maybe Addie needs more help than us because he's always falling over and he's so slow and everything." Seren reasoned.
"But why? Why is he so different?" Zoë asked.
"I don't know." Seren admitted.
My daughters needed my guidance at the moment.
I used more of my dhampir nature to leap easily over the wall, turning in midair so that I landed facing my girls as they sat with their backs to the dry-stone wall.
"I think it is time I told you about Aiden, you are old enough, but it is something you cannot share with him for it will make him upset." I stated as I sat down in front of them.
"Why would it do that?" Zoë asked.
"You have noticed that even though your brother is almost two years older than the both of you, you look older than him." I stated, mostly to open the explanation for it was clear from Zoë's earlier statement that they had observed this fact.
The girls nodded.
"And how you two require blood like Daddy and I, but Addie doesn't touch blood." I continued.
They nodded once more.
"That is because we, that is the both of you, Daddy and I are all dhampir. Half vampires who require blood to live, but it also gives us greater strength and speed. It is also the reason you two age so quickly." I stated.
"But we age the same as Leda." Zoë protested.
"It's Addie who's aging slow." Seren added.
"Indeed, but in comparison to humans us dhampir age quickly until our seventh year at which point we stop aging." I explained.
"But humans don't stop do they?" Seren realised. "They keep on aging until they're really old like them ladies down in the library."
I nodded.
"But how can they get so old. Do they just keep getting older and older and then…what?" She continued, trying to reason it out.
"They die." I stated, there was no point sugar coating mortality when the girls required the truth.
"Like rabbits?" Seren asked in alarm.
"Like Uncle Bryn." Zoë said aghast.
I nodded.
"Addie will die on us?" They asked in horrified unison.
"Some day yes. Because he is human. But he can't know that yet. We have to allow him some happiness before the reality of being the only human in a family of vampires truly affects him." I explained.
"But couldn't Grandpa Tobias just bite him and make him a vampire?" Zoë asked.
"Possibly, should Addie choose to change. However even then it might not work. The change doesn't always take effect, and who knows how being descendent of vampires and more importantly Quileute may hinder his prospects of successfully changing?"
"Why does it matter being Quileute?" Zoë asked.
"Magda told me this." Seren said. "Vampire venom is poison to Quileute wolves. But Uncle Tony got a cure now."
"A cure?" I asked in surprise.
"Yes. A vampire was attacking the Res and she bit one of the wolves and she became really sick but Uncle Tony had worked out how to cure her. It worked too, but they'd killed the vampire and she was a Volturi and Magda got to go and see HQ because of Tony having to take the ashes to the cat lady." Seren explained.
"Cat lady?" I inquired.
"The one who looks like a cat who turned up at Christmas." Seren answered.
"Holly?" I asked.
"Yeah her." Seren confirmed.
"I think I will have to find out more from Uncle Tony, he only told me half truths."
"But he's your twin!" Zoë exclaimed.
"Yes." I said, confused as to why she wished to stress this.
"But we never lie to each other." Zoë said, putting her arm around Seren.
"Or keep anything from each other." Seren said firmly.
"Yes." I was about to say that Tony and I were like that once but as you grew older you drifted apart, but perhaps there were truths best kept from my girls this day, learning of the mortality of their brother was knowledge enough. "However we live so far apart and it is much harder for us to keep consistently up to date."
"Seren, you got to promise me now, we'll never live apart." Zoë said, holding up her pinkie.
"I promise we will never live apart Zoë." Seren said as she linked her pinkie with Zoë's.
"Shall we return to the house now?" I asked.
"Can we have five more minuets out here please Mammy?" Zoë asked. "We need to let this news about Addie sink in before we blurt something out in front of him."
"Very well, but no wondering further than this spot." I warned.
"Thank you Mammy." Zoë said as she hugged me.
"We promise Mammy." Seren added as she hugged me too.
I hugged them in return before I stood up and leapt over the wall. I returned to the house. I entered quietly into the kitchen, not interrupting the conversation that was taking place. Mal noticed my return and looked at me in question, I telegraphed that I would reveal all to him later, but in front of everyone wasn't the place.
"I had to explain to the girls about Addie." I informed Mal in whispers that night once we had settled into bed, we hadn't been able to talk downstairs for Brendan had insisted that he and Maggie stay up with us until we had excused ourselves for bed.
"That why Zoë was being so nice to him this afternoon?" Mal asked.
"Probably." I said sadly.
"It'll work out, you'll see." Mal assured me as he pulled me into his chest.
"But how can you be certain?" I asked. "We will lose our baby boy one day, when he is old and grey. But it may be before that, there are many illnesses that can strike a human down young. Why look at Ardal, one cannot call him old, and he is being taken in the cruelest fashion. That could happen to our boy."
"But it might not. You mustn't expect the worst." Mal tried to soothe me.
"Pessimists are never disappointed." I murmured.
"Pessimists are always disappointed because they hate it when things turn out better than expected and proves them wrong." Mal countered.
"That merely suggests that they are happy when things do turn out wrong." I grumbled.
"Then is that what you want? To be happy that the worst happened? Or would you rather look to the future with optimism, hoping for the best for our boy and not imagining the one hundred and one scenarios where things could go wrong?" Mal demanded.
"No." I cried. "I don't want anything bad to happen to him ever, but as soon as I let any hope for him enter my heart I can't shake the feeling that something bad will happen to snatch him away from me."
"That's just normal parental concern mixed in with your hang-ups from when you were a kid." Mal said softly. "I know there's a lot to worry about, but we just have to not let it get us down."
"I don't." I stated. "I do not think on these dark possibilities every single second of every single day, but when it is brought front and centre in my thoughts as it has been today, how can I not worry?"
"We'll find a way." Mal said, making the solemnest of promises. "You wait and see."
"I hope so." I replied as I settled against his chest.
"See, you're hoping already." Mal joked.
"Not funny." I replied, but his talk had helped to lighten my mood.
Aiden was surprised to share his birthday party with Ardal, he knew of double birthday parties, after all his sister had only recently celebrated one, but he had always celebrated his birthdays alone. Although he had so far only had two so he could not really draw a comparison.
Once the party was in full swing he seemed fine with the idea, especially when he got to help his Uncle Ardal blow out so many extra candles. Of course there was also his mountain of gifts, many had arrived this morning from our family overseas, and Aiden tore into the mostly blue paper with glee.
The birthday passed by and since Valentines Day was on the Wednesday we waited until the Saturday for our date night. Brendan and Maggie were willing to watch the children all night as they had done for us in the past, and so we were able to escape to our little cave to spend a night in passionate embrace.
The following day was warm enough to sit outside once the sun was fully up, although Ardal had on a thick coat. As he sipped a fresh cup of tea I couldn't help but notice that he seemed perkier, and there was more colour to his sunken face than there had been the previous day.
"This sun is working wonders for you." I observed.
"Aye, a sunny day is enough to lift the spirits." Ardal said happily as leant back in his lawn chair and tilted his face up so that more bright winter sunlight fell on it. "But also a good night's sleep works a charm."
"A good night's sleep?" I asked.
"I won't lie to you Liza, I don't sleep too good these days." He said.
"I did read that the pain can be most uncomfortable at night." I admitted.
"It is, and despite the mountain of painkillers, well they never seem to work. But last night, I don't know what it was about last night, but it seemed like I was floating to sleep in a soothing mist. It was amazing how it managed to lull me so softly until I was a happy man in dream land."
"A mist?" Mal asked, straightening up in his chair and giving Ardal a questioning look.
"That's the best way I can describe it." Ardal said. "Like a mist falling over me, and I woke refreshed this morning. For the first time in a long while."
I wondered for a moment why Mal had questioned the mist aspect, but then it suddenly became clear to me. I would have to have a talk with Alec at some point later it would seem.
"I'm glad you found the rest you've been searching for." I observed.
"Yeah. I reckon it's the good food and the soft mattress, does wonders for a soul does that." Ardal said with a wink.
"I'm glad you find it comfortable." I said as I stood. "I'm afraid I must excuse myself a while, I remembered that I intended to go and get something special for dessert this evening since it will be our last meal together before Ardal leaves."
"I'll go get it." Mal said.
"No. I wish it to be a surprise." I stated, pushing him back down in his chair and laying a kiss to his cheek. "Besides it will give you more time with your brother, I feel I have been hogging him this past fortnight with you in work through most of the day."
"Yeah, we should spend more time talking." Mal conceded as he looked to Ardal.
"I won't be long." I said and kissed him on the lips this time. "And I will take Alec with me to carry."
Mal suddenly realised exactly why I was taking this excursion.
"Well, make sure he pulls his weight." Mal said pointedly.
I nodded and went to Alec's room where he was waiting out the sun. I knocked the door and opened it to find him lying on top of the bed with his hands behind his head as he watched the dust motes spiral in the air above him. He sat up when I entered, casting rainbows about the room as the sunlight fell on his face.
"To what do I owe this pleasure?" He asked in pleasant tones, but he was clearly grumpy and I knew why.
"Do you wish to get out for a while?" I asked.
"There are not enough places of cover for me to frit between. Someone might spot me." He complained.
"The coast is clear to the car. Would you like to come to the supermarket with me? I will park on the lower level so you will not be exposed to the sunlight." I stated.
"Please!" He gasped as he shot to his feet. "The boredom is driving me to distraction."
"There is internet access here." I stated. "Have I not told you that you are more than welcome to use it?"
"Yes." He said before he ghosted from the room and I heard the garage door open on the other side of the yard.
I sighed and made my way to the garage, passing Mal and Ardal on their lawn chairs and the children who were industriously digging a mud hole in the middle of the garden. There was nothing planted as of yet and so it wasn't so bad, in fact it would save us some work to get air into the soil come planting time.
I reached the garage to find Alec standing eagerly by the driver's side of the door.
"You have no driving licence, nor a provisional, must we go through this every time?" I asked warily.
"But I haven't driven since we came over from America." Alec complained.
"And I have told you that you may drive as soon as you organise a licence, now please, in the passenger seat." I ordered.
Alec sighed and went around to the passenger door. I watched him critically, he was being, well, he was behaving like a bratty teen and I had no idea why. It seemed so very unlike him. I unlocked the car before climbing into the driver's seat. Alec got in beside me, his head still down.
"Is there something bothering you?" I asked.
He shook his head.
"You seem very thoughtful." I observed.
"I am entitled to think." Alec snapped.
"Yes, but you appear to be brooding." I said as I pulled out of the garage and made my way up the track to the top of the hill before descending once more to the gate. "Is there something troubling you?"
"No." Alec said firmly.
I became thoughtful myself as I did the whole ritual of getting the car through the gate. I was thinking of a way to broach the subject. Yes I was certain it would work. I waited until I was driving once more before I continued the conversation.
"Perhaps you have a guilty conscience?" I suggested.
"I am Alec formally of the Volturi, of course I have a guilty conscience." He said with a growl that seemed to confirm some worries of guilt.
"More so than usual." I reworded.
"No. It has nothing to do with having new guilt." He said quickly. "I merely feel uneasy with that priest about, with his white collar smirking at me as if to taunt me with its holiness."
"I see." I said slowly, caught off guard by this moment of melodrama.
"I feel the need to confess all sins!" He exclaimed, before looking at me aghast. "Why should I feel that now?"
"Because you are ready to seek absolution." I suggested. "You are face to face with a priest for the first time in a thousand years when you feel remorse for the pains you have caused to others through your long life. You meet a priest and he is not like those who tied you up on a square and sought to set you alight. He is a kind and gentle soul who would forgive you your sins should you seek it. Perhaps this is why you try to make amends by taking away his pain for the night."
"I know not of what you speak." Alec said with too much haste.
"Ardal said that he felt as if a mist carried him off to a peaceful sleep last night. That the painkillers for once worked and he was not bothered through the night." I stated.
"It is good he has finally found the right medication. What marvel be this modern science." Alec said dismissively.
"Modern science or none, it is fairly obvious that you had a hand in helping Ardal sleep last night." I observed.
Before Alec could reply we had arrived at the supermarket and so we turned our conversation to mundane things as we used the travellator to get up onto the shop floor. We spoke of nonsense as we went about the store, picking up bits and pieces I thought was needed. Once we were back in the car however our conversation could commence.
"Did you help him?" I prompted.
"No." Alec lied.
"Why lie?" I demanded. "It is something nice you have done to relieve his pain and allow him to sleep."
"Perhaps, but promise you will not tell Mal?" He requested.
"Why not?" I asked.
"For one he will think I have gone soft." Alec grumbled.
"That is a bad thing?" I asked, nonplussed that he should worry over something of the sort.
"Also he will think that I am up to something by deliberately affecting his brother's mind in that way." Alec added and it seemed a more valid argument than his previous one.
"He would be relieved that Ardal could find peace for one night." I assured him.
"How would you feel should I do it to Tony, or even little Billie?" He asked.
"Since they are both dhampir I can not think of a situation where that would be necessary." I replied.
"Just because you are hardy and heal quickly does not mean there are no moments where you would feel pain." Alec stated.
"It would depend on the circumstances." I said. "After all you are only doing this to ease his suffering."
"I have grown fond of the priest and wish his stay here to be a joyous one." Alec admitted sheepishly.
"Then why would Mal object?" I stated before adding with a laugh. "Unless of course you do have an ulterior motive for easing his pain."
"Of course not!" Alec exclaimed, but there was something in the way he said it that caused alarm bells to ring in my mind and I pulled over onto a patch of common ground opposite the turning of our lane.
"Oh Alec, what have you planned?" I gasped, and as he looked away from me I was suddenly very sure of what that plan was. "Oh no that would be wrong!"
"What would?" He asked, feigning ignorance.
"To offer Ardal eternal life. To tempt him in such a way would be wrong. It would surely be against his beliefs." I replied.
"Then what harm is there in asking? He will merely turn it down if the idea abhors him so." He stated dismissively.
"No, no, no." I gasped, how could Alec not see the folly of this? "He is a desperately sick man who is pained through out his every waking hour and pained throughout the night. This is all he has to look forward to for the rest of his increasingly short life, knowing with every passing day that it will only become worse. To present him with a way out of that pain, for an eternal life where sickness would never touch him again, he might take it, however he will regret it later. Once the enormity of what it means to be a vampire hits him and it is repellent to his life long held beliefs. Can you not see why this would be a bad thing?"
"Yes." Alec agreed.
"Will you please promise me that you will not make such an offer to Ardal?" I begged.
"I promise I will not make such an offer to him." Alec promised solemnly.
I inspected his face for a moment and he was sincere in his promise.
"Thank you my friend." I said and hugged him, before I restarted the car and drove on to home.
The following morning Mal dropped Ardal off at the airport before work. The children and I brought our routine back into order, even with Brendan and Maggie present. In fact they helped in some lessons and I was able to catch up on some of the work I had missed during Ardal's visit.
We were well into the swing of things when Brendan and Maggie left at the start of March. It was only a few days later when Alec stated that he had to go to America on business, he would be but a week and would we mind watching Leda for the time being. She was a pleasant child and no trouble to watch so we could not refuse, however he would not reveal his reason for going.
"Perhaps he's gone to get my new Mama." Leda suggested as we drove back from dropping him off at the airport.
"What makes you think you will get a new mother?" I asked with fascination for I had received no hint from Alec that he had found someone to help him get over Lamia, although that talk at Christmas of when was the right time to move on made sense and it might also explain his bratty behaviour and mood swings of late.
"Because he seems to really like the cat lady and I think she is rather splendid. She treats me well regardless. I would very much like my new mama to be like her." Leda replied.
"Cat lady? Holly?" I ventured.
"Oh no not her!" Leda gasped. "She is nice, I guess, but she is not pleasant toward children."
"Then of whom do you speak?" I asked.
"Kitty-cat. At least that's what I call her." Leda said with a smile.
"Is she a dhampir?" I asked, it was a wild stab in the dark but the name seemed to stir an idea within me.
"Yes. But she's an old one, she told me so." Leda said proudly.
"Is it Kat Perez?" I asked. "Or Kitty Parker, I believe is the name she's using at present."
"That's it. Kitty-cat. She's the cat lady. Well she has one cat, it's big and fluffy and white and sits on a cushion in her room. It tried to scratch me once but I hissed at it and it hasn't touched me since." Leda explained excitedly.
"I'm glad to hear." I replied.
"I know Papa likes her, but he was afraid for some reason. I don't know why. I was going to ask him if Kitty-cat was going to be my new mama but then we came to see you at Christmas and we came to Wales. I thought he was giving me you as a mama, even if you are my aunt, but now he's going back to the Ranch. He must be going to collect Kitty-cat."
"I think your Aunt Jane called him there on business." I said, not wishing to get Leda's hopes up if he had not gone to Wyoming to collect a new mother for his daughter.
"He could still bring Kitty-cat home to be my mama." Leda said with a shrug before looking out of the window and tracing stick figures into the condensation. It was a family with a little girl, a father and a mother who had a plump looking cat sitting by her feet.
I hoped for Alec's sake that he had gone to collect Kat to be Leda's new mother or he would come back to one very disappointed little girl. I thought it best not to question it further however, I did not wish to make it seem a given fact to Leda. Hopefully she would forget it by his return.
Alec returned alone and Leda was clearly not happy, she became moody with him and he had no idea why. I knew this for he asked me if I had any idea why Leda was being irritable with him.
"She has not told you?" I asked.
"No. That is why I ask you. Are girls often this moody?" He queried.
"They can be, as can boys." I replied.
"She has been this way since I returned from Wyoming and I have no idea what I may have done wrong." He said with worry.
"Perhaps she was expecting you to bring someone home with you." I hinted.
"I have no idea what you are talking about." Alec said quickly.
"No special friends?" I inquired.
Alec shook his head, but I was suspicious.
"Are you sure there is nobody Leda was fond of in Wyoming who she may think you would bring back for a visit?" I prompted.
"Nobody springs to mind." Alec said with a shrug.
"Very well." I said, "Then I have no idea what is causing Leda's bad behaviour, but perhaps you should find a way to make it up to her."
"Will that not be reinforcing bad behaviour?"
"This is not bad behaviour, believe me." I said. "Now I must return to Mal, it is his birthday after all and I wish to treat him."
Alec nodded and I left him to his thoughts in the garden.
I returned to Mal and treated him to the meal I had made him for his birthday. We ate in as romantic an atmosphere as we could create in the kitchen before retiring to bed.
The next morning while Alec was working in the store and the children were busy on the math exercises I had given them I decided to do a little snooping. It would be wrong of me to try and gain access to any of Alec's online accounts, but there was nothing wrong with emailing an old acquaintance and inquiring of their health. I smiled slightly as I choose the relevant address before deciding how best to phrase my message.
Dearest Kitty,
I hope this does not come too much out of the blue, as I have been lax in my correspondence of late. However the children are now somewhat older and things here in Wales are becoming settled. It has given me opportunity to try and reunite with some of my friends.
On the other hand I have not heard from you in a while. I assume you have been busy in whatever venture you have commenced. I would very much like to hear everything that has been going on in your life for we are fairly boring here in Wales apart from when there are guests, but even guests start to become familiar once they have been here for several months. At the moment I have two such house guests and although they are no bother really I can't help but feel impressed of Leda's progress, she has took to drawing quickly and her literacy is almost on a par with my own girls Zoë and Seren. Of course she surpassed Addie a while back, but you know why that should occur with him.
Regardless, I hope this finds you well and I hear from you soon,
Liza xxx
I sent the e-mail and deleted the evidence from my sent folder in case Alec did happen to skim through my mail for some reason. I then turned to my work and began making headway on that. I was on my last written unit and if all went well I would be starting training in September, going into classrooms in order to gain experience in front of a class before I was made a teacher for real. It was all rather exciting to be honest and I found myself often wondering what it was like to teach a class. Only time would tell.
In case it hasn't been obvious from some of the content I've sneaked in of late, I've recently discovered the wonderful world of talking pastel ponies. For any of my fellow Brony/Pegasister readers, I recommend you check out the work of DisneyFanatic2364 her Discord fics are awesome!
Thank you for reading
Please review
Gemma x
Oh and P.S. here's an extra final scene ;)
Ardal
I closed the stable door of the grand room Mal had given me to use while I was visiting with him. Even then I didn't let go of my posture, keeping rigid helped me ignore the pain. Of course it led to more pain in the way of aching muscles and the like, but that was pain I could deal with. In front of people at least, it was ignorable pain. It helped me be ready for when the real bouts of pain hit but I had to be normal in front of people, it was part of being a priest. You were there for everyone, there was nobody but God for you to turn to. Not that I was bitter, after the Pope's proclamation in 2053 I could have married if I wanted, but there was no one to compare with me Alva, and I would see her again soon, which was one bright side to all this. It was the only one.
Sometimes I wondered if me life was cursed. Every time I found something to be thankful for, something would come along and take it from me, or else diminish the joy I could find there. Becoming a priest was salvation, but also an escape from life, I was an instrument of the Almighty, and it made every bump along the road bearable knowing that I was doing His work. I'd even accepted my fate, yes it was a painful way to go, but I'd abused me body when I was younger and this was penance. I could live through the pain to be welcome in the warm embrace of heaven.
Then I went and got a brother and not only a brother but a sister-in-law and nieces and a nephew as well. I had a nice size family whereas before I had none of me own, just the children of God. Now I had a brother of me own blood and there was hardly time to get to know him. Or his wife, or their children. This past two weeks had flown by and I knew them as much as I would get to know them, but it didn't seem enough time now. I would go back to the parochial house where I'd stay until the pain was too bad and I'd be taken to one of the retirement homes where my last days would be spent being made comfortable before my inevitable end. I doubt I would see Mal again, I didn't want him to see me like that, better he remember a brother that is at least compos mentis than whatever remnant of man I'd be at the end there.
I just wish I had more time to get to know everything about him and this strange supernatural world he lived in. To get to know his darling little wife more, marvelling at the moments she forgot I was human, or even just what a woman of her daintiness should be able to do. And those kids of theirs, bright as buttons the lot of them, but I'd never see them grow up, even if for the twins that would only be six years from now. I had less than a year to live, and now I had something to live for.
It was enough to make a man scream.
I didn't scream, I took in a deep breath before making me way to the bathroom and running a big bubbly bath to soak my wary bones. It wouldn't heal me, but it eased me, and that's all there was for me now. Anything to make me feel comfortable, feel less pain, but there was no cure. It was too late for me now. I could have had treatment when I was first diagnosed, but I had no real reason to go on living if God was ready to take me, but now there was a reason and it was too late.
Morbid thoughts, that's all I seemed to have lately. I tried to push them from me mind as I lined up my medication ready to take. It was a nightly ritual now, a morning one too, anything to make my life all that easier as the end neared.
I decided to go into bed and try to sleep. Most nights I didn't, if it wasn't the pain then it was thoughts of the end. I turned down the covers on the comfy bed and was about to kneel down for me prayers, when I heard something close to knocking, I wasn't too sure. I made me way to the door and opened it.
"Allow me entrance please." The strange little Alec said with urgency.
"If you suck me blood Mal would be unhappy." I said.
"I no longer imbibe human blood." Alec said snippily. "Besides, the combination of liver disease and being filled up with pain medication means your blood is hardly appetising. Please allow me to enter."
"I didn't think you vampires needed an invitation." I said suspiciously.
"We do not, I am merely being polite, but my patience is wearing thin and someone is bound to spot me if you do not allow me to enter soon and then I will be unable to make you an offer." He said quickly, looking over to the farmhouse where Brendan and Maggie were watching the kids for Mal and Liza to have a well earned night out.
"What offer is that?" I asked.
"I will not tell you until I'm safe inside." He insisted.
I looked at him for a minuet, he looked sincere enough, at least in the not finding me blood appetizing department.
"Come in." I said and as soon as I made enough room he was inside and standing patiently as if he'd been waiting for me for hours.
I closed the door, stepped further into the room and lowered myself into a chair.
"So what do you want?" I asked.
Alec was regarding me for a long moment and I was wondering what he was staring at.
"Do you always wear your collar to bed?" He asked.
"I pray before I turn in and it doesn't feel right talking to Him if I'm not dressed for the part." I explained. "Does it bother you?"
Alec was still staring at the collar, then shook his head as if to clear it.
"No…no…I just feel the sudden need to confess." He whispered.
"You have much to confess my son?" I asked guardedly.
"More than I could recite in a life time, it has been over fifteen hundred years since my last confession." He said without emphasis, it had really been that long for him.
"Do you intend to confess?" I asked in shock.
Alec considered for a moment before shaking his head.
"No. Not yet, you are dying and I won't bore you." He said with a wave of his hand.
"Then what do you want? Cause I just took me pills and in about ten minuets they'll kick in and I won't be much for conversation." I warned.
"Then I will cut to the chase. I have an offer for you that Mal will not make because he would feel he's forcing your hand. Elisabeta will not make it because she loves her Malachite too much to do something so underhand. Brendan will not do it because he thinks he will offend you're religion and Maggie will not do it because of Brendan. I on the other hand have no fear of them hating me, they already do. I care not about your religion, I hate priests and the beliefs they represent for what they did to my sister and I. More importantly I'm a pragmatic cold hearted bastard who has no qualms about laying options on the table that may offend the person in question but on the other hand may give them a chance at a second life."
"What exactly are you saying here Mr Alec?" I interrupted, he was talking too much and I was in no mood for riddles.
"Well, Pater, perhaps you think me a devil to tempt you in such a way, but the question is, do you want to live?" He asked smoothly.
"I will live in eternity in Heaven." I countered.
"But there is only a limited number of places if one were to believe the good book and can you trace your lineage back to the tribes of Israel?" He asked.
"I don't know." I said warily, I wasn't in the mood for theological discussions.
"The question is, do you want to try your luck on what might be nothing more than a dream beyond this world, or would you take the chance to stay here longer, possibly for eternity with the rest of your family already inducted into this world?"
"Are you offering to turn me into a vampire?" I asked, finally realising what he was saying.
"Yes." Alec replied and I was stumped. "I do not seek an answer immediately. I will give you a few weeks to decide. That way you can return home and think on it. I will call on you in after that time and if you decide yes then you can travel to America with me where you will undergo the change under the guidance of my sister. Any further details we can iron out later, but the offer is there should you desire it. Now I bid thee adieu. I will not bring this up again, and if you know what is best for you then mention nothing to Mal and Liza, or Brendan and Maggie for that matter. This must be your decision alone, they cannot influence you either way. Save them the heartache of their influence." He pleaded before shifting tone again. "Goodnight."
Before I could reply he was gone, through the door and now it was closed again. I stood up and locked it before going back to bed. For the first time in over twenty years I got into bed without praying, this was something I had to think over on me own. It wasn't something to trouble the Lord with. It would be going against Him if I complied, but still I had to at least think it over and reject the idea in good measure.
I turned out the lamp and lay in darkness. For once the pain killers seemed to do the trick, I found myself floating to sleep in a soothing mist, but as I did so I couldn't help but carry Alec's question into me dreams, "Do you want to live?"
