Ghosts From the Past
"What kind of creature are you?" inquired Vincent, "I remember that fool of an old man also had such oddly colored blood. Must be some sort of freakish mutation that runs in that woman's family."
Virginia watched as her brother cut his shoulder with a knife. Red blood flowed from the wound, and he was pleased. Vincent then used a Heal Berry to fix up the wound, so he wouldn't end up losing too much and die. After all, he couldn't leave the world until he had gotten his revenge.
"See, I'm a normal human being. Unlike you. Well, you've gotten lucky today. I don't know what exactly that barrier was, but I know that I'll have to find a new way to get around it. Oh well, that gives me more time to hunt you down, and kill you," he stated. Then, Vincent ran away.
Clive asked, "Virginia, what has happened to you? It is not normal for a human being to bleed anything other than red. If you are suffering from an oxygen deficiency, then I will have to take you to see the doctor. After all, you can't fall ill with all that is going on, and your children to take care of."
Virginia looked down at the road. "It's not an oxygen deficiency. It is a result of me using my Crest Sorcery, an art passed down from my mother's family. It goes all the way back to the days of the Kingdom of Adlehyde, where my ancestors were the rulers of a whole country."
"Adlehyde!" exclaimed Clive, "You mean the land of the Shamans?! The place where the people were said to be summoning a demon about a thousand years ago, and fell when the angered populace came to their kingdom, burnt it to the ground, and killed everyone that they could?"
"Don't get all bent out of shape Clive. Those people weren't summoning a demon, they were calling for the Guardian's help to protect themselves from the demon. I paid attention to that much when Granny was giving me lessons, cuz I was interested in the stories about killing demons," Gallows said.
Virginia told them, "Yes, that's what happened. Listen, I've got to go check out my mother's journal, which is still in a chest in my room. I never read it, since I didn't feel like invading her privacy, but there could be a clue to what exactly happened years ago with Vincent, and why he was abandoned."
* * *
She went back inside, and opened the trunk. Inside, Virginia found a leather bound book with a golden lock. The young woman took the key, and opened it up. Then, she began to read. Some of it was unnecessary, but there was a good deal pertaining to the twins.
"June 23, 2182: I wish Werner could come home for the birth of the baby. But he has to work overtime. There's supposedly some big project going on, and they can't let two members of the same division off. Werner thinks Leehalt planned his vacation around this time, just to antagonize him."
"June 4, 2182: I went over to my friend Victoria's house today. She's a Shaman like myself, and a very good midwife. I'd rather have her birth my child, rather than a regular doctor. After all, Daddy used to say that the Royal Family has to only have the best care for their progeny."
"June 5, 2182: This was really unexpected. I not only had one child, but twins. The firstborn is a boy named Vincent, and his sister Virginia came shortly after. They are so cute when they're sleeping in their little beds. I can't wait to tell Werner what happened, boy will he be surprised at this development."
"June 6, 2182: When I woke up this morning, I found that something was wrong. Vincent wasn't in his bed, sleeping. Victoria hasn't seen him at all. We began searching for him at once, one at a time so's not to leave Virginia and Victoria's infant daughter, Emily, alone in the house. But it was all for naught, as we came up empty. I must find out who has taken my son from me."
"June 13 2182: I had to go home today, back to my brother and sister-in-law's house in Boot Hill. Otherwise, they'll get suspicious. Victoria has promised to keep her eye out for my poor baby. Virginia, on the other hand, is coming home with me. I just won't tell Werner, Tesla, and Shalte, not until I can bring Vincent home with me. No need to cause them any unnecessary grief, especially with all of the hard work that Werner has to go through while working on his projects with the Council."
She closed the book. 'Just as I thought, my mother did love her son. But who could have stolen him away from his home? That's it, Leehalt! He had off around the time that we were born, that's why Daddy couldn't get a vacation. He also raised Vincent as his own. The whole story that my brother was told was a big lie, made up just to make him believe that he was unloved. But how did my mother ever keep all of that grief to herself so long?' Virginia opened the book to a page from five years later.
"April 19, 2187: We went on a picnic today, me and Werner and Virginia. It's nice to know that he's finally getting some deserved time off of work. Virginia ran around chasing butterflies all day, she looked so precious. It's times like this, though, that I wonder what it would be like if Vincent were still alive today. Would he be chasing butterflies with his sister, or tossing stones down the path?"
"Mother thought he was dead," whispered Virginia, "She held this secret inside of herself, pretending to be happy. But I guess she eventually accepted what had happened, and gave up hope on ever finding her son alive. She died never knowing what had happened to him."
"It'll be ok Virginia. We'll try our best to make Vincent see the truth. Hopefully, we will not have to resort to killing him. You deserved to be able to have a relationship with your brother, and our children deserve to know who their uncle is," Jet said to his beloved.
Virginia replied, "Thank you, Jet. I'll try my best. Maybe we can use this journal to show him the truth. You know he won't stay away forever, he'll try again sooner or later."
Suddenly, Lilka ran in. "Mommy, are you ok? Uncle Clive said that you were injured, cuz you found out something bad from the past. Is there a boo-boo in your mind."
"No my darling," replied Virginia, "I'll be ok. It was a bit of a shock, but I'll have to deal with it. Listen, things might get a little tough soon. I need your cooperation until the storm passes."
"Ok Mommy. I'm a big girl. I'll help you out," Lilka stated.
- - - -
Teefa's Last Words…
Isn't Lilka just too kawaii? I like kids, I want some of my own when I get married.
