(Peter's POV)
I sat in my sitting room in a chair across from my brother, Edward as we waited for Thomas to show up with Alastor.
"Is Will going to be here as well?"
"No." Edward replied. "He's taking care of Mary."
"Why? What happened to her?"
"She had early contractions this morning."
"Good God.."
"I know. As if things can't get any worse for them.."
"Well at least he won't have to talk to Alastor."
"Yes. And speaking of which, here he comes now."
I tood up and glanced out the window; sure enough, Thomas was escorting a nervous looking Alastor up the entry path to my house, so I got up and opened the door for them.
"Good day Thomas… Alastor."
His name tasted like poison upon my tongue as I snarled out each syllable with open hostility.
Alastor winced visibly and meekly replied, "Peter…"
"Let's go into the sitting room." I motioned to Thomas.
"Well well well, look who it is." Said Edward, glaring at Alastor as we entered the room. "Sit down Alastor." He motioned to a chair across from him.
Alastor sat down, taking a deep breath to collect himself. Then, seeming to have gained some nerve, he said, "I see the first son, the second son, and the fourth son. Where is the third?"
A shiver ran down my spine as I recalled memories of the past when Alastor would ask the same question when he wanted to beat my elder brother.
"Our brother cannot be present at this time." Thomas replied with narrowed eyes. "He is busy caring for his wife."
Alastor nodded.
"What do you want with me?" H asked.
"I believe it is us who should be asking that question." Replied Edward.
"Yes why did you come back?" I asked.
"I was hoping"
"What! That we would forgive you! Like hell we will!" Thomas exploded.
Alastor looked crestfallen.
"You've gone too far!" I yelled angrily. "Beating us, causing Mother to miscarry, and even killing her! That is unforgivable! Not to mention the damage you did to our family name! It would have been better if you really had died, or at least, never tried to reach us!"
"You haven't even experienced half the shame that all four of us have had to endure for over twenty years!" Thomas hissed.
"I know!" Alastor cried pathetically.
"Well we do have some questions for you." Said Edward, changing the conversation from a well-deserved harassment session to an interrogation. "Exactly how did you go so long after staging your death without being identified? If you had been, the entire aristocracy would have known in a matter of days. But we never found out, even though we were staying with our mother's parents."
"I hid away in the countryside, living the life of a poor man."
"How did you find out that we were living in New Brunswick?" Thomas inquired.
"Mostly through people in England; they talked mostly of William, of his war tactics and how he moved to New Brunswick after fighting in the colonies. Then I eventually found out that you three hand also decided to move to New Brunswick."
"Exactly what type of reaction did you expect from us when you arrived here?" I asked.
"I wasn't exactly sure, but I knew that it wouldn't be one o of welcome." Alastor answered.
"Where did you get the money to travel? How long have you been here?"
"I changed my last name and worked as a servant in a nobleman's house. I've been here for about two weeks, staying at an inexpensive inn in town."
"So you didn't contact us immediately upon your arrival."
"No. I did not. I wanted to give it some time."
Several moments of silence passed. Then Alastor spoke, "I just wanted to reconcile with you four. I'm old, and I want to die knowing I did at least one thing correctly in my life."
"Finally got it into your head to do something right for once." I muttered under my breath. "Not that it will work."
Edward glanced at me but said nothing.
"How long have you wanted reconciliation?" He asked.
"Years." Alastor replied.
"How can we trust you to tell the truth after so many years of wronging us?" Thomas asked.
"I cannot convince you of anything. But I know that I came to New Brunswick to seek forgiveness from my sons." Alastor replied.
'You have no sons!' I thought bitterly.
"Please, I beg forgiveness from you.."
Edward stared at Alastor with an emotionless gaze.
"That cannot be done unless all four of us are present, and even then, the chances are miniscule." He said quietly. "Meanwhile, being as it is too late to take you back to won, so you will ride back to town with me tomorrow when I go to work. Peter, can you have Alastor overnight?"
I sighed.
"Yes."
"Thank you."
I nodded.
"I believe we've discussed all that we can for now. Peter, I shall see you tomorrow morning around five."
I gave him a curt nod.
After Thomas and Edward had left I turned towards Alastor, glaring daggers at him.
"You'll sleep in the stables with my stallion."
Alastor's eyes widened in horror.
"If you don't like it, I could borrow Belial from Will. He'll be sure to kill you in the night." I said, my voice dripping with malice. "After all, how may times did you shut Will up in Shaitan's stall? You knew your stallion was the devil, but you didn't care one damn bit! Well now it's time to taste your own cure for "disobedience".
