As sun hit my eyes, it took a few moments for me to remember where I was, and then dread set in.
"MOM!"
I scrambled out of bed, almost falling over myself as I threw open the door to be stopped in my tracks. Vlad was sitting on the settee, feigning sleep as my sister dozed peacefully in his arms. He looked exhausted, and he glanced up at me with a thin smile.
"She's fine, Dashiel. She's downstairs resting for now. We were waiting for you so breakfast could start."
I nodded, and Vlad's eyes roved down to my clothes, eyebrows drawing down. "Erm, before you join us, if you would please… dress appropriately." He rose noiselessly and without jostling Emilie, trotted down the stairs. Sheepishly, I glanced at the full length mirror and realized my boxers barely stayed in place.
A short time later, as I headed downstairs I tried to not act like I had gotten lost as the scent of blueberries made my mouth water, and I grinned to see my mother sat in a large chair, looking content as Emilie bashed a couple pans together. To my shock, Vlad turned around to greet me, and I burst out laughing.
"Kiss the cook!?"
He scowled at me, waving a spatula laden with batter.
"A gag gift from a business associate years back, I'll have you know. I have a meeting to go to today, and I can't afford to require a change of clothes. Now, how hungry are you?"
His question took me aback and I bit back a groan. Did I just need to expect the unexpected with this man?! Then I noticed what was layered on plates upon plates and oooooh, anything he did suddenly didn't matter.
"Pancakes? You… why did you make breakfast? I thought you had a cook."
Vlad hmmed and turned, placing one giant stack on the table. "Yes, I do. He's….late, however. And I wanted your mother fed before I rushed off. Can you cut some up for your sister while I get your mother situated, please?"
I did as he asked and then saw the heaps of berries both mixed in and atop the cakey treats.
Without sparing a glance, he answered a question I hadn't even formed.
"I love blueberries, a love I shared with my father. I wondered if you…" He paused, trying to not make it awkward but failing miserably, "If you dislike them I've some plain ones here."
"I love them. They're basically my favorite thing."
I heard Vlad chuckle and he shook his head. "Only a Masters can have that insatiable love for berries."
Now they were in front of me, and as I inhaled them, he continued to speak, seeming amused by me.
"Oh, so today I do have that meeting as I said earlier. While I am gone, if you'll make a list of anything you need or forgot to pack… anything at all. I ordered a bed for Emilie, as I have nothing for a toddler here. I noticed she has no toys… I can pick up some on the way home so she doesn't make much racket. We will also need to get you some new clothes, Dashiel. And find you a tutor."
I frowned to the first part, and at that my mother spoke up. "He has plenty clothes, Vlad."
Vlad paused, brow arching. "Suits? Ties? Dress shoes and hankercheifs?"
My mother seemed confused and shook her head, to which Vlad casually replied to answer both our confusions, "In bringing Dashiel and Emilie to me to raise, you have decided to introduce them into my world. In the business world I am a very wealthy man, who is well known through his peers and is commonly at social gatherings. It is not…uncommon… for his family to accompany him and form their own allegiances within the circle of wealth. I will not have him looking like…well, as anything other than a millionaire's son. That goes for Emilie too. Eventually, when we are all comfortable with this, I will introduce Dashiel as both my biological son and my heir to my vast fortunes and companies. There is much he has to know and learn about the business I have devoted most of my life to, and certain requirements of how to act and dress… I fully intend on teaching him all I know."
He turned to us, noting our astonished looks and his voice softened, and his eyes bore into mine.
"If you do not wish to inherit what I have to offer, please know it is alright. I realize this is a lot to take in. But I truly do wish for you to look the part of my—"
He broke off as his watch beeped, and he spat, agitation on his face. "Chert voz'mi. I should have been out of here five minutes ago. Bye, you three. I'll be back tonight. Dashiel, my servants should be here shortly."
He rushed out, barely giving us a second glance, and as the door opened and slammed shut, I wondered if Mom had known what the hell she was really getting us into when she left Amity.
Not ten minutes later, two plump women and a tall woman entered, followed by a very broad shouldered man in chef's attire and a man who was oh-so-obviously the butler, complete with a monocle and curling moustache.
The chef grinned at us, bowing slightly. His thick French accent was amusing, and I saw my mom grin as he lifted her hand and kissed it. "Master Vlad told us he had his family staying with him from now on. It ezz a reel plesuure. My name eez Augustin Charbonneau, but you may call me August, or Chef Charr." His gaze lifted to me and Emilie and he clasped his hands together. "Ahh, zee Mademoiselle and Monsieur Masters, you are just as lovely as your mother, wee! Young Master and mistress, eet ezz a true plesuure." He bowed again and then surveyed the kitchen with a chuckle.
"I vill geet to cleaning Mister Masters mess."
As he departed, the female stepped up, not nearly as loud and boisterous as Chef Charr. "I am Rui, Mister Master's personal shopper. I am the one he sends when special requests are to be made. What might you three need? I know he called upon me for a bed for the little one." At our silence, she nodded to herself and then spoke aloud. "I shall survey your rooms and see for myself what you might require. Good day."
As she turned on her heel, the two heavier females curtseyed and spoke rapidly in a language I didn't understand, but apparently my mother did.
"Guten Tag! Ich heisse Janie, und das ist Dash und Emilie." They spoke slowly to each other, and when they had left my mother chuckled, even as she wheezed.
"They spoke German. A French cook, Portuguese personal shopper and German maids… I'll say one thing, Vladimir isn't culturally divided!" She cackled to herself as the butler finally spoke, giving a short bow. "I am Mister Master's butler, Finley Thomas. I am at your beck and call for anything you might require. If you've no need for me, I shall attend to other duties."
I quirked a brow. Wow, what a stiff. "Uh, yeah go. You're fine."
Then, we were left alone and I stared at my mother, unsure of everything. Sighing, I left to go unpack my clothes. Maybe I could call Kwan or Paulina.
Hours passed, hours of boredom. Then as I heard the door open I left the den, not realizing until it was too late that I now stood awkwardly greeting Vlad at the door. He seemed surprised at my action, and as I fumbled for something to say, a simultaneous crash and wail broke the uneasy silence.
Together, we moved and found my mother shaking on the floor, foaming at the mouth as Emilie screamed wordlessly at her side. Vlad slid onto his knees, turning her on her side and then looking at me, anger in his voice as he threw his hand towards a landline.
"CALL AN AMBULANCE!"
I stared at her and as Vlad stood to do it himself, mom stopped shaking and choked for a few seconds, light returning to her eyes and groaning. Vlad went back to her, helping her sit up and quietly asking questions about the date and her name. When she answered them correctly, he sighed and helped her back in the chair she'd fallen out of, and then scooped my sister up, inspecting her for cuts or blood from the fallen vase Mom had toppled over on her way down.
"I'm sorry about the vase, Vlad. I can replace it." The first words out of her mouth were shaky and upset, and he blinked, eyes going to the vase and then to my mother, and then he chuckled.
"That was a thousand dollar one-of-a-kind vase from an associate in Tokyo…" he paused and got down on his knees, juggling my sister as she crawled up and around to his back. His gaze softened and he lifted my mother's chin, making her meet his eyes. "And yet, it is not nearly as valuable as you. This must be difficult and humiliating for you. But I assure you, that you are no less their mother now than before… you're just as much their mom now as you were when healthy." His voice hardened and his eyes slid to me, fire burning in his eyes. "I need to talk to Dashiel, Janie. Here, take Emilie and I'll be back shortly."
He led us into the kitchen, and I could almost feel the anger coming off of him in waves. He turned to me, and his hand came out, slapping the table angrily. His voice was quiet, to ensure we weren't overheard, but my heart sunk as he spoke, and I wish he'd have screamed instead.
"You just stood there. She's your mother, and she was having a medical emergency! You cannot freeze like that! She's an old friend to me, but she is your mother and should mean more to you than that. If you freeze instinctually, I will sign you up for classes to learn how to respond appropriately. I've spent most of my day looking up and researching this… this Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease and it will only get worse, Dashiel! She is dying and there's nothing that can be done, but maybe we can help her not suffer. What did you do today? How much was she left alone?! We need a constant watch, and if I need to order a nurse here full time then so be it, but I expect some responsibility from you. You're going to be eighteen soon…"
He paused, and suddenly looked older than before, massaging his temples. I had no idea what I looked like, but I must have looked upset because he put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed.
"I am sorry. I know this must be very difficult, and you are being asked to do things no child should have to. But this is your life. I can help if you'll let me. I will do all I can to help your mother, and to help you adjust to everything."
He sighed and looked away. "This is all new to us both, to all of us. There are so many adjustments to make, so many things to figure out. And I wish I could be less busy, so I could help more and help you and Emilie and Janie adjust more, but it simply isn't possible. There's a business merger soon and once it's done I hopefully can be home some more. Right now, I basically live at that office." He chuckled at that and I spoke quietly.
"It must suck, having all this wealth and not being able to enjoy it."
His eyes sharpened and he looked at me like he saw a ghost. Then he quirked a small half smile and clasped my shoulder. "Dashiel, it can be hard. Alone, it was more difficult. But now I have you and Emilie and your mother to come home to… it isn't quite so dreary."
Ah, a sweet sentiment. This is a good time to completely ruin it. There he was again, calling me my full first name. "Could you just… call me Dash? I've never gone by Dashiel, and you're like, the first person to call me that who I haven't wanted to punch. You say it weird too."
His hand slipped off my shoulder and hurt flashed in his eyes. He looked away for a moment, and then spoke quietly.
"Dashiel was my brother's name. He and I were only a year apart, and were very close. Between your mother, Dashiel, and I, he was the one who was always pranking us and making stupid puns. Your mother and Dashiel were best friends. He got involved in drugs as a junior and died senior year of high school. Your name is very, very special to us both I guess."
I was stunned, and regret swelled in my chest but before I could speak he held up a hand and smiled warmly. "No, do not apologize. I understand. My name, after all, is Vladimir Ō'mir Romanov Van-Hutėn Masters. I would still flatten anybody to call me any part of that name."
My jaw fell almost to the floor, and Vlad chuckled. "My grandfather was a Russian immigrant, and my father was raised on tradition and origins. Dashiell is not a Russian name, instead it is Latin, from my mother's mother's side."
"Wait. Does that mean you swore in Russian this morning?" I wondered what the hell he'd said.
He looked apologetic and nodded. "My family and I… we spent three years in Russia during my formative years, so I could learn the culture properly. I am fluent in Russian, German, and French… my parents expected both myself and Dashiel to be able to communicate wherever we went. That is why my staff is so diverse, as I am sure you have noted. If you haven't I know your mother has."
"Can you teach me Russian?"
My eagerness startled us both, and Vlad nodded after a moment. "Sure. When we get you a tutor, I'll add that in and teach you personally. Speaking of which, I need to ask your mother about your school details. I need to get your transcripts and go about finding someone for the remainder of this school year. Next year, it's likely you'll go to a private school." He paused, seeming to think on something. "How was your first day here? Enjoy yourself?"
I shrugged. "I guess. I wish there was more to do."
He blinked at me, and after several moments he stuttered, "You… you're serious! My dear lad, there's hours upon hours of things to do here! This is your house now, did you truly not explore at all?!"
I shook my head and he looked about ready to faint. "There is an inside pool, a library, stables… a personal theater, a gym… dear god, boy. There's enough to keep you entertained until I'm a hundred!" he exploded in laughter at my expense, hand over his mouth.
I blinked. I honestly had felt nosy going around the home. At my lack of response he stopped his chortling and spoke solemnly, again putting hand on shoulder. "Dashiel…" Aggravation leapt to his eyes and he started again. "Dash…this is your home now. You are free to go wherever you wish, do what you wish. Please, know that. Our servants will help you in anything you desire, and nothing is out of your reach. All of your desires can be filled, my so…" The effort he made to stop himself was commendable and he spoke again. "My… charge."
I watched him leave the room as his phone rang, and soon I returned to Emilie and Mom.
German translation::
Good Day! My name is Janie, and this is Dash and Emilie.
A/N::
Fourth chapter is up! Tell me what you think! Don't worry, Danny will eventually appear, but this is just setting up. Next chapter should be up... Next week or so. I'm trying to get on an update schedule, at least twice a month. Hopefully more as my schedule clears a bit. Review, please!
