Sunday 15 July 2018
Andrew was practically a new member included among the witches, such as Phoebe and Ruth who have even a knowledge of magic for doing hidden, but soon another risk is coming to plague Luna Nova, Paul Hanbridge left Leeds to go to Glastonbury to get his son personally, Just as Daryl is also in town to put into action his plan that involves the place, this all without even the girls knowing, confident of the plan in using a spy robot in the Hanbridge mansion with the intention of catching information between Paul and Daryl's conversations, but kind of may end up not working out too well.
The day is starting, Andrew wakes up already feeling a little different, that place is nothing compared to the mansion where he lives, it doesn't have the luxury, but at the same time, it is liberating, something that the money cannot buy, the fact that he doesn't need to wake up following still the orders of his father, being able to get out of bed whenever he wanted, then having his desired privacy, since he won a room only for him.
" (This is so strange, waking up alone, I don't even remember when was the last time this happened, I don't even remember how good it was, not being bothered so much anymore, second day here and I'm already loving every second)
Then Hanbridge goes doing his morning needs, going to the bathroom and then changing his clothes, where he leaves the room, going for a walk, spending the day walking, until he decides to go to the art room of Luna Nova, where he stays for a while playing the piano, which he always liked to do, finding it even a little relaxing.
Some time later Paul's limousine arrives at Luna Nova, what was already expected and when the car stops, there were Chariot and Croix who were received by the gentleman.
" Where is he? " Said the furious father.
" Calm down, first of all good afternoon, secondly you don't have to be so aggressive with us, be respectful," said Chariot.
" Oh I see you've finally taken off that disguise too, you've stopped being that Ursula girl, I always knew you were Chariot Du Nord, now call my son and I'll get him out of this corner of doom " Hanbridge said tapping his foot on the ground.
" Don't worry, I'll call him in a minute, there's no need to let your hair down," said Croix debauchedly.
Meridies soon goes trying to find where Paul's son could be, trying to find where possibly he is, asking the girls if they have seen him, until she finds him, at this, the Italian calls the boy who goes to meet his father who soon ends up pulling him by the arm pushing him to go to the car.
" Let me go! I'm no animal have some respect for me " said Andrew.
" Come on! You don't want to stay here and die! " said the older Hanbridge.
" Dying? What do you mean die? What are you and Daryl up to, you monster? Let me go! " said the furious younger Hanbridge, letting go of his father.
" Since you don't want to go, then can we at least talk? Will you let us have this chance? Or are you going to side with this one in his rebellion? I have the right to talk to my son," said the father, being a little more formal.
" Okay, come with me I'll let you talk in private " Meridies said.
Both go walking through the corridors, until they reach a more reserved room of the place, from there the Italian woman let the two Englishmen talk alone, closing the door of the room so that they can talk more alone to solve this problem in which the youngest Hanbridge himself only sees it as something that will appeal only to his father's side.
" Andrew, I am serious, go back to the house, this place is not for you, I say this as a father, I care about your life... " said the gentleman.
" Are you worried about my life because you allied yourself and helped that woman get out of prison? She caused horrible things, her daughters suffer to this day, the mother of her daughters was a victim of that violence, her sister suffered a lot in all those years, who knows what is the worst that could happen, father, are you on that person's side? You who always wanted me to be a man of morals and principles? " said Andrew.
" I also said that you have to be a boy who should know with whom you have to be like that, real women, don't take the side of witches, they only cause the worst to the world, they influence children to enter that world, did you know that your cousin by the way was raped by a witch? How are you going to side with these people? " Paul said.
" Your story about Diana is all twisted, she is also a witch, it's not because there are criminal witches that all are like that, I hear that every day because I'm gay, you're using the same kind of speech used to go against me, you are too rotten, I'd rather stay here and die than have you as a father, honestly, you always treated me like a trophy was equal to the mother of Aunt Bern, the two are not so different " said the younger until he was slapped by his father.
" Look at the respect! Kid I only don't beat you now because we're here in Luna Nova and you're a grown horse, don't compare me to that woman, she's a failure, I tried to be the most balanced with you to be the example of breeding and yet you're ungrateful, you have a luxury mansion, all the possessions of the Earl of Appleton and you want to throw it away? " Said the father in anger,
" Yes, I don't care about this lot of things that are on a piece of paper, I don't want to own something that came from the suffering hands of others, I want to be myself and have my own conquests, I don't want to depend on you any more, I rule my own destiny " said the son in a very imposing manner.
A silence ends up taking over the whole place, Paul was kind of left without any answer, he noticed that his son was determined and would not change, nor would he be able to convince him as well as he would not be able to use violence against a wizard that already has some skill, what he started to think about some way of being able to convince, taking a deep breath, adjusting his eyes the older Hanbridge puts his hand on the boy's shoulder.
" Andrew... I know that you already have the idea well planted in your head and nothing I can do to change it, but I need to tell you that to stay in the side of these people is the worst thing that you can do, you are messing with big people, the kind of people that have me in hand, Andrew, they have power, they are much more dangerous than you think to be, I am not even part of them and I feel intimidated, I speak this for your protection boy, I don't care if you are this or that, or want to dishonor the family, but I care about integrity and your protection, it is your life that is at risk here Andrew, they are too big for you to play the revolutionary boy... Look kid I love you, I don't want to lose my only son " Paul said, until Andrew simply takes his hand off his shoulder.
" You lost from the moment I was born, you never saw me as a son, for you I am a mere trophy I am just another perpetuator of your fortune, I am only your legacy, you never really loved me and your emotional blackmail will not work, I much prefer to believe that aunt Bernadette and Laura will change the world so that witches can live better than to stay licking boots... Exactly what you are doing, you have so much money that could be used to stop these bastards, but you prefer to lower your head to them, do you really want me to be a real man, because that is the man I am, Andrew Hanbridge, gay and a man who does not lower his head to those who only want to cause evil to others " Said Andrew that in the end his father just stayed a little silent, then just took a deep breath.
" So if that's the way it's gonna be, stay... Stay with them, in the end your mother's genes didn't leave you, did they? Anyway, I don't think I have any more power around here, I hope the next time I see you is not in a black bag or recognizing your body, this is a battle you can never win," said the older Hanbridge who walked out of there.
At this time both had nothing to settle, it was not even mentioned about Daryl's presence, only that he would leave, both were talking in a very short way, which in that time was enough for something else to happen at the door of Luna Nova.
While Paul and Andrew were talking...
Croix and Chariot were talking to Xavier already showing him a bag with the robot and handing it to the man as he saw the father with his son walking down the corridors, signalling to them that he was clean.
" They've already gone " Xavier said, then opened the boot of the limousine and put the suitcase with the robot inside.
" Now we'll be able to get a closer look at where and what Daryl intends to do," Chariot said as Xavier half nodded in agreement, hiding a nervousness that was very much present.
" I hope you can put that woman back where she should always be," said the driver.
" And let's see if this is really going to work out, thanks for everything Xavier, I'm sure Laura and Bern will reward you for your service " said Meridies patting the driver on the back who then jumped up and down in nervousness and then got into the car.
" That's strange, this Xavier is a bit afraid of ideas, isn't he? " said Du Nord.
" I thought so too, I think it must be the fear of losing the job anyway, I imagine the boss put the most pressure after Andrew's escape " said the Italian.
Inside the car...
" (I got away with it... If Mrs Cavendish finds out I've told them that her own is around she might kill me... Whew... I got away with it).
[Daryl: Ohhhhhh very well Xavier, you've done well, you haven't told these two anything, so I won't pierce your neck, the necklace is already released, good to know they're going to send this spy robot to Hanbridge's mansion, it doesn't matter to me, it serves as a warning not to go back there, you've been very useful to me, now you're free]
Xavier breathes relieved to see that he was free of Daryl's claws taking that necklace off his neck, he was starting to think about it, thinking of some way to act and tell Paul at once, but he ended up being afraid, not knowing what to do at the moment, very afraid of the way Daryl could end up acting or even Hanbridge himself.
Only that he himself was decided, he opened the car door, got up to tell, but at the time he saw Paul appearing in the hallways furious, what made him swallow his saliva at the time.
" I don't believe it! You've done my son's head in, I really hope you end up in a black bag! " Said the furious Paul coming closer shouting and making even everyone a bit intimidated.
" Easy there oh, don't take it out on us," Croix said.
" Xavier open this fucking door and let's go back home I don't care anymore about those witches " Said Hanbridge arriving to the limo door being opened by the driver who was tense and then closed it, running to the front door where he was leaving Luna Nova.
The girls breathe a sigh of relief, they got one more chance to spy on Daryl, thanks to Xavier's help, but things are still worse than they expect, at the same time Croix and Chariot breathe a sigh of relief, which soon turns up Andrew there too, after all this mess.
" So how did it go? " Croix said.
" He only disowned me in the end, he said that we are at greater risk, that we are dealing with people too big to be in our control, but I am not afraid, I prefer to be on your side knowing that you are being honest people and that you are the only ones who receive me as I am than licking the boots of those guys like my father is doing " Hanbridge said.
" You could tell by the angry way your father came back," Meridies said.
" And you guys managed to get the spy robot in? My father never said anything about Daryl " said the boy.
" It was pretty easy, I just found Xavier too tense, I think he was genuinely afraid of losing his job there, but I think everything is fine, he will be well rewarded by Laura and Bernadette, I'm sure, apart from that we will now have access to his mansion with the robot and soon we will know every move of that damn thing " said the Italian.
" Whew... I really got a little touched at the end, my father even sent some emotional blackmail, but I don't fall for it, he only wants me to be subject to his orders and I don't want to be linked to that man's rottenness anymore, I barely knew my mother because of him " said the boy.
" Laura and Bernadette met her, she was quite a woman " said the lilac haired one.
From there the boy kind of goes to the inside of the house, where he stays looking at the balconies, seeing the landscape that ended up getting cloudy and with that the rain drops started to fall outside, where it was possible to notice some of the girls running to the inside due to the rain. At that time Bernadette also arrives to give a talk with the boy.
" It was hard to hold on auntie... He said very strong words, I held myself not to cry, at the time I could see for a while my father, but after I answered, I saw a different man, he completely despised me... Even though I didn't like him at all, I felt it in my heart," Andrew said.
" I understand you Andy, I went through the same thing when my mother left and also when I had to come out against her, I understand you completely, it's not easy at all to deal with someone who conceived you, took care of you, even if you still aren't that well taken care of, I suffered a lot also at the hands of my mother, I never forget how I lost my childhood and even adolescence because of that woman... In spite of everything I still have a little feeling there because she is my mother " Cavendish said.
" And what did the lady do? " asks Hanbridge.
" I enjoyed the things in life, the best thing to do is not let the thoughts of people who caused you so much abuse and harm take over you, Laura's love ended up making it all better, I forgot all that worry and it even got better, besides other things, always try to put the good things in your head, you don't necessarily need someone's love " said the Scottish lass.
" I get it Aunt Bern, it makes sense that you have kind of gotten over this time with a woman like Laura, I can see how she makes you all happy just by the way you talk and the sparkle in your eyes, it must be really nice to have someone loving you " said the boy.
" It's enough, one day you will find your love too, but you have to focus on yourself, on yourself love, Laura wasn't in my life to complete me, she added, although she was the one who opened a lot of doors for freedom, I ended up kind of taking these decisions on my own, I was the one who had to go and fight head on with my mother? So let's focus on this Andrew that you are, let's discover more, get out of this wardrobe, I know you have your fears, but I guarantee that you will feel more comfortable and happy to know that you don't need to hide that you like what you like " said the oldest giving a caress on the godson's head.
" Thanks for the support Aunt Bern... I don't know what I would do with you always there since the beginning supporting me... " Andrew said.
" Your grandmother was the one who supported me, I'm doing the same that Tracey always did with me, in fact she was one of the ones that I never hid that I was a lesbian before telling my mother, she, my father, were wonderful people, including you remember her a lot... Even the way you talk " said the godmother.
" And what was she like? Do you remember well? And when did she leave? " Hanbridge asks.
" Oh Tracey... My godmother was a wonderful person, she was always giving your father a hard time, he was a bastard from the beginning, the way my mother pushed me to marry him, you have no idea, but that doesn't even come close to the things he did when he was in Appleton, one after the other, I don't know how he was so influenced to stay that way, at last she was gone some years before you were born, your grandmother had cancer, she didn't used to smoke, but she had a terminal lung cancer, it was a shock for all of us, so young and in that situation... Unfortunately she didn't get over it, just like my grandmother she also went away " Bernadette said explaining to her godson about his grandmother.
Andrew and Bernadette stayed there in the balcony talking for a while, where the older one continued to tell more of her past, before the boy was born in how was the coexistence, what was creating in the boy until a feeling of familiarity for the situations being a little similar to what he lived in the hands of his father.
Paul went about trying what he could but not coercing his son into having to do what he ordered around returning to the mansion, which in the end resulted with him returning alone, but not by much since Croix's spy apparatus will also go along.
See you, father wizard...