Wings of Blood and Cruelty

A Hemlock Grove fanfic by Glamoured By-Eric

Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster.-Friedrich Nietzsche

Chapter 21 - Prodigal Children

"Oh my God! Shelley!" cried Roman as he closed the distance between himself and the bed. "You're alive!"

Roman bent over his sister and touched her on the cheek. She had woken up when he had shouted and smiled at him before blushing blue.

Looking back at Dr. Pryce, Roman asked, "How long has she been here?"

"Since the day she was injured by Tom Sworn. She came to me for help. We removed the two bullets and have been seeing to her daily needs until she is healed."

Roman looked down at Shelley again, leaning over and kissing her forehead. "I still can't believe it, Shelley. I really missed you." He turned back to Dr. Pryce. "Why didn't you tell us? We've been worried sick about her."

Dr. Pryce looked down at Shelley and moved closer so that he could stroke her forehead. "She did not want us to contact you, Roman. She knew it would put all of you at risk if she made a reappearance. The local law enforcement and the press crucified her because they needed a scapegoat."

"Why now?"

"I believe that with the continuation of the murders they can no longer blame Shelley since she has been incapacitated here not to mention being locked up in a secure facility."

"If she reemerges now, there is no guarantee that they won't arrest her for the previous murders. All of us could be implicated in harboring a fugitive and perhaps even as accessories to murder. It might be better to keep her here a little longer for safekeeping. Would that be okay with you, Shelley?"

Shelley nodded. Roman looked back at Dr. Pryce. "Do you have any objections to keeping her a little longer?"

"Not at all. In fact, now that she is on the road to recovery, we would like to do further surgery. I understand that she has been through an ordeal through the years, but this is something we had always planned to do for her at this age. She needs laser surgery on her hands so that we can separate the fingers. She will have full use of them after she heals. She'll be able to use a keyboard like everyone else, with practice, to communicate until we can repair her vocal chords so that she can speak."

"You can do that?" asked Roman.

"Yes, we have the technology and expertise to accomplish it. Since your mother is her legal guardian, we can't do this elective surgery without consulting her. Are you planning to take over Shelley's guardianship now that you are of legal age?"

"I had not considered it since I didn't know where she was, but now that you have brought it to my attention, I think I would be better suited to see to her guardianship than my mother. I'll talk to my lawyer."

"Excellent."

Roman smiled at Shelley. "Would you like to live with me if we can get everything worked out?"

Shelley nodded.

"I have so much to tell you, Shelley. Mother no longer lives at the mansion. She lives at that little bungalow that we own. She is not a part of our lives anymore. How do you feel about that?"

Shelley pursed her lips together in uncertainty.

Roman was thoughtful for a moment, then he looked at Dr. Pryce and said, "Would you mind giving us some time alone, Dr. Pryce? We have a lot to catch up on."

"Of course you do. I'll excuse myself."

As he moved to leave, Roman followed, leaned in and said quietly, "You know that saving Shelley doesn't forgive what was done with Letha. If anything happens to Shelley, I will kill you."

"Of that, I have no doubt. After all, you are your mother's son."

Peter arrived at Roman's home and saw his red car in the driveway. He rang the door bell. After about a minute, one of the Hispanic servants opened the door, recognized Peter and let him in.

"Is Roman in his room?"

"No, Mister Roman is out. He be back later."

"Oh. Is it okay if I wait for him?"

"Sure, sure. No problemo. You make yourself at home. You want something to drink? Coffee, iced tea, soda?"

"Soda would be great. Whatever you have would be fine."

"I get it for you. You have seat in parlor," she replied and hurried off.

Peter walked into the parlor and sat on the sofa. The servant brought his soda, along with some cheese, crackers and fresh fruit on a tray and set them down on the coffee table in front of him. "I thought you might be hungry, so I brought a snack."

"Thank you very much. This is great."

"You are welcome. Let me know if you need anything."

Peter popped open his soda, took a swig, and dug into the cheese and crackers. Then he started in on the fresh, already cored strawberries and moved on to the seedless grapes. As he chewed a grape, he sat back, stretched his arms out on the back of the sofa, opened his legs wide and relaxed.

"I could get used to this," he said aloud to himself.

While he waited, he started throwing grapes up in the air and catching them in his mouth. As he threw one into the air, he heard a sound behind him and turned to see Amanda standing there holding the baby. The grape hit him in the nose and bounced onto the expensive sofa. He snatched it up and pretended that nothing ever happened.

"Hello, Amanda."

"Peter. Nice save," she replied.

Peter blushed a little, popped the grape in his mouth and said, "Can I hold Michelle?"

"Sure, she just ate so you can hold her on your shoulder and burp her."

Amanda laughed when Peter's eyes got big as she placed a clean, cloth diaper on his shoulder. He took Michelle from Amanda, placed her tummy against his body so that her little head was facing the cloth.

"Just pat her gently on the back so that she can get the little air bubble out. Sometimes just rubbing it will do the trick," instructed Amanda.

"Like this?"

"Yes, very good."

After a short time, Peter was rewarded with a burp from Michelle, then he sat down on the sofa and held her in both of his arms. He kissed her little cheek and asked, "How's my girl?"

"You love her don't you?"

"Yeah, I kind of do. I can't help but love her."

Amanda sat down next to him and grabbed a strawberry.

Peter watched her eat it and was surprised he was a little jealous of the strawberry at that moment. What is wrong with you, Rumancek?

"So, Roman told me that you and he might be able to help me."

Peter looked at her and said, "He didn't go into great detail, but he said that you needed help. The first thing I need to know is what is the origin of your people."

"My people are elemental. Like you, we have special abilities. Don't look so surprised, Peter. I guessed that you were either a werewolf or a shape shifter that day we both found ourselves on the hilltop. I also think that Roman is upir. In addition to coming back to life the other day, I caught a glimpse of his fangs this morning when he put Michelle down quickly and left the room. He's at a critical stage right now as I think he has just come into his genetic birthright recently. He is going to have a struggle with that until he can learn to control it."

"Roman is going through a difficult period right now. Don't go spreading it around, but yes, I am a werewolf. I never harm humans as the wolf."

"I can tell that about you. You have a gentle, old soul."

Peter raised his eyebrows at her.

"Don't look at me like that. I can read people."

"You sound like my cousin."

They laughed together.

Roman got home just then and heard laughing in the parlor. While one of the bodyguards sat down in the lobby to finish his book, Roman loosened his tie and started toward the parlor.

Roman walked over to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a whiskey before joining them. He was bursting with his news. He took a long drink and said, "I've had an interesting day."

"What happened?" asked Peter.

"I had my meeting with Dr. Pryce at the institute, I met Mr. Bishop of LOD, LLC, and talked to Shelley." He sat back in a chair with a smug look on his face and took another drink.

"Shelley? Shelley's alive?" asked Peter with a big smile on his face. "You are not shitting me right now, are you?"

"No, I shit you not. Dr. Pryce has been taking care of her and keeping her safe. They've always had a close relationship, and apparently, Shelley went to him for help after she was shot."

"If you weren't a guy, I'd kiss you right now. I can't wait to see her." Peter was still smiling.

"Who's Shelley?" asked Amanda, who had been strangely quiet.

"Shelley is my sister. Please don't let this conversation leave the room. She's a fugitive from some bogus charges. We thought she might be dead after she was shot."

Roman downed the last of his liquor, set the glass on the coffee table, got up and went to Peter to gather up Michelle. He sat back down with her in the chair and held her.

Amanda asked quietly, "You met Bishop?"

"Oh yeah, I did. Sorry. I was so excited about Shelley that I... never mind. Bishop. He seemed like a cold fuck. All smiles. I think he forced the introduction because Pryce wasn't very happy about it. I didn't ask him to stick around for my meeting. Pryce seemed relieved."

"Cold and all smiles. That sounds like Bishop. Was he wearing his Catholic garments?" asked Amanda.

"No, he was in a business suit. I did find out that they were taking over several floors for their genetic animal research."

"Animals my ass!" exclaimed Amanda. "They are testing supernaturals like us. They consider us animals!"

"Us?" asked Roman.

"Can it, Godfrey. She knows about you and me. I didn't have to say a word," replied Peter.

"That also doesn't leave this room," said Roman.

"That bastard has my son," said Amanda, looking back and forth between Roman and Peter. "I want him back. He lied to me about the baby being dead."

"I know, Amanda. Be patient," said Roman. "My lawyer is looking more closely at LOD, LLC. We should know something soon. If they are moving their operation to the tower, then I have an 'in' there that will be to our advantage."

Amanda filled Peter in on the whole story while Roman held Michelle. "The waiting is the hardest part of this whole thing," admitted Amanda. "I'm missing out on all the little things that happen in the first year of development."

"I, for one, sure appreciate you taking care of my child during her first year. That means a lot to me," said Roman.

Bishop arrived at his hotel room not long after leaving the institute and ordered room service. While he waited, he contemplated his introduction with young Gofrey.

Roman Godfrey was nothing like he had imagined. He seemed brusque and sure of himself like his mother and not the young, spoiled teenager he had expected. It was a good thing that Michael would eliminate him shortly so that he could buy out the rest of the corporation's shares. He could barely contain his glee at the thought of how all the power and resources would help the Order to eliminate the monsters of the world. Things, as they stood, were getting them nowhere.

He unfolded the paper that he had purchased from the news stand outside the hotel and began to read. TWO MORE DIE AS GRISLY MURDERS CONTINUE.

"This is intolerable. Something has to be done."

He picked up his phone and called his assistant at the church who was also a member of the Order. "Ryan, this is Bishop Bishop. I need you to get one, no, make that two of our best trackers down to a little Pennsylvania town called Hemlock Grove. We have a werewolf infestation. Have them report to me at the local hotel."

The bishop disconnected but before he could set the phone down, he got a text message. He opened the message and saw a picture of a young woman breast feeding an infant.

He smiled. "Well, hello, Amanda. Found you at last."

AN:

The music for the closing credits would be Kay-D: Prodigal Children.

For fans of "Hemlock Grove" who are on Facebook, there is a Hemlock Grove group there that would love to grow it's membership. Just look for 'Hemlock Grove, PA' on Facebook and ask to join. All are welcome.