Chapter 102
Felix
When I saw Peter approaching I could tell Charlotte had explained everything to him but I had no idea how he would react, I didn't expect him to be happy about it but I hoped he might at least allow me to talk to him, I really didn't want to fight my mate's foster father. Luckily, or possibly on purpose, Charlotte and Rose had taken Kat and Skye into town for the day so whatever happened wouldn't involve them. I put down my brush, I was painting a portrait of Kat, and held out a fairly clean hand,
"Peter."
He looked at the hand one eyebrow raised in question then gestured to the woods,
"We need to talk."
Nodding my agreement I followed him into the trees ready to defend myself if things should become physical. We walked for a few minutes in awkward silence before he turned suddenly.
"Charlotte told me."
"Yes, I expected she would."
"I don't like it."
"I didn't expect you to, it rather threw me too."
"She's just a kid."
"I am aware of that, my feelings for her are strictly platonic."
"She's been through enough already without having some man fawning all over her."
I laughed,
"Fawning has never been in my character I assure you. I like her company, I enjoy talking to her and teaching her to paint. She in return enjoys my company, that's where it stands and according to Charlotte where it will remain until she is mature. That makes me feel a lot better about it. You're stuck with me in any case, as Aro's representative."
"Is that a threat?"
I looked at him puzzled, a threat?
"No just a statement of fact, I can't leave so there's no point suggesting it, that's all I was saying. Neither can I stay away from Kat so don't ask me to."
"And if I cause any problems I suppose you'll ring your master and have Kat taken away to Volterra. Very convenient for you."
I was shocked that he should imagine I would do such a thing,
"No, Kat loves you and Charlotte and she's happy here. I don't want to see her taken from you any more than you do. I care about her happiness, I want her to be content and she is here. Besides it would mean taking her from Skye and Kat is very fond of the baby, not to mention the rest of the family. You've got me all wrong Peter, I'm not here as a Volturi enforcer, I'm not the enemy."
He glared at me then turned away,
"What are your plans for the future?"
"Plans? I haven't really thought about it but I guess when Kat is old enough I will ask her to be my wife. I want to show her the world and all the beauty in it."
"You'll be taking her to Volterra though? So Aro can use her gift if he needs to."
"No, Volterra isn't the place for a free spirit like Kat. I served my time in the guard many years ago, I owed Aro and I always pay my debts."
"Owe him?"
I laughed a little bitterly,
"I can see you want my life history. Normally I would say go to hell but as my prospective father in law I guess you have a right to know at least something about me."
"Lets forget the in law crap but yeah I want to know the guy who thinks he's Kat's mate."
I gestured for him to join me on a fallen tree trunk and he did so reluctantly,
"You will find this hard to believe I'm sure but when I was born my parents were very happy. To have a healthy male child in Sparta was a great thing and I was removed from my parents at an early age and lived in barracks with the other boys. I hated it but I learned to fight, the only thing they were interested in, my worlds was one filled with war and bloodshed. I made a friend, Spiro, and we became close looking out for each other. When we were old enough we went to war and my friend was gravely injured, a spear through the belly. We had been taught to leave our dead and dying and fight on but I stopped to help him and he died in my arms. After the battle, which of course we won, I was hauled before our elders and branded a coward for going back for my friend. I was condemned to die, to be hurled from the top of the mountain and left broken to die. That's where Aro found me, most of the bones in my body shattered, bleeding and dying of the cold and my injuries. I think he saw the potential in me, my size for one, and he changed me himself. In return, once I woke I pledged to serve him for as many centuries as my age, I was sixteen at the time and I have served him ever since."
"Why didn't you leave when your time was up?"
"And go where? The Volturi were all I knew and I was respected and feared, I was not aware there was anything else, not for such as me any way. Not until I saw Kat."
Peter
I wanted to hate this monster of a man but he was making it increasingly difficult to do so and now I'd heard his story it was even more so. I wanted to call him a liar, to say he'd made this story up because it suited his purposes but I could see he was telling the truth and the way he had acted was exactly the way I would have for The Major, loyalty meant a lot to me and Felix had demonstrated he had it in spades, first to his friend and then to Aro. It wasn't his fault it had been Aro Volturi who had found him and saved his life.
"OK, so you aren't the guy I thought you were but I still don't like the idea of you and Kat."
"Well at least you have time to get used to it Peter. I just ask you don't make it difficult for me to spend time with her."
"You behave like a friend to her and I won't."
"That's all I'm asking. I understand you are throwing her a birthday party, would it be acceptable for me to help out?"
I wondered if I was pushing Peter too far but after a few minutes silence during which time he never looked in my direction he sighed,
"I guess so, do you have any idea how much is involved in organizing a kids birthday party?"
"No. no idea at all but I guess I'm about to find out."
He looked at me and grinned,
"You surely are."
"Would it be permissible to buy her a present?"
He shook his head and I wondered if this was going to be our first stumbling block,
"No need, it appears Charlotte has it all under control."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, we're gonna be dragged round Europe looking in fucking museums and art galleries."
I couldn't help a smile and he swore,
"Yeah right up your street I guess, well just remember you owe me big time so you are going to be my hunting buddy on our trip, that way Charlotte can look after Kat."
"I can live with that but what will you do while we are widening our intellect?"
"Me? Pointing out the shortfalls of all the artists, I'm not a complete heathen Felix."
"Really? I look forward to hearing your opinion on some of the most famous artists in history."
"Yeah? Well you might just be surprised."
"I can't wait"
We walked back together in a more friendly silence but I knew Peter would be watching me like a hawk and if I made one wrong move he would cut me off from Kat in an instant.