Claude walked into the room, looking at Derek. He stopped close to the window, and wasn’t sure what to say. He saw the child’s anger in his eyes and he could not fault him for feeling this way.
- “I am sorry”, Claude started, “I truly am. I was not thinking very clearly when I did this, and I know now it was not fair and I should not have done it.” he said, “I guess you reminded me of my son, he was like you – stubborn and strong – and I have been alone for so long, that I suppose part of me wanted some company – so I felt that I was helping you when all I really was doing was probably helping myself.” Claude looked down on the floor and said almost in a whisper, “You have every right to be upset with me – and if it is your wish, I will leave you.”
Derek was a bit taken by surprise with Claude’s attitude. The man who was generally very stoic, almost to the point where Derek even wondered if he felt anything at all, was for the first time showing some kind of feeling. He was showing regret for what he had done. Derek understood too well, feeling alone – trying to regain something once lost and taken from you. He was not sure what to do – he did not forgive the man for what he had done, but he also knew that if Claude had not done what he did, he would have been dead just like the rest of his family. Although he would be unable to avenge his family’s death, he would also not be feeling as bad as he felt now – as he felt everyday.
Derek turned around to face the window again, “I do not wish for you to leave” he said, “you did this to me and now you will help me to become strong enough to kill those that murdered my family. Once that is done, then you can go if you wish. You owe me this.” He said without even looking at Claude.
- “Yes” Claude said, almost relieved, “there are things about your new existance that are unsavory.” Claude said, “I guess I have been kindred for so long, I have forgotten the shock of transition, and at times I take certain things for granted.” He explained, “However, if you wish to be strong enough to obtain the justice you so seek, you will need to learn everything about Kindred life – including things that upset you – and you will need to embrace them. Only then can you grow to the full potential within your blood” Claude said, “do you understand me?”
Derek turned around to face Claude. He knew he was right, he knew that if he wanted to find the man who did this, he would have to at some point do all of the things he needed to do. As usual, he was not sure how he felt about all of this – so instead of allowing himself to feel anything, he just felt angry. Angry about what happened, about his situation, about Claude, about having to go to London, even angry about being alive – or at least as alive as he could be given these circumstances.
- “Yes” Derek said flatly, “I understand” he said, “I will deal with whatever comes, you do not need to worry.” he said
- “I am sure you will” Claude said, “but your training would progress faster if you were not to fight me on everything I try to teach you.”
- “I already said I understand” Derek said with an angry tone, “Do not worry about me” he could feel the anger coming to the surface, “I do not wish to speak of this anymore. Tomorrow we leave for London” he said, “I have things that must be done before I go.” He said as he started to walk out of the room.
Claude started to say something but thought better of it. At least he child had not sent him away, and of this he was relieved. He knew that alone, this little one would not survive long among Kindred soceity. This was new for Claude – his sire had been a horrible terrible vampire who taught Claude next to nothing. He knew nothing of how the relationship of Childe and sire was supposed to take place. All he knew is that he did not wish to be like Marius – he did not wish to be that kindred – he wanted to be something better. He had no idea how to teach someone to be kindred – most of what he knew he learned on his own. The kindred society he had been brought into was a horrible nightmarish place and he certainly did not wish to teach Derek of it. And as much as he hated to admit it, he had taken a liking to the boy, and felt a strong need to protect him and keep him safe whether he wanted to or not. Sometimes children were too naive to understand what was best for them – and it was the job of the parent to do what was necessary to keep them safe. Claude knew at this moment that he would never be able to allow any harm to come to this child. He did not want to get tied down to anyone or anything – but at this point, it was too late – he found himself already comitted.
—————————————————————————————————–
It was early morning in the fall, towards the end of the social season. Edward sat back by the stables and watched as carriage after carriage of guests arrived. This same ritual repeated every year, twice a year. He always hosted the first party of the season and the last one, as was expected being that he was the King’s brother. He had just yesterday received word that his brother was ill. Perhaps if he had known his brother and actually grown up around him, he would have felt bad - but since he was a boy he was sent to live in the country with a host of servants – completly cut off from the rest of his family. His brother had always said, that it was for his “protection”. Indeed. As a result of all of this protection, the news of his brother’s illness had not upset him in the least. He was not even planning to go to London to visit him.
Regardless of why he had been banished to the countryside, Edward made the most of his time. He spent most of his days chasing women in the village and when he did go to London he mostly visited the establishments with lower reputation. And now Harold had been telling him, that his brother was seriously sick – and that at any moment, he could be called up to do his duty and take his seat as heir. He wanted no part of it.
He looked in the back of the stables and saw his childhood friend standing there brushing the horses down. Derek spent more time with horses than with people these days. The two boys had been very good friends since Edward could remember. His father was one of the few nobles that his brother had trusted and allowed to visit him in the country. As a result, Derek often stayed at Edward’s estate when his father had business in London. He walked back towards his friend.
- “It is before noon – what are you doing up this early?” Edward asked
Derek grinned, “I am just spending some time with the horses,” Derek replied, “I like horses – you know that.”
- “Yeah, yeah” Edward said, “Well are you ready for this party? Its supposed to be bigger than the one at Spring according to Harold” Edward commented, “And all of these women are going to be chasing after me, specially since my brother is sick.” Edward said with a smile.
- “You can have them” Derek said without even looking up from the horse, “noble women are annoying and demanding and I am too young to worry about them anyway” Derek said.
- “Too young? You’re only 2 years younger than me – so not that young” Edward said, “And I heard your father talking – he wants you to find a match soon.”
Derek looked up at Edward, who he knew was trying to provoke him by bringing up the issue of his father and marriage. Derek had no desire to find a wife anytime soon and his father had kept pushing the issue which had ended in arguments between the two of them several times. Derek smiled at his friend, “trust me, there is nothing that a noble woman can do for me that I cannot get from a bar wench without the aggravation.” Derek said.
Edward raised an eyebrow at him, “Don’t let your father hear that!” he said, “Perhaps I should tell him? After all is that not why he sent you here this week?”
- “I am sure it is,” Derek replied, “just because I am here it does not mean I have to participate.” he said
- “Oh come on now, Derek” Edward said, “there will be plenty for both of us – plus I do not intent to be bored all by myself” Edward looked at Derek with an amused grin, “Are you planning to spend the whole week here with the horses? I mean, the women are boring, I know – but the horses?’
Derek smiled at Edward and looked out to the long line of arriving carriages. He knew that was exactly why his father had sent him there, and he was determined not to find anyone. He would find his own bride when he wanted to – on his own time instead of beind forced to by his father. He had already decided that. He finished brushing down the horse and put it in its stable, with Edward trying to convince him to at least make an appearance. They closed the stable doors and started to walk together towards the main house. It was then that Derek saw her for the first time.
A beautiful woman, with long reddish blond hair, in a blue gown getting out of a carriage. Derek stood there, staring at her. She moved gracefully out of the carriage and took the arm of a much older man, who Derek assumed to be her father and started towards the house. Edward continued walking and it took him a few steps to realize his friend had stopped. He stopped turned around and looked at Derek, “What?” he asked. There was no reply. He walked back towards him and waved his hand in front of Derek’s face for a moment, “Hello? anyone there?” Derek blinked and looked at Eward, “What?”
- “Who are you staring at?” Edward asked, “I mean you just stood there like an idiot.”
- “Who is she?” he pointed towards the girl in the blue gown, “she is beautiful” he said.
Edward looked in the direction that Derek was pointing. “Oh her,” Edward said, “Ashley something” he said, “Her father is some Irish big shot from what I understand – this is her first season out.” He said, “Wait – are you interested in her?”
Derek replied without even looking at Edward, “Yes” he said, “she is beautiful – you must introduce me to her” he said.
- “Wait, Derek,” Edward said “Whatever happened to ‘I get everything I want from a bar wench’? he asked mimicing Derek’s tone.
- “That was before I saw her” Derek said
- “Ok, well – let me point out a few things that you may not know” Edward said, stopping and actually standing in front of Derek to block his view from the woman, “did I mention she is Irish?” he said.
- “Yes you did, why does it matter?” Derek asked
- “Bitch” Edward said, “She’s a bitch – she’s full of herself and all that – trust me – you don’t want Irish”
- “No, I do not want Irish,” Derek replied, “I want her” he said with a smile.
- “Did you not hear me?” Edward said almost annoyed now, “Irish – annoying, full of herself and oh yeah – bitch!”
- “You will not speak of her in that tone, Edward” Derek said sounding very annoyed himself.
Edward raised an eyebrow looked back at the house and at his friend, “You don’t even know her – why are you getting all mad?”
- “You will introduce me” Derek said and started walking towards the house.
- “Wait” Edward said running up behind his friend, “STOP” he yelled at Derek who finally stopped and looked back at Eward. “Fine, I can introduce you – but remember that I warned you” he said, “plus you may want to change or something?”
- “Why?” Derek asked
Edward reached over and pulled piece of hay from Derek’s shirt and hair, “You look like crap and you smell like horse manure?” he asked.
Derek smiled and broke into a run towards the house “give me 30 minutes” he yelled back to his friend as he ran.
————————————————————————————————
Derek woke up gasping – which was strange in itself since he did not need to breathe. His daydreams were getting more and more vivid. Actually they were not daydreams – it was more like memories. Poor Edward is all he kept thinking. The poor bastard probably didn’t even know had hit him. He had been Derek’s best friend – more like his only friend, as Derek had enjoyed spending most of his time training in the ways of swordfighting or spending time with his horses. That old life was faded and gone now.
He got up, got dressed and went looking for Thomas. They were due to leave soon – he wanted to make sure everything was in order. Thomas seemed to have been settling in well and Derek felt confident he would be able to handle everything until he got back. He went out into the stables and found both horses already packed and ready for the trip. Claude was there fastening the last of the bags to them – it would be a three day trip to London. They would have to stop at villages during the day to sleep – Derek was not sure how well this would work but he had no desire to speak to Claude at all, so they both kept quiet. Once everything was packed, and ready, Derek bid Thomas farewell, who looked at him sideways, since he was probably wondering why they would leave at night for such a trip instead of in the morning, but thought better of asking. Derek was glad – he hated to lie – he preferred the uncomfortable silence and shifting glance to having to come up with a story to tell him.
They were quiet for most of the night. They arrived in Canterbury around 4AM. The town was darkened and they went to an Inn close to the outskirt borders of the town. Derek was not sure what to do so he allowed Claude to take the lead. They knocked on the door for several minutes, until finally, an older man opened the door and poked his head out. He was balding, and not exactly the cleanest, and he had with him a candlestick.
- “Do you know what time it is?” He man said
- “Yes” Claude replied, “I apologize but we have just arrived here from Dover and we are very tired. Do you happen to have a room we can rent for the day?”
The man looked both Claude and Derek up and down, and finally said, “Well, I do but it will cost more for getting me out of bed in the middle of the night.”
Claude looked at Derek who nodded to him – in preparing for this trip, Derek had come to realize that Claude had no money. Although it seemed odd, Derek had finally come to realize that there was little that creatures such as them would need with money anyway, especially if they avoided populated areas. It was strange, but Derek could understand it.
- “Very well,” Claude said, “we have disturbed you and we will gladly compensate you for it – but we wish a private room. We are exhausted and will need to rest for most of the day and do not wish to be disturbed.”
The man looked at Claude quizzically, and finally said, “I want no trouble with the law – so if yer running, then you can go now because if the guards come lookin’ fer you I will turn you in”.
-”No” Claude said reassuringly, “We are not wanted by the law” he said, “We are just very tired and in need of rest – that is all”
- “Ok then” the man said as he opened the door wider, “You can put yer horses in the stables over there – it will cost extra to keep em for you during the day and then come in – I have ya a room.”
Derek and Claude walked to the stables and placed the horses in there, they secured them in stalls and made sure there was feed nearby. Then each in turn, quietly unpacked their backpacks and began gathering their things.
- “We are going to stay in the same room?” Derek asked
-”Yes” Claude said without even looking at him, “it is safer that way. We are already in great danger being here during the day – if we were on foot I would say we would be safer staying in the woods. But with the horses, this close to town, they may get stolen while we sleep so we will do what we must.”
Derek didn’t question it further, he just picked up his things and walked out of the stables and into the Inn. The Innkeeper was waiting for them at what looked like a small raggedy dining room.
- “I have two rooms with 2 beds – one upstairs and one in the back – which do you want? He asked them.
- “The back room is fine,” Claude replied.
The man led them past the kitchen, down a dark hallway which ended in 2 doors. He opened the door on the left to reveal a fairly small room with 2 beds packed into it – there was barely enough room to move about.
- “The room accross the hall is empty so you are alone back here – breakfast is at 8,” the innkeeper said.
- “Thank you- you are kind” Claude said, “But we have our own rations – we just wish to rest for the day.”
- “Suit yourself” the man said, “but it still costs the same, ” and before he turned to walk away, Claude grabbed his arm and looked at him for a bit. The man had panicked look on his face which was quickly replaced by a blank stare.
- “What are you doing?” Derek asked.
- “We wish to not be disturbed during the day,” Claude said to the man, “We are not dangerous, and you will tell no one that we are here” he continued, “We are of no consequence. Now go upstairs and return to your rest.”
The man nodded and smiled at them both and turned around and walked out. Claude pushed past Derek into the room and took the bed on the left side. Derek walked in and tossed his things on the right side of the room and looked at Claude who was unpacking some things as if nothing had happened.
- “Was that really necessary?” Derek asked
- “Yes” Claude said, “Innkeepers talk and we do not wish that.”
Derek looked around the room – this entire place was beneath him. He was not sure why Claude did not pick one of the better Inns in the town. Derek had the money to cover it, it is not like they could not afford it. Claude had a staff with him which he pinned to the door in such a way that the staff would have to be broken in order for someone to open the door. He examined it for a while, moved it a few times and when he was satisfied that it looked secure enough he turned back and looked at Derek was sitting on the bed watching him.
- “Rest” he said to Derek, “We have a long journey ahead tomorrow night.”
- “What good will that do?” Derek asked pointing to the staff, “If someone breaks in here we won’t wake anyway.”
- “You will not wake – for you are too young still,” Claude said, “But I will. Now rest.”