They arrived at the train station just in time and hopped aboard their cabin. Soon they began moving and slowly left behind the smoke and stone of the city and entered the rolling hills and fields of the countryside. They sat quietly for about a half an hour before Gavina broke the silence.
“So what exactly should ah expect when we meet yer da? I’ve not dealt with many nobles and ah’ve no plans te take lip off some stiff necked pompous ass who thenks he’s better than me cause of who his damned parents were. He starts gettin uppity cause his darlin home is bein desecrated by a filthy Scottish peasant, and ah’ll cleanse the place free uh charge with an oil lantern.” Her voice was filled with a disdain for the superficial attitude possessed by much of the country's higher society.
“No no nothing of the sort I assure you. Father may be a bit stiff at times but he has never shown anything but the utmost respect for the lower class. He spent a good deal of time in India as a younger man as both soldier and civilian, and took quite a liking to the peasantry. He also visits his shipyards and factories quite often to check on the workers and even throws a delightful christmas party for them every year. Indeed some of my favorite memories come from those get-togethers. Why one year I broke into the foreman's office with his children, Elizabeth and Thomas. We had quite the raucous time, I took the lead quite masterfully if I do say so myself. I don’t think they can look each other in the eye to this day ahhaha!”
Gavina stared at him with a look of confusion. “Ya mean...you...with both?” She asked, incredulity layering her voice.
“Well I was bored, and I could hardly let the two best looking people at the party slip me by now could I? Does that surprise you? Does that shock and disgust you? Can’t stand to have a deviant by your side while you charge into a shadow war spilling the blood of your flesh hungry enemies?” His tone growing more mocking with each word.
“Ah can handle it just fine. Ah don’t give a damn where ye want to put yer dirty business or who ya stick it in so long as ya keep yer grubby hands off me. It’s no concern a mine. Only theng that matters ta me is if ye can help get me da back and not get me killed in the process.” She shot back haughtily, uncomfortable with his sarcastic tone and the accusation that she was prejudiced.
She had encountered many types of freaks, weirdo’s and deviants in her travels with her father and in general had no problem with them. The only thing she disliked in a person was dishonesty and cruelty. Neither of which this chipper little nutter seemed capable of with how open he was on every subject.
“Now that’s good to hear, isn’t it? Just so you know it isn’t that I have any preference or go seeking out young boys to bugger, I simply see no reason to limit myself to enjoying half of life's delights when there are just as many attractive men as there are women. Seems a bit pointless if you ask me. Wherever the fun is, that is where you shall find me. The fact that it would shock and disgust my family should they ever find out doesn’t hurt either. After all, who doesn’t love a good scandal? Now I will say this about father, he might be a tolerant man, lord knows he has to be to have put up with me all these years, but he is also a proud one. He has had a long and successful life fraught with hardship and danger, and expects just as much respect as he gives out. If you choose to pop off that tongue of yours at him I can’t guarantee you your safety. He has been known to dispatch rude guests in the most unpleasant of ways.”
“Ha, ah’d love to see some inbred old fop try and lay a hand on me. Ah’ll put one right between his eyes if he thenks that he can do away with me just because I hurt his precious feelins.” She laughed, the notion of an old aristocrat being able to do anything to someone like her giving no end of amusement.
“You laugh now but I’m afraid you severely underestimate the old man. He was a soldier and a hunter for well on two decades. If it walked, crawled, slithered or flew, he tracked and killed it, and enjoyed every moment. Honestly I can’t believe he ever came home. To hear mother tell, he considered his visit to England to be the exotic trip, and India to be home. He is a man of fierce temperament, and an iron will. He built our families fortunes from practically nothing, with no father of his own to guide him, and made us so rich that our standing in commerce and society overshadows our diminutive place in the noble hierarchy. I may shame and frustrate the man with my actions, but neither I, or you, shall disrespect him to his face. Now let’s get some rest shall we? A little nap will have us rested and ready for whatever tortures, or worse, lectures, await” With that he leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes as the trees and meadows passed him by outside the window.
Gavina stared at the young man, pondering over what he had said about his father and how it had reminded her of her own. A man without family, building a life from his wits and muscle, she could respect that so long as William was speaking true and she wasn’t spit on for having the wrong ancestors. Thinking of her father set her mind to spinning for the umpteenth time. She prayed that no harm had come to him. She could not bear to lose the one person she had in this life who had always been there for her, and whom she had always been able to rely on. When you lived a life without luxury or attachments, you hold tight to the one treasure you do possess, family.
It was a little over an hour later when the train came to a hissing stop at the station in the town of Grimsby. Gavina woke William with a sharp kick and the two of them grabbed their travel bags and stepped out onto the platform.
“The family manor is a bit of a trip outside of town so we will need to grab a coach. I’ll go see to it. Do be a dear and don’t let anyone nick our luggage while I’m gone” He turned and headed off towards the carriage house down the street.
He reached the front desk of the little building and rang a small brass bell to summon the clerk. Out from the back room came waddling a short round little man with a pair of spectacles perched on his red sweating face. He was wearing a simple white shirt and a black vest that was several sizes too small judging by the herculean struggle the buttons were putting up to keep it closed.
“Good afternoon sir, how may I be of service. Are you in need of transportation for the day?” He spoke in a raspy voice through round, red cheeks.
“Well that would explain my being in a carriage house office wouldn’t it? I am looking to go out to the Blackthorn estate if you would be so kind as to arrange it, and do be swift, I am in a dreadful hurry. Father will not appreciate a late night drop in.”
The fat little man pondered over the haughty and rude response before piecing together the significance of everything he heard.
“Why I say, you must be master William! It has been some time since you were seen around these parts, welcome home my lord. I am sure the good Viscount will be delighted to have you home. I shall have the men prepare the deluxe coach for your trip.” He spoke as though he were welcoming home the returning hero rather than the family embarrassment that everyone in the county knew him to be, impressing William immensely with the strength of his eticate.
“That would be lovely of you, my good man. Have them bring it over by the train station, me and my traveling companion will be awaiting its arrival with bated breath. This should cover the expense” He pulled out a handful of coins from his coat pocket and slapped them on the counter before he turned and walked out without another word, not interested in any small town reminiscing with an aging sycophant interested in wiggling into his father's good graces through him, not that there was much chance of William ever being the vehicle to his father's approval for anyone. Including himself.
He walked back down the street and reconvened with Gavina who didn’t seem to have moved from her spot, simply standing and observing the surrounding town as though she were a soldier surrounded by enemy spies.
“Good news, we shall be on our way shortly. I managed to secure us the finest coach they had, that we might travel in comfort. I don’t suspect you have tasted much luxury, and while I find it’s trappings can grow dull and suffocating, it does have its charms.”
“Piss off with the condescendin tone Lord Fancycunt. I am more than aware of how bloody nice it must be ta have money ta throw round for somethin as petty as an arse cushion. Ah don’t care how damn nice the damn theng is so long as it get’s us to yer damned castle so we can have this pointless feckin side quest finished and done as soon as possible. Then, we might be on our way ta save my damned father!” She shouted, causing a scene that earned them the stares of passers bye around the town square.
“Christ woman do calm yourself. Even with this little stop over we will be reaching him days before you could have completed the trip on your own. Try and keep a touch of perspective will you? From what I gather your father is a capable man and can take care of himself without his daughter looking after him. We had an agreement that I could join you in exchange for providing financial aid and I can only be helpful in that respect with the blessing of my father. I understand your sense of urgency and please do not think that my dismissive attitude is in any way a sign that I do not care about your struggle. I do. However, getting hysterical is not going to get us anywhere. Now here is the coach. Try to relax and enjoy tonight, because once we hit the road tomorrow there will be no more pointless frivolity on my part, you have my word.” William attempted to calm and reassure her.
Her agitation was starting to melt away the initial glamor of this trip but it in no way dulled his resolve to be a part of it. If anything, his new companion’s obvious love and passion for her loved one only made the whole venture seem more worthwhile and noble in his mind. The fact that it would be a perilous plunge into the eldritch horrors of the unknown was simply a delightful bonus.
The carriage pulled up along the street and a stone-faced driver hopped down and opened the door for them, offering to load up their bags but the pair declined considering the small size of their luggage and the fact that each contained weapons. The inside was plush and cushioned, with red silk lining the walls and seats, and an intricately carved ceiling was done in gold leaf. Though everything seemed well maintained it was clear from the level of wear that was exhibited by everything from the worn threads on the seat and the chipping of the gold leaf, that the coach was decades old. Not surprising this far from civilization. All in all it was a beautiful and pleasant ride through the farms and forests of the country. The beauty and quiet of his ancestral home had always been a gilded cage to William. Far from the entertainments, troubles and distractions that he so craved. He would do whatever it took growing up to get out of the house and find some kind of mischief, from getting into scrapes with farm boys to skinny dipping with their sisters in the lazy meandering little rivers, to stealing apples from farmers orchards and attempting to escape before they discovered his identity and simply let him take them, thus ruining all the fun. He stared across to his companion and decided to question her about their most pressing task.
“You mentioned last night that you assumed the creature that killed your family was a werewolf. What exactly led your father to that conclusion? And what exactly is a werewolf like? Is it particularly ferocious and difficult to put down? I always thought they were nothing more than stories myself, but then again considering the fact you saved me from a ferocious demon of the night I suppose I should start expanding my conception of reality a bit.”
“Sweet virgins tits yer an inquisitive bastard. Da thenks the beast what slayed me ma was a werewolf on account of him findin paw prints and wolves fur at the scene of the bloody crime. It was a full moon when me family were killed and the only sign da ever got from the killer itself was some inhuman howling comin from the farm. Ah’ve never dealt with one meself but one of da’s oldest huntin pals helped track one down in Bavaria years ago. Says they look like a horse sized wolf with long arms and clawed hands. Yellow eyes, sharp fangs, and no matter what ye do ta the bastards they are damn near impossible to kill. Most folks fall fer that silver knife and dagger shite, but it’s all a load a hooey. A long time ago people used teh thenk that mercury was a kind uh silver So folks got it in their head that any silver could do the job. Other than poisonin em with mercury or maybe wolfsbane, ye have ta completely destroy their hearts or brains. Of course that’s all only when the change is on them durin the full moon. When they go back ta normal ye can kill em any way ya like. As for what they’re like, they ent nuthin but mindless beasts hungry for human flesh and sufferin. Ye can set out any kind a bait ya like fer em but they turn their nose at anythin but man flesh. Children and virgin women bein their favorite. More pure and tender ah reckon, feck if ah know how a demons mind works. Ta become one ye have ta get bitten or scratched, but considerin not many folks bump into one without becomin a bloody snack, there ent too many runnin about thank god. Unlike those so called “ferocious demons of the night”. She let the sarcasm flow with this description.
“I sense mockery. Where did I go wrong? How else would you categorize an immortal fiend who lives off the lifeblood of the innocent…and me?”
Gavina was amused and a bit refreshed by William’s ignorance of the situation. In her world, lies were much more common than truth, so it was nice to be able to just explain the true state of the world to someone.
“Ah might have saved ya the other night, but in all seriousness they aren’t that bloody dangerous. Those stories about mystical powers, super strength, about them bein the ultimate hunters of man? Shite. All of it. Rumors and lies spread by vampires ta make people fear em more and ta feed their own egos. In all honesty they ent nothin more than a half dead blood sucker. Man shaped leeches the lot of em. A bunch of posh wealthy little poofs who like ta traipse about in capes makin puns before sneak attackin innocent folk and drainen em dry. Damn near all of em are rich “gentleman” who prefer cozy lifestyles and fancy friends over the creepy castles and graveyards people usually imagine. Figure it must help keep from goin mad with boredom durin the everlastin hell that is immortality. Ah don’t know bout you, but every rich boy ah’ve ever met, you included, was a weak little nance who could hardly fight a cold, much less a person. Now take that image, and apply it a million times. That is the vampire race in a nutshell. The feckers are everywhere too, like the roaches of the underworld. Ye can’t take 10 steps without trippin over the pale cunts on the continent or the isles. Not as big a problem in the states I hear. Bastards thenk they’re too good and sophisticated for America. Ya ever run into another one and don’t have a steak, or some garlic and silver, just pop em once in the nose and they ought to run off cryin fer their mum.”
William pondered over this lesson for a moment, shocked at the knowledge that he had apparently in all likelihood shared the company of a number of the fanged fiends from what Gavina had said.
“Rather takes the magic out of it all when you put it like that. Excellent information to have nonetheless. I shall learn to keep a more vigilant eye in the future to avoid further incident. The two of us are going to have to have a real sit down time one of these days so you can tell me all about the other prey you have brought to heel. A whole nother world, hiding just below the surface of the mundane, and I have just floated along oblivious to their presence to the detriment of my health. I wonder what father will make of all this. He has always prided himself on being a well traveled and learned man, but even he has never seen proof of the existence of all the old ghost stories.”
“Do ye really have to go tellin him every detail of this arrangement? Far as I’ve seen the more people know bout this kind of theng the more complicated it gets, and complicated is not ma prerogative.” Annoyance dripped from her voice.
“Well of course I have to tell him. That is rather the whole point of us even making this stop. I may not have spent much of my life going out of my way to make the old man happy but I finally have something that doesn’t bore me to tears that might actually hold off any notions he might have about cutting me off. Plus…..it would be nice to finally look him in the eyes and see something other than cold, defeated disappointment. Like a general who knows the battle has turned irreversibly against him. I doubt you understand considering you have spent your entire life being the pride of your only parent, but having one of them constantly looking down on you and the other one scrambling to make excuses for you rather than simply being accepted is not something that weighs easy on the soul. So yes I think throwing me and my money in harm's way to help reunite your happy little family earns me the right to repair some of the extensive damage I have caused to mine. So if you have any more comments on the matter I would suggest you write them down, roll them up, drop your trousers and stuff them neatly up your ass.” With that he turned his head and hunkered down in his seat, staring out the little window of the carriage and humming himself into his own little world for the last leg of the trip.
Gavina sat stewing over what William had said, trying to be angry but against her will she just felt sorry for him. Her father had always been hard, he had too to make her stronger and keep her safe. But he had never once made her doubt his love or pride in her. She had no idea what it was like to be a disappointment to your parents, to feel in your heart that you were resented by your own blood simply for being who you were. She felt it must be one of the worst sensations imaginable.
The rest of the journey passed peacefully enough, with William somewhere in his own little world and Gavina absentmindedly carving up the wood of the window sill with a boot knife until the coachman yelled from outside that they were approaching their destination. William stretched out before peeking his head outside to get a look around. As he expected nothing much had changed in the year and a half he had been away from home. Gavina on the other hand was more than a little impressed at the sight the family mance made.
The foundations of the building were centuries old, remnants from a castle fortress. The only parts of them left visible were the towers on the north walls that framed the front of the house. The rest of it was red brick crawling with Ivy. The property was surrounded by a tall and thick looking hedge that blended together with the remnants of crumbling stone walls. Topiaries, statues and fountains dotted the well manicured grounds, all of them depicting various animals both predator and prey alike. To the east there was a large beautiful stable, the sounds of whinnying horses echoing in the air. To the west another out building, half open cage, half low roofed stone shelter. Howls and barking could be heard even a hundred yards out.
All over the estate workers and servants were busy tending to hounds and horses, trimming hedges and tending gardens.
The carriage wound it’s way up the narrow road that lead to the front entrance, passing through the crumbling remains of an ancient stone wall. The driver pulled up to the large oak double doors. Each was decorated with a band of brass across the top and bottom edge, and each sported a tall life like carving of a Rooster and a Hound respectively. Where normal handles would typically be, two antique black powder pistols took their place, the triggers seeming to act as the unlatching mechanism. The driver hopped down and opened the door for them, helping them to hop down. William paid the man and grabbed his luggage, Gavina never even let go of hers. The coach was off with a crack of the reins and the pair was left standing at the doors looking at each other.
“Well home sweet home I suppose, let’s pop in and see what kind of welcome we can muster from my oh so lovely family”. Stated William, a bit nervously.
He grabbed the pistol on the right hand (hound) door and gave a shove to the heavy wood slab. Gavina was shocked at the size of the grand entrance room that they walked into. The floor was polished marble, around the room were plinths with various statues and animal skulls perched on them. The walls were covered in green silk wallpaper, every ounce of wood in the room was dark and polished to a high sheen. Fresh cut roses adorned a ming vase on each side of the doorway. She had never seen anything so luxurious in her life. William urged her to drop her sack by the door and follow him into the next room where the sounds of conversation and clinking dishes were coming from.
They stepped into a small dining room where three separate couples were enjoying tea and cakes being served by a very tall, dignified looking Indian gentleman. One pair was significantly younger than the rest, the male appearing about 19, with the same curly locks as William, only dirty blonde rather than glossy black. His eyes were bright hazel and his build was slender and fair. He was dressed in a well tailored black suit, far too formal for just a simple social call. The young woman next to him was no older than 17. She was slightly plump, with rosy cheeks and sparkling grey eyes. She wore a beautiful blue dress with lace and frills cut around the bottom, and a surprising amount of cleavage (like a merchant showing off her wares)
The couple to their left were a plain looking lot. They clearly had money by the quality of their gray suit and silvery dress, but they were very simple and uninteresting looking individuals. The duo shared the same flat brunette hair and the same drooping, placid faces like a pair of contented cattle, both appearing in their mid 50’s.
The ones next to them were to the other extreme. The woman appeared in her mid 40’s. She was deathly thin and had a wild look in her eyes like someone who had lost sleep from fear or paranoia. Her stringy hair was bundled on top of her head in a tight bun. She was in an immaculately clean and starched blue cotton dress with white trim. She looked at William and Gavina like a couple of ghosts had just walked in. The last person at the table was by far the most interesting to Gavina’s trained eyes. He was at least 6 feet tall, dressed in a fine blood red smoking jacket, slightly darker red patterns resembling wolves or hounds sewn into the sides, with a black ascot tied about his throat. His arms were slender but his chest and shoulders were deep and broad. He looked to be in his early 60’s, with iron grey hair that held streaks of black cut close to the head, running down into a close cropped bristly beard that followed his square jaw. His eyes were the most intense thing about him. Piercing blue and sharp as a razor, crowned by a trio of long white scars angling their way from near the center of his forehead to his jaw line. Those were the eyes of a man who fully took in every detail of his surroundings, the eyes of a predator. This had to be William's father. The soldier, industrialist, and hunter.
“Well we do seem to be interrupting something. I didn’t realize we weren’t invited to the festivities Gavina my dear”. Said William, shattering the tension like glass.
“William my darling, I had no idea you were coming. We...we were just having tea with Baron Ainsworth and his family. Had we known you were coming..”
“We would have instructed you to turn back” Alfred Blackthorn, 5th Viscount of Lincolnshire interrupted in a deep baritone voice that made you want to obey its every command.
“You were not invited because we sought to have a civil and respectable conversation with our future extended family. Bal Das, take my son and his guest to their rooms while we finish our chat. I shall summon my son when we are done with the guests. Then we can discuss the business at hand”. He instructed the large Indian manservant, whose size and dignified bearing were only accentuated by the crisp black suit and dark blue turban wrapped around his head.
“Oh Alfred don’t you think all that can wait, I mean there is really no need to bring up any unpleasantness tonight is there? Surely this can all wait for another day”? Questioned Mrs. Blackthorn, her voice trembling.
“Oh don’t worry mother, we don’t mind a chance to freshen up after the trip. I am sure I can handle whatever scolding father dearest has in store for me this time. Reginald, woman, woman’s parents, enjoy your tea, and if I don’t see you when my exile is lifted then I bid you all a wonderful evening. Come along Gavina, follow Bal here to our privileged prison until the warden sees fit to summon us”. With that William fell in behind Bal Das, marching as mockingly stiff as he could manage.
They were led back into the entrance hall and up a staircase to a long dark hallway with only a single lantern to cast light on the shadows.
“You should not speak to your father in such a way, master William. You know it only serves to anger him. He has been nothing but patient with you your entire life. He does not deserve such disrespect”. Their new guide spoke in a richly accented, but perfectly spoken English as he led them to the end of the Hall to a pair of rooms directly across from each other.
“Yes yes I am well aware of your love affair with my father Bal. He may be relatively forgiving and I might appreciate the old man for his exclusively financial support, but that does not excuse him for treating me like a syphilitic uncle to be locked in an attic”.
“It is not my place to argue with you young master, but you would do well to humble yourself to him, at least for now. I will say nothing more until your father speaks with you. I expect you know which room is yours, the other is for your guest. There are fresh wash bowls waiting in each room and a change of clothes in the closets if you should choose to make use of them. Now please excuse me, I must return to my post. I shall see you soon.”
Bal Das bowed and turned to walk back down the dim hallway across the plush carpet and returned to his domestic duties.
“So thengs really are tense between you lot eh?” Gavina observed with a level of humor and surprise
“Indeed. Our relationship is just about as warm and fuzzy as an ice sculpture of a porcupine. I need a drink before tonight goes any further so I am going to raid the bar in my room. Feel free to rinse up or take a nap if you like but I need solitude. Takes a great deal of meditation to fortify the mind against the Lord and Lady of the house. One intent on breaking me and the other intent on breaking herself. Ta ta”. With that he disappeared into a room that from the brief glimpse Gavina got appeared to be a war zone from a battle between an army of laundry and what appeared to be wine bottles.
She opened the door to her own guest room and was again surprised at the luxury these people lived in every day. The carpet was so plush that she could feel her feet sinking into it. The bedposts of the four posted bed with thick velvet curtains were yet another monument to Alfred's love of arms (something that Gavina could appreciate) and fashioned into the shape of 4 enormous blunderbusses, functioning cocking mechanisms and all. There was a small black marble fireplace built into the wall facing the bed. Above that there was an oil portrait of a snarling hound with a small brass plaque that read “Tiberius'' across the bottom, a particularly accomplished hunting companion she imagined.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
She took the chance to freshen up and stripped down from the waist up and used the wash bowl and rag to give herself a cooling wipe down before she helped herself to one of the fresh men's shirts in the closet. There was a small liquor cabinet by the bed that she decided to help herself to, pouring a glass of scotch and downing it in a gulp. She was used to dealing with monsters and bloodshed, but family drama and the problems of the upper class, that was a stressful change of pace. She poured another glass and sat down in a low sitting armchair. Her mind wandered in the silence and she found herself stewing over her own father and the danger he might be facing. What had been so important and dangerous that he would send her off? What could have caused a man as strong and experienced as him to be so late sending for her? Was she ever going to see him again or was her greatest fear coming to fruition and she was being abandoned by the only constant she had ever known in her short chaotic life? Through all the traveling and danger, despite the never ending stream of new faces that left no time for her to form any real connections, she had always been able to look to her father as a rock in the ever surging waves of her life. One that she could anchor herself too and know that everything would be ok so long as she had him. To have that taken from her was a thought that almost paralyzed her with fear and despair.
She gulped down the drink and shook these thoughts from her mind. She would find her father and she would rescue him whatever the cost. If that meant dragging along a hundred Williams she would gladly do it because there was no obstacle, great or large, dangerous or stupid, that could hold her back from protecting her only blood. She looked at the clock and realized that she must have beens sitting there longer than she expected because the time read 6:00 pm.
“Christ alive either ah’m gettin’ too damn sentimental or this scotch is stronger than ah thought.”
Just then there was a knock on the door and the large butler's voice summoned her down stairs. She could hear stumbling and the clinking of glass coming across the hall through William’s door so she figured he must have been spending his time similar to her. She straightened out her shirt and put the glass back on the silver tray atop the cabinet and walked out into the hall as William was closing his door, stinking of booze and nauseatingly rich perfume.
“Well let us get this show on the road. I wonder if it will be the chopping block or the firing squad? Oh who am I kidding, the old man never passed up a chance to shoot something his entire life”. A disheveled and wild eyed William mused to himself while Gavina prayed he was exaggerating and that his past “embarrassment” of the family wasn’t much worse than he had let on.
As they returned to the dining room Gavina caught a glance of the older couple and their daughter as they were leaving. The mother watched them in an almost dazed interest as she and her family departed. Gavina couldn’t help but wonder if the Rosy cheeked girl next to them had the same empty countenance. Gavina entered yet another beautiful room filled with handcrafted arm chairs and silver tea sets, and what appeared to be a fully stocked bar that would put most taverns to shame. William’s mother looked like she was in some strange middle state between laughter and tears. Her gaze flitted between them erratically and her hands clenched and unclenched on her lap with such tension that Gavina had to note the quality of her gloves for not falling apart.
William sauntered into the room behind Bal Das with the air of a man without a care in the world. The new wrinkles on his shirt and the glassiness of his eyes told a different story to anyone curious enough to look. He took the seat next to his brother collapsing into the chair with all the decorum of the average town drunk. His father’s gaze hardened at the display and his mother shifted in her seat, her eyes drifting to the floor.
“So, father? Now that the reputable guests have gone, may I have the honor and distinct pleasure of your attention”?
Gavina took the seat next to William, moving almost stiffly across the floor. She didn’t know what kind of powderkeg she had walked into but she’d be damned if she’d be the one to set it off. She sat quietly, her arms crossing out of habit and her feet staying flat on the ground.
“We have business to discuss William. Your brazen buffoonery can wait until we have finished”.
“As it so happens it is a brazen buffoon business that I have come here to discuss with you.”
If his father was surprised by this statement he did not show it as he turned his gaze to Gavina. She flinched on reflex, his eyes searing into her in a way that reminded her of a large cat watching, waiting, expecting.
“Gavina here is part of that business”. William jumped in pulling his father’s gaze away from her before the fiery Scott could say something she shouldn’t.
“Is she now?”
“William, your shirt, it’s dirty-” The mother interrupted, sending confused looks her way as she reached out her hand almost shaking. She now was glancing between William and his father, her eyes wild. William held up his hand in a placating gesture.
“Mother, really it’s fine -.”
“What can you expect from someone who behaves as he does?” All eyes were back on Alfred Blackthorn.
“Which is why someone such as him cannot possibly represent or continue the Blackthorn family and the empire that I have built for it.”
Shock radiated through William but at a glance you wouldn’t notice. He crossed his arms, adjusting in his chair so that he could lean forward, staring his father down.
“Tell me father, I know you have nothing but disdain for me that reaches almost no conceivable limits, but who pray tell are you going to replace me with hmm? Who shall your burdensome expectations fall upon”? His gaze turned to the man sitting next to him.
William’s poor brother moved back in his chair uncomfortably. Gavina sized him up and immediately recognized by his averted gaze, flushed face and fidgety manner that he was a weak and spineless young man, the total opposite in every way of his older brother.
“Your brother Reginald has proven his capabilities, and I believe he shall execute the duties of the estate without fail”.
William looked at his brother for a moment and Gavina could have sworn she saw not disdain, but pity in those bright blue eyes.
“He doesn’t have the boldness to run a company, you know that! He has no imagination, no drive! Bloody fool has the personality of a turnip and half the wit.”
“Now see hear, I take offense at tha-”
“Better him than you. You will simply squander it on whatever vulgarities and fleeting fancies peak your interest on any given day. I shall not allow the entirety of the estate to be wasted on libations and prostitutes!”
“Oh I know, you much prefer to leave the country for such things don’t you?”
William's mother shot her gaze to her husband, a hurt look of betrayal and sadness painting her face. Alfred averted her gaze and instead fixed a look that could burn a hole through steel on William.
“How dare you speak to me with such insolence you degenerate little-”
“ALFRED! Please control yourself. You are both acting ridiculous. Why can’t the two of you ever have a normal conversation. You are father and son, not school children, please act like it”. The strain of that outburst seemed to have drained Mrs. Blackthorn of all energy as she nearly fainted into her chair upon finishing.
“How about hunting then”? The air seemed to freeze in the room as William’s father looked shocked for the first time since they’d arrived.
William however looked very pleased with himself, a cheshire grin plastered onto his face.
“You looked surprised, father. I thought you would be ecstatic that your son finally had a noble interest”.
“What do you mean boy? You have never shown the slightest interest in any decent past times. You will not change my stance on the matter with nonsensical prattle and distractions.”
“You know I really think a spot of tea might calm everyone’s nerves-” Mrs. Blackwood tried to interject.
“Vampires, werewolves... monsters. Far more interesting than any of the drab beasts you wasted so many years on”. William said all of this as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
Alfred was staring hard at him now. Those razor like eyes looking for any trace of humor and finding none.
“You and that ruffian you dragged into my home have one chance to explain yourselves and this farce you are putting on or else take your leave”. Alfred's voice dropped in volume but the intensity was amplified ten fold.
Gavina could tell there was danger in that voice. This was a man who had endured much in his life, and had always met those challenges with deadly efficiency and tenacity. But she had dealt with much herself and was not about to be insulted before she had even uttered a single word on either end of this conversation.
“Now just a bloody minute ye wrinkled old sod! Ah don’t give two shites about you and yer little Jessie of a son, but ah will be damned if I let some pompous snob nosed English cunt sit here and drag ma name through the mud before sayin so much as hello. Despite bein as irritatin as they come yer lad has proven ta me that he is nuthin if not honest, probably too honest. Ah hunt with me da. Beasts that would turn what’s left of yer hair white if you so much as crossed eyes with em. Saved this gibberin idiot here from one of them just the other night in fact. Yeh know what he did after comin two inches from death at the hands of a bloody vampire? He invited me in fer supper and begged to come with me to kill more of the bastards. The more ah told him how dangerous it was and the more ah told him no, the harder the pratt pushed me ta let im. So whatever kind of childish bullshite he’s gotten up to in the past ta make ye lose such faith in im, at the very least the lad has a couple a stone's swingin between those dainty legs of his unlike that gray little blob there in the corner!”
“Now I hardly think that was need-”
“Silence Reginald”. Alfred interrupted his younger son's attempt to defend himself.
“All ah want is teh be on mah way to go find me dah, who disappeared trackin’ down a beast that we have a long standin grudge with, and ah agreed to take yer son along so long as he proved useful. The first theng he wanted ta do was come brag to his da about his grand little adventure and prove to ye that he is more than an idiot and a screw up. But here you are like the lord of the feckin universe passin’ judgment and strippin im of his birth rights because he didn’t turn out the way ye wanted. Well open yer feckin eyes ye blind shit, because from what ah can gather you’ve got one of the braver kids ah have ever seen come out of a spoiled upbringing like this damn palace ye have here”. Gavina took a breath, not realizing what a roll she had been on this whole time.
She took in the look on Alfred's face and couldn’t read what was going on underneath it. His cold blue eyes bored into her soul, dissecting her every word and reading her like a book. She felt utterly naked under that gaze but decided she would not give him the satisfaction of showing her discomfort, so she instead chose to cross her arms defiantly and stare him right back down.
“Is everything this spiteful young woman said true William? Did you truly come here to convince me that you are off to the far corners of the country to fight some fictional beasts of nightmare and fantasy? Look me in the eyes and speak true boy”. The patriarch's tone left no room for argument or debate.
“Yes father” William retorted, all joking and sarcasm stricken from his tone.
“Despite how impossible the whole thing seems, she is telling the truth. I stumbled upon an entire world few know about, and I have chosen to dive in with both feet”.
Alfred inspected his son, and seemed to find nothing that raised his suspicions. He returned his icy gaze to Gavina.
“You know very few have ever spoken to me the way you have today and walked away without a mild case of lead poisoning. Duels were illegal but not uncommon overseas among locals and soldiers who dishonored each other in such a manner. But…the courage, or rashness that it took a woman of your age and position to say to a man such as myself is commendable. William.” He began, turning his attention away from his verbal assassin.
“I do not, nor have I ever had, any desire to drive you out of this family, or your birthright. But it has been the greatest challenge of my life steering you towards a path of diligence and decency. You have never stepped up to any challenge in the way you seem to have jumped at this task the two of you have set before yourselves. I want to believe that your enthusiasm and dedication are earnest, and not merely the winds of fancy blowing you about randomly into an adventure you are ill prepared to handle. I am having a difficult time coming to terms with the notion that anything you speak of is even true, but if the two of you are set on this course then I extend to you my strongest wishes for your safety. Son. I can not simply give you the company or my title, nor risk my reputation marrying you to anyone of status with everything that you have shown me in the past regarding your responsibility and capacity for commitment to hard work”.
“Yes yes you made that abundantly clear when you said you were making the human marionette your heir”.
“I will not just sit here and take this abuse-”
“Be quiet Reggie!” Alfred, William and Gavina shouted in unison.
“If you would allow me to finish” Alfred said, more than a little annoyed
“If you were to give me some sort of proof that you can indeed be trusted to take on a difficult and dangerous endeavor, and to see it through to the end, and even do some good in the world by doing so, I would be so inclined as to redact my decision to grant your position to Reginald”.
“But father, you promised me and Gwyneth!”
“Reginald your marriage arrangement is final and I promise you a fine respectable position in the company no matter what happens, and as far as the disappointment of those sheep raising parents of hers go I could honestly not care any less if I tried, so do calm yourself and cease your constant interjecting into this conversation”.
“Yes father, as you wish” Said Reggie, his voice low in defeat.
“So you’re saying that all I have to do to earn your approval, and the family assets, is to follow through with a dangerous and idiotic adventure in which I will be faced with supernatural perils and unspeakable danger all in the name of helping a fair maiden save a peasant I have never met? Well I wish you had said so years ago. Would have been infinitely less daunting than that god awful etiquette class you and mother stuck me in when I was sixteen.”
“Ah yes, that unfortunate disaster” Alfred said, his voice trailing off as though remembering the ghosts of some war past.
“The Earl of Salisbury’s son still walks with a limp”. moaned out William's mother.
“Let’s not revisit that tragedy shall we mother? I doubt that fragile heart of yours could stand it.”
“Hello? Did ah suddenly become invisible or am ah simply not good enough to deserve the prolonged attention of yer majesty's” Gavina spat, none to pleased at her personal struggles being used to further the family politics of a bunch of people who she just met.
“Oh of course not. I am sorry if this has turned a bit callous as to your part in everything. After all, it is your father in danger.” William attempted to salvage his image in her eyes, not wanting her to think that he cared more for personal matters than the life of her loved ones.
“I sympathize with your plight my dear. I lost my father to war when I was an adolescent. It is a painful and trying ordeal. I would not wish it on anyone. You have my support in your search and I hope you are met with success. Now, since the two of you are going into danger you are going to need all the help you can get. You are welcome to any weapons from the armory that you wish and as I have for his entire life, I will grant William and you all the fiscal support that you need. Lastly, because I am far beyond my adventuring and risk taking days and thus can not accompany you to make sure that my son can’t put the mission in any more peril than necessary, I will be lending you Bal Das.” Alfred announced, his tone considerably softened from earlier.
“Listen, ah appreciate the kind words. And sure, the money is important and makes everythin easier, but ah draw the line at draggin some butler around to make tea and wipe Williams arse” Gavina insisted, in no way pleased at the prospect of any more dead weight.
“I can assure you, Bal Das has been the most valuable asset in my life for many years. He is useful beyond measure and the most loyal soul I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. I will not tolerate any insult towards him. If you are taking my son on this quest then I want to know that both of you are in the best hands possible, and that means Bal Das goes with you. That is all I will hear on the matter. Bal, take them to the kitchen and feed these two trouble making ingrates. Then get them off to bed, they will need to get an early start in the morning. William, Gavina, I bid you goodnight. Come darling, let’s get you to bed, it has been an overly exciting day” He took his wife's hand and lead her out the door past a bowing Bal Das.
“Goodnight to you too father” Reggie said sarcastically, having been forgotten in all the talk of adventure and danger.
“Yes yes Reggie goodnight, I am sorry for depriving you of the attention you so desperately crave.” And without looking over his shoulder Alfred led his wife to their bedroom.
“Come, I shall do as the master instructed and prepare you each some dinner before I go up and draw you baths. I will be sure to have my things ready for the journey tomorrow. Where might I ask, are we going?” Bal Das inquired of his new charges.
Gavina sighed in exasperation, realizing that there was no way around taking the new tag along with her.
“York, we are going to york, so no need to bring the whole kitchen with you eh?” Bal Das gave her a serious look
“Indeed. I will only bring exactly what is needed, no more. Now come, you must both be famished.”
The three of them went to the kitchen where Bal cooked up a quick yet delicious meal of salted fish with fresh greens and baked apples for dessert. Once the pair had eaten their fill they returned to their previous rooms and saw that while they had been eating Bal indeed had snuck off and filled two tubs with warm water and placed one in each room with a metal drip pan to keep water off the floor when they exited. He handed each a bar of soap and a towel and bid them goodnight and a good wash.
“Cleanliness is next to godliness.” He said as he took his leave
“Well it has been a long evening, and I am sorry for the unpleasantness. Things got rougher than I anticipated but I think in the end everything turned out better than could be expected. Before I was just some arrogant little idiot seeking a cheap if dangerous thrill. Now I am a dashing aristocrat on a quest to rescue the fair maidens (I assume you are a maiden considering that nasty attitude of yours) father from harm and win back his kingdom! However I am thoroughly exhausted and will be heading to bed. Goodnight!” He slammed the door before he could have his head torn off for the second use of the maiden comment much to Gavina’s chagrin.
She took her toiletries and went to her room and relaxed in the warm bath while she had the chance, but was in no mood to smell herself for the second day in a row.
“Ah don’t know what the hell ah’ve got maself into with these nutters, but hopefully they just manage to stay out of ma way and leave me to do the real work. Either of them does anythin ta keep ma father from me ah swear ah’ll put a round through each of their skulls.” Being this close to her father's last known location was putting her on edge even more than before.
“Ah promise ah’ll do whatever it takes to get ye back and we will bring down the bastard that took mother away from you.” She whispered to herself, much less certain than her words would suggest.
She climbed into bed and buried herself under the thick heavy blankets and let herself drift off to a restless sleep, filled with screams of agony crying out through dense fog, and the haunting howls of wolves.
Morning came and Gavina was awoken to her immediate fright and annoyance to the sights and sounds of the Blackwood’s manservant flitting about her room straightening things up. While she was unconscious he appeared to have refilled the barely touched decanter of scotch and polished the glass she had drank out of the night before, and laid out a new change of clothes similar to the ones she arrived in, only of much sturdier and fresher quality. All of her weapons and ammunition were strewn about the floor in a neat and organized manner and appeared to be in noticeably better shape.
“What in god’s name are you doing in here ya shifty bastard!” She shouted indignantly.
“Didn’t anyone ever teach ye ta knock before ye come bargin in on a woman in her bedroom?”
“I am more than aware of the rules of etiquette madam, but this is my masters room, not yours, and seeing as we must be leaving early this morning I saw fit to put everything in order before we leave, seeing as I will have no other chance to do so. I have procured you a new wardrobe and took the liberty of disassembling and cleaning all of your equipment. I can see you prefer the up close and personal treatment and already have a respectable collection of weapons, so I did not fetch you any arms from our armory, but I have provided you with two sticks of dynamite. Reckless weapons I know but they have gotten my master and myself out of our fair share of situations during our travels. They will fit easily into loops of the new belt I provided for you, and your new boots should fit you well enough, they are master Williams old hunting boots, so they are practically unused. Your foot size seems to be close to his when he was 12. Do hurry down for breakfast as we have not much time before the early train to York departs and the trip to the station is not a fast one.” Bal turned to her and bowed, not acknowledging her insult in any way, and exited the room.
“Who the hell does he thenk he is puttin his mits all over ma gear” She complained to herself half heartedly as she looked over them all and saw that he had done an impeccable job of cleaning them all to a high sheen.
There was not a single crumb of dirt or grime in a single crack or crevice of the weapons. The dynamite was a bit of a surprise but if they were in for the kind of danger that could put her father out of commision then she might need it. The clothes fit her well and it felt nice to be in something that she hadn’t worn for the past month straight with nothing more than an improvised rinse in a brook or bathtub to clean them out.
She gathered all her guns and knives off the floor and fitted them into their various sheaths and holsters.
“Christ alive he even oiled the bloody leather. That man is relentless'' She exclaimed, a hint of admiration for his attention to detail and diligence to service.
Armed to the teeth and feeling fresh and rested she ran down stairs and was greeted by the sight of everyone standing around the entrance room and waiting for her. William was dressed in a simple brown walking jacket and tan trousers, a white button up work shirt and sturdy leather shoes. Bal Das stood by, holding a large canvas rucksack and dressed in a simple loose fitting white linen shirt and baggy linen pants.
“Good morning! All set for our trip? Good! Father has had the carriage brought around and Bal is packed and ready to go. I see that you have experienced the wonderful hospitality of good old Bal Das here by the looks of your outfit. He is a marvel of domestic service. Been with my father since before I was born.”
“I am sure you are hungry, I have prepared breakfast on the go so you may eat on the way to the train.” Bal stated, handing a brown paper package to Gavina and William as though to emphasize his relentless helpfulness.
“Well…thank ye ah’spose. And ah apologize for goin off on ye this mornin, but ah’m not used to havin people getting the drop on me. You must have cats feet under those little slippers to surprise me.”
“Bal has many hidden talents that I know will serve you in your travels.” Alfred spoke for the first time.
“I am sorry that we did not get the chance to know each other better. Once you accomplish this quest I hope that the two of you are able to return. I will prove that I am not so much of a beast. I wish the two of you safe travels and success in your mission. If you are able to rescue him I would be honored to meet your father and share tales of our past hunts together over a drink.” He extended his hand and shook both hers and Williams.
“Come home safe son. Despite our differences, I have never been ashamed of you for being spirited, I simply have a responsibility to our family to make sure that it is looked after as well as possible when I am gone.”
“I don’t require some dangerous and quite honestly ludicrous sounding quest to prove that to you father.”
“Reginald not everything is about you.” Alfred shot back over his shoulder
“Yes Reggie, please do shut UP for once would you? Don’t be jealous just because nothing you do will ever convince anyone that you are qualified for anything other than a consolation prize.” Williams response seemed to take Reggie aback.
Gavina would have felt bad if he didn’t just keep taking the abuse without doing anything about it.
“Bal Das. I am entrusting you with my sons life. I understand that this task carries certain inherent dangers. But I trust you to guide him to the least reckless course of action possible. Serve them as an extension of myself and the oath you swore to me. I know you will act honorably and do right by me and my family.”
“Of course master. I swear upon my very soul that I shall serve faithfully and to the fullest of my capability” He retorted, humble as ever.
“Ha, let us hope the situation does not recall the fullest of your abilities, that would be a dire situation indeed. But stay true and return to me safely old friend.”
“Oh William darling do be careful. I simply couldn’t bear it if something happened to my angel”
“I’ll take care of you no matter what happens to him mother”
“That’s nice Reggie but mommy is talking to William right now.” She absently replied to her younger son.
“You young lady. I am sure you are more than capable of handling yourself, but my William is a fragile boy”
“Dear lord mother”
“Please look after him. I know you are suffering with the loss of your dear father but...but please remember that there are others relying on you now” Mrs. Blackwood said, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
Gavina did not like the sound of that. She had never been responsible for anyone before, other than providing back up and support for her own father and his occasional hunting companions. The idea of being in charge of another person's life and the happiness of their family by extension, it sent a chill up her spine and nearly caused her to bolt right then and there.
“Aye. Ah’ll do what ah can, but ah’ll not risk the life of ma own blood to save yer son if he goes and does something daft that puts him in danger.”
“W-well I d-do suppose that’s only fair” She began gently sobbing.
“Goodbye mother, I promise I will return in exactly the same condition or better than you left me in. Now let’s give us a hug so I can be on my way.” He wrapped her up in his arms and lifted the tiny woman in the air for a quick spin before setting her down next to Reginald.
“Goodbye Reggie, If I do make it back and you wind up with nothing, no hard feelings eh? Good.” He moved on before giving him a chance to respond to the frankly unfair joke that Reggie wanted him to fail. He had never been an ambitious child and only wanted his family to remain respected and his parents to remain sane. No matter how much that might have caused him to fail in developing what some refer to as a “personality”
“Father” William said, rapping up his goodbyes.
“I promise to see this through to the end, and that by the end of this insanity that there will be no doubt as to who truly deserves to cary on your legacy”
“Oh I have no doubt about that. Goodbye, and good luck. May you bring back some stories with you and perhaps I shall share a few of my own. I think you are grown up enough to hear them now.”
“Oh I await that with anticipation. The real story must be far more exciting than the half conscious accusations and exaggerations mother makes in her sleep every time you go away on business.” William looked slyly at his now blushing mother.
“Goodbye all, I shall return post haste, the conquering hero or ragged meatless corpse. Either way I want a huge party thrown in my honor” With that he bounded out the front door and to the carriage before he had to endure any more sentimental displays of emotion.
Gavina and Bal followed suit, albeit with considerably less enthusiasm. They all got in, Bal hauling out his bag and the small case William had come with originally, no doubt stuffed with whatever equipment the butler deemed necessary to keep his young charge alive.
“What the hell kind of grave am ah diggin for mahself with this trip?” Gavina whispered to herself.
The sooner she got her father back safely the sooner she could once again embrace the quiet solitude of the road and leave behind the drama and noise of these ridiculous people and the complicated tangle of their lives.