Chapter Twenty Six: The Brotherhood of The Sun

Aiden had been giving Bates looks to leave him alone with Lorraine. The man didn’t particularly want to leave, but he could see how insistent Aiden was. Bates knew Aiden more than anyone, spending over half a century with someone makes you know them in every single way. Therefore, it was easy for Bates to see how Aiden’s earlier intrigue with Lorraine had morphed into something different. Although he never said it aloud, Bates had thought that it could be a good thing, especially after getting to know her. He didn’t think she knew how much she had a positive impact on Aiden. His progeny had stopped looking at his existence as cursed. He began to hangout with other humans, unlike before when he avoided them like a plague. “I’ll make a quick call.” He excused himself and left the house.

Aiden waited a second longer after Bates had left, then turned to Lorraine. “I should have protected you. I promised.”

“Aiden.” His name left her mouth with a sigh. “There’s no need for an apology. If I were in your shoes I think I would have done the same.” She shook her head and gave him a small smile, “Don’t beat yourself over it. We don’t even know what he had gone through.” It was one of her beliefs, all people are inherently good and without mitigating factors, she believed their innate goodness would not be eroded with age. “He must have seen a lot in his time.”

“How can you…” Aiden didn’t know how she could find excuses for the man who had taken her mother and was about ready to kill her. “How can you find it in yourse;f to make excuses for him?”

Lorraine shrugged, “I think I would like someone to give me excuses when I fuck up too.” She gave a small smile and held his hand while holding his gaze, “You need to talk to him, bury whatever grudge he holds against you. A woman should never turn brothers into foes. It’s just not right.”

“He met her first. He was so enamored by her, and when I met her… It was like magic back then.” Aiden didn’t know why he wanted to tell her what happened, perhaps because he wanted Lorraine to see and accept him with everything that he was and is. His earlier fear of her running away dispersed, maybe because he saw a small fraction of her compassion that it assured him. “Basilia was different.” the name didn’t leave the ache it used to when he uttered it. “And I don’t know how or when but I fell for her and I pursued her. She was barely sixteen and persued by two brothers who were vying for her affection. It must have been confusing for her.”

When Aiden paused, she gave his hand a small squeeze. “You don’t have to talk about it.”

“But I want you to know.” The desperation in his tone took her by surprise, so she nodded. “When I turned, I was very confused and hungry, but I was also overwhelmed by the desire to see her. It felt like my life depended on it. I managed to escape Bates, and I went to her house. She was surprised to see me, and out of her worry and relief she jumped in my arms. When I showed her what I am, she started screaming, called me a devil, and tried to run.” He shook his head, “A couple of weeks later, I turned Mark.”

Lorraine felt for the girl; *“She must have been scared out of her mind.”* Lorraine thought pitifully. The haunted look on Aiden’s eyes brought her back to him, “It’s okay. It’s all in the past now.”

"I would do anything to take it back, literally anything." He had been living his entire life in agony, regret, and self-loath. He tried really hard to bury the memories, ignore them, and even pretend like they never happened. However, every day it has become more difficult.

"We cannot change the past." Her voice pulled him out of his thoughts, "But we can make a different future, one that we wish to have. And you have a privilege that not many of us have." His eyes met hers in question, "You have time. Unlimited amount of time that is."

"It feels like a curse rather than a blessing." He scoffed, "An eternity of being alone, roaming the earth and watching everyone around you die."

"But you're not really alone, Aiden. You have Bates, you've had him since you turned. You have me now." Then her smile widened, "And you totally have Judy." Aiden chuckled, not finding it funny but he didn't want to bring her down. He really appreciated what she was doing for him, listening to his sob story despite having so much on her plate. "We all care about you, so don't be so gloomy."

Bates returned to the house with a small smile after having heard most of their conversation. “Cedric called.” He started his face turning serious, “He’s on his way.”

Lorraine nodded, “Did he say anything about that tattoo that freaked him out?” When Bates shook his head she let out a small sigh and the three sat in silence.

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When Cedric arrived at the house, he found Lorraine’s head on Aiden’s shoulder. She had fallen asleep waiting for his arrival, but the sight made his jaws clench. He didn’t know what it was, but the clarity of Aiden’s feelings for her didn’t settle well with him. He hated to admit it, but it wasn’t even about killing her anymore. “We need to get to Victoria Delvaux.” His eyes didn’t leave Lorraine despite directing his words to Bates.

“We can go right now.” Bates suggested. “But what did you find? What does that tattoo mean?”

Cedric sat on the chair opposite the couch, his eyes drifted to Bates, “There’s this group of vampires.”

Lorraine started stirring in her sleep, then she groggily rubbed her eyes. Seeing Cedric seemed to waken her better than the strongest shot of espresso. “You’re here. Any news?”

Cedric nodded, “The tattoo is a sign for a group of vampires. They are a fanatic bunch, they live to serve and obey one deathless. He’s long gone, and I thought they had ceased to exist with him gone, but apparently I was freaking wrong.”

“So, they’re like a cult?” Lorraine asked and Cedric nodded his confirmation with an inscrutable face.

“The Brotherhood of The Sun, that's what they called themselves. There’s the chance that it’s fake, maybe Victoria is using the symbol.” Cedric then turned to Bates, “That’s why we need to get Victoria as soon as possible.”

“But why would she want the grimoire, why did she bring us here?” Aiden asked, but no one gave an answer. He let out a short sigh and wrapped his arm around Lorraine’s shoulder.
When Lorraine decided to check on her mom then head to bed, Cedric tld the other two that they should leave as well, get ready for their trip to Williamsburg. However, Aiden showed his disagreement to the plan, telling them someone needed to stay with Lorraine for protection. A wave of anger coursed through Cedric’s body, and his usual nonchalant face changed. Bates noticed that, and he defused the situation. “Aiden nothing will happen. She needs her rest, and being here is useless. We need a plan and there are a lot of things we don’t understand. I know you want to protect her, and you will.”

Aiden agreed reluctantly, and once they left the house, Cedric claimed he had something to do and he would meet them at the house. The two thought it was related to Victoria or the grimoire, but they were both wrong.

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Cedric didn’t know what he was doing there, standing in front of her house, listening to her moving about her room. It was an impulse that he wanted to talk to her. What about? He had no clue. Therefore, he jumped through her open window, leaning on the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, he waited for her to come out of the bathroom. He contemplated the thought of her. So far, she had proven herself to be brave, loyal, with a wild soul and a smart mind.

He heard the click of the bathroom door opening and Lorraine existed with a towel over her shoulder. Her face was devoid of any makeup, and her forest green eyes blinked at his presence a couple of times. “What are you doing here?”

Cedric only shrugged, *"Isn’t that the million-dollar question?"* He thought to himself but said nothing. She walked to the side of her bed and sat on the edge facing him. “We have to figure out if your mother is a descendant of the Vancsura”. He decided to say the first thing that came to her mind.

She shook her head, “I find it highly unlikely”. She nibbled on her lower lip and her eyes met his in a questioning gaze, “When I asked her about the name, she didn’t seem to have heard it before. My mom has never been that good of a liar.” A moment of silence passed between the two, lorraine sat on her bed, “But is that why you’re really here?” She tilted her head to the side as she voiced her question.

“Why else?” She only shrugged at his question. His eyes narrowed and he walked closer to her, leaning down slightly to meet her eyes, “There’s something about you.”

She raised an eyebrow, “Other than being hunted by a witch and a cult of vampires? I don't think so.” Cedric only hummed, then walked back to the window giving her his back. Lorraine let out a sigh, “Do you… Do you still want to kill me?” She stuttered, got off the bed, and walked to stand right behind him.