Chapter 121
Charlie POV
I was stood in Dermot and Siobhan's living room, staring at the barrier, waiting for someone to decide something, rather than just waiting for the worst to happen, when I heard his voice. Simultaneously comforting me, and terrifying me, every time I spoke to him it felt like he was saying goodbye, preparing me for a life after him. I longed to kiss him one last time, to hear his heartbeat, and look into his eyes, I wasn’t sure if it was my powers or something else but for a second, I could almost feel him, like he was right next to me. But the feeling left me dizzy and disoriented, I nearly collapsed as I grabbed a chair for support.
“Charlie? Are you alright?” I heard Siobhan ask, but I couldn’t break the link with Daniel, not yet, I needed more time. But all too soon he was gone, I couldn’t stop an errant tear or two slip down my cheeks before I steeled myself and turned to face the family I was becoming quite find of. Only for them to be looking at me in fear and confusion, all except Niamh, who looked fascinated.
“What?” I asked a little defensively.
“Is that what your powers look like?” Niamh asked, making my brow furrow in bewilderment.
“Huh?” I asked.
“Just then your eyes glowed a soft purple colour, it was very pretty, and then it was like someone let off dozens of purple sparklers, and the sparks made the shape of a man, right next to you. It was beautiful!” Niamh gushed, making my face heat up.
“It did?” I asked the others, my face feeling redder.
“Kinda looked like Daniel, sorta, but it wasn’t like it had a face, so I can’t be sure.” Dermot replied, uncomfortably.
“I didn’t know. I mean, I miss him and I’m worried about him, and I wish we were together, and I think he did too when he linked me. Could my powers tap into my desires like that though?” I asked the witches, embarrassed I knew so little about my own abilities.
“The first step in any spell is intention.” Meabh replied.
“So, I tried to bring Daniel here?” I asked.
“It’s possible.” Siobhan said with a sad smile, and pouring me another cup of tea, I was sick of tea, I couldn’t drink anymore of it.
“What did Daniel say? Does Hyacinth have a plan?” Meabh asked, frustrated by our conversational tangent.
“They are going to cast a spell that should kill most of the vampires, but they can’t be certain they will get them all. The spell also requires them to drop their barrier, and Hyacinth will form another one around just them. But, the blast from their spell could take out our barrier, so they are asking us to stay sheltered in place until they give the all clear.” I don’t know why I was talking like something out of a procedural cop show, but it kept Meabh from losing her shit completely.
“Is that what Hyacinth said, or what your mate said?” Meabh asked sceptically.
“Daniel said it was what Hyacinth wants.” I replied, staring her down.
“Because Hyacinth told us, that we would be her generals in whatever battles come to us, so why is she all of a sudden keeping us out of the loop, and only talking to you and your wolf mate?” She bit.
“That's enough, Hyacinth trusts Daniel, and Charlie. I don’t know what she told you or when, but this is bigger than age old quarrels with other species!” Dermot suddenly shouted, his demeanour and eyes changing, and for the first time I saw how much power the man possessed, as his hands lit up with blue flames.
“Sweetheart, it’s alright.” Siobhan softly cooed to her husband, until he shook his head and the flames disappeared, his once azure blue eyes returning to a much more human colour.
“Charlie is someone vital to winning the coming War. This is just the first battle; you don’t waste your generals in the first skirmish.” Dermot snapped, as he turned and left the room.
“Is he alright?” I asked softly, genuinely worried about the man.
“He’s seen enough war for one lifetime.” Siobhan replied quietly, before busying herself by tidying away the few empty tea cups, and saucers. She took them into the kitchen and I heard her turn on the faucet as the sisters followed after her. Meabh eyed me warily, as she left, while Niamh looked apologetic, Eithne and Cadhla ignored me completely. Once I was alone, I snuck after Dermot, I wasn’t sure why. I found him leaning against the house, on the abandoned street, a cigarette between his lips, and his hands in his pockets, just watching the lightning dancing through the sky, as he puffed away.
“Are you alright?” I asked quietly, a little afraid of scaring him.
“The fear war creates, lasts forever, no matter how long it’s been. When I feel that kind of terror, I’m an eighteen-year-old kid again, back on that battlefield. You’ve heard the stories of Hitler's obsession with the occult?” He asked, throwing me.
“Um, sure I guess, it’s kinda well known. But what's that got to do with you?” I asked baffled.
“He was supposedly half vampire, pure vampire, the bitten ones don’t reproduce, thankfully. The story is, that his mother had an affair with a powerful born vampire. It's not uncommon for vampires to use humans like... well the best comparison I can think of is the way slave owners used to use their slaves. They think of them as pets, they use them for pleasure, sometimes food, and usually they are disposed of discreetly, but, sometimes, the human gets pregnant, or the vampire, and the child is left with the human parent to raise. So, when little Adolf heard the truth about his parentage, he tracked the man down, and was told he was nothing, a bastard, and a half breed. After that, he would track down any creature that wasn’t human and interrogate them, experiment on them, torture them, convinced one of us would be the answer of how to kill all the vampires, bitten and born. Many of us still had family in the countries he was invading, so, we went to war too. And it was worse than anything you can imagine.” He explained.
“I’m so sorry you went through all that.” I whispered, my voice failing me.
“It was my duty to fight, I don’t regret my part in the war effort. But that doesn’t mean I want my daughters experiencing the same thing.” He said looking at me intently.
“And if they decide to fight anyway?” I asked.
“Then I will be there to shield them from what I can.” He replied solemnly, his eyes never leaving the sky.
“They are very powerful.” I mused as I too watched the barrier.
“That they are.” He replied, but his face brightened in a proud smile.
“And strong willed.” I piled on, making him chuckle.
“Stronger than me.” He said looking at me for the first time.
“I don’t know about that, they had to get it from someone.” I smiled, glad that I had finally done something, even if it was very small in the grand scheme of things.
“Come on, we better get back inside. I have no idea how Hyacinth will get in touch, but I doubt it will be much longer.” Dermot said, pushing himself off the wall with his foot and turning towards the door.
“Why do you think Hyacinth will be in touch?” I asked as I stepped inside.
“You really expect me to believe you didn’t tell Daniel my girls will only step down with her say so?” He asked making me whip around surprised. “I’m a good judge of character.” He shrugged, making me chuckle.
“You must have been a nightmare to live with when the girls were teens!” I couldn’t help but blurt, causing Dermot to belly laugh at my reaction. I heard a clatter in the kitchen, before Siobhan appeared in the doorway, a worried expression on her face.
“You alright my A ghrá?” She asked him.
“Yes, Charlie just surprised me, and we had a good talk. I’m sorry if I scared you.” He said embracing her lovingly and kissing her cheek.
“I’m fine, if you are alright?” She asked again, still concerned.
“Is ceol mo chroí thú, that’s all I need to be alright.” He whispered to her intimately, and I found myself fascinated by the ceiling, embarrassed by what was clearly a private moment.
“Dermot Lear! What am I going to do with you? Embarrassing everyone when we’ve got company!” Siobhan giggled in mock disapproval as Dermot continued to kiss her face and neck, and earning himself a playful swat from his wife.
“Is it my fault you are more beautiful now, than when I met you? I’m a man, I notice these things.” Dermot said with a chuckle, which abruptly stopped, and their faces went slack, their eyes glazed over, scaring me for a moment.
*Hi everyone, as promised, I am trying to update every other day, or daily when possible. Thank you for reading, I hope you are enjoying the story and I thought I would include a little translation, for anyone wondering. A ghrá (uh grawh) means love, and Is ceol mo chroí thú (Is cyoal mu khree who) means you're the music of my heart*
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