Bambi and the Duke

”Of course, you would have. It is something I have learned and picked from him,” to this she furrowed her eyebrows wondering what they meant. Before Nicholas could say anything, Leonard interrupted the Lord with a sharp glint of the eye that was meant for Nicholas.

Leonard said, ”I have a habit of picking a souvenir like memory after every mission.”

”Memory?” asked Vivian. Leonard turned his body so that he could lean his back on the wall with his hands in his pocket. She stared at Leonard waiting for him to answer as he didn’t reply to her question right away.

”Every time I finish a job from the council, I pick a book from the place. The books normally have a drop of blood on them,” he paused waiting for Vivian to understand what he meant. Lord Nicholas who was standing behind grinned like a devil as if the dirty secrets of Leonard was getting split which his newlywed wife wasn’t aware of.

More than pondering over what Leonard meant Vivian found it odd that he would pick something like that as a habit in picking up books.

To the Lord’s surprise, while he waited for Vivian to ask why he would kill people, he heard the human ask, ”Why to lock them?”

”Because they have blood,” was the simple reply she received from Leonard, ”It’s an odd habit. If one were to find a book that had blood etched on it, fresh or old ones, questions are bound to be asked on what they are doing and any murder that takes place will come upon the holder of the book,” Vivian nodded her head and then turned to look at Nicholas.

”You do it for the same reason?” to her question, Lord Nicholas smiled.

”I was following your husband’s footprints wondering why he does what he does but the mystery is yet to be solved. And yes, they are locked for the same reason. Would like to see them?” Nicholas offered her which she eagerly nodded to.

Leonard didn’t want her touching the books. The future was inevitable where she would one day see the side of him which would be worse than what he had done to the human who had come in search of the man Rory. But right now, he didn’t want her seeing that side of him, his jaw was set firmly as he watched Nicholas unlock the glass case to pick out a book. When his eyes fell on her gloved hand, he let out an internal sigh.

Vivian went through the book which Lord Nicholas had picked out for her and all she could say was they weren’t interesting enough to be placed in the glass case. Closing the book and turning it around while Leonard and Nicholas spoke to each other, she saw the edge that had been inked in red. The colour wasn’t dark but it wasn’t bright either to indicate the death of whoever it was had taken place probably a few days ago.

With Nicholas’ help, she picked the books that she found would be helpful in her studies in becoming a better councilwoman that is if she would pass the exam. Unfortunately, though, Lord Nicholas didn’t allow anyone to take his prized books out of the mansion. When she had asked him, his words were,

”I am a little odd when it comes to sharing and seeing my books leave the mansion. You can come here anytime and spend time with the books here as long as you want.”

Lord Nicholas had asked them to stay for dinner, wanting to extend their time with him in his quiet mansion where there was no guest apart from Leo and herself. The time she spent at the Rune’s mansion was more than pleasant. The small taunting and teasing between Lord Nicholas and Leonard were nice to look at as Vivian turned to be a spectator.

Before the time of dinner, Lord Nicholas butler came in to give him a letter which was neatly enveloped in a cover with a red wax stamp on it.

”Isn’t that a Winter Ball’s seal?” asked Leonard who sat next to her.

”It is but it is too early to be receiving the invitation letter,” Nicholas pulled open the envelope, unfolding the card that was in to read it aloud, ”Dear Lord Nicholas, we are here to tell you that the Winter’s ball will be taking place earlier than the expected date. Kindly, grace us with your presence to bring out the heritage of the pureblooded vampires and the high society. Well, that’s a short invitation,” the Lord turned around the card to check if anything more was written.

”Where is it held?” Leonard asked him.

”Valeria. It’s at the Delcrov’ mansion,” Lord Nicholas answered which perked Vivian’s ears. Valeria. Wasn’t it the place Martha frequented when she was still alive? The thought of her meeting her parents and if there was any other relative brought hope to her, ”For a stone made man like him, I am surprised he wants to entertain the guests,” commented Nicholas.

Before they could leave the mansion after dinner, Lord Nicholas pulled Vivian aside which caused an unhappy expression on Leo’s face but not saying anything, he waited for her in the carriage, This is for you,” Nicholas pulled up a brown package from his coat to give it to her, ”It is a wedding present. I hope you like it.”

”Thank you for the gift,” Vivian bowed her head to show the respect she held for the man.

”It is good to have him rely on someone emotionally, that he puts his emotions where you are. In his state, one would easily corrupt their soul without the need for a potion. Sometimes situations are enough to corrupt the heart until there is nothing but darkness left behind,” he said, a small smile still on his lips which made her wonder how he carried himself in such graceful manner. He was the epitome of elegance in the pureblooded society and no one could match his vigour, ”I am only his mentor but you are his wife now. Take good care of him, I leave him in your hands.”

Vivian nodded her head, ”I will,” she smiled back to see him return his acknowledgement with a wider smile.

Stepping inside the carriage with a serious expression on her face while she holding on to the wrapped package in her hands she sat next to Leo. It was a gift she had received from Lord Nicholas before she had got in.

When the carriage left, Leonard only eyed the package before asking Vivian, ”What did he say?” Vivian was unpacking the gift she had received to see what was in it.

”Nothing much,” she smiled to Leo’s inquiring eyes.

Like a dutiful elder brother, Nicholas had imparted his words to her, welcoming her to the family, though both Leonard and he came from different families they were bonded and tied deeper than blood.

”Ah, it’s a book!” she exclaimed to see a fawn that was drawn on top of its cover. On top of the book was written ’Bambi’ which made her smile. Had Leo told Nicholas about the story of Bambi and how the name came to be given by Leo to her?

”Tch, Nicholas. Rhys told him about the time Julliard and I decided to give you as a present to Charlotte,” Leo took the book from her hand, to open and turn the pages as his eyes skimmed a few paragraphs from the book. As if reminiscing something from the past and then gave it to her, ”But still not a bad gift.”

”The ink feels fresh,” she said, bringing the book close to her face and smelling the pages which made a scrunch her face, ”I must thank Lord Nicholas properly.”

”I think two words sufficed which you might have,” Leonard put his arm around her shoulder to bring her close, ”Is there any place you would like to visit, Vivi? Somewhere you would like to go?” he asked her. He had asked her nonchalantly but he wanted to give her the opportunity to do something she would possibly want to do as they were out and away from the mansion.

Holding the book that laid on her lap, she gave some thought and then spoke, ”Two places,” she said, her eyes holding hope along with uncertainty if he would be willing to go.

”Anywhere you want,” he assured, caressing the side of her head.

”Grace and Paul’s home,” since they had been taken by the council guards and had been executed the house had been locked down and the keys were given to the magistrate to look after. Due to this she couldn’t go and look in there, to remember and miss the people who had been killed wrongly.

”Okay.”

Leonard didn’t question why she wanted to go take a look. The guilt of killing the innocents was heavy which weighed behind Leo’s mind but there was nothing one could do. The switcher had intelligently picked the person who would be easy to blame and move on to whatever they wanted to do.

It wasn’t that Vivian wanted to hurt him but it was the first place that had come to her mind when he had asked her. Somewhere Leo knew that it might have been to the graves where they were buried so that she could spend some time there. It wasn’t that she didn’t go to visit them. After the execution, Leo had caught Vivian going to their graves to pay her respect. But he never objected her from going, he was angry yet he didn’t speak a word on it and right now he was glad he hadn’t.

Leonard spoke to the magistrate and picked up the key of the house where Vivian unlocked it. The house looked a little shabbier, a few things lying on the ground as if there had been forced entry before this placed was locked down.

Removing her gloves, she took a look around. It wasn’t just her but also Leo who often came along with her as she used to drag him here when they were little children. Though in the mansion, Vivian followed Leo like the little kitten she used to be when they were out it would be Leo keeping a close on her as if someone would steal his favourite toy.

With Vivian who had no family of her own, Paul often brought the girl where the young master tagged along. She had spent her nights here, playing and talking, helping Paul’s sister in the kitchen with little errands until she could cook a good meal for everyone. Running her hands on the uneven walls she looked at the home while Leonard took a few steps of his home to remember his time spent here with the family he had executed.

She had started to learn to pick up happy memories after a great deal of concentration. Though it wasn’t as clear as the ones that came to her freely, it was scarce but enough to bring a warm smile on her lips.

Seeing Vivian walk around the room and come to him, he asked, ”The cemetery?” he asked her.

”Will you come with me?” she asked him, doubtful if he would accompany her as since they had died not once did he go there.

”Anywhere you call me to,” his reply melted her heart and she caught hold of his hand, standing on the tips of her toes she left a kiss on his cheek.

”Thank you, Leo,” she knew how he felt and it wasn’t that she wanted to hurt him but she wanted him to face his emotions which he was trying to work alone. She was here with him, and if he ever needed a shoulder she would happily give it to him. She was his wife and it wasn’t because it was her duty but because of the mere reason that she loved him dearly enough that she wanted to be there for him at any point in time.

Taking the carriage to the cemetery, Vivian and Leonard stepped into the local cemetery of the village which was where the town and village folks were buried.

With the family being blamed for conspiring against the pureblooded family and killing some of them, their graves were placed at the far end of the graveyard where unnecessary weeds and shrubs had grown at the back end with dirty water running behind it. It was a sad sight.

For a family that had loved both the children, had seen both of them grow with each other’s fondness had been executed in front of their eyes. Unable to stay there long, Leonard excused himself to tell he would be waiting for her at the carriage.

Seeing Leonard’s sorrowful back, she turned to look at the graves of the family. It was not only hard on her but also on Leo who had been the one to get the execution to not just one but the entire family. The smile Paul had offered her at the end time of his life was etched in her mind that maybe would never disappear.

”I hope you come to forgive for what he did,” spoke Vivian to the dead family with a soft and low voice so that no one could hear her. She knew deep down in her heart that even if Paul and Martha weren’t here today, their spirits would still come to resonate and tell her that they had forgiven the ’young master’ as they used to address him. She had brought him here so that he could face them but it seemed that it was too soon to do that, ”We got married, Grace,” she said looking at Paul’s sister’s grave that sat in the front while Paul’s was placed on the other end and almost corner to the dirty water that passed by from the village.

”We got married yesterday at the church. It was different than I imagined...” she trailed, picking the twigs and dried flowers mud that had come to form on them, ”It was good though. Leo asked me to be his wife and I couldn’t refuse. I am his wife now. I wish all of you were there,” her hand didn’t stop moving and she smiled, ”And I was hoping during the ceremony that took place that you, Paul, Martha, Thomas and even Mrs Carmichael and Mr Carmichael with others were present to witness it. It was beautiful. My favourite day,” she whispered as tears formed in her eyes that refused to shed.

Before the tears had the opportunity to fall down, she quickly wiped them away, ”I have a family now. And one day,” Vivian turned around to make sure Leonard wasn’t there eavesdropping or hoping that he wasn’t, ”We’ll have children, maybe not a lot but two or three,” she sighed.

At times Vivian wished she knew that she had the ability to feel, to see things so that she could have avoided the ill fate three of the close families she had known that let them die. But there was nothing one could do. Vivian knew Leonard had made his effort in looking through the evidence but there was nothing that could have proven his innocence.

Patting the stone as if she was saying her bye, she got up and went to meet Leonard who stood outside the graveyard looking far away at a mountain that resided close to the village.