Blue

Part#12

With a rub over my face, I latch on to a safe-zone conversation with the man.

“Their room needs painting, and I’ll need a stroller, I can’t carry them both around

all the time and children should go outside too,” I hate asking for anything, especially when

it can be interpreted as taking advantage. The only reason I do ask is because it is not for me

and the kids can’t speak for themselves, “I also need to find new formula for them because I

don’t think they’re satisfied with the stuff they’re getting. How old do you think they are?

The website I looked at said, when they can sit up and watch you eat, they’re developing

well. I forgot to check when they’re supposed to get solids. Do you think they’re old

enough? I guess I can try pureed food and see how they take to it. They don’t have a fever

anymore, that is good and …”

Declyn walks with me to the kitchen and places the two seats on the island counter.

He leans between the them with his chin in the palms of his hands and watches me move

around the kitchen. I am barely aware of him or the children.

First I make coffee and the smell cheers me up to no end. After my exploration of the

kitchen last night, I know there are ingredients to make an omelette and fresh bread for

toast. My mind is in overdrive and my mouth blurt out everything I mulled over through

the night.

“They can never know they were just dumped. Maybe if you get to know them, you

can adopt them? I mean they can’t run around without legal documentation, right? What if

there’s some kind of trouble and nobody knows who to contact? And birthdays! They msut

have those too, it is important. Oh, sorry, do you want something to eat too, there’s

enough?” My fingers clutch around the spatula as I turn around to face Declyn. Three pairs

of eyes watch me intently and I scowl at them, “What?”

Declyn looks at Venus and Eros in turn and wriggles his nose while speaking to

them, not me, “I think we have a morning babbler on our hands. Do you think we should

ask her to write all the questions down to answer later? I think we should!” He teases.

The blush pushes from my chest and I turn away from him when the kids prattle

back in response.

Why am I this nervous? Oh, that’s right. I’m in the company of the most handsome damn beast I

know, and last night I signed a contract that says I will stay in his house and take care of his children; only he

doesn’t want them or me around. Oh, and his emerald green eyes? Gods they’re haunting my heart for the

lightness of them today. At least now I know when he’s fed.

“Blue,” he stops mimicking the baby-talk with Eros and Venus, “Thank you, but I do

not need to eat anything at the moment. I had the children at a physician before I brought

them to the coven – well done inspector, their ages are set at three months, give or take a few

days. They are Rothchildes children; my children and now they have names I will file the

paperwork and make it official. Their birthdays are set as the day I found them, three

months ago. Make a list of everything you need and I’ll have it back here by this afternoon.

As for their food … They need supplement meals and not the milk kind. I’ll go out to get a

hare before the next meal. We can bleed it out for them to add to the milk and start on a soft,

blender mush – he shudders – tomorrow. Did I miss anything?” He asks and I am too afraid

to look at him because of the distinct taunting tones in his voice.

“Contacts in case of emergency,” I point out and he snickers audibly behind me. That

however is of little concern to me this instant. Why would he feed them blood and meat? I

don’t know much about children, but I know that is not a diet they should follow. Do I want

to risk his good mood by criticizing his parenting though? No. No I don’t because I’m a

coward.

“Oh, that’s right. Yes, I saw to that last night. I am their legal parent and your name

is added as a guardian, unless you object?” He answers and I turn around to verify if he is

serious. He is!

“Like, like a mother?” I ask, panic squeezing at my windpipe.

Seriously? Is this man so far removed from reality that he can’t see the flaw in that idea?

“After a fashion, yes. If anything should happen to me, then you get to make the

decisions for them until they’re of legal age. Naturally, I’ll provide all the authorised

documents for financial aid and trusts.”

Naturally? Has the man lost his mind? I won’t live that long, in fact, I don’t even think I’m going

to make it through the terrible two stage – and from what I’ve read yesterday, that is a real worry for many

parents. Then there’s the pre-teen and teen stuff, if I’m still alive at that point, I wonder what state I’d be in?

Who in their damn minds make food responsible for children? Gods!

“Are you okay Blue,” Declyn asks; my mouth opens and closes several times before I

nod through my response; more to convince myself than him. I hate myself for never taking

that drama class now. I may not always blurt everything out, but my face sure speaks my

mind for me.

“Yes, yes. I’m just wondering if you shouldn’t add an immortal person for the task.

Short-term it is fine, I can be like a godmother or something – but I’m human. They will live

a long time, like you – so it does not seem proportionately feasible to have me in that role. I

am perishable, you said so yourself, they may try, and succeed, to eat me at some point.” I

give him my honest feedback on his terrible plan.

Why does he look so stupidly happy with all this?

“You should take comfort in the fact that I am not keen on the idea of dying either;

I’ve successfully avoided it for a few years now. I intend on to continue with the winning

streak so, I’ll be around for a long time to come yet. But until their immortality settles on an

age, they will need someone to trust and turn to. I can do many things, but I cannot relate to

them on the same levels you do. Look at them; they’re already stuck on you!” He motions to

his sides, cross his arms on the table and lifts an eyebrow “And I can’t say I blame them.”

Flattery Lord Rothchildes … is distracting. And what does he mean about their immortality settling on

an age? I thought they were birthed immortal. Ugh, it is too early for riddles.

“They see me as a walking feeding station,” I throw back and quickly turn to remove

the food from the hot plate.

I really need to fix a trapdoor to my mouth!

“That is ultimately true. On that note, I’m taking them for a stroll while you eat,

you’ve done well last night, thank you.”

I point a fork at him with no consideration behind the panic-process of him leaving

with the children.

What if he does a Hansel and Gretel re-production and leave them in the woods!

“I prefer they stay where I can see them!” I yell but only because I want to clear the

horrible story out of my head.

“Blue,” Declyn is calm which does not help because that just makes him sound

scarier! “You are sleep deprived, hungry and clumsy. You have just put the bread in the

fridge, and should you want eggs later today, you will find them in the utensil drawer. I’d

like to point out, you are waving a fork at me. It is cute, but not very intimidating. Sit

yourself down, eat something and take an hour or two’s rest. We’ll be right outside; I’ll leave

the door open.”

“I am sorry, my Lord,” I answer from the autopilot seat.

“You’re forgiven, Leonora,” he answers with emphasis on my name; it serves as a

firm reminder of the conversation the night before. I don’t like my name, but I like it even

less when he says it. In sulk, I sit down and watch his back with two carry seats lightly

swinging at his sides.

The muscles across his shoulders strain the shirt and it does make me smile a little. I

know very well I lost this round by being stupid – or as I like to think of it – by being

authentically myself.

Vampire Lord – two, Blue – zero. Oh boy, the man is good looking, especially when he’s not cranky.

True to his word, Declyn opens two sliding doors wide then strolls off in full view. I

force myself to relax and wolf the food down fast enough to gain heartburn. With a full

belly, I force my eyes to stay open but exhaustion sets in fast. It becomes a battle of wills –

me against myself.

To keep a closer look on them, but reminding myself to stay calm and out of the way,

I slip onto the porch. An internal debate starts up to question the purpose of my action. It is

not as if I can do anything of use, should he …

UGH! I must put this out of my head!

This side of the house is a mystery to me. I didn’t even know about the doors until he

opened them, they just looked like windows.

The sun is behind the house. It is already brightly baking down on the earth; yet,

without too much heat the shade is comfortably warm. A big, solid seater-swing stands up

against the wall. On top of it, lush pillows in deep, earthly brown colours invites me closer.

There is no way I’m going to sleep, but I don’t have to stand here like a lost tourist. I’ll just lay down

here, and keep an eye on them. Oh, this is nice. How lovely is the breeze … It is a gorgeous morning … Hmm,

he looks less scary in the distance …