Reggie’s Reasons by Lisa Oliver
Chapter Eighteen
Dirkin was glad Balthazar made himself scarce when he and Reggie arrived back at his house. Reggie still hadn’t said anything. He was perched on the edge of the couch, the letter clasped to his chest in both hands, staring straight ahead, his eyes completely unfocused.
Hmm, emotions – so many of them swirling through my sweet mate. What to do? What to do? Drink? Dirkin thought that couldn’t hurt. It took a lot for vampires to get drunk, but the act of getting a drink, holding one, sharing drinks with others – it was a social construct that Dirkin hoped would relax his confused mate.
Rather than click them up, Dirkin went over to the small bar area in the corner of the room, getting glasses, finding the right bottle, pouring the drinks, all the while making enough noise for Reggie to realize he hadn’t been abandoned. Chunky whiskey tumblers made a satisfying clink as he picked up both glasses one handed and went back to sit next to his mate.
“Here.” He held out a glass. “I thought you might need this.”
Reggie shook his head as though startled, and then looked at the glass before taking it. Holding it to his mouth, he chucked back the contents and handed the glass back. “Thank you.”
“O-kay,” Dirkin said slowly. “Another one?”
Reggie nodded. Dirkin decided it was easier to click the bottle to him, than to get up and go through the whole pouring at the bar routine. He poured another double shot into the empty glass and handed it to Reggie.
“I wish Kyle was here.” Reggie slugged back the second glass. “He puts some strange hoodoo stuff in his booze. You can really feel it.”
“Maybe next time.” Dirkin took the empty glass out of Reggie’s hand. “Feel like talking?” He asked as he poured a third healthy shot.
“I can’t.” Reggie hiccupped. “I have to read this letter. It’s from my mom.”
“It is,” Dirkin agreed, wondering if it was shock or whiskey that was responsible for Reggie’s spaced-out act. “I’ve heard some human mom’s do that – write a letter after they’ve given birth, to give to their child when they’re all grown up.”
“I don’t remember my mom. I don’t even know what she looked like.”
Dirkin was one of the original demons, created not long after Balthazar was born. He had no memory of family or his childhood either. For all he knew, he grew fully formed under a rock and just climbed out when he was ready. He was capable of having children, or at least impregnating someone else, but he’d never really thought about the concepts of having a family for himself. That didn’t mean he didn’t understand what Reggie had missed.
“We could look online,” he said. “There might be old pictures of your parents on there.” He handed Reggie his glass again.
“Maybe later.” Reggie made to chug his drink down again, but this time he stopped, sipped it, and put the glass on the table. “I don’t know how I’m meant to feel. Bevan was the only parent I’d known until my awakening. I saw the other three moms at the coven, of course. I know how they’re supposed to act, or at least I thought I did. But by the time I went to college, I already knew my upbringing wasn’t normal. Would it have been any different if my parents hadn’t died?”
“There’s no way of knowing, darlin’. Your life would’ve been different in that you would’ve been raised in Italy. You would’ve had servants, your father would’ve probably trained you to be a future ruler, but I can’t tell you if you’d have had the loving family life you think you’ve missed.”
“Vampires aren’t known for being loving. We’re too superior as a species to behave in an affectionate manner towards anyone.”
Dirkin laughed at Reggie’s affected accent. Clearly, he was mimicking something he’d heard. “I love how affectionate you are with me, my mate, and I’m glad of it.”
“I’ve never been much like other vampires. Being aloof is a lonely existence.”
“You’re also extremely intelligent, my sweet.” Dirkin nodded towards the letter. “Open it. Read it. Or I can read it for you. If you don’t find out what she said, it’s going to eat at you. You might not have any memory of your mom, but she carried you under her heart, and I truly believe she felt some form of positive emotions towards you especially just after you were born. She wouldn’t have taken the time to leave a letter for you among her effects just to remind you of your princely duties.”
“Bevan never explained how he even got the letter in the first place. Was it something to do with the deal with Lucifer, do you think?”
Dirkin thought it was more likely Bevan went through all the royal’s personal belongings as soon as he knew they were dead, looking for things he could use as leverage over his young ward. But Reggie didn’t need to know that. “I’m not sure and I don’t think that’s important now. Why don’t you read what she had to say?” He nudged Reggie lightly shoulder to shoulder.
Reggie turned the envelope, front and then back. Dirkin could see a crest on the left-hand corner of the front of the envelope and another smaller one where the envelope was sealed at the back. On the front, someone had written in very elegant penmanship, To my son Reginald.
“I think I’d be happier if you did it. If you could read it to me.” Reggie handed him the envelope before reaching down and picking up his glass, cradling it in both hands. “I’m ready.”
It might help if you didn’t look like you were facing a firing squad. Dirkin carefully slit the envelope along one of its shorter sides. The letter spanned two pages, although he noticed the writing was quite large and there was a picture attached. Handing the picture to his mate, Dirkin unfolded the pages and cleared his throat. The letter was written in Italian, but Dirkin could translate it easily. It was dated almost twenty-five years before.
My darling son,
I’m sitting here in this dinky hotel in New York, and you’ve been sleeping for hours. Stephano is off, doing what kingly kings do, but I begged off this one time. You’re teething and the sight of those pearl white nubs sitting in your bright red gums made me wonder what type of vampire you would grow to be.
Stephano proclaimed before you were even born, that you’d be a prince among men. I know for him, that meant being all tall and studly, rippling with muscles, a male who could hunt and fight, and hold his own. Just like your father in other words. But your father is old school, precious son. He doesn’t see the world changing like I do. I sense you’ll have a huge heart, a heart that will serve you well in a modern world.
None of us know what the future will bring. Technology is changing so quickly, bringing with it new ways to communicate with the entire world. The days of our kind clinging to our territories, ruling with fear are dying away, thank goodness. Your father is incredibly kind for all his bluster, and I trust him to train you the same way. All I ask, my son, is that you remember no matter what your position in life, all beings deserve to be treated with respect and compassion.
Something’s coming, my darling son. I could feel it brewing before you were born and I know whatever it is, it’s getting closer. I like to think that I’ll be handing you this letter on your twenty-fifth birthday when you’ll be acknowledged as the prince of our kind. We’ll laugh, you and I, about the emotional ramblings of a woman who has so much love for you it’s hard to put into words. You’ll hug me, I’ll shed a discreet tear or two, and then we’ll celebrate. Italians are famed for their parties and Italian vampires are no exception.
But if that doesn’t happen – if, for whatever reason I can’t be there to celebrate the day you step into your birthright, know that I love you, I’m proud of you, and you are, without question, my most amazing accomplishment. I know you will rule with honor, integrity, and kindness because I see that in your face every time I watch you sleep.
Every second with you is precious and my love for you knows no boundaries.
Mama.
Putting the pages on his lap, Dirkin closed his eyes for a moment, sending a prayer to the Fates for Seraphina’s soul. He knew, among vampires, they believed beloveds were often reincarnated to meet again, so their love never died, and he hoped that Seraphina and Stephano would find each other again.
Inhaling deeply, he let out his long breath, opening his eyes and looking across at his mate. “Are you okay?” He asked gently, putting his hand on Reggie’s knee.
“She knew.” Reggie closed his eyes and unshed tears fell down his cheeks. “She knew she wouldn’t be with me. It’s why she wrote the letter.”
“Your mama loved you with all her heart, babe. She wanted you to know that even if she couldn’t be here.” Putting the pages aside carefully, Dirkin gathered Reggie into his arms, his wings springing out, cocooning them both. “It’s okay, babe. I promise, it’ll be okay,” he crooned softly as Reggie’s shoulders shook.
It could’ve been five minutes, ten or even twenty minutes later, when Reggie finally lifted his head and wiped his cheeks. “I wish I could’ve known her,” he said, his voice still shaky. “I wish I could’ve known her and my dad. Look at them.”
Dirkin loosened his wings just enough so he could see the picture on Reggie’s lap. It was an informal family shot and the clothing dated the picture to the nineteen nineties. Dirkin felt his lips twitch upwards. Reggie was easy to pick out. He was a chubby infant, up on all fours on a blanket, reaching for his mama, with a wide toothless grin. Stephano was hovering behind them, every inch an aristocratic vampire, but as Dirkin looked closer, he could see the warmth in the man’s eyes, and a faint smile.
The love and joy couldn’t be hidden on Seraphina’s face. She was stunningly beautiful, and Reggie had inherited the wave in his long dark hair from her. Looking at the pair together, it was clear Reggie had inherited the best parts of both his parents – the bulk and height from his father, along with the chiseled jaw, while the eyes and smile came from his mother.
“It’s a beautiful picture, babe. You look just like them.”
“This is all I have of them, the only reminder.” Reggie clasped the photo to his chest.
“I think you’ll find, when we get to Italy, there’ll be a whole lot more there belonging to your parents, along with people who knew them that you can talk to.”
“You’re right.” Reggie nodded. “I know we need to go there. Tomorrow, okay? So, I don’t lose my nerve. But I want to see. I need to see if my parents’ place feels like home.”
“I’ll be with you every step of the way, my precious mate. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I know.” Reggie’s smile was small but heartfelt. “I’ll protect you too. But for now…” he trailed off.
“Yes?” Dirkin quirked an eyebrow as the heat rose in his mate’s eyes.
“Take me to bed. Hold me close. Remind me how alive I am.”
