Ever After

Chapter 14



William and Gran’s Conversation



Gran led William into her study, a small cozy room just off her bedroom quarters, the windows covered in heavy drapery. The walls were lined with bookshelves all nearly overflowing and dusty. The large carved oak desk was lined with family photos, many of them Corrine when she was a little girl, many of her mother. William studied them all, quickly noticing the one of Corrine and her mother.

“That’s Corrine’s mother there. That is one of my favorite photos I have of them together.” Gran said with a smile as she offered Will a chair in the corner next to a blazing fireplace. Two armchairs were nestled in a cozy fashion.

“I’m shocked at how much Corrine looks like her mother.” Will leaned in to look at the picture.

“Yes. She does. I think that pains her father sometimes. He loved my daughter very much and he still does.”

“I can understand how that feels,” he said in a soft voice as he looked over Corrine’s childhood photographs.

“You see William, Corrine is very fragile. She has had a very bad year. I trust she has told you all of it?” Will nodded looking down at his hands, not knowing what to say.

“Yes. She has told me.”

“Then you can see why she is so delicate. I feared we would lose her just a few months ago. She wanted to kill herself. It was a difficult time for us all.” Her voice wavered and she looked toward the fire, her eyes damp as she watched the flames dancing.

Gran pulled a throw blanket over her knees and sat back staring into William’s eyes. He didn’t even blink as she did so. “I know you,” she said softly. She smiled slightly as she could see William tense up and his breathing pick up as well.

“Uh… we just met a few months ago? If we met before I am sorry I have forgotten it.” He shifted uneasily in his chair. Gran’s eyes were locked on him unwavering.

“No…no child. I know what you are to be specific. I had a vision of you coming into her life many months ago, always I sensed there would be something different about you, but I could never put my finger on it. I have been watching you ever since Corrine brought you home to meet us. I have seen how attentive with her you are, so very protective. That pleases me very much. I also see she is madly in love with you. You have her very soul in your hands, and you could destroy her if you ever leave. I am an old woman, child. I have seen many things in my lifetime, and I have been told a great deal by my ancestors. Stories have been passed down for generations by my tribe.

“Gran please, let me try to explain….” She quickly held one finger up to her lips to hush him from speaking. He did.

“No need. I have known many of your kind for years, as did my ancestors. I know very well of the two coven groups that exist. I know you are from the light coven. I also know your parents very well, and you’re Grandfather too. I have faith and trust in the light coven, they have been honorable in the past and still are today. I trust you do not waver in the rules of your own coven. Is that right William, for Corrine’s sake?”

“Of course…. I follow; yes. I would never ever hurt her in any way.” William was watching her warily. She could throw him out of the house on his butt, because of what he was. She could destroy the heavily guarded secret lives of his family and their coven, but he knew she trusted them.

“That is good. Corrine needs one like you to protect her, and love her. A mere mortal man could not love her with the power you do, that I know. I have heard of relationships such as yours.” She nodded and took a deep breath. “You both may have very tough choices to make someday, but your love for one another will keep you both safe. I have spoken to your mother Lydia. She worries about you and Corrine, but she will be accepting once she meets her. I also spoke to that old grandfather of yours—Doc. He is as ornery as ever.” She grinned and shook her head. “He has been a dear friend to me for a very long time; he already adores Corrine, just from seeing her in the hospital.”

William was in shock and relieved all at once; it felt like a big relief to have Gran on his side. The realization she had known of his kind and she knew his own coven was amazing to him. Gran poured some tea into a dainty china cup and offered it to him. He watched her tiny frail wrinkled hands maneuver, in silence.

“I also know you are not a full-blooded vampire.” She glanced at the tea on the table. “Doc told me of the many human traits you have, so I know you do enjoy eating and drinking somewhat.” Will smiled as he took the cup carefully. “Be careful though, that’s an antique. I know you are extremely strong.” She laughed as he sipped the tea.

“Well not very much stronger than a human, but I guess you could call me an antique though.” He flashed a wicked grin and winked at her.

“Ahh yes. Lydia did say her only baby would be twenty this year, or rather twenty going on over 100!” Gram laughed as she patted Will’s knee.

“This will be something; my granddaughter’s boyfriend is older than me” She sighed, sitting back in the armchair still laughing with Will. Gram’s face got serious suddenly as something crossed her mind.

“What is it?” Will noticed her grim expression.

“Oh well… here I have forgotten the real reason I needed to talk to you. I had a vision when I came in to see you and Corrine tonight, this vision…” She took a deep breath, dreading having to speak of it. “I feel Corrine is going to be in grave danger very shortly.”

“What from me?” gasped Will. “I would never harm her. I would sooner kill myself than hurt a hair on her head.” Will blinked hard in shock Gran would turn on him so quickly.

“No William, not harm from you. I cannot see whom yet, but someone wants to hurt her very badly. I feel it and tonight it hit me hard that the danger is growing closer.” She rubbed her eyes, exhausted and clearly upset.

“I will not let anyone or anything hurt Corrine. You have my word on that, Gran. I would lay down my life for hers.” Will got up and put a hand onto her shoulder. He knelt down at eye level to her. “I will guard her. I promise you and as soon as you have a clearer vision, call me anytime day or night, together we will keep her safe.” Will found a pen on her table and wrote his cell phone number on a piece of paper for her.

Gran sat silently for a few minutes, thinking about all that had happened. She looked over to Will still kneeling at her side. “Thank you for coming into her life. She so desperately needed you always watch over her. I know you can. You will be able to protect her, her whole life or whatever road she chooses to follow, you will do what’s best for her. I know this.”

“I will, Gran. I will never abandon her.” He kissed her cheek gently. “Can I get you anything? Are you going to be okay?”

“Oh no dear, it’s just been a tiring day. Ah to be young like you again.” She winked playfully at him. “Or immortal! Now that’s the ticket, hey?” She nudged him in the side.

“Well it is handy sometimes.” He laughed as he headed for the door and back to Corrine.

“Remember; call me if you learn anything more.” Gran nodded, waving goodbye to him.

“I will not forget, see you soon, dear boy.” Will gently closed the door and quickly went back to Corrine.

The room was silent as he walked in; Corrine was curled up on the couch asleep again. Will knelt down next to the couch and gently pushed the hair away from her face, smiling at her angelic profile.

“My love, you sleep, but your beauty never rests. You capture me to the depths of my soul,” he whispered as he kissed her cheek. Will was not surprised she didn’t wake at his touch, as of late she had been going off to sleep like this at the drop of hat.

He sat there thinking of what Gran had told him. All he could think of was Todd Downs. He could be the only one who wanted to hurt Corrine. Todd had been to county lock-up five times since he was put on house arrest. Will had been sure to monitor him whenever he could.

Corrine’s father had used his influence in society and his massive bank account to have Todd watched by the local police day and night. Will decided to make plans to have Todd watched even closer now. Roth, Will’s closest cousin, had been helping him. Things had changed and now he would involve his other cousins who had begged Will to let them go old school on Todd. Old school in vampire terminology meant to bite someone and drain their blood, thus killing them.

Will didn’t want any of them to violate the coven rule of never killing humans and get in trouble with Doc. The truth was, if anyone was going to go old school on Todd Downs it was going to be himself. It was all Will could do not to kill him. He fought every instinct he had as a natural born killer and hunter to keep from ripping into the man who hurt his beloved Corrine.

Will frowned as he watched Corrine sleep. It bothered him to no end that something was wrong with her. The many times he asked if she was feeling okay or having any problems she either ignored him or acted like he was crazy to ask . Will decided he needed to have a talk with Doc and get her in to see him for a check-up. He just wanted to make sure she was really ok.

Doc would know what was wrong just by looking into her eyes and touching her skin. This was a gift he had, to sense illness in humans and pain. This made him one of the most respected doctors in Massachusetts. Doc had attended her when she had the fall from her horse but only on a very limited basis. Doctor Mott, the Whitmore’s’ family doctor, was her main physician at that time.

Will decided he should do some looking around. He noticed Corrine’s deep sleep and took advantage of it. The long set of stairs in the old mansion were very steep as Will made his way back upstairs. Corrine’s room was next to Gran’s so he had to be extremely quiet, as he turned the doorknob slowly. The room was dimly lit, only a small pink night light lamp with a pink shade gave off light. Will went to her nightstand, looking at the stacks of books. He smiled knowing how she loved to read. A picture of himself and Corrine hugging was in a silver frame. There was a tissue box and her cell phone next to it. Will sighed. He saw nothing unusual, then he looked under a hat and found a prescription bottle of high dose pain pills.

Will snatched it up reading the date on the label. The order was from the time of her accident by the river. She was not supposed to still be taking these. This made him drop down on the bed. He sat there staring at the bottle. She was in pain and hurting and was not telling anyone about it, or she was addicted to them.

The dose level was why she was sleeping so much; it couldn’t be safe to take this long term. He hoped she hadn’t become addicted to them, as he had heard about. The first thing he would do when he got home was talk to Doc. This was serious and he had to take care of her. He loved her too much to let her hurt herself. He couldn’t ignore what he had found.