147. Closure

Vampire Council Headquarters, 
Bridgeport, present day...

Thornton was pleasantly surprised when he returned to Bridgeport to find he was a grandfather for the third time.

"Did you see them?" He asked Celina over and over and she kept telling him no, she hadn't seen the babies yet, but Krisis was on his way to see him.

"Did he say what it's about?" He turned to his PA as he shrugged off his jacket and draped it on the armchair.

"No he didn’t. But it sounded urgent, that’s why I had to squeeze him in this evening. Here's the copy of their album you ordered," Celina dropped the After Dark disc and his mug on the coffee table.

They talked for a while. Thornton updated her on the new laws the human government wanted to bring into effect quite soon. He wasn't pleased with one in particular, the law forbidding Vampires from turning humans.

Mortals were worried that their race was on the brink of extinction; they'd seen a rise in human/vampire relationships over the years, resulting in an abnormally high number of humans choosing eternity.

But it wasn't just the threat of extinction that worried the humans; they’d also observed a steady decline in their economic growth, productivity and sustainability. With more mortals being turned, it meant they were becoming contributors in the vampire society and what once went into sustaining the mortal economy was now being poured into the Vampire community.

Thornton understood the humans' dilemma, and he was all for the bill, but only after Krisis turned Leigh. Until then he'd oppose it every chance he got.

"I think you should tell Krisis. You are running out of time, you can't keep stalling the humans," Celina cautioned as she draped herself on the edge of his desk, she crossed her legs, exposing a pair of long, well tanned legs.

Thornton ignored her and her legs. She was right though, Krisis needed to know. But the boy hated him, couldn't even stand being around him, his contempt had shown clearly the last time he was in his office to pick up his twin.

Once again, he was filled with despair when he remembered Krisis’ anger that evening and Krimsyn’s overwhelming sadness. He sighed as he got up from the couch to check his e-mails. Celina turned to him, concern written in her eyes.

He shook his head; he didn't want to get into it with her.

Celina nodded her dark head, she wouldn’t push. “I have to get started on the report,” she excused herself.

As soon as he was alone he ripped the After Dark cover and popped the CD in his drive. He wasn't disappointed. Like their previous albums, his kids had outdone themselves. It wasn’t long before he was dancing around his office, singing along to So Epic It Hurts.

Almost twenty minutes later, he was still enraptured by the After Dark album he completely missed the knock on his door.

Krisis walked in. Thornton froze and smiled sheepishly at his son, he’d been caught playing air guitar.

“You are a fan?” A shocked Krisis commented, trying to hide own smile.

“You could say that. What can I do for you? Celina said it’s urgent,” Thornton replied and turned off the music.

He took a seat, and gestured for Krisis to join him.

Krisis hesitated for a second, an internal debate going on in his head. But then he shrugged his shoulders and wordlessly made his way to the couch.

“Leigh wanted you to have this,” Krisis took out a colorful package from the gift bag, and passed it to his father.

Thornton took it and shook it for a bit. “Is it a bomb?” He cracked a smile, Krisis laughed, a loud, tense sound.

“I wanted to stick one in but Leigh stopped me. It’s framed pictures of the kids. Leigh thought you’d like them. Anyway, I consider my debt paid now,” Krisis told him as he prepared to leave.

“Is that all?” Thornton asked as he returned the box inside the gift bag. His voice was laced with disappointment and a hint of something one could only describe as desperation.

Krisis went rigidly still; a small droplet of cold sweat ran down his spine. Of course it wasn’t all. But where the heck would he start?

“You could have asked a messenger to drop this off, you know,” Thornton pointed out from his chair.

Krisis tensed, hating the man once again. He was right. He could have.

“Did you rape her?” He asked suddenly as he turned back from the door. He watched his father’s face carefully for any hint of deceit and lies, but there was none when Thornton finally spoke.

“No. I did a lot of things, lied to her and deceived her. But I never raped her.  I loved your mother. And I’d like to believe in her own way she loved me too. “

“Okay,” Krisis sighed, releasing the long breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding till that moment.

“My only crime was not telling your mother from the start I was a Vampire. Back then things were different; society wasn’t as accepting then as it is now. We’ve come a long way as race and a nation Krisis. I won’t bore you with a long lesson in history; after all you’ve experienced some of our evolution yourself. The point is, when your mother found out I was a Vampire she was understandably disappointed, scared and angry. Her parents would have disowned her. Hell, the whole town would have probably killed her if they knew she’d willingly slept with me. So she did what she thought was right. She lied to her parents, and her lies were the only truth you ever knew.”

“Why didn’t you tell us? Why didn’t you claim us as your kids? Why didn’t you tell Grandma Lily it was all lies?” Krisis demanded as he fell wearily on the sofa and cradled his head in his hands.

“And risk all our lives? Risk your lives? Other than your grandparents, no one else knew you were Vampires. Do you think if they knew you’d still be alive?” Thornton’s eyebrows furrowed questioningly at him and when Krisis didn’t reply, he continued.

“Soon after Margaret left home, I had a little discussion with Lily. I compelled her not to tell anyone about what you were. I knew caring for two vampire babies would be hard on her, so I stuck around and helped her out from afar. Your every need was catered for, but Lily didn’t know where it all came from because I’d compel her to forget our meetings.” Thornton explained. He was now standing in front of the window, gazing at the bridge and the panoramic view of the city beyond.

“How could anyone not know what we were?” Krisis wanted to know.

“The rings,” Thornton murmured, waving his hand to show off his own ring. “They are family heirlooms, enchanted to make us pass for humans. We no longer need them now that we are in Bridgeport, living openly among humans.”

“Why did you have to compel Lily? Why couldn’t you tell her the truth about Margaret, why couldn’t you tell her she’d lied?”

“Because she was the light of their lives and I wanted them to remember her as the perfect daughter they thought she was. In a way I felt guilty for having deceived her, so I allowed her this one lie. If I knew how much hurt and pain it would cause down the line I wouldn’t have let it get this far. I’m sorry.”

Krisis hovered near the desk, watching his father walk back to the window, he was drawn to it somehow, the view beyond. One thing they had in common.

He knew he probably shouldn’t be so trusting and take Thornton’s word at face value, but he prided himself on being a good judge of character and he knew his father was telling the truth.

As they both let the silence in the room engulf them, Krisis realized it didn’t matter what had happened between then and now, why his father didn’t claim them, why he didn’t try to have some sort of relationship with them. It didn’t matter that he’d grown up without a father, after all millions of kids were raised by single parents everyday and they turned out okay.

All he’d ever wanted was to know he wasn’t a consequence of rape. He wasn’t a result of some sick encounter in some dodgy alley. And he knew that now. And the relief he felt at that was boundless. He wanted to break down and cry and celebrate. But he wouldn’t. Not in front of Thornton at least.

“I know it’s too much to ask, but I pray and hope that one day you’ll find it in your hearts to forgive me,” Thornton turned slightly from the window to look at him. The sincerity in his voice almost killed Krisis, but he hardened his heart, he wasn’t ready to play happy families.

He put up his hand, ignoring his father’s apology. He didn’t want to hear any more. He’d gotten what he’d always wanted. Closure.

“I have to go,” he mumbled as he moved away from the desk.

“You still didn’t tell me what you came for,” Thornton reminded him.

“It doesn’t matter now. It’s not your problem.” Krisis cried harshly, suddenly wondering what the man wanted from him.

“It’s the triplets isn’t it?” Thornton stopped him in his tracks.

“How did you know?”

“They are hybrids. Better, stronger and more powerful than either parent,” Thornton replied with a hint of pride in his voice.

“You make it sound like it’s something to be proud of,” Krisis barked.

“Isn’t it?” His father threw back at him. Without waiting for his reply he proceeded to ask him about the triplets’ abilities.

“Kristian has this fire thing going on. We think Azalea manipulates electricity somehow and Ariel moves things with her mind and she has premonitions.” Krisis replied.

He crossed the room again and sat down on the couch. He didn’t know he was silently crying in his hands until he felt Thornton squeeze his shoulder.

“They are normal. It’s expected of kids of mixed races. Tell Leigh to stop beating herself over this. If it bothers you so much, a gene specialist can take care of it,” Thornton walked over to his desk and scribbled a name and telephone number on a post-it note.

“Thank you.” Krisis took the note and stuffed it in his pocket…