Gothic Melody: ch.10

 Chapter ten:

It was two weeks after Victoria’s birth; Leonard sat stroking the baby’s head reading her, her favorite fairy-tale… Cinderella. Tori looked up at him smiling listening to the soft music that played soothing music from Annette’s iPod. Leonard finished reading her the book, closing the book placing it in the small bookshelf getting another one opening it, Victoria yawned banging her hands against the mattress of her cradle laughing. Leonard stopped reading standing up looking at her, “You refuse to sleep don’t you Victoria?” He placed the book on the bed he and Annette shared; picking up Victoria wraps her up in the pink blanket with roses on it.



He looked down at her getting her bottle giving it to her, she drank the milk fighting sleep as Leonard glanced at the doorway, “Come in Ashoka.” He said then glanced back out the window.



Ryan walked in closing the door behind him looking at Leonard who was looking out the window, “I love Graceona… and want to make her as happy as Annette has made you, is it common amongst our race to bend our upbringings?”



Leonard smiled walking a sleeping Victoria to her cradle looking at Ryan, nodding his head, “Ashoka… I am going to share a secret with you that I have not shared with Annette or Cryptika, then you shall know why I think betraying one’s race is never an impossible task, sometimes it is the best way to live… When I was very young our father would do his best to moderate the powers I have, he didn’t worry if my sanity remained… he considered me his biggest threat… our mother also, they would burn me on daily occasions… I… had a room of my own, but I don’t recall being able to apply it. My bed was on the ground, too often had I had to suffer weeks and the reoccurring months without food, or a drink of water, I cannot count the scars received from the torture devise Iron Maiden. No matter their attempts to tame me, it only made my heart grow cold and my emotions seemed to have been buried many years ago. When I met Annette she was sixteen, many human’s considered me a bad omen when I crossed their paths. Annette was the only mortal to accept me, and attempted to show me what I was missing out on. Every day she would smile or laugh at random periods of the day and wouldn’t stop until she was satisfied in the laughing I was doing or just a grin would earn me something, I always craved but thought it was out of reach, she would wrap her arms around me and wouldn’t let go until I returned her embrace. She would stay like that until I was the one to stop it, over the years I have gained my emotions back but, those emotions never filled the rage I had in my heart for the wicked deeds performed on me at an early age, to this day, no matter the emotion I am always held, back from showing that emotion in full, due to wanting revenge on Lord Gabriel for his deeds. Though I know Cryptika has killed them both that don’t allow me to sleep well at nights, I don’t dream… I relive the past every time I close my eyes.” Leonard looked at Victoria then at Ryan, “Playing a role of protector to the things you love is a man’s main agenda in life; revenge on someone that is already dead shouldn’t be that barrier that holds you bound down from expressing true emotions.”



Ryan looked at Leonard who was looking at the child walking over to the bed closing the children’s book placing it back into the small pink bookshelf. “Your own parent’s put you through that… that’s horrible, no wonder you’re a nut case, I mean that in the nicest way possible… you just seem unstable, one minute you’re ready to strike then the next you are one of the nicest people anyone could talk to, -“ Ryan was interrupted by the long haired man, his gaze cold as ice.



“Don’t flatter me Ashoka, we aren’t friends on terms that you have permission to say things as such. I do respect you and that is for the mere fact that you are my baby sister’s lover, if you were anyone else that spoke such words to me you would have been gone, nothing more than a distant memory; but I shall pass this friendly warning to you, we Half breeds are very emotional and protective of our property, if you break my sisters, heart. I will shatter your heart and tarnish your sanity with every waking day of your existence, death will not be kind to you though you may, wish for it…but that will be when I begin having my true fun.” Leonard sat in the recliner leaning back crossing his legs resting his arms on the arm rests, “ I sense I have gotten under your skin, I feel your anger radiating. It feels intoxicating; if your desires are that to fight, then I shall battle you; but not while my daughter lies sleeping.”


Ryan looked at the man that casually received a book from the table. Ryan opened his mouth to speak only for the door to come open as Annette made her appearance smiling at the young man in the room. Walking to where her boyfriend sat sitting in his lap, with a smile on her face. She lowered the book to look at the glowing lavender eyes stare into her emerald ones. Placing a kiss on his lips, “I heard what you told Ryan, Leo. You know it wasn’t right and you know what you have to say to him now don’t you?”

Leonard looked at the sandy blond haired woman on his lap, "Are you serious, Annette. You insinuating him to apologize for anything is never going to happen." Ryan folded his arms across his chest looking at the couple in the white leather chair, Green eyes stared at him then a gentle smile crossed the woman's lips.

"Leo is a complex person, Ryan, he comes across people like you as heartless and emotionless, but he-" Annette was interrupted by Leonard who looked at her switching his gaze to the young man in the room.

"Annette speaks the truth, Ashoka, perhaps it was out of line. I know deep in my soul that you and Cryptika are made for one another; however I only ask you to spare her the feelings of betrayal, for her sake and for your sake." Leonard looked at the woman on his lap, "How was that?"

Annette kissed Leonard's lips once more getting off his lap. She walked to Ryan placing her hand on his shoulder in reassurance. "Don't let him get to you, I'm sure he will be in a better mood in the morning, I can tell that there is some tension on both of your parts; but I can also see that the two of you will be the best of friends," Looking from Ryan to Leonard who had his attentions focused on his parenting book, "Right Leo? Ryan is human like me and he is destined to make mistakes, but if you weren't aware of this you wouldn't have been patient enough to give me a chance."
"Yes, dear." Leonard went back to his book resting it on is lap resting his head on his fist as he continued to read.

Annette smiled looking at the boy in front of her nodding her head, "You may have gained a great ally, when Leo says that it is a good sign that he is willing to let past tensions go and start a fresh start."

Ryan looked at the woman shocked at the events, this was not the side of Leonard he thought he would live to see, an obedient, yet tamed spirit. Would Grace change the way Leonard has, he hoped not he loved Grace the way she was. Mysterious and his Grace. The woman who brought him in her life in an odd way. A smile crossed his lips as he nodded his head turning on his heels walking from the room, leaving the couple to tend to Victoria.