Erica took the wheel on the ride back to Graystone Manor.
The car was deathly silent, with not so much as a sound, not even from Aether.
When they got inside, Erica silently went upstairs without a word.
Alyssa stood beside Adrian and said to him, "I think it's time you talked to your sister. Comfort her."
Adrian replied, "I don't think I can, not right now at least."
"If you don't go now, nothing you say later will help. Talk to her," she urged.
Adrian went upstairs and knocked on Erica's door, then went in without waiting for a reply.
His sister sat on the side of the bed, weeping.
"Diana?" He inched closer.
"Get out." "I'm not here to argue, sister."
Erica replied, "I don't care! Just leave!"
Adrian came to stand in front of her. "Sister..."
Erica suddenly got up and gripped his shirt, then stared into his eyes, her eyes glowing blue.
"I said leave!" She threw him into the wall, just beside the door.
He got up and said, "No. I'm here because my sister's hurt, and I'm not leaving till I know she's okay. Even if I have to beat her down first," his eyes turning red.
Erica sighed in defeat. "And how do you expect me to feel better if you beat me first?" a small smile forming on her lips, her eyes turning their usual brown.
Adrian smiled. "I expected a fight, so I had to think up something to scare you with."
"Sometimes I wonder how I survived 26 years with a brother like you, David."
The siblings embraced, and Erica let the well of tears overflow.
"I'm so sorry, David.....I should have listened..." Erica said between sobs.
Adrian replied, "What matters is you're all safe. And for the record, I believe that, amidst all his planning and diabolical machinations, Simon did love you."
Erica asked, "And how do you know that?"
"Not once did a bullet touch you, even when he had the chance. If it were another life, I'd have gladly accepted him."
Adrian looked into his sister's eyes.
"Stay strong, Diana. Let this not phase you or break you. You're still a Graystone. You have me, and I'll always be there for my baby sister," he said, smiling at the end.
Erica gave him a weak punch on the arm.
They laughed, and walked out the room to Aether's room, where Alyssa was putting him to bed.
Adrian gazed at his son with a small smile on his face, then he spoke, "I've got to go and dispose of the corpses, and clean up the mess we made."
Erica responded, "I'm coming with you."
Alyssa went to close the windows. As one of them closed, the moonlight reflected into Aether's eyes.
Which flashed blue-green for that split second.
...
August 4th
21:22
Rick Colton was in his study, fiddling with a pencil.
He called Simon's number again, with no response, though it rung.
'This bastard! Pick the damn phone!'
He called again, annoyed.
This time, however, he heard two phones ringing.
Like Simon's phone was in the room with him.
Rick looked around and saw the phone at the desk in the corner of the room.
He got up and took the phone. 'What the heck?'
He turned to get back to his seat, and nearly had a heart attack.
"Lord Graystone!"
Adrian had made himself comfortable in the chair.
"Lord, how did you...."
"Simon Bourne is dead." Adrian said flatly, picking up the pencil on the desk. "But I suppose we have you to thank for that."
He looked directly into Colton's eyes, and saw the fear, quickly masked by confusion.
"I.... don't understand, Lord.."
"You killed Steven Bourne because he owned a piece of property you wished to possess, then sent his brother to kill me to allow you to possess a portion of my own family fortune. How you overlooked the fact that I have a sister, a wife, and a multitude of other relatives as inheritors, I know not. Clearly you have yet to study your law. But I'm not perturbed by that."
Adrian stopped spinning the pencil and pointed it at Rick.
"The reason why I'm here is that, in your efforts to forge your empire, your actions endangered the life of my child. I can't forgive that."
"You....you have a child, lord?" Rick asked, moving his arm under his desk, where a pistol was concealed.
Adrian threw the pencil and it bored into Rick's arm, forcing a yelp of pain and surprise from his mouth.
Adrian walked over to him and twisted the pencil, causing Rick to scream, then he forced the businessman to his knees.
"You set my partner's house on fire, with him in it."
"No, please, lord, no!" Rick pleaded, shaking with fear.
"My grandfather would have flayed you alive, but I've had enough gore on my hands for now."
With a quick snap of the neck, the man was gone.
Adrian got up.
"You tripped while rushing to grab your concealed firearm and broke your neck. One of your security personnel had inexplicably tried to kill you, but was instead stopped by his colleague. They shot each other and died," he said to the corpse before walking out.
"Call the police and tell them what happened," he ordered a man waiting outside.
"Yes, my lord," the butler, William Alder, replied.
....
19:51
Graystone Manor
Alyssa and Erica took turns playing with the baby.
Erica seemed a bit wistful.
"Hey, don't look so down in front of the baby," Alyssa said with a smile.
Erica held Aether's little hand.
"I was just thinking about how lucky my brother is to have you," she said with a sigh, "but I have no such luck. It's like I'm cursed."
Before Alyssa could answer, a voice said from behind them, "You're not cursed, sister. Once you reconsider your taste in men and alter it accordingly, things will go quite smoothly, I say."
Adrian smirked at the sight of Erica's scowl.
He picked the baby up and went to the balcony, sitting just inside, then sat him on his lap, facing him.
"Hello, little wolf." Aether lifted his hand toward his father's face.
"Today, I paid a visit to a very bad friend who almost took you from me with his actions. I want to tell you that Daddy took care of him and he won't ever try to hurt you again."
The ladies watched, clearly getting the message he was sending to them.
"You, Aether, are my pride, my jewel, my one weakness. I would never be able to live with myself if anything were to happen to you. That means, my son, that for the time being, nobody must know you exist. This fortress is your home and your protection from the outside world, from our enemies, and from us and the actions we make."
Alyssa and Erica realized that Aether was never to leave the Manor again, indefinitely.
"You will have no friends to play with, no school to go to. You will be alone," Adrian continued, and the sisters in law felt their hearts break at the sight of Adrian crying.
Aether's hand moved again, seemingly trying to wipe the tears off his father's face.
Adrian continued, tears streaming down, "But I promise you, little wolf, that it will not be like this forever. I will cleanse our city of anyone who would want to hurt you if your existence were to be made known. I will not let you suffer for what I and my family have done over the centuries. I give you my word."
Lord Adrian David Graystone embraced his son, his eyes shut.
Soon, he felt the embrace of his wife and sister, and their sobs filled his ears.
The clouds outside coincidentally parted, and the light of the waxing moon bathed them in its soft, silver illumination.