Blueblood 5: Exposed The Secrets about V5H Revealed - 22. When To Be A Gentleman

“You’re sure you didn’t overhear that?” George asked.

Ellis frowned. “I don’t go ‘round telling porkies!”

"Lies, or fibs, George." I translated quickly.

George shook his head waving his hands at Ellis in defense. “I’m not saying you are, but maybe you overheard and didn’t realize?”

Ellis walked over to George. “I’ll do you one betta’.” He pointed to George. “You told me you were marrying ‘im.” He pointed to John. “So, don’t be surprised that I can smell you with just a touch of ‘im on you.” He went to John. “I can smell you with a touch of George on you.” He motioned to Amasis and Wayne. “You two, as well…” he was about turn away, then turned back and said, “you with touches of each other…not with George or John.” He clarified and then he smiled at Colin and me. “But you...” he pointed at me. “I smell you two on each other, but I get more him in you? Would I be betraying anything if I said I know who bit you? Is it a secret?”

I shook my head. “They all know how and why.”

Ellis nodded. “I know it was Colin that bit you.” He said to me. He sniffed again. “I get the essence of Colin’s venom in you. The further down the vampire, it’s harder to detect.” He waved at Ralph. “I get ‘is scent and I detect ‘is flavor in Wayne very strong. I detect Colin’s flavor in you, Devon...very strong. That’s how I know ‘e’s the one.” He folded his arms, knowing what he said was true. “Your flavor has become yours but made up of Colin’s…venom.”

“How do you keep the different scents separated?” George asked. “That much detail?”

“Wha’...’ow do you keep faces separated?” Ellis asked and waved again at Colin and me. “Other than the obvious size difference, they are both Caucasian men with black ‘air with a nose and two eyes...” he shrugged, but waved at us, “it’s just different! Our eyes can see different features. Our ears ‘ear different voices and can keep them straight. I do it by the smell!” Ellis shrugged helplessly. “There are differences I detect.”

I nodded with a smile, he was just...charming! I also could hear when he spoke on more serious matters, that Cockney took a backseat. When he got animated or excited, it came back to the forefront!

Kev nodded. “Also, keep in mind Ellis has been able to do this for a century. He’s learned to tell very subtle differences apart...like Colin’s venom in Devon.”

Wayne shook his head. “It’s a very smelly world. You must pick up on a lot of garbage and sewage.” He wrinkled his nose thinking of it. “That must be unpleasant.”

Ellis gave a shrugging nod. “I can’t really say, but they are just smells to me.”

“Your olfactory receptors and the part of the brain that processes them must be exceptionally active and refined.” George pondered looking at Ellis. “I’d love to see them.”

Ellis’ eyes widened and pointed at his head. “You mean see in me ‘ead!?” His Cockney coming back and more of the accent. “And ‘ow can you do that? I sor’ of use the ol’ bread right now!”

“Bread?” John asked Ellis.

“Loaf of bread...me ‘ead.” Ellis translated absently pointing at his head.

George shook his head chuckling. “I don’t mean open it up, we have scans that I can do that will let us see on a monitor what’s active there.” He shook his own head looking at Ellis, but more at his head than Ellis. “I’ve noted that the neuropathways in the brain itself are increased in some of us. I can’t imagine the extended pathways in your mind.”

Kev nodded. “I suspected that happened.” He looked at Ellis. “The venom stops the aging process and enhances other things.”

“To make us better hunters.” George nodded agreeing.

Watching the two doctors and scientists begin to discuss things scientifically and medically...they were so similar in focus and lost themselves to the surroundings and others as they spoke. John was right. The only affair George and Kev were having was taking place in those impressive brains of theirs.

John was shaking his head as his eyes rolled tolerantly. “While these two are enjoying time alone...can we go back to this Cockney thing a minute? Fireman’s hose? Hampton wick? Bottle and glass? Loaf of bread!?” He threw his hands up. “I’m from England! I never heard any of this! Why not just say nose, dick, arse…or ass and head?”

I chuckled. “Did they even speak English back then? I remember studying Old English in my literature class, it didn’t read or sound like English.”

My comment got a glare from John. “It wasn’t that long ago, Devon.”

Colin chuckled patting John on the shoulder. “People that are...” he thought of a word to use, “repressed often have words they use to communicate with each other that wouldn’t be generally understood.” He shrugged. “Those in the South did it, too. Gullah and Geechee were developed for several generations.” He smiled as I nodded knowing what he was saying. “My employee used it with each other and even me. I was warned a guest needs something to grease he mouth and he’s got fast hands. They were telling me he was a liar and thief.” He chuckled. “Of course, the accent was very different and if you didn’t know it, you couldn’t understand it.” He chuckled again. “Hell, I didn’t understand it most of the time.”

“The reason was...they could communicate with each other right in front of...” I looked at Colin, “sorry, but...their masters,” I touched Colin, “not you, baby...and the masters didn’t know what they were talking about.”

Ellis nodded. “Yeh, that’s righ’.” He looked at Colin. “Your plantation ‘ad slaves.”

Colin sighed. “My father had slaves.” He said holding his temper.

I put my hand on Colin’s back. “Colin didn’t believe in slaves. He was the very few that paid his employees.” I looked at Colin. “Josiah taught you Gullah?”

“Enough.” Colin nodded smiling. “He and his mother did.”

“Josiah was born on the plantation?” I asked realizing something.

Colin looked at me. Again, we didn’t read minds, but he and I communicated nonverbally just fine. “No, no...he wasn’t a son of my father.” He looked at Ellis. “Josiah and I grew up together. His mother was a servant in my home. People of African descent, yes, but that had lighter skin were used inside the house.” He frowned. “It’s not a good word at all, but...they were called House Niggers.” He looked at me. “His mother came to us from another plantation where the owner had died and his property was sold. She already had Josiah who was a baby when she got there. Josiah was probably the son of that plantation owner. His father was white. There were only a few features told his was African.” He waved at his own face. “His complexion was pretty white, but he was not my half-brother.”

I shrugged. “I was just curious.” I smiled at him. “Would it have mattered if he was? I’ve heard of worse.”

Ellis nodded. “Uh huh.” He looked at Iustina, Ralph and Repetate and shook his head and shrugged. “I don’t know if I’d want m’ hampton ‘anging out all the time.” He pointed. “No whickers or round ‘ouse?”

I smiled as Colin was again not certain what Ellis had said but had an idea. “He means knickers and trousers.”

Colin nodded slowly. “I thought so. Maybe we should have Stan download the rhyming slang into Buddy.” He muttered.

George nodded at something else he and Kev were discussing. Looking up, he looked at everyone around him. “So, do we retire for the night? Or do you want to see the lab, Kev?”

We did take a quick look at the laboratory as the two were just amazed at what they saw.

It was later that night after as we were about to go to bed, my side pulled down and Colin again was patting my empty space beside him on the bed as I came out the bathroom having brushed teeth and all that.

“Not tonight, honey. I have a headache.” I said and watched Colin’s eyebrows rise in surprise. I chuckled as I slid over him not pushing him back, but he stretched out with me as I kissed him deeply, breaking it off just briefly. “I’d never say that to you seriously. You know I never tire of making love with you.” I felt his hands and arms bring me closer as his chuckle rumbled. “I love you, Colin.”

“I know,” Colin said again. He said it every day but each time was of his complete understanding of that and sincere. “I love you, Devon.”

“I know you do.” I lowered over him as Colin rolled me over, his arms coming around me and…we again made love. No, I would never tire of loving him.

The next few days everyone was returning to the VUN. We introduced the other members of the VUN here in New York to Kev and Ellis. We also introduced Dr. William Canaday to them along with Sergeants Davis and McCall. Ellis was convinced to submit to the scanning of his brain after he was shown that odd looking mesh cap with the sensors he would have to wear.

“Fine.” Ellis agreed. “But I keep me ‘ead.” He said firmly.

George nodded with a chuckle. “You will keep it. No cutting or slicing of your…loaf of bread.”

Ellis nodded. “Oh, yes…ha, ha. Very funny.” He grimaced.

Using various samples of smells, we watched as the images of Ellis’ brain were highlighted.

“Amazing!!” Kev said watching the screen. “This is simply...astounding!” He waved at the screen.

George nodded. “It is.” He pointed to the screen. “What’s interesting is...his Olfactory Receptors transmit by neurons to this part of his brain. The Olfactory Epithelium...” he explained to us.

“In English, George?” Colin interrupted quietly. “Not all of have your genius.”

George smiled and nodded. “Sorry,” he pointed to Ellis, “the molecules for odors are around us all the time. We just don’t have the receptors to process it or the ability to transmit what is there to be processed in our brains.” He waved at Ellis. “He does! Or should I say, the receptors...in his nose...has been reprogrammed...or added the program to understand so much more.” He pointed to the part least active on the screen. “The more activity, the more the brain has to work to understand the scents. That’s why having a brain work hard is not a good thing. The more wrinkled the brain, the less effort needed to process thought. His brain doesn’t have to work hard to know what he’s smelling! His neural pathways are established. He doesn’t have to work it out. He knows! That’s why he can identify so much.” He waved at Colin. “Like you, your receptors for taste is far more developed than...” he hesitated, “well, than anyone I know. That’s why you enjoy eating as much. You don’t have to have your brain work hard, it knows what you’re tasting.” He waved at Ellis. “That’s why he can detect so much more. I dare say, he has a greater ability to track scents even better than a dog or cat.”

Kev nodded seeing for himself what George was explaining. He looked at Colin. “I don’t even have to guess...you had a big meal right before you were bitten.”

Colin’s head went back a little surprised. “Well...yes. It was a few hours before. I needed to walk it off. I really stuffed myself more than I should have. Why? Does that matter?”

“Of course!” Kev nodded waving what he saw was obvious. “Because your stomach hadn’t shrunk down to its regular size yet.” He smiled. “This…venom sort of...freezes time in the body. Keeping it exactly the same. You stop growing or gain weight, any hair loss,” he looked at Colin’s thick hair, “which wasn’t a problem at the time.” He touched the back of his own skull. “I was beginning to thin, but that stopped. You enjoyed eating before, I bet.”

Colin nodded. “Sure, but it got better after I was on the serum…the taste.”

“That love of food...” Kev concluded, “was enhanced after the bite, wasn’t it? You eat so much because your stomach hadn’t shrunk to its normal size!” Colin nodded.

“Sure!” I laughed bumped Colin lightly with my elbow. “That makes sense!”

George grinned at Kev. “And you figured all this out without much instrumentation or lab equipment?”

Kev nodded. “Mostly by cause and effect, but observations over the past century…I just came to that conclusion. It’s just…logical.” He shrugged and waved at the monitor. “It’s nice to see those conclusions proven correct at last.” He shook his head. “To have this sort of technology so we can see…this is extraordinary!” He didn’t say extra ordinary as many mistakenly used, but the proper extraordinary as he looked at George. “I can’t wait to see more!”

Ellis was happy to take that mesh cap off as he sighed seeing Kev and George now talking more in-depth.

John came over and patted Ellis on the arm. “You are probably familiar with being a science widow.”

Ellis looked at John and sigh. “Yeh, I am.” Then he laughed waving at George and Kev. “He’s ‘ardly ever be ‘appier!”

“Hi!” Stan said happily coming in the lab with Mark right behind him.

I turned to hug Stan and brought him closer to Ellis. “Ellis, meet Stan Martin our…central brain that understands our computer system better than anyone. He even named it Buddy, not me.” I hugged Stan again and then looked at Mark. “This is Mark Goddard, Stan’s fiancé. They are also getting married this Spring! Guys, this is Ellis Thomas.”

Ellis grinned holding his hand out. “Yeh?” Ellis looked at me quickly and leaned in whispering. “Just makin’ sure, they know wha’ we are, righ’?”

I chuckled and nodded. “Yes, they do.”

Ellis shrugged. “Just makin’ sure.” He explained to Stan and Mark shaking their hands. “It seems we gingers are all over ‘ere!”

Mark was confused, but Stan smiled hearing Ellis. “Wow, you are English! Cockney! I love it!” He marveled. “Mary Poppins!”

I grinned hugging Stan. “Yes! You got it!”

Ellis frowned. “You have got to let me see this…Mary Poppins.”

Introductions were done again when we could distract Kev enough to do it. Then we introduced the others in the family both for Colin and me with the others that were like family at the VUN.

Colin went to do the business of Holms’ Laboratories and the VUN. Kev and George were in the lab. I had Ellis. I explained more about what we were doing and how we were not hiding anymore but had…in a limited fashion…let other people in the world know about us.

“…and they are not tryin’ t kill us?” Ellis asked me surprised.

Shaking my head, I said. “Not for now. To do what we needed to do, we needed help from the many governments of the world to have greater access to their countries. And we extended our knowledge to some great scientific minds in the world to help George. There are other dangers, though.” I warned.

Ellis nodded with a light chuckle that held no amusement. “I believe that.”

“We’re making headway!” I assured him.

I pulled up Mary Poppins for him to see. When it was over he sat back shaking his head. “I love the big telly and that was a very entertaining…movie.” He nodded. “But Bert was from London like I’m from the States!”

I chuckled. “You didn’t think his accent was real?”

Ellis waved at the big screen we’d watched the movie on. “No! You ‘ave to born English to speak righ’ ‘e was not.” He grinned. “I say, ‘e did a good job, but…no.”

I nodded. “I agree.” I smiled at him. “I hope you and Kev stay with us.”

Ellis nodded with a smile, his eyes lost his bubbling animated personality and became more…at ease. The Cockney all but disappeared. “I hope we’re always welcome.” He sat forward a little. “Kev and I were below in the Tubes a long, long time. When I saw the sun for the first time in over a hundred years, I felt…I can’t describe it.”

“I’ve seen it many times in almost every vampire here.” I nodded.

“It was like I was coming home.” He smiled at me. “Now, I feel I am home.”

“Because you are home and always welcome.”

It was only a few days adjustment for Kev and Ellis to become a part of the VUN. He met Mom and Willie…his look to me telling me he knew that Mom was like me. That Mom was made of Willie’s venom, but he kept it to himself. Gabriella and Alex were introduced to them where Colin and I told them how Ellis was…not better; but could detect scents even more than they could. We received Dr. Kevin Baxter’s and Ellis Thomas’ passports that were sent by Director Maddingly of MI5. Ruben got the approval from his sources so Kev and Ellis could stay and work in the United States. It was not long before they were just a part of our family. The other teams even volunteered to take Ellis on patrol which we did while here. There were a few other adjustments that would be ongoing for a while. Like Ellis’ attempt at being a gentleman. While he might have been aware of culture change…being a part of it…well, I heard about it when they came back from patrol.

“…I had him in my sights!” Shelly said a bit irritated putting her sun gun/serum pellet gun in the charger rougher than she would have. “I was perfectly fine!”

“I’m no’ used to women chargin’ int’ ‘arm’s way!” Ellis said loud. “I was tryin’ to protect you!”

Shelly bowed and nodded patiently. “I understand that.” She smiled and sighed turning to Ellis. “But I am a trained federal agent. Trained in hand-to-hand combat and several other arts to protect myself. I’ve been doing this a number of years now. Believe me, I can handle it.” She sighed and touched his face gently. “Thank you, but Ellis…let me do my job? I can handle myself. Okay?"

Ellis stared uncertainly as Shelly walked away to rejoin Amir. “I canno’ figure this new world out!” He said to the air.

Colin laughed coming up next to Ellis. “It is a new world. Women have the vote now, too.” Colin teased.

Ellis shook his head. “What’s wrong with being protective?”

I walked over to Ellis and Colin. “Not a thing, but…” I said with a raised finger, “were you protective of any of the men in your party, or just her?”

“Yeh,” Ellis said helplessly, “we were after this vampire I caught the scent of and…”

Gabriella came up followed by Alex. “It was one of those nonverbal wild ones which, by the way, I would have lost.” She patted Ellis on the back. “He did not.”

“And ‘e was about to attack us!” Ellis said loud. “I just did it!”

I looked puzzled. “You just did what?”

Gabriella didn’t wait to put her hand on Ellis’ shoulder. “He shoved Shelly behind him.”

“I just did it!” Ellis defended again. “There was a danger and she was a lady…it’s what we’re taught as boys to do!”

Colin nodded understanding. “I see.” He grinned at Ellis. “Treating her like a lady was very chivalrous, but they only want to be treated as ladies now and when they approve. Shelly is very good at fighting and could take you on. Now, they just want to be treated as equals.”

“But we’re…men…and,” Ellis looked at Colin, then to Gabriella and to me. “Well, ‘ow will I know when they approve?”

Alex groaned to say he commiserated and let out a sigh. “That, my friend, is a damned good question.”

Gabriella chuckled. “When she’s important to you.” She waved as Amir was opening the door for Shelly who nodded appreciatively at Amir as they went back into the VUN proper. “See? Amir did something nice for her because she is important to Amir.” She patted Ellis on the arm. “When she’s important, not because she’s female.”

Mom came up with them. “That’s right.” She touched Willie who was beside her. “Willie does it, too.” She laughed with him. “Really you and he are from the same period of time almost, he still wants to be the protector. There are times when that’s nice, but I protected myself a while before I even knew him.”

Gabriella nodded. “I’m from even further back and women still were strong enough to protect themselves. It’s about time we were treated as simply human. We still have some ways to go.”

Ellis moaned and held his head as a headache was forming. “I will neve’ fit in ‘round ‘ere! It’s a load of cobblers, I say.” Ellis’ Cockney more pronounced.

Colin looked at me with the not sure what Ellis said question.

“He doesn’t agree,” I said simply.

“I got that,” Colin muttered and grimaced.

Willie patted Ellis on the shoulder chuckling. “Welcome to the world of the twenty-first century, son.”

Alex nodded with an added snicker. “From what I’ve learned. It’s been a question men have had for a long, long time.”

“You aren’t alone, Ellis.” I smiled at him.

Ellis moaned again. “I need a pint!”

“How about a side of faggots?” I chuckled as Ellis’ eyebrows rose. “They have them on the menu now in Vamps.”

Ellis sighed. “Sure.”

Colin took his arm. “Let’s go.” He threw his other arm around me. “We’ll stop off in the lab and see if George and Kev can tear themselves away and join us.”