Blueblood 2: The World - 5. Thornwood

It only took a few minutes before the SUV s arrived at the front of the house. When they got out, Colin had told me my mother had insisted on coming. I greeted them at the door, but I knew my mother would know I was upset. They all knew it! No, I wasn’t just upset, I was pissed! As they got out and walked up, I didn’t have to say a word. Willie wouldn’t even look at me, but Mom looked right at me.

“Don’t blame anyone about my coming, Devon.” Mom said firmly. “I came on my own.”

“But Mom…” I began as I was going to get her to see why she shouldn’t have come.

She held her hand up to stop me. “Stop.” She then folded her arms over her chest. “Why did you include me on this trip if you were going to leave me at the hotel?” She asked. “And what was I going to do when you are off in unknown danger? I would just sit there? I don’t think so.”

“But…” I began again.

“No!” Mom said quickly as she shook her head. “Don’t blame William or Chuck, I came to be a part of this team. I am with the team.” She said simply and walked on into the house.

Willie came up then and smiled at me. “Women of this generation are certainly…” he thought, “…forceful.” He was about to follow her in, stopped and looked at me again. “Exciting, isn’t she?” He grinned as he followed Mom in the house.

As much as I didn’t like it, Mom was right. I just sighed and went inside after them. I grinned as Willie was hurrying to catch up with my mother. Any day now, he’d tell her he loved her.

We introduced our team to the three men that had greeted Colin and me.

“Edwin…” I began. “…explain Mr. Addams, please.”

Edwin bowed his head as smiled. “Well, technically, he is the owner.” He saw our confusion. “As far as the government can see; any legal issues or property issues go…he is the one they contact, but I still own the house.” He walked over to Chuck, Shelly, and my mother. “Now, explain why I wouldn’t want to consume their blood.”

George smiled and raised a hand. “That would be what I give them to dissuade vampires from ingesting their blood.”

Edwin nodded. “I think you did a great service in doing that.” He admired. “Can we get that as well?”

George gave a little nod. “Sure.” He looked curious. “But the people need to know why they're taking it. It is something they will have to take by injection.”

Edwin nodded. “The ones I would give it to do know what’s going on. We have a few…like Nigel, who has family members saved by other vampires and even Basil Dunning. They know there is a threat; and what that threat is.” He waved again at the sitting area. “Even as a vampire, I get tired of standing.” He said sitting down with a sigh. “Nigel’s mother was saved from a rogue vampire. His father was grateful and as a reward for his silence, his father became employed and it just trickled down. They are well paid.”

Colin and I sat as did the others of our team. "Does that reward include becoming vampires?” Colin asked.

Edwin shook his head. “Reward as in not becoming vampires.” He stressed. “This is a life I wouldn’t wish for anyone. Not even an enemy.”

Mom looked around the library we were in smiling. “This is most impressive. I know we’re near the town of Bedale, but where exactly are we?”

Edwin smiled. “We’re in Thornwood.” He looked at Chuck who was looking on his tablet. “Don’t bother trying to find it. This is a small town area and not really on the maps. The house is a tourist attraction…mostly in the summer and weekends.”

Colin’s eyes widened. “It is? You allow strangers in here?”

Edwin nodded with a shrug. “I have to keep the lights on and staffed to keep up the property.” He said logically. “We’re several kilometers from the motorway. I’m down during the day, so it doesn’t bother me. I have Edward to see to the house.”

“So, you don’t live here?” Colin asked.

Edwin gave a look that told us not to assume. “I live here.” He corrected and then pointed down. He got up smiling. “To show I trust you…” he went to a set of shelves of books. What he did was…like a combination lock. He pulled one book forward slightly, then another, but you had to know which ones. He was back to another shelf and one last one. Not removing them, but just pulled forward in a particular order. When the last book was pulled, we heard a “click.” The wall those shelves were on in one section sprung open slightly. He smiled as he waved to the opening. “I live…down here.”

I nudged Colin lightly in the side. “I know I’ve seen this movie,” I whispered to him.

Colin frowned. “I need to seriously monitor your viewing habits.”

I grinned at him. “Okay…Dad.” I kissed him quickly as Colin grunted at my comment. I rose to see where the passage went.

Edwin smiled as he pulled the shelf open more. “I’d say, ladies first, but I think I should go ahead of everyone…just in case your eyes don’t adjust quickly.” He said and went into the darkness.

The opening led to stone steps that went down almost immediately. It was a curved walk down that didn’t require that much space behind the bookshelf. It was more than just a basement as we went down a couple of floors worth. When we got to the bottom, the passage emptied us in a very nice apartment. Carpet on the floor, nicely furnished with a couch and chair, a desk to work on with a computer, a fireplace that I realized was just below the fireplace in the library so they could use the same chimney. There was another room, I saw was a bedroom complete with a bed! A vampire that slept in a bed? However, I noticed only one bed, but there were two vampires down here at one time. I began to wonder if the bed was changed or if maybe they were more than a father and son. Then I looked at the walls. There were more books, but these were read, some looked like they were read often; like poetry and other novels.

“Edwin…” I began. “Or do I call you Sir Edwin or Sir Dunning?”

Edwin chuckled. “Call me Edwin. Even after all this time, I’m not used to the Sir stuff.”

I nodded. “Forgive me…but…being what I am…I noticed something about you.”

Edwin’s eyebrows rose. “Oh?”

“You’re a big man.” I began, he was not much taller than me. “Not as big as Colin, but you sort of fit the clothes you wear. I can tell you lived a hard-working life. You said you were a miner.”

Edwin nodded smiling. “I was. I mined for almost twenty years.” He laughed as he remembered. “It was hard work.”

Colin nodded. “I don’t doubt it.”

“So, you were bitten as a miner?” I asked.

Edwin nodded. “It was early in the 1800s. About 1816 I believe. The vampire that bit me was living in one of the abandoned tunnels. That saved me, I believe. We were already underground, so when the sun came up, I was protected. I just remained there a while.” He looked a little embarrassed. “…until the hunger came. My first meal was a dog.”

Colin smiled sympathetically. “I’ve done that, too.”

Willie chuckled. “I lived for nearly a century on rats.” He shrugged as he saw Mom turn her lip up a little disgusted. “Yes, I'm not proud of that, but it did the job.”

“You were in your thirties?” I asked.

Edwin nodded. “I was.” He smiled. “Yes, to your next question…I had a family. My parents…well, mom died early when I was about five. My father died later as I was about turn twelve or thirteen. That’s when I began working in the mines.” He shook his head. “There were no child labor laws back then. You work, you got paid. Dad died like many miners that caught the coughing death from working in the mines.” He frowned. “I thought that would be my case as well. I married at eighteen. We had two babies, which neither of them lived, so, no children. When I was bitten, they assumed I died in the mines.” He chuckled. “Which I did, but I couldn’t return to Ellie.” He shrugged. “She would have been terrified if I did.”

“What happened to her?” I asked.

Edwin nodded with a smile. “She was fine.” He said proudly. “I was a miner, so after feeding, I went down and mined. Occasionally, I found things of value and things I found on victims. I would leave a bag of those things on her doorstep, melted down if it was jewelry. I did that until she married again and moved away.”

“You were an adult when Basil Dunning adopted you,” Colin said to be clear.

Edwin nodded. “I was. Illiterate and not educated at all…but Basil caught me rescuing a young woman from being fed on. It was shortly thereafter he brought me to his home. He taught me to read and write.” He looked thoughtful. “I loved reading and still do.”

I looked at the books on his shelves. “I see that.”

“Was there another reason he did that?” George asked. “You’re smart. He would have seen that. Maybe he saw nobility in you?”

“Being noble is not who you were born to,” Gabriella said. “It’s who you are. Basil Dunning saw potential in you.”

Edwin didn’t have the blood to do it, but if he had, he would have been blushing. “He said things like that to me.” He smiled as he remembered. “He told me if anything happened to him, I could take over. That’s why he took me in and educated me.”

George smiled. “I will give the Disflavor.”

“Disflavor?” Edwin asked.

“George is brilliant with chemicals and medicine.” I grinned at George. “But lousy with names.”

George rolled his eyes. “It works!” He defended.

“Are there any vampires out there you would classify as wild?” Colin asked.

Edwin nodded. “Quite a few.” He explained. “There are those that are borderline…retaining just enough humanity to be cunning and smart. They rotate their hunting grounds; randomly picking towns, never hitting the same one twice too often. It is an unspoken, but a known rule that you don’t walk alone at night and you lock your doors and windows when going to bed.”

George stepped closer. “Understand, the serum I will give you does hurt.”

Colin nodded. “A lot.”

“For hours at first,” Gabriella added with the emphasis on the agony.

“But in a week’s time…” Willie smiled. “You can enjoy breakfast in the morning sun.”

“That first sunrise when you can tolerate it…” Alex continued. “You will never forget.” Telling Edwin it was worth it.

“Believe us, Edwin,” I said. “We just want to help. No one deserves to suffer as you have.”

Edwin looked at me puzzled. “You said you have, not we have. You’re a vampire, too.”

I smiled as I walked back to Colin who took my hand. “Because, I was bitten for another reason, which I will explain later, but I have not suffered in any way like they did.”

Edwin nodded. “Okay.” He looked at the others. “There is a problem with the vampires that live in the abandoned mine tunnels. They are wild. There is also some of those borderline vampires there. Is there hope with them?”

Colin cocked his head. “Let me guess…they were criminals before they were bitten?”

Edwin thought a second and nodded. “Yes.”

Colin frowned. “We have those in the United States, too.” He waved at Alex and Gabriella. “These two are excellent trackers. They can smell where those vampires are.”

Edwin marveled at that. “We have some that probably could, but are afraid to go in the mines by themselves.”

“We won’t let them go in by themselves,” Chuck said. “We’ll be armed.”

“We have what George designed as sun guns.” Shelly smiled. “Directed light like the sun, only more concentrated. It keeps them at bay very well.”

George nodded. “Would those others you mentioned who can smell them out; would they help us?”

Edwin didn’t smile, but he gave a shrugging nod. “When they trust you.”

I nodded. “It’s always about that.”

Edwin went to his computer and taped the keyboard which brought the screen to life again. “Would tomorrow night be okay? I’ll send a message to the others.”

“Tomorrow night for what?” Colin asked.

Edwin turned and looked like it should be obvious. “They need to meet you. If they spend some time with you, they will help and trust you. I do.” He thought a second. “…maybe the night after tomorrow.” He shrugged. “Travel as a vampire is a little trickier than with regular people…” he smiled. “…or you.”

“We’re a few hours from our hotel...” Colin said.

Edwin shook his head. “You should stay here.” He waved at the upper part of the house. “I have the rooms.”

Colin grimaced. “He has to rub it in.” He muttered quietly to me.

I smiled putting my arm around Colin. “Don’t make your eyes any greener,” I said quietly to him.

“We often have companies that book the house for parties, rent the house for weddings and the guests often stay here,” Edwin explained. “That way no one drives drunk.” He smiled. “There are no parties or weddings this week. There are the west and east wings; so plenty of rooms.” He smiled. “But the others will want to meet you.”

Colin nodded. “We’ll go tomorrow and check out of the hotel.”

Edwin nodded. “It’s about three or four hours away, but you will have to do that.” Then he thought. “I need groceries.” His eyes widened. “I have a contact who can do that.” Edwin sat and began to type.

I grinned. “Could you do me a favor?”

Edwin looked at me. “I’ll try.”

“Is there a way to have Faggots here?” I asked as I watched Colin grin.

“Faggots?” Edwin looked surprised. “There often on the menu here in pubs up here, but sure…we can have them.” He looked at Colin’s face. “Is there something I don’t know?”

I nodded. “There is. Colin won’t tell me what they are.”

Edwin grinned. “I see.” He looked at Colin. “Do I have them made here?”

Colin shrugged chuckling. “It’s either that or he’ll be at the nearest pub to order there.”

Edwin nodded as he resumed typing. “Then I promise to have it served tomorrow night.”

I smiled and I think I even bounced at hearing that.

We visited a while back upstairs, but I saw the clock and knew it would be time for Edwin to go back underground. He showed us where we could stay. It was a nice room and it had its own bathroom and as opulent as all the rest of the house.

Colin was taking his shoes off as I pulled the bed covers down. I grinned as I looked at him. He was still a little annoyed with all this. I walked over to him and knelt in front of him.

“Colin,” I said quietly, smiling at him making him look at me. “This is a very nice house.” I watched him grimace again. “There’s a big difference between this house and our home,” I said. “Edwin inherited this house. You built ours.” I pulled him to his feet. “No, as you said before, you never swung a hammer, but you did build Wentworth Manor. It’s your house! You invited me to share it with you. It’s our home. Our home!” I waved at the room and house beyond the room. “This is almost a museum! It is a museum most of the time. Our house is lived in and shows that.”

Colin nodded with a smile. “It’s silly, I know…”

“The house we have was built by you and reflects you. This was given to Edwin and it doesn’t have that charm. It’s beautiful, but doesn’t have anything personal.” I grinned as I kissed Colin. “If anything, I feel sorry for Edwin.”

Colin looked surprised. “Sorry? Why?”

“The only place I saw that said he lived anywhere was that room underground.” I pointed out. “That said about Edwin. Who does he share it with? I didn’t see any evidence that he shared it with anyone. Our room does!”

Colin nodded and smiled more. “You’re right.” He kissed me. “It is our room. Maybe after he’s on the serum he can change that.” He hugged me. “No one deserves to be alone.”

I grinned. “Well, I think Edwin had a little more going with Basil,” I said. “Two vampires and one bed? It didn’t look easy to get furniture in and out, so…”

Colin chuckled. “I thought so, too. He was too accepting of us…and I noticed a look when he spoke of his…” he used air quotes. “…daddy.”

“After we check out of the Four Seasons, we should look for a picture of Basil,” I said pulling him back to the bed. “You are the best daddy I’ve ever seen.” I said kissing him deeply. “I’m glad you aren’t my real daddy, otherwise, what I have in mind right now would be incest.”

Colin chuckled. “We didn’t bring our supplies.”

I shrugged. “We’ll use cowboy lube.”

Colin groaned. “That is just…”

“Messy?” I grinned. “Okay, let me check the bathroom. There’s got to be lotion or something somewhere.”

It didn’t take long, but I found a think of petroleum jelly, so we were fine.

The next day, Colin, Chuck, Willie and I rode back to London and checked out of the Four Seasons. We brought both SUVs to carry all our equipment and luggage. We ended up shipping some other that was not necessarily needed right away. We were done by eight the next evening where we came down for dinner. Edwin was sitting with us with his goblet of blood, but we had places at the table for each of us. All the china and crystal was laid out and the silver was shining. What else I noticed were the many paintings on the ornate walls. I looked up at them.

“Edwin,” I said looking at them. “Is one of these men in the portraits Basil?”

Edwin brightened. “Absolutely.” He got up and walked to a big picture over the fireplace. “There he is.” He looked fondly. “Of course, when he posed for that picture, men often wore those damned wigs at that time. He is here wearing one. His hair was naturally black.” He looked over at Colin. “Like Colin’s or mine.”

I nodded. “He is a handsome man.”

Edwin nodded. “He was.” He returned to his chair at the head of the table. “There are others in the house I can show you later if you want.”

I nodded. “How old was he when he was turned?”

Edwin thought. “About…his late forties, I think.”

“He was a daddy,” I said so only Colin could hear.

Nigel and a woman came out as Nigel wheeled a cart in front of him.

Edwin smiled. “This is Nettie.” He introduced a woman approaching her forties. “Nigel’s wife. I’m told she’s the best cook in all of Great Britain! I look forward to finding that out myself.” She was…the best word for her was…pleasingly hearty? She was sturdy. She was not ugly, but not a slave to fashion. That as she didn’t use a lot of makeup. “And now…” Edwin grinned as a tray with a silver dome over the top. “Here are your Faggots!”

Nigel pulled the cover off and steam came up and I saw my Faggots! I stood to see it better. It smelled good, but I had a definite “bacon” appreciation to it. It looked almost like meatballs with mashed potatoes on top with peas or beans around it.

“Now can I find out what it is? I get the smell of bacon.” I said.

“Well, kind of.” Nettie nodded with a smile. “There is pig heart, liver and belly fat cooked together in a crock with the peas and mashed potatoes. A nice gravy is made with it.”

I grinned. “We eat Chitlins, so why not?”

“Chitlins?” Edwin frowned. “What is that?”

“When they butchered an animal…” I said, “…usually pigs for the Massa…” I said Southern slave term for master. “…they got the best parts and the intestines were unused. Plantation owners did that.” I grinned as Colin rolled his eyes when I looked at him.

Edwin grinned. “Oh, Chitterlings!” He understood now. “We have that here.”

Colin leaned forward. “Let me set things straight, I was never anyone’s massa or master. I didn’t own any slaves! I worked as hard as they did in the fields!”

Gabriella nodded. “Yes, he did.” Then she smiled. “But Granddaddy did own slaves.” She smiled at Willie. “Not you, Willie. Granddaddy Wentworth.”

Edwin laughed. “You owned a plantation, Colin?”

Colin sighed sitting back in his chair. “I owned a plantation, yes, but freed my employees when I inherited the plantation. I offered them jobs to get them to stay.” He said. “Where else could they go? I couldn’t send them back to Africa!”

Edwin smiled. “Basil had them here until about 1830.” He shrugged. “Even though you’re American now, you’re English by descent. It’s what we do everywhere we go.”

I nodded. “It seems the thing humans do everywhere at one time or another.”

Gabriella smiled. “But Daddy fell in love with someone that was being held as a slave. That’s what changed his opinion about them.”

Edwin nodded but smiled at Colin. “A man ahead of his time and a truly enlightened soul.” He raised his goblet to Colin.

I smiled at Colin and took his hand at the table. “I’ll drink to that,” I said raising my glass to my husband.

Colin smiled at me. “Thank you.” He said pressing his forehead against mine.

Edwin shrugged in exasperation. “Oh, just kiss the man!” He smiled. “It’s not exactly appropriate table manners, but what the hell! We’ll be ushering in a new day for those of us with the condition. It's my house. I say, KISS HIM!”

Colin looked at Edwin with a smile. “I’d say he is one of the enlightened ones.”

I chuckled as Colin leaned closer and kissed me. “I love you, Colin.”

Colin smiled. “I love you, Devon.”