I'm the Mother of the Heroine? (Book 1)

Chapter 23

Vincent:

It seems I've gotten myself in a weird place again. Last time I'd ended up with some people claiming to be my aunt and uncle. At least these people don't lie. They were very honest about being murderers last night. Or I guess vengeful spirits? No. Not spirits since he isn't dead. Avenging angel? That didn't fit either. 

"What's your name? I didn't ask you last night," asked the boy I'd previously helped from the cellar. 

I examined him more intently than I had previously. Before there hadn't been time to but now that there were lights to wash over his pallid skin I could make out the scars engraved on his flesh. They appeared to be permanent. 

"Vincent."

He examined me as I examined him. The older male had left us alone in this room and I had slept on a couch while the boy had taken the bed last night.

"Why aren't you scared?"

What a weird thing to ask. "Why should I be scared," I cocked my head to the side. 

He opened his mouth to answer but the door opened and in walked a woman and the girl I had met at breakfast. 

The boy had brightened up. "Lily, what are you doing here?"

This Lily was smiling but had turned her gaze towards me and searched my face for something. I wasn't sure what though. Whatever it was seemed to make her smile brighter. 

"Good afternoon Nathaniel," she turned her gaze back to the boy. So his name was Nathaniel? Did he have a name before?

"Helena told me we had acquired another boy in the house so I came to meet him."

"Ah, yes. This is Vincent. He was at the place I left," he mumbled the last of his words. When Lily heard that though she stiffened and a different expression crossed her face. I wasn't sure what though. 

Lily:

So he was another child who had been left to those people? He looked different from Nathaniel though. When Nathaniel was brought here he was skin and bones with multiple lacerations and bruises. This boy was skinny as well but not as unkempt. The only telling sign that he'd seen horrors were his eyes. Almost completely dull of life. 

"It's nice to meet you Vincent. I'm Lily and this is my daughter Helena," I gave him a reassuring smile but he just stared at us with a placid look. Seeming to not really understand the smile nor the greeting. 

He finally spoke up, "Hello Lily and Helena."

I gave a sigh of frustration. It wasn't that he frustrated me but the kind of environment they'd been living in. Whoever had done this to the two boys deserved death. 

My magic flared but I reigned it in when I noticed the children shiver in fear. Even Helena had grown weary, which was to be expected of someone with no magic. 

"Sorry. Would you guys like to come see my garden?"

Helena usually wasn't allowed up there because I was worried she'd destroy the plants when she was younger but I felt that the kids needed something to distract them. 

"Mommy, you're letting us see the Garden?!"

She was jumping up and down as she grabbed my arm. 

"Yeah. But you guys can only go if Damon or I are with you. Okay?"

Her head bobbed up and down vigorously in her enthusiasm. 

I turned back to the boys, "Do you guys want to join us? Usually no one is allowed to enter but you guys will be an exception along with Damon."

Nathaniel hopped up and hurriedly agreed. Vincent seemed kind of lost on what exactly had everyone so excited. I walked over to him and crouched down so my eyes were level with his dulled blue ones. 

"Would you like to join us? It is better to be among others instead of being alone."

I held a hand out for him to take. He looked at it but slid his hand in mine without any change to his face. As if he were just moving a piece of paper from the right side of a table to the left. It was disappointing that a child so young didn't even hold curiosity for new things but I didn't remark on it. 

"Let's go everyone."

Maybe I should have Celia bring me food in the Gardens.

A/N: Gah. I hate slow things.