The Ink Family Legacy: Generation 5, Chapter 8 Part 2
I love the dynamics of this shot, which is why I just had to use it for the title! There were a lot of other shots I liked too though, but they were spoilers.
| Part One |
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"Oh look! The mailman decided to put the mail in the box today! So much better than throwing it down in impotent rage like usual."
Amongst the standard bill fare, there was a small package attached to a fancy envelope - another party invitation, it seemed. As a celebrity of sorts, he was often invited to these soirées, but he rarely attended.
This one, however, was in Riverview, and with Steven personally signing off on this one he figured he might as well.
The invite said he could bring whomever he wished, so Abel sought out Kira. Turns out she was in the music room with Amy and Jude, trying out a new song. Since she worked as a composer these days, she spent a lot of time testing out half completed songs.
Kira was halfway through the song's apparent bridge when she noticed Abel. With a smile, she put the guitar down.
"Hey Abe - what's up?"
"A party, apparently! Steven wants me to go to this thing and meet with a couple of the new big shots at Eclipse. I'm sure he'd be glad to see you again - wanna come with?"
Kira cracked a smile. "Well, it has been some time since I saw the old manager...ah, what the hell. Ready to pop or not, I'll be there."
Abel quirked a brow. "Kira, if you want to take it easy, that's fine too. We don't want to cause a scene with sudden labor."
"Nah, it's cool."
"Hey Dad?" Jude cut in. "Um, did the invitation say anything about bringing kids? I'd really like to go!"
"You would?" Abel replied, puzzled. "I didn't think you liked non-family functions."
"Well, this sounds interesting! You said all the big shots, right? I want to see some of the people you work with, Dad."
Abel still found it very odd that his son would be interested in what was likely to be a boring party for him. There would almost certainly be no other kids or anything to play with - not the ideal environment for a boy his age.
"I would take you Jude, but if your mother and I go we have to get a babysitter for the girls. And we all know what happens to babysitters who don't have your help, don't we? I think the last one had to shave her head."
Jude's expression instantly fell.
"Abel, I can watch the girls!" Amy interjected. "You, Kira, and Jude can go and I'll hold down the fort here. You can save money on a babysitter too!"
Abel paused. "Amy...it's not that I don't trust you, but...well, you haven't exactly been very good at staying home lately. You seem to go out almost every night, and you can't leave for even a minute if you're watching the girls. We could be gone all night, you know."
Amélie frowned. "You don't really think I'd leave them alone, do you?"
"Not intentionally, no. But you seem to do some things without thinking, Ames."
"I promise. I'll even stay home every night until the party to prove I can do it! C'mon, Jude deserves a little night out too, right?"
Part of Amy was guilty for always letting Jude cover for her. Perhaps this bit of charity would go a long way towards evening the score.
Abel seemed to be debating with himself, but he finally caved. "Okay then. I trust you."
"Now Jude, if you come along you have to promise me you'll behave, okay?"
"Okay!"
"And you'll stay put if we tell you to and go when we say it's time to go?"
"Yeah!"
"You'll see Dad! I'll be the best behaved kid there!"
--- --- --- --- ---
And so, one week later found Amélie true to her word, not once sneaking out at night to prove her commitment to watching the twins.
While Amy handled the little ones at home...
...Jude was finding that the party was not as fun as he hoped.
Sure, there were a few vaguely powerful looking people there, but not the kind Jude was looking for. In fact, most of them looked downright average.
He scanned the room a few more times to be sure.
Yep. Mostly his relatives and other normal looking people. Sigh.
"Mom, I don't get it. I thought Dad said all the big shots were here?" Jude whined.
"Sorry to say kid, but these are the big shots. Some of these people could buy out all of Riverview and then some. Looks can be deceiving."
"...Really?"
"Really. They're not going to be wearing big gold chains or have diamond studded canes or anything, that's ostentatious."
"Oste-wha?"
"Ridiculous. Crazy. Pimptastic."
"Huh."
"But you're that bored, huh?" Kira sighed.
"Yeah."
"Well...I guess you can walk around a little bit. But don't go far, okay? And keep an eye on the clock - be back in half an hour."
That's all the invitation Jude needed. He sprung off the chair enthusiastically and started to weave through the crowd.
He noticed that just beyond his Uncle Seth was a poorly lit hallway that didn't seem to lead to anywhere. No one was coming or going from it, so it probably wasn't all that important...
...which made it all the better for exploring.
It was a creepy hallway alright. In places he could tell that the wallpaper had been plastered right over locked doors, and he could only imagine where such doors led to.
It was some ten dozen steps later that Jude came to a spiral staircase at the end of the hall. He looked up, but the upper level looked just as poorly lit as the first floor. No way to know what was up there without climbing.
So climb he did. The steps were all perfectly smooth and clear, like glass. Jude was a little worried that a too heavy step would bring it all shattering down.
Finally, the top! Besides the noticeable drop in temperature, the room was oddly...
...empty. How boring.
But just as he was about to descend the stairs in a huff, Jude heard a little sniffle. Then a hiccup. And finally a steady stream of little sobs.
Turning, Jude saw an entrance to a room he hadn't noticed before. And standing there, clutching onto the heavy velvet curtains, was a little girl.
Her lips trembled as she swayed in place, still a little unsteady on her feet. Jude pegged her as a year or two younger than his sisters - too little to be on her own.
When he approached her, however, her eyes got comically round. She was clearly terrified, and his slow approach was not appreciated.
So much so that when he reached her, she simply fell back and started crying. Her wails echoed off the stone walls of the room, creating so much noise that Jude was sure they would hear her downstairs!
And he couldn't have that, now could he? Jude comforted her the way he did his sisters - a big hug and a verbal reassurance that things were just fine.
"There, there. It's okay! See, see, you're fine."
The strategy worked like a charm - that's a family oriented kid for you.
"There, you're okay, see?" Jude repeated soothingly.
"Mmm." the girl sniffled, looking up at him.
The girl reminded him of his Aunt Isis a little, with pale eyes against dark skin. But this girl's eyes were a little more natural than Isis's, looking almost pearly in color.
"Alright, up you go!" Jude said, picking her up unsteadily.
No use standing in an archway, after all! There was a carpet a little further in that would probably be a more pleasant resting place for her. Brighter too.
The room was a little strange, now that Jude got a better look at it. Bookcases, a fireplace, a toy tiger, plush couches, and a rusted phonograph - kind of out of place in an attic-like second floor.
A few steps later and Jude's arms were much too tired for toddler transport.
"Okay, I'm going to have to put you down now." he mumbled, slightly out of breath. "Man, I don't know adults carry you guys so easily..."
He set her down carefully, moving the tiger to the desk to make room for her. She didn't appear to be happy with this arrangement though.
"Need tiger!" she insisted, grabbing for the toy.
"Er, okay, whatever you want." Jude replied. Huh, she was better at talking than he thought.
So from a boring party to babysitting, huh? Jude wondered how he ended up in situations like this. But ever the big brother, he played along with the girl's antics.
"Mr. Tiger says hewwo!"
"Hmm? Oh, hello there Mr. Tiger."
"Hee hee!"
It wasn't long, though, before Jude heard footsteps approaching the room.
He stood up, tugging the toddler to her feet with him, only to meet a man's silent gaze from across the room. Jude vaguely recognized him from the party.
"And just what are you doing with my daughter there?" he asked coolly.
"Err..."
Luckily, the girl piped up. "Dis is my new friend, Daddy! He's nice!"
To Jude's relief, the man cracked a smile. "Is that so?"
"Mmmhmm!"
"Well Pearl, how about you and your new friend have a seat on the couch?"
She beamed up at Jude and tugged him towards one of the couches, scrambling up on the seat with only a little help from him.
"Bored of the party, were you?" the man asked, lighting the fireplace.
"Um, yeah."
"Well, idle chat can be like that time to time."
Jude still wasn't entirely sure what was going on, but it was already more interesting than the previous events of the day.
"My name's Tobias Hooke. You seem to have caught the favor of my Pearl." he laughed, patting the little girl's head.
"Jude Ink." Jude replied, returning the introduction. "I'm-"
"Abel Ink's son, right? You look like him." Tobias interrupted. "Nice guy. Not terribly into politics though - we don't see much of him at these parties."
"Well, my dad never cared much for prestige and power." Jude noted.
Tobias smirked. "Ah, but you seem to think differently."
"H-how do you know that?"
The man laughed. "The way you disparaged your father's nonchalance! You think he's wasting an opportunity, don't you? If you were in his place, you'd be rubbing shoulders with the top tiers more often. Befriend people who could do things for you. Could make things happen."
"...You're reaching."
"Oh, I think I'm spot on. You remind me a bit of myself as a kid. Bored. Smart. Cautious. Probably stubborn too, from your reaction."
At Jude's darkening expression, he laughed again. "Oh, don't look so dour! You're a kid. Kids are easy to outsmart. But someday you'll grow up and be the one getting the best of others, yeah? You're already on your way there."
"But that's something you already know, don't you? You already know you want control. That's why you're so upset when you don't get your way."
"I think you're projecting your thoughts onto me, Mr. Hooke."
"And I think you're a smart aleck! But that's good. You keep looking for a way to the top kid."
After a pause, Jude asked, "Are you at the top, Mr. Hooke?"
Tobias smiled. "You certainly are a smart kid."
"But for now, focus on getting older. You're alright, kid. Maybe in ten years we could have a different conversation. Right now, it would be best if you'd just stay friends with Pearl."
"Ha ha. I could manage that."
"Jude and Pearl awe friends!"
"Alright Mr. Jude Ink...it's probably time for you to return to the party, don't you think?"
Jude glanced up at the clock on the wall, startled - his half hour curfew was long past. Damn, he'd be in so much trouble!
And, sure enough, Abel met him right at the end of the hallway.
"Jude! There you are."
Just as he braced himself for a scolding though, Abel said, "Sorry bud, but it looks like we have to go home early. You're mom's not feeling too well and we want to stop by the hospital just to make sure everything is okay."
Abel smiled apologetically. "The party was pretty boring for you, huh? Sorry it wasn't as interesting as you hoped."
"Actually Dad...it turned out to be a lot more interesting than I thought!"
"Abe, we really don't have to leave the party. A couple cramps aren't something to write home about." Kira complained. That Abel, always fussing over everything.
"W...wait."
"FFFFUCK!!!"
That awkward moment when your mom goes into labor in public. Such is life.
As they left, Jude noticed two people across the room watching him curiously. He briefly noticed that the woman had the same eyes as Pearl.
--- --- --- --- ---
Looks like they were labor pains after all!
After a few hours of craziness, Kira gave birth to a boy she and Abel named Alex.
Baby number four! It was pretty staggering to Kira that she was the mother of four already. Each time was like new...granted, the first pregnancy was a vampire and other was twins.
Abel, of course, was completely enamored with his second son. Nurturing as always, it seems.
"Hey there Alex. Aw, look at you!"
"Airplane!"
Alex squealed in protest, squirming in his father's hands. He was such a quiet baby that Abel sometimes went the extra mile to get a reaction out of him!
Yeah, Abel's a sucker for babies.
Not everyone was on board with the baby love though.
"It had to be a brother, didn't it."
"Ugh. He's going to be such trouble. Such trouble!"
The girls were a bit warmer to their new little sibling though.
"What is it Phee?"
"It's a Alex! Mama said he's Alex!"
"He's a brother like Jude?"
"A little brother!"
"We have a big Jude and a little Alex!"
"He's cute~" September cooed.
"Like a bug!" Sophia added.
"Okay, play time now!" Sophie decided, her attention span through. Ember, as always, followed.
A new little brother was fun and all, but the most fun was always playing with the two Hats! The girls never went far without their dolls in tow.
It was good to have an active imagination~
--- --- --- --- ---
"Wake up Amy!"
"Amy, up up~"
"Bwuh? What's...?"
"Oh c'mon Ames." Abel chuckled. "You didn't forget your own birthday, did you?"
"Birthday Amy!"
"Amy's birthday~"
"C'mon kid, it's party time." Kira laughed.
"Brave enough to rouse a sleeping vampire, hmm?" Amélie replied with a sleepy smile. "Okay, I'm up, I'm up."
Oh yes, it was birthday time!
It was hard to believe that eighteen years ago, Amélie had been born to Clover in the captivity of Anne. Fifteen years ago she was orphaned, and eleven years ago her family found her again.
Huh. She had lived longer with Abel than without him now.
And here, surrounded by her family, Amy hoped she could hold onto this feeling no matter how long she lived.
A complicated wish, sure, but a dedicated one.
"Uh...whoa!"
It's time to get this show on the road!
And what a show it was.
Now Amy's personality had always been a little eccentric. A little childish, a little nervous, a lot introspective. But adulthood, it seemed, brought on a case of the dramatics. Probably not the safest attitude for a fledgling vampire, but Amélie had never fit the mold very well.
"Happy birthday Amy." Abel said warmly, giving her a hug. "Man, I can hardly believe you're all grown up! I must be getting old."
"Funny, I don't recall early thirties to be old."
"Hitting thirty at all was a blow to my pride, sis."
Of course, talk of age left Amy as broody as always. Once the party wound down she found herself outside, taking in the night air.
It was so strange. Her brother had already passed thirty. If she wanted, she could be eighteen forever.
"Hey, having a weird depression party over here?"
Amy looked up, startled. "Lyle! What are you...?"
"You really thought I'd forget my girlfriend's birthday? Man Ames, you gotta have faith in me."
"So what's up?" he asked, sitting down next to her.
"Oh, the usual. Contemplating the unfathomable future and the ephemeral nature of life."
"Existentialism. Fun."
"You know Amy, contrary to popular belief, there's more to life than lamenting it. There's these things called movies and concerts that we could go to. There's this new thing called a life and I think you can have it!"
"Ha ha."
"Aw, lighten up!"
"Sorry. I'm a terrible girlfriend, aren't I. We never really go out."
Lyle chuckled. "Hey, it's not that bad! Hanging out at your house so much gave me immunity to your brothers. Heck, I think Abel and I are even friends now!"
"But seriously Ames - a date? A normal, daytime one?"
The day? That could be dangerous. Now that she was an adult, the sun could be dangerous to her. Then again, her siblings were able to stand sunlight for short amounts of time with sufficient sunblock...
"Well...okay. But only because you're so very charming."
"Aren't I though?"
"Very."
Amy wondered how close she should stay to Lyle. Would she keep him with her forever? After all, she would never age another day while he continued on. When would he notice? When would it be too late?
But then, as usual, Amy left solving her problems for another day.
--- --- --- --- ---
Amélie decided to be a self employed painter for the time being, giving her plenty of time to look after the younger kids while Abel and Kira were at work.
She was really good with little Alex, it seemed!
In fact, becoming an adult really seemed to settle Amy down. She only rarely had the urge to leave the house at night, opting for a fairly regular routine.
The girls certainly enjoyed the extra attention from their aunt!
But time to time, Amélie fell into a nervous fit. Sometime it would be small, with quick, nervous behavior.
But other times she felt like she had to get away, muttering to herself anxiously.
She wasn't sure what had her so agitated. Sometimes it felt like her very blood was restless.
Restless and thirsty.
--- --- ---
Sometimes Amy was gone for a couple of days at a time.
Abel would be on the phone with his siblings, trying to keep on top of the situation. He told himself not to worry, that she was an adult vampire and could take care of herself...
"Hey Seth. Any news?"
"No. Sorry. It's just...I had another dream. About Amy this time."
"Another one?! I thought these were supposed to stop when we went human."
"I've been wondering about that, lately. Did we really go all the way human, Abel? Noah is still a living lie detector. I still get visions from time to time. I'm sure you've retained some of your vampiric charisma as well."
"Well...that's...c'mon Seth. None of the kids born afterwards are vampires. Isn't that proof enough?"
"Maybe. But maybe Dad's genes were too strong. Maybe that woman's influence was too strong. I'm a human, but I still dream like a vampire, Abel."
"Terrible dreams too, like a proper prophet. I keep meeting alternate versions of myself, telling me how horrible the future was."
"Lately it's been the same one, the man I would've become if Rhyme hadn't been able to keep us together. I guess in that timeline, we only meet again when that woman dies to see who will become her successor."
"Damn, that's...morbid. We don't fight to the death, do we?"
"No. Her heiress is the one who killed her."
"I guess he keeps meeting me to warn me. So that our Amy doesn't become like his Amy."
"But they're not all that similar, right? I mean, we raised Amélie for eleven years."
"That's what I wondered too. I asked him if they could really be so similar."
"He told me that right now, our Amy is nothing like his. She is still very much Amélie Ink, not Wisteria. Which is good, because as I understand it Amélie Wisteria is a frightening woman."
After a pause, Seth sighed. "Damn it. I just don't know. Maybe this is all in my head."
"Maybe these aren't visions of bad futures at all."
"It could just be deep seated paranoia that all we've done for her isn't enough."
"That she could still become that woman when we're not around to help her."
"That one day, after we're dead, she'll just snap."
"No. No, you know what? Forget this psychic nonsense." Seth rambled on. "We shouldn't trust it. It's brought me nothing but trouble."
"I mean, hell, one of the reasons I held onto Stella so long was because I had a vision of a little blonde daughter. That's it. All that heartbreak because I was convinced of that future."
"I guess I don't know anymore Abel."
"Whether we're worrying too much..."
"...or not enough."
--- --- --- --- ---
I kind of love Amy guys. She turned out awesome. I've been worried what Jin's features would look like on her since she was born, but now that she's a YA I can see that I had nothing to worry about! :D
By the by, alternate hobo Seth isn't even the saddest of alternate universes. I might do a little bit at the heir poll describing what would have happened if Jin had failed and Anne raised gen 5. It's basically terrible and the five kids are harbingers of the great vampire war. That particular Seth ends up blind.
Bonus note - when the little ten year old Seth got the feeling 'something bad was going to happen' before Clover's kidnapping, he had a dream that he met himself as an adult next to the graves of Jin and Clover.
But enough chat about things that did and didn't happen! Here's Part Three!