The Book of Marie

She missed her siblings. At least now Adriel and Gloria knew about the baby. She hated all the secrecy, but it was for the best of intentions. Castro was a dangerous Black Dragon. His power was just dark enough to be overpowering and destructive. That was how he had gained control. He'd beaten down Adriel and Gloria, took over their lives, until the family had been split and destroyed. Now, he was the chaos behind the family. Always lurking in the shadows and always destroying things before they had time to grow. She didn't want her son anywhere near Castro.

Marie entered Mazero's study. She wanted to see him. He looked up from his paperwork, concerned. "Is everything alright, Marie?"

She smiled shyly and answered, "yes."

"Good." His focus returned to some of the paperwork before him.

"I was just feeling lonely." She tried not to look overly sad.

But Mazero sighed, stood up from behind his desk, offered an arm out, and motioned for her to join him on the couch behind the desk.

"What's on your mind, Marie?" He sat down with her and then pulled her feet up into his lap. Her ankles and feet were still swollen.

"I've always wondered, why do you have Vampilyo as your last name? We aren't related...are we?" She blushed slightly horrified at the possibility.

Mazero chuckled. "No, we are not related. My parents used to be servants in the Vampilyo household, and it was simply customary for the servants to take on the last name of their patrons."

"But you’re like rich now?" It was half a question and half a statement.

Mazero smiled carefully weighing her words. "I'm rich because of the things that I have, not just because of my status in life."

Marie blushed. How long would she be able to stay with Mazero and her son? How long before Castro came sniffing around to find her? The thoughts saddened her almost instantly.

"You're thinking too much, Marie." He rubbed at her feet, watching her face wince. "He will never have our son. I will protect him until my last breath has left this body."

"I'm going to have to go back eventually." She looked down at her hands in her lap.

Mazero reached over and held her hands. "We will deal with that when the time reaches it." He felt the sadness too. He didn't want her to leave, for Seth's sake and for his own sanity. But it would happen. Marie would have to return to the Vampilyo realm and assume control of the armies, letting the twins step down.

"Let's find something else to talk about." He raised her feet up and set them back down against the couch. "How about a drink?"

Marie laughed. "Sure. So, you're admittedly trying to get me drunk?"

"I'm trying to help you relax." He chuckled. Bringing back two glasses to the couch, he handed one over to her, picked her feet back up, and then settled her legs back into his lap.

"What kind of man do you think our son will be like?" He smiled.

"Right now, he's been a cranky little man every time it's bedtime or eating time." They both smiled. "I want to see him be a great man, like his father."

"Flattery, Marie. Am I really worth it?"

"Absolutely. You're a wonderful man, Mazero. Your siblings can be a bit questionable." She laughed.

"Whose siblings aren't?" He countered.

"What happened to your parents, Mazero?"

Mazero tipped his head back and glanced toward the ceiling. "My parents live in Sillabye."

“Your family was about to go to war with mine?” She felt instantly sick.

“Yes.” He was honest with her, always would be. “My family was ready to declare war with you and your family until I explained things to them about our coming child. Now Seth is here, and he can grow up to be a wonderful leader of our people, maybe even both of our peoples.”

“Oh my, Mazero. It would have been a slaughter.” She was still focused on the facts of a war. “How could you possibly get them to see reason?”

“I am my mother’s son. I promised her and father the future. They didn’t need a war when one day our family would rule regardless.”