April 17th. Sunny evening. 22-year-old James was at his booth that was nearby Holy St. Lithe’s vicinity around the corner. He was with a female client, reading her fortune by reading the palm of her hand.
“What is it you see, Mr. Ruth?” The woman asked.
James was looking in thought as he touched and saw the palm of the woman’s hand then picked up on something; making him feel concern.
“It looks like… you might not be able to keep the home that you live in.” He spoke.
The woman looked at him in confusion.
“Why?” She asked.
“I see a fire. Burning down everything to the ground. You will be homeless, but luckily, you’ll still have your valuables. You’ll only be homeless for a short period of time.”
“How long?”
“A few months or so. And on the good side of this, you will have a new home that is much better than your last home. More room and structurally sound.”
The woman had a sad look but understood at least that she would have a new home.
“Well, that’s… bittersweet. That’s what you see?” She asked.
“Yes.” He replied.
“Okay. Is there anything else that you, see?”
James focuses as he felt the palm of the woman’s hand and picked up something else.
“I see… you will become a wife of a fairly known aristocrat a couple of years from now and become a well-known seamstress making beautiful dresses and well-made outfits and suits for men and make a fair coin. Your marriage will be prosperous and wonderous. I see… you will have three beautiful children; two girls and a boy.”
The woman was happy inside of becoming a seamstress, more than becoming married to an aristocrat, which was still great to her nonetheless along with the children. James looked at his sundial and saw that it was getting late.
“Well, Ma’am. That’s all the time we have for today. I thank you for spending your time here. It was most appreciated.” He spoke.
“You’re most welcome, Mr. Ruth. Same time next week?” The woman asked.
“Absolutely. It’s getting late.” James replied. “You go home and have a good evening and stay safe.”
The woman paid James 15 Veles and left to go home walking down the road which was a two blocks away from St. Lithe. James packed up everything and closed his booth. He then started walking to the orphanage around the corner and walked up to the church’s steps and knocked on the door. The door opened slowly revealing Sister Theresa who became instantly excited when she saw James’ face and gave him a hug.
“Oh, James, my darling! It’s so good to see you again! Please, come in.” She said as she stopped hugging him and opened the door for him to come in. “Deborah! Father Nyris! James is here!” She shouted.
Deborah came in the foyer from the kitchen while Nyris came from upstairs. Both walked up to James; Deborah gave him a hug, then Nyris.
“Bless the Maker for you to visit us. How was your day today?” Deborah asked.
“It was okay. I did palm readings for seven people today. Some were great, some… not so much. Everyday life. So, is there anything I can help you three with?” He asked.
“Well, Crystabelle and I might need help to put the children in for the night.” Theresa replied.
“I’ll help you then.”
“I’ve already cleaned the dishes with the help of Sister Lorraine and Sister Catherine, so there’s no need to help.” Deborah added.
“Okay.” He replied.
“Once you’re done helping Theresa, I would like to speak to you in the sanctuary before you leave.” Nyris spoke.
“Sure, Father.”
~~
At night, James was done helping Theresa and Crystabelle upstairs, who was dressed in black nun attire, same height as Theresa with light skin and brown eyes, with the children getting them ready for bed. James, Theresa, and Crystabelle silently walked out of the children’s bedroom and quietly closed the door.
“Thank you, James. That took a shorter time than expected.” Theresa said.
“Is putting them to bed that hard now? Come now, Sister.” James commented.
“Please. It was the same way with you when you were a child, young man.” She retorted. “Always talking with Father Nyris too early in the morning before church, reading other than sleeping. Always you. Asking me so many questions that you know I would be unable to answer to the point that I start stumbling over my words and stutter.”
James chuckled along with Crystabelle.
“He really did that?” Crystabelle asked while giggling.
“He definitely did.” Theresa replied with a smile and shaking her head.
“I must’ve have been some child back then.” James said.
“Yes, you were. Anyway, go downstairs so you can talk with Father Nyris. We’re going to bed. It was good seeing you again, my boy.”
“It was great seeing you too, Sister. Goodnight.”
James embraced Theresa in a hug and then hugged Crystabelle. James then walked away from them to go downstairs and walked to the other side of St. Lithe to his left and opened the doors to the sanctuary which was fairly lit with candles near the pulpit. He saw Nyris at the pulpit and slowly walked up to the pulpit.
“What would you like to speak to me about, Father Nyris?” James asked.
Nyris had a gentle smile on his face as he saw James walking up.
“March 8th, 1549. That was the night you were born and the night that you were brought here. What a precious time that was. Come up here. I have something to show you.”
James quickly stepped up to the pulpit walking up to Nyris.
“What is it?” James asked.
Nyris gave him an envelope that had James’ name on it. The sender was a name with James’ actual surname and an unknown address. James opened the envelope and saw it was a letter inside.
“It came today. Go on. Read it.” Nyris said.
James unfolded the letter. The letter read:
Dear James,
My name is Elsa Carso. I am a Roma woman that was on the run 22 years ago because of a genocide that was going on at the time against my people back in the Seran Desert. I ran with a group all the way to Velorice City carrying my newborn child. In the middle of that night on the 8th of March, I gave birth to a baby boy. That boy was you, James. I conceived you with a man named Gad Ruth who came from the city of Hale. The reason I gave you up to this cathedral, it was close, and I was still on the run, and I sensed they would keep you safe. You would not have been safe with me. So as a mother, I had to make that sacrifice. Since the genocide is over, I am no longer running, and I am with your birth father now, I decided to write this letter to you and sent it to Father Nyris Dustine.
If you would like us all to meet, send a letter confirming you want to. I’ve missed you dearly, so does your father. I’ve wondered if you look as you have in my dreams, and we have some catching up to. Even if we never met, your father and I do love you.
~Your Mother~
Elsa Carso-Ruth
James began to tear up with joy as he read the letter; Nyris put his hand on his shoulder, consoling him.
“They both came by today earlier and talked to us about everything. I told her I would’ve opened the doors to her as well if she stayed longer, but she said she didn’t want to put that burden on us which I understood. They’re willing to see you.”
James got himself together and wiped the tears from his eyes and looked at Nyris.
“I’ll make sure I’ll send them a letter once I get home. Thank you so much for showing me this, Father. This made my day.” James said in a grateful tone.
“You’re welcome, my son. Now, you go on home and get some sleep. Goodnight, James.”
“Goodnight, Father.”
~~
James walked out of St. Lithe’s and onto the steps. Seeing how dark it was, he puts the letter in his pocket, picked up a torch, lit it with a match, and started walking back to the inn’s direction. During the time he was walking, he spotted rustling in the bushes. He instantly aimed the torch in the direction he heard the sound.
“Who is over there? Come out now!” He yelled as he looked cautiously in that direct area.
He saw the rustle of the bushes come in the path of the walkway and saw a woman with long red hair crawling out of the bushes wearing a red silk robe. The woman looked at James with a worried look in her eyes. James slowly walked up to the woman.
“Are you alright, Ma’am?” He asked.
“I… seem to be lost. I saw the light of this building… and I started running over here. Where am I?” The woman asked.
“This is the Holy St. Lithe Cathedral. Did something happen to you, Ma’am?” He asked.
As he helped her up, the woman began to breathe heavily and started to sob.
“A group of men came to where I lived and started… killing the people in the town I live in down south of the city. They spotted me, threatened to kill me and I ran for my life and hid in the bushes.” She wept.
“They chased you this far? Who were they?”
“I don’t know who they were. I don’t know if they were humans or vampires. They were on horses when they were chasing me.”
“How long was this?”
The woman looked at the sky seeing how dark it was.
“I guess it was… a few of hours ago. I must’ve gone to sleep while I was hiding…”
James saw the features of the woman. Besides her red hair, her skin was pale. Her figure was of an hourglass; large bust with medium sized hips that was shown through her robe. He saw her eyes which showed him something about her.
“You’re a vampire.” James stated.
“Yes. I come from a tribe of vampires south from here—well… I used to.” The woman replied.
“I can take you to an inn that can give you somewhere to sleep at if you want.”
“That’s nice of you, Mister…” She said with a kind smile. “What’s your name?”
“James. James Ruth. And your name is?”
“Delianna Remi. It’s nice to meet you. You’re very sweet.”
They both walked together in silence and made it to Velour Inn a few minutes later.
~
James and Delianna walked into the inn where Harland was sitting at the front desk. Harland looked up seeing them both.
“Good evening, James.” He greeted. “And who is this lovely lady?”
“Her name is Delianna. I found her like this.” James replied.
“You found her like this?”
“Yes.”
“What happened, Miss?” Harland asked Delianna.
“I… I’d rather not talk about it right now. I’ve ran so much. I’m so tired and I am drained… I want to sleep…” Delianna replied in a low tone.
“Well, I don’t have any free rooms, Ma’am. My suggestion is you can share with James until a room is deemed available. Free of charge for you, James.”
“Thanks, Harland.” James said.
James escorted Delianna upstairs to the second floor. James and Delianna made it to his room. Delianna looked around seeing how spacious his place was.
“So, it’s just you who lives here?” She asked.
“Yes.” James replied. “Well, I know you’re tired and the only thing I have for you to sleep on is my bed.”
James pointed to his king-sized bed catching her attention.
“No other type of furniture?” Delianna asked.
“I don’t have enough money to buy furniture. Not crafty to make them either.” He replied jokingly making Delianna chuckle.
“Well, I’d say your bed will have to do.” She spoke. “Sorry I have to ask this, but do you have something I can wear to bed? This robe is dirty and… I’m naked underneath.”
James began to stammer a little before he could answer her.
“Uh… I think I got something you can wear. Let me check.”
He went through his drawer and found a long light cotton shirt. When he turned around, he saw Delianna disrobing exposing her full breasts; James looked away immediately and cleared his throat getting Delianna’s attention. She had a feeling that he saw her since he was looking away from her.
“Oh! I’m sorry, James. I should’ve told you I was undressing before you looked.” She said apologetically.
“No. It’s okay. I should’ve looked away ahead of time. I… I found something you can wear.” He replied.
As his head was still turned, his arm was extended to give her the shirt Delianna took the shirt from James to put it on. It took no time for her to put on the shirt.
“It’s okay now. You can look.” She spoke.
James saw how she looked in his shirt which stopped 6 inches below her knees and showed her bust as well.
“Are you imagining something, James?” Delianna asked getting his attention.
“No. Not at all. I’m just getting tired. You go on to sleep. I’ll be joining you shortly.” He replied.
“Okay. Goodnight, James.” She said as she went into bed to lay down.
“Goodnight, Delianna.” He said as he went to his table.
He turned to see Delianna sleeping; facing away from him; he turned back to the table and took out his tarot cards. He laid 5 of them on the table face down and began to read them. He flipped the first card over.
“This woman… is the girlfriend that was destined?” He asked himself quietly and looked back at the sleeping Delianna. “A vampire woman as my girlfriend? Wow.”
He flipped two more cards.
“We… do not get married, but intimacy is eminent.”
He flipped another card.
“For almost a year? Well, that’s upsetting.”
He flipped over the last card.
“Blank? Are you kidding me? What does this mean? Something bad? Something unexpected?”
Not understanding the last part, he put his tarot cards away and began to think about it as he took off the clothes to put on something comfortable so he could go to bed. Before he could go to bed, he decided to write a letter to his parents. He took some paper along with ink and a pen and started writing his letter which stated:
Dear Mother,
I am happy to hear from you after all these years and I am willing to see you and father. I do understand the reason why you had to give me away and I am not upset with you about it. You did what you had to do to keep me safe. I’m grateful for that, I love you both as well, and I’m glad you’re alright. We can be able to meet on July 20th at Holy St. Lithe Cathedral. Hope to see you both then.
Your son,
James Ruth
He put the ink and the pen away, folded the letter and puts it in his drawer. He then walked over and slowly got into his bed making sure he didn’t wake Delianna and turned away from her and he went to sleep.
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