Chapter 1.1 || Hopes

Solus Brittanica

Janus 17, 1923 A.V

Thamesford (Londonium)

Henry Carter

The tapping of his shoes hitting the ground kept him out of his thoughts—barely. It could only do so much against the knot in his head, which only tightened the further he walked. He looked up. The sky was still draped in darkness, tinged with the haze of early morning.

Holy Sol’s rays were yet to break through the dim clouds and shine down on the ground. The city hadn’t quite stirred awake, and some windows still glowed dimly from the inside. Most would still be asleep, but it was just the perfect time so that he wouldn’t be late to work. 

He let out a soft sigh, shaking his head. There was so much to do. So little time. He shoved his icy hands back into his coat, as he turned his chin up to the sky. The papers had to be ready soon. He knew the little ones were waiting for him. It wasn’t like he could skip the process. Still, he felt like it was dragging on for too long. He hoped they would approve it soon. Hopefully.  

He silently cursed before letting a groan escape his lips. 

 "Henry!" a small voice called out to him. He looked up to see a little girl barreling towards him. Camilla. The short auburn hair and bright green emerald eyes were unmistakable. The young man braced himself as her small stumpy legs carried her forward to collide against his own. She hit him with a thud but seemed to not mind the impact at all, continuing to giggle. 

"Easy there, Camilla! You'd get yourself hurt!" Henry said, looking down at the little girl who was gleefully wrapping herself around his legs, burying her face into his side. She pressed against him and turned her eyes up to his.

She let out a cheerful laugh. "Play with us! Play with us!"

The young man let out a soft sigh. He looked down at the young girl, meeting her hopeful gaze, smiling at him. He forced a smile back, but his lips twitched with guilt.

 "I can't today, sweetie,” he said. “I have work to do today. Maybe next time?”

"Aww, you're no fun."

"Why don't you play with all the other children, then?"

"But we're waiting for you!"

“Really? Is that why you’re up this early?”

“Yes!” Camilla giggled, snuggling his legs. “Miss Latevia said we might catch you in the morning!”

“Ah, well,” he looked back at the road ahead then back to Camilla, searching her eyes. “I really would like to play but…” his words trailed off as he noticed the smile slowly fading from the girl’s face. He bit the inside of his cheeks, feeling a knot in his stomach. A small subtle frown formed just at the corners of his mouth. 

Henry rubbed his temples, tearing his gaze away. He tried not to peer into her pleading eyes again. 

She pouted. 

"Hmm, how about this? If I get off from work early, I'll play with you and brother," he suggested.

"Promise?" she said, her eyes immediately lighting up again.

"Promise.” He smiled. “Speaking of, where is Jeremy?"

"He's playing with Amber and Olson!"

"Ah, good! Why don't you join them for now, and I'll play with you guys when I get back. Deal?"

"Hmm,” Camilla tapped a finger under her chin, exaggerating the gesture with a playful smile on her face. She pointed at him and nodded, a determined look on her face. “You promised so… Okay!"

Henry gave a soft chuckle and bent down, ruffling her short auburn hair. She looked back at him with green orbs and freckles spattered around her face like flecks of paint on a canvas. She was the oldest of the orphans at only ten years old, with her brother following behind at the age of nine. The two siblings lost their parents to a strigoi attack before they could even remember their faces. It was Sol’s miracle that they even survived. The topic of their parents’ demise was a sore one to them, and would often shrink away whenever it was brought up.

He had heard enough of the story to piece everything together, however. As it turns out, the siblings were only spared when the watchmen guards rushed in and slew the attacker while they hid. It must’ve been a horrifying experience. A tragedy, really.

Strigoi attacks were rather exceedingly rare, but they do happen. Mostly addicts who lost all control. But when they do happen, it often ends in tragedy.

Thus, the two siblings had spent most of their life at St. Solarias Orphanage.

From what Henry heard from the orphanage nuns, the two didn’t seem to really fit in with the other orphan children at first. Camilla’s brother, Jeremy, was the loud one. A bright, brown-haired boy with freckles to match his sister’s, and a sparkle in his eyes whenever he spoke.

 He was always asking questions and trying to make friends, even if others found him a little weird. 

Camilla was… more reserved. Never really seeming to join in with the rest. She would always stick to her small little corner at the edge of her bed, rarely speaking, eating alone, and never interacting with anyone but her brother.

Though, that all changed when he first met her. He remembered it all clear as Sol’s morning gaze. It was the day his whole life changed. He felt something that day, something he hadn’t felt in a long time. 

It was a few years ago. He came into the orphanage to donate his late brother’s old toys and clothes. He thought it would serve the orphaned children better instead of just gathering dust in his house. The children swarmed him as soon as he came in, opening the boxes of his brother’s old belongings, all except one little girl. Camilla.

Henry watched as she sat in her little corner, peeking and stealing glances from the side as the children clamored around him, holding toys and old story books. Sounds of excitement, some thrilled screaming and laughter. It went on for a while, and he was sure it sparked the little girl’s curiosity. 

When lunch time came, he noticed that she was the only one who didn’t go to the cafeteria to get her lunch. Henry smiled softly and approached her, sitting beside her. He tore half of his grilled cheese sandwich and handed it to her.

Camilla gazed up at him with a look of bewilderment and confusion. Her eyes wandered back and forth from the sandwich and Henry's smile, as if figuring out how to respond to his gesture. After a while, she slowly reached out, taking the sandwich with shaking hands.

Henry watched as she stared at the sandwich for a minute, unsure of what to do at first, before taking that first bite. 

Her eyes lit up with sparks. 

He saw color rush to her cheeks as she swallowed and bit into it again, taking a bigger portion this time. Henry chuckled, and gave her a soft pat on her head. Henry watched as it washed over her like a wave. 

He took note of the way she slowly ate her half—relishing the way the flavors unfolded as he bit into his own—a soft, creamy, buttery smoothness followed by a subtle tang that crept in, like a sharp kiss of salt dancing with a faint nuttiness that curled at the edges. It was soft but bold, creamy yet firm, with an aftertaste that was both grounding and light. A symphony of contrasts. He could see emotions play out on Camilla’s face as she chewed slowly, almost reverently, as if she was afraid to finish it. 

He could see it all in her face, the way her eyes widened, her brow softened. He could only imagine what was going through her head. To her, it must’ve tasted like something from another world.

He knew that he had connected with her in that small moment. Like a faint memory of happier times. It reminded him of sun-warmed earth—rich and rustic, yet strangely delicate. 

Henry chuckled and gave her his half as soon as he saw the wanting look in her eyes. With that, she gathered up the courage to talk to him, with her first words a barely whispered “thank you”.  

Henry was happy to have finally made some progress. He smiled at her and began to talk to her about anything he thought she would find interesting. Henry did most of the talking of course, but the young girl responded with soft sounds and nods from time to time, and soon after, he found himself being introduced to her brother, Jeremy, who was much more of a conversationalist. 

It was that moment that pushed him to visit again the next day, which of course made the siblings happier than ever. Since then, they have become quite attached, and he resolved himself to a decision that would change his life.

Camilla shifted and hugged him a little tighter than before. “Uhm… Henry?” Camilla said, breaking the young man away from his thoughts of the past. She looked up at him, a small frown slowly forming around the corner of her lips.

"What's wrong?" he asked her.

"You… said it would be today…"

Henry took a breath, letting it hang in the cold. ‘Of course. The papers.’  It was taking too long, but it should be approved in the next few days. 

Henry took a deep steadying inhale and held the little girl by the shoulders, pulling her away from his legs. He got down on his knees and bent down to face her, looking her in the eye. He gave a warm smile and patted her head.

 "I'm going to adopt you and Jeremy. I promise. It’s just taking a while, but believe me, I'm getting all the papers ready. Okay?"

The little girl looked down. "Okay."

"Hey, I only need a few documents left. If not today, then very soon. Alright? I promise." Henry said.

"Okay. But you'll play with us today too, right? You promised that too!"

He let out a soft chuckle and stood up, dusting himself off. "Yes, yes, I'll play! Don't worry,” he smiled. “How could I forget that? Now you have to let me go to work so I can play with you guys a lot earlier! Hopefully, we'll have an hour or two before the orphanage closes, yeah?”

"Okay!" She smiled, giving the young man a big hug before pulling away and running back in the direction of the orphanage. She turned around for a second to wave back at him goodbye.

"See you!"

"See you." Henry smiled, waving back before nodding to himself. 

Just as Camilla headed inside, Henry turned his attention to a woman walking out of the building and waving at him. She wore a white porcelain mask that hid her features, besides the strands of golden blonde hair peeking out. Sister Latevia. 

She was one of the orphanage nuns and the main caretaker of Camilla and Jeremy, and was often the one he talked to about them. Her long gown flowed in the breeze in its magnificence. It had gold accents at the edges of the fabric, with puffy sleeves at shoulders that ended in gold cuffs at the end of her wrists.

 She wore a cowl that matched the rest of her outfit, and covered part of her forehead. If Henry remembered correctly, her gown was called a ‘habit’ and was worn by all the Sisters in the orphanage, as with all nuns. 

Henry smiled and decided to walk over to her, stepping inside the orphanage gates. “Good morning!” he greeted. 

“Wonderful morning, Henry! Sol be with you. Have you come to visit the children again?” she asked, gazing towards the sky. It was still a bit dark, but edges of sunlight had begun to break through from afar, creating a magnificent display of red streaks like paint on a canvas.

 “Would you like to come inside?”

“Ah, Sister Latevia. I unfortunately have work today.” Henry chuckled. “I was afraid Camilla wouldn't let me leave for a moment there.”  

“Oh, well they sure are eager to get adopted. How are the papers going?”

“Still processing. It’s taking a while if you ask me.”

“Oh, I feel the same. It could sometimes take a while with the background checks and everything, but that makes waiting all the more exciting! Hopefully you get it soon so we could put a stamp on it. I’d miss those two once you take them home with you. I’m sure they’d be elated!” 

“Ah, well. I’ll bring them over from time to time. They’d miss playing with their old friends too, but I don’t think I can adopt any more than two,” Henry chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his head. “I’m a little anxious, actually. Being a dad is… well. Something.”

“Oh, Sol bless your heart. You’ll do fine, Henry. I’m sure of it,” Latevia replied. 

“Yeah. Hopefully.”

“Well, don’t let me keep you.” She waved him off, glancing up at the sky again. “Have a good day at work. From what I hear you have to get here and play with them later, so off you go!” Latvia laughed softly, walking back inside the orphanage. 

"Have a good day, miss Late!” He smiled. “Right. Time to get to work!"