CONTENT WARNING: Whilst not a particularly-dark chapter, the discussion gets heavy including mentions of the deaths of children, domestic abuse, and the usual murder.
Katlego
"You did what?!"
"Someone had to speak out eventually, Ellie! It's not like anyone else was going to do it. Besides, I was right - not everyone is as fearful of magic as they seem. People seemed to understand to some extent, even the ones that remained fearful of me."
My body is still on fire and my legs are still quivering. I went in fearless and came out terrified, but it needed to be done. I've been wrestling with the fact that, even in my confidence, witchfinders may come after us, and that I may need to defend us in whatever way is necessary. I've spent so long trying to convince everyone that there is a way to solve everything without having to do any harm, and I'm now starting to think it was me and not Iris who was wrong...
"Well, why don't we open all of those letters and see whether or not people love us or hate us?"
Ellie's right. I can't go ignoring any more mail for years to come in the fear of what might be written inside them... Ellie approaches me as I tear open the first letter.
It's from one of the women at Volpe's event. She asks if I used my 'mind control' powers on the crowd to get them to agree with me, and tells me that I ought to be feared- that whilst I may not be able to start fires or cause thunderstorms, alteration of the state of the mind is not a power that should be taken lightly. Well, Miss, that is precisely why my people don't teach it to anyone outside of our little community. Next! I tear open another envelope.
"Well? What about this letter, Kat?"
It's from a family who I have served in the past, telling me that they are grateful for what I did. They're bloodlines - descendants of witches - and it warms their heart to know that they are not the only ones, as it 'certainly feels that way sometimes.' It makes my chest heavy to read this letter. To know that news has spread as fast as it has is both a blessing and a curse. It may have reached people like me, but it may have also reached people that think I ought to be dead. There will be people fearful of my abilities who don't know of the community that I have been raised in.
"It's...let's just say news has spread further than the people who would want us dead. That's good, at least."
Letter after letter after letter, and only very few are threatening. Most are either in full support of me or somewhere in the middle. Others tell me that they will challenge Volpe as much as they're able if it means still having access to affordable remedies. I knew it. All it took was to be a little more open about it. I know that there are good people out there. Even if not very many in this country, there will always be good people - those who are too afraid to speak out in case they get accused and burned or drowned as well as the witches do.
"And you're not afraid?"
"What is there to be afraid of?" I tell her; perhaps I'm a bit too cocky in my tone. "If people kill me, then there is no affordable healer for those who need it most- it leaves only the apothecary and the Annorin mansion. If they kill me, then there is no-one there to stand up to the rich when it's needed."
"And if people do come after us?"
"We'll figure it out when and if it comes to that."
It's time to open for business - and I can already hear excitable muttering outside. I open the door and almost scream at the enormous queue outside the door. We've never had anything like this since I uncovered the dirt on Samuel Annorin!
"Oh, my! What can I do for you all?"
"I've had this horrible cold for almost two weeks now. Do you have anything for it?"
"Can you read your cards for me? I need to know if this woman I've been paying a call to is my one true love."
"Do you have anything for this horrible rash?"
"Is my wife being adulterous?"
"Working life is exhausting. Do you think you could turn me into a pigeon?"
"Alright, sorry, one at a time - wait, what? No, I can't turn you into a pigeon!"
"Oh, really? What about a duck?"
"No!"
"A mouse? I'll settle for a mouse!"
It's going to be a long afteroon.
Volpe
The burning rage has not settled since yesterday. I try to calm myself by the fire, and even the warmth of my drawing room is doing nothing to quell my fury.
I was correct. The witches have been quietly plotting their revenge - yet I did not expect one to reveal herself quite as Katlego did, nor did I expect so many people to blindly agree with her. Not only did she control the words that came out of my mouths, but out of theirs!
What am I supposed to do about Katlego? If she dies, the people will revolt. Samuel already tried to have her exiled; if I were to reveal the truth of her powers, there's a good chance that people would think I cried wolf. They would not believe me that someone so essential could possibly be capable of such cruelty.
I cannot believe it - one of the biggest threats to this movement is someone who wouldn't dare lay a finger on someone else, let alone consider taking a life. She does not need to; she just meddles with their minds...and somehow that unsettles me more than a blast of flames, ice or lightning does.
It took me many years to find comfort in my fireplace again. Every now and again, I can swear I see the faces of my children smiling through the tongues of flame. My wonderful children...I often dream of what they could have been, what they would have done to shape Tartosa in the Volpe family image.
Katlego's mention of Samuel gave me fond memories of our laughing and joking together when we had a moment to spare. Samuel was a man who knew where he stood - he kept silent on his abilities and did not stand up for those with magic. I often consider Samuel to be the only good person with magic I've ever met.
I think about his eldest son who went astray.
Owen was hardworking and obedient - at least to his father. He had his father's work ethic and focus and his mother's loving heart, often spending time with baby Elijah. Samuel rued the day he found out that boy did not have magic, whereas I tried to explain to him that this was no awful thing, that he would not be corrupted by it, and that he could still be a successful physician without it. Of course, that was when Eli grew up with little interest or aptitude for his father's business...
Elizabeth Annorin was a kind enough woman with a friendly smile- perhaps one of the smartest women I had ever met. Unfortunately, she continuously tried to nag Samuel into being more open about magic in terms of teaching it to Owen.
I must admit that the Annorin family were my first introduction to magic being used in a beneficial and successful way. Nevertheless, something so boundless in power could never truly be good, and neither could anyone who possessed such power. I can imagine that those women who killed my family were once healers at some point in their lives.
I remember catching her teaching Owen various stances and abilities. She did not stop when she saw me, neither of them did. She did not fear me at all - she did not fear anyone. With a husband who found various 'solutions' to most of the family's 'opponents' one way or another, I suppose you wouldn't fear a thing.
I was like an uncle to Owen, but he had little interest in anything I tried to say, and often told me firmly that I was 'not his father' and 'not family', and that I never would be. He did not act the way someone so highly-born ought to act, and would often scold me for suggesting he put aside his arcane studies to focus on his medical ones. Even his father's punishments did not teach him how to respect his elders. No amount of scoldings or bruises would convince him to treat me with any respect.
I have a collection of old letters received from Samuel. One in particular tells of how proud he was of Owen graduating from Britechester and being such an asset to Samuel's business, and how glad he was to have such a reliable and intelligent heir.
Sometimes, as much as I respected the man, I feel as if Samuel let Owen get away with too much.
Sometimes, I feel as if I have let the Annorin family get away with too much, also.
I let it go over my head to some extent that they were a family mostly of magic blood, and now, without Samuel, Owen has become more like his teenage self than I'd have hoped- and all it has done has caused an enormous imbalance of power. This slow and silent uprising of witches... I can't help but partially attribute it to his philanthropy. Why on Earth would he bother? His position in society will crumble the minute the poor get their 'revenge' on him.
My children eye me from the fire once more.
Rumour has floated around since Samuel's death that it was not by illness. I have done my best to ignore such rambling. It seemed far too convenient in the eyes of the peasants, and of course, rumours about the elites spread like disease.
Most believe Owen had murdered his father, and most were too scared to confront him about it for the same reasons most people avoided upsetting the Annorin name. Most think it was about inheritance, but I can't say Owen has ever been obsessed with the idea of an excess of money - not when he already had it. Some say it was power - now, that, I could understand. I have occasionally been curious about these accusations. Even then, could any man be so evil as to kill his own father? I would have done anything I could for my father.
I begin to think twice about him even more than I usually do. I admit that Owen still feels like family to me in some sense - in spite of all he has done and said to me, and all I have said to him.
I already lost Samuel, and I do not wish to lose Owen- but Owen is nothing like his father. As it always is with future generations, he is more prepared to stand his ground no matter the cost.
Someone barges through the door - one of my men.
"What do you want?"
"I found Axton's body, Lord Volpe. It was in the park. Looks to be a...well-"
"Well, what? Spit it out."
The man tuts to himself. I have no clue how these men remember each others' names with such ease. I do not recall anyone by the name of Axton, but I suppose I'll have to try and hire someone to replace him, whoever he was.
"It looks to be that a vampire killed him, Lord Volpe. Bite marks on his neck, wrinkled skin, very pale, even for a corpse."
My breath catches in my throat.
"That's impossible! The vampire is dead! And of course a corpse is going to be pale! Of course a body in the forest is going to have teeth marks on it!"
"Yes, yes, I'm aware, Lord Volpe. I know a vampire bite when I see one. I've been with you long enough. The dryness and pallor of a fresh vampire kill is particularly distinct."
"You don't understand, do you?" Why do these people never listen? "There are no vampires left! The last one was cured! What about - oh, Watcher, a werewolf?"
"Too clean a kill for a werewolf, Lord Volpe. Could tell that from the way he was lying."
Are these men so utterly dense? "Well, if it's not a vampire and it's not a werewolf, then- then-"
"May I offer you a word of wisdom, sir?"
The audacity of this man!
"Wisdom? What wisdom could you possibly possess that I do not?"
The man chortles to himself with an air of confidence, and looks at me directly.
"You see, Lord Volpe - if I wanted someone dead, I would not have hired a man whose entire specialty is to keep people alive."
Owen
Valravn's eyes lit up when she saw all the fish that the Reyes household had caught for us. In fact, some of the townspeople had helped them, so I paid them the same as I'd paid Gideon, Daniel and Edwin. I'll likely end up being a regular customer for them - I'm sure Valravn will get through them in no time at all, but for now, I will have to tolerate the lingering stench in the laboratory.
With any luck, this will prevent any more furniture-clawing situations.
After today's appointments are finished for myself, and with Lydia still dealing with an amputation, I decide to spend some time with Constance whilst the others are outside with Mary-Ann.
"You know, I'm getting good at this. I bet soon I can even beat Simon at it! But I'm still not as good as you..."
"Oh, I don't have much in the way of skill, Constance. You just have to remember the various ways in which each piece can move, and how to counter them at any opportunity. You'll learn in time."
Constance's face droops into something more concerned.
"What's the matter, my dear?"
"Oh. It's...That nasty man came here the other day, didn't he? Mr. Volpe. I've heard lots of nasty things about him in the newspapers! He wants to kill witches! Can't you just say no to him?"
The poor girl. Nobody her age should be thinking of such things. There's enough to worry about this time of year in terms of not surviving until the next.
"You see, Constance, a physician cannot refuse someone treatment or refuse an appointment without a good reason. You cannot pick and choose with an occupation like mine."
"But he's scary! We all don't like him! No-one likes him!"
"Listen, my dear - when Volpe is my patient, then I cannot refuse him unless I have a relevant reason to do so. However, I will make sure that he does not do anything to hurt anyone in this family."
"And everyone else, too! Sometimes we hear screams in the night, Father..."
Constance begins to walk away in tears. I hold her hand and give her a small embrace, trying to stop her tears.
"Why didn't you say anything, Constance?"
"We didn't want to wake you or Mother, so we just told Miss Oakley or Valravn about it. We know you're both so busy and tired..."
She wipes her tears into my waistcoat and looks up at me with glassy eyes, wiping away a tear.
"Please, Father! I don't want anyone else to get hurt by Mr. Volpe or any of his workers!"
I would do absolutely anything for my children. I knew the moment that I became a father that protecting them would have to come before everything, including my line of work. There would not be a single occupation, person or item in this world more important than my children - and I still stand by that. Meeting Valravn in her true form, and learning of her history as a protector of this family and many others in the past - it instills a confidence in me that I did not have prior. I know that, no matter what my condition does to me, my family will still be safe because of her.
"My dear, you don't need to worry, okay? You have us to protect you - and you have Valravn."
"But Valravn's only tiny!"
"Well, looks can be deceiving, can't they? Anyhow, it looks like your siblings are at the door, and it's nearing your bedtime."
Constance gives me a weak smile until we're interrupted by my wife bursting into the room.
"You have a visitor, my love."
That tone... I know exactly who it is. Why can't he just leave us be? Constance gazes up at myself and then at Lydia, panicking.
"Ah! It must be that patient from last week. No problem, Lydia. I'll see to her very soon."
Volpe
Owen pours us both a glass of wine and says nothing else. I have been rehearsing what I am about to say in my mind all the day. What my witchfinder said has me concerned, and after all his convincing, I've decided to take a risk trusting his judgment. Perhaps if I were not reminiscing about the way Owen has become, I may not have believed the man at all about his vampire claims, but now I'm starting to wonder...
"I will try to put this as plainly as I am able, Owen. One of my witchfinders is claiming that a colleague of his was killed by a vampire in the park. I am not doubting your abilities, but I do wish to ask if there is any potential problem you had in creating the cure that may possibly have led to the vampire's survival."
Owen takes a long sip of wine from the glass.
"I will try to put this as plainly as possible, Eduardo. What hope did you have of successfully asking me to intentionally cause the death of someone else when it is my job to keep people alive?"
There it is, again- that smug, superior tone. So the vampire is still alive! I try to quell my rage. I cannot unsee him as the lost young man he once was, no matter how hard I try. My gentle threats the last time we spoke did not faze him at all, so I am unsurprised lying to me like this hasn't either.
"So you lied to me for four years? Five, if we're counting the one that has passed since? Where's your integrity?"
Owen narrows his gaze, swirling his wine glass.
"If I did not have integrity, then I would have offered to essentially poison someone at the request of a nobleman."
I pull my fingers into my palms. What is the point of me trying to recruit more men and women if this vampire will just pick them all off like a hawk?
"You owed me!"
"I owed you nothing. I offered it as a favour to you, at no cost, so that you could not turn around and question my integrity as the patriarch of a business, and yet here you are."
The insolent cur! He is nothing like his father was! Samuel would have gone ahead with it without a second thought. He'd have bowed under the pressure, yet Owen did no such thing. The next generation is frought with fragility, and yet...
"My father destroyed the notes and his prototype of his cure that could have saved a man's life. It was a potential cure for a terminal illness that could have saved thousands and he destroyed it to spite one man. In turn, I destroyed all evidence of his successful vampire cure. If he prevented me from saving thousands of lives out of spite, then I'd prevent him from ending any more of them out of spite."
I would have never done such a thing. I would have never defied my father like this! Vittorio would was a harsh, stern yet respect-worthy man. I followed his every footstep as I was growing up. What is it with children nowadays and a complete lack of respect for their elders?
"I cannot begin to describe how disgusted I am with you! I did everything I could to lead you on the right path as you grew up, and you defied me as well as your own flesh and blood! I trusted this family to be one of the only families with magic who could stay in line, and now you've completely severed any trust I ever had for you! And now I have to watch as your children follow suit!"
"My children will never grow up to be like either you nor Samuel, if I can help it."
Owen heaves himself out of his chair, leaning back on it to support himself.
"Fine. Another question, then, which you will answer truthfully if you have as much integrity as you say you do."
"Of course."
"Rumour has it that Samuel Annorin was murdered. Some say it was for power, others for money. So tell me, Owen- what really happened to Samuel Annorin? You didn't expect anyone to believe your cover story forever, did you?"
Owen's chuckle is as grating as chalk scraping across a board.
"Power?" His laughter is sickening, and slightly influenced by the wine. "What more power or money does the Annorin family need? Heavens, no. He was murdered by Oskar's mother."
Just like that, he admits the truth. My one true friend, Samuel Annorin, killed by a vampire...and everyone believed Owen's feigned grief as well as his lies.
"The second time that a vampire tries to kill your father, and the second time you try to protect said vampire in spite of it! You should be thoroughly horrified with yourself for what you did to your own father and the only man I've ever considered a friend!"
"Samuel was never your friend, was he?" he asks, his voice taking on a particularly-dark tone I've never heard before from him. "He was your pawn. He was willing to put up with you either because you'd have him killed, or you'd have him revealed to be a spellcaster. If anything, he feared being viewed as a quack far more than he did being killed. Unfortunately for you, I don't fear either."
I cannot control my rage. What kind of attitude is this to have towards someone who just found out that someone he considered close was murdered by a dangerous monster - who is still out there, ready to murder whoever else?
"And what of the vampire?"
"She admitted it to me. I forgave her. She had good reason to murder a man responsible for the death of her one hundred and sixty year old son, even if that man did happen to be my own father. You see, Eduardo, some of us don't use the deaths of our family members as an excuse for bloodshed."
Forgave? I have fought for countless years to eradicate witchcraft from Henford and then the world for the sake of my father's murder, and Owen forgives her?
"How dare you! I did not just lose my mother and father, but my young children! You've lost a child yourself - you should know better than to speak ill of them!"
"I don't speak ill of your children, Eduardo. It is tragic what happened to them. It is the fault of the witches that killed your family that your children died, there is no questioning that. What I am questioning is why you believe thousands of other people's children should die to satisfy your revenge fantasies."
I can't. All of this vitriol and I cannot unsee him as family...I cannot do it any longer. It doesn't matter what history we have - he can't be allowed to continue like this.
Who does he think he is, rolling his eyes and sighing at me?
"Samuel Annorin was a detriment to medical science as well as to magic. He was an obstacle and I was glad to see him removed. I am not you. I do not care for power and money, Eduardo - I already have both in plentiful supply. What I do care about is the wellness of the people of Henford, which rests safely in my hands. I am not Samuel. I won't buckle under the slightest threat."
Does he not realise what he's just done? If people find out about this, the scandal will be immeasurable. He'll be finished.
"The people deserve to know about this, Owen."
"And will they believe you, Eduardo? The word of a senile noble against that of a respected and feared physician?"
"You are nowhere near as well-respected or as feared as you think you are."
"Of course I am," he says snidely. "You're afraid of me. You always have been. I am not the wet doormat my father was, and you're afraid of what I'm capable of doing to you. The combination of societal and magical power is something I believe you've always been envious of."
I'm done trying to play nice with him. The truth was somehow worse than I had expected, far worse, and his complete lack of empathy disgusts me. If this is what he is like with a longterm family friend, then I dread to think what he is like with his patients.
"You've known us long enough to know what happens to people who get in the way of the goals of the Annorin family, don't you? How events just so happen to amalgamate to result in their disappearance?"
"I left my father outside on the night of the witch-hunts knowing that the streets would be flooded with those who wished to see him dead.
If you are going to be an obstacle like my father was, Eduardo, then I will see to it that you are removed."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The title comes from 'the fox condemns the trap, not himself' from William Blake's 'Proverbs of Hell'. (Essentially I Googled 'fox quotes' and went with the most fitting one...)
This will likely be the last chapter before Christmas Day, so I hope that all readers will have a pleasant or at least not-too-terrible Christmas. < 3