Chapter 36: Do Vampires Exist?
Valentine is not the only one experiencing loss these days. When Daisy come over the day before school is set to start again, she tells Link that her father has died. Link cannot imagine something so awful, but he tries his best to comfort his friend.
"We don't have to play pirates if you don't want," he tries. "You can pick what we play?"
It's not the best source of comfort, but Daisy sees that he's trying, and it's good to have something that takes her mind of things, somewhere to escape to a fantasy world. Hugging him tight, she sniffles out a thank you, while Link goes all warm inside in a way he's not at all used to. She smiles a bit when she pulls away. "How about fairy-tale castle."
"Can I be a knight?"
"Of course."
Inside, Christmas is busy teaching Harmony numbers. She is growing fast and there isn't much time to toddlerhood if she wants her child to master all skills, which Christmas being a perfectionist of course wants.
But Christmas is also busy at work, where she is in charge of curating an exhibition of nature in art. There is art to paint, art to assess, art to purchase and then the organisation of the room itself... But then that's life when you've just been promoted again. On the plus side, she can spend a lot of time at home with Harmony, on the downside, she works every single weekend, which means there isn't much room for family life for all of them.
But all the new work has allowed her to master the painting skill.
And when the exhibition is prepared she can proudly show it off to Harmony, who of course understands very little beyond "pretty painting".
But not everything is work, and at times even Christmas must take a break as it's time to gather in Oasis Springs for Valentine's birthday party. The entire family is there, except for Neo and Malik who prefers to avoid the leading crime boss who didn't get paid all her money on their sudden departure to Tartosa. Might be that they don't have much respect for the "young one" (now an elder) but still, why take chances?
Valentine couldn't really care less if the elderly uncle is there or not, there are enough elders threatening to fall dead at any moment at the party anyway and he watch them carefully to make sure no one looks like they're about to collapse, and keep talking about how he's going to find a way to not be mortal.
To his surprise he finds a understanding in his eldest aunt, Willow. "The occult are a fascinating thing," she says, remembering her own quest of immortality and happiness before her mother's curse. There are so many things in the world we do not understand yet." Valentine looks sceptical. Is she trying to make fun of him? He'd make fun of her if he was her, but he doesn't think an elderly aunt would. Would they?
As people mingle, Valentine finds himself talking to Willow more, realising that she knows more about the occult than anyone he has ever met.
"Father Winter is really real?" he asks. "And lives forever? I always thought he was just an actor or neighbor or something."
"No, not at all, though he is only immortal as long as he kept on working. If he decides to retire, he will die like anyone else, and the job be passed to someone else who is worthy," Willow says knowingly.
They are interrupted by Carolyn.
"Don't go filling his head with nonsense, of course there are no such things as occults and Father Winter is just made up," she says. Willow cannot help but to shake her head at the lengths people will go to in order to convince themselves not to believe what is right in front of them.
"Fine, fine, I'll say no more," she says. "For now," she whispers low enough that only Valentine can hear.
But it's time to blow out the candles and everyone gathers around and cheers.
And so Valentine ages up to become a music lover.
And when everyone has left he spends his evening by the pool, practising on his brand new violin.
Before his mother forces him inside to work on his homework.
"Mom, it's a holiday tomorrow!
"And you'll be too busy to study, so get to it."
The next day is Harvestfest, and as Carolyn pointed out to her son, there is very little time for homework. The entire family, this time with Neo and Malik as Carolyn's sister isn't invited, gather as usual at Willow and Derek's home. There is plenty of good food and conversations during dinner.
And Harmony gets to play with grandpa Derek while Mum and Carolyn has serious conversation about adult stuff.
When Valentine can't deal anymore he goes outside to try and feed the cowplant.
"Be careful, you're dad has been eaten twice," Willow says as she comes up behind him.
"Well, I'm not supid," Valentine retorts.
"Be nice!" Willow tells him sharply. Valentine shrugs. "So Father Winter, huh?" he adds. "What other occults do you know?"
"I was a plantsim once, but that's mostly a temporary state. Well there is a way to keep it permanent, but for me it wasn't the right thing to do. I missed being myself."
"Mum says plant sims are made up."
"Well adult says so many stupid things. My own sister doesn't believe me, but then she's forgotten the Sylvan Glade as well."
"The Sylvan Glade?"
"I'll show you."
A while later, Sunny is standing in the mids of a place that logic dictates doesn't exist, and yet.. well here it is. "So Sylvan Glade?" Willow nods. "And what am I meant to do here?"
"Well the book case suggests read," Willow answers. "I've seen this in so many different shapes and forms, it usually shows you want you need to do."
"Read what?" Valentine asks as he approach the bookshelf.
"Whatever the bookcase tells you to. Let it guide you, feel don't think."
Valentine finds that hard, but tries and takes a book on random. Encyclopedia Vampirica, volume 1. "Oh," Willow says. "Perhaps not the one I would have hoped it picked for you. I'm terribly afraid of vampires."
"You believe in them?"
"Of course." She watches him sit down. "I'll leave you to it. The tree will take you straight to your home when you're finished."
"In Oasis Springs? Seriously?"
"Seriously. I Promise. Good luck."
As he starts reading, Valentine looses himself in the pages, reading more and more. This, he feels in his heart, is his future. This is how he will cheat death.
"We don't have to play pirates if you don't want," he tries. "You can pick what we play?"
It's not the best source of comfort, but Daisy sees that he's trying, and it's good to have something that takes her mind of things, somewhere to escape to a fantasy world. Hugging him tight, she sniffles out a thank you, while Link goes all warm inside in a way he's not at all used to. She smiles a bit when she pulls away. "How about fairy-tale castle."
"Can I be a knight?"
"Of course."
Inside, Christmas is busy teaching Harmony numbers. She is growing fast and there isn't much time to toddlerhood if she wants her child to master all skills, which Christmas being a perfectionist of course wants.
But Christmas is also busy at work, where she is in charge of curating an exhibition of nature in art. There is art to paint, art to assess, art to purchase and then the organisation of the room itself... But then that's life when you've just been promoted again. On the plus side, she can spend a lot of time at home with Harmony, on the downside, she works every single weekend, which means there isn't much room for family life for all of them.
But all the new work has allowed her to master the painting skill.
And when the exhibition is prepared she can proudly show it off to Harmony, who of course understands very little beyond "pretty painting".
But not everything is work, and at times even Christmas must take a break as it's time to gather in Oasis Springs for Valentine's birthday party. The entire family is there, except for Neo and Malik who prefers to avoid the leading crime boss who didn't get paid all her money on their sudden departure to Tartosa. Might be that they don't have much respect for the "young one" (now an elder) but still, why take chances?
Valentine couldn't really care less if the elderly uncle is there or not, there are enough elders threatening to fall dead at any moment at the party anyway and he watch them carefully to make sure no one looks like they're about to collapse, and keep talking about how he's going to find a way to not be mortal.
To his surprise he finds a understanding in his eldest aunt, Willow. "The occult are a fascinating thing," she says, remembering her own quest of immortality and happiness before her mother's curse. There are so many things in the world we do not understand yet." Valentine looks sceptical. Is she trying to make fun of him? He'd make fun of her if he was her, but he doesn't think an elderly aunt would. Would they?
As people mingle, Valentine finds himself talking to Willow more, realising that she knows more about the occult than anyone he has ever met.
"Father Winter is really real?" he asks. "And lives forever? I always thought he was just an actor or neighbor or something."
"No, not at all, though he is only immortal as long as he kept on working. If he decides to retire, he will die like anyone else, and the job be passed to someone else who is worthy," Willow says knowingly.
They are interrupted by Carolyn.
"Don't go filling his head with nonsense, of course there are no such things as occults and Father Winter is just made up," she says. Willow cannot help but to shake her head at the lengths people will go to in order to convince themselves not to believe what is right in front of them.
"Fine, fine, I'll say no more," she says. "For now," she whispers low enough that only Valentine can hear.
But it's time to blow out the candles and everyone gathers around and cheers.
And so Valentine ages up to become a music lover.
And when everyone has left he spends his evening by the pool, practising on his brand new violin.
Before his mother forces him inside to work on his homework.
"Mom, it's a holiday tomorrow!
"And you'll be too busy to study, so get to it."
The next day is Harvestfest, and as Carolyn pointed out to her son, there is very little time for homework. The entire family, this time with Neo and Malik as Carolyn's sister isn't invited, gather as usual at Willow and Derek's home. There is plenty of good food and conversations during dinner.
And Harmony gets to play with grandpa Derek while Mum and Carolyn has serious conversation about adult stuff.
When Valentine can't deal anymore he goes outside to try and feed the cowplant.
"Be careful, you're dad has been eaten twice," Willow says as she comes up behind him.
"Well, I'm not supid," Valentine retorts.
"Be nice!" Willow tells him sharply. Valentine shrugs. "So Father Winter, huh?" he adds. "What other occults do you know?"
"I was a plantsim once, but that's mostly a temporary state. Well there is a way to keep it permanent, but for me it wasn't the right thing to do. I missed being myself."
"Mum says plant sims are made up."
"Well adult says so many stupid things. My own sister doesn't believe me, but then she's forgotten the Sylvan Glade as well."
"The Sylvan Glade?"
"I'll show you."
A while later, Sunny is standing in the mids of a place that logic dictates doesn't exist, and yet.. well here it is. "So Sylvan Glade?" Willow nods. "And what am I meant to do here?"
"Well the book case suggests read," Willow answers. "I've seen this in so many different shapes and forms, it usually shows you want you need to do."
"Read what?" Valentine asks as he approach the bookshelf.
"Whatever the bookcase tells you to. Let it guide you, feel don't think."
Valentine finds that hard, but tries and takes a book on random. Encyclopedia Vampirica, volume 1. "Oh," Willow says. "Perhaps not the one I would have hoped it picked for you. I'm terribly afraid of vampires."
"You believe in them?"
"Of course." She watches him sit down. "I'll leave you to it. The tree will take you straight to your home when you're finished."
"In Oasis Springs? Seriously?"
"Seriously. I Promise. Good luck."
As he starts reading, Valentine looses himself in the pages, reading more and more. This, he feels in his heart, is his future. This is how he will cheat death.
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