Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Disclaimer: Same as previous chapters.
A week before the Harvest Darla walked towards Andrew’s room, fingering the ancient talisman in her hand that she had found about a month ago, it was a gift for Andrew; the Star of Aurelius would be good for Andrew as the ancient thing was made centuries ago by Aurelius himself.
She fingered it in her hand and smiled, the talisman was beautiful: a single black diamond with four dark blood red rubies on a golden medallion. She attached a platinum chain to it and smiled, ‘Beautiful, it’s the perfect gift for my young prince.’
Andrew yawned, “Mom, its late, why do I have stay up this late and what is that?”
Darla smiled, “A present for you prince; it is the Star of Aurelius, I found it on one of my trips years ago, it’s a talisman.”
As Andrew slipped it on the rubies started to glow a dim red.
Darla smiled and said, “Andrew, hide it under your shirt, let none see it, not even Grandpa, promise me?”
“Yes momma,” Andrew said smiling, “Its’ beautiful momma but I must rest for now.”
The next evening Andrew frowned as Darla smiled, “Andrew, you’re going to be going up tonight, I want you to go to this house that I bought it for you as a present, the owners died last week and they had no family, you will live there as I shall handle the Master and the others.”
Andrew frowned, “Momma, you’ve been acting weird for the last month or so.”
She smiled and said, “You will learn in time and I don’t want you to hate me.”
“I could never hate you momma,” Andrew said, “You read to me, sang to me, you and grandpa taught me.”
“Oh Andrew,” Darla said softly, “You must learn to live with humans too prince.”
Andrew made a face and said, “That doesn’t sound fun momma.”
She nodded, “You’ll have to learn to sleep at night too, I want you to go the high school and learn what we couldn’t teach you.”
Andrew nodded frowning and Darla whispered, “Don’t frown prince, you’re gonna get wrinkles.”
As they walked up above ground Andrew frowned, he wasn’t sure about going out in the sun again, he hadn’t been under the sun lit sky to see a blue he had only seen in his own eye colour in a reflection.
“Come,” she said, “I’ve prepared it for you and left some stuff for you.”
She led them through the streets to nice home, she smiled, “A nice Italian family lived here; a young couple, no family and so very trusting.”
Andrew smiled and said, “Momma, what’s going on? The Harvest is only days from now, why should I worry?”
“Because,” Darla frowned, “On the off chance that the Harvest doesn’t succeed? The Master will be enraged and I fear for you when or if he catches you.”
“Alright momma,” Andrew said as they walked in, Andrew looked around and saw an almost cheerful place.
“I decorated it myself,” she said, “Or at least I wish I did, these people had taste. I chose it because the man’s clothes will fit you soon.”
“What about their family?” Andrew asked, “You said they had none, did they spring from the ground?”
“Their family died under mysterious circumstances Andrew,” Darla smiled, “They were suspects, I doubt they did it but it was convenient for me to use them.”
Andrew frowned and walked around the house, it was nice. He looked into a large room and saw that it was stuffed full of books; old dusty ones, plus the ones he had received from the Master and the older ones he studied when he was little.
He fingered the Star and said, “Momma, why me?”
She smiled, “Because Andrew, you’re going to need it in the school.”
Darla patted the leather couch and said, “Andrew, I worry about you because you have never seen the Master truly angry; he gets violent and he lashes out at anyone around him and I cannot have that Prince, you cannot live in fear. I’ve placed enough food for you to last you a week and a half.”
“No momma,” Andrew said, “Don’t leave me, you can stay with me.”
“No Prince,” Darla said, “You’re gonna stay here like a good boy, alright Prince?”
Andrew nodded, sobbing a bit and Darla smiled, “Prince, promise me you won’t come back, alright? You stay here for a week and a half, I’ve arranged everything for you.”
As she left she kissed him on the forehead and whispered, “Remember Prince, I love you.”
He looked around his home and picked one of the old books and quietly sobbed in the dark home, feeling alone for the first time in almost eleven years.
A week and a half later Andrew frowned darkly, ‘The Harvest must’ve failed,’ he wondered if someone stopped the Master.
Andrew was opening the last package of waffles when he heard a knock on the door, he wasn’t expecting anyone like ever and grabbed a knife, he walked towards the door holding it close as momma told him to not go home as this was home now.
He opened the door while holding the knife and glared at the man with longish hair who was smiling at him.
“Hello,” the man said, “I’m Lindsey MacDonald, your mother, Darla, hired Wolfram and Hart to see to your finances, she’s left you a fair bit of money to set you for life and hired us to take care of it and you until you’re old enough.”
“Prove it,” Andrew frowned.
Lindsey smiled and brought out a videotape and said, “Play this.”
Andrew put it in and hit play on the VCR and heard Darla’s voice say, “Hello Prince, I’ve hired these people to take care of you until you get old enough to look after yourself. Momma did a lot of bad things over the years and you know what? I’m not regretting a single one; we’re vampires, we’re demons but even demons can have consciences. When I saw you crying on that doorstep because your brother locked you out I could smell your power, slight at first.”
The image laughed for a moment and she sighed, “My family could take care of you, the Master never saw you as his Grandson, he saw you as a pawn Prince and at first so did I.”
“Momma,” Andrew whispered, “Grandpa never loved me?”
Darla’s image smiled sadly, “I’ve turned so many men and a few women and I realized I couldn’t let that happen to you, especially when you started calling me Momma. The Master would’ve turned you into a vicious monster perhaps but his lessons, while harsh growing up, will stand you in good. He is talented as a sorcerer.”
Andrew stared at the image and Darla whispered, “Now sweetie, you won’t see me again as I’m the only one who remembers you Prince, Momma was bad and casted a spell to remove everyone’s memories of you living with us.”
‘Why didn’t she tell me?’ Andrew thought, ‘And how couldn’t I tell either?’
“Now,” Darla smiled, “I have given you a choice and it’s your choice, not anyone else’s; evil, good or something in between? I’ll be proud of you Prince, never forget that. Wolfram and Hart, while evil, have agreed that it’s your choice to make. This guy they introduced me too, Lindsey, seems almost decent for one of their types, he’s to play pretend as your big brother.”
Lindsey smiled, “Andrew, it’s good to meet you, I’m going to be living with you.”
“Umm, momma,” Andrew sobbed, “Why did she do this for me?”
“She said that it was to give you a choice that the Master wouldn’t have given you,” Lindsey said, now Prince, it’s time for school; I got to take you there and then buy groceries.”
“Don’t Mr. MacDonald,” Andrew said, “You can’t call me Prince, that’s momma’s thing.”
Lindsey sighed and nodded, “Andrew, very well, get ready for school, okay Andrew?”
Andrew walked up to his room and looked at a dark blue silk shirt, he picked up a pair of blue jeans and tucked the Star Aurelius into his shirt and put on some dark glasses as he wasn’t used to sunlight yet.
“Come on Andrew,” Lindsey yelled, “You don’t want to be late for your first day of school, like ever.”
“Alright,” Andrew said as he came down.
Lindsey frowned, ‘Well, his role models were vampires so he dressed to be noticed and he would be.’
As they walked out Andrew hissed at the sight of the sun, Lindsey grinned, “Andrew, you’re gonna have to walk out in the sun more often.”
As they left for the school Andrew felt uneasy at the thought of being surrounded by humans, he was so nervous.
“Kid,” Lindsey said, “I’m sure you’ll be fine, you’ll live.”
The school loomed over and Andrew paled, he didn’t want to go to here but as they stopped, Lindsey opened the door and said, “Andrew, let’s go.”
Andrew flinched, these people were staring at him and even some of the women were eyeing him. He looked at Lindsey and said, “Umm, why are they looking at me?”
Lindsey muttered, “You’re dressing like a vampire who is hunting; they dress to be noticed, to lure their prey in.”
“Buy me some new clothes,” Andrew whispered, “Please, I don’t like this, there are a lot of them looking at me.”
“Ah, you’re drawing the attention from girls and boys too Andrew,” Lindsey smiled, “And don’t worry, they’re looking at me too.”
Andrew looked at him and stared, “Well, you’re getting people to look at you too?” I guess those jeans and jackets are popular.”
“Called urban cowboy Andrew,” Lindsey said, “Now to the Principal’s office.”
The Principal said, “Andrew, I’m sorry, we didn’t get your last name, just your school records.”
Lindsey said, “Well shucks, our computer system sucks, don’t it? His last name is MacDonald and I’m his big brother and his guardian.”
Principal Flutie frowned and said, “Well your records are impeccable Mr. MacDonald but remember: here there is no past and I’m your pal too.”
Andrew and Lindsey looked at the cheerful man and Lindsey thought, ‘Sweet, compassionate and caring? These kids are going to eat him alive, at least Andrew had the benefit of living amongst vampires, not much difference between vampire society and high school.’
After they were settled Lindsey said, “You go to the Library Andrew and get your books.”
TBC
Please rate and review.
I have a pairing in mind for Andrew.
Did you like what Darla did for Andrew? Should Lindsey’s presence affect Sunnydale? Should Lindsey be paired with anyone? Will WR&H keep their promise?