Brooklyn - Flanaghan's
It takes more than an Irish name and a shamrock in the window to be regarded as a true Irish pub. Flanaghan's has that real Irish, purchased from a third generation Irishman by an Irishman. The head manager is Irish born and bred, and the pub touts imperial pint glasses, Guinness and Harp, live Irish music, a fireplace, and authentic Irish food, including fish and chips, Shepard's pie and Guinness Pasty.
Flanaghan's has a warm and relaxing atmosphere. The music, when it's not a live band, is just loud enough to fill the space, but not so loud that it impedes conversation. Styled in the Victorian style which harkens back to Dublin, it's filled with beveled mirrors, elaborate tiling and decorative brass.
The counter is carved from highly-polished hardwood and the walls paneled with rich, dark timbers. The dark wood is off-set with dark greens and deep, rich golds for seating and trim. There is stained glass in the windows and stained glass decor throughout.
Characters
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| Serafine Roche | Kieran Collins | Bryn Blackwell |
Sunday night, Kieran left Sera a half a dozen voice mails, and enough texts that after confirming he was not in an unlife or death crises, she turned off the sound on her telephone so that she could enjoy her day with Bryn. Her Maker, Sera explained as she shoved the telephone in her purse after texting Devon on where to find her if an emergency at the Galerie should arise, has a penchant toward being an overgrown spoiled child. The radio silence, however, was the reason that the woman was completely unsurprised that the man had made himself at home in her apartment. He brought dinner, however, so she gave him a pass.
After some pleasant chit chat, he demanded that she have Bryn meet with him.
On Tuesday, he asked nicely, using "please" and "thank you," and once she sussed out exactly what had his boxers in a bunch, the vampiress contacted her boyfriend and set up the meeting at Flanaghan's. It's not exactly neutral ground, but it's a good safe zone and will make it easier to rein Kieran in if he should get petulant.
Although this is a 'business meeting' Serafine is dressed casual, a pair of capri jeans and a tunic shirt, her hair lightly curled and held back by a beaded red head band that matches her shoes. She's seated across from Kieran at one of the more private booths that faces the door, munching on a basket of traditional chips sprinkled in malt vinegar.
"Remember. Behave yourself, Kieran. If you want Bryn's help you're going to have to treat him with some respect."
-
Quite frankly, Kieran hates that he has to go outside of his circle to ask about this. He's embarrassed - and he will never admit that aloud - to have told Sera about the mystery. If she'd been anyone else, who reacted with twittering giggles, and then outright laughter, he would have torn into their throats. But, it was Sera, whom if their relationship were normal and human would either be his first wife or daddy's little girl. Right, vampire, the relationships are allowed to be twisty.
He's already annoyed, mostly at himself, but he does recognize that Blackwell is the lesser of two evils. The last thing he wants is for word to get out regarding what happened. Not until he's done damage control and has an answer for it.
"Since when have you ever known me to not be respectful and charming?"
Beat.
"Don't answer that."
-
Bryn is exhausted. After spending all day chasing down a lead in regards to finding Wraith, he's honestly drained. He was quite thrilled to head into the seedier parts of the Undercity on his own. Not for the fact that they were seedy or black market, but it's simply better not to drag a human down there with him. Having to watch that no one was preying on Detective Curtis would have drove him nuts.
Dealing with the underbelly of the Undercity had it's own issues though. One of them being that he'd forgotten what a pain in the arse wererats could be when it comes to information. He finally got a good solid lead after four hours of playing their games, and it panned out to a big fat nothing.
He could really use a drink back at his suite. There is a part of him that really doesn't care to help Kieran Collins out of whatever mess he's in. The only reason he agreed to it at all is because Serafine asked him to help.
Entering Flanaghan's he runs his hand through his hair. Rather than look for the pair of vampires right away, he heads to the bar and orders a glass of scotch.
-
Although she's watching the door, Serafine knows Bryn is coming before he steps into the pub. It has nothing to do with his scent or the familiarity of his heartbeat. It's as though she has developed some built in sense of awareness of him. She sits up straighter, green eyes focusing on the door. It looks like nothing more than casual hopefulness that the next patron entering will be the sorcerer, though it's a near thing that she's able to stay so detached and calm.
Also, that she's able to curb her disappointment when his gaze doesn't even turn in their direction and he heads toward the bar instead.
"He's here," Sera says unnecessarily, drinking from her pint mug. She knows Kieran saw him enter as well.
-
"Not very well trained," Kieran scowls at the sorcerer from across the room. "You usually do better than that, Sera. Most of your pets can't wait to get close to you."
All right, it's a little harsh. He's taken his frustration with himself out on the person closest to him. Kieran actually feels a little bad when he sees his Child flinch. It's not much of a flinch, but he knows her well enough to know he struck a chord.
Sighing, Kieran reaches out and takes her hand, not surprised when she initially stiffens and tries to draw it back. Holding it, palm up, he strokes his fingers across it and speaks softly in Gaelic. « I'm sorry, mo thiasc, that wasn't fair. Isn't your fault. I'm just in a mood. » He lifts her palm and kisses it, blue eyes earnest.
-
Service is fairly quick. It helps that it's a Wednesday which means that despite regular patrons, the place isn't that busy. With the scotch in hand, Bryn makes his way to the table. No, he didn't glance over and give Serafine a smile, but he knew precisely where she was.
Setting the glass down on the table, he leans in and presses a kiss to her cheek, smiling at her. "I do apologize for being a tad late."
Before taking a seat, he offers his hand out to Kieran. "Mr. Collins. Serafine said there was something I could possibly help you with?" He has already gotten a call from Bridget Bishop, so he does know what's going on at least insofar as the man's relationship.
-
The vampiress can't help the soft smile that lights on her face as Bryn kisses her cheek. It's dangerous, showing that to Kieran, but he's the one who's always teased her about becoming so 'woefully attached' to her toys. Hopefully, he will think that Bryn is no different. At least until she chooses to try to explain otherwise. "That's fine, cherie. I know we wedged ourselves into your schedule at the last minute."
-
Considering that he's just offended Serafine, Kieran knows better than to snub the sorcerer. Also? He does need his … professional opinion. He reaches out and gives the man's hand a firm shake and motions for him to sit down. "Yes, thank you for agreeing to meeting with me on short notice."
He waits for the sorcerer to sit, and after taking a drink from his glass of scotch, chooses to skip the small talk. "Yes, I'm rather in need of your expertise. I'd rather not use my usual circles and sources at this time."
Beat.
"I need to know if you've ever heard of a glamour being disrupted or not taking? Fading, I should say, after a week or two."
Kieran slides a glance to his Child; her first reaction was that it had been poorly done by a new vampire until he clarified the details. "A properly, well done glamour by an older, experienced vampire."
-
"You know I will always make time for you, Serafine." Traffic was just a bit of a problem. Bryn takes a seat next to Serafine, partially to show that he is here with her, and partially because it does make it easier to talk to Kieran when he's sitting across from the vampire.
"It is generally common in a neophyte, especially if the will of the one they are glamouring happens to be extremely strong."
Raising his brow, he glances across the table and shakes his head. "I have only heard of it once before. Though I do believe that was between a vampire and a human, approximately twenty odd years ago." Which means that he would have been ten when it happened. "It is entirely possible that the person to whom the glamour is being done is extremely strong willed or stubborn."
Beat.
"Or it could have been due to a blood bond, a spell, or a charm."
-
It's subtle, but Serafine shifts toward Bryn as he sits. Almost like a flower stretching toward the sun. Nothing overly obvious, but there is the slight turn of her body, a faint twist of her hips on the seat closer to him. She likes being close to him.
"But a charm would have to be worn, wouldn't it?" Serafine asks. "Would it work if it weren't being worn? Would a spell let it happen to begin with?"
-
Kieran notes his Child's behavior and inwardly rolls his eyes. He's not surprised, not really. It's a bit endearing and amusing to see how human she is; how human he's worked to make sure she remains. He was endeared to her humanity, in the same way that his Maker was dedicated to seeing how much she could turn Kieran into a charming, rakish predator. Kieran much, much prefers Serafine's softness.
"There was no blood bond."
"What exactly happened twenty odd years ago?"
-
"Unless the charm was cast upon an object that did not need to be worn. A nearby photo, for instance, or a piece of furniture. However in that situation, the glamour likely would have never taken to begin with." Bryn sets a hand on Serafine's knee, not bothering to be subtle about it. He told her that he was going public with their relationship, and he figures her Maker really isn't going to care if he's touching her.
"So discounting the blood bond, it could still be any of the other things."
Beat.
"You will have to forgive me as this is second hand knowledge. I would have been only ten or eleven when it happened and it was before we moved stateside." Lifting his glass he allows himself a small sip. Just enough to wet his throat. "It was in Wales. A vampire became seriously involved with a male human, and when she told him what he was, he panicked. She glamoured the knowledge away from him. Approximately three or four weeks later he recalled what she had told him, and he staked her out in her garden."
Beat.
"In that instance it was not a spell or charm. The man was human. Nor was it a blood bond." The Priory back in London had no idea how the man slipped the glamour, and assumed that it was a very strong will.
-
With the touch to her knee, Serafine shifts closer, resting her leg against his and placing her hand atop his. She's not quite sure how Kieran will take things, or what she's ready to explain to him, but she much prefers the closeness and the contact.
She's taking a drink from her mug when Bryn mentions the garden staking and she nearly chokes. Quite the feat considering she really doesn't need to breathe. Her eyes are wide, and she coughs delicately as she stares across the table at Kieran. She's not panicked, but she is certainly concerned.
"He wasn't a sorcerer or a male witch?" Of course, Bryn would have said so, but Serafine wants the clarification.
-
Kieran rolls his eyes and exhales a sigh of breath. "I'm not going to get staked, luv."
Beat.
Blue eyes focus on his Child for a moment, and his voice softens, his words sympathetic and soothing. "I'm not."
Kieran waits a moment to be certain whatever edge of panic and concern hasn't had the opportunity to take root and turns back to the sorcerer at Serafine's side. "In other words, it's rare and no one has a theory for it yet."
Taking another sip of his scotch, he drums his nails on the table. "What have you heard?" Kieran finally asks the sorcerer. He's not so stupid as to think that Brooke or Regina hasn't been talking and possibly spilled something that made it back to the Priory.
-
"A sorcerer, or even a male witch would have gone about things differently, Serafine. Fire is generally the first course of action, though I can think of a handful of less than pleasant spells that would be utilized." Bryn frowns, and then gives her knee a squeeze. "Do not worry, Princess. I would never do that to you. Nor would I ever allow anyone else to do that to you either."
He cannot promise the same for Kieran.
"Bridget called me and told me of the issue that arose on Sunday morning." He did warn Serafine that it would cause difficulties, and would likely bite Kieran on the ass. "I know enough to know that Brooke is aware of what you are, and that she has her suspicions about Gabriel Howe. The Priory was already aware of your relationship. As far as I am aware the only one that Brooke has told thus far has been her sister."
-
Bryn's words are supposed to be comforting, Serafine knows this. While it is comforting to know that Bryn will protect her, the thought of losing her Maker makes her a bit fretful, even if his stubborn actions might have brought it upon himself. "What are the chances that the Coven would move against Kieran?" She holds up a hand then, to stop Kieran from interjecting and asking Bryn to pause. "Could you give the three of us a privacy spell, Bryn? Please?"
Waiting until that's done, Serafine draws a breath and takes several long swallows of her pint. Setting it back to the table she rests her palms flat there. Kieran won't like what she's about to do, but there's no help for it.
"Brooke knows the whole truth. She doesn't remember it all, but she knows it. Kieran told me the night that he told her. What he was. It was her decision to forget it, so that she'd have plausible deniability at the Ball."
She turns just a bit so she can look at both Bryn and Kieran. "It's a complex glamour, but not one that Kieran and I haven't performed dozens of times. A little like a post hypnotic suggestion. You take away the memory, and set a trigger. Tell them that they won't recall it until a certain event, or until you tell them to do so." Another sip is taken from her pint. "It's not one that is easily slipped."
-
There's a flicker of not so much annoyance as irritation when Serafine begins to explain the circumstances to Bryn. Kieran tightens his hand around his glass of scotch, and lifts the glass, draining it quickly. He knows she only wishes to be helpful and protect him - and yes, there is irony in that - but Kieran has always been wary of trusting outsiders.
"Evidently it is slipped more easily than I thought," Kieran remarks when she's done with her explanation.
-
It is a simple task for Bryn to grant the booth privacy. For all intents and purposes, once the spell is cast, people can see them and hear an in depth conversation in regards to the London Olympics.
"If Kieran has held to the terms between Kostas and the Coven, then will not bother him. The most Regina can do at this point is get upset that he knowingly went after a Coven witch, which at the time when he met her he was completely unaware of. I know for a fact that Brooke would not tell him about herself unless it was absolutely necessary."
Bryn is about to take another drink from his glass, and instead pushes it toward Kieran. "Brooke is very stubborn and strong willed. If she requested to forget, the chances of her actually remembering are next to nothing. Obviously something more is going on here. I can look into it if you would like."
-
"You believe me?" Serafine asks, not bothering to try to hide her surprise. Not that Bryn believes her, but that he believes the story she relayed when it was clearly Kieran's take on things, since Sera was not there. She worries her teeth over her bottom lip. "I mean, it's just that it's Kieran's story and I'm relaying it second hand …" Because Kieran is too paranoid and stubborn to do such a thing.
-
"He's much more likely to believe it coming from you, than from me, mo thiasc. You've no reason to lie about it, and I had no reason to lie the night I told you." For Kieran, the sorcerer's belief makes perfect sense. Claiming such after the fact would have been hard to swallow, but it's very clear that Sera's only concern in all of this is protecting Kieran and keeping the peace.
He nods a thank you for the scotch, and after taking a swallow, holds up his empty glass for Maeve to see. He gives it a beat, and when she rolls her eyes and looks away, he's satisfied. She'll send over a bottle.
"I didn't hurt her," Kieran says. "Aside from her request I never had a reason to glamour her. I was actually beginning to enjoy her company a bit."
Beat.
"No, she didn't tell me what she was. I figured it out the night of Sera's book signing." How? That's not a discussion he's going to get into.
Tapping his nail along the side of the glass, Kieran is quiet for a moment. He can feel Serafine's gaze burning into him and he finally nods toward the sorcerer. "Yes. I would appreciate it if you would look into it."
-
"Why would I not believe you, Serafine? While your Maker might have reason to lie about it after the fact, you do not. You genuinely like Brooke, and you do not want to see either her or your Maker hurt." Giving her knee another squeeze, he leans over enough to press his shoulder against hers. "Besides which, I have seen the way Kieran and Brooke were looking at each other at the Ball. There is no doubt in my mind that he would not try to harm Brooke unless he had a valid reason to do so."
Beat.
"I will see what I can do. It may take a bit of delving. As I mentioned, it does appear to be a rare thing. I would offer to have Serafine try it on me, but I have a permanent spell that will not allow a glamour to take hold at all." Which he got after dealing with Kieran's Maker once.
-
Serafine ducks her head, a ghost of a shy smile playing over her lips. She pushes a few loose curls behind her shoulder. "I meant more that you believed the story Kieran that gave to me." Her fingers dance over his hand and then up his thigh. Her attention, however, is divided between both of the men in her life. "I do like Brooke. I was planning on telling her, but … I'm not so certain I should do anything until this blows over." Of course, convincing the witch that her motives were pure after this might not be so easy. She may very well have to hire her own boyfriend to mediate.
Smiling at him, Serafine leans over and presses a lingering kiss to Bryn's cheek. "Thank you, Bryn."
-
Kieran cocks a brow at Bryn's words. "Sitting right here," the elder vampire says in a sing-song voice.
He frowns a bit at the pronouncement from the sorcerer and takes a sip of the scotch. "I see someone's been reading Sera's books. She's cute. We were having fun. Don't try to make it some sort of epic romance."
-
"I am well aware," the sorcerer replies. Bryn leans in toward Serafine and murmurs, "You look beautiful tonight, Princess. I just thought you should know." Then he gets back to the matter at hand. "If you do want to tell Brooke, I think you should do it soon. I can go with you when you talk to her if you would like." Bryn's fine with playing mediator if need be.
"Actually, I have not read any of Serafine's books, and hearing the word 'cute' come from your lips is about as odd as me using the word 'hot'. I simply meant that you care enough about her in whatever manner it is, that you would not harm her. More to the point, you care enough about yourself that you would not harm her."
-
"Thank you," Serafine says sincerely, and she doesn't need to look at her Maker to know that he's likely rolling his eyes and preparing a quick quip. She'll have to answer questions later; but that's later and she's not worried about it now.
"I think I would. Like it if you were to come with me. Though, mightn't she get upset with you too?"
She snickers and drinks from her pint, smiling at the server as a bottle of scotch and two fresh glasses are placed on the table and the woman heads away. "Yes, neither of you should ever say those words. It's very discordant." Besides, she knows Kieran. He might not be anywhere admitting it, but he'd hardly be so out of sorts by it, if he hadn't begun to take a genuine interest in Brooke.
-
"Should I leave you two alone?" Kieran asks, watching the pair over the rim of the scotch glass. His cool blue eyes trail over the well-dressed, if somewhat tired looking sorcerer, appraising him anew. Not just as the man who's being groomed to take over The Priory, but as a man who's getting close to someone Kieran genuinely cares for as much as he does himself.
Yes, he and Sera will be talking later.
"I can't argue with that," Kieran admits, taking one of the fresh glasses and filling it with three fingers. He slides it across to Bryn and then fills the one he's been drinking from. "I am a huge fan of self-preservation."
-
"Better me than you, Princess. Besides perhaps she will be able to vent some of her lingering frustrations with me." Bryn winks at Serafine, and then turns and laughs at Kieran. "Not quite yet, I do not think. We are still discussing your issue."
Taking the glass, he lifts it a holds it aloft. "I do believe we all are fans of self-preservation." Else they would not be here having this conversation. "I will see what I can do to talk Brooke out of running to Regina, and I will set an appointment with Regina if I absolutely need to."
Beat.
"For Serafine's sake," he states. Not that he would not do it if Kieran asked, or offered to pay him for the task. It's simply that he will do it to keep Serafine from getting in the middle of what could become a messy situation. With that said, he tosses the drink back and drinks a good portion of it before setting the glass to the table.
-
"No, you won't." Serafine's words are aimed at Kieran as she fixes him with a hard stare. Their bloodline might not be one that possesses shared telepathy, but she knows her Maker well enough to know where his thoughts are headed. "You are not meeting with Regina and stirring this pot even further."
Once she's certain that Kieran has gotten her message, she leans against Bryn. "Regina already knows. She saw them at the Ball together. Isn't it just a matter of time before she goes to Brooke or demands an answer from Kieran?"
The question that she hasn't posed to her Maker yet is that of what he intends to do if Brooke shakes the entire glamour and recalls everything. She honestly has no idea what his intentions are toward the witch with this new wrinkle, and worries about his need to claim, conquer and be King of the Mountain.
-
Kieran narrows his gaze to Serafine at her chastisement. He doesn't like being told what to do, though he can't deny that he's been toying with the idea of wandering into an 'accidental' meeting with Regina just to 'smooth over wrinkles.' That and point out how easily he got to one of her witches; never mind that he didn't know Brooke was a witch when he first met her.
"Only because I'm keeping the peace," Kieran tells her. Not because she told him not to do so. "For once, I haven't done anything wrong, so I don't feel the need to justify myself." Certainly not to The Coven. Maybe to Brooke, but that's between he and his witch. "Though if Regina wants to put on her big girl knickers and talk nicely, I won't say no."
Beat.
"Of course." Kieran takes another sip of scotch, watching the pair across from him. "For Serafine's sake."
-
"Quite likely, yes. She may wait to see if Brooke goes to her to explain herself. When that does not happen she will either go to Brooke, or call a Tribunal." There is a third option that Bryn hasn't mentioned aloud yet. Regina could ask Brooke to stay close to Kieran to gather intel on Kostas' Court. It wouldn't be the first time a Coven has done something of the like.
"No. You have not done anything wrong yet, and that does work in your favor at the moment."
-
Serafine giggles at how well Bryn seems to have pegged Kieran. Just because he's on his best behavior now, doesn't mean that he will be later.
She frowns. "A Tribunal doesn't sound like a good thing." The vampiress knows little of witches and their politics.
-
"It's not a horrible thing, but it can go either way," Kieran remarks. It may or may not surprise the sorcerer that the elder vampire knows a bit about the way the Coven functions. "It's exactly what it sounds like. A panel of the old crones getting together to let a witch speak to her crimes and defend herself, and decide whether or not she's been excused. Their own little private judge and jury hearing."
He's been entangled with more than a couple of witches in his long lifetime, so he's no stranger to the basics of it.
-
"It is not really a good thing, no. Especially as Brooke has had to sit through one before." Bryn drains the rest of the scotch, not really caring to get into the details of that.
"But Mr. Collins is correct. It is mostly to suss out if the issue at hand is going to become a larger problem, and decide what to do with the witch involved. It is hardly a witch hunt, though the outcome can be less than favorable."
-
"She has?" Serafine blinks in surprise at that. She tries to imagine what Brooke could have done to get into such trouble before, because she doubts it was fraternizing with vampires. She takes a long swallow of her drink.
"Even if she's done nothing wrong?" The vampiress would expect that from vampires. There really is no innocent until proven guilty among their kind; she thought that humans had a bit more compassion and civility. "Like you said, it's not as though she presented herself as a witch and knew what Kieran was. We hardly wear signs announcing what we are." Their survival is dependent on being as human as possible and blending in.
-
"Regina is not that uptight and stupid," Kieran says, which coming from him is a compliment. "She knows me well enough to know how I operate and though it's possible, I doubt she'll take her frustration with me out on Brooke." The words are meant to reassure his Child, because he can see that she's truly worried about the witch.
"She'd much rather have a bone of contention to pick with me in the hopes that Kostas will give me a thrashing."
-
"She has. She dated me years ago, if you remember. The previous Matriarch was a lot more strict with such things, and being involved with a sorcerer, or sorcerer magic at all was enough to potentially get one of them thrown out." Bryn taps his fingers on the side of the empty glass, and grins. "Regina and Dawna were two of the few who fought for Brooke's relationship. Just as Regina and Barbara Bishop were the two who fought against the Coven for Dawna's relationship."
Bryn reaches for Serafine's hand, taking it in his. Giving it a soft squeeze, he shrugs. "He is correct. Regina is hardly that uptight. Though this would have been a bloody hell of a lot easier were you a sorcerer."
-
"Was dating you really such a terrible thing?" Serafine asks of Bryn. Sometimes, she honestly doesn't understand humans and their prejudices. Having grown up in a world of human prejudices and cultural divides and watched the changing of the tides, she understands it even less. Then again, she is graced with a longer view of things. It seems a waste of time for witches and sorcerers to spend so much of their short lives at odds with one another.
-
"Sounds to me like it wouldn't be all the much different," Kieran says, finishing off his glass of scotch. He pours another one. "Just the level of animosity is a little bit less."
-
"Yes, I am a horrible monster," he jokes. Bryn taps his fingers against the glass again. "I do not think it was the dating that was as much of an issue as the engagement." Shoulders lift in a heavy shrug, and once Kieran is done with the bottle, he pours himself two fingers.
"The only difference is that Regina and the Elders would be more prone to allow a witch-sorcerer relationship as there is precedence in its favor. Most times, witch-vampire relationships are simply a Hecanthenos trying to lure another witch into the fold."
Beat.
"Of course, we could attempt to spin it that you are trying to protect Brooke from the Hecanthenos, due to her bloodline."
-
"Except that Kieran isn't Hecanthenos," Sera says when Bryn mentions the luring by the Hecanthenos bloodline.
Beat.
"What makes her different from other witches? Is her heritage stronger or more powerful?"
-
Kieran gazes at the sorcerer over the rim of his scotch glass. He never informed Sera of the finer details regarding Brooke's heritage and he wonders if Blackwell knows. He takes a long swallow of the scotch and sets the glass down with a nod. "If we feel the need to spin it, yes, we could go that way."
The vampire looks over to his Child. "Her family is very old with a long history of witches."
-
"Precisely. He is simply trying to keep another of the original families from having a fallen member embraced by the Hecanthenos. I do believe Gabriel Howe is recently returned to the city, so it will be a very sore point with Regina to begin with."
Bryn lifts the glass of scotch to his lips, then sets it down slowly. "Extremely old. Old World old." He glances at Serafine and grins. "One of her ancestors, the original Bridget Bishop, was the first person executed for witchcraft during the Salem witch trials in sixteen-ninety-two." Though the family branches just a little before that."
Beat.
"At least on her mother's side of the family. Her biological father is Randall Reynard, though she is blissfully unaware of that fact. It is a closely guarded Coven secret."
-
Gabriel Howe is a sore point with Kieran, Sera knows. He did not lie low and stay out of the way, he all but advertised what he was to the Coven. The only saving grace has been that Howe was not turned by any vampire residing in the city.
She blinks at Bryn and turns her gaze to Kieran. Her Maker is good at masking his surprise, but she is good at reading him. There is no surprise from Bryn's revelation.
"I suppose I'm the only one hearing this news for the first time?" Serafine asks. "Does … Reynard know?"
-
"Howe isn't only on Regina's short list," Kieran mutters. He hasn't tracked down the neophyte yet, but that's only because his sources say that the man backed off his stalking of Bridget Bishop, at least temporarily.
He gives his Child a look. "Does it matter if he does? No Reynard is going to claim a daughter." He almost said 'no sorcerer' but he is aware of one residing in the City who has, and is also taking special care to not offend Blackwell.
Because Serafine asked it of him.
-
"I imagine not," Bryn remarks to Kieran first. Gabriel Howe appears to be on Brooke's shortlist as well, and he has no doubt that Kieran will want to discuss the finer points of 'blending in' with the neophyte.
"He was aware of the pregnancy. It was entirely planned. He will not claim her, and Barabara Bishop has thus far been fine with that."
Beat.
"If he was smart, he would have claimed her before the Coven did. The same goes for the Knightley's. Granted, not all born of a dual line are powerful, but I have never witnessed a witch take so easily to sorcerer magic as Brooke Bishop did when we were younger. In less than two weeks after learning a handful of spells, she was outclassing me on them."
-
"Planned?"
Beat.
"She wanted a boy," Serafine remarks to no one in particular.
-
"Whatever the case, I don't plan on doing anything." Kieran drains the rest of his glass and sets it down. "Brooke asked me to leave her alone and stay away, and that's exactly what I'm doing. Regina and her crones can't come after me for that."
Beat.
"I was more curious about why the glamour might have failed."
-
"Yes, she wanted a boy. Amusingly, she had one naturally when she had the twins. No need for sorcerer DNA at all if she had been patient." If Barbara Bishop had waited, he would never have met Brooke Bishop. She wouldn't have existed.
"I will look into it, and if you no longer have any interest in Brooke then there obviously will not be issues with the Coven."
-
Serafine glances at her Maker. She's not so convinced that he no longer has any interest in Brooke, so much as he is biding his time. For now. Vampires are long lived and tend to be patient about certain things. He can very well wait until the upset dies down, for Brooke to sort out her emotions, and then to try and approach her again when things are calmer.
"I'm still going to tell her," Serafine announces. She finishes off the pint, though she wraps her hands around it. "Though I'm not convinced that now is better than later."
-
Catching the young vampire's look, Kieran gives a droll smile. "I never said I no longer have any interest in Brooke Bishop. However, it brilliantly clear that knowing what I am, she not only no longer has any interest in me, but is also afraid of me and doesn't trust me."
Kieran sits back with a shrug. "It isn't the first time I've had a witch detest me and I'm certain that it won't be the last. So long as she doesn't feel the need to public identify me, everything will be fine." Perhaps the rest of it will come back to her as well, perhaps it will not.
"At any rate, I wasn't that invested in all of that."
-
"I will be there for you whenever you decide to do it, Serafine."
Bryn lifts the glass to his lips, allowing the scotch to burn down his throat. Eyes never leave Kieran as he talks. "No, it does seem to me that you were involved with one of Brooke's ancestors as well." Bryn does not have his laptop with him, but he did do research on the Bishop family line when he left Lima. "So Brooke definitely was not your first witch."
-
Those words get Serafine's attention. She glances back and forth between the two men. Again, she feels as though she's out of the loop and has missed a part of the conversation. The vampiress gives a sulky little pout, "Why am I the only one who doesn't know these things?"
-
In this case, Serafine isn't the only one who doesn't know these things. Kieran sits up a bit, a frown creasing his brow as he watches the sorcerer. He can safely say that he was not involved with any witches when he set foot on American soil, considering that he moved quickly from New York and down to New Orleans where he met and was taken with the beautiful woman seated across from him.
"I'm afraid I'm at a loss on this one as well, luv."
-
"Gwendolyn Bishop. I believe she was turned by your biological brother." Bryn finishes off his second glass of scotch, and sets the glass to the table. "I would think you would have considered the possibility that they were related given the name."
Turning toward Serafine, he lifts her hand and gives it a playful kiss. "You do not know these things because you do not spend all day researching the supernatural world, Princess."
Beat.
"She is Brooke's distant Aunt."
-
"Gwendolyn."
Serafine reaches for the other empty glass and pours it half full with scotch. She tosses it back in two single swallows and reaches for the bottle a new. "I might have known eventually. There's no escaping her."
-
"That would be like assuming that I'm related to every Collins and that every Smith and Jones are related," Kieran says dismissively. He knew Gwendolyn across the pond, and truly he was never that focused on making the connection.
He watches Sera's reaction and reaches out to touch her other hand when she relases the glass. "Don't do that luv. You know you've not got to worry about her."
There is no love lost between his Child and his brother's, though Kieran has yet to figure out whether it is jealousy on Gwendolyn's part that Kieran turned Serafine, or the fact that his brother was quite taken with his Child for a very long summer in Chicago during the height of prohibition. When everything illegal, and then some, could be found and indulged in if you knew where to look.
-
"I have had the, er, pleasure of working with her on occasion," Bryn offers with a soft clearing of his throat. Best to get that out in the open, rather than spring that on Serafine at a later date. "Though, I should think that it is a safe bet that anyone of witch lineage with the surname Bishop is related in some manner, even if it is only distant."
-
"Pleasure. I'm sure that's one word for it," Serafine murmurs. It's hard to tell whether she's jealous, unnerved or just upset by the mere mention of Gwendolyn Bishop.
-
"Small world," Kieran says with a shrug. Does he care that Gwendolyn is related to Brooke? Hard to tell, he is a master of hiding his emotions. "I'll keep that in mind for future reference."
Beat.
"I'm sorry that you had to be subjected to her, and possibly James as well."
-
"Do not be jealous, Princess." It is difficult to tell her demeanor, but he's going to assume it is that.
"Exceedingly small when one thinks about it. I have had the pleasure of working for your Maker as well." Bryn will admit that Gwendolyn Bishop is more often than not off her rocker, but he finds Kieran's Maker to be a manipulative bitch.
"There is little need for you to apologize on behalf of your brethren. It comes with the territory of the line of work I do."
-
"Mon dieu!" Serafine exclaims with a loud, unladylike snort. "After encountering those two … women, how can you stand to work with any of us?" The word 'women' is said with a particular sort of venom that is typically reserved for pedophiles and baby killers.
Beat.
"And I'm not jealous. Gwendolyn Bishop is simply not one of my favorite people."
-
Kieran lifts a brow, one corner of his mouth twitching with amusement at Serafine's outburst. He waits until she focuses her attention on the bottle of scotch, then mouths to Bryn, 'Jealous.'
She has little reason to be, and Kieran has explained - and demonstrated - such to her on numerous occasions, but it's clear that being a vampire does not make women any more reasonable than they are when they are human.
"I'd inquire after Ysabel, Isabel, Bella, or whatever the hell she's calling herself these days, but that would imply that I care." He only cares insomuch as she stays away from his city and his Child.
-
"Because I have met you, Princess. It is clear to me that you are so far removed from the way the others act that it was definitely worth seeing if there were others that could be as gentle and gracious as you." Bryn offers her a smile, and for a brief moment, Kieran doesn't even exist to him.
It's very brief though.
"I have not seen her for approximately two years. The last was when she was searching for a specific herb found only in Turkey, and paid a hefty sum for me to locate it for her."
He starts in on the story about what it was she wanted, and why, when the door to Flanaghan's bursts open. There stands a slightly disheveled man. Not entirely drunk, but definitely not sober either. "Theresh…" He starts again, "Theresh a bodiee out in alley. Damned near trip*hiccup*ped on itsh on the way in."
(TO BE CONTINUED…)
