“It was a time of great unrest. Romania had just become a country a couple years before. Some still resisted the change. Your Grandfather Vuia had been very vocal in supporting the new government. A local wealthy merchant disagreed with the influence and power your grandfather had with many of the new leaders. Christoff had heard the villagers talk of some of the strange ways of your Grandma and Grandpa Vuia. He used their superstitions to enrage them.”
“But, I thought that Grandma and Grandpa helped the villagers,” Tory said in confusion. “Why would they listen to someone else?”
“Christoff brought in others to say your grandparents had done hideous crimes against their families,” Charles replied quietly, staring off into the distance. “Those claims, along with the differences between us and the humans, inflamed the villagers and they attacked early one morning. They killed your Grandmother while she was inside the barn. Your Grandfather tried to save her while I took your mom and brother to safety. I returned, but not in time. They had already set fire to all the outbuildings.”
“What did you do?” Tory asked in a soft voice as she placed a trembling hand on her father’s arm.
“I returned to help him, but it was too late. He had already… disposed of those that had attacked us. He was gravely wounded, though, and died as the first light came over the horizon. I laid him to rest in the fires beside your Grandma so they could be together once again," Charles said in a quiet voice.
“That’s so horrible. Is that why books and movies say we can’t go out into the light? Why they think we’ll burn up?” She asked curiously.
"It helped fuel the legend, I think,” Charles said with a sad smile.
“What did you do afterwards?” She asked in a quiet voice.
“I brought your mother and Benjamin back to America. We stayed in Boston at first which is where your brother, Alexandru, was born. As it became more crowded and old superstitions rose up again, we traveled west. Eventually, we made our way to Magic where Nonny and Gramps had already settled."
Tory was silent for several minutes as she absorbed the new information about her ancestors that she hadn’t known. A shiver went through her as she thought of what her grandparents must have gone through. It must have been devastating for them when the people they knew and trusted suddenly turned against them based on the words of strangers.
She couldn't imagine that ever happening in Magic. She thought of all the things she had learned during her High School years and even during the four years she did her studies online at New Mexico State College in Graphic Design. It was one thing to hear about such things on the news or read about it, it was another to know that it had touched her own family.
"I always thought you were overprotective because of my disorder," she whispered. "It isn't that at all. You're afraid that someone will try to hurt me like they did Grandma and Grandpa."
“Yes,” he replied in a quiet voice. “When you almost died as a baby, I swore I would do whatever I could to protect you. You’re my little girl, my princess, my little Vampiress and I love you very much.”
Charles reached his arm around her and pulled her close. He sighed when she rested her head on his shoulder. She was right. She would always be his little girl, but it was time to let her grow up and spread her wings.
*.*.*
"Do you mean it? Really?" Tory asked in excitement. "Oh Daddy! You are the best!"
"Alexandru," Charles said, wrapping his arms around Tory as she threw hers around his neck. "I expect you to protect her."
Alexandru Vuia Carson grinned at his father's stern face. He had arrived a couple hours before just as everyone was sitting down to dinner. He didn't know why he thought he could surprise his parents and grandparents. Nonny had met him at the door just as he was about to knock.
"You're late," she said with a frown. "You should have been here fifteen minutes ago."
"I stopped in town to talk to Theo," Alexandru explained with a raised eyebrow. "Are the Fates here?"
"No, they're in Vegas," Nonny had grinned. "But, they said you'd be here by eight."
After a long, leisurely dinner of an assortment of dishes including Polish Czarnina, Blodplattar, and Black Pudding, Tory had been so stuffed by the time it was over she had almost missed the turn in conversation. Alexandru was discussing his latest commission in Charleston, South Carolina for a gentleman who had just moved to the States.
“I haven’t met him yet, but he has excellent taste in furnishings. I have most of what he wants,” Alexandru was saying. “I still need to acquire a few pieces. He wants everything set up as soon as possible.”