Blood Vane

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Monday:

Sonny was actually having quite a nice chat with Zoë as he waited to see Alistair Boot. The tiny redhead had a good sense of humor and really, Sonny could be quite charming when he wanted to be.

All pretense at charm failed him when the door to Alistair’s office opened and the warden escorted Micky Cooper out though. Sonny bolted to his feet with an audible hiss before he could stop himself.

Both Zoë and the warden were looking at him with more than a little alarm by the time Seth shoved him out of the way and pasted a fake smile on their face.

Micky had gone pale as chalk as soon as he spotted the blond boy waiting in the outer office.

Recovering quickly, Seth covered for them the best he could, babbling about the infirmary and Nurse Abigail wanting him to get started as soon as possible.

The warden and Zoë seemed to relax in just a few moments even though Alistair Boot was still eyeing him a little warily. Micky just stood there as though frozen in place.

Alistair placed one hand on Micky’s shoulder. “Why don’t you run along now, Mister Cooper?”

Micky looked up at him, big brown eyes brimming with fear. Alistair squeezed his shoulder reassuringly.
Taking a deep breath, Micky finally nodded and left the office.

Alistair turned back to Seth. “This way Mr. Edwards.” He said, motioning to his office.

Seth smiled as genuinely as he could and followed the warden into his office.

Inside, Sonny seethed and cursed Micky Cooper for everything he could think of.

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The next week proved to be a momentous one for the occupants of the Hillbern Boot Facility. That Wednesday, Thomas “Blood” Vane met his grandfather for the very first time. That Friday saw the return of Roddy Malone.

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Wednesday:

Blood Vane checked himself in the mirror one last time. He knew he looked ok. As ok as any prisoner can look anyway. From his bunk on the other side of their cell Seth Edwards watched the primping with some amusement.

“Expecting a visit from your girlfriend?” The blond smirked.

Blood scowled at his nosy cellmate. “No, thank you very much. I don’t have a girlfriend.”

Seth perked up a little to hear that. “Well… who then?” He grinned. “I know you’re not getting all pretty for me.”

With a loud sigh, Blood plopped down on his bunk. “If you must know… I- I’m meeting my grandfather today.”

Seth smiled. “Well, that’s nice…. Wait… you’re meeting him?”

Blood nodded. “I’ve never met the man before in my life.”

Seth looked confused. “But why?”

“He disowned my mother for marrying a white man.” Blood’s scowl darkened. “He never saw her again after that… or me.”

“That’s horrible.” Seth exclaimed.

“Yeah… it really hurt my mother a lot.” Blood grimaced as he thought of his gentle mother being treated so callously.

“But.. He wants to see you now?” Seth looked thoughtful.

Blood nodded. “I probably should have just said no, but…. I’m curious. What could he want to see me about now?”

One of the guards stuck his head in their cell. “Vane.. You have a visitor.”

Blood stood with a sigh. “I guess Ill know soon enough.”

“Good luck.” Seth called as the tall boy stepped out of their cell.

“Ill probably need it.” He heard Blood grumble as he walked away.

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The meeting:

Ezra Blackfeather sat alone in the small cubicle reserved for family meetings at the Hillbern Facility. Nervously he fidgeted with his coat. The guard at the door glanced over and then quickly away as his gaze was met by a piercing black stare from the other man.

At sixty five years of age, Ezra was still an intimidating man. Tall and muscular he also carried about him the aura of power that had come with a lifetime of being a shaman. The spirits walked beside him and although most people were not sensitive enough to actually intuit that fact there was still enough of a connection that it made them uneasy in his presence.

As he waited for his grandson to appear he found his thoughts inevitably drifting to the boys mother.
His only child. His beautiful Helene. How it had broken his heart when she had married that awful man.

Ezra shook his head. It was too late for that. Helene was dead now and there was no way he could make amends with her. He had tried to contact his daughters spirit but she had refused to speak with him, unless…

His only hope was his grandson. Ezra was hoping against hope that if he could somehow make peace with Thomas that Hélène might somehow find it in her heart to forgive a foolish old man for the worst mistake of his life. The spirits had let him know that Thomas also possessed the power of dreaming.

With a little training in the old ways, the boy might very well become a powerful shaman one day.

If only he could convince Thomas to listen to him.

A scowling young man stepped through the door and Ezra found himself looking up into dark eyes that were so like his own, so like Helene’s, that he knew in a moment that it was his grandson.

“Mister Blackfeather.” Blood stated coldly.

Ezra winced at the ice in the boys voice. He reminded himself again that he deserved to be treated as coldly as any stranger.

“Please.. Have a seat.” He said, motioning to the other chair directly across from his.

Blood sat down with a scowl on his face and immediately crossed his arms defensively in front of his chest.

Ezra frowned, the boy wasn’t going to make this easy. Then again, he hadn’t really expected him to.

With a sigh the older man realized exactly where he had to start. Ezra made himself look Blood directly in the eye. “I’m so sorry.” He said.

An hour later Ezra had completely poured his heart out to the young man in front of him and after begging for forgiveness, he had wept like a child.

Finally, as he sat there sobbing he felt a tentative touch as his grandson took his hand.

Blood only said one word but it meant the world to Ezra. “Grandfather.”

Ezra grasped the boys hand as though it was a lifeline.

Through his own tears Blood managed to smile at his grandfather. For the first time in his life he knew what home felt like.


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Friday: Roddy’s Return


By the time Friday rolled around Sonny Edwards was in quite a turmoil. Now working in the infirmary, he had been one of the first to know exactly when Roddy Malone would be returning to Boot Hill.

Not only that, but now every time he saw Micky Cooper his fingers fairly itched to wrap themselves around the boys throat. So far, Seth had managed to keep their feelings hidden fairly well, making sure there was a benign look on their face whenever they had to come into contact with Micky. It was getting harder though, and Seth had to keep reminding Sonny again and again that they couldn’t do anything to the boy without arousing suspicion. Especially not after Sonny had lost control in the wardens office.

Sonny knew Seth was right. That didn’t mean he had to like it though. As Friday approached and the pressure mounted he was getting damn near close to uncontrollable.

When they brought Roddy into the infirmary to be checked before he was returned to his cell; Sonny had rudely shoved Seth out of the way. If anything was going to happen, then it would be him that the tall redhead had to deal with.

Roddy spent most of the exam staring at Sonny intensely. Sonny, refusing to be intimidated, stared right back. Both refused to break eye contact.

Florence Abigail fussed over Roddy as she did all of her patients, taking her time and chattering away, clearly unaware of the ticking time bomb standing not two feet away from her.