The Forgotten Child-Twilight

Chapter 24 - Part 3

I was having so much fun spoiling Christopher that I had put off killing Caius and Demetri.

I needed to get back on that...the years were going by...and they shouldn't be allowed the luxury to live.

A year went by but I couldn't bear to even contemplate leaving my Christopher...not even to kill Caius and Demetri.

I had hired a tutor and Christopher was amazingly intelligent...well...except for mathematics. But hell, I didn't give a damn...he was my child and could do no wrong.

I had bought him a piano....Christopher took to it as a fish takes to water. I couldn't believe how well he played. But, he was a "Minstrel" just like his mother...proficient in music.

Then suddenly something occurred to me. Christopher didn't need a piano...he should be able to duplicate the sound perfectly with his thought projection. Another realization came to me...I hadn't heard Christopher sing since I rescued him from the stable.

Christopher was also doing strange things....like sneaking out during the night. I remember the first night this happened. I searched through London like a madman in my efforts to locate him.

I finally located Christopher in a small church. He had been kneeling and literally fell asleep during his prayers. I no longer liked being in churches... in fact, I loathed them.

I took him home, and he remained fast asleep as I changed him into his nightshirt and placed him into bed.

As Christopher ate his breakfast the next morning I demanded that he never leave our home again, especially during the night. Christopher just sat there and silently ate his breakfast.

I wanted to lift our spirits, so I went to kneel beside him and said, "Christopher, will you sing something for Daddy? Anything. You haven't sang for me since I found you again."

Christopher pushed his plate away, got up, and walked into the next room and sat down at a window seat. He pretended to gaze out the window in interest while I strode in after him.

I was almost angry with him when I said, "Why Christopher? What have I done wrong that you won't even consider singing for your own father?"

I looked at him beseechingly and said, "I haven't heard your beautiful voice in ages. Would you please consider singing for me?" I begged him.

Christopher turned away from the window. I thought he was angry, but instead, he got up from the window seat and hugged me around my waist.

"I'm sorry Father," he began, "but I warned you that I was broken the night you found me again."

I looked down into Christopher's dark blue eyes and just found remorse there.

"I want to sing for you, Father, I truly do....but I haven't sang since the night Mother's spirit visited," he admitted.

"I wanted....I wanted to sing for HER that last time. But all I could do was stare as her soul flew off to Heaven," Christopher confessed to me.

I began to choke...sobs began to utter forth from my throat and mouth.

Christopher released me and stared into my red eyes saying, "I'm sorry Father, but I can't. I've been unable to sing or produce any type of music since that night. Forgive me."

I wrapped my arms about him and cried out, "There's nothing to forgive... you've done nothing wrong. If anybody should ask for forgiveness then it should be me for failing you in the first place!"

Christopher wrapped his arms around me and said, "Father, you had to leave...to try to get Mother...and you were doing that for me. You don't owe me an apology."

And that was all.

I think that we both made extra efforts to make one another happy for the next few months.

Christopher even pretended to play with the toys that he was too old for...even though he could easily pass for an eight or nine year old.

He did it for me...to make me happy...and it worked!

I had a small prayer chapel installed in the house...that way Christopher had no excuse to leave the house in the dead of night.

And I for one knew how dangerous the night could be.

Christopher did something strange the final day before 'they' came.

I was planning to take him to Hyde park, but as we descended the steps to the house, Christopher noticed something small and brilliantly colored.

He reached down and picked up a dead hummingbird. It was so small that it easily fit upon Christopher's little palm.

"Put that dead thing down Christopher," I said, "It's probably nasty and full of germs."

"It's beautiful," Christopher said.

Then Christopher quickly placed his other hand over the bird. I was about to chastise him when suddenly Christopher raised both his hands and the tiny hummingbird flew away like a giant bumblebee.

I couldn't believe it!

"How did you do that, Christopher?" I asked in amazement.

"I gave it a part of my life spark," he said

"You mean, you gave a piece of your life to return the bird to life," I asked my son.

Christopher only nodded in agreement.

I grew angry, "You must NEVER do anything like that again, understand!"I commanded.

Christopher said, "Father, it was only a small piece...it won't make any difference. I can't bring back anything much bigger than that bird...if I tried, I don't think that I'd live for very long."

"Are you able to take a life spark from anyone," I asked curiously.

I couldn't help but think that that would be the perfect weapon to use against the Volturi.

"No, Father, that's not something in my capability. Besides, I wouldn't do that even if I was gifted with that power." Christopher admitted.

We continued to Hyde Park and enjoyed ourselves that day.

We were totally oblivious that we would soon be expecting uninvited visitors.