Hybrid Trilogy

Chapter 31 Living New Lives

"Well I see we have lost none of our skills" said George as he returned to his human form & Charlotte ensured that he was not naked surprisingly. "No if anything we have gained some, I mean your considerably larger than I remember & you took that Vampires head off with considerable ease, where did you get that kind of strength & how is it that I, no I suspect both of us know how to make that thing work" said Ruby pointing at a parked car. "you have both gained the skills of Katy & Anthony along with their knowledge and their strength such as it is, has combined with yours" Charlotte said as she walked over to them, "where do they go to?" Ruby enquired "where do whom go to" Charlotte replied quizzically "all the Witches?" Ruby asked again "I mean they don't die, they just stop being don't they" she added "well, when a Vampire is killed, they go back to a cold, windy & lonely place known as middle-wood" Charlotte began as they walked home "what's it like?" Ruby asked, "as I've said it's a cold & windy, grey place, lonely because they don't see any other person and what's worse, they have no magic" Charlotte answered, "no Witch ever wants to be there" she added.

The following morning Charlotte having given Ruby some sound advice about putting on some more appropriate clothes, because as she didn't really understand the modern clothes & colours she looks a bit of a site, Charlotte then drove Ruby to her doctors surgery, & following a test the doctor confirmed that she was indeed pregnant, but he cautioned her that as it was so early on in the pregnancy there was no guarantees that it would develop following this, Charlotte had to give her assurances that whilst the doctors in this time were indeed very good at their jobs, they didn't & couldn't understand that this pregnancy was conceived in ways beyond their comprehension, then they drove to Guildford to do some very intensive food shop therapy, Ruby by her very nature had always been fascinated with good healthy foods, coming as it were from a working class family, & Katy, before the beginning of Ruby's tenure, had never put any junk foods in her body, but as they drove out of the town heading for the A3 Ruby spied a burger king on the lady mead retail park "what's that, can we go in?" She said pointing all wide-eyed and so they went in Ruby ate at least 3 burgers with over salted french fries followed by 2 deep fried fruit pies 1 huge soda & 1 vanilla milkshake. "Did you enjoy that" Charlotte chuckled "well no actually it was horrible, I can see why they call it junk food, I have to say there are somethings in this time, I would just as soon not experience, but I just couldn't stop eating" Ruby said exasperated screwing up her face as she did so "it is because the baby is calling for it" Charlotte started "well in your mind you haven't eaten real food in over a year, & being pregnant has been known to produce some very odd cravings, so if this is all you crave at least its human food..." She stopped then added "well after a fashion" she patted Ruby sympathetically on the back as they went back to the car.

Elsewhere George walked through into the Deli to survey its needs, he looked at all the speciality foods picking up one of the menu tariffs and began thinking (oh mother, Lucy this is much more your skill set, I could never do this I'm just a farmer) all of a sudden Charlotte appeared behind him "oh" he shouted dropping the menu and jumping to the side in shock "please don't do that it's still a little spooky, what are you doing here?" George asked "well since I met with my mother I have been able to transport, as well as the reading of thoughts, I heard your thoughts George, so I came to see if I could offer some advice" Charlotte answered "remember, Anthony is in his thirties & all of his life's knowledge still exists within you" she confirmed tapping the side of his head with her finger "just go look in the cupboard or larder & try not to analyse, just do, I'll wager it will just come natural" Charlotte ended "bye" she added with a smile and a wave as she disappeared & so George did exactly that, he went to the larder in the kitchen & just pulled out ingredients beginning to cook & bake like he had been doing it all his adult life, which of course he had.

Ruby walked into her office looking a little like a rabbit caught in the headlights of a car. Katy being a senior director of Star Turn Public Relations or STPR where she worked, had a big corner office, two giant floor, to ceiling windows looked out over the river Whey that ran through Guildford and the cinema restaurant square beyond. Aside from her huge desk, the room held a meeting table with four chairs along with shelving to one wall housing all manner of industry awards. The wall with the door in was constructed in full length glass the lower half being frosted, giving her a clear view over the open plan office beyond. The desk itself was an impressive dark would regency style desk with a green leather inlay and on top were two flat screen monitors for the computer, a very complicated looking phone, an in tray full of unopened mail & a photo of Anthony/George. She sat and swivelled round in the huge high back leather chair, sniggering silently to herself, and alongside her fear of the unknown, was the feeling like she owned the world, she recalled the moment that as a frightened little girl, she had first gone up to the big house in Rangemore to see the Duke of Staffordshire, how he had been dismissive & his son had given her the flirting glance, that ultimately led to the birth of her daughter Agatha (if they could see me now) she thought with an air of smugness, she sat back in the chair glancing at the coming & going of people in the square outside the Cinema.

Charlotte appeared at the door knocking lightly, Ruby came back from her vacant stare turning her chair and beckoning Charlotte in. "What is it we do here?" She asked with genuine interest Charlotte put her finger to her lips "shush" she said closing the door then sitting opposite Ruby "it wouldn't do, to let the team know that one of its senior directors" she paused and pointed at Ruby "could be having confidence issues" she whispered "but just as I told George, Katy's memories are within you" Ruby interjected confused "what George has Katy's memories too?" "No silly" Charlotte chuckled "he has Anthony's & you have Katy's, you've just to recall them, and over time it will become natural" Charlotte added. They both got some tea and Charlotte preceded to tell Ruby all she needed to know about Katy's work, her role & the company.