The Darkness Within (Peaky Blinders) Thomas Shelby

2. The Meaning Of A Name

Not a spell gonna be broken

with a potion or a priest

When you're cursed you're always hoping

that a prophet would be grieved

Oh, Lazarus

How did your debts get paid

Oh, Lazarus

Were you so afraid

-Blood On My Name, by The Brother Bright

"I'll be damned if my children are going to run off and join those bloody gypsies!" Cacey Donoghue's voice lurched out, echoing through their small house.

There were three bedrooms; one for the parents, one for Riley and one for the girls. The three kids currently sat on Ailia's bed, the youngest girl curling into her older sister as Riley sat on the edge, waiting for the yelling to stop. They had all been sleeping in that room since their uncle had come to visit, him taking Riley's bed.

"We've been to visit Moira before, why is he so mad this time?" Kiara asked her brother, using their grandmother's first name as they always did.

"He thinks the more often we go there, the less likely we are to come back." Riley replied in a soft voice. Riley was now 15, Kiara 11 and young Ailia was only 5. "And this will be Ailia's first time. She's never met Moira before or seen the gypsies and considering she's his favourite, they're a bigger threat this time."

"I'll bring them back in three days, like always." Their Uncle Bryan argued back. He wasn't yelling, his voice just had a way of travelling through walls.

Their mother never said a word. They knew she was out there, probably huddled in a corner in a feeble attempt to shield herself from the argument. She hated conflict.

"If Ailia is not back in three fucking days I will come down there and take your eyes, do you hear?!" Bryan yelled at his wife's brother as Kiara covered her little sisters ears.

"See." Riley turned to Kiara. "Ailia. Not us."

"You mean we could stay with uncle Bryan and Moira?" Kiara questioned in a small voice.

"No, K. Ailia may be his favourite, but he's a prideful man. He'd come for us." Riley stood from the edge of the bed before leaning down to pick up Ailia. "Now come on. Grab your bags."

Their mother, Nevina, came in to fetch them with a sad smile on her face. She kissed each of them on the cheek, leaving Riley for last and he took her shaking hands as she did.

"We'll be back in three days, mother." He promised. "I'll bring you some of those flowers you love." She smiled at her son and then they left, saying nothing to their father on the way out.

"I knew that man was trouble the day I heard his name." Byran spat once they had all piled into the wagon. "Vigorous and brave my ass." He joked over the meaning of Cacey's name. "I know Nevina and my mother believe in that whole meaning behind a name nonsense, but I'm telling you that you're father is a prime example of proving that wrong."

"Are you not honourable, Uncle Bryan?" Kiara questioned. The meaning behind his name being 'honourable.'

"I'm as honourable as they come, but that's just a coincidence." He joked.

"Mother wasn't always a woman of god." Riley stated. "She says that the meaning of Nevina... 'holy,' put her on her path."

"I know what my sister believes. Our mother tried to drill me with the same belief, but I'm telling you now... it's all nonsense. Riley, your name means 'valiant,' and if that's what you end up being its because your mother raised you right."

"Father may be a son of bitch, but... he is brave. He's not afraid of anything." Riley commented.

"That's because he's never seen what I can do." Bryan all but growled. Kiara always had this kind of respect for her uncle. She felt safe around him. More than she had anywhere else. She had always looked up to him and he'd always been sweet, but there was something there. Something in his build, in the way he carried himself and in the deepest parts of his eyes that told her he was invincible.

"Do you believe in curses, Uncle Bryan?" Kiara asked. "Gypsy curses."

"Of course I do." He scoffed as if it were the silliest question in the world.

"Then why not believe that a name can be blessed or cursed by a particular word and the meaning of it?"

He didn't say anything. He looked over his shoulder to his young niece and then over to his nephew.

"She gets straight A's in school." Riley shrugged over his sister's wisdom.

"Takes after her grandmother, is what it is." Bryan huffed before turning his eyes back to the road and urging the horse pulling the wagon on further.

"Riley! Kiara! My darlings." Their grandmother, Moira, beamed as the kids piled out of the wagon upon arrival at the gypsy camp. "And who's this? This must be young Ailia." She smiled at the young five-year-old who Riley helped out of the wagon and now held in his arms. "Oh, how I've been dying to meet you, my dear." She came up to her. "My, she looks exactly like her mother." Moira commented.

Riley and Kiara both had their father's dark hair, but Ailia had light blonde just like their mother. She also had their mother's bright blue eyes as well as Riley, but Kiara's were green, just like Moira's. It was one of the first things the old lady had said to her granddaughter. 

"Ailia." She echoed her name once again as Riley let his grandmother take his sister from his arms. "Light." She then said the meaning of the girls name while Bryan rolled his eyes. "Look at that sparkle behind her eyes. Nevina couldn't have chosen a better name."

Ailia didn't say anything. At five years old she could of course speak, but she was always quiet around people she didn't know. Meanwhile Kiara was thinking back to the first time her name had been explained to her. Moira had been the one to do it.

"Kiara. You have a darkness behind your eyes, child. My daughter must have seen it when you were born. A swallowing darkness that will forever follow you." She had said. Kiara was only 4, but she had never forgotten. Riley – 'valiant,' Ailia –'light,' Kiara – 'dark.'

She couldn't help but think she got the short end of the stick.