Teresa entered her home and she locked the door. Her thoughts traveled back to the young man she had accidentally bumped into before returning home. Shuten was his name. For some reason, there was something about Shuten that made Teresa hope that he would still be in Noroton.
"Who's there?" called Edmund.
"It's me, Father," Teresa answered. She walked into his office.
"Where is your brother?" he asked.
"I haven't seen him for a while, Father."
Edmund thought for a moment, then looked at his daughter. "I hope that he's not doing anything foolish. Did you help Robyn?"
"Yes, I did." Teresa smiled.
"That's good," her father said. "Why don't you go ahead and make your supper?"
"Do you want anything?"
"No, I unfortunately lost my appetite before you came home."
"What's wrong?" Teresa asked, looking at her father with concern.
Edmund waved his hand. "Don't worry about it. I'll be fine." He went back to his papers.
Teresa left and quietly shut the office door. She walked into the kitchen and started to cook her evening meal. She made enough for three people, as usual, just in case her father was hungry later.
____
Robyn entered the guestroom and closed the door. She looked at her reflection in the mirror. If only my family could see me, she thought as she took the veil off her head and inhaled deeply.
It was her wedding night, hers and Touma's. And Robyn was nervous as a cat. She looked around the room, seeing that Estelle had gone to extreme lengths preparing it for them. There were thick drapes hanging over the windows with doves holding small flower bouquets in their beaks. The white sheets on the large bed were brand new; no doubt that Estelle paid a pretty penny for them.
Robyn noticed a box on the dresser with her name on the card attached to it. She took the card off and read the message: Since Touma's mother is not with us, it has become my responsibility to take on the mother of the groom duties. Relax, all will come naturally.
Robyn placed the card in her pocket, hoping that Touma would never have to see it. She opened the box and unfolded the white tissue paper. She reached in and pulled out a white satin negligée with a matching robe.
"Oh boy," Robyn whispered. She quickly changed into it and looked at herself in the mirror again. The thin straps held the light material, which just about covered her breasts, and it went just past her knees. There were several white ribbons in the front that started from the waist and ending at the top. Robyn touched the top bow, wondering if they could be untied.
She would find out soon, for she heard Touma's footsteps coming up the stairs. Robyn quickly put the robe on and tied the belt.
Touma stood outside the guestroom door, wondering how Robyn was handling herself with all of this. He knocked lightly on the door. "Who is it?" Robyn asked from the other side.
"Who do you think?" asked Touma, playfully.
Robyn opened the door, hiding behind it, and Touma entered. She closed the door. Touma looked at the room, and then turned around to look at Robyn. Seeing her in the outfit she was wearing made him swallow hard. "You look… beautiful," said Touma, his voice a little shaky.
Robyn blushed and lowered her eyes. "Thank you."
"Uh…" Touma fidgeted for a moment and remembered the small box Estelle had given him. "Aunt Estelle gave this to me. She said to open it with you." He sat down on the bed and Robyn sat next to him.
Touma and Robyn unwrapped the small package together, revealing a wooden box with leaf-like designs on the outside. Touma lifted the lid and music started playing.
"A music box," Robyn laughed.
Touma stared at it. "I know this tune," he whispered. "My mother used to sing it to me when I couldn't sleep."
"Close your eyes, little one," Robyn sang along with the melody. "I will be near you, through the dark of night. Don't you worry my little one. I shall always be with you-"
"Even if I'm not in sight," Touma joined her voice. He closed the box and looked at his wife. "How did you know the words to it?"
"My mother and your mother were best friends, remember?" Robyn put her arm around him. "My mother once told me that they shared everything."
"I see." Touma smiled. "I wonder what they're thinking now that we're married."
"Grandchildren?" Robyn suggested.
Touma raised his eyebrow at her. "So soon?"
"Well…" Robyn's cheeks turned pink. She looked into his eyes. "I'm nervous."
"So am I," Touma whispered.
He stood up and placed the music box on the dresser. Touma walked over to Robyn, taking her hands, and pulled her to her feet. He leaned towards her, pressing his lips against hers. Robyn wrapped her arms around his neck, as Touma arms went around her waist.
____
Teresa awoke to the sound of her father sputtering curses. She quickly changed and hurried downstairs, only to find her father in his office tossing objects around that came into his path. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"Your brother didn't come home last night," Edmund said with anger in his voice. "I have enough problems to deal with already. He should know better. I shouldn't have to look after him like a child."
You never did after Mother died, Teresa thought to herself. Either of us.
A knock came from the front door and Teresa left her father's office to answer it. When she opened it, she saw Estelle standing on the porch. "Aunt Estelle," said Teresa. "Good morning." She let her pass.
"Good morning, dear," said Estelle. "Where's your father? I have good news to tell him." She winked at her niece.
Teresa smiled. "In his office." She watched her aunt walk into her father's office. "Five… four… three… two… one…"
"WHAT!" exploded her father.
"He is now a happily married man." Estelle's voice floated from the office. "And don't even think of trying anything to ruin it for him. Touma has been in love with Robyn for a very long time."
Edmund stormed out of his office and looked at Teresa. "Did you know about this?"
"N-no," stammered his daughter, shock on her face. "I helped her clean her house and-"
"It was all my doing, Edmund." Estelle came into the parlor.
"Where are they?" demanded her brother. It struck him. "They're at your place." He left the house.
"Edmund, don't you dare bother them!" Estelle called after him. "It's their first day of being married!" She looked at Teresa. "You are a very good actress, my dear."
"Thank you. Now if you can stop father from killing Touma…"
"Don't worry," winked Estelle. "I've taken care of everything." She chased after her brother.
Teresa went back inside, shutting the door. She folded her hands and prayed. "Touma, Robyn, good luck."
____
Touma opened his eyes and looked at his wife resting next to him, her arm draped across his chest. He smiled and kissed her lips. Robyn stirred and looked at her husband.
"Morning," she said sleepily.
"I'm going to love getting used to this," Touma said.
"I can really get used to what we did last night." Robyn smiled playfully.
Touma leaned over to kiss her again when he heard the unmistakable bellowing of his father.
"He held out longer than I thought he would." Touma got up and quickly put on his pants from the night before and a robe, borrowed from his uncle's closet. He left the bedroom and stood at the top of the stairs. "Hi, Dad."
Edmund glared at him. "Why did you marry Robyn?"
"Because I love her," answered Touma. "And the reason I went behind your back is that you would never give me permission to marry Robyn, even if her family wasn't killed by a vampire."
"I want it annulled!" shouted Edmund.
"Both sides have to consent," Touma said. "And since neither Robyn or I will, our marriage won't be. Even Minister Blake said that he won't give you one."
"Not if I can stand for it." Edmund growled. "How can you marry a woman who is not chaste?"
"Edmund!" his sister gasped at the accusation.
"You want to look for a blood spot on the white sheets?" Touma asked angrily. He motioned his arm towards the bedroom. "Be my guest!"
"He won't have to," said Robyn coming into view, wearing her robe. She tossed the sheet down to her father-in-law. "He can see for himself if he wants to."
Edmund examined the sheet and saw the blood spot, indicating that Robyn was a virgin on her wedding night. "All right," he said in defeat. "So she was chaste till you married her." He dropped the sheet. "But where will you two stay?"
"Oh that's easy," said Estelle. "Dennis and I have agreed that this house would be better for Touma and Robyn." She looked at her nephew and his wife. "That's right, my dears. Here is your wedding present. I hope you like it."
"What!" screamed Edmund. "How could you?"
"Simple," said Estelle. "One, it's my house. Two, I want to. And three, they'll get more use out of it than Dennis and I will. They have a long time to decide when they will have children and since mine have grown up and left and I won't be having anymore, what's the point of us staying in a large empty house?"
"I can't believe that you have done this to me."
"Edmund, you should have give him your blessing."
Touma watched his father storm out of the house. "He took your bluff, Aunt Estelle," he said.
"I wasn't bluffing," she said. "The house is yours. Robyn, if it's all right with you, I think my husband and I will move into your house. After all the paperwork is taken care of."
"Of course," said Robyn, a little shocked.
"Welcome to married life, my dears," Estelle said, leaving the house. "Enjoy."
____
Many weeks had passed before Edmund finally admitted Robyn as his daughter-in-law. Touma was surprised when his father had prepared a delayed wedding ceremony at the town hall, but everyone had a good time and still laughed at how Touma and Robyn eloped.
After the ceremony, Teresa had traveled to a nearby village to visit a cousin from her mother's side who was expecting a baby. The time finally came and Teresa helped her cousin's daughter into the world. She stayed a few days to make sure that the child was all right and now she was heading home on her cybernetic horse named Lucca.
Teresa looked at the sky and noticed the growing darkness. If I knew that I was going to be this late, she thought, I would have stayed tonight and left first thing in the morning.
She urged Lucca to go a little quicker, calling herself a dozen kind of fools for not leaving earlier in the day. But the baby was adorable. As Teresa thought about her cousin's child, she remembered Robyn telling her that she and Touma were trying to have a baby themselves. Then Teresa would be an aunt, and she smiled at the thought.
Lucca whinnied and stopped.
"What is it?" Teresa asked. She gasped as she noticed that the sun had finally set behind the mountains and the full moon cast its glow. Teresa swallowed hard. "Let's go, Lucca," she said. But her horse would not move. "Lucca," Teresa said again, noting the fear in her own voice.
Something jumped from the shadows and latched itself onto Lucca's neck. The cyborg horse reared up and threw Teresa from the saddle, and she fell to the ground. Dazed, Teresa looked up and saw the creature. A werewolf, feasting on poor Lucca's flesh. Teresa stared in horror at the sight, then stood up and ran before she would become the werewolf's next meal. She darted through the forest, not caring about the small branches and twigs slapping her.
Teresa heard something running behind her and she felt her blood turn cold. The werewolf had finished gorging on Lucca and was now chasing Teresa.
Oh God! Please, help me! she prayed as tears ran down her cheeks.
Teresa fell to the ground. She tried to stand and pain shot up her left leg from her ankle making her cry out and fall again. Teresa looked over her shoulder at the werewolf. She closed her eyes and threw her arms over her head.
Three shots rang out. Teresa lowered her arms slowly and looked at the werewolf laying dead a few yards away from her. Then the werewolf changed into a body of a naked man. Teresa looked away and saw her savior standing behind her.
He's probably thinking what kind of payment I should give him, Teresa shuddered.
He walked over to her, still holding the smoking revolver in his hand and stopped. "Teresa?"
That voice! She looked up at him. "Shuten? Is that you?"
"What the hell are you doing out here?" he asked as he knelt next to her.
"It is you!" Teresa cried, throwing her arms around his neck.
Shuten was surprised at her actions. She must really be frightened, he thought. He put his hands on her shoulders, holding her away a little. "Teresa, we have to get out of here."
Her face paled. "There's more… werewolves?" she asked.
"I'm afraid so," Shuten answered. He stood and helped Teresa up, making her lean against a tree, keeping her weight off her left ankle. Shuten whistled and Kossori came into view. Shuten helped Teresa onto Kossori's back. He sat behind her and Kossori quickly trotted off.
"What were you doing out here?" Teresa asked.
"I was looking for werewolves," said Shuten and he smiled at her. "But they've seemed to have found you instead of me finding them."
Teresa's eyes widened in amazement. "You're a Hunter?"
"Yes, I am. So are my three brothers."
"Did the four of you learn to become Hunters from your father?"
Shuten eyes darkened. "What I and my brothers received from our father is nothing more than a curse."
Teresa heard the bitterness in his voice and didn't press the subject any further. She rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes, feeling very safe in his arms.
"We're here," he said.
Teresa's eyes opened. That was fast, she thought. Did I doze off?
Kossori trotted through the main gate and stopped. Shuten dismounted and helped Teresa down. "Teresa!" someone cried. They looked and saw a young man and woman running towards them.
"Touma! Robyn!" cried Teresa.
So she did have twins, Shuten thought. "Be careful," he said. "Her left ankle is sprained."
"Teresa, what happened?" her brother asked.
"It's a long story," said Teresa.
"You," Edmund's voice cut the air. "Get out."
It struck the three youths that Edmund was speaking to Shuten.
"If you insist," the Hunter said. He took Kossori's reigns and left the village.
Edmund looked at his family. "Get Teresa inside your house and take care of her." He walked away.
"Robyn," said Touma. "I'll be right be right back." Leaving his wife supporting his sister, Touma went after Edmund. "Father, why did you throw him out? He's a Hunter. He can help us."
"We do not need his help." Edmund's voice was dark.
"He saved Teresa's life!" Touma shouted. "Why won't you let him help us?"
Edmund spun around. "Why? I'll tell you why. That is the man that killed your mother." He left, leaving his son standing in the street.
It can't be... Touma thought. His mother died ten years ago. The Hunter that saved Teresa looked like he was in his early twenties. He would have to be in his thirties now if he was the man responsible for their mother's death. Touma walked back to Robyn and Teresa, still thinking about his father's words.
It couldn't possibly be true.