The Kin

by Elsye Harwood

  Chapter Twenty Five

  Rome; Early Twenty- First Century; October

  “Hold the door please,” a woman’s voice called out in Italian, causing David to stop and turn to see who had spoken. A girl was trotting up the street towards him, and judging by her khaki vest top and scruffy jeans, she had to be a student.

  “I’m sorry, the library’s closed today,” he told her as she jogged up.

  She grinned, displaying brilliant white teeth in a lightly tanned face, which highlighted the smattering of freckles across her nose.

  “You’re English. Ah, you must be David. I’m Fabia. Pleased to meet you.” She held out her hand.

  David took it, though he was still somewhat taken aback by the fact that she knew him.

  “Are you going to let me in?” she asked in the familiar clipped British accent.

  “It’s closed today,” he told her again.

  “I’m not here for the library. Are they in?” she asked patiently.

  “You mean Marcus and Tully?” She nodded. “Yes, they’re in, but I think Marcus is going out soon.”

  She grinned. “That might change.” And she slipped past him into the corridor, so that for a moment he was engulfed by the fragrance of her thick dark hair which was piled on top of her head in a carelessly sexy way.

  “Do they know you’re coming?” he asked, somewhat perturbed by his proximity to her. She turned back and he found himself staring into bright hazel eyes flecked with gold. She smiled brightly.

  “No, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. They won’t mind though.”

  David closed the door whilst she waited, then they walked together up the stairs to the top of the building.

  “Are you a student?” he asked as they climbed.

  “No I just dress like one, it’s part of my disguise. Are you?”

  “I’m doing my master’s,” he replied.

  “Of course, I forgot, you’re Elliot’s protégé.”

  “Well, I don’t know about that, but it sounds good,” he admitted, and she laughed.

  “How do you know the custodians?”

  What she said next surprised him. “I’m part of the Order. A field operative. But I prefer to work alone.”

  David was shocked. “But you don’t look old enough.”

  “I like you, David. Unfortunately, I’m older than I look.”

  They came to the door and she waited whilst he tapped in the code. Inside the apartment was empty. David walked over to the kitchen area to make something to drink, but Fabia stopped at the three couches and put her bag down, and screeched, then stood in the middle of the room, waiting. David jumped, shocked at the sudden noise and almost dropped the orange juice cartoon in the process. But the shriek had the desired effect and the response was instantaneous.

  He watched with amazement as the two custodians appeared from various places in the flat. Marcus arrived first and pulled Fabia into an embrace that left no doubt as to the intimate nature of their relationship. Whilst they hugged, Tully waited patiently for his turn. Eventfully Marcus released her, but they continued to gaze at each other for a few more moments before he finally let her go and the older custodian stepped forward and held her tightly. Though the body language was the same, the embrace was completely different and revealed an almost paternal side to Tully.

  David turned away and let them get on with it. She’d been right: they hadn’t minded her dropping in unannounced at all.

  “I’ve brought you some wine as a gift,” Fabia said opening her bag and revealing a bottle of red wine. “I think you’ll like it.”

  “Let’s try it then,” Tully suggested. “David, can you get four glasses for us? Where’s it from?”

  “Ah, now that would be telling,” she replied. “You’ve got to guess.”

  David put four glasses down on the counter and then Fabia poured a little into one glass. “Tully, you try it first.”

  The older custodian picked up the drink and took a sip. “Um, not bad, that’s actually really nice.”

  Marcus laughed. “That doesn’t say much, you like watered-down vinegar, in fact you prefer it, even after all this time.”

  “I have the palette of every man, not a wine snob like you. Let him try it, Fabia. See what the expert thinks.”

  Fabia smiled and poured more into another glass. “Marcus.”

  The young man picked up the glass and held the stem between his fingers whilst he sniffed.

  Tully exploded then. “By all the gods, Junius, you’re such a pretentious patrician, just drink the stuff.”

  His outburst was met with an awkward silence, which didn’t surprise David because things were still tense between the two men after their argument the other day. As far as he could tell, nothing had been resolved between them. But the situation developing in Prague was forcing them to work and research together, which at times made the atmosphere decidedly strained.

  “I’d rather you didn’t use my middle name, Tully. You know I don’t like it, and I’ll drink the wine when I’m good and ready.” And with that Marcus took a delicate sip.

  Fabia had looked down as if to keep out of the exchange, but now she flashed a quick smile to herself and raised her head.

  “It’s good. Where is it from?” Marcus asked, whilst Tully scowled quietly.

  “Guess,” she challenged. He thought for a moment then shook his head. “A private vineyard in Tuscany?”

  “Nope,” she said shaking her head.” Give up?”

  Marcus lifted his hands. “I concede defeat.”

  “Britannia,” she declared triumphantly. “David’s home.”

  “It’s too cold,” Tully said.

  “Not any more thanks to global warming; it’s now warm enough to make decent wine again.”

  Marcus considered. “They did make it years ago when the Romans were there, and it was good quality. Pour David some, Fabia. Let him drink his own country’s produce.”

  “Sorry,” she said to David and poured him a whole glass full.

  “So, climate change means the Brits can now make decent wine. Well, at least that means we can all drink something pleasant as we drown,” Tully said convivially.

  “How long are you staying?” Marcus asked suddenly. Fabia finished pouring her own glass and put the bottle down.

  “Only tonight.”

  “Can you stay longer?”

  She shook her head and met his gaze. “I’m due in Naples tomorrow. This is just a stopover. Sorry.”

  “What’s happening in Naples?” Tully asked.

  Fabia turned to him. “There’s a woman there who claims to see and talk to ghosts. I think she’s actually genuine.”

  “There’re a lot of charlatans around. But you know that,” he replied. Marcus suddenly moved away from the table and left the room without saying a word. Fabia watched then turned back to Tully.

  “He’s cancelling what he had on tonight,” Fabia said taking a sip.

  “Thank you for coming,” Tully told her.

  She glanced at him. “I’m sorry that I can’t stay longer.”

  Tully sighed. “Just being here will help and hopefully postpone the inevitable for a month or so. I wish you’d reconsider and move back here.”

  She smiled at him. “Tully, I haven’t lived here for years. I like my independence. Besides, it wouldn’t make much difference, he’d still get restless.”

  “But maybe not so often. And I hate this tension beforehand.”

  “Now that’s your fault. You get so worked up about it, and this time poor David’s here stuck in the middle. You have to accept things and let him go. He always comes back, despite you giving him hell.”

  Tully considered her words. “I can’t help myself. You know how I feel about it. Each time, I wonder if… well, you know.”

  Fabia reached out and took his hand. “You worry too much. Come on, let’s get some food to soak up this wine.” She let go of his hand and moved around the counter into the
kitchen.

  They sat around the table drinking Fabia’s wine and picking at an assortment of food. David listened to the conversation and occasionally asked questions, but it was nice to sit back and listen to Marcus and Tully relax around each other and to hear their old banter begin to come back.

  Tully had just told an amusing story which had made them laugh, when Fabia reached out across the table and took Marcus’s hand. They all noticed, but it was Tully who spoke.

  “Go on then, off you go. Duty done, you’ve been sociable. Go on. David and I will finish the wine, won’t we?”

  David nodded, a little bemused until he saw Marcus’s embarrassment. But Fabia grinned at him, not in the slightest bit abashed. Without another word, they pushed their chairs back and got up from the table, then left the room arm in arm.

  “It’s complex, David. It’s been like that for years and it’s never going to change. It is what it is,” Tully told him, as they both watched the two young people leave.

  “Aren’t you jealous?” the Englishman asked.

  Tully laughed. “By all the gods, no. I wouldn’t want what they have. And given a choice neither would they, well…” He stopped and thought about it. “They probably would actually.” Then he reached out and poured Fabia’s wine into his nearly empty glass and tipped Marcus’s into David’s glass. “Shame to waste it.”

  “They hardly touched theirs,” David noticed.

  “Bodies there, minds absent. They had other things on their mind, that’s why.”

  Later that evening, Nadia made the two men dinner, which they ate alone at the dining table. After their meal Tully led David out to sit on the balcony. They took a bottle of good red with them to wash down the food.

  “You can never get tired of that, can you?” The Roman said looking out onto the view of the city, which was dominated by various churches including St Peter’s.

  “It is stunning,” David agreed contentedly, replete after his meal. “You’re very lucky.”

  Tully sighed. “Yes and no. Somethings are good, very good, but others are difficult and sad. Hard to accept at times, as well.”

  “You were married, weren’t you? Was that before or after you were in the army?”

  Tully smiled softly at the question. “Yes, I was married, during and after my time in the army.”

  “Would you consider remarrying one day?” David persisted.

  “I’ll find someone to love when I’m ready. At the moment, young David, I’m still in mourning. I don’t like to rush, you see.” They were quiet for a moment then Tully shifted a little in his chair. “Look, I know things haven’t been easy here the last few days. Marcus gets restless, you see. Every now and then he likes to go off on his own and well… I’ve some idea of what he gets up to, but I’d rather that I didn’t. He has some old friends, ones that I really don’t like or approve off, but once or twice a year, he feels the need to see them.

  “I know the signs, you see. He wants to go to Prague, which I have no problem with, but I think he’ll go off visiting from there. I’m like a parent whose son has just been given his driving licence and a new car. You can’t help worrying, though there’s nothing you can do, it’s their life and something they have to do and nine times out of ten, every things all right.”

  David could hear the sadness and anxiety in the Roman’s voice and he was about to answer when Tully spoke again.

  “David, I was wondering if you’d like to stay on here and consider a permanent job? You could complete your research and master’s here and we’d pay a good wage for part-time cover of the library, as well as free board and food. What do you think?”

  “I’d snap it up,” a voice said from the darkness. Both men turned to see Fabia in a white dressing gown leaning against the doorway. “Sorry, I couldn’t help overhearing. May I join you?”

  “Of course,” Tully told her. “Here, have my wine.” Fabia took the proffered glass and moved a spare chair so that she was perpendicular to the wall and able to see them both.

  “Thank you. Marcus is in one of his contemplative moods, so I thought I’d come and join you.” David watched as she settled herself and reached into the pocket of her gown and took out a packet of cigarettes.

  “You don’t still do that, do you?” Tully complained.

  “Sorry, but I like it. David, do you mind?” He shook his head and she grinned at Tully and then proceeded to light one. Silently, the Roman handed her Marcus’s ashtray. David watched, mesmerised, but noticed that when she lifted an arm, the sleeve of her gown slipped down to reveal a bruise on her wrist which he was sure hadn’t been there before. That made him wonder if Marcus had also left a mark on her neck, like he had with Naomi, but Fabia’s thick loose hair made it impossible to see.

  “So you think the woman in Naples is genuine?” Tully asked her.

  “I’ll find out tomorrow, but yes, the signs are very promising.”

  “How will you know?” David asked.

  “Because I’ll be able to see if there are any spirits there or not,” she replied exhaling the smoke.

  “Can you see ghosts then?” he asked, shocked.

  Fabia grinned. “Yes, and so can Tully and Marcus, in fact we all do. But I like communicating with them, which is why I investigate this sort of thing.” She stretched out her slim pale legs, but as she did so David noticed another dark bruise on her ankle.

  For moment he forgot his next question, but he could see that Tully and Fabia were waiting for it. “Have you always been able to see them?”

  “No, it’s something we’ve learnt to do because it makes life so much easier for us.”

  “How did you learn?” he asked, fascinated.

  She smiled. “It was easy, but seeing auras is even simpler.”

  “I can’t see them either.”

  “Well, I can teach you if you want. But, maybe next time I’m passing through? Of course, we’ll have plenty of time if you decide to take Tully’s offer. It’ll change your life if you do.”

  “You’ll be an honorary member of the Order,” Tully offered, speaking for the first time.

  David turned to him. It was tempting, but he hadn’t imagined being away from England for so long. “I’m very grateful, but I do need to think about it.”

  Tully nodded. “Of course, take your time. The offer isn’t going anywhere.” Then he put his finger to his lip and nodded to towards Fabia. Confused, David turned to see that the girl had her head titled to one side as if listening to something and a faraway look in her eyes. Abruptly she snapped out of it and stubbed the cigarette out after one final pull on it. She stood.

  “Thank you. I’m going back now. Here, Tully, finish your wine.”

  The Roman took it from her. “You’ve been summoned?”

  She smiled. “Something like that. Good bye, David. I might not see you in the morning, as I’m leaving quite early, but it was nice meeting you. I hope that we’re able to talk more, one day.” She smiled and took his hand. “Goodnight, Tully, and don’t worry, I’ll call you.”

  With that she slipped back through the darkened door and into the apartment.

  “Don’t even try to understand it, David,” Tully said. “Just remember: it’s complex.”