Chapter 6- Fulton

Chapter 6-  Fulton’s POV

The decision was easy. I knew that if anything happened to me, Mom would never forgive him. He would be done forever, and at this moment, I wanted him to be out of our lives forever.

          Stepping over the threshold was more complicated than it had ever been. Fear radiated from my body, and I could feel my body shaking as I took my place in front of the man. “You are a courageous young man. We need more men like you in our ranks.” “Thanks, but I don’t think I would want to do that.” My voice is betraying my emotions.

          He nodded curtly at my words before choosing his following words carefully. “This is simple. You will take my hand. I will give you my word. Once I finish talking, you can either accept or decline my word for any reason. You may state that you would like anything reworded, or you may stay with the original simply by stating you accept. If you have a change of heart and would rather forget about all of this, say that you decline and step back into the house. I will then only deal with your Father directly. Do you understand how this will work?” “I do.” His words seemed to have cleared the fear from my soul. Right now, all I could think about is my anger towards my Father and how I needed to protect my mother at all costs.

          Closing the gap between us, the man reached his hand forward. Carefully I placed my hand into his and immediately felt a buzzing sensation wash throughout my body. “Don’t worry. It is just the contract. Nothing to be frightened about.” He must have noticed my unease of the feeling to mention it. “Ready?” He asks as though he has all the time in the world to wait on me to be ready. Hesitantly I nod my head. His smile turns wicked as his grip tightens on my hand, and I instantly feel myself become overwhelmed with the buzzing feeling. “I Lawler Brandt King of the Northern Vampires Give you Fulton Tuffin your brothers Merrick Tuffin and Talvin Tuffin our fullest level of protection. At no point will any of the Northern Vampires, including myself, be permitted to harm any of you. If a breach is made within our kingdom, you will each receive guards to assure your safety. As for your mother, Elnora Tuffin will receive the same respect and guard of the Northern Vampires; any of my subjects will not harm her. Your mother will have the strength to decide to leave your Father when she feels she has been treated unjustly. When she decides to leave him, she will be required to spend 24 hours within our kingdom, gaining the strength and courage she needs to move on from your Father. She will be granted full monetary allowance to care for her children for the next ten years within that time. The three of you will have the option to go with her and guard her or stay behind. As for your Father, he has no ties or protection from our kingdom other than the deal he is to make on his behalf. From here on out, you and your siblings will be labeled as the Human Princes of the Northern Vampires, and Elnora will be known as The Human Princess of the Northern Vampires. Do you accept my word?” As the last words left his lips, I stood slack-jawed. Did he say what I thought he did? “Do you accept?” He asks again with a little more impatience. “Yes, I accept.” As the words were leaving my mouth, a sensation of relaxation and pure bliss coursed through my veins. I knew without a question of a doubt that everything was going to be ok. I had just saved our family from something horrible that my Father would cook up, and I gave my mother freedom.

          Lawler completed our business with a handshake. “No need to fear me, young man. I will keep your family safe.” “Thank you.” “Thank you for doing business with me.” “Can I ask you one thing?” My tone has become light and easy, much like I was talking to a good friend. “Sure, young man, what is it?” “What is going to happen to my Dad? What are you going to ask of him?” “I am going to make sure that he knows I am taking your Mom the second she feels she is treated unjustly. He will not know that it will only be 24 hours to get her set up for the next ten years. I want to make him sweat it out and see if he will be willing to do the right thing.” His smile is reaching his eyes. “Thank you for protecting us.” I yawned out to him. “The pleasure is all mine. Your Father will be waking up now; head off to bed.”

          The bathroom light flicking on against the side of my house told me he was correct. “Quickly!” Lawler whispered to me as I dodged back into the house. My father was coming down the hall, and I had no excuse to be on this side of the house at this hour. “Couch, pretend to sleep on the couch,” Lawler’s voice whispered into my head. I curled up into a position on the couch right as my father came into the room. He was startled the moment he saw me. “Fulton, it is the middle of the night. Why are you sleeping on the couch?” He asked as he rubbed my shoulder. I wanted to turn and hit him, to run away as fast as I could from the touch of his hand. A hand that caresses the face of my half-siblings that I will never have the chance to meet. A family that he hides on the side. The thought of it all brought a wave of nausea over me. “I don’t feel so well,” I stated as I sat up and pushed past him, making a straight shot for the bathroom. The sound of me throwing up was enough to wake Mom.

          “Damn it,” I can hear my Dad mumble as Mom opens the bathroom door. “Are you okay, sweetheart?” The concern in her voice reassures me that everything is going to be okay. I just made that guarantee. “What is that?” She asks, turning my arm over in her hand. “I don’t know,” I announce, looking at my splotchy red arm. “Where else is it?” She asks, pushing up my shirt sleeve as I pull up my shirt to examine my stomach. “Looks to be everywhere” I start to panic at my arm when I hear Lawler’s voice softly speaking to me again momentarily. “It is just my word taking full effect. It will go away in a little while. Just jump in the shower, and it should be gone by the time you get out. Your brothers shouldn’t notice it on them because they are sleeping. Elnora will probably notice hers, insist a shower will help, and she will remain calm.”

          I am much calmer after hearing Lawler’s words. “Maybe I touched something I shouldn’t have. I am going to shower and make sure it isn’t that before we go into a panic.” “Okay, be quick. I will make some tea while you shower. If it is still this bad, we are going to the ER.” “Okay, I agree.” I motion her to leave the bathroom and listen to her footfalls going to the kitchen. “Best woman alive,” I mumble to myself as I step into the hot shower.

          Sure, enough Lawler was correct. My skin is back to its standard shade of pale when I step out. Wrapping a towel around my waist, I make my way out to find Mom. She is sitting comfortably on the couch I had just been residing with a cup of tea. “What is the verdict?” She asks, sitting up higher on the sofa to get a better look at me. “It is all gone. I must have touched something, and whatever it was washed off in the shower.” “That is such a relief!” The flood of relief washes over her face and shoulders as she looks me over. I notice the growing red marks on her skin that looked the same as mine. Thinking on my toes, I announce, “Looks like it must have been the couch.” “Why do you think that?” Raising her eyebrow at me sends an entire question to me. “Because you are breaking out, and I was just sleeping there.” Nodding in the direction of her splotchy arm, she squeaks in panic. “No one sits on that couch until I can wash it! I am going to go shower.” She announces, walking past me as though she just touched something horrid and didn’t want to risk getting it on anything.