Deux

Elle's pov(year 1753)

"Good morning father" I greeted my father while getting into his room as the cock had crowed a few minutes ago and it was time for his medicines.

I pulled open the blinds in his room letting the beautiful light make it's way into his room.

My father's eyes were open and he had pushed his covers aside during the night. I had come here Midway through the night to arrange them as this was a common occurrence but with the few hours he had left, he had managed to push them off again. Seems my efforts were futile after all.

I sighed when I saw this.

My father's eyes were open but he couldn't see the light of day anymore. It had been but a few years that my father had lost his sight in an incident which also cost him his legs. A white film had formed over my father's eyes and the non aging spell that had been put on him had started wearing off as specks of grey were showing in his unshaven beard and head hair which was slightly covered by a woolen cap I had knitted for him.

"Oh father, how many times do I tell you to keep the covers on? In your condition, you should always be warm and not risk getting pneumonia" I said with worry while folding the clothes I had washed the previous day and kept in his wardrobe.

"You know me Elle. I try but the covers keep coming off" he said with a gruff weak voice.

I sighed.

"But father..."I complained though jokingly.

My father laughed a little which ended in a fit of coughs.

I hurried to his side and gave him a cup of water to drink while supporting his head.

"You should be more careful father" I said with worry in my voice.

"What should I say Elle? The covers just don't like staying on and there's nothing I can do about it. Just like most people in our village I think the covers don't like me as well" my father said with a wide grin on his face.

I laughed.

"You know, the more this occurs,I'll be led to believe that you do it on purpose old man" I said teasingly.

Seeing some tears had settled on the corners of his eyes from his coughing fit, I took a white cloth and gently wiped them off.

"Thank you sweetheart."

"You're welcome father".

"It's time for your bath. I have to be in the clinic in a while" I said while helping my father out of the bed into the wooden wheelchair which Mr Gibbs, the village carpenter had made for him. Mr Gibbs had been wooing me but I didn't like to dwell on that.

I pushed his wheelchair to the washroom which we both shared in our small four room house which consisted of his room, my room, our shared bathroom and a living room. It was modest but I loved it.

I cleaned up my father and wore him fresh clothes.

"You know Elle, I really don't want to be a burden to you. You should start considering Mr Gibbs. I would hate to see you end up lonely like your poor father here.

"You need a strong man to take care of you especially as I'm dying.

"Don't talk like that Pa. Mr Gibbs is a nice man but I don't feel that connection with him you know. Plus,I don't mind taking care of you" I said with a sad smile on my face.

My father made sense. He was dying and didn't want to leave me on my own but I could take care of myself.

My father was a warlock who used to practice ancient witchcraft called hoodoo. Hoodoo was a kind of witchcraft like the others but it was darker and sick. Those who practiced it were very dangerous and were to be feared.

My father used his hoodoo to maintain a healthy appearance so that he wouldn't age.

Once, long ago, my father was caught up in a war between the original vampire families, even before the council was created but he chose the wrong side.

In his moment of weakness, he was overtaken and defeated. The war was ended because he was defeated that day and his side lost.

Most of his magic was lost that day and the little magic he had left was barely enough to sustain him. His body has been deteriorating since then. More than 200 years have passed and very soon, his body will give up and he will die because all his magic sources will be depleted.

My father used to be the most evil and most powerful warlock of all times but now he's but a frail old man.

I can't hate him for being evil once. He's my father. Plus I guess I'm a little messed up too.

At the time my father and the vampires he served were defeated, I was but a baby. A baby born of a vampire mother and a warlock father.

I never knew who my mother was and my father never talked about her. I don't know why and I stopped asking by my 50th birthday. It was pointless.

My father might have been evil and took the lives of my innocent people but at least he was with me all along unlike her. My vampire mother didn't even care about me and just abandoned me with my father.

My father escaped with me to this village and we built a life here.

It didn't take long for the nosy human villagers to discover who he was and he was banned from their presence. They were kind,simple people so they didn't kill him. As his half vampire,half warlock dark skinned daughter, I was kept at arm's length and I grew up with barely any friends....shunned by the people I grew up to know.

Time passed and the stories of my father became a myth. Only few humans in the village still believed. Children were scared of him but I was allowed to go into the village allowing me to even make friends.

Funny how human behaviour changes with the passage of time.

I set up a little space in the village as a clinic where I worked as the village doctor alongside my best friend, Leatisia.

The family that caused the war,the ones my father served; the Fayas were banished for 250 years and were not given a seat on the council.

They were not killed. After all, they were an original family and they were sort of needed. It was hard to understand why. The other original families didn't see the need to explain why.

"Come along father you need to eat and take your medicines. Then your daily dose of sunlight. Your skin is getting pale." I said.

I fed my father some soup and bread I had prepared that morning and pushed his wheelchair outside under his favourite tree with a book on his lap.

"I'm going to the clinic. Aria will be here to take care of you." Aria was a sweet human girl who took care of my father when I wasn't around. She cooked, cleaned and did laundry when I was not able to. Her family owed a debt to mine as I saved her mother's life.

"Oh there she is" I exclaimed seeing her coming into our yard.

"Good morning Elle, good morning Mr Rivers" her chirpy voice greeted.

She was 14 and her mother was thinking of getting her married soon. This was the perfect opportunity for her to learn house work being a 7th daughter.

"Good morning Aria" my father's gruff voice called.

"Good morning Aria." I said.

"My father has had his bath and breakfast. I'm leaving for the clinic. Make sure he takes his afternoon medicine"

"You got it Elle" she replied happily.

"And let him not play one of his truck on you again" I teased.

She laughed. "Mr Rivers and I are friends now Elle. I'll be fine."

I kissed my father's cheek and left while waving at Aria.

"I'll see you guys later"

"Goodbye Elle" they chorused.