Bloodborn (sequel to 'Lucky 13')

Chapter 35: Regret

Third person's POV

Marianne was standing in the middle of the hallway, she hadn't moved since Vernon had entered the house. She didn't feel like moving, she didn't care about moving.

"Mom," Esmee said as she walked to her mother, placing her hand on Marianne's shoulder. "What happened?"

Marianne shrugged.

Esmee sighed before looking up. "Have you see Catherine?"

Marianne shook her head. "I heard several noises though," She wiped her tears away. "It sounded like things were being moved."

Esmee frowned. "I'll check it out." She then went upstairs and opened every door, checking where the noise had come from. When she found the source of the noise, she gasped. "Emily, what have you done?"

Emily was seated on the ground, arms folded, while all around her were her toys: broken and destroyed.

Esmee walked to Emily. "Hey," She caressed Emily's little face. "What happened?" She felt a bit stupid for asking that question since she knew what had happened. But, judging by the mess in the room, it was clear the conversation with Catherine didn't go well...

Emily looked up at Esmee. "Mommy gone," Tears streamed down her face. "Knaoqgog."

Esmee gulped. She didn't know how or why Emily decided to blame Vernon, but she couldn't really disagree either. "Why do you think it's his fault?"

Emily shrugged.

"You can't blame him for no reason." She said, despite not agreeing with what she was saying.

Emily looked at Esmee. "He run," She shook her head. "Leave mommy."

Esmee sighed before showing an apologetic look at Emily. "I know," She pulled Emily up and put her on her lap. "But your mommy tried saving you, and your knaoqgog only obeyed her orders." Esmee then looked away, she stopped to think about what she had just said. It was true: Vernon only did what Lily had demanded him to do, he saved Emily, yet he gets the blame...

"Want mommy," Emily said quietly. "Where she?" She asked but made no attempt to look for Lily, instead, she went to hug Esmee.

And to Esmee, it was clear that Emily was seeking comfort. She assumed Emily missed the comfort and safety of her mother and, since Catherine didn't seem to give that to Emily, she looked for it elsewhere. But Esmee wasn't going to deny her. Esmee pulled Emily closer, hugging her. "She'll always be with you, Emily," She sighed. "I promise."

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Vernon gulped as he witnessed the conversation between Esmee and Emily. Whenever Emily would open her mouth to ask about her mother, it would make his heart break more. And it would make his guilt only grow more.

He walked away, back downstairs, and saw Marianne seated on the couch. He walked to her and sat down next to her. He sighed but didn't say anything.

Marianne looked at him, she still wasn't sure how she felt towards him. Should she hate him for what he had done or should she feel bad for what he had done?

He looked down. "I ruined everything, Marianne," He sighed deeply, covering his face for a few moments before letting go. "I could've had the most amazing life with Lilian and Catherine," He then sighed. "And Lilian and I could've met Lily at a formal dinner, went to Catherine's wedding, and to the birth of our grandchild..." He then looked down even more. "I ruined everything."

Marianne looked down too now. She didn't know what she should say. Should she comfort him or simply stay quiet? Neither felt right to her. "You were sick, Vernon."

He nodded while wiping his nose. "My bloodline, my own forms betrayed me and made me do the worst thing possible."

Marianne looked away, she was on the verge of crying yet again. Just thinking back at the moment she encountered Vernon's Bloodborn form eating her sister... It still tormented her until this very day.

"Marianne," He said, gaining Marianne's attention slowly. "I never meant to hurt or kill Lilian, I loved her more than life itself. If there was anything I could do to bring her back, I would in an instant."

"I know." She breathed out.

Vernon looked down again. "I just wanted to say this to you, so you know."

Marianne then looked at him, and she wondered: what was he planning? Why did this seem as if he wouldn't return? "What just happened?"

Vernon looked at Marianne. "I just needed to get that off of my chest, moments like this help to remind you how precious life is."

Marianne carefully nodded, still unsure why he was talking about all these things.

He slowly nodded before getting up and leaving the living room. He walked through the house and managed to find the room he was looking for.

"Leave us," He said to the nurses who were working on preparing the body for the funeral. "Go." He ushered them out and closed the door.

He looked at Lily's lifeless body. He immediately spotted the 8 nasty stab wounds which were stitched perfectly but to no avail.

"Hey Lily," He walked to her bedside. "Everyone has been blaming me for your death," He looked down, shaking his head. "I can't disagree with them."

He looked at Lily and couldn't help but feel so bad about this. It felt like such a waste. Why did she have to go? She was too young... And she'd leave her daughter behind...

"Emily needs you, she can't count too much on Catherine," Vernon sighed. "My daughter and granddaughter need you, they don't need me anymore."

He caressed her left arm, the one closest to him, his left hand went down to get a hold of her hand. 

He then felt her wedding ring and couldn't help but let out a content sigh. "I've dreamed about seeing Lilian for years. I've dreamed about holding her, about kissing her, about being with her but, most of all, about loving her again."

He then looked down and whispered: "Hima wisu." Then he looked up at Lily, pulled her wrist close to him and bit deeply into her veins.