London

 

An English breakfast at The Bull and Hide. The first morning. 

The first photo showed a snapshot of Agnes seated across from him presumably, with a full plate set in front of her as if freshly delivered to the table. Her eyes were cast somewhere out of the frame of the photo.

The second photo, taken in vertical format, depicts Dominic seated across from her with a fork in hand, seconds before looking mortified that the photo had been taken. 

Well, the photo was peaceful in the least. Despite his protest, for some reason, it wasn't omitted either.

The Millenium Bridge is seen where Dominic clearly (and begrudgingly) obliged to the photo-taking. 

In the first photo of the two, Agnes is looking toward the camera. She poses beside the railing as pedestrians walk past in the distance. 

The second has her head turned, arguably more comfortable. The breeze caught her hair ever-so-slightly as she looked off to the other end of the river.

Beneath the lion sculpture's feet of Buckingham Palace, the photo was snapped while moving and shows subtle signs of it. Following his phone call with Spencer, he had snapped the shot of her leaning against the stone pedestal of the bronze statue in front of the palace fountain.

One of many cafes that Dominic dragged Agnes through. The Wash House. Cafes were frequent even when alone in London; it was a place to sit down, reflect, and watch the world for a moment (Not to mention making sure his company was eating).

Agnes sat with a bowl of chowder in the half-empty cafe, seeming thoughtful. They had the orchestra ahead of them that evening.

The outside of The Bull and Hide as they returned. 

In the photo, Agnes is walking slightly ahead of him in motion, dialed in for the door as they went up to get ready for their orchestra plans for the night.

The Barbican Centre. The photo is slightly obscured from the dark contrast and the limits of the disposable camera but shows the silhouettes of the two as if he took them at an angle, holding the camera out. Agnes' attention is turned down to the pamphlet. Dominic himself was smiling from what could be made out. It was undoubtedly the beginning of the night.The tickets are placed beside the photo, as well as a show bill from the London Symphony Orchestra is tucked within this page when opened.

Downing Street's historic district is seen in the distance as the walk. The scenery and statues up ahead note that they hadn't yet crossed paths with "Fox" or rather, Sarah.

The shot is a waist-up photo of Agnes looking off to the side. With how her arm is bent, she had a hand laced through the crook in Dominic's arm.

Regent's Park Was Agnes' selection. The Japanese Gardens there were first on their path; he thought it a pleasant change from the conversations that had led them from Downing Street. This photo was more or less a shot of the scenery with the wooden bridge ahead of them. Agnes' back was turned as she walked ahead of him just a fraction. It wasn't too much further down the pathway that she had stopped to speak.

A sight from the British Museum was snapped no matter the building's rules. Agnes was leaning in toward the guard rails of one of the exhibits with her hands behind her back. They had the time to spend in the museum without threat; it was something they hadn't been given at the MET.

 

 

 

 

The next two photos were snapshots by Agnes as the camera changed hands. The first depicted the castle up ahead as they took their afternoon walk through the castle grounds. The sky was a slate gray color. The only figure in the shot was presumably Dominic from behind with a hood drawn over his head.

The second photo showed the white cliff base off in the distance from the trail they had walked. The disposable film could hardly compare to the sight of the sunset in person from where they had watched the evening come to a close.

When one of their elderly hosts asked if a photo was wanted, for once Dominic obliged. The final smaller photo took up the page in its entirety without any handwriting to explain. The spur-of-the-moment photo showed them outside the sleepy bed and breakfast in Dover.

Through The Vents

“You brought a shifter into my house.”

“You have my full confidence that it wouldn’t be a problem.”

“-and you decided to omit this from me?”

“Would she have been given a chance, if I had spoken of it?”

“You will mind your tongue.”

“I should have spoken. I’m sorry... She has my trust, I swear to you.”

“I had a visit from Abram the previous night. I have it in the right mind that he was looking for you.”

“Then he would have told you that we crossed paths in the Barbican Centre?”

“He did.”

“Do you think that Luciene would come back here after all these years, to London of all places?”

“I have reason to believe she has. Abram now suspects something of you.”

“...”

“Did you see her that night?”

“No. I only saw Abram… and when he catches her, what do you think he will do?”

“Time will tell, but this is no time nor place to discuss it, mind you.”

“You came to my house this evening in withdrawal. Why is this?”

“I fully intended to hunt that night before the orchestra’s disturbance.”

“Why did you not still after?”

“Frankly I knew he might go searching for me afterward. If that was the case I didn’t want to be outside the city. I didn’t want to leave Agnes alone.”

“-And what of Agnes?”

“What do you m-”

“Don’t insult me.”

“I haven’t forgotten… and it won’t happen.”

“You are treading down a path we have been down before, I should not need to forewarn you.”

“I won’t let it be.”

“What is she to you?”

“.......”

“...”

“......”

“If you truly love something, you let it take on the form that it needs to be. No matter if that is the form you want.”

"...I understand."

 

“We haven’t yet come to the reason I called on you this evening.”

“...what is it then?”

"Our newer arrival is nearing his time."

"From what I heard he is quite young... younger than Luciene, isn't he?"

"He is. Vittoria has projected that he will join us in the house in the coming years."

"And his mentor..?"

"..."

"....."

"..."

"...No."

"...I am afraid so."

"No... so soon? I can't possibly be the next-" Dominic had risen out of his seat.

"Yes. Lucienne has been absent for years now. She couldn’t be trusted with a pupil even if the Headmistress lets her walk. I needn't remind you of Nikolaj's passing."

"Aasir, I-"

"That leaves you."

"There has to be another option! I can’t handle my own bloody self but how can I-"

"Enough."

"......"

"You have maintained yourself in the largest city in the North American continent. Did you think that she would not be observant of this?"

"Aasir I can’t. It means returning to England, everything I have ever worked for-"

“Do you think there were no sacrifices I made to keep the blood off your hands?” Aasir stood himself, and Dominic's presence grew nonexistent in the room.

“.....”

"Did you truly think she would let you stray for as long as you have without consideration?"

“......”

“You have time to process this... I am letting you know just as I have heard wind of it. You will not bring this knowledge to Vittoria’s attention.”

“... How long?”

“Hm?”

“How long, until…?”

“It could be three to five years. I see no longer. Her decision will be final when it comes to being."

“...”

"It is your duty and right of passage to the Coven. There is no option. this is your duty. You will have my guidance as you always have."

"...I understand."

"Go hunt. Take your time to process this. We will talk when you return."