Things unraveled pretty quickly after the situation with Michael and Alberto. Anna went to Michael’s mother, to smooth things over, and found she had little knowledge of what had gone on. She initially vowed revenge against me for killing her son, and I can’t blame her for that. But the details were undeniable, and when she looked into exactly what had happened over the past twenty years she accepted that the blame lay entirely at Michael’s door. Things came out that I’m sure Michael would have kept buried for a long time; things about how he manipulated the situation like some sort of mafia don.
“There one more thing…” I stop as we approach the back door of the estate, the windows glowing with candlelight.
“What?” Rudolf crosses his arms over his black suit, and again the oddness of us both taking these long walks dressed so formally seems perfectly natural now.
“I know that Seleme and I are bonded. Together, in every sense of the word. But, like her mother, there is a human part of her too. I need to care for that as much as I care for her other half. The half you gave her.”
“I think I know what you are going to say. I was meaning to talk to you about this as well.”
“I want to marry Seleme. A ceremony. White dress. Tuxedos. Whatever she wants. I need to give that to her. I want your blessing.”
He nods. “Of course. You have it, no question. However, it’s ironic because I wanted to show you this this morning.” He uncrosses his arms, reaches a hand inside his suit jacket and brings forward his closed hand. “I’ve been thinking you should make a honest woman out of her.”
When he opens it, I swallow hard and raise my eyebrows. “That’s stunning.”
“It’s been in my family for so long, I don’t remember exactly how old it is. I want you to have it, to give to Seleme as her engagement ring.”
In his upturned palm the blood red ruby is nearly the size of a quarter, encircled with a halo of diamonds, and I hold back the chuckle as I think of Seleme’s tiny hand wearing such a monster of a ring.
“That is an amazing and generous gesture, Rudolf. I’m grateful.” I clear my throat and choose my next words carefully. “You have become more than Seleme’s father to me. I respect you and appreciate all you have done for me. But…” I take a deep breath. “I cannot accept this.”
I reach into my trouser pocket as disappointment clouds his face.
“Why not? You are part of the family already. This is not charity.”
I nod. “I understand, but I am a man. A man that wants and needs to provide for mine as you do yours. I know it must be hard, you’ve cared for Seleme as a father should. But it is my turn — as you’ve cared for Amber, I will care for your daughter.”
I pull out my hand, pinch the platinum band between my middle finger and my thumb, raising the ring so he can take it in. “This ring came to me. Look inside…” I lean the ring from side to side, hoping that, in the dim moonlight still left fighting with the sun, his eagle like vision will allow him see what I know is there.
“Where did you find this?” He takes it from me, holding it up in front of his face, and I can see in his eyes he understands.
“I was at the antique store, there was a woman there. At first, I didn’t take note of her. Seleme was picking out a new bed, driving the salesperson crazy as usual with her questions. I walked to the jewelry case, the woman was standing there and looked up at me and smiled. I smiled back, then I looked into her eyes.”
I pause, looking in the windows of the house where I see movement. Seleme’s silhouette glides behind the windows of the library on the second floor and just the sight of her still speeds my heart and thickens my cock.
“And?” Rudolf narrows his eyes.
“Her eyes were red.”
“Really? Who was she?”
“She didn’t say. She was old, I’m sure of it. Not that she looked old, but I sensed something in her. I know I’m new to all this, and age is kind of irrelevant to our kind, but something made me feel…”
“What?”
“That she could have been older than Anna.” I meet his eyes. “Is that possible?”
Rudolf shrugs. “I’ve given up trying to figure out what’s possible and what isn’t, Maxim. I trust your senses, if they tell you she was old then I believe she probably was. What did she tell you?”
“Nothing of any use. She just reached down, took my hand and pressed a small wooden box into it as she said, ‘I’ve been waiting.’ I asked her what she was waiting for. She smiled, looked over at Seleme, then back up at me and said, ‘For the next one. Look at the ring tonight, in the moonlight. You’ll know.’”