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Napoleon grabbed his partner’s arm so hard that it startled Illya. He turned to look, concerned, at him. “Napoleon, what’s wrong?”
“That man.” Napoleon indicated him with his eyes.
“The priest?” There was a man busy with a chalice in the vestry.
“That’s Father Michael.” Napoleon said with such finality that Illya was caught trying to match the man’s face with known THRUSH agents.
“I… I don’t recognize him, Napoleon. Is he THRUSH?”
“He’s worse than that.” He dragged his partner away to a bench beneath a tree. The sun was too hot to stand in it, but it was nice in the shade. “He’s a monster.”
“That’s an odd comment coming from you. Didn’t you go to school here?”
“That’s just it, Illya. Father Michael was one of my teachers.”
“Really?” Illya frowned, thinking back to the man’s features. “He’s held up well.”
“Illya, he looked like that when I was seven.”
“Really well then.”
“He hasn’t aged.” Napoleon studied the back of his hands. “We used to be terrified of him. It was rumored that if you were called to his office, terrible things happened.”
“Napoleon, are you saying he abused the children?” Illya voice had grown cold.
“Not… not like that.” He took a deep breath. “I can’t… I can’t talk about it here. Let’s head back to the hotel.”
“You’re going to miss your reunion. I thought that’s the reason you came.”
“And also to put old ghosts to bed, but I’m not sure that is going to happen now.” He watched Father Michael move deeper into the church.
“Very well, but I will expect a full explanation.”
Illya toyed with his spoon for a long moment. “A vampire?”
“It’s the only explanation.” Napoleon took a deep breath. “He looks exactly the same, Illya, as he did when I was seven.”
“Could it be possible that you were simply deluding yourself into thinking anyone over 18 as old, as is often the case with children?”
“He started teaching here when my parents were younger. Mom said he looked the same then as now.”
“I doubt that.” Illya reached for his wine glass. “Perhaps it was another Father Michael.”
“After we left the school, I paid Mom a visit and found her yearbook. He took a torn page from his coat and set it in front of Illya. The caption read, St. Theresa’s welcomes Father Michael. The image was of the man they had seen that very afternoon.
“So he ages well.”
“Illya, he would be in his late 90’s now. The man we saw was not in his 90’s.”
“A son, then.”
“Hello? Priest?”
“It’s been known to happen. Or perhaps a younger cousin.” Illya continued to read. “It said that he was coach of the baseball team.”
“So?”
“Wouldn’t that mean he have to be in the sun? Vampires can’t be in the sun.”
“Maybe he’s a special kind of vampire.”
“Possibly from Malibu or Miami,” Illya joked. “Napoleon, I’m not trying to make light of your concern, but there has to be a better explanation than he’s a vampire. I mean, I’m not keen on the sun and I’m not a vampire.”
“That’s true…”
“May I join you?”
Napoleon spun at the sound of the voice and he instantly got to his feet. “Father Michael.”
“Well, Father Michael three dot oh, I’m afraid. May I sit down?”
“Of course,” Illya said, gesturing to a chair, partially in the now setting sun
“Excuse me?”
“My grandfather talked of you, Mr. Solo. Apparently, you gave him quite the run for his money.”
“Grandfather?” Napoleon sunk back to his own chair.
“Yes, you knew him as Father Michael, but he left the priesthood soon after you graduated and married my grandmother. Dad followed in his footsteps, but then also left to marry. I just started teaching here last year and have been told how much I resemble them both.” He laughed and turned his face to the sun. “It’s feels good to get out the church, if only for a few minutes.”
“Would you like to join us for a drink, Father?” Illya smiled and winked. “I’d love to hear some of the old stories about my partner.”
“Well, perhaps a small one. I have Evening Prayer soon.”
Napoleon got back up, still looking a bit concerned. “I’ll get them. Illya, the same again? Father, what will you have?”
“A small Crème de menthe? I like sweet things. It keeps my dentist busy.” He grinned widely.
Napoleon nodded and walked quickly away.
“Did he believe you?” Father Michael asked quietly.
“He will.” Illya drained his glass. “He’s a good partner and while I’d like to share the truth with him, well, he is only mortal.”