Chapter Text
A warm night, which was abnormal in this area. Eris was huffing and puffing on the grass nearby. He liked skinship very much and always jumping around Nova, clinging to her shoulder but he had been keeping his distance all day because of the heat. Nova didn't like the feelings this weather had stirred up. Her familiar wasn't the only one irritated by this heat. It wasn't summertime yet the Earth was already boiling.
Plucking the grass that grew under her flower bed, she couldn't help but worry about moving, and about the fact that she still didn't know where their new home would be. There were more and more Vampires in this area, the new Church pastor had been more active too and yesterday Eris told her he saw an Animamorph that looked suspicious in the town they went to restock.
Except for the occasional longing for her two loved ones and the old friends in the Incineration Alliance, she loved the freedom this life brought. Eris was happy too. At some point, she asked him if he ever felt lonely, if he regretted running away with her. His answer surprised her. He told her he didn't miss his old life at all. The adventure he had in the wilderness was enough to keep him from getting bored and the home Nova made was all he needed. Onyx and Tallis didn't choose her, but Eris did and always would. He knew the Time Catcher would always choose him too. The bond between a familiar and their fideliar was sacred. They had fun when he pretended to be an ordinary animal to steal treats from the store. (Nova indulged his guilty pleasure but always paid for the treat he took.) They also went hunting together from time to time: Nova set up the trap, then Eris danced to woo rabbits into it.
The temperature suddenly dropped, like an iceberg crashing down on them, the night suddenly became very cold and very dark. This darkness was so familiar. She thought. The wave of recognition hit her.
"Lucien! Is he here?"
The thought was only formed for the split of a second but his voice was already in her head.
"Oui, c’est moi. Bonne soirée, Mademoiselle Time Catcher."
When the darkness dispersed, Lucien appeared in front of her. He looked as dashing as ever and wore a formal outfit she saw for the first time.
"Thank you for the compliment. This is my clan's official outfit. It looks very good on me, doesn't it?"
Nova called out to the Source. Her amber eyes were glowing and Eris jumped on his feet, prepared to attack at any moment.
“What are you doing here?”
She said the words out loud.
“I’m here to visit my old friend and catch up with her.”
Catching her hint, this time Lucien also said the words out loud. He wanted her to understand that he came here out of good will. He knew that she didn't want to be found and this unexpected visit was very dangerous for him. The Vampire might be the most powerful pieces of the World, but could an “ordinary" Vampire compete against the Time Catcher who was the Source’s vessel? And if Constantino found out about this, his fangs would be a decoration of an expensive painting in his Patriarch’s mansion.
With her eyes still glowing like the Sun, Nova looked him in the eyes, trying to detach even a hint of falseness. Finding none, she signaled Eris to calm down and walked to the house. After a few seconds, Lucien followed her.
"What do you want to drink? You're in luck, I just restocked yesterday.”
“I will have any drink you offer.”
"Herbal tea is it then.”
Nova brought two mugs of tea and set one in front of the Vampire. In all five minutes the Time Catcher went to make the drinks, her familiar was guarding their house, staring hostilely at the uninvited guest. If Eris sensed even a hint of danger, he wouldn't hesitate to do whatever it takes to protect his fideliar.
The house was modest and simple, like a vintage cottage which reminded Lucien of his childhood friend’s home. The wall was filled with Nova’s painting of the landscape and of Eris. There was a big bookshelves filled with geology books and all kinds of novels. They sat face to face around her small table, Eris nested leisurely on his fideliar’s lap.
"You have a very lovely home.”
“I would have said thank you for the compliment if I didn't want to know why you are here, Lucien.”
Lucien smirked, his silver fangs glistening in the night.
“How did you find me?”
The Vampire didn't say anything but staring at a painting on his left side. Nova followed his gaze. Her blood turned cold.
“You know, I always think if I hadn't been a soldier or in a Vampire clan, I would devote my time to astronomy."
There were all the hints she needed. Her paintings. Eris chirped. He was worried too.
Last winter, Nova gave one of her landscape paintings as the payment for some of their food because she couldn't grow anything. Many animals were hibernating so her hunting with Eris wasn't enough to feed them either. Yes, Nova had the Source’s power, but she didn't want to abuse the Source power to change the environment and she never stole or cheated anyone out of their works.
“Onyx and Tallis recognize your work but they don't know the location. I, on the other hand,... You should be more careful, Mademoiselle Time Catcher.”
The misty night air closed in on the Time Catcher. All kinds of thoughts were fighting in her head. The most intimidating thoughts. The Magisterium. The Vampire. The Incineration Alliance. The Animamorphs. Her Animamorphs. The undiluted feelings of her love had resurfaced again. Eris rubbing his nose against her palm. He felt all the emotions bubbling up inside her and tried to comfort her.
“Who else knows about my location?”
“No one but me. I wanted to see you on my own first.”
“Really, Lucien? Answer me this question honestly: Why are you here?”
“Honestly, I don't know, Nova. Maybe I’m curious about how your life turned out, or maybe nostalgic of our friendship?”
Nova decided to relent. He had success in making her nostalgic too. For all the time they had known each other, he never pressured her into choosing sides, he also was the only one who didn't judge her when Vesper told them she was a spy for the Church. Besides, she and Eris would move soon. In fact, she had prepared all the spells to pack their belongings and only needed to choose the location of their new home.
“You can stay, if you agree not to talk about anything related to the War.”
Lucien smiled at Nova, a sincere smile. His features hadn't changed at all, his eyes still bright with silver light.
They spent hours talking about her reclusive life in the countryside, his human years, art, history, geology and astronomy. Lucien kept his words. A few times they almost strayed from their mutually agreed subjects, he quickly steered the conversation back.
Before dawn, Lucien had to leave. As a gentleman, he bowed slightly to kiss her hand. He had hardly touched the back of her hand before closing his eyes and roaring in pain. The Source’s power reached out. An explosion of thousands of Moon tides.
Just one small touch. No one knew that she couldn't function properly a year after finding the Source. The fight in the museum almost four years ago exhausted Eris like all other members in the Incineration Alliance. After calming down, Nova tried her best to contact Eris but it almost got her clutched to succeed. And it took Eris months to find her because their connection and her Presence were severely overridden by the Source's power.
Eris ran and hid behind the chair. He was scared. He still remembered her “outbursts” the first few months he was with her. But this “outburst” was more powerful than any other one before it. Timidly, he peaked his head to look at his fideliar. A pair of hands grabbed him and darkness surrounded the ermine.
Nothing prepared Nova for the immense pain she got with Lucien’s touch. She saw all his life flash before her eyes: dining with his parents, hanging out with friends, going to war, meeting his wife, becoming a Vampire, separating from his wife, joining forces to find the Source, going to war again after the Vampire killed her adoptive father, negotiating with the Incineration Alliance, cleaning up the consequences of a clash between the Vampire and the Order of the Light…
The last image she saw when he barely took her hand was beyond her worst nightmare: A spring night, along with many corpses on the bloody street of Rome, lay an Animamorph. A Raven Animamorph. Lucien was one of those who arrived in the aftermath. There was a clash between the Vampire and the Order of the Light. Rick and Tallis were on reconnaissance duty and got caught in it.
"I’m so sorry Nova. I was late and couldn't save him."
These were Lucien's thoughts when he said her goodbye. The pain kept coming as those endless waves in the ocean under the Moon’s influence. The Time Catcher could see nothing but Tallis and Onyx. Their short time together constantly played inside her. The touches, the long conversations, the kisses, the intimacy. If she tried hard enough, maybe she could truly turn back time and live in these moments forever. The Time Catcher called for the Source inside her, wishing to be lost in time forever. The Source answered its vessel and let her into the Halls of Time, where she first met Emiliano.
The next night, Lucien took Eris back to the Time Catcher’s home. The house was reduced to rubbish. They didn't find Nova, only a few lucky books and paintings that miraculously survived. Eris could still sensed his fideliar’s Presence, but he knew she wouldn't be back. Lucien helped the ermine dig around for a long time to find Nova’s most cherished painting. It was a painting of Onyx, Tallis and Eris peacefully sleeping on the Time Catcher’s bed back in the Nest.