The Bishop Legacy: Chapter 2, Generation 2: Guilt
Authors Note: Hello everyone! This chapter is a bit later out than planned, mostly because I’ve been preparing for future updates, so it’s a bit late and is also quite jumpy. However, I still hope you read and enjoy!
*Mild Language. Read at your own discretion.*
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Last time… The Bishop’s left Bridgeport behind and decided to move on in Sunset Valley. However this meant Dane had to leave his band mates behind as well as Skye leaving her friends but most importantly her bestie Miles behind and Isaac was delighted at the destruction of his nightmarish doll. Finally, Dane killed Lee to protect his family from his abuse.
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To say I was happy to be acquitted of Lee’s murder as self-defence would be wrong.
For I still had the guilt of murdering a man, a terrible man, but a man nonetheless.
Every minute of every day it tore at me, following me like a shadow, leaving me sleepless.
And so I pranked houses, by throwing eggs.
And drank…
…then drank some more…
Even stealing things such as cars, even taking a joy-ride.
I ran wild around town beyond curfew too. All I wanted was some punishment for the guilt I felt.
Then coming home late in the night, looking at Dakota and Bella’s sweet, innocent eyes- a reminder of how innocent I once was, and was not at that moment.
Then one day…
The signal of the dogs barks told me that my mother was coming in.
“Dane, I need a word with you.” My mum said with a serious look and her eyes studying me intently.
“Okay.” I replied wallowing in my depression of sorts.
My knee jerk reaction however was the opposite as I jumped off my bed and tried to escape.
But my mum countered me by a swift movement to block it off.
“There is no running away son.” She shouted angrily. “I need you to tell me what’s going on.” she continued.
“Please son just tell me. I don’t want anymore police cars, and I don’t want to smell alcohol in your breathe. Your this close to going to Young Offenders Institute.”
“Right mum, whatever.” I said trying to ignore her and the truth.
“Please son, please.” She was so close to tears.
“Okay, mum I will tell you all.” I promised her, maybe it was time to face my issues.
“I’m so sorry, mum.” I said, thinking to myself “What am I doing?”
“It’s okay.” she told me back, a lot calmer as she tried to soothe as I had once done with her.
And so I told her everything.
“Oh son. You could have told me.” She reassured me to show she would support me. “We can get you a councillor if you want.” she added.
“Sure, I would like that” I answered cheerily, knowing I would be sorting out my issues.
“Come here son.” she chirped in her normal happy self as she responded to my reply with a hug which I accepted.
That night I fell into a lovely slumber.
And so for the first time in weeks I had a good nights sleep.
“Why hello there brother, long time no see.” I heard my brother Isaac jokingly mock me."
“Shut up, Zac.” My sister Skye interrupted him.
“Come on Dane, speak to me.” Isaac then spoke loudly.
“No brother you hurt my feelings.” I jokingly replied.
“Oh you guys.” Skye chirped.
“Glad to have you back bro.” My brother then spoke.
“For once our brother is right.” My sister laughed, as did I.
All was good again.
The day of my first counselling came and to be honest I was extremely nervous. I didn’t want some guy in a crappy tweed suit examine me form head to toe.
I struggled to keep my composure as he entered the room yet his first words immediately put me at ease.
“Hi, I’m Mr. Montgomery but I guess you would rather call me Oliver.” His words had a calming effect on me.
First impressions were that he was pretty cool, although something was rather peculiar about him.
“May I take a seat?” He asked politely.
“Sure” I responded kindly.
“So I have a different approach then most councillors. I tend to work on a question for a question. You may go first if you want, Dane.”
“So are you a vampire?” I questioned him. It was the elephant in the room. I knew of the existence of vampires from my father’s stories.
“Why yes I am.” He seemed a bit surprised at my query, but was honest. “What gave it away the fangs, eyes or complexion.”
“All three really.” I laughed back. “So what happened, how did you well…”
“Well long story short, I was a rich person, went into a bankruptcy, was down in the gutters, bitten, and then saved by vegetarian vampires. Killed a couple humans, well three, but for 95 years been on the straight and narrow growing plasma fruit and able to get some blood form the hospital when I get cravings.” He regaled his tale to me.
“"Now my turn, do you feel guilty now, I mean I‘m more of a monster than you or Lee, perhaps the bastard… it depends on the circumstances and you did it in self-defence to protect your family.”
“Well when you think of it that way, your right.”
And so we chatted more and more about our feelings and thoughts etc.
“One final question Oliver, could we be like friends.”
“Why sure we can, if you want.”
“So let’s conclude this meeting, Dane. You know we can chat if you ever need too.”
“Cool, see you Oliver.”
“Be careful though” He gave me a stark warning, not from him but from the threat of vampires as a whole. Dad told me not all vampires are so nice and well… vegetarian.
“Sure” I exclaimed “I’ll be fine, I promise.” I added trying to assure him.
And so with that our meeting was over.
That didn’t mean my work was over, me and Oliver decided it would be a good idea to give back to the community after my previous actions. And so I chose to busk for money. We had also agreed that half would go to charity whilst the other half would pay my fines.
It wasn’t just that that made me feel better, knowing I could correct my mistakes.
It was strumming the melodies and singing a song, it had a soothing effect on me. Music was my true calling. Me and my guitar are one and the same.
Oliver also suggested to me that I should properly grieve over my dead father. He said that perhaps my act of self-defence also awoke the guilt I had for sending my father into the burning house of hell.
“I’m proud of you son.”
I heard him whisper that to me, like he was there…
“I’m so proud.”
I could feel a presence behind me not just his voice. Well if vampires exist then perhaps ghosts and spirits do too.
It was always peaceful when I visited him and heard his voice. And as every visit passed so did time too…
And soon enough I was 18, an adult and ready to spread my wings.
Watch out world, here comes Dane Bishop!
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