He then continued to say, "My mother was a different case, Penelope. She loves us too much. Her family was something she valued above all but even though it was love, it was toxic and the woman didn't know about it. She didn't realize what it was doing to her husband, her children or people around her," his thumb rubbed the top of her hand, "My father is a quiet man but he wasn't always very quiet. My mother didn't like any person trying to take time for her family. She wanted it to be just four of us. Once she had gone as far as to threaten him by killing herself."
"I thought pureblooded vampires can't die easily," she commented for him to nod.
"There are some orthodox ways of the first generation pureblooded vampires where one can commit suicide. It is a long process but it is possible. The more the generation grows, the bottom chain of the pureblooded vampires only turns weaker which makes it possible to kill them easily. There might be a day when a pureblooded vampire will walk equally as the human, like a mortal but those are only predictions with no justifications," he said before speaking again after a pause, "You should be able to understand the tolerance level of my father to be able to handle my step-mother who looks like an ant compared to my mother's manipulative tantrums," even though Damien spoke about the true nature of his mother, she could tell that he didn't hate his mother.
"Maggie turned to this person who played safe around people while also wanting approval from our mother which she didn't often get. With me, you know about the corruption. My mother wasn't a good woman but she was a mother who wanted to live up to her expectations. Your mother falls under a different category."
Of course, she knew that. Her mother was on a whole different level where no one would be able to compete with her. Had she always been like that? Spiteful with her sister and her adopted family. What about her father then?
"Do you think she killed my father?" Penny asked thoughtfully, wondering if it was possible. Why was she killing her now when there were days and years to do it? It seemed like only her mother could answer that and for that, she had to find her. Damien didn't answer her question and instead looked pensive, "Can we go to the church?" she asked him.
"Now?" he saw her nod, "Change your clothes."
Thankful, she draped her hands around his neck.
"Thank you, Damien." She couldn't tell how much she appreciated his words and presence around her. If it weren't for him being next to her, the things she had come to learn recently would have driven her mad and in circles. Him being here brought a certain sense of rea.s.surance in her mind where she didn't have to worry.
"You can always count on me," Damien said, hugging her back, "If not for anyone in this d.a.m.ned world, you will always have me no matter what," Penny's eyes closed, her emotions again starting to come up in her eyes.
Changing her clothes to something more suitable which wasn't thin, she wore the coat before Damien came to her to put a thick scarf around her neck, "Ready?" he asked her where he only wore an overcoat upon his the clothes he had been wearing in bed. Unbothered in wanting to look presentable to the people outside the mansion.
"Ready," Penny answered him. Putting her hand in his and in an instant, the room was left alone and empty with the couple who had disappeared into thin air.
Both Damien and Penny zapped inside the church without waiting to walk in from the outside. The last thing they needed was someone catching them appearing right in front of the church or seeing them walk towards the couch, which would only appear to be suspicious as it was the time of midnight now.
They walked down the aisle to find Father Antonio who was sitting on his knees praying at the chapel at this hour of the night. Sensing the presence of the two beings inside the church, the man's eyes opened to turn and look over his shoulders to find Damien and Penelope walking towards him.
"What are you praying for, Father Antonio?" Damien questioned the man as they found him praying in the middle of the night.
"I wasn't expecting anyone in this hour of the night. It is quieter at this hour than any other," Father Antonio stood up, dusting his clothes and turning towards the couple.
"The church is quite enough. Are you waiting for time to seize?" Damien asked the priest to give a smile.
"Humans call it to be the hour of the devil but this is the hour where the windows and the door open to many possibilities. Good and bad," the father answered, looking at the attire he gave them a suspicious look to say, "It seems that you have arrived for something important. What is the pressing matter?" he asked Damien.
"It isn't I but her who looks for answers from you," Damien looked at Penny who had a grave expression on her face.
Father Antonio turned to look at Penelope, tilting his head in wonderment as to what the girl was looking for. She had been coming to the church to learn about white witches, the potions that they made which were used as medicines and the history of the white witches from the dungeons and the secret room. Father Antonio had placed her in Sister Jera's hands so that she could learn from her as he was often busy greeting and protecting the church from people who visited here.