April 3, 2022 - Post-divorce [SOLO]

Note: This was written in March, but takes place in April.

 

A couple of months after the Blackwoods' divorce, Blaine Menchineel awoke to a knock at the office door. He had been sifting through the paperwork Fr. Blackwood had so considerately left him when moving across the damned country. Wearily, Blaine sat up and stretched. The knock sounded again, more insistently. Blaine stood and strode to the door. He threw it open with a look of annoyance, which softened as he saw who was standing on the other side of it.

"Lady— er, Freya!" he exclaimed, not bothering to hide his surprise. "What brings you here?"

"I have news," she said. "News my ex-husband will want to hear. What are you doing in his office, Blaine?"

"Eh, about that." Blaine scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you when we met, but I was transferred here to train as Blackwood's replacement. Antipope D'August recommended me."

Her eyebrows furrowed. "Then you're…?"

"Father Menchineel, yes. Ehm, what is this news you bring?"

She opened and closed her mouth, then opened it again and said, "Nothing of concern to this branch of the church. It's a personal matter between Faustus and I." She blushed, hoping that didn't sound too rude.

"He and Dorian have moved already," Blaine said reluctantly. She balked at the pity in his gaze. "He's put the plans for the new church on hold for the time being, as you were disinclined to accompany him. He… ehm… he's been declared a consort of his friend, the club owner."

Freya could feel the emotions swirling around inside her, bringing her to a state of teeth-chattering dizziness. "You mean Luci," she said. "And his husband— wife— whatever, approved this?"

"If there've been any protestations, I've heard nothing of it."

"You would have," Freya said darkly. "Bash isn't the type to handle replacement gracefully." The air around her crackled dangerously. "Even if he isn't being replaced. You would have heard something," she insisted. A flame burst forth from her, dissipating just before it reached the paperwork on Blaine's fine mahogany desk.

"Shall we take this conversation outside?" he offered. "Conjure you up some tea, perhaps?"

She agreed to follow him outside, but declined the tea. "I can't risk it. Certain herbs— the baby—" She clapped both hands over her mouth, blushing furiously.

Blaine said nothing, but silently conjured a quill and piece of parchment. He wrote a short note and sent it off with a wave of his hand. Within moments, Faustus materialized, frilled shirt pulled out of smart grey slacks, hair uncoiffed. When he saw his ex-wife, he straightened up a bit.

"Freya." His voice carried the barest hint of astonishment. "Yes, Father Menchineel said you need to see me. What for?"

At the sight of him, Freya had to work hard not to break down crying or throw a curse or a fireball at him, or launch herself at him and start beating his chest with her fists like a mortal woman.

"You— you left me in my state to go chasing after a man!" she spluttered, laying aside the fact that it had been she who had left him. "All your pretty promises to love me forever and cherish me! They were all lies, Faustus!"

The expression on Faustus's face made it clear he thought he could say the same for her. "You've had no trouble moving on," he said bluntly, inclining his head to Blaine. "Did you think I wouldn't know about you flirting with him?" he asked patiently, calmly.

"Do not patronize me so!" she snapped. "As if you didn't flirt with Luci all the time, and now you're LIVING with him! I can't believe you!"

"Is this why you had Father Menchineel summon me here?" Faustus asked. "To rehash the same old arguments yet again?"

"No, you ASS!" she snarled. "I'm with child!"

Faustus blinked once, twice, three times in rapid succession. "… Mine?" he asked. He neither ducked nor flinched when she slapped his face.

"Yes, YOURS!" she bellowed. "Whose else would it be? And don't you DARE cut your eyes to Blaine again! He and I were never more than friends!"

"Neither were Luci and I, till you chose to divorce me," Faustus pointed out.

"I… gave you EVERYTHING!" she raged. "My brother DIED so that I could be with you! You took my innocence, you took me away from my family! I loved you more than anything, but it still wasn't enough for you, was it? You lusted, you PINED after Luci, and Trent, and Luci's spouse and who KNOWS who else? You stopped protecting me from Nathaniel's insults long ago, and— and— you never deserved me, Faustus Blackwood!" she finished, with an impressive stomp of her little foot.

Faustus couldn't help a small chuckle from escaping him. As angry as she was, she still had a strangely endearing way about her.

"IT'S NOT FUNNY!" she roared, aiming a fireball at him. He mostly dodged it, but stumbled, and it singed his shoulder.

"I'll take my leave," Blaine said, bowing out quickly.

"I stopped defending you against Nathaniel because he stopped insulting you in malice," Faustus tried to explain. "I got the impression he was ribbing you, in a sort of— how do the mortals do it?— pulls her hair and runs away, manner. As for Serena, I've explained to you that I'd no intention of actually shagging her—"

"Have you?" Freya asked abruptly, cutting him off. "With either 'Serena' or Luci?" The discomfort on Faustus's face as he hesitated told her all she needed to know. She scoffed. "Of course you have."

"Not the way you're thinking," Faustus said placatingly. Freya narrowed her eyes at him.

"What other way is there?"

Faustus took a breath. "Serena— Sebastian— brings home girls who've flirted, yet doesn't sleep with those girls solo. Each young lady chooses someone she'd like Sebastian to share her with."

"Thank you. I don't require more details." Freya's lip trembled. "How often have you been that man?"

"Eh, three times," Faustus muttered, toeing the pavement uncomfortably. "As have the rest of us."

Freya was curious despite herself. "Who?"

Faustus sighed. "Luci, Maze, Trent, Nathaniel, Catherine, Helena, Dorian, Louis, and someone called Dan or Danny. Xander and Sigefrid have a talent for making themselves scarce when the girls show up."

Freya did some quick calculations in her head. "Thirty!?" she exploded. "Bash— Mr. 'I can't date Cat because I'm actually gay'— has brought home THIRTY WOMEN!? And you all SHARE them with him? That's disgusting, Faustus!"

"Yes, well, it turns out you've something in common with them," Faustus said dryly.

"What could I possibly—" Then it hit her. "Ohhhhhh…. No! Faustus! What the FUCK!?" She slapped him again, hard! "And how many of THOSE are yours!?"

"Easy, girl! I've pupped no-one," he said, raising his hands. "None other than you, and Constance when she lived, of course. They're all Sebastian's."

Her disbelieving scoff mirrored exactly the one he had uttered when he had learned the same.

"All thirty girls have gotten paternity tests, and each of the tests indicate Sebastian is the father."

"Wow. WOW. It's a good thing you never fucked him or you'd have probably, somehow, magically come up pregnant too."

"Don't be silly," Faustus said lightly. "He doesn't penetrate men."

"Except Trent."

"Yes, except Trent."

They shared an awkward sort of smile.

"Well, Freya, I'm happy to give you the support you need, but I would either require you to move to the ladies' flats with me—"

"Wait… What?" Freya tilted her head quizzically.

"Ah, yes, I've not explained. Sebastian bought an apartment complex for the mothers. Each of us has been assigned as caretaker for the women we shared with him, so therefore each of us is in charge of three units and three ladies. Actually, Luci declined to take care of his ladies and reassigned them to Xander."

"He compelled Xander?" Freya asked with interest.

"I was not present for that conversation, nor have I asked. Though I do seem to recall eavesdropping on Xander and Sebastian discussing raising a baby together, so it's likely he volunteered."

"Oh." Freya blew out a breath as she and Faustus sat down at the edge of a fountain. They sat in silence for a few minutes, then Faustus said,

"I know you've made connections here. This is an awkward situation with no clear resolution—"

"I could stay with Blaine and raise the baby here," she said quietly.

Faustus's mouth puckered. "If that is what you wish, why would you tell me about the baby in the first place?"

"I do not know." It was her turn to shift about awkwardly. "I thought it was the right thing to do. I don't know if that's what I want."

Another long pause. Then, "You've lands given to you in the settlement. The caretakers of the honeymoon castle in Prague, for example, would be more than happy to assist you. I'm not worried, Freya. You make friends wherever you go."

"I also make enemies," she pointed out. "People who hate me for no reason. Ursula. Nathaniel. In fact, if Nathaniel is living in the mothers' complex, I DON'T want to go there." She fisted a hand in her skirt angrily.

"He's fond of you," Faustus pointed out. "He was against the divorce."

"So I've heard." The set of Freya's jaw made it clear she didn't believe that. "He may be cute, but he was always a jerk to me. I'd never even consider someone like that." She gave a little harrumph and stuck her nose in the air, crossing her arms to emphasize her point.

Faustus smiled wistfully again. "You should get your rest," he said. "I'll stay with you." He took out his phone.

"What are you doing?"

"Texting George to have him take over my girls."

"There's no need. Father Menchineel can look after me." Was it a test or did she speak true?

Faustus gave her a long look. "I shall stay," he repeated. "Father Menchineel has paperwork to see to. He has Ambrose's help, but I imagine they're overwhelmed even so."

Freya scoffed. "That must be the lamest excuse I've ever heard."

"So be it."