POP MEETS ACE WAGNER-E

Ace walked into the house and could not help but wonder how could a house this big be concealed from plain sight. He remembered seeing thick trees but to his amazement a complete 3-bedroom house appeared out of the blue.

Grandpa Jones motioned Ace to sit on a sofa. He sat and looked around him. It was painted in soft muted colour, no doubt to reflect Astrid's choice. He saw books and some old parchment on the dining table, but Enlil was gathering them to arrange into a room. He could not see what was inside the room, as it was away from his view.

Astrid left for the kitchen and brought forward 4 glasses of water. He drank the water and smacked him lips with the back of his hand. Grandpa Jones was eyeing him like a hawk. Astrid sat next to him keeping some distance and pop glared at her.

`I am Grandpa Jones', he grunted after a long silence between Ace and him.

`I am Ace Wagner', he put his hand forward and Pop shook it firmly.

Pop went down straight to business, while Enlil went to cook in the kitchen. `Why were you spying on us? Why didn't you ask Astrid directly? Why are you keen on finding out about our house? And why were you kissing my granddaughter? Do you love her or this is just a fling for you?',

Ace went quiet at the sudden barrage of questions thrown at him. He glanced at Astrid who was eyeing him curiously. Ace Wagner took her left hand and tangled their fingers. She blushed at his gesture, finding consolation in his large hands.

`I apologize for the sudden display of affection, sir. I promise it will not occur again in your presence. I like Astrid..a lot. More than I thought I did. We are just going with our flow. And I am hoping for a long-term relationship with her'.

`My other questions?', Grandpa Jones folded his arms and stared at Ace.

`A few days back, Astrid had a dream and it spooked her. I could not decipher most of it, but I just wanted her to be safe. So, I put my people to trail her and Enlil. And it led to my being caught. Again, my mistake. I am sorry if I offended you'. Ace ran his hand through his tousled hair.

`You could have asked me, Ace. You don't trust me', Astrid spoke to him.

`Astrid, you and Enlil kept me in the dark about this guy and refuse to tell me anything about him. How do you think I felt? And don't tell me you knew Enlil long enough to trust him but not me?', Ace faced her and demanded answers.

`You avoid telling me about your eyes changing colour', Astrid was upset as well as angry.

`Time out you both. Answers available from me. Follow me to the kitchen', Enlil came up to them and motioned them to the kitchen. He did not want them to argue in front of Jones.

Enlil assigned Astrid to chop some vegetables, and Ace to cut some apples. He stirred a curry on the stove.

`I could not see your house until we stopped somewhere and poof, abracadabra it's there', Ace questioned.

`That involves me, and you can think of it this way. An illusion to prevent unwanted people from visiting us.' Enlil tasted the curry and added a pinch of salt.

`So can I visit her again? Will I be able to see it?', Ace knew it involved more than an illusion, but he was satisfied with the explanation, for now, knowing Astrid is in safe hands.

`Yes, I will make sure you can access our house. Next question?'. Enlil drained noodles from the boiling water.

`The chain? And Enki', Ace dropped a bomb because both went silent momentarily.

`The chain is done in a pair. She has one and I have one. I protect her in case of danger. It burns sometimes. But it repairs itself back.' Enlil showed his, all shiny and new in gold.

`How?', he whispered, baffled.

`Simple, I made it using my blood and essence. ', Enlil answered simply.

`There are some things about us that don't make sense, Ace. But you can think of it as a mystical tale only it is real', Astrid held his arm and Ace pulled her closer.

`Can't you tell me the plain truth, Astrid?', Ace looked into her eyes for answers, but her expression was all sorry.

`I wish I can, but I just got to know all this recently', Astrid tucked a strand of his hair behind his ears. Ace kissed her knuckles gently.

Ace almost forgot and asked `Hey, you have not told me about Enki yet'.

`He is my brother who is hell-bent on finding Astrid for his own benefit. And it's not a good thing because he is a devil in disguise'. Enlil finished with the cooking and carried the curry pot towards the dining table.

`What do you mean by benefit?', Ace narrowed his eyes at Enlil.

`She has something that nor I or he possess. Let's put it this way. If Astrid were a vampire and she has the ability to change from her current submissive state to the state of the first generation vampire, with full control of it, aware of it and doing it under the radar, that would make Astrid a powerful asset.'

`Are you, darling?' he eyes her with concern.

`No, I am a half-vampire and half-human', she stated.

`What?!!' he closed his eyes in confusion and started breathing exercise counting 1 until 10. This is fucking impossible. She could never be both.

`I know, no one can be half-half. But my father was a vampire and my mom a human. She, me, pop, Enlil and some people out there are unique. I hold the ability to maintain my human genes as well as the vampire gene. Which brought me to draw your blood' Astrid explained and all of them sat on the table to eat.

`You mean there are others like you?', Enlil placed a bowl of noodles for Ace.

`There are many but not hafu like Astrid. But our kind doesn't meddle with the current system as it is. Except for Enki. Astrid here is the only one I know how holds both genes with ease. Most people are either converted or plain human or vampire. No in-between', Enlil put extra chilli for Astrid and placed a large glass of protein shake for her to drink. Astrid groaned loudly.

`Enlil, you are not Astrid's brother, aren't you?' Ace Wagner deduced correctly when Enlil shook his head.

`Just a guardian who will move on once she can learn the basic survival skills', he spoke between a mouthful of curry noodles.

Ace had to admit the dinner was good. It tasted better than his chef. He took second helpings.

`I can provide security from my company. You don't have to lift a finger'. Ace spoke with hope. 

`No. No amount of security can help her to defeat someone like Enki. Guns and poison don't work for people like him', Grandpa Jones spoke.

`Is he even human or vampire?', Ace questioned at who Enki is because he just realized he is in a room full of people who claim to be humans but are something else. Should he be afraid?

`None. Sorry, we can't divulge much because it will lead to unwanted discrimination. But bear this in mind, we have lived longer, with non-existence violence, our kind has always favoured peace and will remain that way forever', Grandpa Jones concluded their chat of sorts and retired to his room.

`So, um.. are you, aliens, in disguise?', Ace frowned. Astrid laughed when he said that, causing Ace to frown deeper.

`Oh no, we are not. Just think of it as a third human race like X-Men. That should sum us up', Astrid hugged Ace. Ace took the opportunity to feel her up and kiss her jawline, drawing giggles out of her.

`Stop cuddling and help me clean the dishes. Geez, Astrid, I expected more from you', Enlil was annoyed the constant PDA from Ace and Astrid.

`Says the player himself', she retorted quickly. Enlil rolled his eyes.

`Ace, can you stay back tonight?', Astrid asked him after clearing the dishes. Ace was surprised at her request. He was not busy this week and wondered if he should accept the offer.