CHAPTER TEN

Salvador remained at home all through the day. He was still thinking of what to do to Felix when he got back. He voiced out one or two possible punishments to Ella and mused when she laughed at his punishments suggestions.

"That's absurd, Felix that I know will just laugh at that punishment." She laughed.

"Then what do you suggest I do?" He asked her. Her laughter has started making him a bit worried.

"Lock him in the basement for a month or two. Beat him to pulp and lock him in the basement for two weeks or a month. There are a lot of punishments to give him, not those childish punishments. Husband, now that you're married, you have to learn how to think outside the box. I'm not asking you to kill my husband, mind you." She replied.

"Good suggestions. I don't want to belief that you have punished someone before this hard. What do you want me to do?" He asked tugging her closer to him.

"Temper justice with mercy." She replied looking at him.

He took a deep breath a couple of times without saying anything. "Wife, you're so…. Fragile." He said finally.

"Fragile in what essence?" She asked because she was no way fragile, she is a very strong woman.

"Fragile in the essence of overlooking. You can't always do that. People will take advantage of it and get to you hard. But that is quite thoughtful of you, to want to forgive the person who almost let you got hurt." He explained.

"Almost, not the same thing as it happening. Maybe he was busy, maybe he was too far away to hear me, maybe he thought I was being cocky and wanted to test his ability to really hear my thoughts. There are a lot to give him the benefit of doubts for." She said.

"What are you driving at?" He asked.

"Let's give him a chance to bill himself out. Let's hear his own side of the story without making conclusions." She said.

"Okay, then we wait. But I'm still thinking of beating him to a pulp and locking him in the basement for a month." He said and got himself a chuckle from her.

They remained in the parlor till the others returned. When Felix came to greet them, Salvador almost pound on him hadn't Ella stopped him. He tried to relax and let her do her thing. He loves doing it violently, not reasoning.

He didn't decline, when Felix came to kiss him. He kissed him back. Maybe because he has begun liking the idea of being kissed by Felix, maybe he likes Felix, there are a lot attached he didn't know what to think of yet.

"How was your day? You're home early." Felix asked and Harvey nodded.

"Yeah, I wanted to make sure she was at home, because she knows when we come back every day, she might go out and return before then." Salvador answered.

"Good point." Harvey said and kissed him before kissing Ella.

When Felix and Harvey returned after taking a shower, she served them food and sat back with Salvador.

"Already eaten." She said when they looked at her.

After eating, she cleared the table and watched the plates. All through the time, her eyes remained at Salvador, making sure he didn't do anything funny.

Salvador wanted to pound at something, real hard. But he had to wait for Ella to do what she wanted to do before then. But she was wasting time. He hopes she knows what she is doing.

All she wants is for Felix to say something about the call she'd made earlier in the day. So she thought nothing about it and continued doing what she was doing.

"Wifey," Felix called.

"Yes." She answered.

"You called me earlier, for help. Were you just pulling my legs or making sure I can hear you?" He asked.

Salvador almost choked on his own. How did she know that that was what he was going to say? Then it dawned on him. Trust, he didn't trust her then, but he can trust her from now on. Taking a deep breath, he let go of everything and trusted her.

"Yes, I did. The problem was that I had some guests I didn't know, so I called for help." She answered.

"What did they want?" He asked, still not bothered.

"They wanted me." She answered.

"I don't understand why they wanted you. How and who were they?" He asked, a bit upset.

"They wanted to hurt me, or was it to take me along with them. I don't know if I ran and hid when they came in. oh boy, what a mess of the house they made." She answered.

"I don't understand, hurt you, made a mess of the house, I don't understand wifey." He asked to come closer to her. He doesn't believe that his wife was almost boggled or hurt in his absence.

"From what I heard, their leader seems agitated to have me, dead or alive, so he said." She replied.

"Then what happened." He pulled her and made her turn and face him.

"I called you for help, but you didn't answer nor did you come back. They almost got me, hadn't Salvador returned back and saved me." She replied.

"I thought you were… did they hurt… I'm so sorry." He stammered. He pulled her and embraced her tight.

"I know, but next don't think, just act. I can't just call you like that for nothing." She said.

"Well, had it been up to me, I'd have beaten you to pulp had she not spoken on your behalf." Salvador said, tugging Ella away from Felix. "And for that reason, you're restricted from touching her for a month. That's your punishment."

"You can't-"

"I just did. Got a problem with it, take the problem, fold it and chew." Salvador was quite stern and precise. They all know that, so he knew he didn't have to repeat himself again.

"But you can't do that." Felix insisted.

"Want to tell her why she was almost hurt today?" Salvador asked.

"You can't do that to me, I know it's my fault but I'm… that is too much." Felix said.

"If the both of you are done talking, can I talk?" Ella asked.

When they nodded, she continued, "Any of you want to tell me what's going on? Harvey here has been quiet ever since yesterday all of a sudden. You guys don't talk anymore like before. I want to know why the sudden change in behaviour."

"Want to go first?" Salvador asked Felix.

"Well…" Felix began. "I had an issue at home, so my pack wanted me to step down but I refused."

"But I don't see the problem with that, love." Ella said. It's either he's biting around the bush or he doesn't want her to know the truth, she decided.

"Yes, I want to remain the alpha." He said.

"But no one is disputing that right with you." She said.

"Only if you know." Was all Felix could say as he slumped on the couch.

"I don't think you're going to tell the real problem, are you?" She asked. When he did not answer, she continued "Then there is no need prolonging this discussion."

They went to bed and that night, there was a division. Harvey and Salvador slept beside Ella while Felix slept behind Harvey.

The room was quiet, but understandable.

Harvey got his time to think things through. The problem, he knows but can't tell her. The solution, he's not sure. But that shouldn't break their bond as a family. No matter how quiet he becomes, the problem won't be solved until it is solved.

Taking a deep breath, he moved closer to her. "I'm sorry for today, my love." He whispered.

"Thank you, that's why I'm always up and grateful." She whispered back.

"Up and grateful?" Salvador asked in a whisper, "You were almost hurt this morning and you still believe that cork and boo story? What a strong religion you have, wifey." He heaved a sigh.

She wonders what; relief or confusion.

"Well, you won't know that Salvador, because you don't have a religion to rely on. We do, that's why in all situations, we're always 'up and grateful.'" Harvey replied.

"But I don't understand." Salvador said, sounding more confused. He doesn't understands why they need a religion to rely on when they have themselves. The idea sounds funny and fishy, so he discarded it from his mind.

"Vampires are more like, self-reliant. Like yourself, you don't need help and when you do, it's not much to write about. But we, humans, rely more on our religions to differentiate right from wrong, what to do and why, how to do it and when. There are a lot to think about based on the beliefs of our religions." Felix explained.

"So in essence, what you're saying is that your religion shapes who you are and what you'll become?" Salvador asked, sounding curious not confused.

"Yes, of course. And don't forget, it was her religion that made you and me and Felix bonded by marriage to her. And it's still her religious belief that kept her from seeking revenge for what happened earlier. Not more of revenge though, but she knows who caused the problem for starters, she could've gotten a good price for that forgiveness, but forgiveness is free in our religion." Harvey explained more.

"So, she forgave him. But that does not explain it." Salvador wanted the full picture.

"Our price have been paid on the cross of Calvary by our Lord Jesus. He forgives us our sins and keeps us close to him." Harvey replied.

"But for someone to die for another, there must be a strong bond." Salvador said.

"Yes, but that bond is the strongest. The bond extended to everyone, even you. He died because he loves us and it was through his love that he forgets all our sins as soon as we seek forgiveness." Harvey said.

"But Felix didn't ask for forgiveness." Salvador pointed.

"Yes he didn't. The point is not asking, but the willingness to forgive. She was willing to overlook and so she forgave. Even in the Lord's prayer, it says 'forgive us our sins, as we forgive those that trespass against us." Harvey cleared.

"I see. We'll talk more about that in the morning. Good night." Salvador said. Now he understands her. Now he knows.

"But that doesn't mean that you shouldn't ask for her forgiveness still, when you wrong her. Good night." Harvey cleared, he didn't want to be held responsible for lack of asking for forgiveness.