Ashe P.O.V

I wasn't scared of him anymore, but grateful. He's probably one of the only people I felt deserved a bit of my trust, which was why I had no problem sitting to speak with him. What had me nervous was what it could be about. I don't know why he hasn't sent me home yet after feeding me, but I did figure that this conversation had something to do with it.

"Considering the incident among other things, I looked into your background and had a long conversation with your parents."

I was shocked at what he said, my eyes wide and my face probably bloodless. I had started thinking about what punishment would be waiting for me there... But I couldn't tell him that. He had already helped me so much, and it was nothing I couldn't handle again, especially with a full stomach, "Oh." Even so, I had no idea what to say.

"From the sound of it, you don't seem too happy about me calling them," The way he said it, the emotions in his voice held something I couldn't quite grasp.

I looked down at my hands as he continued, "Honestly, by the end of the conversation, I felt the same way."

I tilted my head up quickly, facing where I heard his voice, "What happened? You didn't get in any trouble because of me, right?"

The man chuckled, mussing my hair with a massive hand, "Nothing that I couldn't handle, and no, I didn't. In fact, they are the ones in trouble, not any of us."

Fear shot through me, wondering what this incident caused my family. I may not have seen them often, or in very positive attitudes, but they were still my family. I didn't want to be the reason again for something negative to happen to them. They had already been shunned before by their own friends and family when I was found to be blind. It took a lot of work for my parents to rise once again in society, "Are they going to be okay?"

"Don't worry, I considered you when we decided their punishment," His voice was gentle when he spoke this time, knowing that it was hard for me to hear. "This will be a private affair; no other people in the nest will know. We've only increased the money they must set aside for the nest, a portion of that being put into your bank account. They are also not allowed to visit 'Eterna' or purchase any merchandise from here until I am less... Annoyed. Lastly, they are under house arrest for the next two months, only allowed an allotted time for work and having to pay the usual cost to order in blood bags and blood substitute. Everything else outside of what is already present in the house is not allowed to be purchased until the two months are up."

I was still guilty towards my parent's treatment, but it didn't seem too bad. While I still wanted to ask for more leniency, I knew that it would be bad form to ask for anything else toward them. He had already told me that my position was put into consideration. So, I kept my mouth shut and nodded.

There was a moment of silence, probably to give me time to come to terms with what was happening, before he continued. He held my hands loosely, "Now, there is one more item I have to tell you. We cannot allow you to remain in your current residence. It's not safe or right for you to be treated daily how you have been by people you should have a familial relationship with."

I had a sinking feeling about this conversation, worried that I would be impeding my family even more. Or worse. I felt a lump in my throat, my face reddening with worry, but I took a breath and waited to hear the rest.

"Your parents have signed over their right to guardianship," He gravely told me, thumbs rubbing gently on each of my hands.

My stomach dropped, and I heard myself asking, "Did they at least try to keep me?" I could feel the sorry from him, just as I felt the large tears dropping from my eyes as I turned away from him, head down. My arms wrapped around my stomach, as if trying to keep myself together. I knew they were disappointed by my disability, but I never thought that they would gratefully get rid of me... I should have known better.

I felt arms rub my shoulders, and i stiffened in surprise. I shifted my head to the left, back still to him as I croaked out, "What am I to do now?"

Cian P.O.V

I felt terrible telling him the news, watching as it tore him up. I wanted to hold him, pet his head, and tell him that it would be okay, but I knew otherwise. For him, there was no 'okay'. His whole world was taken from him, he was landless and his family had stricken him from their tree- turning their back on him. I knew this would be hard on him, and I was still angry at how the father almost sounded relieved at no longer having to consider caring for his son.

"I have handled your guardianship and found another place for you to live," I dared not do much more than touch his shoulders, but I did take the chance to pet his head a couple times before taking one of his hands to gently turn him back to me. He was utterly quiet as large tears quickly rolled down his cheeks and dripped from his chin. He closed his eyes.

I watched as he rubbed his tears away with his arm, realizing that he didn't have any other clothes, and hadn't even had the chance to shower. I sighed, but decided to just get it all out before dealing with those necessities, "The place is much closer to the school and not far from 'Eterna' either. The guy living there, Gale, used to work here and now works at home as a writer. He's agreed to let you stay with him; I'll take care of getting everything set up for you."

I had expected him to ask why he couldn't stay with me, and had several reasons lined up, all logical. He was a kid that would have been living in a club, I don't have the time to care for him, he had almost been kidnapped here, I liked my own space, and so on. To my surprise, he didn't say anything, just nodded, staying silent and still as granite.

I felt bad. There was nothing else I could put a name to the emotions roiling through me other than a slew of feelings that just make me feel...bad. And vaguely disappointed in myself, but wasn't I already doing so much for him?

"Would you like to take a shower?"

I'm an idiot.