106: Blast from the Past – Pt. 1

“Sorry, uh…” Victoria said, stunned at the sudden revelation that she was staring at her own flesh and blood. “MY daughter?”

“MOM!” Alyssa rushed forward, throwing her arms around Victoria’s neck and held her in a death grip that Victoria had to place her hand between in order to catch her breath. “Sorry, I’m just so happy to see you.”

“I can see that but…I don’t…I’m not…we’re…uh—” Victoria struggled to complete a sentence, unsure of how to broach the subject of time travel with this complete stranger or even if she should.

“From the past!” Alyssa blurted excitedly before looking around at the crowd of people and lowering her voice. “Yeah, that’s pretty obvious now.” Again, she gripped Victoria, tighter this time and sighed contentedly as she took in her scent. “Mmm, you smell like honeysuckles after a rainfall.”

Victoria hugged the woman back with a confused smile. “I’m thrilled to know I’m so close with my future…child but, you can understand our shock. Derrick and I haven’t…we’re not—I’m not pregnant and we’re not married.”

“Yet,” Derrick added. “But I mean, it’s not so outside the realm of believability. Of course, I’d propose to the love of my life.”

“‘The love of your life?’” Victoria asked with a smile, quickly banishing the idea and shaking her head. “Wait, no. Derrick, this is stuff we didn’t know. Shouldn’t know? I mean what are the rules here? I don’t want a total butterfly effect to happen.”

“No, of course, I get it, trust me.” Alyssa grabbed her phone from her back pocket and took a picture of Victoria then fired off a text before she glanced up with a brilliant smile again toward her. By now, the plaza was filling up with people enjoying their day and Alyssa looked around cautiously. “Maybe we should get off the street.”

“I’m for that,” Derrick said.

“Cool. Our house is close.” She led Victoria and Derrick two more blocks toward a suburb that had Derrick doing a double take.

“We—live here?” he asked, gazing at the Disney-like setting around him. Birds were chirping, neighbors warmly greeted one another and everyone seemed to have the perfect rose gardens in this tight-knit community.

“Oh, yeah. We moved out of the other house, Dad. Too many…” she paused and glanced at Victoria briefly before completing the sentence. “Bad memories.”

They walked a little further through the neighborhood before heading up the driveway of a modern two-story cottage. The exterior was white stucco with brown brick accents with a perfectly manicured lawn and lavish landscape that gave the place a cozy feel. Victoria shook her head in disbelief as she gazed up at the clean lines and lack of ornamentation that seemed far from the norm for the Derrick Constantine she knew and loved. “No. Nope! No way. There is no way Derrick bought a place like this. Not the ‘modern architecture is cold and empty’ Derrick I know. There is no way we moved here!” Victoria said, deepening her tone to mimic Derrick’s voice.

“I don’t sound like that,” Derrick said with a smile.

“Oh, you do, trust me. And I can’t count the number of times you’ve tried convincing me why modern architecture is soulless. What does that even mean?”

“It means the people who create these monstrosities lack heart and imagination. The buildings they sketch are all boxes with doors and 10,000 floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s like living in a fish bowl. Who wants that?”

“See what I mean?” Victoria asked, looking at Alyssa.

Alyssa laughed at the two and continued forward with Victoria and Derrick following close behind. Opening the door, she was instantly greeted by a large Doberman that nearly tackled her upon entry. “Hey, Hades, good boy.”

The dog stopped in his tracks, sniffed the air a few times and, with his tongue hanging out of his mouth and his tail frantically wagging, charged full force toward Victoria, knocking her flat on her back. “HADES!” His long, wet tongue dragged trails over her face and she laughed under his onslaught unable to pull him away as he continued bathing her in kisses. “Ok, boy, enough, Hades, let me up. Hades…Ha—Hades…ok. That’s enough. I love you too. Let me up,” Victoria pleaded through the assault.

Derrick laughed but didn’t offer assistance. It was Alyssa who finally pulled the frantic hound away. “Sorry,” she said, “He just…missed you I guess,” she smiled and shoved the eager dog out the door to the backyard. 

“Hades is still alive?” Victoria asked, looking toward Derrick. “How is that possible? What’s it been—like 20 plus years?”

“What part of Hellhound seems to have escaped you?” he asked with a smirk.

“So, they just—live forever; like vampires?”

“Basically. It’s why I got him for you. Lifetime companion.”

“Right! So, they have instant growth, immortality and a memory like an elephant.”

“Don’t forget shapeshifting.”

“Oh, no, Derrick. I will NEVER forget that,” Victoria sighed with frustration. “Yours is a gift that keeps on giving.” Derrick shrugged and smiled.

Victoria turned to look at Alyssa who was smiling, listening to their exchange. “So, you two came from the past by…accident?” Alyssa asked, still trying to wrap her head around what was happening.

“Yes.” Derrick answered. “What gave it away?”

“Probably the accidentally meeting with Mom but definitely this new—you,” she said motioning up and down at Derrick.

“New me? What do you mean?”

“Well, you’re not nearly as—jovial I guess you could say.”

“Ah. I’m the authoritarian. That’s surprising. I always thought I’d be the fun parent.”

“No, Derrick,” Victoria said, looking at Alyssa with a meaningful expression. “I believe she means you lost your spark when I died.”

“Died? No one said anything about…” Derrick drew quiet a moment as he picked up on the intimation. “That’s why you were so excited to see Victoria,” he said softly.

Alyssa smiled but, didn’t reply. Instead, she glanced over at Victoria who remained silently huddled in the corner. The grim appearance on her face made it obvious what was going through her mind, she was a detective after all. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know she was shaken by the revelation that this was a future she was not meant to see.

“So, that means that Mom…” Victoria’s gaze darted toward the young woman and she weakly cleared her throat. “She cast a spell to bring you here?”

“Right,” Derrick answered.

“But why did it bring you to me?” Alyssa asked, curiously.

“Good question,” Derrick said and again his eyes were on Victoria. “You wanna jump in here? What happened? Did the spell misfire?”

“No. The spell worked like a charm,” she answered, never taking her eyes off of Alyssa. “I asked it to bring us to the Anglesey. In the absence of the Anglesey, we got Alyssa so she either has it or knows where it is.”

“Wrong on both accounts. I’ve never heard of the Anglesey but, I’d be willing to help you find it.”

“I don’t think that would be a very good idea,” Victoria said. “We wouldn’t want to do something now that will negatively affect us.”

The room grew silent. Derrick moved to check on Victoria before rejoining Alyssa on the couch. “So…Alyssa…what…are—um—are you a witch and a vampire? Or are you just human? Because I can hear your heart beating which, for me, is different.”

“I’m a hybrid. I have most of your abilities; speed, stealth, blood lust, but I can also cast spells. I’ve been tracking down a lot of Mom’s old spells to try and connect with…her.” Alyssa sighed and flashed a quick look toward her mother. “Dad doesn’t talk about her much so it’s been slow going.”

“Wait, you’re magical als…?”

“Why do you limp?” Victoria asked, tactlessly interrupting Derrick and Alyssa’s conversation. “Assuming as a hybrid you also have hyper regeneration?”

“It happened at birth from what Dad told me,” Alyssa said, looking at Derrick. “It was a messy delivery. There were lots of complications. I was delivered via C-section in the back of your old jeep. Dad used his talons to cut me out; he thinks he severed a nerve.”

“Oh,” Victoria said and tightened her arms around her waist.

“But it could have happened before…in the attack.”

“Attack?” Derrick asked, “What attack?”

Alyssa shrugged. “I can’t be sure; like I said, Dad doesn’t like to talk about it. But he said you two were attacked and Mom was hurt pretty badly.”

“And is that how I…” Victoria started. Alyssa nodded and again the room muted momentarily. “Where’s Derrick now?”

“It’s hard to say,” Alyssa shrugged. “After I graduated college, he sort of…took off. Lately, it’s just been me and Uncle Ro.”

“‘Uncle’ Ro?” Derrick questioned with a raised brow. Alyssa nodded.

“He’s been great with helping me learn how to deal with life as a hybrid and even tells me stories about mom.”

“You mean I—I don’t?” Derrick asked with hesitation.

Alyssa shrugged and saw the hurt in his eyes when she did. “It’s not all bad. I mean if I need him, he’s always here in a matter of moments but, Dad—I don’t think he took to being a single parent as well as he could have. It’s obvious he still hurts over losing mom. I can see it in his eyes. It hurts him to be around me at times which is why I think he’s on a bender halfway around the world.” 

“Great! I’m a shitty father. So much for breaking that mold.” He sighed and jumped to his feet. “I don’t think we should…we’re not supposed to mess with the future, Victoria.”

“Little late for that, Derrick, don’t you think? We’re sitting here having a conversation with our daughter. One that, apparently, I never got to meet.”

“Mom…” Alyssa started and stopped, unsure of how to get her thought out. “We have now.” Victoria nodded, smiling weakly at her daughter and caught her as she again rushed in for a hug. Derrick watched, combing through the many thoughts running through her head. Victoria struggled to contain herself, not wanting to have a total breakdown—at least not yet.

“Why don’t I put on some tea? And then we can sit and talk about—everything,” Alyssa offered, taking a step away before heading into the kitchen.

Once she’d disappeared, Victoria took a look around the living room, studying the pictures hanging on the walls of Alyssa throughout the years. But when she felt the tightness in her chest return, she quickly turned away and had a seat on the couch.

“Victoria, we should probably get out of here,” Derrick said gently. She looked up at him but didn’t speak and he returned her solemn expression before wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

“Here we go,” Alyssa sang as she treated her company to mugs of fresh brewed green tea. Taking a seat across from Victoria, the group sat in silence for a moment before Alyssa broke the ice. And over the course of the next couple of hours, they shared stories as they became acquainted.

When Alyssa offered to show Derrick the spellbooks she’d mentioned earlier, Victoria gathered up the cups and returned them to the kitchen. “Victoria?” Derrick stared at her as she drank the last of her tea and set the cup in the sink. “Victoria?”

“What, Derrick? Did I put that cup in the wrong spot? Are we detrimentally screwing up the future? Let me guess, we’re going to be overrun with dirty dishes. Damn. Maybe I should have invested in Dawn dish detergent.”

“What? I got Aly’s text…h-how are you…here?”

“Shit…you’re not the Derrick I traveled with.”

“Victoria, I think Aly might have found…” Derrick suddenly entered the room, stopping in his tracks as he came face-to-face with a very familiar…face. “Oh shit.”

“What the hell is going on? Who are you people? Is this some kind of spell? Damn that girl’s been messing with that stupid grimoire again? Alyssa? Alyssa!?” he frantically yelled for his daughter. “If you’ve hurt her, I swear I’ll…”

“Dad, calm down,” Alyssa said, stepping into the room behind him. She slipped her arm around his neck to soothe him as she stared into the distressed eyes of her mother.

“I’ll calm down when someone tells me what the hell is going on.”

“Uh…we’re from the past,” Victoria offered, gauging Derrick’s reaction.

“The past? Huh,” Future Derrick scoffed as he slowly got his bearings. “Did you do this, Alyssa?”

“No, Derrick, I did it. Alyssa just happened to be where the magic brought us.”

“Wait, s-so it’s really you, Victoria? You’re really here?”

“Temporarily, yes.”

“M-may I…?” Victoria nodded and Future Derrick enveloped her in a deep hug. Closing his eyes, he breathed in scents he hadn’t smelled in over twenty years. “Victoria, I can’t believe it’s really you. I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed you.”

Pulling away, Future Derrick quickly and zealously crashed his lips on hers. Moaning against her mouth as his hands hooked either side of her face. “Hey!” Derrick yelled, watching his future-self have his way with his present girlfriend. But Future Derrick ignored him and continued kissing his lost love, fitting his mouth to hers and pulling her deeper against his chest. Victoria’s hands slid up his back, gently caressing his shoulders and her sigh was captured on his lips.

As his tongue slipped into her mouth, he welcomed the sweet return of hers, savoring and devouring her with a kiss more intense than any he’d given her before. Taking long, impassioned kisses, Derrick hungrily drew her in closer, pressing her against the rigid evidence of his arousal and making her head swim. When he finally pulled away Victoria was breathless. She could only stare at the smile on Derrick’s face and the sheer amount of hope she saw in his eyes.

“Excuse me?” Derrick again yelled at himself.

Future Derrick cleared his throat and backed away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…offend,” he said, barely glancing in the other Derrick’s direction. Still completely enraptured by the woman he’d lost over two decades ago. He reached out his hand for her, gently caressing it in his. “How are you?”

“I could be better,” she replied to his confusion.

“I…may have sort of um…I told her how she dies,” Alyssa said, filling in the blanks.

“Oh,” Future Derrick nodded his head. “I did everything I could to save you. It was a surprise attack. There was so much blood. I couldn’t move you and the ambulance was so far away. I bit you and it…I killed you,” he choked up. “I was trying to help you heal faster, but you suffered shock because of the toxins and I—I lost you.”

“It’s not your fault, Derrick. You saved our little girl. You have to know that was more important,” Victoria gently ran her hand over his cheek and Derrick leaned into her touch.

“I’ve missed you so much.” Again, without hesitation, he leaned forward and joined their lips. Derrick threw his hands up as he again had to witness himself maul Victoria. Alyssa giggled and when Derrick looked at her, she shrugged.

“It’s not like she’s actually cheating,” she said with a smile. “You’re the same person.”

“Alyssa’s right,” Victoria said when Future Derrick let her up for air. “But I think he’s a far better kisser than you.”

“Really? Just gonna kick a guy while he’s down, Victoria?”

“You’re not seriously jealous are you, Mr. Constantine?” Derrick crossed his arms into his chest and Victoria smiled at him as he tried giving her his best pout.

“You’re damn right I’m jealous! I can’t believe I’m standing here about to lose you to myself!”

“I’m sorry. It’s just been so long,” Future Derrick said, smiling widely as he regarded Victoria. “But you’re still just as beautiful as I remember.”

“Dad, they asked about an Anglesey. It’s how they ended up here. The spell brought them to it—to me?”

Future Derrick’s eyes widened and he backed away from Victoria. “Uh…why are you looking for that?”

“We need it to complete a…spell,” she answered, narrowing her eyes at him. “You know where it is, don’t you?” Victoria pressed, noticing the sudden change in Derrick’s behavior.

“You made a promise. We both did. You asked me to hide it and never reveal its location. What’s changed?”

“The Destroyer. I think I’ve found a way to keep him trapped permanently. No more awakenings, no more wars, no more Dawnings for innocent witches.”

“You’re planning to use the magic of the leprechaun’s coin to contain the Destroyer indefinitely?”

“Yes. It’s obvious there is no defeating him. He’s like that Chaos demon we went up against, remember? The more magic you throw at it…”

“The harder it becomes to kill. Yeah, I remember. Still, the Anglesey is volatile; unpredictable.”

“Exactly. Chaotic energy for a chaotic entity.”

Future Derrick sighed and looked over at Alyssa with a smile. “This is your mom in a nutshell. Always thinking; problem-solving. And never giving up.” Victoria’s stomach rumbled and all eyes turned to her.

“Wow. That super hearing of yours is a little unnerving,” she said, anxiously rubbing her belly.

“No super hearing needed. With a rumble like that, I’m surprised the scientists aren’t checking the Richter scale,” Alyssa laughed.

“How about I make lunch and we can discuss this more afterwards?” Future Derrick asked, sliding around Victoria. She threw her hands up as he didn’t wait for an answer and got busy preparing a meal.

In the meantime, Victoria showed Alyssa some of the easier spells in the grimoire that she could cast and watched as she slowly perfected a few of them. Twenty minutes later, she rejoined Future Derrick in the kitchen as the aroma of whatever cuisine he was cooking made her belly growl harder.

“Mmm, that smells amazing, Derrick!”

“Thank you. It’s just a little something I’ve picked up in my travels,” he said, taking a spoon and placing it at her mouth.

“Oh my god, that tastes amazing!” The smile on his face grew wider with the compliment and he returned to his cooking duties, pulling her into him as he continued cutting veggies. “I guess it would be stupid to ask how you’ve been,” Victoria said, looking up at him as he rested his chin on her shoulder. “Aly said you’ve become a bit of a wanderer.”

“I really wish she hadn’t told you that,” he said, turning toward the stove to add more ingredients to the pot.

“I don’t think she intended any harm by it, but she seems…sad.” Victoria placed her hand on Derrick’s shoulder, halting his actions and he turned to look at her. “Derrick…”

“I was a wreck. Am. I am a wreck. After you died, I didn’t know what to do. Truth be told, I almost gave Aly away. Loretta said she would take care of her.” His eyes closed with the confession and he growled deep in his throat. “I didn’t think I could do it; raise a child, our child, without you. But then the more I thought about it, the more I realized that she was the last part of you that I had and I didn’t want to give that up.”

“You did a great job, Derrick. She’s wonderful,” Victoria said, looking over at Aly in the dining room as she and Derrick set the table. “She has your eyes.”

“And your stubbornness.”

“Yeah, I’ve gotten a little taste of that too. You know she called me rude when I didn’t want to tell her my name,” Victoria laughed. “Nosy little thing.”

“Also from you,” Derrick smiled. “She’s definitely kept me on my toes.”

“And what is with this house?”

“What? What’s wrong with my house?”

“The fact that it’s not you!”

“I sold the manor. It didn’t feel right raising a baby in the ‘murder house’ as you used to call it. Hell, I felt bad after you’d finally moved in with me and was always hearing and seeing things in the late night/early mornings. I didn’t want Alyssa to go through any of that. Plus,” he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, “There were just too many memories. Everywhere I looked I’d hope to see you sitting or coming around a corner or hear you humming terribly from the shower.”

“Whoa! Back that up. My humming is top notch! I’ll have you know I was very nearly recruited for American Idol for that hum, Mr. Constantine!”

“I’ll bet,” Derrick laughed. He looked around the kitchen and down at his feet before speaking again. “I bought a place that seemed like something you’d have chosen for our girl. A quiet neighborhood with lots of kids and a family-friendly atmosphere.”

“Yeah well, I approve.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” he smiled sincerely, a small twinkle in his eye as he looked at her. “Damn, I’ve really missed you.”

Victoria rubbed his arm and he went back to cooking as she looked on. “We really need your help, Derrick.” He sighed, realizing they were finally returning to the reason for her trip to the future. “It’s important. We have to keep Fane locked in his cage—for good this time. You’ve been there; surely you know what I’m talking about.”

“I do. But we agreed that kind of power was too dangerous. And after what happened with the first coin…a leprechaun’s magic is just too unpredictable.”

“It won’t be this time. I’ve figured it out. Please,” she said, lightly caressing his hand in hers. “You have to trust me.”

“I do, Victoria, of course I do. I’m just…” he looked away with a sigh. Turning off the stove, he gathered the pot and placed it on the countertop beside him. “It’s not close. You’ll have to give me some time to get it for you.”

“Thank you, Derrick.”

“How much longer are you here?”

“The spell wears off in 24 hours, so we have about another 12.”

“Great! That’s plenty of time.”

“Plenty of time for what?” Victoria inquired.

Derrick graced her with a smile before shrugging and slipping around her. “Food’s done,” he announced and, with Victoria’s help, plated the meal and served.