Chapter 4: Christmas Day and A New Beginning

Mathias woke to Christmas Bells and a knocking on his bedroom door. He gasped with joy. The spirits did it all in one night! He thought. I'm here…..everything's here. He opened the door to admit Isaac in.

"Good Day My Lord." He said as he balanced the tray with the chalice and the pitcher of blood. Mathias looked at him in wonder.

"Tell me, what day is it?"

"What day, why it's Christmas Day." Isaac said, turning his head and mouthing Wow did I give him bad blood again? He watched as his Master rambled.

"A Merry Christmas Mathias, you old Humbug," He said. "And a Happy New Year, as if you deserve it…." Isaac's eyes widened. Oh my God, what's wrong with him?

"Look Isaac," Mathias pointed, "That's where the Ghost of Christmas Present sat, and this is where Leon entered, it all happened it's all true….I never knew anything. But now I know that I don't know anything." As Isaac watched his Master go nutty, he got scared and screamed like a little bitch. Mathias went after him and held him.

"Isaac I'm not mad." He said. The red head was dying to get the hell out of there.

"Let me go you crazy old bloodsucker or I'll scream for the cops!"

"Here's a little something for that." Mathias said as he placed a crisp 100 dollar bill bundle in his hands.

"HOLY SHIT NOW I KNOW YOU'RE LOOPY!" Isaac howled. "HELP ME!"

"How much do I pay you?" Mathias asked.

"100 bucks a week." Isaac said.

"That'll change here and now, raise your salary to 500 a week."

"Wow, are you sure you don't want to see the doctor?" Isaac asked.

"No, and I don't want the undertaker either. I'm perfectly fine, now why don't you and enjoy yourself?"

"YOU BET YOUR ASS I WILL!" Isaac cried happily as he dashed down the stairs. "Merry Christmas my Lord and keep with this!" As soon as Isaac left, Mathias returned to his room and opened the window.

"You, there boy," He called. The young blonde looked up.

"Who me," He called back.

"Yes you tell me, do you know of the butcher on the next street corner?"

"I should hope so."

"Do you know if they sold the prize turkey yet, not the little one the BIG one?"

"The one as big as me," The boy asked. Mathias laughed and smiled.

"Yes, my buck the one as big as you,"

"It's hanging still."

"Is it, well go and buy it."

"Nut job," The boy said, ready to book it.

"No wait, I'm in earnest. Bring the butcher here and I'll tell him where to deliver it. Come back with him in five I'll give you 50 dollars, come back in less than five minutes and I'll give you 150 dollars." The boy booked it, toward the butcher and Mathias got ready to leave. He had the turkey delivered to his clerk and made his way to his son's home. The house servant was shocked to see him there but allowed him to enter. He hesitated at the door for a moment then entered, causing everyone to stare. His son recovered first.

"Father,"

"Adrian, is it too late to accept your invitation to dinner?"

"No, Father I am delighted. My dear, look who it is." Mathias turned to the silverette who was patiently waiting for the next thing.

"Could you forgive a stubborn, hard headed old fool such as I, who has no eyes to see with, no ears to hear with all these years?" The silverette smiled and stood up.

"Yes my dear father in law, you've made Adrian very happy. Bless you." Mathias embraced the silverette and the time that he spent with them, was a blessing.

The next day Mathias made certain that he was the first to arrive at the office. He closed everything up tight, to make it look like no one was there and waited. Fifteen minutes after nine brought Richter running in, hastily getting ready and light his time candle…..

"Mr. Belmont," Mathias said gruffly. Richter stiffened at his boss' tone and took a breath. "Step this way if you please." Richter entered the office, and braced himself for the worst. Mathias was sitting at his desk, buried in his ledger.

"What is the meaning of you coming in at this time of day?"

"Forgive me sir, I am behind my time. I was…making rather merry yesterday."

"I'm sure you were." Mathias said. He replaced his quill into the inkwell and sat back. "Well, my friend I will not stand for this any longer. Therefore, I have no choice but to raise your salary." Richter went wide-eyed at that and was stunned to silence as his boss laughed heartily. "I have not gone crazy Richter. I've gone around blind all these years and I've just opened my eyes. I would like to help you raise your family, if you'd let me. Now, before we get to brass tax, go and put more coal in that fire, and buy a new coal scuttle. Do so before you dot another 'I' Mr. Belmont." Richter happily obliged.

Mathias was better than his word, he was a better man, a better master and a good friend and he knew how to keep Christmas well. To Maria, who didn't die, he was like a second father. If anything was to be said, is God Bless Us Everyone.

Oh what a story. See, even a bloodsucker can find the Christmas Spirit. It's my first Holdiay fic so don't burn me!