For behind the façade of actually being interested in his newspaper Devin’s mind was on something else, and his whole reason for being at the airport was not the same as those that passed him by, either jetting off around the world or returning or arriving in England. In actuality, Devin’s reason for hiding behind his newspaper was in the hope of getting a final glimpse of the woman that did not want him in her life.

He checked his watch, and noted that she should be coming on duty within the next ten minutes and Devin dried his tears with the backs of his hands, replaced the newspaper to the seat beside him and got up to make his way to the men’s room. There he filled a bowl with cold water and splashed his reddened eyes, and then as that didn’t seem to help his appearance any, Devin donned tinted glasses that he knew would hide his sorrow from Kei-Anne.

That done he checked his watch, dismayed to find that twelve minutes had lapsed and checking his reflection in the mirror a final time, he set foot outside into the busy airport and searched avidly among the crowds.

The flight arrivals told him that a plane had just landed from Thailand and Devin knew that was one of Kei-Anne’s charges. He checked the terminal and made his way there, anxious for a glimpse of her, his last forever.

Finally there amid the passengers he heard her voice and following its sound sought the face he loved, finally clapping eyes on her as she helped an elderly couple with their baggage. Devin stood back, close but not close enough watching her work loving the kindly way she spoke to the people, picturing her at home in the tunnels, wondering what Father would think to her, wondering what Vincent would think to her believing that neither could deny how beautiful she was through and through.

With a lull in passengers, Kei-Anne suddenly looked up and found him watching her. She knew him through and through even with the tinted glasses but the man at her side that Devin only just noticed as she turned and spoke with him, did not. For a moment Devin felt hope rise in his heart as Kei-Anne pointed toward him, hope that quickly died as the fellow at her side began walking briskly toward him.

Devin froze by the look upon the fellow’s face he looked furious, and Devin looked about wondering what to do and who he was. He soon found out, “Mate, mate, do us a favour, stop pestering me missus, she don’t want anything to do with ya. Now do us a favour and f**k off!”

Devin cowered, not because he was afraid but because of sorrow and shame and the knowledge that he had made such a nuisance of himself with a woman that clearly had never been interested that she had had to resort in bringing her husband in to work to help her out. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Devin raised his hands indicating that he wanted no trouble and then just to show he was sincere he told Kei-Anne’s husband, “She’s beautiful and I love her.”

“Well get this, so do I! Now bugger off, go back to wherever you came from, you here me, or I’ll call security.”

Devin wasn’t much bothered about that, but Kei- Anne’s pinched and troubled face as she stood a few yards behind her husband was the last straw. “I‘m sorry, tell her I’m sorry. I won’t bother her again.”

“Good!”

Fresh tears blurred Devin’s eyes, he so desperately wanted to speak to Kei-Anne again, but could tell he would not get that chance. He had pestered her to the point of frightening her, and he wasn’t like that, and he wanted so much to tell her that he wasn’t and that he was a kind man from a sincere family that helped people in need, but he knew that she wouldn’t listen to anything that he said. She had never listened before. Turning he reluctantly looked back over his shoulder twice before he walked onward without another backward glance and closed a chapter in his life as the threatened tears once again made their presence felt.

Morning in the tunnels was much the same as mornings everywhere, people rose and wandered sleepily from chamber to chamber, some in night robes and slippers others fully dressed depending on what chores had been assigned them for the day, but all were intent on the same general direction…the kitchen and William’s wares.

With hot and creamy porridge on the menu and cup after cup of sweet tea, mouth watering muffins and lashings of butter with jam or marmalade the kitchen was always full of a morning, but that morning there was one place empty.

“Where’s Vincent?” Mary asked as she took her overloaded tray to a group of children whom she was serving breakfast to that morning.

“I wish I had a dollar for every time someone has asked me that question this morning.” Father replied crossly. “I’m hardly getting time to eat!” Mary had an idea, and taking a pen and a notepad from her apron pocket she scribbled something and folding the paper in two propped it up in front of Father. From his vantage point he couldn’t read it, but when he turned it over he was surprised to find that she had written, “Don’t ask me – I don’t know where Vincent is.” Father chuckled and propped the note back up and had just started to tuck into his porridge again, when Geoffrey passing by the table announced, “I know where he is. He’s in bed with Catherine.” Such an innocent remark Geoffrey thought as he made his way to collect his bowl and spoon, strange how the entire dining room that moments ago had been a buzz of activity had suddenly gone deathly quiet.

“Do what!” Father exploded at length sending streams of porridge from his mouth to his whiskers and beyond. “Geoffrey what did you say?”

The ladle half way from porridge pot to bowl Geoffrey swung round taking it with him and left a slither of milky oats right across William’s clean floor, “Boy, watch what you’re doing!” William bellowed and shocked Geoffrey dropped the ladle back into the pot with such a thwack that it sprayed dollops of porridge everywhere, and especially all over William’s clean apron.

Unsure who to answer first Geoffrey quacked on the spot, caught as it were in the crossfire of two angry faces, he physically shook, and all he had gone there for was breakfast.

“Well” Father snarled, “I’m waiting!”

“What are you waiting for Father, Christmas?” Everyone twirled around in their seats at the sound of Vincent’s voice and then stared with mouths agape to see Catherine not only following him in, but also holding tightly onto his hand.

“Morning everyone.” Catherine greeted them, “I’m back.”

“We can see that!” Father began, “When did you arrive?”

“Last night, you remember?” Catherine told him.

“And where pray did you sleep?” He looked at her accusingly.

“In bed, where did you sleep?” Catherine challenged him with a hint of mischief in her eyes.

Vincent pulled her to his side and wrapping his arms around her decided he best put his father’s mind at rest before the old man had a heart attack, and any one else come to that, because Vincent detected that somehow they knew exactly where Catherine had spent the night and by the look of the state of the floor around where Geoffrey stood he had been the culprit to announce that fact.

“Father, everyone, we have some news.” Vincent stood behind Catherine with his arms around her in a protective manner and his chin leaning upon her shoulder looking like he was cuddling her in front of everyone, “Catherine and I are to be married.”

More porridge spluttered everywhere, William groaned envisaging a major clean up when they’d all gone, and then he too spluttered, “Married? Did you say married?” William bounded forward which wasn’t easy by his bulk and bear hugged the couple with both arms around the whole of them, there he did a little dance bouncing them both up and down as his belly rolled when he laughed loudly unable to contain his joy. And if you think that was bad enough, wait until the whole dining room converged on the couple, a mass of pyjama clad, and fully dressed people came to congratulate the couple with joy unbounded. Finally they cleared a path large enough for Father to see his son and Catherine again, and they found him crying, the wondrous sight of Catherine in the arms of his son so unbelievable that he hadn’t been able to contain his tears.

“Father?” Vincent asked with concern, “Aren’t you happy for me?”

“Happy?” Father managed at last, “Happy? Oh Vincent I’m Ecstatic! This is marvellous, oh congratulations, Catherine my dear thank you, thank you so much.”

“Does that mean you won’t be marrying Elephant Trunk?” Vincent and Catherine swung around to find one of the youngest members of the tunnels asking that question, “Who?” Catherine laughed, the little girl shrugged then gave the game away by looking up at her mother who turned scarlet and apologise profusely, “Forgive me, someone mentioned it up top yesterday, guess word spreads fast up there and here I only told my husband, Lauren must have eavesdropped. But she didn't hear the name right, hold on,” the mother bent down to her daughter, “Honey I never said elephant trunk where did you get that from?”

“I made it up, well just the trunk bit, you told daddy it was elephant branch, but trunk sounds better.” Her mother laughed and with lips pursed straightened and told Catherine, “I think she means Elliot Burch.”

Catherine laughed, and bending to level with the little girl told her “Yes honey this means that I won’t be marrying elephant trunk, I’m going to marry Vincent instead, would you prefer that?”

Lauren beamed, “Ooh yes and then you’ll have lots and lots of cubs, I like cubs, can I get to keep one?” Her mother turned scarlet again and apologised profusely but Catherine and Vincent to her surprise laughed out loud, and everyone gasped when they heard Vincent tell the child, “Yes, Lauren we hope to have lots and lots of cubs and you can come and look after them anytime that you like.”

Throughout the exchange Father had stopped crying, he just stared in amazement and wonder at the transformation in his son, not just from what had happened but how he conducted the whole affair…and talking of affairs…”So where exactly did you sleep last night Catherine?” He asked finally.

“With Vincent, but before you blow a gasket, don’t worry sleep was all we wanted.” Catherine told him but to her surprise and everyone else’s Vincent wrapped his arms around her and nibbling her earlobe announced, “for now.”

The rest of the day went by in a whirl, once everyone got used to the idea that Vincent really was going to marry the beautiful woman from up top, the place became alive with happiness, and it was to this happiness that Devin walked in on, dead beat and miserable and like a bear with a sore head.

“Devin you’re back!” Vincent cried as his brother tried to slide into his chamber unseen.

“So it would seem.” Devin remarked hostilely.

Vincent froze on the spot he knew it wasn’t just jet lag that troubled his brother, and leaving Catherine’s side where she had stood in the tunnel en route to Vincent’s chamber he bid her stay, while he followed Devin into the chamber he used as his own.

“What happened?” Vincent ventured softly.

“She didn’t want me.” Devin replied flatly, “And if you don’t mind I’d rather not talk about it.”

Hesitant Vincent told Devin, “Its good to have you back, I’ve missed you.”

Devin sighed, “Yeah well I’ve missed you too fuzz. See you in the morning huh?”

Vincent nodded and intent on returning to Catherine replied, “Yes see you in the morning, be well Devin.”

That did it! That simple gesture that told Devin he really was home started the tears flowing again, no where else in society had people extended that simple greeting, ‘be well’ and Devin associated it solely with the tunnels. A sob caught in his throat and caused Vincent to halt and turn back and without another word he walked into his brother’s chamber folded Devin into his arms and let his brother cry.

In the morning Catherine went back to her world and to whatever else awaited her there. Elliot was the last person on her mind, her father came first now he was the only one that mattered, and with butterflies in her stomach Catherine contemplated all manner of ways that she could tell him her news and not have him throw a fit, or argue and she had also to invite him into the tunnels to meet Vincent and his family and worried herself sick about what his lawyer’s mind would make of that. She thought of roping Peter in, and that might be a last resort but for now she wanted to be brave and try her own way to have her father happy for her, but she didn’t think it was going to be easy. He had been thrilled to know she was going to marry Elliot…Catherine giggled thinking of Lauren’s name for him and found it helped calm her nerves when she did think about that particular person. Telling Elliot that she wouldn’t be marrying him came second to telling her father and knowing he would be home that day, Catherine made her way there with her heart in her mouth.

The morning saw Devin’s tears finally dry, he felt a little ashamed by his behaviour but when Vincent did not mention the night before he was infinity grateful and they sat down at breakfast together and Vincent tactfully told him his news. Surprised Devin stared, “What Chandler? She’s going to marry you? When did all this happen?” Vincent filled him in, careful not to talk about love too much in case it hurt his brother, but did mention the soul mates and Devin was stunned. “Can’t fight destiny Vin.” Devin told him, and Vincent agreed, “And we don’t intend to. You’ll be my best man of course?”

“That goes without saying, but where are you going to hold it? Down here?”

“Have you any other suggestions?”

“Yes, I have actually. Peter Alcott has got a nice garden with high walls around it, that would be perfect, and if the sun shone…well imagine it Vincent!”

Vincent did, “Yes, it would be perfect and with access to the tunnels everyone from here could come along using that entrance then outsiders will not feel inclined to be nosy and take a peek over the walls.”

“Exactly, besides a bride should have sunshine on her wedding day, and if any of her guests are privileged to see you they won’t have to know where you come from as well.”
Vincent liked the idea, running it by Father might pose some problems, but he thought he would speak to Catherine about it first and confront his parent together.

Meanwhile above, Catherine was confronting her own father, “So you see daddy, we are soul mates and I’m going to marry Vincent now, and not Elliot.” She finished at last noting her father had remained strangely calm throughout the whole narrative, not attempting to thwart her speech until she was finished. When she had Catherine waited the outburst that was sure to come, she had explained everything even drawn a rough sketch of what Vincent looked like, and it had been at that point she noticed, that her father had become deathly pale, one of the reasons she had hurried on and told him about she and Vincent being soul mates, and the connection and everything they had discovered since, and when he remained quiet after she had finished speaking Catherine wondered whether he had been listening to her at all. Finally she prompted, “Daddy, aren’t you going to say something?”

“What?” He seemed miles away and Catherine frowned, surely he’d been listening, no case had been worth ignoring his daughter’s revelation for surely.

“About Vincent, aren’t you going to say anything about Vincent?”

Charles rose to his feet and with the drawing clutched in one hand he reached for one of hers with the other, “Come, there’s something I have to show you, honey.”

They mounted the stairs, reached the first landing and continued up a winding staircase to an attic room that was used for storage. Ominously Catherine followed not understanding what they were doing up there and with a flash of hysterical laughter Catherine wondered if his intention was to lock her in the attic and throw away the key, instead he ignored her moment of panic and letting go of her hand began to rummage amongst the boxes for a tin that he knew to be there somewhere. Finally he pulled it from deep beneath the pile, a small oval tin with fancy letters and flowers upon a gold background. “This was your Great Grandmother’s” Charles told her as he straightened “Now honey, I want you to understand that I could not tell you about this till now. My grandmother begged me not to tell anyone and not to pass this on…” Charles paused, “tell you what, I’ll tell it how she told me, it makes sense that way. We were in the garden of her town house when she brought it out to me, she opened it and showed me what was inside then she shut it again and told me I should open it once more when I got home, examine the contents and then close it away until my first grandchild was old enough to understand the same importance, unless…she told me, it happened before then. Of course I didn’t know what she meant, but she added that I would know. If it happens she said you will know. And now I do. Catherine, this box must be given to you and you must give it to Vincent. It is he that will need it until your first leonine grandchild is born and then it must pass down to that child when he or she is old enough to understand and then on to their first leonine grandchild and so on.” Catherine gasped, “You know about the leonine?” Her father nodded, “Though I have never seen one but I believe that sight will be beheld by the man you are to marry?”

“Oh yes daddy, and Vincent is so beautiful.” His daughter told him dreamily.

Charles smiled and his eyes glistened with tears, “Catherine, you’re Great Grandmother told me something else, come sit with me, over here by the window, its pretty at this time of day with the sunlight streaming in, isn’t it?”

Catherine agreed and upon two old rocking chairs that were positioned there they sat facing one another on either side of the sunny window. Particles of dust danced around the room reminding Catherine of fairies as she had imagined them as a child and with many of her toys from childhood scattered round about she could well imagine that the years had rolled back to that time. Charles too, with the small tin box in his hands saw the years roll away to that time when she sat in the garden with his old grandmother, he could even still faintly smell the rose water that she favoured.

“Catherine, the story as I know it is this…a long time ago, once in a lifetime something happened to a family that set them apart from society in general and they were known as the chosen ones. For among their seven children one was born that appeared different. Her eyes were an intense shade of blue, and her hair was flame red like the sun as it sets. And her name was Joan. Her brothers and sisters had dark hair and dark eyes and her father gave her mother a hard time believing she had been unfaithful. And as Joan developed other things became noticeable, the arch of her eyebrows, firm high cheekbones and a flat nose and she had an unusual sing-song voice that others found enchanting. As she grew her family were besieged by folk telling them that their daughter was the sun goddess, but this was not so, however for a time her family were blamed for droughts that ruined their crops and were ousted from the community where each time they settled the news of their past caught up with them and they were forced to move on again. Finally, the children were felt old enough to leave their parents, and the child with the flame red hair moved out of the district and wasn’t seen again for almost fifty years. Many believed she had died, others believed that she chose to remain distant from her siblings but it wasn’t so. She had travelled the land searching for something or someone that she did not know, a constant pull that kept her ever onward until one day she came upon a person, a man of similar stature and appearance and they knew their search was over. Somehow and someway they were meant to be together and they married and produced one child. That child was nothing like his parents he had dark hair and dark eyes but he went through his life ridiculed by others for his parents looks and finally he moved away where no body knew him. His parents eventually lived out their life and died happy but their son was forever restless. In time his travel brought him to California and there he met and married what he described as the woman of his dreams. They were alike in many ways, and each had suffered due to the appearance of their parents. He found it strange that his bride’s mother and father sounded a lot like his own and he researched the fact until he was satisfied he could go no further, writing down all that he knew. Imagine then his surprise when his son was born as that child was like no other. Baring a similar likeness to his grandparents but more besides, this child had kittenish features and grew to have fur like hair all over his body. His parents were frightened and believed the child to be the work of the devil and they abandoned their child, leaving him beneath a bush on a winters evening, hoping he would die of the cold. Hours later they had a change of heart and went out together trudging through the snow to where they had left the child only to find him gone, and they never saw him again.” Here Catherine gasped and asked her father, “When was that do you know?”

“Yes centuries ago, he’d be long dead now.” Catherine’s heart plummeted, ‘then it hadn’t been Vincent…but how amazing the story’s likeness.’

Speaking of the couple that had abandoned their son Charles went on, “With deep regret they had other children but none turned out like the one they’d lost and in time they came to realise that their firstborn had been a chosen one, born once in a lifetime, Catherine much of the future story was lost, due to the disappearance of that child and that’s where your grandmother's story comes in. Apparently one of her friends came from that leonine linage and she gave my grandmother this box and told her that she had seen a vision that a descendant of my grandmother’s would one day meet up with and marry a leonine, and when it happened he or she should pass on the box to that leonine which would then be passed on to his or her leonine grandchild and so on, until the world was ready to accept the leonine clan in their midst.”

Catherine gasped, “And you think that’s me and Vincent?” Charles nodded, “Has to be honey. Grandmother said it will be a once in a lifetime occurrence, but I always assumed it to be sometime future, possibly in the lifetime of your child, hence the reason I hoped to still be around when your firstborn came along. However, if I wasn’t I had made provisions in my will leaving behind instructions where to find the box which contains the history of the leonine. It also explains that the leonine will jump a generation until the world is ready to receive them. So I expect that your children will not be leonine but one of your grandchildren will.”

“How do you reach that conclusion?” Catherine asked, she was having difficulty taking it all in.

“Because Vincent will be the first to enter our family, and the lineage will continue as it was, skipping a generation passing from grandparent to grandchild until such a time that the world is ready to accept the leonine among them.”

“Oh I see. Catherine’s heart plummeted, “So I won’t be having children that resemble their father then?” Charles shook his head, “That makes you sad?” He was surprised.

Catherine nodded vigorously, “Vincent is so beautiful daddy, I would love to have children in his image.”

“And I would love to see them, but the fact is I won’t live that long. However, it will be amazing to see Vincent. I’ve thought about it over the years hoping I might get that privilege, and I can’t tell you what a wonder it is to me to know that I’m going to have that chance. So tell me, when will you be introducing me to your fiancé?”

Catherine laughed, “We can go now if you want.” Charles rose and placed the box in her hands, “I’d like that, honey I feel so good about this. I know that whatever Vincent’s appearance, this relationship is meant to be. Its your destiny Catherine, and believe me the two of you will be happy, just as your mother and I were happy. What more could a father wish for?”

“That his daughter would have a big public wedding, a large house, huge garden and a couple of cars perhaps? Daddy, have you realised that all of that will be denied me? I will have to live beneath the streets of New York with Vincent and there are no telephones even.”

“Does it bother you?” Charles turned and looked at her fully, trying to see from her expression if whatever she told him were so. Catherine’s face lit up, “I love the tunnels, really I do and now I know that this was meant to be, well what other home is there for me?”

“Then if you are happy honey so am I. Possessions aren’t everything, love is. Now come on, I am eager to meet my future son in law, and believe me you don’t know how so!” Catherine laughed and they followed one another down the stairs, picked up their jackets, put on their shoes and grabbing car keys and door keys left the house and headed for the tunnels and where Catherine’s future awaited her.

They were just leaving in her father's car when outside on the road a long dark blue saloon pulled up. Catherine recognised it at once and tapping her father’s elbow as he prepared to drive away, Catherine stalled him, “Wait dad, its Elliot.”

From the saloon, first the chauffer stepped and going around to the back passenger door he opened it and first out came a man Charles did not recognise but could tell was a bodyguard by the way he covered for his charge who alighted from the vehicle afterward. Charles turned off the engine and turning to his daughter asked, “Would you like to talk to him in private?” Before she had time to reply however, Elliot had reached her side of the car and leaning through the open window asked, “Cathy, and where the hell have you been?”

Stunned, everything that Catherine had been prepared to say evaporated and she sat mouth agape not sure how to reply, but indignant enough to search for a decent reply, when Elliot spoke again, “Had a visit from a friend of yours name of Melanie…” He drawled and Catherine brightened, “Yes, Mel, I was meaning to ask you about that, I promised we, that is the three of us could dine together, did she mention it?”

“Actually yes, but that wasn’t all she told me.”

“Oh?” Alarm bells rang in Catherine’s head and the years rolled away to the night when she had discovered Devin in bed with Mel both naked to the waist.

“Should I go, leave you two to talk in private?” Charles intervened with his hand on the door intent to do just that, Catherine stopped him, “No daddy stay.” Elliot laughed derisively, “You might wish him to go Catherine, unless you'd like to be humiliated in his company.”

Charles seethed, “Now look here…”

“Enough!” Elliot exploded silencing Charles in mid sentence. Catherine fumed, “How dare you speak to my father like that!”

“As I said, maybe it would have been better had he left us to speak privately, as it is…” Elliot shrugged then quite simply stated, “Catherine our engagement is off, unless you can come up with a reasonable explanation as to your whereabouts these last two days…and nights.” He seethed.

A whole list of angry retorts flew to mind, but Catherine drew in a deep breath and remained calm, “I should imagine knowing Melanie she had some delicious piece of gossip to indulge you with…what surprises me is that you would obviously prefer to listen to someone you have never met before rather than anything I might have to say…”

“She tells me you stole her boyfriend, a boyfriend I hasten to add whose name until two days ago, I have never heard you mention before!” Elliot flared angrily.

“That’s because Devin was never my boyfriend in the truest sense of the word, because before he could become so, Melanie stole him from me!”

Taken aback, Elliot blinked rapidly, “Is this true?”

“Why would I lie to you?”

“That’s easy, because to do so, and be believed would ensure out future together.” Elliot laughed cynically.

“Then you are more gullible than I’d imagined, if you think I would stoop so low as to lie to what…become you’re wife?” Catherine laughed cynically, “Elliot, where I’ve been these past few days is my business, and it doesn’t have to become yours because quite simply in the last few minutes I have come to know more about you than I would have cared to know, and as far as I am concerned our relationship is over. You can go now dad.”

Pleased as punch Charles restarted the engine, Elliot made a grab at the car as it began to move past but missed and cursed when the car sailed out of the drive and down the road, Catherine and Charles checked Elliot’s face in the reflection of the front mirror and noted he was livid, Charles chuckled, “well that went well.”

Catherine chuckled too, “It did didn’t it? Far easier than I’d anticipated.” And then the two burst into laughter and continued to giggle about the look on Elliot’s face all the way to Peter’s house from where they would enter the tunnels.

To be continued in Chapter Nine