"Welcome back home Clarence…" Doctor Silas said.
Clarence sat up dizzily back in a hospital bed instead of a normal bed holding his head, he gawked at the mad doctor.
"Where am I?" He asked.
"I brought you home, I interviewed the maids. They were really concerned with that lech…"
"It doesn't matter…" Clarence whispered.
"I didn't alter you to be some perverts tool." Silas scolded.
"Leave me alone please…"
"I am the only family member in your life now, you might as well get used to it, Clarence, or would it make you feel better to know that vampires get rid of their last names? Would you like a proper last name?"
"I don't want anything…"
"Your brother is doing quite well, we went to check up on him after we got you back," Silas explained.
"I see…who is my brother?" Clarence questioned.
"His name is Lenox, someday you might butt heads with him."
Doctor Silas turned to Clarence after washing equipment with a smile, Clarence noticed the shock collar had been removed touching his throat lightly.
"Oh, the collar…"
"You don't need a collar so I removed it."
"Are you hungry?" He inquired.
"No, I am okay."
"Please don't lie to me Clarence, you were so weak and skinny I was able to lift you in my arms…" Silas argued.
Gathering his knees to his chest he looked out the window to the birds landing on the window sill he sighed regretfully. He barely acknowledged Silas in the room with him.
"What if I adopt you?" Doctor Silas commented.
"Why do you want to adopt me? I thought I was only a product…"
"After what happened to you…I have decided to take you as my son and train you myself!" Silas shouted.
"I have no one else in the world anyway." He muttered.
Rubbing his back softly Clarence dunked his face hiding, sobbing into his hospital gown he thinks about the hell he has been through the past week alone.
"It's okay you are officially Clarence Walker from this day forward…" He said softly.
Glancing over he realized Silas's hand was being held out to him, Clarence takes it getting up gently from his bed. He is taken to a small room dressed up like a normal one like in magazines. Posters, a normal bed with quilted blankets, drawers, and wardrobes.
"You want to feel normal right?" Silas smiled.
"You really did this for me?" Clarence answered.
"Will you agree?"
Shuffling his feet across the cold floor he was still disoriented, his muscles felt weak in his attempts to get a good look at the gift he was given.
"I accept you as my father…"
"Then I will treat you like my daughter." Silas grinned.
"You have a kid?" he shouted.
"She is a bit more grown-up now, but she will take care of you…" He stated.
"So she is on her own now?" He asked.
"She doesn't need her old man now…I will push the adoption papers out soon." He answered.
"Understood…"
"Clarence, if you want anything at all just tell me."
"Am I still living in this facility?"
"You will because I also live on-premises anymore Clarence, okay?"
"Okay…"
"You will still go through tests, is that okay?" Silas stated.
"If I can help you in any way I can then I will…Dad…" Clarence choked out his words.
Doctor Silas embraced Clarence almost hesitatingly, robotically letting his hands little by little draw around his fingers around his hips patting his back slightly, Clarence slid down in his arms while his head tilted to the side.
"Clarence?" Silas called out.
"Maybe…I do a little…"
"I will give you as much as you need…please stop scaring me!" Silas scolded
Walking together to Clarence's new room, Silas helped him get comfortable in his new environment. Silas cupped his hand around Clarence's arm and then pressed his lips to the boy's forehead opening his palm he noted red sores in patches suspecting his symptoms he raised the sick teen's foot to find the same blotches.
"You are unusually hot Clarence, how do you feel?"
His glassy eyes stare back at Doctor Silas before closing, the first thing he thought was latent reactions to something. He whipped the phone out calling Mr. Williams back angrily.
"Yes is Mr. Williams in?" Silas shouted.
"No…what information do you need, Doctor?" The secretary asked.
Pacing back and forth he has a long-winded conversation with several of the maids till the phone line is instantly blocked, he receives no signal. Dropping the phone he raced back to the room lifting Clarence up pushing a button beside his bed.
"Fucking pervert gave him something…" Silas growled.
Two of the overnight staff take Clarence from Silas's arms who sees them out following close behind and immediately put into the treatment room.
"Doctor Silas, can you tell us what happened?" The male nurse questioned.
"I think syphilis…it would explain the weight loss and fever, but have him checked for everything…he is my son now please handle him with care."
"You decided to adopt him? Does Ria know?" He responded shocked.
"She will soon enough hmmm…contact Mateo please," Silas demanded.
"I thought you didn't like Mateo?" He yelled.
"That stupid other veiler has magick, she can help him and maybe he can make a friend with her…"
"At least you are kind enough to give him a friend, Silas."
"He needs a distraction and someone he can relate to," Silas explained.
The next couple of days Clarence is on bed rest in the secluded part of the ward, Mateo and Steel meet Silas in the halls discussing the boy's illness and what had happened to him. They pad in making sure he is awake before proceeding.
Steel, unafraid of anything, lays her hand on the top of his blanket, he looks up at her. She was so animated and happy. He has been nothing, but miserable.
"I was informed your name is Clarence!" She cheered.
"I am…"
"Well, today is your lucky day! I am Steel!"