Asher woke to the sound of crying. A smile was on his face as he held his son. He knew his name was Woolsley, although he would be known as Wolfe. He held onto his son and looked into his green eyes. Green like his grandmother, green like his father. He handed his child to Elena and closed his eyes.

Elena was sobbing and lying on the floor as Asher stood over her. Some part of Asher, long forgotten, cried out inside him, but Asher did not listen. Although Asher knew not how he had gotten there, he knew she had disobeyed him, and for that, she must be punished.

Asher had two more children, Jagger, their youngest son, and Adela, their only daughter and youngest child.

Eventually, Cedric died. Asher felt no pain. He spent his time playing games with his kids and teaching them to play music. Woolsey played the guitar and Jagger the violin, and Adela sang and danced. They knew not why their mother cried, or why she was always scratched and bruised. They knew not why they could not fully love their father’s smile, because they had not yet discovered fear.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

None of his children, or his children’s children, or their children, heard voices. Thus the time of peace in the Beckett family continued.

Each night, Elena was plagued with nightmares of the Asher she couldn’t save, and the Asher that had come to her as a monster.

Asher one day felt pain in his heart, something he had not felt in such a while he almost did not recognize it. Asher smiled and closed his eyes for the last time.

The pain subsided in Asher’s heart, and he heard a voice welcoming him.

It was the voice of an old friend.

The only tears shed were those of Adrian. He never learned of who his brother had become. He knew him only as his brother.