> Chapter – 01
Five years have past now. A short time. But for him, it felt like an eternity stretching past lifetimes in the endless void, where time was as much a concept as existence itself.
A place that felt so haunting, full of dread and fear, but at the same time as empty as sweet oblivion itself.
Calm. Peace. He seldom felt those now. Under the endless stars that marooned the night sky or the golden rays that came along with the break of day. But it was not the fault of the sky or the sun or the moon.
The abyss was part of his home, ingrained deep in some shard of his soul. The bliss of not existing, not seeing, hearing or touching. Only him and his mind, twisted as it may be.
Another shard held the taste of fear on his tongue. The crimson blood on his skin and the certainty of death waiting at the next step. The lust for more, and the bliss of nothing. The duality of his existence. Now, it was gone. A leaf in a winter storm. Leaving behind a heart desolate and frozen in the chains of his past and nightmares roaming his mind like sharks smelling blood.
But it doesn’t matter now, does it?
He blinked, is vision slowly expanding from the endless dark. Dim light filling the black space. What a bother. The moon silently orbited the realm, spreading azure light across the lands. His eyes strained. He moved on.
Next was his hearing, his mind slowly working through the countless information it received. Birds, mammals, insects. The wind rustling the underbrush. Then touch. The cold wooden branches that formed his chair. Soft. Uncomfortable. Rough under his fingers. His grip tightened, blood fleeing his vessels, coloring his hand like a pale corpse. Smell. Like dirt and plants. Like nature. He shifted. A hint of rain, lingering after the passing storm. Taste. Iron. Blood. Even after years it had yet to fade. He hoped it never would.
His lids shut. Taking it all in and sorting his mind.
He looked again. Turned his head. Observed.
Birds chirped happily around him, the wind singing his silent song through trees and leaves.
He stood and walked forward, his feet silent on the clean marble floor. He continued towards the platform’s edge. White columns double his size grew of the unblemished white tiles. He reached the end. Green met white. Rock fading to dirt and grass. The sight before him was filled with field and forest. Colorful flowers blooming in the sea of green. Red, crimson and … gray. Nevermind.
Magical creatures played among the trees, chasing and fawning, caring and feeding. Birds joined the rabbits in drinking of the clear blue pond, fish floating among the waves. The leaves gently swayed under the winds caress.
His eye twitched, nails scratching his empty wrist. He took a deep breath. Lungs expanding and compressing in his chest, eyes glazing over. Twinkling white stars illuminated the night sky like a sea of dazzling gems.
He breathed out again. A tune on his lips.
Steel on steel, ink and paper.
Dreams for the dead, but rest we shall later.
Covered in red, with nightmares at bay,
with devils we dance, in coffins we lay.
Reality returned. A gray and world with spots of red.
His humming vibrated through the air. The wind had stilled and the living had frozen. Standing in place with tails tugged between their legs. As if the world had stopped. The somber notes the only movement betraying the end. For a moment his eyes flashed violet. His fingers snapped and the tunes faded. Life resumed, leaving the creatures confused and shaken. Cursed void.
His patience was wearing thin, progress was limited over the last half decade.
Fighting was easy. Killing, a straight line. No twists or turns. No subjective interpretations. You lived, or you didn’t. There was no in between. No over or under. Here? Everyone thought so much. Nothing was certain. All so complicated and delicate. Rules and laws. Not that anyone would stop him. But he was a guest here and he wouldn’t want to inconvenience Amara. She cared for him more than anyone else. She had done more for him than anyone. She fought. Clawed. Struggled. Consequences be damned. She cried. Grieved. Picked up the pieces were they fell and glued them back together. With blood or poison, everything was game. No. He would behave here and do his best afterwards. It was all for this, after all. And he promised. A peaceful life with his sister. Without the scent of blood in the air. The iron on his tongue and the adrenaline in his veins. Without the excitement of the edge, the feeling of flesh when it gave way under his blade. The life as it fades under steel and struggle.
He blinked. The tips of his mouth turning down to form a straight line, muscles tense. He frowned and sucked in the air, tasting it. No decay. No waste. His head hurt, nails digging into scarred skin. His tongue clicked. This was not going well.
He stilled.
The sound of footsteps slowly approaching. He twisted his head to look at the stairs behind the colonnade, leading downwards and ending in the city below.
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He fought his instincts. Relaxed his muscles. There were only two persons which would approached with free will. It could be a prank, of course. But the last time did not end well, Amara probably wouldn’t want to lose another of her staff quite so fast. Their was a bit of screaming. Some blood. It was fun.
But apparently he was true in his first guess. The stairs slowly revealed Silver- blueish hair, followed by a familiar face and graceful body wrapped in dark garbs.
Atop the final step, the woman let her gaze wander. When she spotted him, she smiled and walked over. “Hey, there. Hiding again?” She smiled. He scoffed.Sure. “As if. They scatter like rats.” A glint flashed in her platinum eyes. “Have they hurt your feelings, majesty? Want me to scold them for you?” Her voice reminding him of her berating her little creature.
He searched her face. She looked like a mischievous child about to play a prank. Her eyes glowing like silver stars. His safe heaven. His last pattern in a world of chaos. His thoughts were turning slower. Untangling like a set of cords. “I would be quite sad.” The beginning of a smile on his lips, he continued. “Their faces are funny to watch.” She snickered. “Oh, yes. When you arrived they looked like ghosts. But, since the scary man robs their beauty sleep they work a lot more. Its hilarious.”The dark bags below her eyes had faded in the last half decade, brimming vitality returning to her eyes and the varieness leaving her features. “Doesn’t look like you miss any.” She turned as well. Her gaze roaming the greenery that stretched before. A bird was chasing a much bigger cat , poking and screeching while the pray fled the non lethal peak. When they reached the pond, their roles reversed. The bird taking flight among the trees while the predator traversed the forest with efficient graze. Amara watched with clouded eyes. “No.” She said, her voice quiet. “Its alright now. It has passed.”
The silence stretched“You deserve it.” She turned to his side, her arm moving closer. Fingers brushed his wrist, his scratch marks still visible, tracing them with care. Her touch left a small itch on his skin. She grabbed his hand with her tender fingers and looked up. Still facing the field, he could not see her expression. But he didn’t have to, he could feel the concern like a sun burning at his side. He spoke. “Its fine, Mar. Its over. I wont go back.” He shifted and looked at her. She stayed silent. Her eyes intense, gazing into his soul and searching for anything to betray his words. After seconds, she replied. “You have made progress here. Don’t forget that. And I will always be with you. “ He smiled, allowing a spark of heat to warm his frozen core. “I never have, and never will, ever doubt you.” her face lit up like a silver beacon. She was the only constant in his struggle. The only flower in a field of thorns. She was his light at the horizon. His guiding star. And he promised himself, it would never fall.
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They stayed on the hill side by side, the moon silently went and the stars hid behind a sea of white clouds. The whispers at his core faded to a dull echo in empty halls, hands finally resting at his side. The sun was slowly rising.
They sat on the stairs, silently overseeing the picturesque scene that stretched before them.
Long steps led down, descending hundreds of meters below and finally opening up to lead into a majestic city of grand silver structures. From walking among the streets, he knew them to be adorned with intricate symbols and elegant carvings. Delicate statues of mythical creatures, enchanting gardens, marble fountains and a holy Temple at the cities heart, carved in celestial motifs and legends past.
Beyond the city, landscape stretched as far as the eye could see. Lush, gigantic forests, mountains that pierced the white clouds above and a sea, glistering crimson in the lights of the rising sun, majestic creatures of legends roamed the sky and gigantic terrors of the endless depths emerged to throw shadows among the crashing waves. To him, it was … alien. Peaceful.
Throughout the five years he stayed here, preparing for the return to his remaining family, the three of them frequently visited this place. Talking, planning, reflecting, playing. It was his chance at preparing his mind for the future. For a normal existence besides his sister. To provide more than he ever lost. His little minions would help, of course, they had a choice in this matter. But he had never felt so unprepared, so vulnerable. With only two years left, he was not ready. It felt like a slow, torturous death. Losing the last specks of control he had managed to protect. Step by step. Until he would either die, or truly become the nightmare they raised him to be.
A hand brushed his shoulder, returning him from his thoughts. He turned to see Amara pointing her pale and delicate hand below. A hand that could probably crush him until there was nothing left. He had seen it before, a terrifying force. His eyes followed.
There was movement on the stairs. Small and climbing the stairs towards their seating. Pure, white hair swaying erratically under the movement. A small, frail body and innocent features - The little creature. Her kid.
She was young, at least he thought so, surprisingly unafraid and had always been somewhat ... challenging. Children were complicated creatures. Very Irritating. Probably the hardest adversary he had yet to face. A mountain of fire or sea of bone melting acid amounted to nothing in front of tears and cries. He would rather bath in the former than face the latter. But, at the same time, watching her azure eyes glow like stars beneath the night sky and hearing her laugh with innocence he had not known, was … different. She was so weak and frail. But there was strength in her naive eyes and her carefree laugh.
When she reached their position, she threw herself into waiting arms, laughing and giggling. “Morning mother.” She snug into her chest. Amara put her arms around the girl. “Good morning honey. How was your night? Any dreams?”
For moments, they just embraced. Faces relaxed and glowing. Then the girl snuck back from her mothers arms and looked at him. She didn’t flinch. “Good morning uncle.” Her grin didn’t fade. He observed her eyes for a moment and replied. "...Little one”. Aparently the wrong move, as the young face twisted into a pout, eyes big and moist, lips pressed together. A comical sight. His heard tugged again. Why do you always call me little?" Her voice raised but not of anger. A sensetive topic, it seems.
"Because you are."
"Am not!"
"You sure?"
"Yes!"
Amara smiled, her hand slowly stroking her hair. A slight breeze passed by. "Now, now - " Her fingers moved down, carefuly removing a strand of hair the wind had blown in her face, " dont shout deary." She moved further down. Her fingers caressing and tracing from hair to chin, leaving the skin pale were she touched. The girl just smiled, leaning into her mothers hand. "Sorry mother, sorry uncle."
Time went by. His mind wandered to possibilites and the future. Worry for his new responsibilties. Fear for failing them, failing her. They had talked on occasion. Not much, just exchanging news and catching up. She worried for him. Not that he could do anything about it. She was right in doing it, but that did not mean he enjoyed it. Discounting present company, she was the last living real family he had. Which reminded him ...
"Mar. How are they progressing?" She looked up. Her eyes were half closed while the girl dosed in her arms. It took her a moment, then she replied with a strained voice. "They will be ready when you leave, but ... i dont like it. The first tests had not been great. " He sighed, a wry grin on his face. They had talked about this many times before. "Doesnt matter. It is the best chance we have, and you know it. " Resigned she looked down, eyes in thought and gaze resting on the ocean beyond. "I do. But i still dont like it." Carefully, he took her hand in his.
Me neither...