Chapter one: The devil's in the details

Jessup sat in the living room, gently rocking a very colicky infant, a tired sigh escaping from him. While the baby wasn't his, he adopted her as his. He quietly started to sing to try and calm the crying infant.

"Hush my little one, this is but a phase.

You don't feel good, I know.

Quiet your tears my sweet child,

Papa is here.

Like a Comet in the sky,

You crashed into my life.

Like the distant starlight,

Your eyes shine with life.

Life is tough, you'll come to learn.

I will guide you as best as I can.

Hush and sleep my little one

You are safe and warm.

Hush and sleep my dark star,

Your journey has yet begun.

Hush and sleep little Lissabat,

I am here to keep you safe."

Jessup quietly sang, receiving a soft coo from the now sleeping infant. He had been spending time with the baby since his wife had seemed to reject her from birth. He knew that Lissa hadn't asked to be born of such a union, but she had his heart from her first breath. He knew that a rift was starting to form between his wife and Lissa and there wasn't much that he could do to help ease the tension, especially when Triss had stated they should leave her at the edge of the forest, that if she were meant to live, the gods would see it done. He had been adamant that that was cruel and the gods would potentially punish such actions, but he also knew that the gods tended to not meddle in such affairs.

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Jessup sighed softly as he sat down in his chair, quietly holding the sleeping infant. He knew that the infant he held was innocent of any transgression, but he wouldn't force his wife to give affection but would instead, shield Lissa from Triss’ wrath.

Triss stomps into the kitchen of the home she shared with her husband and unwanted child. She had suggested leaving the baby to the elements, but Jessup had shut her down, saying that it would make her no better than a devil. She was fuming that he'd brought up her pact and the condition that Lissa, the name he'd given her, could not be harmed or they were both in danger of losing their souls. “That bastard has a soft heart.” She muttered, gritting her teeth as she put a cap on any emotional attachment or affection she could feel for her newborn daughter. She would teach the child that life wasn't fair, that she would be seen as a devil's spawn, that she would be seen with contempt. To do that, she vowed to kill off any affection towards her daughter since she had a feeling that Jessup wouldn't.

Jessup sighed as he heard Triss stomping around, closing his eyes. He had made his opinions known. He didn't care that Lissa wasn't his, to him, she was. He could tell Triss was in a bad mood, but he was not going to let her wake up a very fussy infant. He had named Lissa after his grandmother because he sensed a kind soul within the confines of such a small body.

“You can bring about change little Lissabat. You are now my greatest treasure.” He stated, tears filling his honey yellow eyes as Lissa reached up and grabbed his finger, her dark gray skin like the night sky compared to his sun kissed tan skin. Jessup felt his heart clench in his chest as he poured every ounce of fatherly devotion into the room, gently rocking Lissa so that she remains asleep.

Triss stopped at hearing Jessup's words before she snorted derisively. “She won't amount to much other than being a cursed devil's spawn.” She stated, turning, about to storm out, only for Jessup to close the distance after laying Lissa in her crib.

“Your pride will be your downfall. I will not let Lissa turn into you, bitter and prideful, vain and uncaring. She will know the love of at least one parent. I will keep your bargain, even if you don't want to.” Jessup stated, his voice quiet with a hum of authority, “I will fight you tooth and nail to make sure that child has a good life, that she wants for nothing. I'm appalled that you can reject your own daughter just because she's not mine. She is mine in heart and spirit. Until you see that, you will sleep in a separate room. Our marriage will be in name only if this is how you're going to treat our daughter.”

Triss gasped, stung by his words before slapping his face, inadvertently waking Lissa up, the latter letting out an ear piercing wail. “Shut that brat up!” She screams, storming out of the house.

Jessup sighed, rubbing his cheek as he approached Lissa's crib, only to see that she was exuding shadow like smoke. He gently picked her up and held her close, gently rubbing her back. “Shhh, it's okay Lissabat. Daddy's not hurt. He just drew his battle lines.” He states, gently bouncing her, trying to comfort the inconsolable infant.

Jessup quietly held Lissa, but the infant was inconsolable at this point. He cursed Triss’ inconsiderate behavior and wondered how he was going to stop Lissa from exuding this dark smoke. He was bound to the infant, but his wife was his wife in name only at this point, and he knew that would make for some resentment between Triss and Lissa. He had done his research on Lissa's father and knew that if the bargain wasn't fulfilled, they were damned. He pulled a cot into the living room, next to Lissa's crib, keeping his word of sleeping separately of Triss.

"Everything will be okay Little Lissabat, everything will be okay." He whispered, falling asleep, holding the now sleeping infant close, having finally gotten her to calm down enough to stop exuding the shadow like smoke.