Temple of Azarath

July 18, 1964

In another dimension within Kyoto, Japan

~

“No, please, leave her to me!” The woman screamed at the top of her lungs as she was held back by men in white robes while one of them yanked the wailing baby wrapped in white wool. The woman dropped the knife she gripped in her hand and reached for the baby. “Please, let me put her out of her misery! I’m trying to save her!”

The man cradled the baby to ease her distress. A small pale little thing, with hair black as raven wings. Anyone could tell she was born just a few days ago. She was yet to have the strength to hold up her own hear. The baby returned to her slumber and was given to another woman also dressed in the same white garments.  

“Mother Harumi, take her inside,” he said. “She must be freezing.”

The lady bowed her head. “Yes, Father Torao,” she said before taking the child inside the Temple of Azarath.

“You don’t understand, Father!” The mother continued to scream. “She doesn’t know what she is! We don’t know what she’ll grow up to be! Her own father will use her! I’m trying to save her!”

Father Torao turned to glare at her. “You think taking her life will save her? You are mistaken, Angela. This is a place of peace, not violence. We took you in and tried to help you but you almost broke our sacred law.”

“This will no longer be a place of peace if her father finds her.”

Father Torao proceeded to glared before turning away. “Get her out of here. Take her away. Far away. Make sure she never comes back.”

Angela was dragged away from the courtyard, her heels skidding across marble ground. She kicked and screamed, trying to pull away from their grasp. “No, Rachel! Rachel! Give her back! She’s mine!”

Once they left, Father Torao headed back to the temple.

In his office, Mother Harumi stood near the fireplace, drying some of the rain from the baby’s face and keeping her warm. The baby remained undisturbed.

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Mother Harumi cradled the baby gently. A small smile crept up her face. However, her smile disappeared when Father Torao entered. She sighed in disappointment. “I don’t know what came over her. I thought I talked her out of it. I failed. Forgive me, Father.”

“This wasn’t your fault, Harumi. There’s nothing much you can do at this point.”

“I still can’t believe she would do this. Kill her own child.”

“I’m afraid she’s not in her right mind, Mother Harumi.”

“Do you think she might be right though?” she wondered. “Is there something wrong with the child? I mean, when she was born, the blood she was covered in was not red but black. And her cries were unnatural and inhuman. She might be dangerous to our home. We all know who her father is. She could become like him. Who knows?”

“What is your opinion?”

Harumi shook her head. “I don’t think it’s fair to condemn this child without knowing. One can’t be this heartless.”

“More reasons to protect her. She is one of us now. She no longer belongs to that demon. And if he comes to claim her, we must be ready. The child must never know who her father really is.”

Mother Harumi looked at him surprised. “Keep secrets from her? I don’t think that’s a good idea. If she finds out what she is and who her father is, there’s no telling what will happen.”

“No evil will touch this sacred place. As long as she remains here, she will never know.”

Mother Harumi appeared to be thinking long and hard about the situation as she was the one caring for both Angela and the baby. “…May I care for her then, Father Torao?”

“For whom?”

“For Rachel.”

He looked at her in shock. “You wish to become her legal guardian?”

She nodded.

“And are you willing to burden yourself to care for this child?”

“I am. She needs a mother. And I’m her nurse. If you wish for her to be one of us, she needs to be raised by one of us. And who better to do it than me?”

“If that’s what you wish,” he said. “Very well. But Rachel Roth is your responsibility. Remember that.”

Mother Harumi bowed her head gratefully. “Thank you, Father.”

She smiled down at the baby who let out a squeaking sound as she yawned tiredly. Harumi giggled and kissed her head. “You’ll be all right. I’ll never let anything happen to you. You’re safe. My dear little raven bird.”