I will not be killed by your endless scheming.... -Nathanial Peter Quele Royale
I was safe, at least that’s what I believed mediating eyes closed nothing but blackness surrounding me. I was trying to make sense of the last two days, of the life that had changed around me. Was I drawn to him? If so why? Was it the panic, the fear, the pain he could cause me? Why did I have to be so cursed with this obsession? It would surely be my undoing someday, this craving I had for the wicked. From within my black day dreams light from a far off source, could he not leave me alone just to think? The light was coming closer, no he could not could he? Before me now the light changed forming into Drefan’s normal form, so handsome, so cruel.
“Thought you were safe? Nay, I will always be their to haunt you even in your dreams.”
Remembering the previous nights dream I could feel my body shudder in revulsion.
“You see? Where ever you are I will haunt you.”
“Why? Why do you take sadistic pleasure for this? From hurting me?”
“Haven’t you ever heard people say I take pleasure from your pleasure? You’re the wicked one little thing. You are the one that craves more.”
I wanted to yell at him, to say how it was not true…but it was! It was!
Laughing at me marionette holds and strings appeared in his hands, “You are my puppet, human kind is my puppet. Nanqa was right in warning the humans of the ‘gift’ of death, for once dead they are mine. All are mine.”
Lifting the strings up before him a slackened body appeared long golden hair falling over the face, I looked at this marionette curiously wondering who it was. Pulling the strings arms moved upwards till the face was shown. Mrs. Royale!
“Yo-your own mother?”
“She may have given birth to me but never in all her years has she loved me. I was different little one, not the perfect obeying son. I did not believe all the hogwash they talked of about morality, religion. That’s why when you were born Nelic and Thom could marry you not I. I am the unforgiven, the stray..”
He jerked back the body’s slackened head laughing at the vacant eyes, “When they die they are mine, mine to do things with if they only knew about,” he snapped black eyes from the face to me.
“Do you want to see the future?” he was smiling cruelly his voice soft almost a whisper.
I did not know, did I? Really did I want to see what would happen to these kind people who were like second parents to me? Yes..I did.
Nodding Drefan nodded as well, “Not so different then I underneath now are we?”
I did not answer eyes watching the marionette feeling suddenly drowsy, eyes closing.
Snapping my orbs open I could hear the small excited whispers of the audience, clapping from those around me. What? Eyes roamed over the small ghost like crowd no features showing on any around me to find the source of entertainment. Their, ahead of me a large cinema stage with what seemed to be a ballroom backdrop. So odd..why was I here? Two figures moved with grace across the stage dancing together arm in arm their ball room attire ripped and shredded. In a turn they faced me eyes vacant blood was seeping from open wounds, their neck was snapped, Mr. and Mrs. Royale were dead. Standing I looked for Drefan, where was he? He said he was the master, the one controlling the strings, where could he be? Shifting through the ghost like crowd I gagged every time one touched me, it felt so wrong, they were wrong.. Stepping to the side of the stage I found the iron stairs to the top of the stage, which was where Drefan had to be. Following those iron stairs I heard nothing but the whisperings of the audience. Finally at the top I stood to catch my laboured breathing looking back to the audience which began to clap in excitement. My eyes looked then down to the wooden stage a gasp coming from within me, Thom slowly walked his way onto stage grey skinned and lifeless, he did not look much older then he was now. For that matter neither did the Royales, when would they die? How did my beloved die? How did he die before me the one destined to die young? I tore my eyes away unable to watch this any longer walking towards Drefan who looked up his fingers busily moving strings.
“Is it to your liking?”
I frowned coming closer, “How?”
“Well that is the question isn’t it? Why ask me the little stray? Why not ask Nelic, she is the seer of the family. Oh wait! She’s not of this family, but she gets more respect then I do. The adopted one gets more love then the skin and blood one does.”
I looked back down at those marionettes so under his control, I was breaking I think..I think that’s when I figured out I was breaking. I couldn’t fight much longer, two days of this and he was winning..What would happen to me by time this all happened? I would be a willing slave doing anything to please this monster..
“No!” he spun to him tears in my eyes as he grabbed the back of my neck pulling me close.
“What is the use of fighting Nathanial? It just weakens you further, you know how you want this..” a slap made my head turn to the side my cheek stinging.
“You know you want more..”
My hands came up to his face as if to caress a tanned cheek, my finger nails at this point were not long but sharp still. Digging into his cheeks I shook my head even as he tightened his hold, “No, I will never be your willing slave!”
Growling he pushed me back against the iron ledge, “You are so defiant of what must be!”
I struggled, my nails digging in deeper into tanned cheek flesh as he pushed me over the bending bars and I screamed.
I finished the scream landing on the velvet green couch, every bone hurt in my body but most of all my cheek. Tears leaked down my cheeks as I caressed the red enflamed skin. What was he doing to me? I laid my head back against the pillows unable to stop the tear flow, I was so scared, confused. If he was not controlling me, then I had not died? But how could this be so that I had not perished but almost all the Royale’s had? Was this purely Drefan’s doing in his hate for his own family? I wiped away my tears as I heard the front door being unlocked. Who? Could it possibly be? Was that why Drefan had told him to ask her? My eyes starred at the door wondering if it could really be her. She had not come home in so long, where had she gone. Last we had heard she had found a lover, maybe she had married him? Was she bringing him home? But in the end it didn’t matter, she was coming home. My adopted older sister opened the oak door her long dark brown hair with it’s two elvish braids in front moved about her face as she laughed.
“Ah little brother, it has been so long sense I have last seen you!”
I sat up straighter the pillows behind being used to keep me up in my pain.
“Who’s with you?” I asked as a large figure blocked the sunlight in the doorway.
“This is James Red Rose Cross, my fiancée.”
The one in question stepped into the inner hallway beside the oak door closing it beside him smiling at the Nelic. His skin was flawless and his eyes, his eyes you could stare at for hours. They red, that sounded so dull but they were maroon, blood red, Magenta and the list went on. His eyes were beautiful, happiness and laughter shone in those pools.
He wore skin tight black pants and a black trench coat showing he wore nothing underneath from the skin showing where the buttons were not done up. One hand was on his hip on his black silver studded belt, as the other came forward to shake.
I shook the man’s hand as he smiled further two fang like teeth showed. I shuddered, it could not be? My sister had married a night crawler?
“A Vampire?”
“Yes he is a good man if you look beyond the fangs Nathanial.”
The vampire shook the my hand gently, “Nice to meet ye lad.”
I chewed on my bottom lip thinking over the possibility that Nilec was right. Nilec was a high believer in their faith, if she did not believe James was evil then I would agree with her.
“It’s good to meet you too, but how can you be in the sunlight if you are vampire?” I moved slowly my hand grasping the others as I sat up straighter. Their nails matched in all but colour, James’s long nails were black where mine were not painted. They were beautiful, I hoped maybe someday I could do the same to mine.
A smile to his blood red tinted lips, “There are certain ways around such things Nathanial.”
Seeing how I shook lightly, “Are ye in pain?” the Scottish brogue was thick.
Nilec sat down beside me spreading the skirts of her long medieval style green dress worry in her eyes, “Are you love?”
I dropped my trembling hand at last to my side, “A little..” a complete lie.
Nilec looked at me eyes that showed that she did not believe my lie one bit.
“Not a little pain brother Drefan does not do things in small amounts.”
No I could not fool a seer, I smiled, she knew far more then she told.
“No I guess not,” I managed to say eyes closing with a sigh.
“Well there is not much I can do for you. The gods do not allow one with the sight to intervene.”
“I will heal some of the pain none the less.”
She brought her long green painted nails to cradle my bare skull gentlely, softly whispering words of elvish healing.
I became still as I felt a strange tugging within my mind, a battle was raging between Drefan and Nilec. Drefan must have left something of his magic within to combat any healing done.Nilec had her brow furrowed sweat was beginning to pour down her cheeks. James worriedly laid both hands on her shoulders watching. I could feel the wounds of the flesh slowly begin to heal and relaxed into my sister’s touch. Yes as long as Nilec was their I would be alright.
Deep within something was touched, I did not know what, but a fire swept through my form. He gasped screaming as shards pierced my mind and hands, pain erupting through and through. Nilec gasped falling back her hands coming away covered in blood, James grabbed her before she could fall from the couch. I fell back though the cushions supported me as I twitched, what had happened? From below in the basement a growling yelling of Drefan was heard before the stairs were pounded on. James looked to the basement door as it was swung open crashing into the wall beside it.
“He’s Mine!” his eyes had that unquenchable black rage to them of his insanity, “The link will not be removed.”
On his hands were also the stains of the my blood, opening her right eye of emerald green Nilec watched him.
I watched both, a link? What was that? What had Drefan done to me now?
Drefan growled, “Leave!, this is no longer your home.”
“He is not yours Drefan. If he was yours he would not be fighting back.”
James watched with anger written in his features, “We best leave this place.”
Nilec sighed giving me a look of sadness and pity, “The gods are cruel sometimes little brother.”
Taking her fiancée’s hand she stood smoothing her skirts before walking to the door.
There was nothing she could do, damn the gods, why did they have to do this to a child? A mere child!? I watched them walk out the door knowing I would not see them again for a long time. Drefan starred at the door then looked back to me his hands dripping my blood, “Your mine Nathanial, you must learn that for your own sake.”
I chewed on my bottom lip feeling a tear fall down my cheek, it fell to my hand which then he saw the tear had been blood.
I tried to be courageous, to stand up, “I’m not yours, I will never be yours.”
My hands were in fists coming up to wipe away the blood tears, growling Drefan watched him. Stepping towards me he thought better, “Foolish little brat, you will learn obedience.”
Turning his back to me he slammed the basement door shut behind him as he walked back down the stairs. What would Dref do? I wondered as my legs gave out and I fell back against the pillows, should I stay here? Or should I run with Nilec? My eyes were blurry, dizziness swept over me. No my parents, I had to think of Thom, of my mom and dad. I would stay for them.. I would endure anything to stay with them. Even if it killed me, though I knew naught if that really would happen. Forcing strength into my weak limbs I made myself stand once more. The dizziness swept over me again but I made myself stay upright. No longer did I feel safe in this house, what had this all done to me? In my own home where I was loved I felt no longer safe. Taking a step away from the couch I moved towards the hallway. Each step was painful and my lungs willed me to stop. But I would not, making it to the back door opening to the harsh sunlight. Squinting I walked down the concrete steps into the lush grass filled backyard. Curling my toes into the grass I took in a deep breath of fresh air. It calmed me, feeling the earth beneath my feet and the fresh air in my ragged lungs. My eyes took in the small misplaced tomato plant poking out from beneath the stairs straining for sunlight. I kneed down and crawled in my p.j’s to the plant tending to it as I always had sense I had first seen it. I tore off dead leaves and grabbed the bucket of water from beside it. I poured some at it’s roots waiting till it disappeared below ground before doing so again. Picking a small plump tomato I bit into it. The juices flowed down my chin as I swallowed the skin spitting out seeds. I hid from the sun beneath these stairs. Maybe I wasn’t just hiding from the sun, maybe I was hiding from my life as well. Why could I not just be left in peace? Laying my head against the concrete, I felt so exhausted. So drained. My eyes closed the exhaustion taking over, but my eyes wound not stayed closed. Opening them fully I decided in defeat to just sit and relax. But no, the relaxation did not come, not even sleep, but the vision did.
I was older, in my early teens, thirteen or fourteen. In my arms I held a child, a sleeping baby. My own? How? Arms wrapped around my vision’s form holding me and the child close. Turning I smiled, or my vision’s self did, I loved this man who held me. Where was Thom? Where was I then? Whose child was that? Could it really be mine? If so why was I with this loving man instead of my Thom? The little boys eyes opened in my arms, his purple looked straight at me. “Daddy.”
My mind was pulled back to reality as I heard my name being called.
“Nathanial”
Crawling out of my hiding place as quickly as I could wishing not to be seen I rushed up the stairs.
“Where are you brat?!?”
I opened the door, closing it behind me panting in need of deep breaths.
“Yes, yes I am here.”
“Good, I wont even ask where you were, I rather not know. Follow me.”
I stood still in fear giving him a haughty glare to cover the fear.
Drefan rolled baby blues stepping away from the basement door coming closer, “You will fear me, but now you need not. Do not worry little brat, all the pain I will inflict will be but a prick of a needle to your thumb.”
“Why?” I questioned cautiously taking a step forward.
“All our family have the arts of some type. We are going to find out yours.”
“Already? But I’m only 7.”
“Almost eight and very ill, you will not live long on this plain so we best do this now. You can trust me this time Nathanial. I do not screw around when it comes to the arts.”
I starred up into hatred filled blue depths that did show a degree of sanity at that moment, yes Drefan spoke the truth. Drefan grabbed my wrist and made me follow him down the blue-grey chipping stairs. I began to cough and choke as I had no break from this walk. Pulled into Drefan’s room I sat down on the perfectly made bed starring at the blankets unwanted memories surfacing. Drefan took up my left hand showing a needle pricking my thumb. Pricking the sensitive white flesh a bubble of blood frothed to the surface. Drefan pinched my thumb dripping a drop of my blood on each crystal on the desk. Each crystal was infused with a certain magic type, the crystals were old used for centuries for just this purpose.
“In placing the blood on a jewel infused with a certain magic which you are intoned to the blood will stay. All magics you can not do, the blood will evaporate.”
Before Drefan on the black desk which before piled texts were now the crystals. All in a row, the green earth, blue water, red fire, white healing, grey air. Then I saw the last crystal I had never seen before, the black of necromancy. At Thom’s coming of art when he was twelve that crystal had not been present. Watching the blood evaporate on green, red, blue and grey I gulped. Oh please by the gods no..
“Well, well, Necromancy it is little slave. I will have to take your education very seriously now.”
As if hearing that was not bad enough, the white diamond still had the blood atop it’s glinting surface, but no wait it was changing. The white was being milked away, replaced by red, the blood seeping in. What could that mean? Blood healing?
“Well, your worse then I am little masochistic.”
I moved from the bed standing to the desk, “what does it mean?”
“To heal you must first inflict the pain upon your self,” the grin of pure pleasure on Drefan’s face sent shivers down my spine. So that was what I am? A demon? A monster so engrossed in my own pain that I do not have right to live? An abomination? A curse to my parents? To my husband? To everyone? Why then sweet gods did you bring me into existence? Why am I here? To torture and bring pain to those children you hold dearest? WHY?!? Why must it be me? One who holds you in the highest? By this point tears were streaming down my cheeks as I fell back onto the red blankets. Then if I am to be this monster, why am I fighting? Why am I still trying so hard to stay away from the hurt? From the pain? What did it mean? I was sobbing now on my side curled into a ball Drefan sitting beside me starring down at me. For once those blue eyes were fathomless, a comfort to my befuddled mind. What am I? Who am I? What is my purpose?
