Prologue: The Son of Darkness
There had been no sign of being followed as she fled from the scene. Blood covered her hands and arms, pain but also eagerness reigned in her heart. She had done what it asked. She had killed her best friend. Now she could have him to herself! She would go to him and bare him a child, they would be good together! It had told her so!
She fell before the stream washing quickly in its cold waters, until she caught sight of her reflection. She froze eyes widening. She saw not her own face, but that of her friends. Touching her lips and nose she knew it was indeed her own reflection. She would not be caught, not since she was her friend now. There was no motive.
She stood slowly on shaking legs and looked back. She didn’t want to know. She had a deep dark feeling within that the body behind her now held her old face and form. It had given her what she wanted, but it was at such high of a cost.
“I will live in your shoes now, my friend. I will never forget you,” She mumbled then backed away from the water and fled towards the village.
It watched its mother quietly and with a great sense of victory, she would give it life, real life!
She reached the village and stumbled in screaming as if afraid for her life and he came! He grabbed her up in his arms as she babbled to him about imaginary slavers who had slain her friend Issabella.
“They found us in the woods while we gathered fruit!” She cried sobbing. “They killed her! Oh Issabella! I ran!! I could nay help her!! I c-couldn’t..”
“Shhh, ye are safe now Serinity… We will fin’ them, we will avenge yer friend.” He held her tight in his arms, never knowing he held his wife’s murderer, never knowing it was Issabella he held.
She watched as the guards fled towards the forest to find these slavers she spoke of, and with tears of joy and sorrow for what she had done to her beloved friend she let him carry her to his home.
She had never known such love! He moved with her as if they were one! She moaned deeply her fingers clinging to his body for dear life; nothing should feel so blessedly wonderful! She could feel his lips pressing to every part of her body. It didn’t matter to her anymore that he thought it was her friend; just having him was good enough!
She returned his kisses with her own burning passion and he moved one last time before giving her what she had desired since the beginning. She felt the life flooding into her body. It felt good at first, and then a cold settled in with the baby. She sobbed into his shoulder as he held her.
“What is it, my sweet Serinity?” He asked her softly lifting his eyes to meet hers.
“I am sorry, my love, I still mourn.” She murmured as she always did since that dreadful day.
“They did their best, love,” He told her soothingly, “The group who did it was just tae small and quick for them tae catch. They still look, but it has been nearly a year since the day.”
“I know,” she whispered back running her fingers over his face softly, “she loved ye too, Timothy. I always knew she did, but I could not share ye.”
He smiled softly, “I would nay have wanted tae be shared. I loved yer friend as a sister, I would have still protected her with my life, but it was ye I loved as my wife.”
Tears flooded her eyes once more, “Why do ye love me so much?”
“Because ye loved all around ye, and were willing to give of yerself tae anyone who asked. Ye are selfless, and I know had I been undecided between ye and Issabella ye would have encouraged me tae her at yer own loss,” He murmured, “Ye tried tae the day I proposed tae ye, tellin’ me she loved me with all her being, remember? But I could nay have wanted ye more than in that moment.”
“Timothy,” She whispered tears spilling down relentlessly as he told her this.
She wanted to tell him then, to beg forgiveness from the Goddess for what she had done! She would gladly give her life to bring back her friend now! If only she had known!!
He held her in a tight embrace and she cried deeply into his chest. She could not tell him. He would hate her and rightfully so. She deserved to die a million deaths under a million tortures and lose her place among the elvish stars for what she had done!
Nine months passed and she grew more and more sick with sadness as Timothy grew more and more excited over the coming birth of their child. She figured since she looked like Serinity now that the baby would look as human as everyone else. She would raise him with love and try to teach him right from wrong, knowing she herself had done the worst anyone could.
She screamed as the first pains of labor hit. She knew now that what she had done was going to be paid for dearly. All elf mothers could feel their child’s soul, but though he was living, she could never feel his.
The caregiver was called for her and Timothy dropped his work at the shop to be there with her. Each contraction seemed worse than the last, as if she were being ripped apart inside. She had been given the medicine from the elves to ease the pain, but it didn’t seem to take away any of it. As she pushed she grew hot with fever and delirium was starting to work it’s clutches over her mind.
She screamed as she pushed the new life out, and her friends shadow loomed over her. She could tell Serinity was not angry, but sorrowful. She started to babble things in elvish tongue which confused the caregiver and Timothy that is until the babies head was visible. She begged forgiveness over and over, murmuring Serinity’s name over and over as she did.
Timothy screamed as the caregiver handed him his son with saddened eyes. He looked down at an elvish child and his heart broke. He felt it in the deepest part of his heart the pain of his loss. He was shaking as he held his son to his chest eyes closed tight. It was not the boy’s fault his mother had done this.
He looked to the caregiver and eyes closing he managed to calm enough to speak, “I forgive Issabella for this crime, but I know ye cannot allow this crime tae pass.”
The caregiver nodded in understanding, “And the child?”
“Nay, it is not his fault his mother did these things,” He murmured softly under the cries and wails of Issabella, “I will raise him.”
“He is not human, nor was he born of the Light,” The caregiver looked worried, “He should be taken and given tae the Goddess to purify his soul sae he might be allowed into the goddess presence.”
“He is an infant. I have never cared for the practice of sacrificing children for their parent’s misdeeds. I will raise him tae be good,” He closed his eyes, “If I could save his mother as well, I would.”
“Even though she killed yer own flesh?” the caregiver seemed startled by this thought.
“Aye, it would have been Serinity’s wish that she live, that I marry her despite this. I know that it is not in my ability tae do,” He clenched his teeth, “She is an elf, it is their council who must decide her fate.”
With that he turned carrying the baby with him. He would go to the name-givers house and even go through the right of naming. He hurried passed the onlookers holding the baby boy close against his chest, hidden under the caregivers delivery blankets. He reached the house much slower than he would have liked and had to close the door on the crowd that had gathered.
“Timothy? Why do ye close the door on family and friends?” the Name-giver looked up to him, “Do not they deserve tae…”
Timothy lay the baby in the other mans arms before he could finish. The name-givers eyes widened as he looked on the now silent jade-eyed baby’s face.
“Ye can nay mean tae…” He started.
“Name him! I will have his life spared for Serinity’s love, but I can only do sae if ye name him!!” Timothy begged.
The man sighed and nodded then opened the book of records. He drew up his pen and dipped it in the ink.
“In the name of the Goddess of Light, I bless this child’s life and sae give him the protection of the book of Life. Let the world recognize and welcome ye, Shinzo of Shaerar.” The name-giver sealed the boys fate and Timothy with tears in his eyes took the child back into his arms.
“What does his name mean?” He asked quietly.
“Son of Betrayal,” He told Timothy quietly, “It is the only name I am willing to give him, Timothy. He should not even be sealed.”
With a knot in his throat he nodded, “He is my son as well, Basti Kolaes, I do nay care what ye call him by, nor what it means.”
“I understand why ye do this, Timothy, but it is it best fer the boy?” Basti asked.
“Yes, how would death be a better choice?” He looked to his son with a soft smile, “My Shinzo.”
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