[2] Evil Within

WRITERS POV 

Although Ignere was the largest forest in the sup realm, half of it had been eaten away by the dragon fire from the great battle. The remaining half stood dark and tall,  twice as thick and scary than it had been ten thousand years ago.

Entering the forest in the middle of day was a beautiful sight for many, but even so, after walking in the forest for an hour or two, one could see the dark part. A mysterious fog hang in the shadowy trees as straight as the eye could see, a barrier of some sort, one that hadn't died out in millenniums. The thick mist around it spoke of a rage, one the forest itself had created once it's other half was murdered mercilessly, it's beautiful green blades sprinkled with the blood of all those who fell that day. 

It didn't matter if the sun was as hot as the fires of Set, it always had a dark shield around it and the mist never ceased.

As soon as the sun went down the mysterious mist would suddenly fill the whole forest claiming it to itself, a token, a trophy. Daring any incompetent soul.

Thus as the wind raged through the remainder of the city, galloping through the towns and directly into the forest, people could not help but wonder.... why?

Why Ignere? 

Those of courage peaked through their windows and doors, watching as the wind seemed to be devoured by the forest, disappearing deep inside it out of eye sight.

If one was a shadow of the forest, he would have floated with the wind right into the heart of the forest, past the mist of the dark side to the center, disappearing into a clearing, by which lay the ruins of a castle, eons old.

If one was to guess by the way it stood up rapidly and historically, one could easily say that it had once been a wonder.

A part of a glorious empire, but now the walls had been ripped apart and only one part of this glorious piece of enchantment was intact.

It looked abandoned and neglected at first glance.

And second glance, 

But if one used their eyes to the best of their ability, squinting just enough the third time, at the top of the left tower, covered thickly in mist, was a small light barely able to shine through. 

Here paced a King, one not known by any other except from his own, walking back and forth in the cracked hallway, fists clenched, sweat pouring down in waves.

What was taking so long? He had heard the cries and the power, but why was everything so deathly still? 

He contemplated busting the door down. He was counting on this, his people were counting on him. His future and that of his people depended on-

Suddenly the large wooden doors of the castle room he had been pacing in front of, opened, pulling him out of his thoughts. 

Sucking in a sharp breath, he watched as a Auburn haired woman walked toward him cradling an infant in her arms.

His gaze softened as he watched the baby sleeping comfortably, wrapped in a white cloth stained in crimson.

He looked down at his child, hands shaking,

                                   "h-his here" he stuttered,  not quite able to believe it.

Repeating the words again, he convinced himself this was real, a large smile lighting his eyes in a way they had not done for centuries, reaching out in eagerness to  hold his son but the woman hed onto the baby tighter, pulling away from him, her eyes glistening in unshed tears.

King Saga's burning gaze landed on the woman, a hard scowl forming across his features,

                              "Rebecca, let go of my son, " he gritted out, his eyes a threat held clear.

Rebecca shook her head slowly, a tear slipped down her cheek,

                                            "Queen Adrianna didn't make it," she replied, a soft sob escaping her trembling lips, a quiver in each word.

Cradling the baby in her arms, she lifted her crowned head to the King.

Saga could see how tightly she was holding the baby, her fingernails digging into the clothe. He shut his eyes, trying to stop his rage, breathing out as he dismissed himself from her presence walking to the room. Staring at the floor for a couple seconds, he pushed the door open, a whispered gasp escaping his lips at the sight of his Queen, laying dead in her bed.

He closed it shut immediately, jaw clenching, turning round to face Rebecca.

                                                  "She was fine, " the girl stuttered out, "she was healthy even after the birth but as soon as she touched her son... " she paused, a whimper escaping her lips, "he killed her, he sucked the life force from her, " she said her hands shivering. 

Before she could say anything else, Saga slammed her against the wooden door, his eyes flickered with the flame of his beast,

                               "You don't tell anyone what happened. You understand me?" He growled out.

She shivered in alarm her eyes wide and in her moment of alarm, He grabbed the child from her hands protectively.

                                                "He is our future, " he said his hands passing on his sons rosy cheeks. 

She looked at him horrified slowly backing up, hatred flickering in her orbs.

"He killed her! He killed his own mother,

                                        "My sister! " she cried out, raising an accusing finger at the babe. 

Saga looked up at her,

                                      "Sacrifices must be made, " he said calmly.

   

                                            "The child that supposed to save us is a murderer," she screeched tears rushing down her face. Without further warning she lunged toward Saga, who moved away swiftly, his senses put into action,  but she managed to swipe the small blade Saga always kept beside him. 

He looked at her as she stood there holding the weapon, a glare in her gaze,

                                         "h-he has to die" she said slowly, "We can't raise a monster."

Saga's eyes flamed with fury. Erania knows, if it had been anybody else he would have burned them alive but this was Rebecca, the love of his life. 

He looked down at the baby still asleep, before his eyes settled back on her,

                                           "okay," he finally agreed, a strange calmness around him.

He lifted his arms out and Rebecca looked at the baby. 

                                                   "Do it,  Kill him. End it all, our hope, our future, you know we won't be able to create any more Goldens for gods are not born on accident. He is the only one that has survived and now that Adrianna's gone-" He trailed off, his thick eyebrows hunching as he spotted the wooden doors, " Do it."

She looked at him, hesitating for a moment, her eyes flashing back to the child. 

 However, rage was enough to make her  lift up the blade in readiness to plunge but just as she did, the baby opened it's eyes a little as if sensing danger, coughing once. It blinked trying to open it's eyes wider.

For the first time Rebecca noticed it's eyes. It wasn't brown like his father's or grey like his mother,  but a deep blue like hers. 

She held her breath for a second as a sudden wave of emotion captivated her like a storm, suddenly feeling like crying.

Saga kept up his encouragement,

                                   "Do it! Thrust that blade into him, Rebecca! He killed his mother! Do it! " he yelled, raising his voice in utter frustration. 

Her hands were shaking, chest heaving up and down as she watched the baby stare back at her, emotions ravaging through her mind and body causing her to suddenly take a step back, dropping the knife to the floor, following as she knelt down on the stone cold ground.

She noticed that the young prince was looking at her in awe,  a look far from anger but in mere forgiveness with a  somewhat excitement and unconditional love. She took this all in shock, Saga cradling the babe closer to chest protectively.

                                                       "I don't know what happened back there, " the Kings voice rumbled, his eyes moving from the young prince to hers, his long hair pulled up in a detangled bun, "But I know that he is your blood. My blood and the heir to the dragon kingdom of which a whole realm is his birthright. I can feel his power, " he paused staring back at the babe with a gentle smile, "It's unbelievable," he whispered lowly.

He looked at Rebecca who was on her knees,  "His mother is dead my love. Now I am the last halfling, but together we created a whole. A savior. Yes she has lived her purpose, now it's time you lived yours," he said placing the baby in her hands. She took him in, her tears mellowing away.

Reaching her hand out to touch him to which he responded by grabbing her thumb with his chubby little fingers. A slight chuckle escaped her shaken lips through her tears as she saw this, looking down at him in surprise as did Saga, equally mesmerised. 

He held her thumb for a moment his wide eyes staring at her before he yawned, burying his little face in her arms as if knowing he was completely safe and there was nothing that could get to him in that moment.

Tears filled her eyes, both afraid and  terrified she had almost killed this little angel. 

Saga knelt down beside her, "He is beautiful, and seems to me like, " he paused, pulling her to lean on him.

"oh Rebecca, " he said softly,  "as if you were his mother." 

A tear fell silently but she was smiling as she watched him sleep. 

There was no evil within him.