Part 2

Full moons passed and Arla bore two more children, two boys, Fayna and Githa, as much as she and Adam loved the boys Sorcha always remained in their hearts. Life in the village carried on, the Great Mother woke the world to the start of a new day and at night filled the sky with thousands of tiny candles informing life below it was time to rest. Ianu poured over his books day and night, the sense of foreboding growing deeper with each passing moon. Whatever was coming was bad, very bad. Life seemed perfect but they were Fae, they knew something was to happen; an evil was spreading across the land. Village were turning against Village, first it was the Elves then it spread to the small Fae villages further north even the fairies no longer trusted anyone shying away from any contact that was not their own. The children grew and the village became filled with laughter and mischief. The sky blazed in a brilliant light, the sun spread its heat across the land and with the help of the rain it ripened the corn, flowers burst forth in bright colours adding to the landscape that could have passed as being painted with pastels.

You could not say the same for Vaxur. Its dry barren land and dead trees gave an idea of what was inside the castle. The heavy wooden doors surrounded by dark stone walls made the place look impenetrable for anyone who wished to enter, if they were brave enough. Inside the rich coloured walls and ceilings gave you the feeling of opulence but the feeling was short lived.

Sorcha now a child herself spent her time painting and playing music. The tower was the only room she knew for she had never left it. If she thought it strange she never questioned just as she never asked about her guardians. She didn't need powers to know she was different just one look at their eyes and the fangs that glinted in the moonlight made her realise she was not one of them.

Lykaios would visit each night to get a report from her charge then report back to the Helmer. He never spoke to the child, never knew what to say and if the truth be told she unsettled him. Entering the room he found the old lady gone “Where is Laila?” he demanded, angry at the woman’s disappearance. Sorcha looked up from her book “I am hungry she has gone to fetch me something to eat, she will not be long” Lykaios paced the floor in impatience; he didn't want to be here any longer than necessary. Feeling a warm hand slide into his he looked down to find Sorcha staring at him “You do not like me” Lykaios opened his mouth to protest but the child stopped him “It is all right, you fear what is not like you, I am not like you so you fear me. I will not harm you or your kind, if you are true to yourselves then I will honour it” Lykaios stared, for such a small Majick she had wisdom beyond her years. “Laila is here now” turning the child went back to her book just as the old woman entered. Lykaios left shortly after the words of the Fae child ringing in his ears.

The Helmer sent Lykaios to the west, the Drayad province wished for Vaxur to join them in battle. Travelling at night he returned the following. The Helmer listened as he explained what the other province desired. “And what do you say Lykaios, you know I trust your judgement” Lykaios shook his head, the fight had nothing to do with them, why risk war over siding with another clan and take by force what they already have “No sire, our past has never waged war and I believe now would be a mistake” The Helmer agreed “We will send a message that we regretfully decline” Lykaios was suspicious “Might I suggest one more thing, It might be prudent to add that any attack on us by them will be met by swift and painful retaliation” Cailean looked at his aid, Lykaios was more than that, they were brothers in blood. Twins, born Vampires from a Vampire, the only two in existence, how they came to be was a mystery but the ancient scrolls  declared it would happen. Their clan had accepted the scrolls insisted that he would be their Helmer although he always believed Lykaios would be much better suited.

The message was dispatched and Cailean heard nothing else from them. He heard of the attacks the death and torture of hundreds of souls in the Realm but they did not act, Cailean refused to join the wars waged against others, the Realm had been peaceful for centuries, a place of quiet truce, to break that truce would bring shame on the clan but neither could they act in defence of others for they had a secret, something that was to be protected at all cost.

Full moons passed and the children grew. One morning word was sent to the elders of each village, a meeting was being held. Ianu sat and listened sadly as each one took turns to report on what was happening elsewhere. They agreed they had to act, that working singly was only bringing extinction to each village; if it kept going there would be no Fae left. Together as one would give them a chance, a means to push the enemy back, give them breathing space while the child grew.

Ianu returned home with a heavy heart. Calling the village together the next morning he declared war, all men were to arm. Adam was the first, his battle experience and sense of justice impressed the others, they announced him as the leader. Arla watched with the other woman as they set of to join the other men. The woman worked as usual, tended the land and helped as the boys not old enough to fight carried on fishing. Arla was proud of her two, they were turning into fine strong men, looking up at the sky she hoped the Great Mother was as generous with Sorcha as she had been with them.

Sorcha looked to the north, she saw nothing as no window was placed there, she could hear the screams of the woman and children as they were slain and it tore at her heart. The voices of the destroyers were full of greed, hate but there feelings were wrong, they had been instilled, convinced this was right…they were not to blame. Lykaios opened the door, stopping he watched the now teen as she stared at the wall opposite. He had the feeling she sensed something. Sorcha turned and he saw a tear run down her cheek, without thought he crossed the room and reaching up wiped it from her face “Why?”  Sorcha stared into his blood red eyes “Can you not feel it?” He looked at her quizzically “Feel what?” She turned away, afraid she would burst into tears at any moment “The hate, the anger…the pain” He could feel nothing; his kind could feel emotions but one person at a time. Suddenly he felt her; it had never been possible to feel Fae but he did and the pain she felt was intense, almost bringing him to his knees.

The Hellion, they stand on two feet and from a distance they look normal but these monsters are exactly that, monsters. Shut away from the Jajij Realm by a veil of majick they became prisoners of their own obscurity, only the blackest of hearts live their.  Arla was the first to see them, the dark shapes approaching from the east, warning the others she helped them pack some supplies “Go, you must pack yourself” Nolana insisted. “I will soon, first I must make sure the others are safe” Going to her boys she made sure they had what they needed “Go with the others to the Nebulous forest” The boys nodded “Are you not coming with us?” Githa the youngest asked. Taking him in her arms she smiled “I will follow, I must try and hold them back to give you all time” Nolana entered and ushered the boys outside “Be careful, don’t take any chances” she begged her friend.

Sorcha watched as the Hellion ran down the hill screaming. They swarmed through the village burning all in their path. A lone woman stood in the middle of the village and fought the beasts with all her might. She seemed to be winning, the Hellion pushed back, sensing danger the woman turned  to find one of them behind her, thrusting his sword into her stomach it’s black eyes filled with delight as she fell to her knees.

Lykaios entered quietly and found the Fae huddled in a corner. “What’s wrong, are you ill?” Looking up Sorcha shook her head “Faymoor is gone” Faymoor, he had no idea she knew of the place? “Gone!” He helped her to her feet. Sorcha told him what she had seen, the villagers were safe, hidden away except one “My Mother is dead” Lykaios’s eyes bore into her hers, her Mother, how did she know of Arla? “Please do not blame Laila she said nothing, I know that is all”  She made for her bed, every part of her felt as if it were on fire “If you’ll excuse me” Realising something was not right Lykaios reached out to her recoiling as the heat from her almost burnt him “You are ill, I will send for Laila”

The villagers hid in the forest; they were safe here the Hellion didn't know it like they did. Keeping low and quiet and taking turns to climb high in the trees to keep watch they thanked the Great Mother for the warm wind, to hide here in the winter would have been suicide. Nolana searched through the trees, a painful lump in her stomach told her friend was not joining them. The boys asked her occasionally but they too sensed her departure from the earth.

After three moons passed they cautiously made there way back to the village, there eyes widen in horror at the site of burnt out buildings and destroyed crops. In the village centre they found Arla, dead.

Sorcha lay, her body felt as if it were being struck by dozens of hot needles; her temperature was so high her skin almost glowed. Tossing and turning she listened to the gentle voice. The voice was sweet calming; it told her she was now of age and it was time. The pain although intense would not last much longer. Ianu visited daily; made sure Laila had what she needed and checked on the girl, he didn't know what was happening but knew the Great Mother was watching over her, that for Sorcha the time had come.

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