Dies Irae

Duodecima Charta: Family

To say she was shocked was an understatement. She stared, and stared, not believing her ears and eyes. His son? His son? Aemilia knew that she was supposed to say something, to do something, but felt as if all the power had been drained from her body. Her shoulders slumped in defeat and shame. Had she been nothing but a whore to him, a worthless woman to bout and play. Her chin started trembling slightly, and she forced herself not to cry. She felt so humiliated that she wanted only to craw into some hole and die, angry at herself for having been played so easily.

Daizus watched carefully as she turned whiter and whiter and cringed mentally. He knew he ought to have prepared her, but he hadn't found the right moment to do it, for he feared that the news he had a son might have made her change her mind about staying with him. Looking back, he realised that it might not have been his smartest move.

Roles, on the other hand, seemed to be the only happy soul around. He scrambled from Daizus' embrace and approached the dark-haired girl, his father had brought back with him. A big grin plastered on his face, he approached Aemilia and tugged slightly at her pants.

She looked down at the young boy, his dark blue eyes gleaming with joy and frowned as he spoke to her in an unknown language.

"Latin, Roles", Daizus reminded softly, his eyes glued to the pair, aware of the fact that everybody was looking at them. He would have preferred the meeting to take place in private, but it was too late for that now, he could only hope Aemilia would have her temper tantrum later.

"You are very pretty", Roles stated solemnly, smiling at her. "Why are you wearing pants? What happened to your hair?", he asked genuinely interested.

"Uhh, thank you", she mumbled in a daze, looking at the adorable little boy.

"Are you my new mommy?", Roles didn't let up his assault. "Well, are you?"

"Roles, why don't you go to Zedu to pack your stuff and I'll come to help you move back home", Daizus suggested calmly.

The little boy pouted, as he wanted to speak some more with the pretty lady, but looking at his father he understood that it would be best for him to obey.

"All right, I'll go", he murmured, "I'll talk with you later!", he sang, returning to his good humour, before running down the road and to the left.

Aemilia looked at him until he disappeared from her sight, then she turned around, purposely avoiding looking Daizus in the eye.

"Come on, puella", he extended a hand and she bottled up the anger which started boiling inside her and took the offered hand.

The man took the harness of the black stallion in the other hand and they walked in silence, while people around them decided they had seen enough and went about their business.

Daizus led her to a wood and rock house, set in the middle of the village, and tied the horse to a pole.

"Aemilia, I know…", he started, but the girl ignored him and opened the door, entering the house.

He shook his head, preparing of what was to come and entered the house at his turn. She was, for lack of a better word, inspecting quietly, taking in the three rooms that composed it.

"When in Gods' name were you going to tell me?", she snapped abruptly, crossing her arms over her chest and giving him the best glare. Self-pity wouldn't do, she decided, fury was a much better-suited feeling.

"I am sorry, I should have..", he started apologetically.

"Shut up, I didn't say you could speak!", she stopped him, stomping her foot against the wooded floor. "I mean, come on, what do you think I am….you didn't think it was enough to knock me up, you must do it with all the breathing things around you? What do you think you are, Jupiter or something?", she carried on, not even aware that she was making a scene out of jealousy.

"I.."

"I mean, just how many children do you have? And how old are you, anyway?"

"Will you let me explain already?", Daizus tried to calm her.

"As if..", she huffed, poking him in the chest with a finger. "What could you possibly say to make me…"

"He's not my son.", Daizus said simply, cutting off her tirade effectively.

Once again, she stood speechless, blinking and panting.

"He is not my real son, I have adopted him, that's all", he clarified.

"What about his parents?", she asked doubtfully.

"His mother belonged to my clan and was raped by a Roman. She died at childbirth. Nobody wanted him because of his father, and so I took him."

"Does..does he know?", Aemilia asked in a small voice.

"No. He only knows that his parents had died and that I am his father now, but he had been spared of the gruesome way he came into the world."

"I see."

"Look, Aemilia, I am sorry, I ought to have told you before. It's just that I didn't know how you would react. Roles is really a sweet boy, just give him a chance. He really needs a feminine presence in his life, just as much as I do", he took her hand and turning it around kissed her wrist. "Please…", he pleaded.

"I am scared,", she finally confessed, looking very much like a twelve-years old," There is too much going on now.", she felt tears brimming in her eyes, and she angrily wiped one small tears which had managed to escape, "This morning there was no child in my life and then you tell me I am pregnant, then you present me with your son. I don't think I can handle it. Fuck, I know I can't handle it. I don't know how to take care of a little boy, who am I kidding, I can barely look after myself! I don't want a child, I am too young and too inexperienced, I just…"

"Shh, it's all right, don't worry, I know you're a walking disaster!"

She glared mockingly at him and he grinned sheepishly.

"I had no idea about it either", he murmured kissing up her elbow, " don't you worry," he licked up her shoulder," I'll take care of you, I promise," he paused to kiss her neck, " Amilia," he whispered nibbling on her ear, "I'll take care of my family..".

Despite her anger and hurt, she couldn't help herself from feeling a little touched. The child was quite adorable from what she had seen, yet she resented him because he had cheated and lied to her. Pragmatically speaking, it would be the best for her to make peace, especially since he promised to take care of her.

She smirked as he lavished her neck with small kisses and nips, promising herself that she would make him keep his promises, yet somewhere deep inside, the feeling of shame and humiliation remained. How many things were there still hidden from her? How many secrets did he posses? And why had she been so hurt at the idea that he had made a child with some other woman?

Daizus, meanwhile, was blissfully unaware of his mate's feelings, being drown only in her scent and the softness of her skin. She gradually relaxed in his hug and she started nibbling on his ear at her turn. It mattered not for now what his secrets were, she mused, as they started kissing in earnest, she would discover them all in time.

He cupped her rear and pulled her upwards and she skilfully wrapped her legs around his waist. She tantalisingly rubbed herself against him, smirking as he groaned against her mouth.

"Um…that's yucky!", a small voice pointed out and both the grown-ups looked up guiltily only to see their worst fear confirmed. Roles was there, his small arms full of wrapped clothes, an expression of disgust on his pretty face.

Hadn't she been surprised in a wanton situation, Aemlia would have laughed at the way he had turned up his little nose, yet, because she could feel Daizus' erection against her crotch, she just turned red and untangled herself from his grip, turning to face the little boy.

"Get used to it, kiddo", Daizus warned, his voice rough because of the suppressed desire, awkwardly putting his hands on Aemilia's shoulders, grateful that her little body was hiding his little "problem".

"Whatever", the little boy huffed, "where will I put these?"

"Just put them on the bed, I'll take care of them", Daizus was quick to help him solve his little problem, "And why don't you go out and play with the others?"

Roles put the clothes on the bed then shrugged his shoulders in an un-affected manner. Hopping himself on the bed, he chided:

"You know they don't play with me, so stop trying. Plus, I want to speak with mom a little, you had enough time with her as it is", the boy pointed out.

Daizus almost blushed and muttered something.

"I'll go and take care of the horse," he finally decided, and was quick to make his exit. He knew that Roles, despite his apparent fragility was a very determined young boy, and he was aware that the sooner Roles and Aemilia spoke the better.

Meanwhile, despite the Dacian's concerns, the girl felt strangely comfortable around the little blond. He was a sweet, comforting, diminutive Daizus, minus the sex appeal.

"You are Roles, right?", she inquired carefully.

"Yep," he grinned, "That's me."

"All right", she sat on the edge of the bed looking at him carefully. "So, how old are you?"

"I am almost 6", he pointed out, clearly proud and Aemilia made a face of being surprised and equally intimidated at his age. "How about you?"

"I am 19 years old", she smiled, and the boy nodded thoughtfully, processing the bit of information. The girl rolled up the too long sleeves, aware that the worse was to come.

"Do you like my daddy?", Roles' eyes lit up with barely suppressed curiosity.

"I…uh…I mean, yeah, he's all right I guess…", Aemilia murmured, obviously uncomfortable with the subject at hand.

The little boy sprung from his place and, before she could react, had her in a tight hug. Awkwardly, she returned it, forcing herself to relax. Having been raised in a very strict family, where signs of affection were considered a weakness, she still had troubles adjusting to receiving frequent hugs and kisses, the kind that the now-two men in her life seemed fond of.

Aemilia petted softly the blond mane, admiring the softness of the wisps. The boy looked up, still smiling and uncoiled his arms from around her torso, only to tangle his hands in Aemilia's black curls, mirroring her previous actions.

"Why is your hair short?"

"Louses", she cringed at the memory.

"Ugh!", he sympathised.

"Ugh indeed."

"So," he tasted the waters, now feeling a little selfish "do you know any game?"

***

Daizus whistled softly as he petted his black stallion, feeling proud of himself for handling Aemilia so well.

"So, who's the whore?"

Spinning around, he noticed a young beautiful woman leaning against one of the stable's walls.

"Zedu", he greeted, trying to suppress his mercurial temper. Temper would do no good under the current circumstances. "She's my woman, not a whore", he corrected.

"What does she have?", the grey-eyed woman approached Daizus, licking her lips sensuously. "Does she have shinier hair? Rosier lips? Does she smell better, Daizus? Taste better?", she murmured, cupping his face and looking him in the eye. "Does she kiss better?", she added huskily, rising slightly on her toes to kiss him.

"Zedu, don't!", he cut in, putting his large hands over her smaller ones and unbinding them gently from his face. "Don't!"

She violently pulled her hands free, tears brimming in her almond-shaped eyes.

"I don't know why you keep on being so stubborn when you know we are meant to be together!", she shouted angrily. "But you will see, I swear it to you!", she finished, before rushing out of the stable, her red hair a flame around her.

His mood spoiled, Daizus sighted running a hand through his hair. How stupid of him to believe things would settle down so easily!