Coming Home

Chapter 1

All that could be heard in the makeshift home was the desperate cries of a woman, and another telling the crying woman to, “push!” Two ‘men’ paced impatiently back and forth outside. One was dressed in regal attire with deep reds and black, and some fine gold thread spun in the weaving. The other was dressed in plainer, but still fine clothes. his clothes were all in black with white embroidered designs all over.

The sky gave a shuddering explosion of sound, and soon after opened up to pour rain down upon their heads. The man in black lifted his head to the sky. If one were looking, one would think the man to be praying in desperation. The rain soaked his and the others clothes, as the screaming from inside the hut continued. The rain fell down the man in blacks upturned face like the tears he so desperately wished to cry.

The man in regal clothes looked on in sympathy, for his friend. even the trees seemed to look on in quiet sympathy for the, obviously pained man. A particularly pained and loud scream filled the air, and it wrenched both men to attention.

Their was silence for awhile after that, and the man in black looked like he would tear the door down. Then a baby’s wailing was heard from inside, and both men let out the breathes that they had been holding. A woman in matching attire to the regal man, soon opened the door and admitted both dripping men into the home. It wasn’t much just four walls and a bed that looked to be falling apart. On the bed lay a woman. Her beauty marred by fatigue and sorrow. In her arms lay a tiny bundle of blankets, that housed a wiggling baby. It had since quieted its previous wailing.

Upon seeing her, the man in black immediately made to go to her side, but was stopped by a dainty, but firm, hand on his arm. His head whipped to the side to look down on the petite woman who had helped deliver the child, his child.

“Kafele wait. Delivering the baby took to much of her energy. I’m sorry, but she is dying Kafele. She can’t have more then a few moments left.”

He didn’t say a word to her, he simply shook her hand from his arm, and went to the woman’s side. Her breath was labored as she rocked her baby gently back and forth. Kafele carefully kneeled next to the bed, laying his head on the woman’s shoulder, gazing at his child, their child in awe, and wonderment. He could hardly believe that this tiny little bundle of perfection came from himself, and Dervilia. He was amazed that the child had taken after them both in looks, and was pleased that it looked more like its mother than him. He was fair sure enough, but its mother was truly stunning. The perfect gem found rarely amongst a slew of other imperfect ones.

The child had deep sapphire blue hair, that had defiantly come from the mother. Its skin was the color of ivory, and on its forehead lay a mark. A sign of her royal blood. On her forehead was a pale blue tear drop, and hanging off the end was, a tiny sun, that seemed to shine like the real one in the sky. The newborn opened its eyes to look at this new person before it, and the man was happy to see it had taken his eyes of aquamarine color. The mother smiled as she watched the two inspect each other.

“Its a girl”

Her voice was hoarse from screaming, and labored due to her shortness of breath. She was fading fast, and everyone could see it. Real tears could be seen streaking down Kafele’s face as he reached out to touch his daughters face.

“A baby girl, just as beautiful as her mother. What shall we name her”?

“Rain, I think she should be named rain.”

The woman bent over the small child and gave her a small kiss on the teardrop, on her forehead. Coughs racked her petite frame as she righted herself on the bed, and caused her to clutch Rain more tightly to herself. The child was obviously distressed, and started to cry again. Kafele cringed at every cough, and strangled gasp, and tears poured a new down his face, when he saw the blood leaking out the side of her mouth.

Kafele gently wiped the blood away with his finger. His eyes flashed a dangerous red, and he slowly brought the blood to his mouth, savoring the taste of his beloveds blood. He climbed into the bed with her laying his head on her shoulder again. She ran a soothing hand through his hair as she rocked Rain soothingly, hoping to calm her down.

“Shh now my dear little rain. Cease your crying, I have to tell you some very important things before it is to late for me to tell you.”

She waited for the baby to completely settle down before she began to speak.

“Listen closely Rain. For this will be the last time you shall ever see me. My name is Dervilia and I am your mother. I love you more than anything in this world, but I am dieing. Bringing you into this world safely took my life. I knew this would happen, from the beginning. I chose to give you life. How foolish I was. How selfish I was. You don’t deserve the fate that your father and I have given you. You were never supposed to happen. You are born to two races that hate each other. You will never be accepted by either race. Our people are on the brink of war, with the humans, and very likely each other. I only wish you to be safe, and that means that you must never know who you truly are. As much as I detest the human race, i ma going to make you one of them. You will be safe as a human. At least then you have the chance to be happy. All i want is your happiness, and your safety. Always know little one that no matter what I will always love you and I will always watch over you. No matter if I’m dead or not. Not even death itself will keep you from me. you might no…”

the woman started shuttering and gasping for breath. The ragged sound of it sending chills up the spine of those in attendance. It was a grotesque and heart wrenching sound to the man.

“Gods! The pain is getting worse, and my limbs grow heavier with each passing moment. Please help me support Raine. I have not the strength.”

she smoothed the babies blue hair away from the small teardrop symbol on her head. A single tear leaked from the corner of her eye. It was a tear shed from pain and love. Love for her daughter, and the pain of knowing that she would never see her child grow up. That her child would be raised by strangers. They were good people, the people she had chosen to raise her daughter, but they weren’t her. She was her mother, and she was abandoning her child in the worst of possible ways.

At first she had regretted the decision that she made to keep her child. Now holding her, string into her beautiful face, she wondered how she could ever regret something so precious as this. Something so wonderful. No. she would never regret having her child. What she regretted now was that her child would never know her birth right. Would never know the magic and ownders that her birth homes had to offer her. It tore at the womans already fragile stae. Weakening her faster than she would like. She wished to make this last as long as she could.

“You are so beautiful. I’m so sorry.” With her peace said she bent down and kissed the baby girl on the head once again. There was a flash of light and then the familiar darkness of night returned.

The woman smiled down at the now changed child. Where her hair had once been blue, now it was black. Her skin was still ivory in color, but the symbol of her immortal birth was gone. Her powers were bound tightly within the spell. For all intensive purposes she would be nothing more than a gifted human, maybe a clairvoyant. Dervilia could not be certain how much of her true nature would be locked away in her weekend state. One thing she knew though was that she would age like a human for awhile, but in her twenties, she would stop, and there she would stay for eternity. Forever young and beautiful. Dervilia hoped by then that Rain may return to the immortal realms.

”I love you my dear Rain.”

Kafele was openly sobbing into Dervilia’s shoulder. He could not bear this loss. Dervilia gave a regret filled smile, and tugged on his hair to make him look at her.

“Take her away from hear. Take her far away. She will live with the humans. I beg you Kafele to do this for me. Make sure our baby is safe.”

“Can’t you fight? How can you die? Your immortal for heavens sake. I need you. I need you so much Dervilia. How can you leave me like this? How can you ask me to give our baby to humans? I don’t think I can do it. I know I’m not strong enough for this.”

The women gave him a weak smile and touched his face with her hand. She gently drew patterns on his face with her finger tip. Kafele squeezed his eyes shut, and grabbed her hand; Holding it tight to his cheek.

“You can, because I will always be near you. In your heart and in your mind. Our child must be kept safe from this war, and from both our people. She must never know who she is. I don’t want her to know the rejection she will receive if she is raised as what she is, a half blood. A fae and a vampire mix. It is unheard of, and it is different. It is the things that are different in life that scare people the most. She would terrify them and it is because of that, that she would be pushed away, and hated. She would never be accepted by either of our people. This is how it must be.”

“Why, why does this have to be how it is. Why can’t I just take her away from all this. Just me and her. That’s all either of us needs, each other.”

She just shook Her head no.

“That’s not enough and you know it. She needs somewhere where she can at least have the chance at being happy, and not hated just because of her blood.”

“It would be a fake happiness what kind of happiness is that.”

“Happiness is happiness whether fake or not. Please Kafele I don’t want to fight over this. We decided on this long before she was born. We both agreed that this was the best option. We have our family for her, and they will take care of her, and love her. They can b…”

A horrible convulsion swept over her body, interrupting her lecture. Her hand clutched his tight, in a grip that would crush a normal mans hand to dust. Kafele scooped Rain from her, with his free arm, afraid that she might be hurt due to her mothers uncontrollable convulsing. Dervilia’s body seized for many minutes, before she her body finally began to rest. The seizures took their toll however. What little strength Dervilia possessed was fading fast. These were her last moments on this earth, and she knew it. So did her dear husband Kafele.

“NO! No, you can’t leave yet please not yet.”

He squeezed her hand willing his own life force to enter her body. Willing her to live. For him, and for their daughter.

“I put all my faith and trust in you. I beg of you don’t let me down not now.”

Those where the last words that Dervilia would ever speak to Kafele or to anyone. For in the next minute she was gone. Her soul departed from this mortal earth, and ventured to the immortals heaven. Returning from whence she came. As all beings do eventually.

Sensing her mother’s departure from this world little Rain began to squirm and cry in her fathers firm hold. Kafele joined her in tears letting his sorrow flow out of him, while holding desperately to Dervilia’s prone body.

The regal man and woman, who had watched from the door to give them privacy bowed there heads in honor of the woman who they had come to know as a close friend. The mans face remained stoic, but sadness was evident in his haunting eyes. The woman openly shed tears for her friend. She was a true friend, she was someone that she could relate to. Which was harder to find amongst her people than many would imagine.

“Ssshhhh…quiet now little one. Everything will be fine. Hush now you must be quiet.”

Kafele whispered sweet nothings to his child, while standing. Rocking her back and forth in his arms. The regal man steeped forward, and placed a strong hand on Kafele’s shoulder.

“I am truly sorry Kafele. I know how much you loved her, and I know that the last thing you want to think about is leaving, but right now we must. We have but a few hours before the sun rises, and it will take us one to get their. Please come away from here.”

“She is so beautiful Farrell, just look at how perfect my little Raine is. Why must I give her up? She is my daughter, is she not? So what if she is different. Who cares what the others think we don’t need them, but I need her.”

Farrell sighed deeply, and gripped Kafele’s arm tighter. He had hoped that this conversation would not be necessary.

“Kafele you know that she can never grow up with us. She would be ostracized from everything, and from everyone. She would have no friends. It would kill her to grow up with us. In time she would grow bitter and spiteful. That is not a life that you want for you’re a daughter is it? Our people are not yet ready to accept a child like Raine yet. You must let her go. This is not a decision you make for your self, but one you make for her.”

Kafele turned to Farrell anger radiating off of his being, and his eyes turning a deep shade of crimson.

“why should my child have to leave when you yourself had a child like Raine, and she got to stay!”

Farrell snapped his fangs together threateningly, his own eyes glowing a bright red.

“You know then that the circumstances were and still are much different than ours! Had they been the same, It would have been the same situation as you are in now! You are a dear friend Kafele, but I do not tolerate insolence from anybody, you should know this of all people!”

Kafele’s entire demeanor changed. His anger left him, and he stood their a broken man.

”I know you are right Farrell your always right, but I watched for 9 months as she grew in her mothers womb and each second that passed I loved both of them even more. Now the love of my life is dead, and I am forced to give up the only thing that means something to me anymore. My daughter. It’s not right and it isn’t fair.”

Farrell gave his long time friend a sympathetic pat on the back to show whatever support he could offer. His anger had deflated with the rapidness that it had come.

“Whoever said that the world was a just and fair place was sorely wrong. All we can do right now is do what we have to do, and hope that everything turns out as it should. Now we must hurry we are wasting the night, we cannot afford to be caught by the sun. If we don’t move now we wont make it in time to meet the people who are willing to take and care of your child.”

Kafele only sighed and wrapped his child in the blankets that were laid out on the end of the bed. He slowly made his way to the Lifeless woman. He bent down and kissed her. Two twin teardrops hit the dead woman’s face.

“ I love you. I promise I will take our daughter away like you asked of me.”

He squeezed his eyes shut tight, and turned away from her for the last time. He walked to the door of the small hut. He stooped their, and started to look back, but something stopped him, and he w32xcweralked out. Farrell was close behind him.

“I cant do it Farrell please can you do it for me.”

“Of course my old friend.”

Farrell took up a torch. With just a flick of his hand a flame erupted on it. He slowly walked towards the cabin. When he was within a good 5 feet of the cabin he threw it onto the roof. The leaves that made the roof soon caught fire and burst forth in flames. It only took a matter of moments before the whole cabin was engulfed in the searing flames.

Kafele could not stand the site anymore and turned his back on the cabin. He looked up and had anyone been before him they would have seen a sight that would have shocked the dead out of their graves. He was crying. Kafele who never cried ever was crying. The tears streaked down his face, but no sound came from his mouth. He looked to the sky almost as like he was praying. Then he lowered his head and started a fast place for the human realm.

Farrell followed behind his friend dutifully. He had seen the tears in his friends eyes, but for the sake of the hsi pride he would not mention it to anyone. Farrell pondered over the unfairness of his friends situation. It wasn’t right in his higher opinion. He strongly believed that Kafele should have the life he deserved to have with his daughter, but fate had conspired against him in this. Damn the tricky sin, Fate was as cryptic as ever in this. It saddened Farrell greatly the Kafele had to suffer like this for the greater good of his people. That he would never have the life he wanted or even a chance to have that life with his daughter. In these dark and troublesome times things like this happened, but Farrell had never thought it would affect his people, like Kafele in such a horrible way. So many shall suffer, and it saddened Farrell further. He couldn’t see why all of this was necessary, why all of this had to happen, or why the greater design ever had to exist.

Farrell concluded that it was out of his hands. As old as he was, and as powerful as he was, he had absolutely no control over anything. It was something he resented greatly, but knew there was nothing he could do about. So he would stay by his friends side, and help him in the only way he knew how. He would be their, and he would listen.

A delicate arm wove around his, and a head soon rested on his shoulder as he walked. Large Violet eyes stared up into his.

“Do not torture yourself so my love. If their was anything you could do, I’m sure you would have done it. Sometimes these situations occur, and the only thing you can do is be their. You can not always be the hero of the story.”

Farrell smiled down on his petite wife, and bent over to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. She smiled wondrously up at him. He would never grow tired of her smile. He would do anything just to see her smile.

“It is not so much that, but I am worried for Kafele. He loved Dervilia very much, and losing her than being forced to give up his daughter; I’m not sure what it will drive him to do. I know I could never live on with out you Vanora. You are my life, my shining star.”

Her smile gentled and she rested her head back on his arm staring at nothing in particular.

“And you are my moon, the light that guides me through the darkness of the night.”

“I must leave now my love, one of us must return to our people. One of us be their to rule. Return safely.”

With a final kiss on Farrell’s lips she was gone fading into the darkness of the night.

The carriage ride was short, maybe only 15 short minutes to their destination. The small inn was filled with humans. Most were drunk very near to being passed out. It was just on the very edge of the border between the human realm and the others. This is where Kafele would hand his daughter over to the owners of this fine in. Dervilia had chosen these humans for their caring hearts, and firm will. Kafele had made a promise and he swore ot himself that he would keep it. For Dervilia, and for his daughter, Raine.

Kafele had been so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he had not noticed the young couple approaching. Farrell took it upon himself to call forth Kafele’s attention.

“Kafele this is the young couple that owns this fine inn.”

Kafele’s keen eyes focused in on the male first. He was tall by human standards, but shorter than a vampire. If Kafele had to guess he would say the man was 5 foot 10 at the most. However he was muscular, and broad. An imposing figure to anyone, but in his eyes rested a caring that few men possessed. A gentle kindness for everyone around him. He had long black hair tied at the nape of his neck, and plain brown eyes. To a human he would be considered a fine catch.

The woman holding his hand was of average height. Most nearly to 5 foot 5. Her hair looked to be a mass of brown curls. She wasn’t beautiful, but she had a certain glow that made her appear more attractive than she was. She drew you to her like a moth to the light.

Kafele coul not help but ask himself If he was ready. To give up his daughter, never. He could never be ready for this. To his shame tears pricked at his eyes before they started to fill with silent tears of red that streaked down his face.

“Its for the best Kafele.”

Kafele could not even respond to Farrell. He knew that Farele was right, but that didn’t make it any easier for him to accept. A strange gurgling noise reached his ears. he looked down at Raine’s small form, and he could swear that in that moment he truly died. For she was smiling up at him. Her small hands grasped his one much larger one to her. Kafele could not contain his own sad smile to break forth. Raine made small noises that are unique to a new born that one can only describe ass being happiness. Kafele found it hard not to stand up and leave with his daughter at that moment. He wanted to desperately but knew that now was to late. He had to follow through no matter how much it hurt him

“Kafele it’s time. You have to let her go.”

While he had been distracted by the tiny bundle of life in his hands, Farrell had been talking with the human family. Discussing arrangements of a sort, Kafele could only guess as to what. And in that moment he could not bring himself to care. He looked back down on his daughter, and leaned in to lay a tender kiss on her forehead. Much like the one he had given her mother only a short time before.

“Goodbye little one. My one wish is that you will in some form remember me when you grow older, but I know that you wont. Even though you will never know me as father, you will have my love to carry with you every where. Know that you will always belong somewhere. My home is your home, for whenever you need it. Farrell is a good king, and a good friend. I bet she’ll watch over you till the end of eternity. If I could I would walk out of here right now and raise you like you should be raised, but I can’t, and I want you to know that it’s not your fault. I never want you to think that this was your fault in anyway. I love you with all of my heart, and more.

Kafele stood from his seat, and turned cold eyes on the young couple before him once again. They seemed frightened of him and it pleased him greatly to see such. He didn’t blame them for what happened, but he needed someone to hate, and at that moment it was them that he hated. Who he envied more than anyone in the world. The woman was the first to gather her courage and come forward. She was timid, but respectful, holding her arms out expectantly towards him.

“Please sir, give her to me. I promise you we will take good care of her, and raise her right. She’ll be safe with us.”

Kafele was hesitant, but after a long pause cautiously put his daughter in the woman’s arms. She held her with the gentle care that only a woman could possess. Rain opened her eyes, curious about this new comer in her midst. She stared curiously up at the woman holding her. The woman smiled down on Raine, and whispered nonsense to her in a strange voice, that young children always seem to respond to and adore. Little Rain made a sound like gurgling water, and flailed her little limbs in what the people assumed was joyfulness. The moment quickly faded, and soon young Raine returned to her peaceful slumber.

It warmed all those present hearts to see the small moment between the two. It let them know that they had chosen wisely for the precious bundle. The small congregation drew many curious stares from the patrons of the inn. It wasn’t everyday that these people saw something as unusual as this happening. After all Vampires rarely ever cross the border into the human realm, and it was especially unheard of for them to give a child to humans. With the birth rate of the vampires and fae alike it seemed strange for them to give up something so precious to them as a child. However most of them were to drunk to care, or to scared to do anything about it, and left them to their own devices.

“Her name is Raine. It was what her mother named her. I ask that you don’t change this, and I beg you to love her. She deserved to have a happy life, and I beg of you to make that happen for her. Give her the life that I cannot.”

“We will we promise. Sir am I to assume that Raine’s mother has passed on?”

“Yes she passed away after the birth, it was to much for her body to handle.”

“Then I owe you my deepest apologies. I only met the woman once, but it was enough. She did more for me and my husband than our own kin would do. She was an amazing woman, and I will mourn her loss. I will make sure to love your daughter as if she were my own. In memory of her mother. It is the least that I can do for her, and for you.”

“Kafele we have to leave the sun will be rising soon we will have to find shelter and soon.”

Kafele simply nodded in Farrell’s general direction. He seemingly wasn’t paying much heed to Farrell’s words as he continued to gaze solely at his daughter and nothing else. Farrell left the inn waiting impatiently for his friend to finish his business.

Kafele turned his attention at last back to the woman who would be the mother to his child. He gifted her with a sad smile.

“I believe that you will be a good mother to my child and that you will raise her right, and teach her all the things she should know, and probably some of the things she shouldn’t. I can only thank the higher powers, for the gift they have given Raine and I, in you. Please take care of her.”

Both the woman and the man nodded their heads firmly. They would do anything for this tiny gift given to them. It was their only chance for a family of their very own.

Kafele bent over and placed a final kiss on his slumbering daughter’s head. She didn’t even stir for which he was grateful. While giving his daughter the kiss he had slipped a small pouch of money into the woman’s pocket.

Taking a deep breath Kafele turned his back on his daughter, and walked away. He navigated his way out of the cramped inn, and left through the door he had come in, and where Farrell waited for him. He didn’t say a word to Farrell he just walked down the road, and Farrell followed, understanding his need for silence.

They didn’t walk far just to the field in front of the Inn. Kafele stooped their and just looked at everything around him. The stars, the trees, and the moon. The storm from earlier having long since cleared. Almost a symbol of his wife’s tragic passing. Farrell stood behind him, looking on in silent worry for his friend.

“Kafele we have to leave. If we don’t we wont make it to a shelter point, or even to our realm in time, before the sun rises. I am not in favor of being burnt to a crisp this fine day.”

Kafele sighed deeply. His shoulders sagged and he turned to face his very old friend. It tore at Farrell’s ancient heart to see him so thoroughly beaten by life, and Farrell truly feared the words that Kafele would speak.

“Farrell I want you to go on without me. I wont be going back to the immortal realm, or any realm, ever.”

Shock covered Farrell’s face for a brief instant before stubborn insistence took its place.

“No! I will not let you do this. This is not the answer. Do you really think Dervilia wanted this for you. She loved you. She wouldn’t want you to give up this easily.”

“There is nothing easy or fair about this Farrell. In one night I have lost the woman I loved, and my daughter. Everything I lived for on this earth is lost to me. Without them it doesn’t matter anymore. My decision was made the moment I put my daughter in that woman’s arms.”

“You’ll see her again. We won’t leave her there forever. She will come back to the immortal realm. She should have someone to come home to Kafele. She shouldn’t have to comeback to an empty house. You should be their waiting for her, waiting to welcome her home, and tell her how much you love her, and how much you missed her.”

“Yes she should have all of that and more, but I’m not strong enough to wait for her to be able to come back. I need her here and now , but I can’t have that. I’ll tell you what she should have. She should have a mother that loves her with all her heart. She should have a father who can be their for her every day of the week, and help protect her from everything and everyone. She should have brothers and sisters. She should have all of that, and where she is now she’ll get that. In 100 years I still wouldn’t be able to give her that. It kills me inside to know that. It kills me that Dervilia is dead, and ill never hold her in my arms again. I can’t do this Farrell I have never been strong enough for anything like this. You can’t stop me from doing this Farrell. You could try but eventually I will succeed.”

“You’re right I can’t stop you. No matter how much of a mistake I think your making. This is your choice. Just know that you will be missed by many my old friend.”

“I wrote this letter for Vanora, Farrell, I need you to give it to her. It holds specific instructions about the future and an important letter. She will know what it means. I ask that you give this to Vanora, and that you never open it. If Vanora chooses to share it with you that’s fine, but for now it is for her eyes only.”

“As you wish. It shall be done.”

“I owe you many thanks my friend, and can never repay you enough for all that you have done. You should go now, as fast as you are, if you don’t leave soon you wont make it back before the sun rises. Vanora would never forgive me if you were to share my fate. I believe she would bring me back just to ensure me a painful death.”

Farrell simply laughed and looked at Kafele with sad eyes. They shared a smile and in the next second Farrell was gone, and Kafele was left to himself to wait out his meeting with the rising sun.
Three people watched from the highest window in the nearby inn, as the man tilted his head towards the distant mountains of his home land. There the sun was beginning to shine down over the realms. The small child clutched in a certain woman’s arms, began to whimper as the man’s flesh began to splinter and crack.

It was truly a grotesque scene to watch as the man was burnt slowly at first then more rapidly. From her view the woman wasn’t certain, but she would swear till the day she died that he was smiling the entire time. As the flames consumed his entire form he reached his arms out towards what, the woman didn’t know. Whatever it was he saw it made him breakout into a smile that the woman could see from her distance, and it was a smile that radiated true happiness. A smile that battled the sun in brightness, and you know what?

In the end his smile truly out shone the sun, because in that moment when the flames were encroaching on his face a great light burst forth. It was pure white the likes of which the woman had never seen before. It was beautiful, and even the drunken fools stood silent and watched this marvelous light as it exploded forth. It blanketed the surrounding land, and inn. All those present wept as the feelings of undivided love and happiness flooded them. It was truly a remarkable feeling, and it stayed within their breasts for a long time after the light had faded.

It was a night that the woman would never forget, and she hoped one day to tell the silent child in her arms, of what truly remarkable people she came from.

{~RainesSorrow~}