Chapter 61: Chapter Sixty-one: Damien’s Story I
NOTE TO MY LOVELY READERS BEFORE READING!!!
Hey everyone. Edna here >∆<
The next arc will explore Damien’s childhood and backstory—how he became both dragon and a corrupted vampire, and what twisted fate led him down that path.
This is going to be darker, bloodier, and more emotional than anything before. Get your tissues ready!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One might think it was destiny, others called it a cruel fate...
"He’s alive! All thanks to the gods we have another boy!"
"My Queen! My Queen! You’ve delivered him!"
The midwife exclaimed in surprise as a crying baby emerged from under the woman on a small blanket. Everyone inched closer to take a closer look at the second prince who had been battling with his mother in the womb.
His birth had been a tough one. Ever since the head concubine had been pronounced pregnant, it had been one problem to another.
"Really?" Mirenelle or Queen Mira said weakly. The birth had taken a toll on her health. "Let me hold him for a while."
Excitedly, the midwife handed her the baby who had just been washed and swaddled. Queen Mira took him in her hands. "He’s so small..." she whispered to herself, playing with his fingers.
"He is indeed! Yet he caused you so much pain." one of the younger ones, Jene, piped up. She was one of Queen Mira’s personal maids and absolutely adored her.
Queen Mira could be said to be the most loved queen in the whole of Zerathane history. She was kind, thoughtful, generous, humble and so easy to talk to despite her rank. She made friends with the servants, caregivers and even dung maids. Most people thought that was why the king got attracted to her and made her queen but it was quite the opposite.
The baby in her womb was constantly in abnormal positions, kicking from the inside and causing his mother pain. The queen had shaken off the pangs of labor, calling it a ’mere phase every mother had to go through’ but that just wasn’t the case.
Before she became the queen, she was just the newly appointed head concubine. A few days after the very night the king made love to her, she got pregnant and when investigated by the royal midwives, it was a boy!
The first boy birthed to the royal family. That day, the entire kingdom was in celebration mode. And as tradition dictates, the first concubine to give the king a male heir will automatically be crowned as queen. Mirenelle was crowned queen some days after she delivered and named the boy Cassian. She named him Cassian after her grandfather who had raised her when her parents rejected her as a child.
To put it simply, Mira was no ordinary child. At a very young age, she had already started developing certain traits that were considered rebellious among her people. Every one from her blood line had long, silver hair as they were considered the highest ranking and purest breed of witches. But as she grew, her silver hair started to fade away and was replaced by a somewhat duller shade. Immediately the townsfolks noticed it, they summoned the parents to the council.
"Elders." her mother had begged. "She is our daughter certainly, but we have no idea how she got such sinful colors."
"You whore! You have defiled our land by mating with a beast! You don’t deserve to be called by our name!" one of the elders thundered at her.
Mira was just fifteen years old by that time and didn’t know what was going on. But the time her hair started to fade colors, she was almost three. Her parents had gone far beyond their lands to seek a remedy but all to no avail. The silver nature of their hairs represented their purity as their tradition had detailed from since the dawn of time. And now...hers was fading.
In a bid to hide it, her father had stolen a powerful potion from a witch to cover up her head. He never met the witch or thanked her in person but the potion had helped to hide her ’impurity’ till now.
All she remembered last about her parents was seeing them hung on bamboo sticks from the tips of their clothes and made to walk on them out of the town while the people threw wet mud at them.
"We must find their cursed child and root her out before she grieves the holy spirits!" the village chief had declared angrily to the elders after the ’evil’ had been sent out. That very night, the entire town was in chaos. Her mother’s father, who was an elder had heard of their mission and plans to raid the little girl in her house. He knew there was nothing to be done about his daughter’s case when the other elders were in support of it. But her child...he had promised his son-in-law to take care of her even when the mother cursed her very existence.
"Mira!" he called out fondly to her. Mira, who was asleep on a pile of mats, stirred from her sleep and rubbed her eyes.
"Grandpa?" she replied feebly but he didn’t hear her. The old man dashed into the house, searching every corner and room for her.
"Mirenelle!" he screamed out again despite his age.
This time, she got up and ran towards his voice. "Grandpa I’m here! Grandpa I’m here!"
The old man upon hearing her voice, stumbled to her and pulled her into his arms. "Mira..." he said her name solemnly, pulling her into his arms and stroking her head gently. Mira had always loved her grandpa since she was a kid. He was the only one who hadn’t freaked out about her change when her parents were desperate to hide it. No one who was aware knew why but silently agreed not to ask.
"My dear Mira. We must get out of here at once." he said urgently, pulling her away and getting up.
She looked up at him confused. "Why? Is it because of mother and father?"
"No dear! They are coming to kill you! Your parents aren’t the source of the problem, you are!" he said sternly yet in a gentle, understanding voice.
Mira stood rooted to the spot. Her parents hadn’t been the best growing up but why was she now an outcast?
"We have to go. Now. No time to pack anything."
Without another word, the old man grabbed fifteen year old Mirenelle after him. As an Elder witch, his powers were refined and impressively mighty but he knew better than to use it. Other elders could sense when one of their members use their power even if it’s in the smallest ratio. No. He couldn’t risk it.
"Come now. We must hurry." he said in haste, as they dashed towards the back of their low bungalow into the thick forest. Behind them, the sounds of angry voices and cutlasses could be heard clearly. Mira trembled at the thought of what it could do to her. She still never fully understood why she was being chased to be killed.
All she knew was that her parents were accused of a murderous act and were banished from the town. Why was she next? She didn’t kill anyone... right?
"Faster dear! Before they get to us!" grandpa pushed, running faster ahead of her. For a man his age, she found it impressive that he was still so agile.
The duo ran through the bushy pathway up to the mountains where the trees covered the tops. The voices grew louder and louder as they made their way hurriedly up the mountains.
"If we can get to the mountains, I can use my powers there to send us to the human world. The other elders want you gone so it’s for the best."
"B-but what about you grandpa?" Mira asked worriedly as he dragged her along.
"I’ll be alright. Let’s hurry up now. We’re almost at the top."
By the time they got to the top, the noise from behind had died down significantly. Good. At least they were safe for now.
"Quickly dear. Give me your palms." grandpa urged, grabbing her wrists before she could even react. His mouth immediately began to move faster and faster with each passing second.
All the time, Mira stares at him in awe. Grandpa truly is amazing.
"Grand-"
"Hurry now." he said sharply cutting her off as a small circle appeared before them. Mira didn’t waste any more time and approched the circle.
"What about you grandpa?" she asked, looking up at him.
At that moment, the other elders arrived on the path. They had all sensed the overflow of his powers and knew he was trying to escape with her.
"Stop them!" one of the men shouted and soon, everyone in the town was dashing through the forest with very intimidating weapons.
Mira called out to him worriedly as she saw the train of people after them. "Grandpa—" she muttered weakly, tears welling up in her eyes. The circle was getting smaller and smaller. He quickly rushed to it, stretched out his arms and began chanting again. Streaks of blood and water flowed out of his body and his skin opened up all over.
"Grandpa!" Mira cried in agony, rushing to his side.
"You must survive." he groaned. "I can’t hold this for much longer, you have to get in now!"
"B-but." she stammered. Her eyes flickered between her grandpa and the angry mob approaching.
Without wasting another minute, grandpa pushed her through the circle and locked it up.
The circle closed with a whoosh and grandpa fell to the ground, his body nothing but dry bones and ash.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"That’s the thing about motherhood, Jene." Mira started, smiling pleasantly as a few drops of tears fell down her cheeks. "It’s painful but once the time is up, all that’s left is unexplainable joy and peace."
"My lady...you’re crying." Jene said, looking worried and afraid that she had moved her mistress to tears.
Mira wiped the tears off her face. "I’m fine, dear. Go—"
Before she could finish, the door burst open and the king entered. Everyone fell to their knees in greeting and the queen bowed her head respectfully.
Alexandria walked over to her bedside. "Leave us." he said calmly. The midwives walked out, shutting the door behind them.
"Darling." he said softly as he touched her stomach with a smile.
"I guess I no longer have a good pillow to rest my head."
Mira chuckled at his remark. "The pillow came out, your majesty. Isn’t that even better?"
The king appeared thoughtful for a while. "No?" he laughed and Mira joined him.
Staring down at the small, thin boy, his eyes softened the more. "What should we name him, Mira?"
"I don’t know. I’m still pretty worn out."
"But when you birthed Cassian, his name was the first thing you uttered."
"Hmm... you’re right." she whispered. "Why is it different this time...?"
Alexandria reached for her chin and turned her face to himself. He leaned down and captured her lips in a swift second. Mira felt her mind turn hazy. It was always like this with him.
"Wait." she breathed out, placing a hand on his chest. Alexandria took it in his large palms, moving it across his chest.
"Why? I really want you right now."
"The baby, your majesty."
Alexandria let out a soft groan, causing Mira to chuckle. He got up, crossed the bed and put the baby in the wooden cradle laced with cotton. He then turned back and returned to his position.
This time, he grabbed her wrists and pulled himself slowly beside her on the bed. His lips explored hers wildly, prying open her mouth and capturing her tongue in a heated battle.
Mira moaned softly in his mouth, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him close to herself. The king in return, grabbed her slender waist and ran his hand through her body.
"I need you my queen." he groaned desperately.
"Your maj— oohhh..."
Alexandria’s hand darted into her delivery dress and gripped her thighs. He was about to continue further when he suddenly paused and drew back.
Mira’s face was already flushed completely by the kiss.
"Why?" she asked softly.
Alexandria flicked her forehead slightly and chuckled. "Have you forgotten you just delivered? You’re still moist down there."
Mira’s face flushed even more. "Ooh..."
"Don’t worry dear." he said, cupping her face. "Once your two weeks of rest is over, I’ll make sure you don’t walk again till you beg me to stop."
Mira’s face curved up in a mischievous grin and she bit her lip. "I would love that...your majesty."