THE BIRTH OF KARMA

Chapter 7

The journey down to Winterfell was stressful and exhausting, it took forever to get there.

Even Hailey who vouched for leaving ice town almost blew out of her element, she had her headphone on loud volume but her snood was nowhere to be found, the temperature was hot and she flew it without a second thought.

At first, the journey was smooth, they passed by beautiful houses and cars, it was breathe taking especially when they went up the bridge and had a magnificent view of the waters, Nadiah loved the view the most, she took shots from the window.

The tide changed when they crossed over to Banetown, the place was full of dust and dry land.

Nadiah had heard of Banetown from Wilfred before, his father had worked in a factory there for years.

The beautiful scenes disappeared and were replaced by empty vast lands and deserts.

It was halfway into the journey before the driver stopped so everyone could find something to eat, Nadiah stretched her back and a soothing sound escaped her lips, it was one hell she never pictured.

Hailey on the other hand wished they could rest longer but in no time, they were on their way.

By the time they got to Winterfell, it was already dusk and Hailey was bent out of shape.

"So much for the excitement huhn" Nadiah could not help but comment feeling amused by Hailey's expression, she was clearly tired.

"Just wait till I square myself" Hailey responded sharply, she was clearly tired.

"You want water..?" Nadiah held out a bottle to her.

Hailey gulped it down, she was not only tired but thirsty as well.

They two sat under a shade by the park and awaited their father and even though they didn't know the distance from the park to where he were, somehow they both felt he was taking long.

In about an hour's time, he came through the entrance looking all young and calm.

He was as same as the last time they remember though a bit leaner, Nadiah was the first to sight him but it was Hailey who ran towards him.

Mr. Elvarus envolped her in a sweet hug and lifted her up just like the old times, this was his Baby, his precious little one, one would wonder why the former was his favorite.

Nadiah dragged their luggage with her, the only thing on her mind was a hot bathe and some rest.

"Father.." she hugged her dad, it has been long and she missed him so much.

"So sorry my cuties, welcome to Winterfell" their father said smiling broadly, he knew they were tired but he had to deal with something important before coming to pick them up, something he could not say..

The ride was unexpectedly chatty, the tired girls could not stop talking about the journey and Ice town, there was alot of things he missed.

That night he treated them to a splendid super and they had a beautiful night rest but he did not, not even close to, he couldn't.

By the time the girls turned off their light, he exhaled deeply, this was an encounter he very deeply wish he could avert.

He missed his children and was happy to see them but the reason they were here with him was one he dreaded.

He sat by the table in the right corner of his room just by the window and stared at the sky.

The sky was very bright and the stars were decorating it giving it a golden principle look.

There were times he wished things had turned out differently but that would mean wishing Nadiah was never born and that was not something he could swear he would ever wish.

Even though Oniel was his only male child, Nadiah was still his favorite.

Though it was unadvisable for parents to have favorites or entirely unfair, it was just something parents couldn't resist.

Nadiah was his first child and the circumstances sorrounding her birth bonded them.

Hailey was however Hailey he couldn't bring himself to explain his bond to her but it was already ringing a tune in his mind.

He closed his eyes and expected the moment to come.

It would, it was not a cup that he could pass over.

The scent was so strong and it hit him hard until he saw himself on the floor.

He could see the lanky figure above him but in a matter of seconds, everything was blurry and his mind lost recognition.

By the time he woke up to face reality, it was thesame familiar yet strange house.

"You did well, such a father.." Derick spoke from the cloud of smoke that illuminated the room, there was mockery in his last phrase.

"Where is my daughter.?" it was sure not looking like best friends catching up.

"Do you doubt her safety?" Derick asked, he was not angry nor did he sound amused, he only asked because he felt it was the right guy question to ask.

"I don't, but I worry for my child" in truth he could not say he doubted their protection or trusted in it but if they had such mighty powers of protection then they would not be having the discussion in the first place but here they were.

"She is like fire, I like her spirit" Derick sounded distant.

"She has been through a lot, she didn't deserve any of it". Elvarus coughed as he was partly choking from the smoke".

"I mean your daughter.." Derick turned to the window.

"She has the spirit of a roaring lionesses". It sounded strange coming from him.

"I want to see her..." Elvarus swallowed. "To see how she is doing".

"Your daughter is safe and sound, that is not your concern for now".. Derick said with a note of finality, sometimes it made Elvarus wonder what kind of person he was, Karina was softer.

"I want to see her, it's as we agreed I have done my part..." It surprised him to hear himself say that, he never thought he could discuss this with such a calm tone.

"What a pity.." Derick sucked his teeth. " I actually thought you grew to love her". Something sounded distant in Derick's voice but he was not disappointed, he was hurt, it was pain that he tried to suppress.

"I love her but I want to see my daughter.." There is no love like that of a parent to a child, everyone knew that even Derick did that was why he went through with Karina's crazy idea and it was thesame reason he was here having this unfathomable discussion with a mere human, it wasn't his thing.

"In due time.." Derick's voice disappeared in the clouds and so did he, it took a moment but Elvarus found himself in his room.

Exhausted from the encounter, he slumped into his bed and sighed.

He has dreaded this phase since the last decade.

The bargain was not bad at first, it also felt reasonable but with time, nothing was reasonable about it.

Not from his current view at least.

He wished he could bargain for more time but he could not, it was an agreement if it was worth the title and one he had not much control over.

He layed on his back and rolled over to his left, sleep wouldn't come he told himself it was one thing that he knew for sure.

He flashed the clock on the wall by his bed, it was past midnight.

He was both frustrated and tired, it was far from dawn.

He was halfway through the sitting room going to get milk from the kitchen when he heard the mysterious sound.

The windows shut open and a strong wind was at it's angriest display of woe.

Even though he could not see what was happening outside but he was sure trees were getting uprooted, the scene gave him a feeling of dejavu.

He abandoned his quest for milk and ran to the girls room upstairs, surprisingly, it was calm. Too calm and mysteriously peaceful.

The other parts of the house were shaken by the unannounced strange wind outside but this particular room was as calm as the deep blue sea at it's best behavior.

He had that feeling from eighteen years back, that presence again.

He tried to pass by the door but it was like an invisible wall was placed between him and the door.