The Forbidden Child

Unexpected

{Lilliana POV}

“I’m going to claim you.. as my own, at least until we find my brother. It should be a way to keep you safe from the others here that actually believe in what Amaranthia says.” His face said it all, it was an awkward conversation to begin with.. but he was very uncomfortable with what he was saying. “I don’t like this anymore than you do.. I was fine being alone, but if my brothers come for you.. if they find out you’re here, and I’m not with you.. they’ll end you. If they know that I’ve claimed you.. that I’ve marked you under the soul tree.. they’ll leave you alone.” He said, his eyes looking anywhere but at me.

I pulled off my hood, turning towards him. “What do you mean mark me? Claim me? What kind of weird god like sh** is that?” I seethed, anger, fear, frustration all oozing from my voice. “Actually.. no, don’t answer that! I.. I need a minute, I’m gonna go, somewhere, anywhere else!” I said, sliding off of the stool and walking back down the hallway, Coal following behind me. “What kind of crazy sh** is that? Mark me.. claim me.. as if I’m some object that he came across in the lost and found!” I shouted, finding myself standing in front of the library.

Coal’s meow pulled me from my thoughts, as he walked into the library and jumped onto the piano that sat at the bottom of a grand marble staircase. His paw tapping at the keys, as he looked over to me, his head c****d to the side.

“What is it now boy? You want me to play another song?” I asked, smiling at him. “You have always like it when I played.” I smiled, sitting down on the bench. He laid across the top, curling up in a ball, staring me down.

I placed my hands on the keys, thinking of what to play. The melody of, “Line without a Hook”, popped into my head. I smiled, beginning to tap the keys, playing the music, and singing to Coal. As I sang the lyrics, I couldn’t help but sway. I always loved the piano, it was calming, soothing, something that helped me feel more at home, even when I’m so out of place. Coal stood, jumping to my shoulder, walking across, and lying down around my neck, his face right next to mine as he watched me play. The song soon began to come to an end, and as I finished, I nuzzled my head against Coals.

“So.. do you think I’m over reacting then?” I asked, looking over to him.

He jumped off my shoulder and shook his body, before turning to look up at me. “You sing beautifully for a monster..” I heard a deep, grumbling voice sound from the corner of the room.

I pulled my hood back up, standing and turning towards where I heard the voice. “W-Who’s there?” I asked, my whole body trembling.

I saw him then, clear as day.. a tall, muscular man dressed in white and gold. He looked quite a bit like Vesper.. but his hair was a brown color, and swept in all different directions. He wore a smug smirk across his lips, and his eyes were a bright purple color. His beard was thicker than Vesper’s, and he was shorter, but much more intimidating. I’d seen statues of him.. I thought that no mortal had seen the gods, but looking over him I could tell, it was the god I had heard so much about.. the god of wrath, Zorn.

I turned on my heel, quickly rushing from the room. I ran back towards the kitchen, Coal running beside me. “Vesper!” I screamed as I sprinted away.

“Calling for my brother to save you.. you already got one of my brothers killed, why not take another one from us?” I heard Zorn’s voice behind me, as his loud footsteps drew closer.

Suddenly I felt a large hand grab me around my waist and pull me into a dark room. A piercing pain in my neck overtook all my senses, making my body feel wracked with aches. I let out a soft cry, and was suddenly pulled back out of the room. Zorn standing in front of me, his hand wrapped tightly around my wrist. “You can’t escape your destiny!” He smirked devilishly.

“Stop!” Another thundering voice came from the end of the hallway, but it was too late, as I felt the piercing of a blade go through my stomach, and out of my back. I looked down, seeing the sword embedded in me, my body trembling. My hood fell back as I looked up to see Zorn staring down the hallway, a broken look on his face. “What have you done!” The voice boomed through the house, echoing loudly.

Zorn looked down at me, and for the first time, he truly looked at me. My body felt cold, and as I stared into his eyes, tears began to stream down his face. “I-I..” he whimpered, pulling the blade out, causing me to drop to the floor.

I watched Vesper step out of the room I was just pulled into, his eyes scanning over me. “You i***t!” He shouted at Zorn, before turning towards where Zorn’s eyes were still staring.

His eyes went wide, his body trembled, and I could tell whoever was there, whoever was behind me was important to them. I fell onto my side, watching as blood poured out of my stomach. Vesper dropped to his knees, pulling me up in his arms. “H-Hey.. it’s okay, stay with us.” He said softly.

I heard the voice behind me getting closer. “It’s too late now.. we’ll just have to wait for her to regenerate.” He said, I tried to keep my eyes open, but I couldn’t. “She’ll be okay.. she can’t die.” Was the last thing I heard, before my world faded to black.