wait for me [illumi zoldyck]

53. The Creator

Many Years Ago

Rene

My trips to the small pond deep in the forest have become more frequent. I always find the most absurd excuse to go off on my own, and mama surprisingly never gives me a hard time about it.

Cyrus has not been showing up as much as he used to anymore. In fact, I haven't seen him in a few weeks. We used to meet quite often, but he abruptly stopped coming one day, without warning. It's the reason why I've been visiting more frequently these days, hoping that I'll catch him amongst the magical flowers beside the small pond where I collect my water.

I grab ahold of dense greenery which hangs loosely from the trees above, moving it out of my way as I step into the clearing. The golden necklace on my neck glistens brightly, reflecting the bright sun. I have yet to remove it, too afraid that I'll lose my precious gift from Cyrus.

The clearing is empty when I arrive, as I expected. Cyrus is not here, today.

I walk over to the silken cover which lays in the middle of the clearing on the ground, amongst the flowers. The area is drenched with magic, so the cover has not been untidied in the slightest. There is no rain here, no strong winds, no bugs or animals.

Seating myself on it, I look off towards the pond, watching the stream of water flow into it.

I'm plagued with worry, concerned that something may have happened to Cyrus. He seemed troubled the last time he visited but refused to share anything with me. It's not like him to worry about anything, considering that he is an immortal. I am usually the one who feels troubled about things, not him.

I absentmindedly place a hand over my stomach, caressing the small bump beneath my dress.

"You don't need to worry yourself," he told me.

Will he ever return?

He doesn't know about the baby. Not even mama knows. The bump has only just started showing, in the time that he's been gone. I planned to tell him, but the chance never arose. Now, I fear something may have happened and he will never know of the truth.

Suddenly, I startle, hearing a rustling sound from right behind me followed by the sound of a voice. I immediately stand, eyeing the treeline for any sign of life. Could it be Cyrus?

"No need to panic, little child." A soft voice calls out. I cannot tell if it coming from a man or a woman.

I feel sick to my stomach, knowing that nothing good will come out of this situation. I assume that this is someone from the nearby town, trying to hunt down the famous witch, as people have come to call me.

Immediately, I start for my house, my feet silently padding across the ground. My heart beats wildly in my chest, filling me with dread. Before I have the chance to register what is happening, a small knife comes out, jagging into the back of my leg. It wedges deep into my flesh. A searing pain bursts throughout my leg to the rest of my body.

I yelp in pain, tripping over a protruding tree root from the ground. My hands don't come out in time to stop me from hitting the ground, and my hip suddenly explodes with pain as it meets the floor. I gasp, tears swimming in my vision.

A stranger comes sauntering out from behind a tree, stalking towards me with a feral grin. He's tall and looks older, like papa. He is very beautiful. His features are both feminine and masculine, just like his voice. And his eyes.

A chill runs through me. His eyes are pitch black. There is no white, no iris, no pupil. Just darkness.

"Wh-Who are you?" I stammer, crawling away from him frantically. My back hits the root of a tree.