The Great War

I

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Faith Hollow, October 1725―

I still remember a time where Mom and dad were together, I was about four and my brother was well into his adolescence. It was peaceful, no one knew that dad wasn't really Azrael's dad, Faith kept her double life a secret from everyone involved–Dad knew though, I mean it wasn't that hard.

I remember mom tying the laces of my dress as I swung my legs.

"Are you ready for your brother's birthday?"

I smile at her through the mirror in front of us.

"Yeah! Daddy let me get him a present this time."

She brushes my hair back and kisses my cheek. "Yeah? What'd you get him?"

I stand up with her help and rush off to my bed. I kneel down and grab the box from underneath. It was neatly wrapped up in cloth paper, Dad helped me with that.

"Me and Daddy went out and got him paper and pencils!"

She gently took the box from my hands and set it down on the vanity table. She sat on the stool and lifted me into her lap.

"Why don't we add your name?'' She grabs a pencil out of her drawer and hands it to me. I lean forward and sloppily write my name.

"I'm sure he'll love it baby.'' She kisses my cheek and stands with me in her arms.

"Let's go shall we?"

❝We were the picture-perfect family. Well suited with assets and wealth, always looked our best–acted on the utmost best behavior—Mom looked like something right out of a painting. Fiery locks and a porcelain complexion. Her silver eyes shined like diamonds, and her smile charmed anyone she passed.

Dad looked like a broody businessman, sleek black hair, some stubble and he was tall—He held himself like a perfect man—Everyone basically worshiped them. They knew what they were, Gods, treated them as such too. Then it went south, Dad learned Azrael wasn't his, Mom was torn away from us, and I was punished for being a crossbreed.

A bastard child.

I was only four, a little girl who only knew of her family and status. Father changed after that, he no longer spoke of them, he trained me like I was one of his demons. I wasn't a daughter anymore—I was just an asset to his world. A replaceable worker. No matter how hard I trained, or much I strained myself for the praise of my father's words, it never happened.

I was never enough for him. He used mom and Azrael to keep me going. I never saw them after the fight between Elohim and Father. It was all over, we weren't worshiped or treated like gods, we were villains to the townsfolk.

Monsters who shed human blood in the celestial fight.

We weren't allowed to be seen in the village ever again. If anyone saw us, we'd be beheaded in town square. I was confined to the forest and the cabin. I could never wander too far, or I'd be locked up in my room. I was a pet at that point. No more than a girl, no less than an animal. I merely existed in the presence of life❞

1729—

My eyes found their target as I silently stalked through the forest. My fathers red eyes on me, I could feel it. I let out a breath as my pupils dilated.

"Could you stop staring!" I yelled, annoyedly at the winged man perched on a large willow tree his back lazily leaned against the wood.

"Ah... My love, see what you did? You scared away your meal." He hopped down from the tree, I turned back towards where the elk once was. I let out a huff and cross my arms. He comes up behind me and places his hands on my shoulders.