His Protector | TVD & TO

Chapter 6

990 A.D.

The water hears and understands. The ice does not forgive.

As winters passed, the village people watched as Jhaeros and Solas came by now and then, but they were still wary of the two unknowns, wondering about the threat they posed. As the village leader, Mikael couldn't help but wonder if this was a show of power from Jhaeros. As if Jhaeros was testing him to speak out, he wonders if the boy once known as Niklaus, now Solas, would be used to keep him quiet. His pride was wounded deeply by this unknown man, no, no, that thing was not a man at all...

His thoughts were interrupted by Esther, "Mikael, they are back. Those two are back in the village. What is worse is that wretched boy is playing with Elijah again! I thought you told him never to play with that monster's son!"

"Hush, woman!" Mikael shouted, "Do you not remember what that—that, what you know who promised?!" His face was pale, and his eyes frantically searched around them to ensure no one heard them. "You are playing a dangerous game, Esther, a game I am unwilling to participate in. I told you how I hoped we would never cross paths with him again. I told you what I thought he was that night after our first encounter; I still think the same thing even after all these winters. He was nothing but a predator—a monster that could erase our very existence if he wished to. The only thing standing between us at the moment is the vow he forced us to take that same vow that told us nothing was to happen to his son. That vow means we cannot do anything; our lives lie in that child's hands. If the child wished us dead, we would be dead before we could even blink." He spoke frantically

Esther's eyes widened; never before had she seen her husband, a hard-worn Viking, be so afraid of anything until this being. None of this filtered into her mind until she heard a commotion happening. She and Mikael turned their heads to see an adult push Solas down, causing him to bleed. What shocked them was that the boy did not cry out; instead, he took a deep breath as if trying to calm himself.

"Wastch were ur' goin' brat!" The drunken villager shouted in anger and kicked the boy.

Esther and Mikael gasped as they heard a scream of pain cut through the air. They could see a silver shining blade cut through the man's like butter; it was the same leg used to kick the boy. They followed the vision of the blade to its owner only to see Jhaeros standing there, his pupils blown out, covering his iris. You could see the black bloodlust craving more, his face as cold as ice, and his posture towering over the man as if a predator wasn't done tormenting its prey for hurting its young.

Esther tore her eyes away from the gruesome sight, but Mikael gripped her jaw and forced her to watch as Jhaeros sliced the man's limbs off one by one as he taunted him. "Do you see what I mean now, Esther? Do you understand the risk of what will happen to us if we try to do anything? Jhaeros set an example for everyone here to understand: no one can hurt his son." He whisper-shouted in her ear.

All Esther could do was gulp at the gruesome sight and flinch at the bloodcurdling screams that were heard. She always knew Jhaeros was dangerous, that he was a creature you shouldn't turn your back on if you want to survive. However, her pride got in the way, and she almost made the same mistake as the drunken fool. All she could think now was that it could have been her.

All Mikael and Esther could think was, 'This is a powerful creature bound by flesh and bone. Just waiting to destroy anything in its path.'

"Solas, it's time to go," Jhaeros said. His voice was monotone, his face showing no expressions as he turned on his heel with his son in town as they left the village.

When they were far enough, Jhaeros turned to Solas and knelt down to check on him. He cupped Solas's face to see the blood running down his temple. He pulled Solas closed and inhaled a breath. He could smell his son's scent, letting him know he was safe in his arms. That no one could hurt him, Jhaeros kissed his forehead and whispered a thank you to the stars above for his son not being hurt further than he could have been.

Seeing that his father was done checking on his injuries and had calmed down from his wrath. He couldn't help but ask, "Ada, is this why the people from the villages seem scared of us?"

Jhaeros pulled away to look Solas in the eyes. He didn't want Solas to see such violence so early on, but there was only so much he could shield him from reality. Sadly smiling, he responded, "They fear me, my Solas. They have always feared me because I was different from them. When you came along, they saw you were of my blood and knew you would be just as different. People have always feared what they do not understand. They would rather fear and ostracize the unknown. It's what makes mortals so dangerous. They would rather react with violence than try to understand."

"Is that why the children from the village always try to scare me away or talk about me, Ada?" Solas asked as his tone softened to a whisper, afraid that if he raised his voice any higher, something would hurt him.

"My Solas, do not worry about what they say. They know nothing about you or how special you truly are." Jhaeros whispered back

"What do you mean by how special I am, Ada?"

"You, my child, have moon dust in your lungs and stars in your eyes. You are a child of the cosmos, a ruler of the skies."