Trapped In A Glided Bird Cage (TOH)

Growing Pains

My mother always did say I was a very strange baby. She said I rarely cried, screamed, or shrieked. The most unusual thing I did was stare.

Even if she sat in front of me with colorful blocks or children's toys to keep me occupied. Every time she looked up from her work she see me staring at her. She said if I hadn't been so cute looking she would have found it unnerving.

When I did cry it was after waking up from nightmares. My mother would often sing me back to sleep after comforting me. I still remember her singing, she hasn't done it since I was really young.

She stopped after Kikimora overhead her singing to me the rest is nothing but history. She had such a beautiful voice, I'll never forgive Kikimora for stealing those moments away from my mother and me.

My mother being the Coven Head was busy. She constantly got called in by Kikimora. She was often forced to give me over to a number of different sitters to look after me during her meetings.

~Etta's Childhood~

Lilith was beside herself at this point. Etta was proving to be a very strange child. Only a few days after she had been given Etta the little girl sprouted fangs. Not only that but Lilith couldn't help but notice that the little girl's ears were longer and pointer than other witches.

Lilith gently cradled the little girl in her arms as she sat in a rocking chair in her room. She gently stroked the little girl's hair as she slept. "Hopefully, you'll grow into those ears," Lilith murmured softly. She continued to gaze down at the little girl in her arms. She had never considered that one day she'd become a mother, but yet here she was.

Lilith had tried to ask the Emperor where Etta had come from. His only response was that she had been found alone. When Lilith tried to press where she had been found the Emperor dismissed the topic and refused to speak on it anymore. Lilith gently brushed a piece of hair away from the little girl's face. She had been using all the free time, she had to spend with the little girl to make sure she didn't feel neglected. As Lilith watched on Etta began to whimper and cry in her sleep.

It had become pretty common for Lilith to wake in the night to Etta's crying. Lilith did her best to soothe the little girl back to sleep and found singing to her did the trick. Lilith began to sing a lullaby softly to the little girl in her arms. A few moments later Etta had been soothed back to sleep. Lilith gently continued cradling the little girl in her arms.

Lilith was determined to be a good mother. She never wanted the little girl in her arms to feel neglected or forgotten as she had. Etta then opened her eyes and yawned she gazed up at Lilith and giggled. Lilith smiled and she gently placed her forehead against Etta's. She then heard a knock on the door, with a sigh she got up from the rocking chair and gently shifted Etta into her other arm. She opened the door to see Darius standing on the other side.

"Hello, Darius what brings you to my quarters?"

"Kikimora has requested you to come to her office,"

Lilith looked down at the little girl in her arms and hesitated she couldn't leave her on her own. Darius noticed and he let out a sigh and held out his own arms, "Give me the beasty, I'll look after it while you're gone. Don't be too long,"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!" Darius snapped and said, "Now give her here before I change my mind," Lilith handed Etta to Darius who visibly grimaced as he received her. "Hurry along now Lilith, don't keep Kikimora waiting," Darius grumbled

Lilith nodded and she hurried off. She looked back briefly a look of concern on her face. Darius, Raine, and herself had entered each of their coven positions around the same time. With Raine being the last, she is the first, closely followed by Darius. They were all pretty well acquainted and it wasn't that Lilith had anything against Darius but she did prefer Raine as Etta's sitter when they were available.

Darius sighed as he stared at the child in his arms. She gazed back at him with big bright yellowish golden eyes. He held her at arm's length and carried her to his office. Before setting her down on the floor, he summoned an abomination it took form, and started to play with the little girl keeping her occupied. Darius meanwhile laid down on his couch and pulled out his scroll to look through Penstagram.

He happened across Alador Blight's newest post which showed a picture of him standing in front of one of his newest creations. "Hack," Darius muttered but he zoomed in on the picture to get a better look at the creation behind Alador.

"What shoddy craftsmanship," He scoffed briefly zooming in on the man's face before, he clicked on Alador's profile and started scrolling through his older posts. Not noticing the little girl was standing on her tiptoes and looking over his shoulder at the scroll in his hand. The abomination was standing behind the girl attempting to get her attention using a teddy bear made of goo.

When he got to another picture of Alador and zoomed in on his face, he heard a little voice say the word, "Hack!"Darius looked up and saw Etta squinting her eyes at the picture of Alador on the scroll.

He couldn't help but let out an amused snort and he sat up. "Come here you little Beasty,"

Etta walked over to stand in front of Darius and she cocked her head to the side with a curious look on her face. Darius looked at the little kid standing in front of him. This was his first time looking after Lilith's apprentice usually Raine did if they were available. Darius hadn't seen much of the young child, Lilith had named Merletta as she was usually always at Lilith's side. She was rarely seen around and about the castle. He had been made aware that Lilith was raising a child under the Emperor's orders but didn't know the exact details. Part of him knew he didn't want to know the details either. If it was under the Emperor's orders it couldn't be for good.

He reached out and ruffled the little girl's hair and said, "You're going to be such a troublemaker when you grow up Beasty. I can already tell,"

Etta just grinned back in response. Darius then motioned and the abomination gently reached down and picked the little girl up placing her on its shoulders. The abomination then proceeded to walk around the room carrying Etta, amusing her as Darius continued to scroll through Pentasgram. Trying to ignore the sinking feeling he had in his chest it had been about a year since his own mentor the old golden guard disappeared. Supposedly died in the line of service to the Emperor. He was well aware the coven was not a forgiving nor safe place. He was concerned not only for the young girl but for her mother as well. What could the Emperor be planning?

Darius reached into his pocket and pulled out a well-worn and folded photograph. He unfolded it and gazed at the picture. It was a photo of a much younger him standing at his side was a man wearing a golden mask. Golden armor and draped in a white cloak wielding an artificial staff.

He gently folded the paper back and placed it into his pocket. Before turning his head and glancing at the little girl sitting on the Abomination's shoulders. He noticed she had started braiding the goo to look like hair and was smiling and laughing. "What are you doing now little Beasty?" Darius said and he got up from the couch and walked over. Till he was looking up at where Etta was perched.

Etta smiled and waved down at him. Darius let out a sigh and shook his head but smiled. He heard a knock on his door and opened it to find Lilith standing on the other side. She looked tired and stressed. Darius motioned for the Abomination to come over, it slowly dissolved as Darius picked Etta up from its shoulders.

He deposited her into Lilith's arms and said, "Here's your Beasty,"

Lilith cradled Etta gently in her arms and said, "Thank you for looking after her, Darius,"

"It was no problem. Do try and get more rest Lilith it looks like you could use some,"

"I'll keep that in mind," Lilith mumbled, and she turned back and started walking back toward her room.

Darius watched her leave and saw Etta looking back at him over Lilith's shoulder he smiled slightly as he saw the little girl waving at him.

"Until later little Beasty," he said softly.