Evenpeak had grown up on the southside of Tarragon his whole life. He could of only dreamt of leaving his town, imagining the beautiful fields of wildflowers on the mountainsides of Gathroin, the high and gorgeous homes of the wealthiest in Brighten, and the wide and bright streets of Colghin, which festered with life in the nighttime. How did he know how to describe all of these places? By the stories his father told him of course. Evenpeaks father, Norval Compton, was a merchant who had travelled across the seven seas and beyond. Or so he had told. He was actually just a basic merchant, riding across two or so towns to sell his goods to the folk all around. Every once in a while when he had returned home, he would tell stories of how he saw mountains as high as the sun, snow as white as paper and so much more. Seeing his sons eyes widen at every story he told was the motivation he needed to keep going. Evenpeak was his fathers pride and joy.
Thus it was 1883. The year everything would change for the Compton family.
It was just like a regular Sunday. The sun shining through Evenpeaks window as usual, waking him up with the warmth. Though something felt wrong, something didn't feel right to him. His father was supposed to return today. The excitement of the thought of what his father would tell him that day distracted him from the wrong feeling, making him jump out of bed and strot to the little cottage kitchen. Everything shimmered with green - the wild grass outside, which held a few dandelions, the vines that branched and climbed over and on the kitchen window and the trees that blossomed in the midst of Spring, the apple trees blossoming with little white flowers. Thus came a knock on the door, a gentle rhythm. Mother Gladys, the local churches nun had opened the door and greeted Evenpeak with a warm and motherly smile.
"Good morning my dear, how did you sleep?" Mother Gladys asked while setting her basket on the dinner table, opening her arms to embrace Evenpeak.
He basically jumped into her arms, hugging her tightly, "I slept well, thank you!" He replied whilst enjoying the embrace of his caregiver. Gladys was the first to disengage from the hug, standing straight and unravelling her basket which smelled of fresh bread and lemons. Gladys had been taking care of Evenpeak when his father was away - going on walks with Evenpeak, feeding him, taking him to church and helping him study. She was always sweet around him, calling him her child at some points. "My dear, i brought you bread and a piece of lemon cake from the soup kitchen, would you like some?" Gladys asked while laying the selection of breads on the table, leaving Evenpeak to enjoy the view and smell that was in front of him.
The afternoon of 1883, Spring 14th of May. Quiet and calm. Mother Gladys and Even were sitting in the garden of the Compton estate, talking about "Pride & Prejudice". Love was always a mystery for Even - always hearing stories about Romeos and Juliets, how birds and bees work - but how does it feel? Does it really feel like butterflies are swarming in your stomach? Does it taste like a sweet honey tea? He always loved listening to Mother Gladys talk about it, but never understood it. "Orthy dear, do you know how much God loves you?" Mother Gladys asked suddenly while looking into the distance, staring afar at the forest that guarded the right side of The Compton cottage. Orthon was snapped out of his trance with that question, looking over at Mother Gladys, she continued, "He loves you so much that he gave you a warm home, a beautiful sight to look at every morning," she paused, looking at the boy next to her "and a loving father who would do anything to keep his boy happy." She smiled softly, making the wrinkles on her face show a little with her smile lines, showing her age far too well. Orthos didn't know what to say in return. He knew God loved him - God loves everyone! But is this really the kind of love that everyone so dearly spoke about? The neighboring girls giggling about their crushes and how a boy gifted a girl a Black-Eyed Susan doesn't sound the same as giving someone a loving parent who would sacrifice anything for them. His thoughts were put on hold when hearing the distant clatters and thumps of horse trotting. Had his father finally returned home? Orthos had jumped up from the grass he was sitting on and sprinting towards the gate - but being stopped before he could even take a step. Mother Gladys looked at the road that laid between streets, having a worried look on her face. Confused, Orthos wanted to ask Gladys why she had stopped him, but his attention was caught by the loudening of clatters from the streets.
A beautiful Irish Draught stood in front of their wooden fencing, neighing and huffing whilst a army soldier calmed the beast with tugging. Confusion was overflowing Orthos, where was his father? Why was this man here? And why had Gladys stopped him? He tried to keep his mind sober and not jump to conclusions, hoping to find out what was going on very soon.
"Comptons, correct?" The man asked while looking for something through his stags hip bag, having the horse calm beforehand.
"That is correct." Mother Gladys replied hesitantly, her voice quivering under her breath. The soldier jumped off the horse, holding it by a lead and unravelled a piece of yellowish, slightly transparent paper, having a sorrowful expression on his face.
"We regret to inform you that Norval Compton has been found deceased on the roads of Colghin and Tarragon. Mister Compton had been found-" The soldier hesitated to read the next part of the letter out loud, not seeming to be disturbed by Orthoses and Mother Gladyses reactions, but by something else. "-mutilated and dismembered on the sidelines of the road with his horses gutted." The soldier looked a little more relieved after finishing the sentence, like a stone had been lifted off his heart. He continued with a more formal tone, "Nothing had been stolen so we will have everything that had been found by his carrier returned to you. On the behalf of the Caltanignano parlament and the Merchants Bridge we will not ask for any payment for the return of his belongings. We wish you our regards and mourn with you." Mother Gladys looked pale. She couldn't help but burst into tears after hearing what had happened to Norval, wailing loud enough for the whole town to hear.
Orthos felt his heart drop when hearing what happened. Everything sounded like a blur afterwards - the soldiers finishing sentences, Mother Gladyses cries, the birds singing - the world sounded so much quieter all of a sudden. His knees felt weak, he felt weak. Just this morning he was jumping around and retelling Mother Gladys his fathers stories, excited to hear what he would of seen this time. The soldier had left without neither of them changing their state.
God loved Orthos so much that he gave him his loving father who would do anything for his son. Pain was all Orthos felt in that moment. When he thought of his father, all he felt was pain. God didn't give him his father, he gave him pain. He gave him Norval and took him away from him.
Was this love? Teasing others with inevitable pain? Distracting them from the cruel and heartbreaking truth? If this was truly love, he hated it.
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Behind his fangs
Randommonster x male human dynamic. Evenpeak is a guard from an ordinary town called Tarragon, or what looked ordinary. Tarragon is known to be one of the more 'dangerous' towns on the countryside due to its 'crime rate'. Evenpeak, or some know him as Ort...
