From the Ashes

Chapter 20 ~ Innocents Born of Monsters

    Horror and disgust washed through Morana at the sight of the children and babies. The children had fangs. All of them. They were Corrupted. Was Astaroth targeting even children now? Rage took root in the pit of her stomach, but she didn't get a chance to ask any questions.

    The group surrounded her, pressing close as all of them tried to glimpse the tattoo on her chest. Perhaps she'd made a mistake in revealing it, but she didn't know of any other way to convince Wenn that they weren't in league with Astaroth.

    Although now, she understood the reasons Lonan and Arlon had given her for keeping her identity hidden. There were tears shining in several of the womens' eyes and three of them bowed low when she looked at them. Morana flashed Tarion a pleading look.

    He just crossed his arms and cocked his head, as if saying "I tried to warn you. You get to handle this."

    Morana hastily refastened her tunic and managed to slip out of the center of the group. "What are all of you doing here?" She asked. "Were you captured? And the children..."

    "The males you murdered were the Humans' husbands," Wenn answered. "Two were Astrelle and Neoma's mates."

    "Mates?" Tarion echoed. Morana glanced at him and found his garnet eyes narrowed with anger and suspicion. "Willing or forced?"

    "One willing, one forced."

    "And the Humans?"

    "All forced marriages."

    Tarion faced the group and sought out the two Fae. The first had hair whiter than the moon, and her skin was as dark as night. The other's hair was the color of a sparrow's feather and her skin held a golden glow.

    "I am Astrelle," the first said. "I formed the bond with my mate. It was willing on both parts. He was Corrupted long afterwards and I refused to leave him."

    The second, Morana guessed, was Neoma. Tarion addressed her instead of answering Astrelle. "You were forced then?" The female bowed her head.

    Morana bit back the questions that threatened to pour out of her. She'd heard of mates, but only in passing. She knew next to nothing about them and had never found someone willing to talk about it. Perhaps she'd ask Tarion later. He seemed to understand it. For now, she was more concerned about the children.

    "What about the children?" Morana asked once more. Her voice fell to a growl. "Are they all Astaroth's Corrupted?"

    The women all glanced warily at each other, then at Wenn. The female offered them no guidance. Apparently giving an explanation or withholding one would be up to them. Finally, it was Laina who answered. "The children were all born this way, not taken and Corrupted by Astaroth."

    Morana heard Tarion's sharp intake of breath, but didn't look at him. "What do you mean? They were born Corrupted?" She pressed.

    "They are not Corrupted," Laina insisted. "They are naturally born. All with fangs, but not all with red eyes. Some retained their mother's eye color, or colors from their father's line before Corruption took root."

    Morana's thoughts drifted back to the portrait she'd found in the palace, and Tarion's one icy blue eye that had been visible. "What about their hunger?" Tarion's voice was a shallow rasp. "Can they control it? Do they require Fae blood?"

    "They do, but they only seem to need it about once a month, and they have always been docile even when exposed to it."

    "No uncontrollable hunger or madness? No bloodlust?"