The One They Call Dark One

18) He's Different, He Changed

"Uh..."

"Exactly, you don't have an answer do you?" Liam said, crossing his arms and the dagger still in hand. He shook his head, "N-No! I mean, everything takes time, even when just trying to process information. You being the Dark One's son isn't that bad, it's actually pretty cool! Do you have magic?" Liam was a loss at words, no one had ever accepted him for being the son of darkness itself.

Liam's only response was a grin, "I used to, not anymore. It was a small price to pay in exchange of a mortal life. I was born like my father, powerful and stupid." He laughed, "When I was born I guess, I was cursed to have a life where I'd constantly grow. By the time I'd be six or seven, I'd look like in my twenties. My father saved a mage's life, and as a token of the mage's appreciation he turned me mortal and back to my normal body. If he didn't, I'd look twice my age."

"Your dad's the Dark One, what's he like behind closed doors? Whenever he makes an appearance outside, he's always in a bad mood, and would kill one or two of the villagers. In the castle, does he treat you fairly?" Cara asked, stepping a foot closer to Liam.

"Well my father can have quite the temper, but he usually cools off with my company. I remember this day clearly, mother was out on a day's journey to pick up herbs. Father said he'd get them, but I wanted him to teach me to sword fight. The whole day he was so pissed at everything. He was close to burning down the gardens, and mother loved the garden. With my little head, I helped my father forget his problems with some fun and games." Liam smiled, remembering that moment clear as day.

"Wow, you must have a quite the family then. As much as I love my parents, they always tell me to do somethings I don't like. They say I'm the village's best messenger. I'm skilled in stealth, and can deliver large loads in short times. Now, the title's stuck. I'm the Dark Kingdom's Messenger." Liam frowned at Cara's fate, something he didn't like. "Well, what do you want to be? Who knows, my father could give that to you."

He scoffed, "Really? I don't think so, what I want isn't worth anything to someone like him. He has magic, so it's nothing but something to take advantage of. What I want is peace and quite so I can look at night sky, and maybe, just maybe...write it." Liam raised a brow, confused of what Cara's dream was.

"Your dream is to write the night sky? Sorry, but I don't understand what you mean by that."

"You're not supposed to, Liam. Alright, I'll say it again. If you look up at the sky at night, it's beautiful. It's so beautiful, you can't explain it out loud. I want to tell people of how beautiful it is, without saying a thing. I want to tell them how a star is so bright, it lights the fire in our hearts. I want to tell them just how important looking up gives more smiles to people in a room, than it does to a whole crowd looking down."

"So...a writer? Is that what you're saying?" Liam asked, having a grasp at what Cara was attempting to explain. "Yes, but not for some damp book that'll be thrown away later. I want to write something that everyone will like, even the Dark One."

"Hm, I think we can work with that. Father's always been a fuss around the castle when mom takes his books without asking. Hey, do you know or make anything good? He loves anything related to magic or romance." Liam smiled, remembering the moments with his parents. "Yeah, I can." He replied, but grinned once an idea popped in his head, "Now that I think about it, those are exactly the type of books I love writing and reading about! I could be your storyteller too!"

Killian did not like the sound of how their conversation started, but hearing his son talking about Cara's interests he started to pay attention, "Now now Liam, let's not get in over our heads, Caramar is a villager. Not that I'd mind him in the castle, but if he's going to be writing, keep him out of my studies." The two boys and the Dark One all laughed immensely at each other's ideas and tales, but their laughter caught the attention of Cara's parents who were too busy counting the doubloons.