Eternal Vows: The Biography of a Young Witchling ( On Hiatus )

Chapter Four: Mourning

Night had fallen, and it was just about time to head to bed. Aria had snuck her daughter into the bathroom with the excuse that she had fallen outside and Aria was just tending to a cut on her cheek. She placed a band-aid on Izumi's cheek to avoid suspicion and waited for Io to walk to the bedroom, making sure he wouldn't overhear her master plan.

"Now Izumi," Aria whispered, her hands lightly squeezing Izumi's shoulders as the Young Master carried Akira. "I need you to play along as I speak to your father. Can you do that?"

Izumi nodded. "What do I do, mama?"

"I need you to tell a lie. Normally I wouldn't ask this of you, but this is very important. You won't get in trouble for it if I ask it of you. Can you do that for me?"

Izumi bit her lip, looking up at her mother worriedly. "...Okay mama. I'll do that."

Aria smiled, hugging Izumi tight. "You're such a good girl. Now, it's nine o'clock. At exactly nine fifteen, I want you to enter my room. You're going to pretend you're afraid of the dark. That way, you, Akira and I can be in the same room, making it easier for us to run away."

"Run away!? But why, mama--"

Master Aria covered Izumi's mouth. "--Shh! Your father is a very bad man, Izumi. We have no choice but to run from him. You of all people should know that...Remember what he has done to you."

 "But mama--"

"--He shouldn't have to lay a hand on you, even if you did do something wrong." Aria whispered, a slight sneer in her voice.

Izumi bowed her head in defeat. "I don't wanna run, mama."

"I know...None of us do. I know what it's like to leave home...Just trust me, okay? I promise we will find a new place...Away from chores and...this." Master rolled up Izumi's sleeves, revealing a pair of small, scraped up hands wrapped in bandages. "You got these from working too hard in the garden, correct?"

The Young Master nodded. "Papa told me to keep working, so I did..."

Aria squeezed lightly on Izumi's small hands. "No more pain, Izumi...This will never happen again...Just trust me."

Reluctantly, Izumi nodded and gave her mother one last hug before walking off with Akira in her arms, toward their shared bedroom.

Aria sighed as she watched the girl leave. She knew Izumi loved her father, no matter what. But being with him left her children unsafe. And that was something she couldn't just ignore.  

As Aria wandered into the bedroom she shared with her abusive husband, she realized he was still awake.

And staring directly at her.

"And why did you not come to me when called?"

 Aria swallowed. "Izumi hurt herself while we were out...I had to clean and tend to her wound." She explained, standing in the doorway with her hands folded in front of her.

Io nodded slowly, a knowing look on his face. Oh how Aria hated that look, it made her feel defenseless...And very frightened. Unknowingly, she began to tremble. Io patted the spot beside him.

"Come. Lay down with me."

"I'll be fine. I-I'm going to sleep in the children's room tonight." Aria turned around, barely able to step a single inch out the door when Io's voice lowered an octave.

 "Aria..." He warned.

Master flinched, staying perfectly still, her back facing him.

"Come here." He said in a soft, menacing tone. "Now."