Lineage

Chapter Four- Ameira Xenn, Year 3635

  Dust flew all around as Ameira placed the box down on the desk infront of her. It wasn't a heavy box but it had been a long time since anyone had last touched it. The woman had always had a fear of touching the box, ever since her mother had died, she had let it sit in storage, collecting dust.

The box was full of the few belongings of her mothers. A beautiful woman, almost identical to how Ameira looked today. Short black hair, pale skin and grey eyes. Her mother had said to her that they were strong characteristics of the Denali's.

Denali was the only word written on the box, Ameira traced the words with her fingertips, a form of shame washing over her. She erased her and her mothers identity. She could only imagine what Tarena Denali would've said if she was alive right now.

She traced the words a few more times until she got the courage to open the box. There wasn't much dust this time, but instead the musty smell of old paper filled the room. It surprised the 40 year old to find actual paper in the box instead of the datapads that she had become accustomed to. She reached in and pulled out the paper placed on top. The edges curled in and had yellowed with aged but the text was still clear.

Dearest Rogaan,

I am afraid this is my last letter to you. Our daughter is now 2 months old and she is the spiting image of myself. It's almost making me doubt your paternity to her, but I know what is true and that truth is that I was a distraction.

It took me a long time to accept it, but its nearly been a year since you last made any contact with me and I can be realistic. I had a friend do a bit of history checking on you, maybe see where you have gone instead with being with your family. It was only after she came back with the news that I realised that you were with your family.

I can raise Ameira on my own, I raised myself didnt I? Childbirth ripped me open from the inside but what become of the pain is beautiful, and I will cherish it until the day I die.

I hear your wife is expecting with your first true born. I wish her well, birth is quite a painful experience, but I imagine all the technology found in Kaas City will aid her and make everything less painful.

I miss you Rogaan, but I understand why you left.

Your beloved Tarena.

Ameira blinked, tears coming to her eyes as she skimmed over the words once again.

"I can raise Ameira on my own, I raised myself didnt I? Childbirth ripped me open from the inside but what become of the pain is beautiful, and I will cherish it until the day I die."

The words struck a chord in her, if only she had her mother now. Oh how she would cry. She placed the paper down on the desk and picked up another from the box. This time it was a letter to Tenara's close friend. Describing how wonderful this new man she met was. She could only guess that she was refering to her father as her mother only refered to him as R in the letter.

She read through a few more, more random letters to people she had never heard of. The seventh letter she picked up though, was another letter to Rogaan.

Dearest Rogaan,

When will you return, the due date is nearing and I am scared to go through this alone. There is no one here, just myself and the small baby inside of me.
I was told that she is to be a girl and all I can imagine is her having your beautiful red hair and green eyes, perhaps your nose as well.
When you return we will be a happy family, we can move into a bigger apartment in a nicer area with more children and our beautiful girl will grow up happy, so will we.

Your beloved Tarena.

She let out a shaky sigh and look into the box once again. She sifted through the papers and caught sight of a folder. She pulled it out of the box and brushed any remaining dust off. On the front, in big red lettering was the word private.

Ameira flipped over the front cover and read the first page, it seemed to be a letter addressed to her mother.

Tarena,
How do you always get yourself into so much trouble? How do you always get involved with the wrong people.

Did you do no background research on Rogaan at all when you first met him?

You know better than to mess with imperials.

There was no name signing off. Ameira was almost afraid to turn the next page. This was probably the a file filled with documents about her biological father. She didn't know if she was ready to look through it yet. She placed the folder down on the table next to the box.

"For another day." She whispered quietly.