Winter's Return (Complete)

Chapter Four

It was the little things I missed the most: hearing my siblings voices, my mother's singing, or a scent which made my heart ache every time I smelled it. Other things made it more difficult, finding a new home, moving into the orphanage, and trying to understand what was wrong with me. The other kids realized I was different and they understood my transformation as little as I did.

I was born in Cornwall in 1742. I don't remember the month, the day, or much else from my life back then. I remembered strange things, like the smell of the fields after a rainstorm and the old farmhouse I grew up in. I don't remember my family's voices anymore and the only time I see their faces is in dreams. I can't even recall my real name. Every 10 years or so I am forced to change it and move to a new home before people realize that I haven't aged a day. For 274 years I have been utterly alone. Friends I had made I was forced to run away from or they ended up dead like Erik. Just like my family, my friends were a comfort only found in my dreams.

With all the good which came from the memories of my loved ones, there was also a lot of bad. Nightmares seemed easier to come by than dreams nowadays. Even now as Kieran carried me in his arms towards the library, begging me to hold on I was tormented by nightmares.

They all seem to start the same, as dreams. I was sitting outside with a girl I once met in the orphanage only days after my parents had died. Already the transformation had begun. My orange ringlets were turning white, strand by strand. The one girl, Emily, didn't seem to mind that my skin paled and my hair changed colours. She made me laugh, forget about the loss of my mother, father, brothers, and sisters. She made me feel normal.

The once happy and bright dream quickly turned dark once we crossed through the portal and entered a different world. Kieran attempted to get help and my body tensed in his arms.

"Emily go inside," A guy called as he walked through the back door and stared at me.

I hesitated as I looked at Emily and she looked like she wanted to fight. I simply smiled at her and shook my head, "It's okay Emily, Aedan and I just need to chat. I will find you when I am done." I said, refusing to show fear though I knew whatever was going to happen next, wouldn't be good.

Emily stayed frozen before she stood up and sprinted inside, never looking back. "I don't even know why she talks to a freak like you." Aedon growled as he started walking towards me.

I didn't move from my spot in the grass, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me scared. "What do you want?"

"I think we should do our little chat in the gardener's shed." He said, using the same euphemism I had about what was going to happen next.

Shaking my head I finally stood up to face the boy who easily towered over me. "I am not going anywhere with you and if you try to make me, I will scream." I warned him, folding my arms over my chest to hide my trembling hands.

Aedon smirked as he looked me over slowly; I was petite even for a child. "Go ahead, no one will care. No one will come to help someone like you." My body tensed at his threat, preparing myself to run if he tried to grab me.

The giant boy was quick for someone of his size. He reached out and wrapped his arm around my waist and was bent over as I let out my first scream. He shoved his shoulder forward into my diaphragm causing the wind to get knocked out of me. He threw me over his shoulder and I was stunned for a second as he carried me like a sack of potatoes towards the shed. I started to scream, kick and punch in attempts to get put down. "Someone help me!" I shrieked and I looked up to see faces staring out the window at the scene, but no one moved to help. Tears started to run down my cheeks as I fought harder to get free, "Anyone please!" I begged, but no one moved.

Aedon seemed immune to my attempts of freedom as he continued to walk towards the back shed. A few more men were already waiting and smirked seeing me screaming and fighting. "Good job Aedon!" One boy shouted, "Hurry up before the abomination gets free!" Another shouted

We walked into the shed and Aedon turned around only to finally let me go. I went falling backwards and screamed as I fell into a hole. "Hurry before she gets out!" A third boy shouted and before I knew what was happening two pieces of wood closed the entrance to the hole.

Hitting the pieces of wood as they nailed them down, dust fell on my face and into my mouth making me choke, but I didn't stop screaming. "Please, don't do this! Let me out!" I screamed as more tears started to fall. I felt the walls around me and felt the damp earth.

They had made a hole in the ground under the shed as if it was a grave. "Now you will be with your family! We all know you killed them, we know you killed Kayden! You deserve to die!" Aoden shouted and stomped on the floorboards above me making more dirt fall. "Come on, let's go." He growled and I heard footsteps starting to lead away from the shed.

"Please! Don't leave me here! I didn't do it!" I cried, but they didn't turn back. I took deep breaths once I was sure they were gone attempting to calm down so I could find a way out of this. Tears continued to blur my vision, but they dried up as I heard an unnatural growl followed by screams. 

Over 200 years of forgotten memories? How do you think you'd handle forgetting your own family and never being able to make friends?

We're almost there! I promise the next chapter you will finally be welcomed into the Fae world of  Lyavil. As for this chapter, Tasnia's life hangs in the balance. We get to see a bit more of her backstory and why she is so terrified of her past. 

And as always if you liked the chapter, feel free to vote and leave a comment!