Book One: Worlds Apart (Loki)

Chapter Ten

1015AD: 14 year old Arkin climbs in through his bedroom window, sneaking back in after a night of adventuring. He pulls off his cloak and yawns a little.

"Mother" he groans finding her sat on the edge of his bed.

"I thought we talked about you sneaking out" she scolds standing, adjusting her dress. "It is not safe"

"But...there is so much to see" He argues. "I cannot stay trapped in this village forever" she cups his cheeks and smiles.

"Always wanting more" she offers. "More books, more knowledge, more to see and do...." So much like his mother, she thinks to herself.

"There is a whole world out there" Arkin argues. "I want to see it all"

"Be careful what you wish for, my boy" she scolds slightly and kisses his head. "Now get some sleep" he nods and kisses her cheek.

................

Bori leans in the doorway of the hut watching Sylvie sat at his desk, he leans up and moves towards her.

"What are you doing?" Bori asks touching Sylvie's shoulder.

"Writing a letter for Ark" she answers turning the piece of charcoal around in her fingers. "Telling him the truth, just...for one day" she offers, Bori kisses her head. "We can lock it in your desk.." he nods and sits beside her. "Does it never bother you?" she asks.

"Every moment of every day" he admits. "You think I like lying to him about who he is" he pulls her closer to him. "He is our son, maybe not by blood but we raised him, he will understand" she leans against him and smiles a little. He strokes her arm.

.............

Bori pulls Sylvie into a stable pen where a black and tan mare is waiting for them, Bori smiles as Sylvie moves to the horse.

"Are you sure this is the right one?" Sylvie asks stroking the horses neck.

"He needs to learn to ride" Bori argues with a smile. "And he feels cooped up, we both know that, with a horse he can travel to the larger villages, I am getting too old to go now, he can do that for me now. So...what do you think?" he asks. "Marico told me she is his finest mare"

"She is stunning" Sylvie answers. "She looks sturdy, but strong..."

"Good" Bori nods. "I already bought her" Sylvie shoots him a look, he smirks and kisses her softly, he pulls her closer, she smiles against his lips. Arkin jumps out from behind the stable side and shouts, alarming the horse. Arkin's eyes widen as he spots his parents in the pen.

"No" he states alarmed. The horse bucks wildly, kicking back, hitting Bori first, who flies back into the wall, there is a sickening crunch and Bori drops to the ground, eyes wide and open and not moving. Sylvie screams which just upsets the horse further, Arkin tries to open the pen but fumbles with the lock. The horse rears back and kicks at Sylvie who screams as the hooves kick at her chest. Arkin just jumps the pen and grabs his mother lifting her up and pulling her back out the pen, laying her on the ground on the other side, he kneels with her. Sylvie sucks in air, blood spluttering from her lips, Arkin cries pulling her head into his lap. "I am sorry" he apologises frantic. "I am so sorry, This was not supposed to happen, not to you....this was not meant for you and father" she reaches up and strokes his cheek. "Mother" he begs pulling her closer.

"I forgive you" she assures him. "My little boy" she cries out in pain. "Make it stop" she begs crying. "It hurts"

"I cannot" he whispers. "I cannot" she pulls the dagger from her belt and presses it into Arkin's hand.

"Please" she begs, he shakes his head crying. "Tis going to happen" she tells him weakly. "But it hurts" Arkin sniffles and wraps his fingers around the blade. "Ark" she stops him as he moves his hand. "Listen..." she starts, blood trickling from her lips. "There is....something" she groans in pain.

"Tis alright, mother" he kisses her forehead and presses the blade to her chest, he shifts his fingers around the blade.

"No, Ark, listen..." she tries. "Listen...your father and I..." she struggles as breathing becomes difficult. "Letter" she offers. "In your father's desk" he nods.

"I shall find it" he assures her. "Now hush...it will be all over soon. I love you" she closes her eyes and nods. Arkin whimpers and starts to cry harder.

"Please, son" she begs, he nods and plunges the dagger into her heart, killing her instantly. He pulls the dagger out and throws it aside, clutching to his mother. He just sits and holds his mother's body, weeping, an itching starting under his skin. He starts to breath heavily. He frowns not sure what is happening to him. Then there is pain. He cries out and clutches his chest. He looks up and his eyes glow red, he lets out a supernatural howl to the sky.

................

Arkin grabs his father's sword from the wall and attaches it to the sword belt around his waist, he is still crying, still upset, his parents are dead and it's all his fault. He pauses at his father's desk and then touches the draw, locked, he knows it is. He grabs the handle and then yanks, the lock shatters and the draw pulls loose. He sets the draw on the top of the desk and starts to rummage in it, looking for his mother's letter. His hand pauses on it when he finds it, this letter will be his mother's last words to him, better then her begging him to end her life, to put her out of her misery. He snatches the letter up and then flees his home. Heads into the forest surrounding their village, he's always been called to the trees, it's where he always escaped to every free chance he got. He looks back to his home over his shoulder before disappearing into the trees. The villagers will not accept him knowing he killed his own parents.