He Who Never Sleeps

Chapter 1: He Who Started It All

-1984-Celia-

I sat near the fire waiting for him. My new boyfriend. I was overwhelmed with the feeling of love. It was a new feeling for me. For once, I had something more special than gold. Something that made me feel like I was the luckiest girl in the world.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of someone's feet walking up the cobblestone steps outside. I was born with the gift of good hearing. I walked to the door. A piece of paper was slipped under the wide space of my front door. I picked it up.

I hadn't yet spoken, so he knew to slide paper under the door so I would know it was him. I slowly unlocked the door and opened it. I smiled and gestured for him to come in. "I missed you. A lot. I know I've been gone long, but I'm back."

He hugged me. It had been almost a month since I saw him. We had to keep our relationship a secret due to angry villagers. His mom had been magical. Soon, a dictator, greedy with power. But she died of a mysterious illness. But she had a son before dying.

Adam. Once news of him was spread, the villagers swore revenge because of the horrible things his mother did to them. But Adam was different. He was nothing like his mother. And he had taken an interest in me. A girl who was too afraid to talk.

"I promise I'll never leave you again. We'll be together forever. I promise," Adam said. We sat down on the floor near the fireplace. He took my hand in his and kissed my cheek gently. "Celia, my love, may I ask you something of great importance?"

I nodded my head. "Celia, I would like to... Hear your voice." My heart skipped a beat. I hadn't spoken all my life. I didn't even know the sound of my voice. Adam looked me in the eye. "Please, Celia? How can I not know the voice of my own lover?"

My heart dropped. That sounded so sad. I had to let him hear my voice. I nodded my head and took a deep breath. I wanted to tell him that I loved him. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I frowned. I opened my mouth again.

But there was a brutal knock on the door. Adam and I stood up and went to open the door. It was my father... And all the villagers. I saw fire and pitch forks and I heard angry shouts. "What is this? Let my daughter go!" Father shouted.

I shook my head as fear overwhelmed me. Adam was pulled onto my front lawn and pushed against the concrete walkway. I tried to get to Adam, but my father held me. Tears quickly streamed down my face as I watched.

The villagers beat Adam. They cursed him. But worse of all... Burned him. Adam tried to get away, but he couldn't. I pushed my father and ran to where Adam was. And then... "Off with his head!" SHANG! A new emotion was building inside me.

I clenched my teeth and let my emotions out. "How could you?! What is wrong with you?!" My father was surprised by my outburst and tried to put his hand on my shoulder. "No! Get away! All of you! Now!" They backed away and started walking away.

I was left alone on my front lawn. I fell to my knees and picked up Adam's head. His blood was all over my dress. "Y-You said you would always be with me. I-I..." I sobbed and put the head down. Adam was special to me. I was finally living my life, but that was over.

I wrapped Adam's head and body in a silk bed sheet and buried them in a nearby field. Then, I was all alone. My family soon died of the same illness that killed Adam's mother. I bought a new house with the money I was saving for college.

I never left my house. I wrapped my face in a black scarf and wore a black dress and boots to show grief. I was truly all alone.