Blue Blood

Broken Pieces

"Son, ya mind helpin' me out here?"

"Immediately, sir."

I rush over to Damien and help him lift a very large pumpkin from the ground.

"Ho boy! Yep, this ones a winner! Best be careful with it, don't want it to bruise none. Come set it down over here."

We struggled (well, Damien struggled anyways) the pumpkin over to a cart and gently set it down. Damien sat down breathing heavily.

"Wow, she sure is a big one. Thanks for helpin' out there, my knees just aren't what they used to be."

I shook my head, "it's the very least I could do. You've helped me and him so much, I want to do more."

Damien hobbles to his feet looking offended, "oh you just shush now. What kind of a person would I be if I didn't help you two? Besides, you're wonderful company and Kate hasn't gotten to play doctor in years."

We sit in silence a moment more just enjoying the breeze. Looks like rain will be coming later tonight. The air on this side of the border feels amazing.

"Well," Damien starts, "if you really want to help out around here more . . . Ah, never-mind."

"No, what is it?"

His face scrunches up and he rubs his chin. A habit, I've come to learn, he has when he's unsure if he should say what's on his mind or hold his tongue.

"The thing is . . . Now, I know I've seen your incredible strength before but . . . Ya know, I don't what you to get hurt."

I put a hand on his shoulder and give a reassuring smile, "what do you need me to do?"

"Well you know daisy," he starts reluctantly, "she's just about to pop and I don't know if she should be pullin' that plow around."

I glance over at the plow, rusted from a long life of work. It's straps are worn and the nails look like they're about ready to give.

"I got this. Go rest your knees inside and I'll come in when I'm done."

"Now Magnus, are you absolutely sure you can do this? Havin' one broken boy in the house is plenty already, don't want you layin' in there like that too."

Something twinges deep in my gut as my heart starts pumping. Roman . . .

"I've got this. I'll see you in a bit."

"Alright son, if you say so. Give a holler if you need anything."

I watch as Damien walks inside carefully. He wobbles so much, I want to make sure he gets there alright. Working all your life will do that to you, wear away your joints. He's got to be only about 50 right? That's gotta be rough.

I pick up the plow and start pushing, trying to keep the rows as linear as possible. He was right about the plow being heavy, but it's nothing I can't handle. The sky starts to get dark from moisture as I slip into my own head.

It's been six months since the . . . Incident. I had left the kingdom with Roman in my arms, running as hard and as fast as I could. I couldn't tell you how fast I had ran or if something was following us or even where I was heading, but I eventually ended up just a mile from here. Damien had been out looking for flowers to give Kate for their anniversary when he saw us. Without question, he lead us back to his house and ushered us in. As soon as I hit the hardwood floors I had passed out from exhaustion.

Every night, I have nightmares about what happened that day. What had come over me and why I attacked those people, attacked Roman, killed the gentle queen. I've killed so many . . . And it is because of it. A being I've come to call Darth. A being hell bent on changing me into a monstrous killing machine, with the only goal of killing the person that matters most to me in this world, in ANY world.