Parallel

Prologue

"The castle has been breached!"

Braxton clutched the bundle in his arms securely as he navigated the tunnels under the castle. The sound of heavy footsteps and the screams of terror echoed above him. With the cover of the darkness, he was to make it as far as he could without being seen. To fail this mission was to lose his life's purpose and risk an unfulfilled dying wish. He simply had to succeed. As torch light became visible, Braxton took a sharp left to avoid contact with anyone or anything that was also roaming these tunnels. Once he was certain the being had passed, he walked briskly to the exit.

He emerged into the shadowy veil of night at the far north end of the castle and rushed over to the carriage waiting for him. It held all his belongings and everything he'd need to survive from then on. Braxton sat down quickly and pulled the baby even closer to his body to ensure its safety. The coachman turned to look at him and the baby.

"The king and queen have entered into eternity."

Braxton hung his head in despair and barely choked out a single word.

"Go."

It was strange how a simple word with only one syllable could hold so much weight. He released a sigh of relief as the carriage began to move and the castle became a small distant figure behind him. Hours went by before the carriage finally pulled up to the dingy looking home: New Dawn Orphanage.

Reluctantly, Braxton stepped down and out of the carriage and retrieved his luggage before sending the coachman on his way. A million thoughts ran through his head as he walked up to the door and knocked firmly. The bishop opened the door and waved Braxton inside, looking around cautiously to be sure that no one was watching or following the carriage.

Bishop O'Doylei led him to his room. The room was quaint and bare of decoration besides a cross on the wall above the bed in the center of the room. To the left of the bed was a small structure that resembled a crate with padding. It was propped up on a bedside table and a small cross was engraved on the back of it.

"This is where you will be sleeping. I expect you to perform your duties diligently. We will speak at dawn. For now, I will leave you to settle and rest."

Bishop O'Doylei left the room just as quickly as he had entered it, shutting the door softly behind him. Braxton put the baby down in the crate and began to unpack his things. This was his life now and this was as comfortable as he could live under the circumstances. A sudden wail jolted him out of his thoughts. He dropped his trunk and scooped the baby up into his arms, rocking her slowly.

"All will be well, little one. Do not cry."

The baby's cry died down and her eyes became heavy with sleep as Braxton soothed her.

"When myth becomes truth and ignorance is retired to the fruition of knowledge, a true blood will arise. He shall choose the path of light or darkness. The nation will be led to its sanction or its demise."

He whispered the three sentences to lull her to sleep. Her little eyes closed tightly and she curled up in his arms. She slept peacefully despite the turmoil around her.

A/N:

Writing and generating ideas is a passion of ours. What do you do for fun? What activity couldn't you live without?

~S&A