The Birth (The Black Wing Book 1) (16 page)

Her eyes halted in time, she’s thinking alright, but she’s not accepting the underlying message. Perhaps it’s because my eyes are not like hers, and she has just realized it. My pupils are small, barely noticeable, even in this light you had to concentrate to see it. Now she’s looking at my iris, and she’s comparing it to hers. She can’t believe how my iris can move, stretch, and upsurge. She knows what I am, and yet, she doesn’t want to accept it.

It’s true, I spent precious energy and time to have Ebon bring her to me. He even clothed her before she ventured out of her home and made her take that long slim weapon Ebon calls a shotgun. Strange, it has no sharp objects—how is this supposed to inflict mortal wounds?

“Last month, I heard the strangest sound.” I hinted. “Did it come from that device in your hand?”

Lola took a shaky step back. The aroma of fear is beginning to secret out of her body. She should be getting ready to sprint any second. My cells are glowing stronger than before, my good-natured morals have never served me any good. I must be act like my Emperor and infect my prey by debasing her sense of reality.

“What…” chocked Lola “What are you?”

“I am not human." I said plainly.

Lola’s large eyes stiffen. Kinoki had begun to growl.

“You need to stop.” demanded Kinoki. “You’re upsetting her.”

“That wouldn’t be fair.” I replied. “If their wickedness against the Creator caused them to lose the union they once had with animals. Then, your friend deserves the disadvantage.”

Kinoki’s fur electrified to the tip of her tail.

“You don’t know Lola like I do, and only He can evaluate her sins. Not a trespasser like you.”

This is a great convenience for me. Kinoki is incapable of warning Lola of the danger she’s in. Perhaps it is good thing that humans have lost communication with beasts. Kinoki insisted I stop, but I pressed my attention to Lola, who gave me a cold stare. She’s refusing to accept the possibility that anything exists out of this world. Ignorance must be a human’s way to defend themselves from their own insecurity. I wonder if they have sunken so low to believe that life came out of nothing.

“I thought you would be more surprised.” I sparked. “Or did you already suspect that I’m not of this galaxy?”

“You need some serious help.” Lola finally said.

She pulled the communicative device from her pocket and tried calling for her specie’s aid. In the meantime, I made it a mission to entertain her about my newfound knowledge of this planet.

“In my time here, I learned a lot.” I began. “I am very fond of the variety of languages that exist in this planet. But one thing I couldn’t master is reading. Ebon was capable of doing so, he even went through the trouble of taking your books from your home.”

Lola’s eyes broaden, but she did her best to look uninterested. Her negligence doesn’t bother me. Telling lies stunted my cell growth, speaking the truth increased my percentage, now at 70 per centum.

“Do you remember your own birth?” I asked her. “I remember mine, memory is crucial for our kind, remembering every detail of our lives is vital to us.”

Lola pressed her attention to her device, desperately calling for help. Every few moments, her eyes will lift and scan the forest, trying to discover which trail will lead her home.

“Nobody will believe you” I inspired unto her. “Even the meteor shower you witnessed will be regarded as a lie.”

“Oh really?” said Lola sarcastically. “What makes you so confident no one will believe me?”

I told her about the optical illusion I created among on my time in space. Only the closest life form within my range of landing could witness my arrival. It was not my plan to have Lola fall in that category.

“Actually, all the animals in this area can tell you—oh that’s right you cannot speak to them.”

“Are you saying you can talk to animals?” exclaimed Lola. “What else are you going to invent!”

My cell-energy has reached 80 per centum, Lola’s skepticism has provided sufficient time. In her distress, she sucked in the disgusting oxygen and converted it into atoms that make my head twirl.

“Your right, it does sound too incredible to believe. Is it also unbearable to accept that a living rock can not only travel through space, but locate your solar system by tracing nearby asteroids? Do you enjoy how I’m forming these words? I don’t. You have to speak our language to get the closest idea of what I’m trying to say. I’d like to make you understand, but your language restricts me.”

“You mentioned moving you from this spot will kill you.” said Lola. “If you really did come from space, why are you in this sort of predicament?”

Lola may be the first human to come in contact with an organism from the cosmos, and her first question is why I am here? I would have asked a more tangible question. I would have asked for all of the questions of the universe! But even I can’t answer that one.

“Let’s see how good you are at make belief.” she taunted.

“I can tell you.” I said innocently. “But you must keep it a secret.”

“You have my trust.” said Lola. “I won’t tell a soul.”

Her hopeless plan is predictable, I am already two steps ahead of her. Lola wants to keep me occupied while she tries locate her best route home. Since I also need time, then very well Lola, I will entertain your ploy.

“Traveling into space is harmful to one’s health. But what is greatly robbing me of life is this planet. My body went into shock the moment I landed. This atmosphere is sickening and intolerable. The oxygen you breathe, the gases, the bacteria, the chemicals, and radio waves in every turn is poisoning me. I have never crossed something this foul before. It’s a death trap for me, I did not spend the billions of years you and the rest of this population did to adapt and evolve. I am an outsider and that is what is slowly claiming my life.”

“If it’s so bad, then why don’t you leave?”

Before I could answer, I reached 90 per centum, this is more than enough to hold Lola against her will. While that is my best option and greatest pleasure—I cannot harm her, she is pregnant after all.

“Without the ability and training, my own species can die by simply stepping on your cherished Earth. I can endure and adapt peacefully on this planet. At the moment, I cannot, therefore, sacrifices must be made.”

I gave her a stare I should have kept secret. I looked at her in a way a predator looks at its prey before attacking. Lola bit her bottom lip, completely overtaken by my silent look. It won’t be long before it’s finished Lola—you fool. My heart pumped my blood through my capillaries, it expanded and extended like roots. The physical strain of my cells are becoming visible. Sweat is dripping on the sides of my temple.

“Are you having a heart attack?” said Lola, alarmed.

"I apologize Lola." I sang trying not to alarm her. “I’m out of options.”

Lola drew near me, the distance between us shortened. What is on her mind? Perhaps she will use that long metallic weapon to kill me. If I release just a fraction of this burning energy, I can kill her and my effort would go in vain. Even the slightest ill thought from me can hurt her.

“Avalon, stop this.” urged Lola.

She leaned closer to me—no not to me, but to my abdomen. She gently massaged my belly.

“You’re stressing out your child.”

The warmth of her hand seeped through my torn
caspedian
cloth. Her fingers took hold of my trembling hands and gently pressed them. I don’t know how she discovered that I too am with child, her genuine concern brought me pain.

“Let’s go home.” she said. “Enough of this nonsense.”

Since my arrival, I have poured enough tears to stain my red cloth. I thought I would cry no more, but now they poured out my eyes.

“I can’t leave.” I insisted. “Look around you, do you see how perfectly open this field is? Don’t you see these trees rotting around me? I’m attracting death, and doing a great amount of effort to keep you and Kinoki from being sucked in.”

“When did I tell you her name?” she murmured.

It doesn’t matter anymore, I’m about to reach 100 per centum, just a bit more, and I will save my daughter! The visible tension on my body startled Lola. She watched the rapid rhythm in my nostrils. From the look of her wide eyes, it’s enough to scare her off. Her hands trembled with horror, but she bit her and fought her legs from shaking.

“Avalon.” she whispered to me. “I won’t let you die.”

Lola brushed the hair out of my face. Her lips gave me a partial smile, and she released her grip on my hands. She took a step back, her eyes set on me. Then, I came to a realization of her motive.

She’s leaving.

I should sustain her, and stop her—but if the impact is too much, she will die. Lola’s body turned its back to me. No, no, don’t go—I cannot let you abandon us, not under these circumstances. With each step, Lola grew further from me.

I extended my hand towards her, determined to kill her. There will be justice for her cruelty through my hands. Without glancing at me, she boldly steps away. Kinoki didn’t tell me anything, she immediately followed Lola without a word—no one said goodbye. Just the sight alone disturbs me. I shook with anger, my hair has started to float and swirl. I looked at my extended hand, and waited until Lola entered the forest.

My hand fell to the grass.

This is troublesome. I can’t bring myself to kill Lola. They way I’m hunting her and that child proves how much of a hypocrite I’ve become. I let my head rest on the boulder behind me, I exhaled, and watched her disappear into the forest. I smiled, deep in my heart, I knew I couldn’t do it.

It seems like nothing about me has changed, I’m still weak.

I killed many for the Emperor, but no matter how hard I try.

I cannot kill for my own gain.

T
he sun shuffled over the horizon, some time has passed since Lola left. The warm fabric around me is so relaxing, I managed to sleep for an hour. My shivered from the passing wind, my home planet reaches much more freezing temperatures than this place. Death must be ready to call me by name, and claim me. I silently tortured myself for letting Lola slip away, my grandmother was right. My heart is too soft.

In my memories, I went back home. I thought of my grandmother’s arms wrapping me, brushing my hair, and humming to me. She has been my only family, mentor, and friend. The comfort of that memory evaporated with a provoking thought. The Emperor.

His men must be in the cosmos right now, looking for me. It will only be a matter of time before I see them face to face. Fortunately for me, they don’t know of Earth’s hazardous environment. Only an Elite has a fighting chance to survive for a few hours. If I can’t sustain this microclimate to save my life, neither can they. Their advantage is that no one has a child to protect. In order to preserver my child’s life, I have to slowly expose myself to this sickening planet. I placed my hand on my belly. Even with a barrier of skin, I can feel my hand match hers.

“My daughter” I said out loud. “Have no fear—nothing’s going to happen to you.”

If I confessed to Lola that my daughter listened to our conversation, would she believe me? No, there was no need to tell her that piece of information. My daughter shuffled within, she called out to me, asking for a story she countlessly cannot get tired of. I have talked to her for days, told her everything she needed to know. But her mind is childish—eager to learn to learn more.

I covered my face with my hands and silently sobbed. My offspring depends on me to protect her, but I can’t even provide that. My daughter asked what was wrong and I immediately swallowed the hurt inside.

“I’m terribly sorry.” I exhaled, wiping my tears. “I focused entirely on your education that that I forgot to share with you some of my childhood memories.”

The only way my daughter can hear me is when I speak out loud, that is the only way my decibels can reach her untrained ears. She has learned to accurately speak to me mentally, but she cannot receive my mental messages. That is something she can only learn out of my womb.

My heart fluttered, I can feel my daughter’s eager mind is ready to listen. Her attention to reality is a vital, her existence rests on the knowledge of the old and wise. During my conversation with Lola, my daughter had no trouble eavesdropping. I have no doubt that my desperation and pleas to Lola frightened her. Right now, her calm, peaceful voice serves as an antidote to me, and I must hold on to that for as long as I can.

“I was born in the regional mountains, called the Mountains of
Sei.
It was named after a powerful warrior—our ancestor.”

I looked around smiling.

“Apart from the blankets of snow, this forest is not so distinctive from the Mountains of
Sei
. Luckily, I was born on the heavenly year, the year the snow melts.

While I was still inside her womb, my mother was worried for me. My father was an Elite, and his duty was to protect the Emperor. As I developed within my mother’s womb, they grew concerned. When I was born, my mother wept, she kissed me without stopping for breath. My father held me in his arms for a long time. They gave me to Famira, my grandmother, and never returned. It wasn’t a choice of their own, my parents had to leave me.

The Empire is no place for a child like me. I possess an ability so profound that for the sake of the Emperor, my father should have taken my life. If not him, then his colleagues can easily fulfill that task. I came to understand that in order to preserve my life, I must live with my grandmother as a castaway. That is because Empire unable to locate our whereabouts, that was my grandmother’s skill you know—concealment and shadows.”

I brought myself back to the snowy field that sunk my feet, as a game, I wouldn’t let a single flake of snow land without my permission. My grandmother would call me home. She was a beautiful slender woman, with long silver braided hair, and long elegant hands. My thoughts evaporated, and I returned in this rotting planet. My daughter called me back from my thoughts, pushing me to continue.

“Your great grandmother was a teacher, she knew the history of our people—history the Empire didn’t know. When I became a grown woman, I did my best to obey her rules. Don’t leave the mountains of
Sei,
do not approach travelers, and don’t converse with the migrant beasts. I was young and tired of hiding, I wanted to explore Osois. I wanted to reunite with my mother and father. My grandmother would not allow it. I am ‘rare and beautiful’ she would said. My life would be miserable if I was discovered by the Emperor. I loved my grandmother so much I obeyed. The rest you know—you already know about your father.”

A strong breeze went our way, I hid underneath the garment to shield myself. My daughter jerked and kicked, she didn’t enjoy the cold—not yet anyway. As a child, I too hated the long winters in Osois. I thought I could never accustom to the chilly air, nothing could compare to the warmth of my mother’s womb. My time there was barely filled with good memories, my mother and father argue about my birth. The only one who didn’t partake in sharing her personal opinion was my grandmother, she often sang me songs to calm my nerves. She did this up until I was a young woman, resting on her lap. She would smooth my hair and sing to me.

~

“Ah no va, rei mao ni

(Oh, in the sun light, there will be much shine)

Oohra seigh bonari vao tenee

(But no one will see the rivers on my cheek)

Ah Soobiire tien soonau

(Oh, if the stars sparkle bright)

Seree vous uss seree mio here

(It’s because you were once in my ashen heart)

Vao dis dorao sen vis

(My God please keep at bay)

Trin uss serah vao miren

(For if you get leave my sight)

Ast rei xsar erar

(I will surely fade)

Ah soobiire de ciel seree anoche

(Oh, if the sky was visible tonight)

Enonce versa sera wainar

(Then all hope is revived)

Ah dis ben uss trin ferv nes

(Oh, God thank you for telling me)

Uss yan o descapa en un saroi

(I am not a lifeless memory in your heart)

Yun en soratan e estont

(But a fire consuming the dark)”

~

I fluttered my eyes at our unwelcomed guest.

Lola, and Kinoki are standing firmly beside each other. Neither said a word to me. Lola returned with a new coat, a rucksack hanged loosely behind her.

“For how long have you keep this presence?” I said.

Lola placed a finger on her chin and looked up at the sky.

“Let’s see, I heard something about being away from society, magical powers—oh and that lovely song.” she hesitated. “Why were you…talking to yourself?”

“I was not speaking to myself!” I snapped.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

Without any hesitation she approached me, and dropped the dark rucksack in front of me. I’m not anxious of its content. Lola grunted as she slowly descended and sat in front of me. She released the string that fused the bag and pulled out a container. I grew disordered.

The woman who considered me insane has returned. If I’m not mistaken, Lola left terrified, but now she’s calm, and reserved. Those hurtful words I said should have repelled her from ever coming back.

“It wasn’t easy finding my way back home.” she started. “Without Kinoki, I wouldn’t be able to make it in one piece.”

She’s talking to me alright, and she doesn’t sound angry. I don’t sense the intent to harm—not from her or Kinoki.

“Did you come across those black birds?” I said.

“Oh those crows!” she exclaimed. “When I entered the forest, they started harassing me until I reached the crater. I wonder what their problem is.”

I rolled my torn
caspedian
cloth and revealed a cut on my arm. The crust of blood has completely sealed over.

“They want this.” I answered.

“They want to eat you?”

“You can say that. On my way here, those black birds and I became enemies.”

Lola returned to the same gaze, her eyes lowered at me, incapable of giving me her full attention. Once again, she doesn’t believe me. As soon as I said something humanely impossible, our conversation died.

Lola opened the screw of a metal cylinder, steam escaped into the air and evaporated. The hot liquid drizzled into another container, the powerful aroma is teasing my stomach.

“You have a lovely singing voice.” she said.

There must be a reasons for decision to return, I can’t rely on her general concern for my empty belly and shivering bones. Lola wants to finish me off, after all, I threated her. I looked down at Kinoki. If I detect any sign of danger, it will be in the mind of this creature. She sat relaxed, but forwarded her eager messages to me.

“You still plan to hurt her?” Kinoki sneered.

“I should be asking you that question.” I announced. “Are you two planning to kill me?”

“Lola is no murderer—not like you.”

“And what makes you think I’m what you claim?” I tested

“The blood between your legs is yours, but the blood stain on your chest doesn’t belong to you.”

Kinoki is indeed an impressive creature. Before I could applaud her, Lola offered a container of hot liquid. I refused, it must be poisoned. She noticed my suspicion and took my hands, gently placing the warm container on my shivering hands. The smell is mesmerizing, the steam gives a pleasant heat to my face, my stomach begged to drown in it. Lola doesn’t have the eyes of a murderer ready to watch her victim die. She’s spreading a warm blanket over my cold legs. Still skeptical, I returned to Kinoki. I sent her a thought, inquiring about the content and the colorful particles floating that are making me salivate. Kinoki replied.

“It’s food, eat.”

I sense no falsehood, her reply is pure, and clean. I waste no time, and slurped the hot liquid. My tongue has been dead until the spices and salty flavor revives it. I chew on the soft particles like my life depended on it. My daughter almost danced with joy, the nutrition quickly nourishing her. She too, has been without food.

“This is rice and vegetable soup.” said Lola serving herself.

We sat in silence, our eyes kept away from each other. We ate without speaking a word. The only sound that is coming from us, is our lips, sipping the hot broth. The flavor of the greens and white grains beautifully mixed inside my mouth that itched for more.

“I don’t know what to believe.” she finally said.  “I passed by your flying machine, it’s real alright, but I just can’t allow myself to believe you. You gave me a lot of panic, I can’t handle that kind of stuff right now.”

“It’s no machine.” I explained, drinking the remaining drop of broth. “It a
catarelia
, a living rock. Rest assure it will soon shrink to a pebble.”

“I thought it looked smaller!” exclaimed Lola looking at Kinoki for confirmation.

“I’m sure it’s not bigger than you right now.” I predicted.

“How did you know?” she asked. “When I first saw it—it was much wider.”

“It mirrors my health. When I die, it won’t be visible to the naked eye.”

“Don’t say that” she interrupted.

“You made a mistake to return.” I said, finishing my meal. “Don’t you know what I meant by using you as a vessel?”

“I don’t.” she stated. “It was rude for you to tell me that.”

“No Lola, I wasn’t speaking to you” I corrected.

My eyes dropped at her belly.

“I was talking to the life inside you, it will be my vessel.”

A solid slap, smacked my face.

In my surprise, I froze. How careless of me to not predict that movement. I looked up at her and saw she had spilled her soup on the muddy cold floor. Lola’s hand shook vibrantly, eager to hit me again. I invited her to do it again.

“You can go ahead and say whatever you need to say to me, but leave my child out of your little dilemma!”

Her strong voice caused a powerful echo, the birds that sang, fell silent. Lola took hold of her belly and took deep breaths to calm her anger. The strike on my cheek flared my instincts to fight back

“If only you knew.” I whispered. “If you knew who I am, you would keep that hand from crossing my cheek.”

“You think you’re that special? That your life has higher value them my own child?” she exclaimed.

“It’s not value.” I reacted. “It’s purpose! My daughter must live!”

“As my own!” she stormed back. “You’re not the one who has to live in the middle of nowhere. You don’t have to sleep every night wondering if the father of your child will one day find you and kill you for leaving him! You don’t have pretend that you care about nothing, and mistreat the few people who actually care!”