My brother and I never left the house not even to play in the garden in-case we were recognized by others. Let me tell you a little about this world, it isn't run by politics or government as such. It is run based on blood. Demons and angels crawled and fell to conquer what we call earth around the time my mother was born. The highest of the hierarchy are the demon knights and archangels. Therefore, my father is top of the litter, I didn't discover until later that my mother was a demon knight named Abaddon which means I am what the bible calls a Nephilim. A child born of angel and demon and a rarity in this world. Ethan's blood was weaker than mine, but he still carried stature of a Nephilim. On our fourth birthday my parents discovered just how different we really were.
"Ria wake up!" She opened her eyes to the concerned whines of her brother. She groaned and stretched giving him a questionable glare as she realized today was the celebration of their birth.
Ria, "What is it Ethan?" Ria could tell by his wide eyes that something was different than usual, and they were pointed directly at her head.
Ethan, "Ria did you always have white hair?" She jumped up patting her head nervously before sprinting to the bathroom. As she peered into the mirror it was just as Ethan had said her long curly black hair had turned lily white overnight.
Ethan, "I think it looks pretty Ria don't worry about it." Ria couldn't help but foolishly grin before embracing her brother. Ethan was slightly taller than her now which took her off guard, just how much will they change.
Ria, "Thankyou but I think it looks ghastly. Happy birthday Ethan." He giggled happily squeezing her back tightly, there was just me and Ethan who could share even a little of this burden and surprisingly I had begun to mother him too.
Jane, "Ethan? Ria? Are you awake?" Still my affection was nothing compared to Jane, she knew how to truly love and shared her secrets of humanity with us every chance she got. Jane walked into the bathroom and almost collapsed at the sight of her daughter. She had transformed yet again showing lily white flowing hair. Ria looked at her hopelessly as if telling her not to be so surprised this was to be expected of her blood.
Ethan, "Mother were four today!" Ethan ran playfully into his mother's arms filled with joy. Ria could tell by her teary eyes that she sympathized with her, but it wasn't pity she wanted at all it was understanding.
Jane, "Yes you grow more handsome every year, go and join father for breakfast we will be down in a second." Ethan nodded and sprinted downstairs leaving the room silent. Ria crossed her arms and sighed.
Ria, "I'm fine mother, it's to be expected of me." Jane lowered her head sadly before kneeling and moving a strand of hair from her daughter's face.
Jane, "We promised remember, no secrets about how you are feeling. You can trust us to confide in." Ria turned back to the mirror and stroked her own head in discomfort, her mother was kind indeed but didn't always give off the right impression when changes like this occurred.
Ria, "I hate looking even more different than I already do, now I look like a stranger even to my twin brother. Mother…when will it stop?" Jane pulled her arms around her neck and picked Ria up hugging her tightly. It was like her sadness was infectious as Ria also felt her eyes tingle.
Jane, "I think you look beautiful, I'm sure your brother does too. As for stopping I'm unsure if that will happen anytime soon while you're still growing. Do you really hate how you look darling?" Ria nodded her head hung over her mothers' shoulder. Jane stood in-front of the mirror while smiling attempting to alleviate her daughters' insecurities. Ria spun around and frowned, she was beginning to despise this thing.
Jane was always beautiful in my eyes because she had features, I could never have. Long brown hair, and hazel brown eyes. Her eyes were round and sparkling with light coloured eyelashes, she had little pink lips and a thin frame. It was all I ever wanted to look like my mother. Then there was me, what stared back at me I detested from my core even though others viewed me as beautiful I saw anything but. Long white curly hair, along with two deep purple eyes. My skin was pale white and my eyelashes blacker than night. I was always frail due to my lack of appetite so my bones would protrude from my skin.
Jane, "I see a stunning unique little girl stronger than any other little girl in the world. Inside your head is not bone but titanium, it shall never break." Ria looked at her questionably.
Ria, "Are you saying my mind is my strongest weapon?"
Jane, "Exactly, you may not feel it now but one day I think you will do amazing things. Perhaps you could change the way things are now." It was like her eyes sparkled at the thought, she had high hopes for me to make a difference which only made the pressure so much heavier.
Ria, "I hope so too mother."
For my fourth birthday I had wished for something almost taboo in this house. After hearing my father worked with someone from the west, I was intrigued to know more about him. Someone who had expensed the outdoor cruelty first-hand. I never expected my wish to be granted so I went downstairs with little enthusiasm, only to kind my father had listened to me. Seeing his young face ignited an excitement in me I never knew I had. He was shy and small barely at his teenage peak of eighteen, he had a scar by his right eye. Generally, those of the west had light blonde hair and bright blue eyes, it was signature that pretty humans were used as slaves to show off the wealth o the superiors in the area. Ethan tucked himself neatly behind me as we wandered into the kitchen to greet the stranger.
John, "Noel, these are my two children Ria and Ethan. Ria was very excited to meet you." Noel's eyes were glued to this little girl with striking glowing eyes and white hair, he was frozen in captivation of her. Ethan whispered in Ria's ear asking if it was safe to say hello which Ria responded in a happy nod.
Ethan, "I'm Ethan it's a pleasure to meet you." He outstretched his hand nervously avoiding Noel bright blue eyes. Jane shuffled his black curly hair to try and put him at ease. Noel smiled widely with his pearly white teeth and bowed. Then was Ria's turn but her welcome was much different from her brothers, she lowered her hand down asking him politely to crouch to her level. Noel looked at John in worry in which he responded with a head bob allowing him to bow down. Noel was glued to her as she stared into his eyes. Ria's hand placed itself on his cheek as she smiled at him, this man must have suffered greatly yet here he stood still able to smile back.
Ria, "My name is Ria it's a pleasure to meet you Noel." Noel startled at cleared his throat.
Noel, "The pleasure is mine. Your just as your father said, very beautiful." Ria squinted her brows, so even outsiders viewed her in that way. What exactly did they see in her?
Jane, "Breakfast is ready, everyone sit down for now." Ria released her grasp and sat at her signature seat leaving Noel unsure where to place himself. Ethan giggled at his flustered body language and patted the seat beside him. Jane plated eggs and bacon for everyone as they began the usual routine, Jane noticed Noel couldn't take his eyes off her daughter which made sense. Maybe he could convince Ria that she was stunning in the eyes of humans.
John, "Noel works in the bank at the moment, he's climbing up the ranks very quickly."
Jane, "That's excellent, my husband always comments on how hard you work." Noel gladly accepted the praise as if it were a rarity.
Noel, "I do my best to get by just like the rest of us if it wasn't for John, I wouldn't have found such a generous job." As he chatted away Ria observed him like a stray animal waiting for her opportunity to ask the question she had wanted answered for a whole year.
Noel, "Um…your daughters hair colour is very rare these days did she get it from your parents?" Jane froze mid meal and began looking at her husband flustered.
John, "Yes my father had similar hair to Ria, it's very pretty isn't it." Ria glared at her father, so she had yet another secret to keep. Even though they were fabricating truths to protect them, it still aggravated her she had to keep quiet.
Ria, "Noel may I ask you something?" Ethan put down his fork intrigued; it was rare his sister to speak up at the dinner table.
Noel, "Of course ask away." He naively accepted, not knowing the question brewing in the young girl's brain. Ria prepared herself with her nervous parents waiting in limbo.
Ria, "When you lived in the west which superiors were more prominent, angels or demons?" Noel choked on the bacon he'd just ingested with wide eyes. Ria knew his reaction would be something like this, but she needed answers.
Noel, "Um…the west hold mostly angels, are you interested in the supernatural?" Ria was overjoyed he'd answered with ease, this had opened a new world to her.
Ria, "Very much so. I like reading of the different regions, was it true you were originally born into slavery?" Noel's face went pale as if he was reliving his dark past. Jane went to interrupt but Ria gave her a sorrowful look begging for more.
Noel, "Yes…I was a slave before moving here." Ria felt a little sting in her chest, watching those blue pools fill with fluid, so it was true that the cruelty was prevalent there.
Ria, "Forgive me for asking something so personal. I strongly disagree with the way humans are treated in the west; I hope one day someone will stand against tradition." Noel looked quite surprised to see a slither of softness in this young child's face.
Noel, "It's quite alright, it's nice to see someone is hoping for change most wouldn't dare wish for anything else. Your daughter is very bright, how old?" Jane and John looked at eachother as if silently contemplating an acceptable answer.
Jane, "Ria and Ethan are both four years old, they're twins." Noel looked utterly shell-shocked as his head rotated between the two children, it was true their faces looked very similar but everything else was different.
Noel, "Only four? She's very intelligent for a child her age."
John, "Ethan is also very bright we have high aspirations for them both." Ethan and Ria both looked at eachother and rolled their eyes. There was his signature praise that boiled their blood, even Ethan grew sick of it over time.
Noel, "So what would you both like to be when your older?" Ethan's face lit up, he enjoyed telling people what he aspired to be even though it was highly unrealistic.
Ethan, "I want to be a Lion tamer so I can look after little cubs." Noel chuckled at his dream; it wasn't silly but amusing how much he enjoyed talking. Ria had thought about this answer since being two years old and she had an idea of what she would like to be.
Noel, "Ria?"
Ria, "I would like to be an advocate for humanity. This hierarchy business is utter nonsense, who are they to stand above the rest just because they have risen or fallen. Being an angel or demon does not make them any better than anyone else, someone should demonstrate just how powerful one can be without abilities." Noel had his mouth wide open listening to the bravery from Ria's mouth, she had no filter or fear of the superiors. Jane and John were also in shock, it was the first time Ria had shown her views on politics and she was passionate through and through.
Noel, "You sound exactly like someone I know."
John, "Is he…also from the west?" Noel nodded with a cheeky grin on his face. Hearing Ria standing against the world reminded him of someone he now knew very well.
Noel, "When I escaped two men were also in the process of fleeing the west, but they were different from me. They called themselves Adam and Joel, brothers from the demon region. Adam was the younger one, but he was much taller than his brother. Joel was like me running from slavery whereas Adam was running for an entirely different reason." Ria leaned in completely amassed in his tale, so there were more from the west.
Ria, "Why was he running?"
Noel, "Adam is the son of a demon and angel, his eyes were a stunning aquamarine and his hair silver I'd never seen someone so beautiful of course until I met your daughter. He had similar principles to Ria he hated the blood running through his veins and cursed his mother and father too." Ria face held a smile her family had never seen. This man was just like her…a Nephilim.
Ria, "Was he kind? Did he have any abilities?" Jane and John looked at eachother wearily, Ria was showing much too interest in this matter, but Noel was caught in her spider web.
Noel, "He was very fast and strong, he could cut trees down with one swipe and outrun wolves in the wilderness. As for kind, he was quieter than anything else. Adam kept to himself and Joel spent most of his time protecting his brother from prying eyes." Ria felt her heart thump heavier and heavier as she imagined this man in her head, so she wasn't alone at all someone shared her pain.
Ria, "Amazing…so we aren't alone after all Ethan." John and Jane both jolted in their seats as Ria placed her hand quickly over her mouth, she had let her excitement overcome her silence. How could she have been so stupid? Noel didn't catch onto her mistake and instead smiled awkwardly at his boss's grim expression.
Ethan, "We were never alone Ria, we have mother and father here with us." Yet again his lack of intelligence proceeded him, so Ria simply nodded in agreement. That wasn't the sort of loneliness she was referring too. Right now, they were Wolves trying to fit in with dogs it just didn't feel right at all.
Noel, "Well I hope you achieve your dreams; I look forward to seeing a change." As he reached over for some water Ria noticed the terrible scars littering his arms and that pain returned in her chest with a vengeance.
Ria, "You were very brave for running away. I swear I will make a change Noel you have my word." Noel felt his heart flutter at her pledge, this child was special indeed.
Noel, "Thank you, I look forward to that."
They washed up and attempted to send Noel on his way when Ria collared him as he went to close the main door, she needed to know more about this Nephilim.
Ria, "Does he live around here, the Nephilim you described?" Noel looked around to ensure John wasn't listening, he couldn't help but feel sympathy towards this cooped up young child.
Noel, "Adam and Joel live around the clock tower, but they only come out at night." Ria had never left the house so had no idea where he meant but thanked him for his contribution anyway. In her soul she had a strange feeling about this Adam, and she wanted to meet him first-hand.
Ria, "Thankyou be careful on your way back." After Noel had left John and Jane were drying dishes when Ethan began whining about something. They both looked on concerned to see his dark blue eyes lose their light as he wobbled towards them. Ria re-joined them only to feel a sudden shiver run down her spine, like cold had invaded her bones.
Ethan, "Mother I don't feel so good…" Ria gasped as Ethan's feet collapsed beneath him, she managed to catch his head just before smashing on the wooden floor. Jane ran over and felt his head, he was on fire.
Jane, "John get some ice he had a serious fever." Ria watched his bright red face look at her desperately for comfort, she had never felt such anguish in her life. Not her brother…
Ria, "It's okay Ethan were here you just have a cold that's all. Come on let's get you settled in bed." Ria shook weakly as she picked him up and carried him to the bedroom his burning forehead blistering her shoulder. What could possible have done this? Jane rushed in with an ice pack and wrapped him in some blankets. John took his temperature and their suspicions were true he was burning up from the inside out.
John, "What should we do call the doctor?" Jane shook her head.
Jane, "They would know immediately about them."
Ria, "He just needs to rest until he's healed, I'll stay with him." Jane and John both looked at her like there saviour, despite her age she was very good in the medical field she had dressed their wounds many times. It was like her hidden talent.
Jane, "Are you sure sweetheart?" Ria looked at her panting brother with such sympathy she hated seeing him in pain even for a second.
Ria, "Of course he's a part of me, I'll care for him you both go to work." Jane and John kissed her head as they reluctantly got dressed for work. John worked in a bank for humans while Jane worked as a doctor to help humans overcome various illnesses inflicted by the superiors. They were the best Samaritans in the village.
Ethan shivered and whined in his slumber, so Ria curled up next to him and held him close for warmth. It didn't take long for her to realize where this sudden onset of illness had come from. Ria sighed and shook her brother to wake him. He groaned and opened his teary eyes to his sister's soft face.
Ethan, "Ria why does it hurt so much?" she stroked his head gently, how could she upset with him children were curious after all.
Ria, "Ethan you touched mother's necklace, didn't you?" Ethan shied his face away confirming his guilt, he was to inexperience with the occult so didn't understand why his body was in such distress.
Ria, "Ethan we can't touch crucifixes I've warned you before, no matter how enticing something looks it can be very dangerous especially to us." She was referring to their mother's crucifix to ward off demons which she always kept safely around her neck. It was gold and shiny which is why he had touched it but Ria knew better. Their bodies rejected religious artefacts because they were born from evil.
Ethan, "I just wanted to look at it, I didn't mean to become ill. Please don't be mad at me Ria."
Ria, "You look with your eyes not your hands and why would I be mad at you?" Ethan had tears streaming down his face which shocked her, they weren't the usual tears she could almost see his fear in the droplets.
Ethan, "Because…I'm scared you'll leave me behind if I'm not strong enough. I always want to stay with Ria." Her heart shattered into a million pieces, he was truly afraid she would leave him, and her guilt drowned her life a mass sea.
Ria, "Ethan I would never leave you, you're my everything. Even if you were ill, I would carry you on my back wherever we'd go. There is no me if there is no you." Ethan suddenly looked at his sister with a serious glare after wiping the salty tears from his face.
Ethan, "I love you Ria." It stunned her hearing his sincerity.
Ria, "I…love you too brother."