In Darwin Alexander's Point Of View:
I walked down along of what seemed a tunnel of cherry blossoms stormed upside down as its petals fall down upon me. My hair, brushing softly on top of my forehead in the touch of sunlight giving a warm hue of its natural brown color. I looked up at the calm, azure sky with a smile on my face as the rays of sun illuminates my hazel eyes. It was such a wonderful day. My mind is at peace and everything is at bliss.
I walked across the field and waved good morning to some of my friends practicing football games. Smiles crept their faces as they waved back at me. I stumbled upon a busy hallway where different types of people of different beliefs and personalities fill the empty spaces to talk about everything significant in their lives: love, money, studies, sex and so much more. But being someone who likes peace and harmony in many life aspects as possible, I tend to avoid having a company with many but toxic friends so I walked passed them and meet the real ones sitting on a rock table at the end of the hall, holding their books and pens and in a serious conversation about laws, controversies and mysteries of the universe.
"Here goes the top of the class", My friend Hannah peaked through her book and gave me an eyebrow fleek.
"Nah, enough kidding", I replied with a smile as I pulled mu bag and put it aside the table. I grabbed a pen and a notebook and started scribing.
"I don't quite understand this Quantum Theory stuff, like seriously. Why do they exist?", Fredd mumbled on my side with a bubblegum in his mouth. He looked at us with a pleading look but then rolled his eyes because we always say the same thing "The only way to learn is to explore it yourself", something he strongly disagree.
We just laughed at his face and went on with our studies.
As a scholar of a prestigious university, being on top of the class is my way of maintaining a spot in the list of free educational services. My father is working as an editor-in-chief in a local publishing institute that spreads the daily news everyday while my mother is a loving house wife that takes care of me, my older sister and my father. Everything about us is normal, except we are a family of mixed bloodline of different races.
Father is a warlock from a certain clan from the East of Valhr and mother is a witch from a famous clan in the Realm of Golden Dawn. Their love story is a long story to tell but after all the rivalries that their ancestors and families had in millennia, their affection and love for each other triumphed above everything.
In some point of their married, my father Peter Hughes sidelined in working as a resident warlock of the five noble Valhr families: Rezhr, Mezhacchia, Parkov, Draculus, Zakrav. Studying how to enhance their abilities and assisting vampires in warfare are one of his duties. Too risky that mother disagreed in many angles that she sees it. But as time went on, she realized that my father is doing it for the assurance of safety and their well being against the vile, bloodsucking abominations of nature. For him, working for a vampire is both suicide and saving their lives at the same time.
Years passed and their first child was born, Dahlia Alexis Hughes. A beautiful woman with my mother's delicate features and my father's courage. The fact that she is a child of two witch blood makes her a witch is one law that my family broke out of natural flow of life because she is not a witch at all but a human.
The seven witch clan of the East Valhr granted them a gift of chance to have a human child to finally end the feud between clans and families, which also made my sister blessed with a moniker "The Witch Gift of The Seven Clans" and the sunshine of the dark days.
Another years passed and a beautiful son came to the family in my form. But unlike my sister who was born a natural human, I was either blessed or cursed to be born as one with my parent's origin, a hybrid warlock. I possessed the gift of both light and darkness but my parent's always taught me to live my life as a normal child and never use my powers in any ways possible. Which made me feel somehow bad because I always wanted to be like them. As a family with the member of their beacon, the seven witch clan granted another gift in a form of barrier that puts lock of my abilities to avoid me, using them as I go on with my growing, curious stages which made me feel like a normal kid at all.
Growing up, I lived as a normal human being like my sister until the age of 19.
Through the years, peace and happiness ruled over our family. We eat meals together and talk about the good things that we had during the day. Family is the best thing that happened to me.
It was at the summer of 1869 that my family moved to the place that we have now in the present, Arista, a small town in Fragge Province next to the Continent of Valhr. For some reason, my father decided to move out from our home in the East of Valhr that he cloaked us out of the track of vampires to live in peace. Until then, we lived another chapter of life until the present.
"Darwin? Hey Einstein!", Hannah smacked by forehead with his palm and pointed out a pen on me.
"Oooop...sorry. I zoned out again", I gave her a slight smile as I went on with my assignment. I turned to my side and saw Fredd already in a dep slumper as he gave up dealing with the truncheon of Science and Mathematics.
I just smiled at them and looked away. I looked up to the sky and smiled at the beauty of the day. Everything seemed to be just fine and calm and silent. I feel so grateful to have a wonderful circle of friends, a loving family and a peaceful well being. I can't ask for more.
My heart is always at bliss seeing the good in people. Wishing them nothing but the best of life and success in their career. As a man, raised by a well oriented family I'm always taught to be kind and good always because innocence and goodness of heart are the things I possessed that no one can take away.
At least that's the last good thing thing I know.
I waved goodbye to my friends as we part ways in front of the exit. The class shift has concluded and it's time for us to walk home. I walked silently by the waters of the countryside, the soft rays of the sun bounced back from the water then to my face as it gradually closing its eye to the world. What I beautiful sunset, I thought.
The way home seemed so quiet and monotonous, the sounds of cricket and firefly dust seemed out of reach. So I went on and just looked up to going home safe and sound.
A cheerful face waved at me as I opened the wooden gate of our little home, the smooth fragrance of lavender coming from the filed lingered in the air and calming my senses down. I smiled at my mother as she leaned with her side on the door, she gave me a warm hug as I came into her. I hugged her back. My sister was in front of the fireplace, knitting on her embroidery with a frown on her face. I sat on the couch next to her and looked at the thing that she's been doing.
"You are doing great", I commented on her artwork.
"Not at all", She put the cloth down and pouted at me. I smiled at her and took the needle up.
"Here's how it goes", I tried demonstrating the things I've learned in some of my classes. For hours we exchanged chats and conversations as we went on with our sibling time together.
Our heads looked up at the slam of the door. Father came in with a uncertain look at his face. He looked at us and managed to gave a reassuring smile as he put his case down and took off his suit.
"My lovely angels are busy", He walked towards the kitchen giving us a warm smile.
"Alex is teaching me how to knit like a pro", Dahlia showed her piece to father and he smiled at her.
"Just a little knowledge that I have", I replied with a smile not looking at her.
That night we had the best meal together. Best, not because of the food that we had but because of the time that we had together. That night was all about happiness and joy and we never felt anything odd being together for many hours.
I leaned silently on my bedpost after we had our family time together. Looking up to the moon peaking down on my window and illuminating my face. I pulled my hand up and played with the light shining down on my face. The night is so quiet that only the sound of the leaves dancing in the soft gush of the wind can be heard.
I looked up once again, my eyes gleaming hazel in the touch of the moonlight, then shadowed by the wave of dark clouds coming.
All of a sudden I heard a loud crash from downstairs. I was about to run out of my room when my father blocked my exit. Dahlia and mother on his back looking back with a threatened face as father pulled them in. He gestured us to stay quiet. Loud footsteps banged across the house. Crashing and destroying everything on its way.
"I thought we are cloaked", My mother's tears slowly running down her cheeks.
"Ssshhh hey, don't worry. We will be fine", Father gave her an embraced and wiped her tears.
"They made an alliance with a black warlock and blew our covers off", my father added.
"I'll fight", Mother grabbed his hand and look into his eyes.
"You can't my love. We've been nerfed for years remember? Because we want to live normally", He brushed his hands through her hair and kissed her in the forehead.
Dahlia locked me in her arms as we curled ourselves on the corner. Her heartbeat so strong that it throbbed in my ears.
"Mama? Who are they?", Dahlia asked in between shaky voice.
"Don't cry darling, they will pass", Mother walked towards us and gave us a hug of assurance.
The door cracked open an a huge mascular man came in with a hood covering half of his face. He looked straight into my father and hissed his fangs out. But just before father counter his intimidation, my mother lunged at him with a strike that almost emitted electricity around us. Her eyes turned gold as her movements became lighter every second. She kicked the big guy out and looked at us with her raging face.
"I don't know how long will I last, but I want you to know that I love you so much. I wish we'll meet on the other side", Her voice faded from fury to pain as tears crawled down on her cheeks.
Dahlia weeped out loud at her words trying to cover my eyes with her hands.
"Please no, I'll get us out of here", Father's voice started cracking with his words.
Before he could say another word, a pair of sharp claws grabbed her out of the door. Her screams and cries broke my heart into pieces. Exchange of fangs and magic blasted from the other side of the wall. But to my surprise, Dahlia suddenly shrugged me aside and ran downstairs. My father ran after her as I crawled down under my bed. Tears can't stop falling from eyes as I bit my lips to stop myself from crying out loud.
I heard my sister screamed as a strong crash banged from downstairs. I tried covering my ears to avoid hearing the sounds of death lingering around but their voices already haunt my head.
"Stop please stop!", I whispered loudly in between my breath. The commotion suddenly stopped.
I pulled myself up, slowly and slowly so I won't make any sound. Then I walked towards the door and out in the wall. My body can't stop shivering from the sight of blood stains painted in the walls that once witnessed a happy family that lived in peace and harmony. I covered my mouth as I walked down the hall then to the staircase. I wanted to scream so loud but words won't escape my mouth. All I know is the feeling of being ruled by dread, sorrow, pain, fear and agony at the same time.
The world seemed to fall down on me in an instant as I saw my lifeless mother with her face fully decapitated and her body missing parts. She was brutally slaughtered for an unknown reason. I fell down on my knees and clenched my fist so hard that my palm started bleeding. I looked at her again and turned to my right to see my sister brutally mutilated and pinned up in the wall like a stashed meat. Her eyes bulged out and legs missing. Half of her mouth decapitated making her so horrible and pitiful to look at the same time.
I looked down and dug my face in my palm. It felt like my body had been crashed piece by piece that I can't move at all.
I was about to scream my pain and frustrations out as a pair of hands grabbed me and dragged me in the dark corner of the house, it was my father.
"Papa! I can't...", My voice cracked as my father locked me in tight hug and caressed my back with his hands.
"I'm sorry you have to see that. I'm so sorry you have to live like this", He looked straight into my eyes. He rubbed his hands on my cheeks to wipe my tears. He gave me a kiss on mu forehead and his tears fell down like rain unto me.
"I just lured them out and it won't take any longer before they return and hunt the rest of us", He fixed my hair and pulled something from his pocket.
"Why were they killing us? Father I don't understand", I let out another whimper as I looked down on his hands.
"This may be the last I'm gonna see you. I just want you to know that I'm so blessed to have a very handsome, wonderful and intelligent child like you. I'm sorry that you don't have to live like us, a witch like us that you always look up to. It's all because we want you to have a better life as a normal human. Living someone like us must have been a hard life for you because we can't give you anything you want but I've always been there for you, for Dahlia and mama. You are the most beautiful gift that life has given us and I love you so much. Till death and through eternity. In another life, I'll be given another chance to have a child once again, I always wanted it to be you and Dahlia. I'm sorry that we have to end like this. I'm sorry that I can't save them and I'm sorry that I can't save us at all", He wiped his tears and grabbed my hand.
"Here take this. But before I go, I want you to drink the liquid inside this vial right in front of me", He looked straight into my eyes.
"What is this papa?", I asked in between sobs.
"It's the legacy of our existence. It's the only thing will keep you going without us", He wiped my tears once again.
"I don't want to go alone papa, I'm so scared", I begged at him but he just gave me a tight hug.
"Ssshhhh listen love, you have to keep going. You have to live. You have to find justice for us", He looked at me once again. A strong sense of fear and contradiction filled his eyes as clouds started forming again.
I looked at the vial and took a deep breathe. I didn't know what it was but if it's my father's will for the last time then I'll gladly do it. I pulled the cork and took it in a single gulp. A strong taste or rust sate my taste buds as it flows harshly down my throat. I let out a cough and put the empty vial down. I looked at my father and he dug his face with his palm and cried his heart out.
"I did what you want father, what seemed so wrong?", I asked him.
"No. Nothing", he gave me warm smile and a hug once again. His eyes shut at the loud crash in the front door.
"They're here. You must go now", he added.
"But papa I have no where to go", I begged him to stay with me.
"You'll be fine son. You just have to run and run away from here. Never look back and just move forward. If you can't find us just look deep into that thing under you chest. It's where we always live", He gave me a kiss in the forehead before sneaking us out of the back door.
We were about to cross the door frame when a chain grabbed my father by his neck. He whimpered in between breath as he got pulled back into the house leaving me stumbled down on the hard ground.
"Papa!", I screamed.
"Run Darwin!", He screamed at the top of his lungs as two figures hovered him and lunged him with vigorous attack. His blood sprayed on my clothes and his gargling voice roared like thunder.
I pulled myself up and ran backwards without taking my eyes on him. He managed to crawl a few inches the door frame and gave me a smile.
"I love you so much Darwin. The light of our lives", He whispered in the air.
I looked up in absolute pain as I screamed all my heart out. Tears falling down like a rain from my eyes as I turned my back and ran away.
My mind spiralled at the thought of my family got slaughtered right in front of my eyes. Tears that seemed to fall endlessly as I ran and ran as fast as I can and as far away as I can go. My feet burned and bleed at the brush of the rough road.
It felt like running in circles.
That's the last thing I knew.