Standing before Nada's grave, I hummed a melody mother used to sing.
"You sing bro?" Adrien sniffled next to me.
"Just a little," I replied.
I was mentally exhausted... Varen and I had left to the Imperials right after. This time we rode his motorcycle.
As always, before entering the estate, they chained me for "safety measures". They took me in for my physical and some of the other doctors spoke to Varen.
I was still feeling the leftover numbness from this morning that I couldn't feel the needles pierce my skin.
We gathered in the main sunroom and the wicked witch that kidnapped me at the lake was there.
Two of her men held my arms as a blue haired imperial walked up to me. How odd... I thought the Zarqas and Haras disliked eachother so much, they'd rather not share the same room.
The blue haired imperial had the same hair length as me, a little taller, but seemingly around my age. The blue eyed stretched two arms out and tattooed a spell onto my back and neck. Even though there was no smoke, no blood, and no fire, I could feel the tattoos burning through my skin.
Confused, with the adrenaline rushing throughout my body just as it did last night, I growled, "W-what are you doing to me?!"
The blue eyed shamefully watched me, biting their lip. Then a maid walked up behind me and pricked my neck with a small knife, flowing green mana within and out of me.
My body was heating up with anger. Why is that they always decide everything?! Where I go, what I do, who I am, how I live, HOW I'M TO BE TREATED?! My body was wakening from the shrilling pain, electrifying my nerves to my brain.
My heart was beating so fast, as though it were a ticking bomb. I can't help but scream and roar at them.
One of the men kicked me down to face me onto my belly. Then another maid injected, what felt like a thousand needles, into my back, reciting spells under her breath. The continuous flow of green light burned my insides. I hated it. My lungs felt emptier with every breath I took. The light kept flowing deeper and deeper even into my thoughts. It felt disgusting, like as though it was trying to expose my insides, my fears onto a platter.
I wanted to fight back. I pulled my chained arms inward that the other two men held and they bumped into eachother to the floor. Then my head was heavily slammed to the ground with the witch's foot.
"Get used it. This is how your 'check ups' will be like," the witch glaringly smiled.
They pulled me up to my feet and dragged me to where we had left Varen. It was difficult to open my eyes, but I saw his eyes widened when he saw me.
The men let me go, but I had no more strength, I fell to the floor and the glowing chains faded.
"He's your problem now. Hurry up and take him away," one of the men said to him.
Varen picked me off the ground and helped me up back to the motorcycle.
"You alright?" Varen whispered as he started the vehicle," I know you're probably exhausted, but you gotta hold on tight or you'll fall."
This stupid world. Stupid imperials. Stupid life. Why was I even born if I was to live so miserably like this? Why are those imperials so stuck up and ruthless? I'm too tired... of all of this.
"Hey! Hold on kid! Hey, you hear me?!" Varen yelled out to me. I was slipping off into darkness once again. The engine and the howling winds muffled the pain. The cold numbed me and the darkness held me close.
I woke up to a heavy thump on my chest.
"Moku?" I smiled and petted him, " I'm back..."
It was dark out now. Only the moon lit the darkness. There was a ruckus downstairs. I held Moku in my arms and headed down.
"Hey, it's my turn!" Adrien complained to Avery.
Cita sat next to her and Deeno stood on the other side as they all poked the white pieces that made a sound as clear as glass.
They all turned to me.
"Ah! You're awake bro!" Adrien beamed.
"Bwo? Bwo!" Deeno shrieked and ran to hug my leg.
"What're you guys doing?" I asked.
"Oh, Father Varen brought in a piano and we all wanted to play it." Adrien replied.
It resembled a similar instrument at home, home where mom and dad were.
"Bro, can you play the piano?" Adrien asked.
"I guess so. I used to play music. Instruments essentially are the same. They make a sound and sound makes music." I replied.
"Ohhhhh! You can sing and play! You should play for us bro!" Adrien says.
Avery pouts," I barely had my turn Adrien!"
"What? You were on the piano for like an hour!" Adrien says.
Avery responds," That doesn't count. I was teaching Cita and Deeno."
"Whattttt? That totally counts as long as you're sitting and playing," Adrien says," Atleast let bro have a turn."
Avery reluctantly sighs then responds," Fine."
She slides off the chair and I sit next to Cita. I place my hands onto the ivory pieces and enhaled the cold air.
"I was wondering where you were. I went to check on you upstairs but you weren't-" Father Varen watched us and snapped a white light at us.
"Ay, Fatherrrrr. What'd we tell you about taking our pictures without permission," Adrien blushes.
"Pfttt hahaha, memories should be cherished and remembered in the moment," he responds.
I felt a soft thump on my left side and a snore on my right. Cita and Deeno fell asleep. Avery picked up the toddlers to bed.
Varen says," Y'know, you still don't have a name do you."
Shocked, Adrien asks," What? You don't have a name Bro? I mean I was kinda okay calling you bro, but yeah that I think of it, I never knew your name."
"What about Zeth?" Varen suggests.
I ask sarcastically," Zeth like short for Zetheon?"
Varen bursts laughing," Haha, yeah it kinda is short for Zetheon, huh. But no, not because of that. Zeth means melody of blessings. You play the piano well and... We were lucky you were here to protect the little ones. Thank you for that."
"Wahhhh, Father Varen, sometimes you're too gushy of a person," Adrien sticks his tongue out.
Varen smiles and pats his head," Haha, it's just in your head Adrien."
"Son, you're our melody of blessings. You bless me and your mother with your song. It always encourages us to keep going. We know everyday is going to get harder for us, especially for you. But know this, we love you son," I heard dad in a memory so long ago.
"It wasn't like I didn't have a name," I said to their puzzled faces," I was too young. I don't remember if I did or didn't have a name. But Zeth... sounds nice," I say.
Every morning we would visit Nada and her kittens and water their flowers. The days were getting warmer and I was able to clear the field of webs. Varen had instructed me to clear the seedlings fertilized from the winter pollen.
"These weeds are called Summer Snow because they bloom in summer and pop off floating, looking like falling snow." Varen told me," Their tuff isn't toxic, but within their seeds, they contain corrosively acidic liquids. Make sure none ever enters the inside garden because once they take root, they suck the life from other plants."
And so.. he made me work on the weeds infront of the church as well.
Varen told me, "It's getting warmer and more people are moving to this town. Beasts are intimidated by greater populations of other species, so the beasts are a lot less likely to come out to hunt unless they're willing to risk their pack. But even if you don't see their pack, don't let your guard down."
Even though Varen's words sounded reassuring, it didn't help much. I was still on my toes for danger. I heard heavy pattering steps towards me, so I looked back and a giant white beast jumped ontop of me. I froze then tried to slip from this beasts weight, but he salivated and his face grew closer to mine. Then he slobbered my face and I screamed.
"Ivan! Bad boy! Get off of him! You're being very rude," A girl with short ash brown hair and amethyst eyes pulled the white beast off of me.
She says, "I'm sorry! He's just a puppy. He really loves everyone so I'm sorry if he scared you."
" A puppy? He's huge enough to be a wolf," I say.
"Hey, he's not like a wolf, he's very friendly." She pouts then sighs," I'm really sorry if he scared you."
I butt in," What makes you think that?"
She says, "Because you were screaming like a girl who saw a ghost."
"Excuse me? Anyone would scream if a giant hairy beast pinned them down and take a taste of their flesh!" I say annoyed.
She glares at me," Anyway, I'm sorry. Let's get along since we'll be seeing eachother a lot from now on. I just came to visit my grandma for the summer, soooo.... Nice meeting you. Do you work for this church?"
"Kinda," I plainly said.
"Where do you live?" she asked.
" I live here," I responded.
" Whaaat no way. It's such a huge church. Well, what's your name? Mine's Ayune, Ah-yu-neh." she says.
" Zeth." I said.
"Hmm... what a plain name," she says.
This girl is a little annoying.
"Well, we should hang out sometime or something." She says.
" Can't, I have chores." I say.
"Chores? Hey! I can help you with chores as an apology! How about that?" She asks.
"What? Nah, no thanks, I'm fine on my own." I continued sweeping the unrooted remains of Summer Snow.
"Actually, that sounds wonderful," Varen chimes in.
" Are you leaving somewhere?" I ask.
" Yeah, they need my help. I'll be back by tomorrow, but when I'm back let's discuss your part time job, alright Ayune? I'm Father Varen by the way." he says.
"Um okay," she responds nervously.
"Well then, you guys take care of yourselves. Oh and Ayune! You're very welcome to come to the church whenever you want!" He waves goodbye and the little ones run out and wave back.
"Cita! Deeno! Come back here!" Avery calls out from behind them. Adrien walks up to take them back.
" Woah bro! Is this your girlfriend? She's pretty cute!" Adrien asks.
"No!" we both answered.
Adrien laughs," Hahaha don't be shy bro, sis!"
"Sis?" She asks confused.
"Yeah! Welcome to the family! Hope we'll see you soon! Bye now, gotta take the kids back to class." Adrien walks away.
"He's kinda cute." she says out loud.
"What.." I say confused.
"N-nothing! He's just a little cute is all" she says blushing.
"If he's cute then what am I?" I say sarcastically.
"You're just a scaredy cat. Literally, 'cause you're scared of dogs," she says with a smug face.
We glare at eachother intensely.
"Well, whatever, even if everyone welcomes you. I don't really care." I said.
"Wha-! Well, your opinion doesn't matter. Father Varen says I'm welcome so HAH!" she responds.
Yeah, I don't like this wolf girl.