Lebwin Bastete looked up from his table when the door to his office opened. Inside walked his life partner, the woman he had sworn to protect. Her eyes were red and puffed up. It was very obvious that she had been crying. Yet despite this, she still managed to plaster a smile onto her face.
She bowed, "My lord."
Following behind her was a girl who looked like the younger version of her. The elder Bastete felt his heart leap to his throat. The daughter he had neglected over the years looked so much like her mother when they first met. The only time he had seen her was when she had been born. Now seeing her almost all grown up made his chest constrict.
He plastered a frown onto his face, afraid that the emotions that he was currently feeling would be shown.
"Maore."
She bit her lip when he mentioned her name, "Yes my lord."
"I instructed you to wait for me to return. You were not to leave our room."
Maore raised her head, an angry look blossoming in her eyes, before she bowed once more, "I could not leave the issue about my daughter in your hands alone my Lord."
Lebwin felt his eyebrow twitch. She was using that title to spite him. He could feel it.
He turned to the daughter he had never acknowledged. "Almathea Bastete."
Almathea's head bowed even further, "Yes, My lord."
Lebwin's eyes became dark. He turned to Fazian who was standing by his side. "Did you bring everything?"
His first child took a step forward, bringing a backpack with him. "Yes, father. There is everything you asked in here."
"Did you put my details into the phone as well?"
"It is saved as 'lord' as you instructed," Fazian's head bobbed up and down.
Lebwin nodded, "strap it to her back."
Almathea's head pushed up when she realized that Fazian had stopped in front of her.
He had a small smile on his face, and upon closer inspection, she realized that his eyes were red, just like Maore's.
Without speaking a word, he had strapped the backpack onto Almathea's back before he walked back to his father's side.
Almathea felt that the backpack that had been strapped to her back was quite heavy. She was tempted to turn and take it off. However, Lebwin called out her name. "Almathea Bastete." Following her mother's instructions, she pulled down her head farther down. The room descended into silence after these words.
The next thing Almathea knew, a finger was hooked to her chin and her head was being pulled up. Her father stood before her, his lips pulled into a straight line. Almathea was forced to look into his gray eyes. "You shall remember this. You are a Bastete. A Bastete does not bow down to anyone. No matter who it is."
Almathea's eyes widened and she bobbed her head up and down. "I understand."
Upon hearing her speak, Lebwin's eyes twinkled. "I am glad that you comprehend my words." He sighed, "However, I am unable to protect you. Almathea. I, as your father, am weak."
Fazian took a step forward, "Father..." His words were silenced by Lebwin raising his hand.
"It is but the truth. I am unable to protect my family. I have nothing to be proud of." He took a step back.
"Therefore, I would like to gift my daughter with something to remember this useless father by."
From his coat pocket, he took out a small necklace. There was half a moon pendant hanging on the ends. "This is nothing much compared to the extent to which I am useless." He walked behind her to help her clasp the necklace to her neck.
The half-moon pendant felt cold against her fingers.
She looked up at her father. "I..."
"Do not speak further." He raised his palm once more, this time silencing her.
He then turned to his wife and bowed at the waist, "I am sorry, but you must understand that we have no other choice."
Tears pooled at the edges of Maore's eyes. She bowed at the waist as well, "I understand, my lord. It is for the best."
"I am gratified that you..."
"But, my lord. We have lived in silence all these years. Nothing has gone wrong."
Lebwin frowned and his hands clenched into fists. "Maore!"
Maore raised her eyes, ready to protest.
"No more, Maore. I do not want to argue with you. Do not say anything more."
Maore bit her lip and the tears began flowing down her cheeks.
Despite having watched all this, Almathea did not understand what was going on. So she kept silent.
Lebwin turned to his daughter once more, ready to speak more words to her. However, the words were stripped out of his mouth when one of the men who were stationed outside burst into the room.
Lebwin's temperament turned a whole one hundred and eighty degrees in an instant. He looked to the door and frowned. "What is the matter."
"My lord. There are some people attacking..." He did not get to finish his next words as an arrowhead appeared at the left side of his chest, soaked with blood. Blood sputtered out of his mouth and onto the carpeted floor.
Lebwin's frown deepened.
He shouted, "shut the door."
As if her previous character was not present, Maore kicked the now dead man out the door and pushed the door shut.
Then with one motion, she had drawn one of the swords that were at the end of the room. Lebwin on the other hand had taken two small guns from a drawer that was at the top of his desk. He threw one to Fazian.
Then as if they had agreed on how they were going to do it, they formed a small circle around Almathea.
She was left stunned at the efficiency in which they had executed this. Outside the room, there was pure silence.
Lebwin turned to Almathea and placed a finger on her forehead, "With this seal, I place upon thee, thou shall forget the events taken in her life for the days she has been alive. All that shall be remembered is her age and name. With this seal I have placed upon thee, nothing shall be able to break. With nothing holding her back, thou shall look to make yourself stronger. Find a way to bring the world of the second-born children into reality. If thou is truly unable, there shall be no consequences, but thou truly shall never remember the family of the Bastete and your name shall be Almathea Vermilion."
As Lebwin spoke, Almathea began to feel her eyes get out of focus. She could not see anything before her and her mind became hazy.
The voice of Lebwin continued, "Only until thou are strong enough shall you remember where you came from. Almathea Bastete. I, Lebwin Bastete, second child of Varmilia Bastete, have placed all my trust in your growth." A tear dripped down his chin and fell onto her cheek.
Everything before Almathea became hazy, and her vision dripped in and out of consciousness. Both her chest and her forehead began to burn before she was pulled into the darkness.
.
S/T:
Almathea: (Wakes up in the darkness.) Where am I?
Evil Author: (Holds torch up to face.) Dead
Almathea: ... Wut?