Chapter One
Chapter One
Imra
I stare up at the full moon hanging above the clearing we are surrounded by. We are on a pallet of blankets while trees line us on all sides and the sounds of nature lull us during this chaotic time. My mind began to drift as the time in between the pain beckons me to sleep. But just as I allow my eyes to drift shut excruciating pain wraps around the center of my body and I try to muffle the cry that wars to push through my lips. A hand grips mine as an equally muffled cry sounds next to me. As the contraction fades, I allow my head to roll to the side where a black haired red eyed beauty sits next to me. Fresh tears slide down her gray cheeks and it makes me aware of the wetness tracing my own golden cheeks. I grip her hand tighter as our husbands wrap their arms around us, providing the only comfort they know how. It should not be this way; we should have midwives here and our mage-medics. But instead, we are just lost out here on our own.
“It’s gonna be okay, Bimme.” I try to convey a false calmness. Nothing is okay. This should not be how we become mothers. If the world could just get over their hatred, we could deliver these babies surrounded by love.
“Okay?” Her panicked tone only intensifies my own, bringing us both a fresh wave of tears. “We’ve never birthed children before! We’ve never even watched a birth before! Yet here we sit with just our husbands because fairy forbid if anyone knew-“A contraction cuts her off suddenly, back arching as she clenches her jaw against a scream. Within a second, I’m mimicking her as pain flares through my body.
“Shh darling.” Her husband, Carve, attempts to soothe her, his hands can’t seem to find where they want to land. “It’ll all be okay and in 20 years we’ll see how worth it this was.”
His voice chokes towards the end and she shakes her head violently as the pain begins to let up. Our hands are sweaty and clenched so tight that I can feel how were breaking bones, even as they heal nearly immediately, again and again.
“I’m not going to make it,” her voice cracks on a sob, “I’m going to d-“
“Enough!” My husband’s voice barks out and I immediately try to shush him in fear that he will make it worse. His temper fluctuates like the waves in the ocean. He ignores me even as he leans across my body to get within inches of her frozen face. “Thinking all of this negativity will only worsen our chances of making it out of this. Not to mention this isn’t about you.”
Bimme and me both gasp at his harsh words just as another contraction overtakes our bodies. The pain leads my mind down a dark place as I began to think of all the ways I will kill him for speaking to her that way after this is over. I relax as the pain lifts after a few moments but the relief is short lived and my body grows stiff as he opens his mouth again.
“Solas” Carve warns in a growly tone but he is ignored.
“This isn’t about you, this isn’t about Imra, or any of us.” His voice is still firm but maybe a tad warmer. “This is about our future generations and leaving the hatred behind. This is about our Kaja. You can do this. You are strong and brave, Bimme. Strap on your armor and you’ll be fine. We’re here with you.”
Bimme’s eyes fill with tears and a new strength in the next breath as she nods at Solas before her eyes lock onto mine.
“We’ve got this,” her hand tightens around mine again, “for our babies.”
I nod at her. For just a moment a smile graces both of our faces and there is a calmness in the air. But a contraction hits us both again and the sense to push washes through me. So, I do.
Our husbands move between our legs and ready themselves. The forest and us all seem in agreement that it is time for silence. The only sounds in the air for the next few contractions are our grunts as we all four hang onto each other. Just like we have for years now. And as a new burning pain rushes through my center, two cries ring out into the air.
Suddenly, the pain feels like a secondary thought as cries of joy ring out from our little clearing under the moonlight. My husband lifts our golden little baby up onto his bare chest as tears stream both of our cheeks. I want to look at my best friend but I can’t seem to rip my eyes from the scene in front of me as my husband tips his head back to the sky and mouths a silent prayer, clutching the tiny being as if he’s terrified they will disappear.
As his head falls back down, his eyes lock on mine and he walks on his knees the few feet to me before laying our baby on my chest. And my world is zoned down to just this tiny creature on my chest. His cries as his limbs flail in every direction but as I shush him gently and wrap a blanket around us, he settles. He opens his little eyes and gasp sound all around.
“His eyes are red!” my husband's voice is coated in a awe I’ve rarely heard.
“Hers are blue!” Carve calls back and finally I lock eyes on my best friend. A sob escapes both me and Bimme in sync as our smiles flare wide. We lean closer to one another and situate the babies to be closer. Like little magnets their hand draw to one another and clumsily grasp each other. One blue eyed, gray skinned, beautiful girl with a tuff of black hair sticking up and a golden skinned, red eyed bald baby boy glistening in the moonlight.
“They each got a feature from the opposite race. This must mean they are meant to be.” Carve’s dreamy tone seems to set all of us on a line of fantasy thinking. A world where our two children change the line between our species from hate to love. A life where they can live in peace with each other.
“It must be a sign from the goddess herself.” Bimme agrees in a gentle tone.
Time seems to speed up and before I know it, we are removing placentas, cleaning up and packing up, the fear of being caught once again settling into all our bones. Though now intensified by our need to protect our children. The world just isn’t ready yet.
We’re staring at the babies in the bassinet strollers as we wait for the men to grab the last few items. We lean against each other once again clutching each others hands.
“I love you,” Bimme sighs as she leans heavier against me, “I’m so glad we faced this together.”
“I love you to-“ I’m cut off when she slumps into my body. I try my best to catch her but we both slide to the ground. “Solas, Carve!”
Panic sets in and suddenly I’m clawing at her as she’s being pulled away. Arms wrap around me and my husband whispers unheard words in my ears as the scene plays out like a movie in front of me. Carve on his knees shaking her as he calls out her name. Its utter chaos around us and all I know to do is clench my eyes shut and cry out every prayer I know.
I’m unsure of how much time passes, maybe a minute or an hour, hell maybe an eternity. But as the forest and us go eerily silent once again, I finally brave raising my head.
Carve holds Bimme to his chest, ear pressed to her mouth as tears flood his cheeks. We all wait in silence as mere seconds feel like a never-ending eternity. And then the silence is broken as he cries her name to the skies covered in anger and drowned in agony. My husband’s arms tighten around me as his head drops between my shoulder blades, his shaking form keeps me from moving away even as I kick and claw to get to her.
I know I’m screaming, begging, and pleading but it sounds miles away. All I see is my unmoving best friend clutched to her rocking husbands chest.
Suddenly, I’m being yanked up, still fighting against the hold. Still fighting to get to her. But my hearing finally seems to open up. Yelling sounds from the trees near us and Carve’s eyes meet mine as a wave of panic hits all of us.
“Go! They can’t find us together!” He calls out in a broken tone. I choke on a denial but he cuts me off. “Go, Imra! This isn’t about us anymore.”
I stop fighting against Solas’s hold and he grabs the stroller, rushing us away from our best friends.
#
7 years later
Dain
I’m sitting on the swings, talking to Jace in our towns playground. Jace is one of my least favorite friends but his father is our town seer so we try to remain in good standings. He’s a few months older and thicker than me (though I have a few inches on him height wise) and has our species natural blue eyes and brown hair. His hair is cropped short whereas my mother keeps mine longer for Trix’s sake, though she doesn’t know that’s why I like it long.
My dad often refers to Jace as a shithead and I can agree. He constantly thinks he’s the biggest and baddest.
As if my thoughts conjured her from nowhere, Trix comes around the corner of the school building and walks over to us. Trix plops right down into the green plastic swing next to me and kicks off like it’s nothing. Like people aren’t turning to give her dirty looks. Her shiny black hair is done up into pig tails and her blue eyes shine in the sunlight as she looks to me with a big smile. I glare back at her.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Jace sneers at her. I mentally groan, why does she have to tempt the Fairies?
“Swinging.” Her voice is light and airy, without a hint of worry in it. I hear his answering growl from beside me as he jumps off his swing. I’ve learned to just let the crap happen and be there afterwards. Not that I have a choice in the matter. But Trix takes pain like its nothing, even at our age.
“Come on Jace. Leave her be.” I know it won’t work though. It never does with any of them. I internally cringe at what I say next. “She’s not worth it.”
Even though she knows the routine, she still flinches when the words leave my mouth. Fairy, I hate this crap.
“Naw. But it’s gonna be more fun this way.” He grins as he gets right in her way as she swings down and my confusion intensifies as he catches her and then shoves her swing back as hard as he can. Her startled cry steals my attention for a moment and my brain doesn’t register his plan until it’s much too late. She sores back down harder this time and her feet catch him dead in the chest. He flies backwards with a grunt and smacks face first onto the ground. Trix and I share a wide-eyed look. No one had ever framed her as the abuser before.
He sits up with a grin as blood runs down his dirt-stained face. And then he screams catching the attention of every adult around us.
“She beat me up!” He cries as his father scoops him into his arms. Trix is violently shaking her head no and trying to explain but it feels like I’m the only one that can hear her. No one else stops to listen and instead began to yell at her and scold her. His mother steps forward as I tuck into myself some more.
“You little demonic bitch.” My stomach twists right before a clap sounds through the air, silencing everyone.
Trix’s head has snapped to the side from Jace’s mom hand meeting her cheek. I watch her face crumble and her chest begins to rise and fall rapidly. I open my mouth to say something but nothing comes out. She spins on her heels and runs away with Jace’s mom screaming threats the whole time.
I wait for the commotion to calm down before I sneak away, following the direction she went through the woods until I meet the little path that always leads us back to where it started. I think I’m probably less than five minutes behind her and my thoughts are confirmed as I round a bend. She’s there walking around the next bend, stomping her feet and huffing her breath. I decide to just follow her, letting her have her space.
She’s so caught up in her own hurt that she doesn’t even hear me following her. Normally she is super observant to the point of seeming paranoid. But I know it’s also a necessity for her.
I know what we’re doing will make a difference in the future, but I wish it would fix things now. I wish things were different for her. I hate seeing her bullied and shunned all the time and not being able to say anything about it. I even know why everyone hates the Dark Elves so badly. No one’s ever told me what they did wrong or why it even affects us in the long run.
“You gonna just walk behind me the whole time or you gonna come hold my hand?” Trix calls back to me making me jump. Of course, she knew I was here. I jog up to catch up to her, just as we reach the clearing where the treehouse lies. I grab her hand and we plop our butts down in the sand under our tree.
“I’m sorry they are always so mean to you.” I stare at the red handprint on her wet cheek. It’ll fade soon but our healing abilities still aren’t fully mature.
“You mean you’re sorry you can’t speak up?” She turns her head to lock those ocean blue eyes on mine and I’m locked into her stare. They are the same color as all of the Spring Elves but somehow with her gray skin and black hair they seem to strike different. Or maybe I would feel like that no matter what color her eyes were. Maybe it’s just her.
I nod my head when I remember that she asked a question. She lets out a gentle chuckle accompanied by a sniffle as she lays her head on my shoulder.
“It’s okay, Dain. I know you want to but I also know the world isn’t ready.” She sniffles again as a new wave of tears threatens to fall. “At least I what mom and dad say.”
I curl my body around hers as she starts to shake.
“I just wish I knew what everyone held against you.” I feel her stiffen up and her breathing grows harsher.
“Me too. But as long as your my friend I know I’ll be okay.” She’s basically gasping now and I know a panic attack is bound to happen.
“Forever, Trix.” I wrap my arms around her and hug her tightly. “Nothing could change that.”
#
Later that Night
“It’s not right.” I match dads tone even as the fear courses through my bones. I know I shouldn’t talk back to him when he’s drinking but I can’t keep watching this. But I also feel Trix’s dad, Carve, wouldn’t let dad do anything to me with him watching.
“I know it’s not right.” My father’s voice is surprisingly gentle as he tips his head back. “What do you want to do about it?”
Both of the fathers turn to me and I’m suddenly reminded of how small I am.
“What?”
“We’ve tried our way.” Carve blood red eyes lock on mine as he answers me with a shrug. “They aren’t working, so what’s your idea.”
“Nothing you guys are going to be okay with.” I answer with a slight stutter. Spring elves aren’t meant to be violent. We are creatures of the light and nature.
“Bimme is already on her way to Jace’s house now, son.” Dad’s voice begins to slur as his head slumps back again and I know he’s close to passing out. Carve and I share a look.
“He’s not wrong. Bimme’s probably going to beat the shit out of her.” He relaxes back into the chair.
“I thought we were supposed to be trying to change their minds about Dark elves wanting violence?”
“We are trying to but you try to tell a mother to not avenge her child.” I nod my head as he smirks a little. We both jerk our heads to dad as he lets off a huge snore, before laughing at ourselves.
“Yeah, I guess that’s true.”
“So, does that make you feel better?” He tips his head to the side.
“No.” He raises an eyebrow at my response. “It started with Jace. He needs to be dealt with.”
He rises from his chair and walks over to me.
“You’re going to your grandfathers house tomorrow, right? Think on it while you’re gone and when you get back, come see me. We’ll talk about what you decide.” He ruffles my head with a smile before leaving me along with my own thoughts.
------ Author's Note ------
Hi y'all,
Sorry I know I've been gone for awhile but I'm trying to get back onto it. My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer and between that and kids, life, school, it's just been a very stressful time. But in that time I took down this story and worked on it some more and tried to add in some more backstory, edit it a little better, etc.
I hope y'all like the revised version and please leave any feedback!
Thank you for your patience!
