Lilith's Blessing

6.

Caleb Taylor sat on his bed as sleep eluded him. Whenever he closed his eyes, his past haunted him as horrified faces creeped into his dreams. His blue eyes faded and tired as he rubbed his graying unshaven face.

Two loud thuds reverberated through the house as someone banged on the door. Who could it be at this hour? Caleb thought to himself as he reached for his automatic shotgun. He released the drum magazine, checked it, then replaced it, and loaded a cartridge into the chamber.

Years of overuse made his voice hoarse, and his first attempt failed. He cleared his throat to inquire who was at the door. A familiar voice boomed through the door. “Caleb, it's Hunter. We need to talk, brother.”

Caleb cracked the door to hide his weapon in its shadow. Hunter stood before two serious faced men and expressed his desire to enter the home. Caleb didn’t respect Hunter, the witch slayer, as the Popal King and the supreme commander of the elite team called him. The professional group of killers train to counter mana users and use ruthless tactics. Their former leader attempted to recruit Caleb after his heroic efforts at Millet Bay, but he refused and wanted no part in their dirty work.

Hunter tried to persuade Caleb to allow them to enter. But he refused and insisted they could talk there. Caleb repeated himself. “What do you want?”

Hunter relented. “Fine, well, there is a rumor ‘round town that your 'lil Kira can manipulate water. I have orders to investigate.” Hunter proclaimed before the men tried to force themselves inside the home.

Every night, Caleb inspected the lethal light shotgun. After some time, the task became a ritual that helped him focus and keep his mind sharp. It dulled the memories and vivid nightmares that plagued his dreams. Tonight, his mind cleared as he opened the door and exposed the weapon. None of them had time to reach as he shouldered the gun and unleashed three bursts. The fiery mass entered the men’s chest and distorted their bodies.

Caleb stood over Hunter as he gasped for air while blood filled his lungs and spilled from his mouth. “I never had proof, but you handled Lupita's death. Now you want my little girl.” Caleb hit Hunter with his weapon as he took his last breath.

Kira stirred from the commotion, Caleb slung the shotgun over his back, and covered the bodies. When he grabbed his go bag, he scooped up Kira and looked back.

Happy and sad memories filled the small house and haunted the home. Caleb steeled himself for the next chapter to provide a better life for Kira.

Caleb held Kira's head close to his shoulder to hide the dead bodies from her inexperienced eyes. She had a full head of puffy hair and it covered her face as she pressed against him. Caleb held onto her and sprinted westward toward Million Lake’s forest.

Everyone thought he was crazy when he bought land near Millions Lakes. Now the foresight proved invaluable, as their escape was uneventful. Weeks turned into months as their journey west continued. They passed former settlements devastated by time as Kira became accustomed to the forest. Kira lost everything she had known, but life formed in her eyes again. Now she strutted the forest, gathered firewood and helped in any way possible. Her curiosity made her father proud, as she would point out something and ask questions.

Caleb encouraged her to develop an affinity for water and use it when necessary. He taught her battle tactics, how to fight to win, create traps, and basic survival. The Million Lakes provided all the tools for him to teach her how to survive without him. Caleb felt his day had passed, and he had a debt to pay.

The planned escape route worked how she said it would. One day, a guard tower became visible from the shore. Kira pointed it out and wondered if that was their destination. He nodded and hugged her and told her their journey was almost over. Kira, sad and happy, loved to explore the forest with her father. But she longed to go to school like her mother.

In celebration that night, he cooked Kira’s favorite meal and told her stories about her mother until she fell asleep. Caleb tucked her into her sleeping bag as a tear fell from his face. He missed Lupita.

The next morning, he stood on the bay’s edge and watched the tide flow. The guard tower appeared with the sun behind it. A small military garrison hid behind the trees inside a village. He planned it out in advance, as he knew the commander of the garrison.

Memories of when they met at Millets Bay made his heart race, and he felt it was going to jump out of his throat. But he calmed himself with deep breaths, gathered their things, and put them in their small makeshift kayak. He picked up a groggy Kira. She wrapped her little arms around his head and leaned her head against his shoulder. Kira had grown bigger since leaving Zuvea. He guessed she grew when they ate from the forest a fresh bounty every day.

Caleb placed the sleeping Kira in the Kayak, then pushed off toward the village. The battle flashed before his eyes with every stroke. His comrades died fighting those dreadful things. How could he forget? He remembered their faces and anguish as they died. The kayak hit the shore and broke Caleb’s trance. Kira moved when the kayak jarred itself into the sandy shore.

Multiple guardsmen and soldiers surrounded them as he raised his hands. “I am Caleb Taylor. Former Captain of Squad 18. I surrender.” A sense of panic swarmed the veteran soldiers as they heard stories about the blond reaper. They pointed their mana powered rifles at him, but Kira moved in the kayak and the sudden movements attracted the guards. She raised her head and peeked as Caleb stepped in front of her. The soldiers realized it was a child and pointed their barrels down and sighed relief.

“Capitan Caleb Taylor.”

The squad of soldiers backed off as the commanding officer appeared. Her honey skin showed no signs of age. Only her silver hair. He repeated his previous claim that he surrendered. “Lieutenant Samia, good to see you again.”

She countered and informed him she was a commander now. Then looked past his colossal frame toward the little girl in the kayak. Kira was worried about her father and wanted to run to him. But stayed until told to move.

"I sense mana in that one. Is that why you are here?" Caleb nodded in agreement and, like a proud father, gloated about her ability to use it to hunt small game. He looked back at Kira, then at Commander Samia, and reached toward his hip. The guards reacted as they raised their rifles again, as Kira watched in horror. “I mean no harm.” Caleb put the gun in the palm of his hand, bowed, and handed the weapon to her as formal surrender.

The jester relaxed the guards, and they lowered their weapons. Samai questioned his motives and wanted to know his conditions. Caleb’s response surprised her. All he wanted was a safe place for Kira. Because Zuvea proved to be too dangerous for them.

Commander Samia accepted the weapon and handed it to the closest guards. Then, ordered the guard to escort them to her home, but the soldier interjected and expressed his unease at the task. She reminded the lieutenant about the Millet Bay incident and he was the man that helped her defeat the monsters that attacked. The soldier retorted it was only after they killed an entire squad; Samia had to negotiate. Commander Samia glared at the Sargent and she straightened up and accepted the order. She apologized to Caleb and her platoon and gathered his belongings from the kayak.

Kira leaped out of the kayak, ran to her father and grasped his waist. She had grown taller; her head was now above his waist. He knelt down to hug her, and she forced him to pick her up. She buried her face in his shoulder and gave him no choice but to carry her as they followed the platoon into town.

People stared at them as they passed the town square and market. Whispers permeated throughout the people. His pale skin stood out, but Kira, with her mixed lineage, would blend right in. Kira kept her head down and clutched her arms around her father, as she feared he would disappear if she let go.

Caleb tried to put her down when they arrived at the commander’s house. She was heavy, and he was tired from the journey. But she was asleep, comfortable in her father’s arms.

A slender man in a blue achkan greeted the platoon leader. She informed him of her orders and dropped Caleb’s gear onto the front porch, saluted, then vacated the premises. The man nodded and accepted the madam’s command. He introduced himself as the head butler, Anthony, and he would show them to their quarters. Caleb intended to shake Anthony’s hand, but he was unaccustomed to the ritual and stuck out two fingers. Caleb chuckled as the other butlers gathered his bags.

The two-story home decorated with warm colors and vibrant fabrics did not feel like a command center. A large curved staircase, displaying generations of smiles, led up to an open door. The open area exposed an unorganized office with random books everywhere in between two lounge sofas.

They passed the office and two more rooms, but with closed doors that hide their contents. Down the hall, more closed doors that pointed to one open door. It was a medium-sized room containing two beds and a desk. A simple wallpaper and an open balcony with red curtains that overlooked the small village. The small room invited them in as Caleb, tired from the journey, placed Kira on the smaller bed and covered her with the blanket. Anthony commented in a whisper that the madam would return soon and he should get some rest.

The young man closed the door. It did not sound like he locked it, but something compelled Caleb to open it. Nothing. He tried to pull, then push, but the door didn’t budge. The sealed door washed relief over his body as he flopped down onto the bed. The pillows and comforter were soft, and he was tired. He dreamed of Lupita, her thick wavy hair that defied gravity, dark bronze skin, sweet voice, and moments together before Kira was born. Blood flowed down her face, her sweet voice replaced by screams of the people he killed. They wake him. He looked down at Kira’s bed, and she was not in it.

Caleb rushed to the door. He expected the door to be solid and braced himself to slam into it. A quick thought stopped him. How did Kira get out? He tried to turn the knob, but it turned, and the door opened. He could hear Kira down the hall laughing and giggling. Bubbles of different sizes emerge from the room. Caleb followed the bubbles and realized this was where she could be herself. And not worry about mana hunters. He leaned against the wall and breathed an enormous sigh of relief as he saw redemption on the horizon.

General Samia spoke out from the office amongst the playful Kira and invited him into the office. Caleb’s eyes met the general’s as he entered the room. Kira, all smiles, created bubbles with ease and wanted to show her father. “Look, Auntie Samia taught me how to make bubbles.”

"Auntie?"

Kira stuck out her little hands. Blue light emanated from her hands as a little bubble appeared before her. It grew larger and larger until she released them from her mana’s grasp. The bubble floated away, popping upon contact with the ceiling. Kira's enormous eyes lit up. She flared her nose when happy, like her mother.

“Your biggest one yet.” Samia gave Kira much needed female attention. It had been so long since her mother died that she did not remember her face. If Samia filled that role, Caleb thought, Kira would have everything she needed. A single tear fell down his face as he praised her bubble skills. The color had returned to her face. Kira was already a happy child, but now it seemed she had a home.

Samia called her a prodigy and wanted to talk to Caleb. She wanted Kira to attend school in the capital as she showed potential. He agreed without a second thought. As her father, it was his responsibility to give her the best life. Even if he was not in it.

Caleb hugged her. "Hear that, Kira? That means if you work hard, you will be strong." She looked up at him with her mother's big dark brown eyes and big hair. "Like you, Daddy?"

Caleb shook his head. "No, like your mother."

Samia showed great hospitality to his little girl, but he wondered about his fate. Once part of the Zuvean army, he killed many of what he used to believe were witches and demons. But Lupita showed him a different way and helped him grow. When he lost her, he almost lost himself. He did not want to let Lupita down and got Kira out before the same fate befell her.

The general inquired if Caleb wanted tea. He preferred whiskey, but Samia informed him that few drank in the Million Lakes territory. The only place to get a drink is at a hookah bar in Sioux Falls. Caleb agreed to tea and Samia called out to Anthony.

The young man brought tea on a plain gray tray. He set the cup before Caleb, pouring it almost to the top. Caleb nodded and thanked him. Samia sat forward with a severe expression.

“Caleb, you have committed crimes against my people as a soldier of Zuvea. Now you sit before me with a child that manipulates mana. What is your goal?”

Caleb explained his history and why he immigrated to Sioux falls and how Kira’s mother met her fate at the hands of an extermination group. He wished to see Kira in a safe environment.

Samia approved and sat back in her lounge chair. Her purple and blue saree flowed with her demeanor. Then added she wanted information on the extermination group. Caleb did not hesitate and accepted the terms.

The General paused—Gauged Caleb's sudden willingness to cooperate. She wondered aloud what he hoped to gain other than Kira in a safe place. Caleb shook his head. He wanted nothing in return. Just that she raises Kira to be a good person and maybe one day get married.

Samia nodded, recognized his request, and contemplated his fate. "You may not leave this estate. Kira will learn from me until she goes to school in the capital."

The school system differed from city to city. Zuvea did not have a public system, but nobles got to go to school. General Samia informed Caleb their military academy started at age 12.

Tears fell on his pale face, as he was grateful. Samia pointed to Caleb and warned him that his responsibility was to survive and become a great grandfather.

“Thank you, general. Thank you.”

“Amanda. My name is Amanda.”