A Snowy Demise.

January 16th, 2007

It’s cold, so cold. That’s all I can think of right now, the way my trembling body is freezing in the snow as my blood floods the rocky outcrop altar. Why? Why is this happening to me? I suppose this is just one of those things you must accept in life, dying is inevitable. I'm freezing now. I gather the last of my strength, I want to get one last look at my judge and executioner. I look up, my black hair slightly falling into my face, clinging to the beads of tears down my cheeks. I see them standing there, doing nothing as I bleed out. They simply watch with empty, emotionless eyes. Slowly, I glance up to the desolate forest surrounding me. By this time all the leaves on the trees have wilted and fell, except for the few scarce evergreens dotting the tree line. The tree limbs are covered in fresh snow, showing brightly in the dead of the night. The crescent moon dimly glowing through their outstretched arms, the deafening silence, not even the midnight breeze in the air could be heard. How fitting, I thought to myself, to die in a place surrounded by other dead things. On a branch, a few paces away on a medium sized Spruce sat a beautiful barn owl with its pale feathers and dark eyes staring intently back at me, as if interested in what is happening. A soft smile caresses my face. Ah, it’s so warm.

15 Years later, January 2022, Gavyn’s POV.

I feel myself jolt from the nightmarish vision. I hate this time of the year. These cold winter nights never fail to remind me of things long lost but never forgotten. Sorrowful, painful, and fearful memories plague me, even worse on these nights. I glance over at my sleeping wife, hoping she didn’t get awoken from her slumber, her sandy blonde hair gliding over her face as she rests. She thankfully doesn’t stir from her sleep. However, I know that she will be awake soon, too, thanks to the night terrors that visit both of us every night. There was a time when they had stopped for a while, and I thought we could get our life back to some semblance of normality. Sadly, that wonderful time only lasted for a couple of years. Olivia starts to stir in her sleep, gasping slightly in terror and pain. I stroke her hair, caressing her head as I go, hoping she feels some comfort from the small gesture.

It’s been fifteen years now since we lost our daughter, Amaya. She was thirteen when she was killed, and the horrible sight we had to witness still haunts us. We haven’t been able to have another child because we don’t want to replace our dear daughter. We just want someone to love again. Someone who can fill our days with the laughter and joy that was consumed by the sadness and despair we feel now. Looking over at my nightstand, I see the picture of our Amaya. Her beautiful raven hair and emerald, green eyes matched her pale complexion so perfectly. She was the perfect mixture between Liv and I. Her eyes and bewitching beauty were all Liv, while her obsidian hair and fair complexion came from me.

“Why are you awake?” I hear Olivia mumble as she stretches her arms, and rolls to face me. I gaze back at her, sleep still evident in her features. I can see the growing dark circles under her eyes and sweat streaming from her temples.

“I just woke up dear, it’s nothing.” Even I can hear the crack in my voice from the lie as I speak. “Go back to sleep, Liv, you need the rest.” I peck her on the forehead as I get up to trudge to the ensuite bathroom. Splashing cool water, I look up into the mirror, my melancholy blue eyes glaring back at me.

I turn, heading for the shower to get ready for the day. Being a CEO of a large corporation wasn’t easy and it’s even worse when its family owned. Each CEO of the company has been a son or daughter of the previous generation, handed down to the eldest child, the Heir to the throne. The pressure to maintain and continue to build the company, ever moving forward is staggering. “Failure is not an option, not in this family, Gavyn!”, my old man would bark at me daily like a St. Bernard. It’s one of my earliest memories of him.

“A Baylor does not fail,” he would say. This mentality has led me to do some questionable things. Things that could be considered immoral, things that may not be seen as black or white, so I tell myself it’s more of a gray area. I don’t regret any of them. I would do them all over again if it meant keeping my position, keeping my company afloat in this turbulent economic market. Keeping my wife comfortable and in her element to keep her mind away from the darkness hidden behind a thin vale. The Baylor corporation must never falter, Baylor’s do not fail.

I make my way from the steam filled bathroom to the huge walk-in closet my wife had built. It was the one thing she was adamant about when we built our estate. All my suits are neatly organized by color and brand: Armani, Hugo Boss, Zara. Cole Haan and Magnanni shoes line the bottom by style and design, accompanied by matching socks and ties. My collection of Rolex and Montblanc watches and cufflinks, all lined up perfectly with whichever suit I decide to wear that day. Not a thing out of place, the quintessential house of Gavyn Baylor.

------

The anniversary of Amaya’s death is coming up soon. Olivia will go deeper into despair, and I’ll have to find some new project to keep her mind off it. I could have her remodel my office since she is an interior designer and has been begging me for years to redesign my office to “make it less dreary and more efficient”, according to her, but if it keeps her mind from wandering, I think I'll let her. It’s in the company budget this year anyway, a remodel hasn’t been done since my father was in charge. I suppose it’s time to make some changes to it and quit dwelling in the past.

“Mr. Baylor,” I hear coming from the other side of my office door, my secretary calling out to me since I didn’t hear the knocking, “I have some documents for you regarding the latest deal with S company.”

“Come in, Amelia. I apologize, my mind was elsewhere, and I didn't hear you knocking.”

When she opens the door, I can tell those negotiations with S Company aren’t going as planned from the scowl on her face. Amelia has been with me since childhood, my father had high hopes I would marry her instead of Liv, but unfortunately for him, Amelia wasn’t into men, and it brought me to Olivia. Her wife is a very sweet lady, though timid, company parties are interesting, it amazes me at what new things frighten that scaredy cat.

“Mr. Baylor,” she begins.

“Amelia, how many times must I tell you to just call me Gavyn, even in the office. No one is around anyway.” I say with displeasure.

She scowls at me and rolls her eyes, “Mr. Baylor, S company is refusing to sign the agreed upon terms, stating that they were no longer to their satisfaction. They want a bigger cut from what we had already promised them.” The forceful way she said my name told me that she was not having this conversation again and would continue to call me, “Mr. Baylor” in the office, no matter what I had to say about it. I sigh and rub my forehead in aggravation. They always want a higher cut, even though we have raised it twice already.

“Schedule me an appointment with S Companies CEO, Mr. Charles. I’ll deal with this myself. Oh, and could you check into the budget and see if the money for renovations of my office is still in there?”

“Of course, sir, I’ll get right on that.” She places the documents on my desk with her victorious grin, she doesn’t have to deal with this matter anymore and retreats out the door. I groan again, grabbing my keys, phone, and the documents for S Company. I’ll be taking work home with me again tonight.

I pull into my driveway at half past six. Grabbing my things, I start to head into the house. Lamenting, I scratch my head as I prepare for Olivia’s wrath over me bringing work home again. Most of the lights in the house are off, only our bedroom light and my office light are on. Confused, I head into the house and head to our bedroom. “Liv? What’s going on, why is my office light on?” I say as I enter and get no response. “Liv?” I call again, nothing, no sign of her in here. I head to my office and crack open the door. I see Liv sitting on the floor, papers scattered all around her. “Liv? Hey,” I reach for her shoulder and try to turn her toward me, “what’s wro..” I stop dead in my tracks at her tear stained, pale face.

“Gavyn.” She breathes, in absolute agony. “It’s her, I heard her voice. It’s really her, Gavyn!” She cries, breath coming rapidly.

Stunned, I released her. She’s finally lost it and went off the deep end. Exasperated, I turn to leave. There’s nothing I can do at this point. “GAVYN!” She grabs my arm as I’m turning, squeezing tightly, “Listen to me, I swear, it’s her!” she grabs her phone with her other hand making sure I don’t move, “Just listen to this voicemail baby, I swear it’s her!” She clicks onto her phone icon, goes to her voicemail and hits play on the recording. A sinister, wicked laugh fills the room, chills run down my spine as I hear Amaya’s voice, “Mommy, daddy. I’m home.” A malicious giggle and the line went dead.

Olivia’s POV.

Amaya is alive. That single thought continues to run through my head on repeat the entire drive to where we buried her. We wanted some place nice and serene as her final resting place. When she died, I lost all sense of myself, and began wasting away. Withering in despair and drowning in despair and drowning in madness. She would be twenty-eight now; her birthday just passed.

I know Gavyn thinks this is all a prank, but I must hold out hope. I don’t know how it’s possible, it shouldn’t be. I saw her die with my own eyes. Watched as her eyes went lifeless and her body limp. It was pure agony to see my baby girl like that, knowing I couldn’t stop it. Amaya is alive.

After an hour of driving, Gavyn finally pulls into the graveyard where she is buried. Getting out of the car, I head toward the trunk. The only way to be sure of her death, is to dig up her grave and see her body for ourselves, we must be sure. I need to be sure. Amaya is alive. I keep repeating this, making the madness worse. I grab a shovel and some gloves, alongside Gavyn, who looks distressed and even more annoyed.

Chills run down my spine at the sight of the undisturbed grave site, the cold night and silence under the desolate moon adding to the tinge of fear I feel. Amaya is alive. The madness grows and grows, like a tidal wave begging to wash over my black sand beach at any moment. I push it down as best I can, it can’t take over now.

I’m the first to put my shovel to the ground, I slam my heel into the top of the spade, digging into the earth. It takes the two of us around six hours to finally hear the clink of metal on metal. We scramble to get it open, the chills returning to my body. Terror filling me at this precarious moment, Gavyn’s face is pulled tight, bracing himself. Fear fills around us like a thick fog. Slowly, we open it, neither of us ready for what we are about to see. I can hear my heartbeat getting louder and louder drowning out the deafening silence of the night. Time seems to pass slowly; an eternity has passed when I know it’s only been seconds. Finally, after what seems like hours, it’s open. Amaya is alive.

Gavyn’s POV

Terror like I’ve never known seizes me. It’s not possible. The casket is empty, like there had never been a body there in the first place. It doesn’t make sense, she was dead. I know for a fact she was dead. No… no… NO! How is Amaya alive? The terror instead builds as I hear Olivia gasp, and wail, “Amaya.” I look over at her and see her looking up. Stiffening as I slowly raise my head, to see the spot Liv is staring at. Praying to whatever God is out there.

Amaya is standing above the grave, her face twisted in an evil and sinister smile. Panic washes over me as I see her standing there, her obsidian hair now at waist length flowing in the cold night air. Her once lively, emerald, green eyes now stare at me cold and emotionless and pale white. I stumble and fall back into the cold hard earth. This isn’t my daughter, it can’t be.

“What’s wrong, daddy?” Her voice coos at me, in an eerie tone that doesn’t even sound human. “Didn’t you miss me? I’ve been gone for fifteen years, and you don’t even look happy to see your baby girl again.” She chuckles. That sinister smile growing and contorting her face.

“This isn’t real, this is just a nightmare that I am trapped in. You are dead. I know you are dead.” My voice cracks, fear evident in it. I can feel the deep cold taking hold of me, but not from the icy wind.

“Aw, daddy, don’t be like that now. We can finally be a family again.”

I look to Liv, who hasn’t uttered a single word since she said our daughters now. She looks stunned, too shocked to move her eyes away or speak a single word. She’s trembling. Her whole body was shaking. This is what will drive her over the edge, this is the final nail in her coffin.

Amaya’s POV

I awoke with a start, looking quickly around the room. Of course, I had to have that dream again. I laid in bed for a few minutes before sighing to myself and sitting up. Suddenly, I remember what today is and I smile brightly. With a giggle, I leap out of bed. I quickly got dressed into the black bodysuit, paired with my black skinny jeans, and leather jacket I had laid out for this day. After brushing out my waist-length hair, I rushed out of my room and ran downstairs, where I was greeted by an owl with pale feathers and dark hollow eyes.

“Good morning, Fenris. How are you today?” I greeted the beautiful creature before looking around the room. “Where’s Hela?” I asked him. He hooted at me before flying around me into another room. I followed him into the study, finding Hela sitting there.

“Good morning, Hela” I greeted the deity. 15 years ago, I was murdered. While it was taking place, I saw Fenris, Hela’s familiar, sitting on some branches in a tree. He seemed to be watching the terrible events unfold. After my murderers left, Fenris flew off for a while before bringing Hela back with him. She graciously brought me back from death's door before the other demon could claim my soul fully but had to make me a half demon to do so. I have been living with her ever since, training and plotting for my revenge. Hela looked up at me when I came into the room and gave me a wicked smile.

“Good morning, Amaya. Are you prepared for today?” She asked me as I sat down in the chair opposite of her. Hela has an odd appearance that she doesn’t hide. One part is a beautiful woman and one part skeleton. She has long, beautiful silver hair that falls in waves that frames her face with deer like antlers sprouting from her head.

“Of course, I am,” I told her. “Everything is finally in place. I am finally ready to enact my revenge on those people” I finished, my face curling into a scowl at the mention of my murderers. She nodded as I said this and went back to whatever it was, she was working on.

“I’ll be watching through Fenris,” she said, letting me know the conversation was over. I got up and went back to my room to finish packing and setting up for my plan.

After a while, I looked at my phone and realized it was time for me to leave so I can finally put my plan into motion. Grabbing everything I needed, I quickly headed for the door. Fenris flew onto my shoulder as I walked outside, resting there until he needed to find a better vantage point. Being half demon has some perks, one being that I can move very quickly so I can get to where I need to be in the blink of an eye. It’s time. I thought to myself, pulling out my phone and dialing the number that would set everything into motion. A sinister smile spreads across my face as the phone rings, I can’t help but to be a little giddy. It goes to voicemail, and I open my mouth to speak, letting out a malicious laugh at the end. Phase one is complete. Now all that’s left to do is wait for phase two to begin.

Amaya’s POV

Looks like phase two has just arrived. I thought, smiling to myself. They walked towards me, unaware that I was standing here. I waited in the shadows, watching them dig up the casket they put in the ground all those years ago. I saw their eyes widen, terror filling them as they opened the casket and found it empty. Now I thought, allowing an evil grin to cross my face. I need to do it now. I emerge from the shadows, stepping into a place that I know she will see me.

“Amaya” I heard her gasp when she saw me. She was so afraid. I laughed to myself at the sight and turned my head to face my father instead. He looked up when he heard her gasp and was now staring at me with a look of fear and confusion painting his features. I gave them both a sinister smile and watched as he fell to the ground.

“What’s wrong, daddy?” I cooed at him in an eerie tone. “Didn’t you miss me? I’ve been gone for fifteen years, and you don’t even look happy to see your baby girl again” I chuckled at him. My devilish smile on my face has grown, I can feel it there. This was so much fun.

“This isn’t real, this is just a nightmare that I’m trapped in. You’re dead. I know you’re dead,” he said, voice trembling with fear over every syllable.

“Aw daddy don’t be like that now. We can finally be a family again” I said to him, watching as he glances to mother, I followed his gaze and looked at her, too. She hadn’t said anything yet, just continued to stare at me as I stood there. I saw her tremble slightly and knew that this was it. This will drive her over the edge. She suddenly burst into maniacal laughter.

“There’s no way. There’s no way you’re alive” she said, her hands coming up to rub at her face. She had a sinister expression on her face, and I smiled, arching an eyebrow at her in a mocking way. “I KILLED YOU. YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD!” She yelled, having finally gone completely insane. I laughed maniacally.

“So, you finally reveal the truth, Mother?” I asked, laughing at her, mocking her. She glared at me as she reached for the shovel. Disappointment filled me at seeing this. So, it’s gonna be like that, huh Mother?

Gavyn’s POV

“Ha. Hahaha,” suddenly Liv bursts out in maniacal laughter, “there’s no way. There is no way you’re alive.” I stare at Liv, as she brings her hands up to scrub her face. A dark expression on her face. Liv begins climbing up and out of the grave, her small hands digging into the earth as she begins shouting at Amaya. “I KILLED YOU. YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD.”

Dead silence. Even the wind has stopped howling. My blood runs cold, my mind spinning to process what I just heard. What? What does that mean? Does she really mean she killed our daughter? No, no that’s not possible. She said our little girl was kidnapped. She said the police found Amaya’s body and told her what happened. This can’t be true! I thought, multiple things running through my head at the same time. I wasn’t sure what to do or say. I just sat there and continued to stare at my crazed wife watching her dig her nails into the dirt while her face switched back and forth between agony, misbelief and unbridled rage. I looked at Amaya and saw her glaring at Olivia, her gaze darkening with every moment.

“Is it true?” I whispered, finally finding my voice. I looked back to Liv, “you killed our daughter?” Her face shot up to look at me after hearing my question. I saw her face twist into different emotions, before settling on anger.

“OF COURSE, I DID, YOU IDIOT!” She screamed, rage showing on her face. I glared back at her as she continued. “We were about to lose the company! At first, I tried animals, all different kinds from goats to birds and cows. But nothing worked! I had to sacrifice her, or we wouldn’t have survived. I can’t lose everything just because you’re too incompetent to run a company the way your father would have!” I stared at her in shock. She killed our beautiful, perfect daughter to keep our riches? I looked at Amaya and saw her watching the scene unfold. She looked satisfied and almost gleeful about what was happening.

“But you said that she was kidnapped. The police found her body, how could you possibly have killed her?” I questioned, my voice quiet.

“Oh, come on! Are you really that stupid?” She asked, “they were in on it! The officers that wrote the report and ‘found’ the kidnappers were the ones who helped me kill her in the first place! All I had to do was make sure to send them some money once a month to keep them quiet. It was so easy to convince you and everyone else, I was almost surprised by how convinced everyone was by the story” she said, laughing slightly and looking at Amaya. “You were such a good kid, the perfect sacrificing material. It was so easy, too. You just followed me out to the woods without questioning me at all. What a good girl” she said, taking on a mocking voice. Amaya looked enraged at her mocking tone.

Amaya’s POV

I stayed silent for a while, allowing her to speak. I glanced around the graveyard, looking for where Fenris had decided to sit and watch. I found him sitting on the branches of a nearby tree. I looked back to Olivia and Gavyn, waiting for them to be done. Finally, she addressed me.

“You were such a good kid, the perfect sacrificing material. It was so easy, too. You just followed me out to the woods without questioning me at all. What a good girl” she said, her voice taking on a mocking tone. I looked at her in anger.

“How pathetic” I said to her, after smoothing my features and cocking my brow at her, I watched as her face fell. I guess she was hoping for more of a reaction. I smirked at her. She had revealed everything to her precious husband. Watching her trying to justify what she had done to her own daughter was annoyingly enraging. She was actually crazy, her personality bouncing from one extreme to the next. Like she truly believed in what she was saying. She had convinced herself that she hadn’t actually done it, that I was truly kidnapped by someone else and then when she was finally forced to face the truth, another flip. Amusingly pathetic.

I heard two more voices in the distance. So, they’re finally here too, I thought. I had found out the names of the men who helped her try to sacrifice me and made sure they would be here tonight. My revenge would be exacted on all of them tonight. “You sacrificed me to Mammon to keep your fortune. Well, you tried to. But that’s okay mommy, I forgive you” I told her, laughing mischievously. I saw her take a shaky breath.

“Y-you do?” She asked, her face slowly forming into a smile. “Oh honey, that’s so great. We really can be a family again! And we get to keep our fortune!” she exclaimed, seemingly proud of herself for everything that had happened. Disbelief covered Gavyn’s features, watching her flip personalities so often was even giving me a migraine.

“What are you talking about? You tried to kill her; we can’t be a family again!” Gavyn yelled at her, his face morphing into one of rage, the shock slowly leaving his body.

“I didn’t try to kill her; I did kill her! If I hadn’t, we wouldn’t still be rich!” my mother said, as if that was an excuse. “But it’s okay now because she’s back! All you have to do is shut your mouth and be happy.” Total and complete insanity could be the only way to describe Olivia Baylor.

“What is wrong with you?!” He yelled. I could hear the men getting closer. They would be coming into everyone’s view soon. I watched as a look of confusion crossed Gavyn’s features. “Wait. If you killed her, then…” he paused, then looked up at me “how-how are you still alive?”

“You’re about to find out” I smirked, looking towards the men as they finally entered the clearing. “Hello officers! Nice of you to finally join us” I smiled at them. They looked confused as to who I was, before palling slightly. Recognizing the young girl in me that they had aided my mother in getting rid of. My mother looked up as I greeted them, her face contorting into utter disbelief and then total fear. Oh? Has she finally figured out what’s about to happen? I thought to myself, laughing sinisterly. She looked back at me.

“H-honey. What are they doing here? Aren’t we going to be a family again?” she questioned. I began laughing hysterically, before noticing the police officers trying to run off. I used my demon perks to make them stop in their tracks and turn back around.

“Leaving so soon?” I asked. “Don’t go anywhere yet, the party is just getting started” I laughed, trapping everyone in place. This was going to be fun.

“Let’s begin,” I said to my new friends, who all stared at me in wide eyed horror. The shock and fear on their faces only grew evident, as I explained to them how Hela, the deity, brought me back from the dead, and made me into a half-demon. How she raised and trained me, for this moment. In her words, to put the fear of the Deity of Death in humans who dare harm others for personal gain. They would feel her wrath as well as mine tonight.

—-

Wayne Gerard Trotman once said, “Revenge can only be found on the road to self-destruction.” What a load of nonsense. Tonight, I’ve buried my demons. I begin to slowly saunter off back home, laughing, smiling, and signing as I go. My sweet guardian, Fenris, with his beautiful pale feathers that seem so bright in the moonlight, flies over me. Hooting our victory along the way. A small barn owl is the reason I am alive today. Had he not been there to witness my tragedy that wintry night, I would have been swallowed whole by the demon who wanted my soul. What a funny thought.

I looked around one last time before walking back the way I came. Fenris flew to my shoulder and perched there as I walked, content for the time being. I looked behind me slightly to see if my father was following me. He was. I had no reason to kill him, after all. Together, we walked through the forest. After a short walk, we made it to where I was supposed to be meeting Hela. She smiled as I walked up.

“Well?” She asked, raising an eyebrow “how did it go?” I stopped for a minute, thinking. Finally, I took a deep breath and opened my mouth to speak.