Twisted

~a love alone~

She sits alone, day by day, awaiting for her love to return to her. Never seen by daylight and gone for days on end. She spends her time alone, in the small cabin in the far ends of the woods. Away from the village, from them all.

"It's for our safety," the villagers all whisper as she would make her way into the village once a week for trade. "They say she is all alone, but for when she dances among the moonlight alone, does one show himself to dance alongside her." They all whisper that it's a devil that dances with her. Or even still yet, a monster. But she knows in her heart, he is no monster to her. Her beloved who comes when his business is done. Business with his family back at home, which he has always sworn to help. Keeping them all safe and sound. Always and forever. She willingly waits for his return home. A home they made together. Home where his heart lays. She waits, lying awake at nights; for him to return and guard her dreams. Such nightmares in her head that would make all of the village brand her as the devil they fear her beloved as. Oh how they would tremble to know such dreams that rolled around in her mind as she slept. But, she stays safe from them all out in the far edges of the village. Always from their prying eyes and their gossips. They never understood her. 'The blue caped lady' they branded her as, for her midnight blue cape that always trailed behind her as she swayed along the market, picking up fruits and other wares. And then flowing behind her as she made her visits to the orphanage at the opposite end of the village, the furthest point from her own home in comparison.

She would always greet them with a smile, even as they would whisper and gossip on how she smiled at them as she'd walk by. She would leave a small token from her and her beloved whenever he did make it home. Their contributions to helping to feed the children with no home of their own. The smaller ones would come running up to her as she silently entered on her weekly visits.

"Sarah! You’ve returned," small voices would whisper with opened arms, running to her, unafraid. She always had a gentle smile and kisses on their foreheads as they came running to greet her. They never gossiped about her. They truly loved her. They took the time to be with her rather than running. This, besides her beloved, was her little family.

She would bend down and hold them each. Whispering, "hello my little cherubs. How are we today?" as she would pull out an apple from the market from the pocket of her blue cape. They would take the apples with small delighted giggles, kiss her cheek, or hug her, then off they would run. To eat their treasures and play, or return to their studies. Whichever it may happen to be at that point of the day.

She would follow them and listen to their weekly stories of adventures made up only by them. These two in particular, who won over her heart? Their imagination just as wild as hers was at that age, sometimes an imagination still as such on some nights. She would stand along the walls, listening to their ramblings, smiling away at how lucky some woman will be someday to have these two darlings of hers. Sometimes her thoughts of late would begin to think about what if they were to have these two at home, with them, and make themselves a family. Her two cherubs, always smiling and giggling whenever she was around. They knew what to expect from her. And she knew how they would act on things. How they just got each other.

After the day with them, she would tuck them into their beds and tell them stories of his travels. Stories she would lay awake at night with him, listening as he would tell her, helping her to drift to sleep. Just as she was doing here, with her cherubs. Once asleep, she'd kiss their foreheads, and silently leave the room. Making sure to stop by Father David Canning’s office on the way out.

"Good evening, my lady," Father Canning said to her quietly.

She nods her head slightly and slips a scroll tied with ribbon from her pocket of her cape, handing it to him. “Blessed evening, Father. I brought gifts once again." she smiled softly. "I must be on my way swiftly tonight, as I feel something different in the air just now."

David nods back and says simply, "you can always stay in one of the spare rooms if you feel..." he trailed off before she pauses him.

"You know I'll have nothing of this chatter. You know I must be off," she smiles fondly and then heads for the door. But not without hearing him behind her.

"Safe travels, sister." he whispers on the air."

~through the woods~

As she closed the door behind her, she looks out ahead and down the main dirt road of the village. She breathes deep as she lifts up the hood to her midnight blue cape before she steps down from the front steps. Swiftly she walks, Faye like in her swiftness, through the village. There were always talks, rumors it seemed, of creatures; lurking in the shadows at this late hour, along the outer edges of the village. Almost as though they were watching from the shadows of the woods surrounding it.

She always tried to pay no mind to those gossiping rumors from them. She knew she never saw anything. At least, in all these years, she has never had any issues as long as she moved swiftly through and straight to their home.

When she was almost home, she hears a snap of a branch behind her. She catches her breath for a quick moment. She feels like she wants to pause where she stands, but knows she can't allow that to be. She quickens her already fast pace not sure what she heard. She didn't want to let the gossip from the old women to get to her now. She allows her eyes to carefully dart along ahead of her, scanning for any signs of possible danger.

Finally, she sees their small cottage ahead of her. She lets out a small sigh of relief and races to the door. As she places her hand on the handle to the front door, she hears a familiar voice behind her. "My sweetheart, why are you walking home so late?"

She turns quickly on her heel, dropping her parcels along with dropping from her hand her dagger; smiling into the face of her beloved. She looks in his eyes and wraps her arms around him, holding him close to her. "My beloved, you have returned home," She whispers into his ear as she holds him close.

He holds her close, closing his eyes, savoring their closeness. He breathes in the wonderful scent of his love. Kissing the softness of her hair as he slides her hood off, he wraps one arm gently around her waist. "Sweetheart, you dropped your parcels. Are you alright?" He asks her with concern in his voice.

She blushes as she can't believe she had allowed the old women of the village gossips to get the best of her. She quickly babbles, "Perfectly fine, my love. It is nothing to be concerned about at all. Right as rain," she gives a smile but he knows her much better than that.

He gives her a look and kisses her forehead before bending down to pick up what she had dropped. "You really must not listen to those old women in village, my charm. They will only cause you to worry more than you should," he says without looking at her, then opens the door for her and steps aside so she may enter first.

She blushes more, knowing she can never put anything past him. She places her hand along his cheek, looking deep in his eyes and smiles softly at him. "No secrets." she whispers to him as she leans in to lightly kiss his lips before she steps inside.

He bites his lip as she says this, watching her walk inside before he follows her, being sure to lock the latch behind them, locking the outside world away from them. He sets the packages on the table and vampire speeds to help her with her cloak. She unfastens the button on the neckline and starts to slip the cloak off of her shoulders just as he is right there behind her. He guides it out of her hands and hangs it quickly on its hook by the door.

She pulls back her hair from her face and smiles as she watches him fondly hanging up her cloak. "I do not usually pay them any mind, you know. I just," she pauses. "I just heard a twig snap behind me and was startled, is all." She tries to play it off as though she wasn't really scared moments ago at all. She begins to go through her packages with care, starting with the fruits and meats she came back with from market.

He takes them from her carefully and puts them away. "I never said you were scared, my charm. You just seemed startled earlier, is all?" He comes over to her, and wraps her waist in his arms gently, pulling her close to him.

She closes her eyes and rests her head against his chest as he pulls her close to him. She stays like this for some time before speaking what’s been on her mind lately. She whispers, "they get older, my heart. But no one adopts them..." She begins.

He just holds her close, listening to her words as she whispers in the dim candlelight of their cottage and caresses her long hair gently.

"It gets lonely here, when you are away on your business. Maybe, maybe..." she trails off and then shakes her head. "It is a silly thought, never have you minded I said anything." She scurries off to the kitchen to ready some dinner for them both, suddenly wishing she never said anything. She begins to busy herself with preparing some of the fruit to garnish the meat once she has it ready from the oven.

He walks over to her, and slides his hand into hers, locking their fingers together to get her to pause for a moment. He slowly slides his other hand under her chin, sliding a single finger along it, lifting her lips up towards him. She keeps her eyes closed as he lifts her chin up towards him. Slowly she opens them and looks deep in his eyes. He whispers to her, "What were you going to ask, my charm?" He gives a soft kiss to her lips.

Lost in his soft kiss to her lips, she whispers with one small breath, "Let them come home to us? I wish them to be here with us."

He delays another kiss on her lips before answering her. “I shall look into it, my sweet Sarah,” he whispers in their kiss.

She smiles in their kiss and whispers as she runs her hand along his arm, “thank you, my love. That is all I ask.”

He can’t help but kiss her smile again and hold her close, knowing that his decision earlier in the week was right on mark and will make her happy. He helps her in preparing their dinner and enjoy their evening together.

~ A visit to the swamps ~

The following morning, Sarah grabs her midnight blue cape and throws it on over her shoulders before heading out the door. She looks over her shoulder to be certain her beloved was asleep as she silently closes the door behind her. She lifts the hood up over her head as she walks away from their cottage.

"I must quickly do what I must before he wakens, so he doesn't worry so." She hurries off to the swamp and looks around to ensure she was not followed. She pauses as she hears a twig snap behind her. She holds her breath and slowly reaches for her dagger. She listens closely as she goes to turn to see who or what might be behind her. As she turns, she catches in the corner of her eye, a glimpse of a doe only feeding in the early morning hours. She slowly lets out her breath, scolding herself, "Don't be so paranoid! It is just your creatures that do you no harm. You're supposed to be their queen, act like it."

She turns back, shaking her head and hurries into the swamps. She carefully jumps through in her faye-like manner over the mossy rocks into the heart of the swamp. Her swamp. Once in the heart of the swamp, she freezes in place to listen. She had to ensure she was alone here before she began her task. Once she was sure, she set her basket down. She removes a few candles and rose quartz, arranging them in a circle around her. She stands centered to the circle, and places her hands, palms down, over the candles. Speaking a few words in an old tongue before the ages, the candles ignite to life and the quartz glow faintly. She calls her corners and all else into life, turning in a circle as she does.

Once setting herself into place, she speaks in the old tongue once again. She calls up her spell of protection for her household, her beloved, her sweet cherubs and herself. She even calls to protect the village. She gives pause once she was done, and then begins to close her circle once again. She gathers her quartz and candles back into her basket. Adjusting her cape, she lifts her basket up in her arm and turns to quickly head back. As she does, she is tripped by some creature she could not see at first. She hears laughter from the side. She turns quickly towards it as her eyes flash red in her anger and she allows her hood to fall back. She throws her hands into the direction of the laughter and throws her energy at it. The creature is knocked over and lets out a yell of disgust to her.

"Why are you here?" she demands.

"Fake!" the creature scoffs at her as it fades into view.

She shakes her head. "You're supposed to be one of the guards, are you not? What is going on?" she demands, highly annoyed now.

"You're a fake queen. You're not rightful queen. Gone. Supposed to be different order." They spit at her.

"Well, that is clearly not so. I am alive, and well. So unfortunately, you are stuck with the likes of me. Now be gone from here, before the others see you. And do not return!" she commands, her cape falling down, revealing her Faye wings.

They spit and scoff at her once more before fading away and taking off, leaving her alone in the silence of the swamp.

"Traitor!" she begins to bellow, her voice resonating along the swampy grounds. She pauses as it echoes back to her. "I am the rightful queen! I am your queen! And I am here to stay! If any of you disagree, then take it up with the blasted Fates and Gods! They're the ones who keep bringing me back!" she falls to her knees after she yells this, resting her head in her hands. 'Why is this always the way? Each life, she has to remember and be tortured so all over again with these threats. It was not her fault she keeps being brought back.' She sighs and rests her hands on her lap, looking over the swamp slowly. No one else was here. No one else had followed her. She quickly gathers her items back into her basket and hurries back home before her beloved realizes she was gone, or worse, they decided to pay him a visit while she was here.

"I've seen you at the orphanage. You play with those small human Things. Why do you play with those small human things? I wonder," a sly smile crosses their face as the voice fades the creature back into her view. "What would happen if something terrible happened to those small humans?"

She turned quickly to them. "Don't you dare" she growls at them. "You leave them alone, they're innocent in all of this." She steps closer to them ready to send an energy blast their way.

Before she could, they quickly disappear whispering, "oh what a pity if they died..." as they faded away, nothing but an evil chuckle echoing through the woods.

"No!!" she screams out to nothing it seems now. Dropping everything, Sarah panics and races off to the village to stop them from whatever devilish plan they have in store. She trips over tree roots along her way. Getting her hair caught in the branches, now covered in leaves. Her mind racing and projecting 'I must save the children. My little cherubs don't deserve this...' as she races along.

Meanwhile, as Sarah was sneaking out quietly, Elijah had been pretending to sleep, as he would sometime just savor listening to his beloved wife sleeping in his arms, only this particular morning, he was waiting for her to leave on her usual morning walks. He got up after listening to her close the door with his heightened senses and sprung into action. He quickly dressed and then in his vampire speed, made his way into the village. He stood before the church doors once more, lifting the knocker up and tapping it against the old wood door. He listened as he seemed to hold his breath in anticipated wait.

Finally, the sound of Father Canning coming down the short hallway and opening the door a jar to peek out. “Mr. Elijah! So early in the day?” Father Canning opened the door wide to allow Elijah inside, “I would have thought you would be here later on with your charming wife to gather up the children…”

Elijah followed Father Canning to his office, “As I mentioned before, Father. I wish to surprise her. My wife has gone for her morning walk, so I wish to have the children at home waiting for her upon her return.” He fiddled with his suit jacket and then looked up at the Father as they took their places at the desk.

After they went over the final paperwork, Elijah passed another check across the desk to Father Canning as he made his way to go get the children.

“Sir, this is too much!” He gasped at the amount and also for having already received a check earlier in the week from him.

“Nonsense. It is for all your hard work, Father.” Elijah lifted his hand to say he would not dream of taking such a gift back.

“You are most kind.” With that the Father hurries from the office and returns with Kyrell and Photine in each hand. “Here we are children. Your new father awaits you in here.” Beaming brightly at the surprise even to the children this will be.

Nervous faces turned to smiles as Photine recognized Elijah. “You mean miss Sarah is my mommy now, sir?” She whispers to Elijah.

Elijah turns towards the doorway and looks upon the young girl. Such bright eyes smiling back at him. They reminded him for a brief moment of his wife’s. “Yes, sweet Photine, it does mean just that.” He reaches out his hand to take her along with him.

Photine jumps into his arms instead to hug him. “Oh, thank you!!” she cried and then turned to her brother, “Come on, Rell! Let us go home.”

Kyrell only nods at Elijah who nodded back. He understood the lad may not have wanted to look all soft in front of anyone, but from his eyes, he could tell they rimmed with tears.

They made their way through the village quickly to wait for Sarah. Along the way, Elijah could faintly hear his wife yelling some where far off. So once he got the children to their cottage, he set them inside, “ I shall go fetch Miss Sarah so that we might surprise her together. Does that sound like a good idea?”

Photine giggled and nodded, hugging him once more. He locked them inside then sped off to follow the sounds of Sarah.

He found her standing in what was now remains of the orphanage. He looked puzzled as he had just left this very spot not just moments ago. “How can this be?” he breathed as a whisper before he noticed his wife, screaming. He sensed what might come next and sped over to stop her the only way he knew how. He had to get her home so she could see the children we in fact safe.

~The Orphanage~

Finally she makes it to the village and looks around frantically. All seems quiet, much too quiet to her liking. She hitches up her skirts now and races through the village to the orphanage, praying silently as she runs. She stops abruptly when she only sees the remains of the building that housed the orphanage. A fire had swiftly burnt it down.

“No…” she whispers, as she places her hands to cover the sides of her face. She runs again to what remains of the building and searches for the children. Her little babes were innocent in all of this. They didn’t deserve this. Not this ending. They deserved to be loved, and happy. She catches a glimpse of a small bunny Photine liked to carry around with her. She drops to her knees and lifts it gently up. She closes her eyes as she places it against her chest, trying to fight back her tears. She hugs the bunny as though it was the child in her own arms.

She opens her eyes slowly after a few moments of this and scans some more. They stop on a child’s cap. She crawls over to it and picks it up, dusting it off as she does. She looks on the inside where she had embroidered a name, ‘Kyrell’ was faded from wear. She can’t contain her grief any longer. “No! Why? Why them? They were innocent in all of this! All I did was love them!” she screams out and shot off energy from her pain and grief and anger combined out from her body, smashing against the side of a tree. The tears flowed finally from her eyes uncontrollably.

Sarah begins to boil in her anger and grief as she slowly stands up, clutching onto the children’s belongings she found among the ashes. All Sarah started to see was red. She stares before her looking for this creature that caused this misery. She screams out again, “show yourself, now!” she commands. She hears laughter from a familiar voice from the swamps and brings her hand in against her, building up energy in her rage. “You will pay for this, I promise you that!” in a whispered snarl. Just as she was about to throw her hand out towards the voice, strong arms wrap around her swiftly and gently, pulling her in.

“It’s alright, sweetheart.” A calm voice speaks in her ear. “There is something you must see.” the feeling of a familiar kiss pressing against her forehead.

She wants desperately to protest. She wants so badly to rip herself out of these arms that held her close and lash out at the vile creature that did this horrific act just to get back at her, but instead, she just crumbles in the arms of her beloved. “They’re gone,” she starts to sob. “That creature did it to them because of me. It’s all my fault…”

"Come," Without another word, Elijah speeds them home with his vampire swiftness, keeping her tight in his arms. Once they are at the foot of their door, he whispers, “No, sweetheart, they’re home…” He lifts her chin up towards his face and kisses her lips softly before opening the door.

Confused, she looks at him, “What do you mean, my darling?”

He just nods inside with a small, knowing smile to his lips, giving the lower lip a slight bite as he speaks, “I may have gone in to the village once you headed off for your morning walk…” He started to say before he was interpreted by two small voices.

“Sarah!” the voices came running from within as the door opens.

She captures her cherubs in her arms as they run to her. Relieved tears flow from her eyes as she holds them both tightly, “You’re safe. Oh, my little cherubs, you’re safe.” She cups Photine’s face in her hands and kisses her forehead, whispering, “You’re alive…” Then, she hugs Kyrell tightly, “oh, thank the goddess…” she rubs their heads as she keeps them tightly to her.

“It was Mr. Elijah that brought us here. He says we can live here now,” Photine whispers in Sarah’s ear.

Sarah looks back at her beloved husband. She stands back up, and without a word, places her hand along his cheek before softly kissing his lips. She wraps her arms around him and whispers, “Thank you, my love. You saved them without even realizing it. Thank you…” as a silent tear escapes her eye.

Elijah caresses her waist, whispering back, “I wanted to surprise you, my love.”

“I am very much surprised, and it is a happy surprise, too. Now they will always be safe.” She whispers back with a small smile. She rests her forehead on his and closes her eyes, savoring this moment.

~A Blessed Morning~

She wakes up early the following morning and draws a warm bath before she starts the day. She reaches over and turns on the faucet before she grabs up some towels to set upon the side table. She slips off her bathrobe, allowing it to fall to the floor softly before she sinks slowly into the warm, steamy water. Turning the running water off, she leans her head back along the edge of the porcelain footed tub.

After some time, she pulls the chain to drain the tub and climbs out. She wraps the towel around her body snugly before she picks up her bathrobe. She dries off her body and then slips her robe on her bare body before heading to their bedroom to change.

Reaching their bedroom, she sits first at her vanity and picks up her hair brush to brush out her hair. She hums softly to herself as she does.

Once done brushing her hair, she goes over and turns on the music player before heading to their closet to pick out an outfit for the day. She begins singing along to the music that starts to flow from the player. She sways along with it as she slowly slides the clothes along the hangers to make her decision.

When one of her favorite songs comes on, she begins to twirl around the room, at this point in her undergarments and her lace bathrobe. She sings along as she dances to the music coming from the player. Floating along the room on her toes as she goes along. She closes her eyes as she begins to twirl around the room, singing along happily.

She hears a soft sound behind her. Smiling to the recognized sound of her beloved, she slips her arm slowly around his neck, pulling him close to her as she twirls more around the room.

Elijah whispers, "What has my beautiful faye in such a good mood this morning?" As he slides his arm around her waist to keep her close as they twirl around the room. He keeps with her pace as she opens her eyes to the feel of his gentle caress around her.

She smiles back at him, looking deep in his eyes and whispers back, "I have all that I have ever dreamed of. Right here with me." She plays her nose on his as they slowly dance now around their room, the lace bathrobe swishing softly about her as they move.

"I am glad to see you so happy, my sweetheart." He whispers again, returning a nuzzle to her nose.

She lets out a soft giggle as they nuzzle their noses together, dancing now to their own little song since the player has since stopped playing. Nothing else mattered when they were together. It was almost as though the world disappeared around them when they had each other. He was the key to her happiness. And she wouldn't change anything about it.

"Yes, my darling. I have all I would ever want now. I am beyond happy." She kisses his lips lightly and slides her hand along his arm as they dance.

He slides his hand into hers, and twirls her outward from him for a brief moment, before pulling her back in, keeping her pressed close to him once she was in his arms again. She lets out a happy little giggle as she is twirled back into his arms, tilting her head up to meet his lips once again. They delay their kiss before he smirks and dips her low. She giggles even more, closing her eyes as she is tilted back, her hair hanging down below her.

He pulls her slowly back up as she giggles, loving how her giggles seem like a song all of their own. He brings her up close, capturing her delicious lips in a soft, deep kiss. They pause in their dance, savoring their moment of bliss.

As they end their kiss, they rest their foreheads against each other, smiling back to the other. Their silence is broken by a soft voice from the door.

"Excuse me, please?" The voice of Kyrell floats into the room.

They turn their heads, a smile crossing Sarah's face more. A small giggle coming from Photine, hiding behind him. 

~Happy Little Giggles~

Sarah gives a small smirk as she hears the giggle. How much she was loving this sound in their home. She slides her hand along her husband's arm and gives him a small look. Elijah smiles back at her and gives a nod.

She scoots down to the level of the children closing her robe tightly and smiling brightly, "what is it, my dear little cherubs?" She whispers to them.

"We were wondering," Kyrell pauses.

She looks happily at him as Photine giggles again behind him softly whispering, "They were kissing, Rell."

Kyrell nudges her sharply, "hush Photine."

Sarah cannot help but giggle too as she looks back at Kryell. "Yes, my dear cherub? What is it?"

He looks at her embarrassed and mumbles quickly, " we were wondering on, breakfast?"

Behind her, Elijah gives a slight smirk as he watches them together. His wife was right, it did feel good to have them here. He was glad he did what he did. Their smiles were worth everything in the world.

Sarah smiles and jumps up quickly, turning to glance at Elijah, winking at him before turning back to the little ones. "Why of course! We haven't had that yet, have we? I think..." she presses her finger to her chin playfully as she continues, “I need some water from the well. Do you think you can fetch a pail for me while I get started on it for you two?"

Kyrell beams brightly and takes off, "yes, mother!" A happy smile on his face as he takes off down the stairs to the door.

"Wait for me, Rell!" Photine races after her older brother as best she can.

Sarah gives a small laugh as she leans against the door to watch them, feeling Elijah's arms slowly wrapping around her as she does. Letting out a small sigh, she whispers, "thank you for this, my heart." She turns her head to softly kiss his lips.

"Your smile is my reward, my charm." He whispers as he returns her kiss, keeping his arms wrapped around her delicate waist.

Smiling, she slides around, molding into place in his arms, pulling him close. "You are always my smile," she whispers in their kiss.

"Should we go start on their breakfast, my sweetheart?" He whispers in her ear.

A song like giggle escapes her lips, "yes, we best go downstairs and start on that, my darling." She kisses him once more before she slides her hand into his and pulling him along with her down the hall to their kitchen.

He followed his wife closely and they worked together to prepare a wonderful little breakfast for all four of them. The giggles and soft chatter from the children happily filling the walls of their cottage sounded like a new song in his ears. Elijah was happy on his decision to bring these two home for his wife, for himself as well. He didn’t realize until now, with these wonderful tiny moments, just how much it was missing from their life.

He paused a moment as he watched the children and his wife sit at their small dining table to begin breakfast. Their children, now. He let a smile escape his mouth at this thought. He then went to join his now growing family, kissing Sarah lightly upon her temple as he pulled her chair out for her to sit.

~Earlier in the week~

Just days before Sarah had even thought to ask her request to Elijah, he had paid a visit to the orphanage. Having waited off to the side woods near the old church for his beloved wife to finally leave it after her visit, he silently went to the door, cloaked in the shadows as he so preferred.

He knocked at the door, the heavy brass knocker making a loud echo throughout the building as he tapped it against the door. Silence until he could faintly hear with his heighten senses the shuffle of feet and the door slowly jarring open.

“May I help you?” a soft man voice questioned on the other side.

“I wish to speak to Father Canning, if he was around?” Elijah returned in his business sounding voice.

They opened the door wider and stood tall, “I am he, what may I-” Father Canning paused and smiled. “Why Mr. Elijah, a wonderful surprise to see you. I am afraid you just missed you charming wife just now…” He peeked behind him to see if maybe Sarah had come back with him then gave a slight frown of disappointment.

Elijah nodded and tried to hide his smile, “I know, I was waiting on her leaving so that I might discuss something of importance in private with you. May I?” He motioned to be allowed to step inside so that they might discuss in a more private place.

Suddenly realizing, Father Canning shook his head, “Why, of course! Where have my manners gotten to? Please, do come in…” He stepped aside to allow Elijah entry into the church.

“Thank you, Father.” Elijah returned as he fiddled with his suit jacket button a moment.

Father Canning lead him down the short hall to his office that they might speak there, “May I offer you a drink?” As he made to sit in the chair behind an old wooden desk. Nothing too fancy as the church itself was tiny. The village only able to afford so much in donations.

“No, thank you,” Elijah rejected the offer although a drink might be a nice idea when he got home finally. He played his fingers along a couple of random items along the bookcase as he walked around the room, continuing on,” I wish to speak upon the two children my wife comes to see on her visits here…”

Father Canning made to interrupt, “I assure you they are most well-”

Elijah held up his hand to pause the Father, “ I seek to inquire adopting them. You see, Father…. My wife seems to have grown quite fond of them. I also feel the children… Kyrell and Phontne, are they? I feel they have grown fond of her as well. You see, I wish they shall not be so apart as they are now.” He placed the glass he had been rolling about in his fingers and looked at the Father, now making his point clear. “I want to surprise Sarah by adopting them for us and bringing them home without her knowing. As quickly as we might make happen.”

Dumbfounded at first, Father Canning stared at Elijah until his words registered, “of course! Why I shall get on that straight away. Oh the children will be so happy to hear this!”

Elijah placed his fingers to his lips. “not a word until the very last moment. When I might come and bring them home for good. We must not ruin the surprise now.”

Father Canning nods, “Of course. Not a word.”

Elijah was glad the Father was so easy to convince on such matters, but to be certain, Elijah stepped closer to the Father to compel him to this secret. “no one is to know until after I sign the papers and take the children home. Especially Sarah.”

“No one is to know…”Father Canning repeated.

“Good.” Elijah fiddled with the button of his suit jacket once more and made his way out the door, but not before leaving a check of a large sum to him,” another donation, Father, good night.” Then out the door he went.

~sweet little plotted revenge~

The next morning, Sarah had grabbed her things and quickly set off to the swamps to call upon her ravens. She wanted to be certain what happened at the orphanage was never repeated. She was more than furious about that attack. Coming for her was one thing, but to attack defenseless children was not going to be tolerated. She set her bag down carelessly in her building focus and anger.

"DOGS!" She bellowed out into the depths of the swamp. Her voice echoed back at her in a faint reply.

She stood in silence, waiting for them to arrive before her.

Soon, the midnight black birds cawed and flapped around her as though they were encircling a possible food area. She lifted her arms above her in greeting. Then, rested a palm out to welcome one to her arm. He landed gracefully to her arm, climbing up to nuzzle into her tresses as his own greeting.

"There is much work, boys" she whispered as she stroke his feathers and beak, making him purr in his raven way. She sent a vision of the orphanage burnt to the ground and then one of the children now safe in their care.

"These two are protected by me. No one shall touch them but us. Anyone else who dares harm them must pay by death," her eyes flash red as her anger wells up quickly at her memory of the fear of losing them both.

The raven flew up quickly, cawing loudly as he went. They all encircled around her, cawing in their obedient reply to their queen.

"Yes, send word that I shall be after her, myself." Her eyes flashed again as she stood in the middle of the swirling birds, lifting her arms up at her sides. Her palms outward to absorb the energy coming from them swirling around her like a micro burst suddenly exploding.

In a blink, she was gone and the birds were, too.

~the traitor found~

She appeared on a remote part of the island of realms, opposite from where the faye castle stood and looked around her. This was the most remote and destructive area known on the island. She held her breath as she stood silently listening. The ravens perked in branches of the nearby trees.

"I wonder where too..." she barely allowed her voice to escape her lips as she scanned with her eyes the scarce woods before her, all barren and old. A light amount of pressure placed on them could snap them clean off if she chose.

She carefully stepped forward to see closer through the trunks and finally found a worn path made in the dried dirt. It seemed like a desert in this land, the ground cracked and dried beneath her feet, waiting to suck up any form of liquid that may drop to it to feed upon.

One raven flew ahead of her to guide her along the path as she made sure to barely touch branches from her face as she went along. She dared to not make a sound along her way.

Finally, after what seemed like hours of this tedious process through the barren woods, she came to a clearing on the other side. Before her now stood a cottage, run down and falling apart in the middle of a field surrounded by dried up and dead carcasses of flowers and tall grass.

"When they say the dead place, they weren't kidding," she whispers to herself as she makes her way towards the cottage. She could sense the traitor from the other day within its walls and she did not plan to wait any longer. Grabbing up a corner of her skirt, she raced across and slammed the door open in a rush. She flew in, landing in the middle of the kitchen table, eyes glowing red in her fury as she remembered how they attacked.

Cowering from under the table, "what are you do-doing here?" The now tiny voice demanded.

"I think you know all. Too. Well why I am here..." she jumped from the table and squatted to the floor, reaching for the voice under the table and yanking them out to face her.

They covered their face in terror as she stood them to their feet. "Please..."

A snarl escaping her lips, "never. This thing you did is punishable..."

She paused and lifted them off the ground, eyeing them playfully like a cat with a mouse it had just caught.

"I - I was made to do it!" They pleaded with her.

"Why should I spare you. Your words said it all the other day in the swamps. You are not one for us. You belong elsewhere. So you can be gone from here." She whispered to the traitor guard as she twirled him in her hand. Suddenly, she threw them across the room, slamming them into a chair and flying over them. She shoved her foot onto their chest and loomed over them. "This shall be quick." She smirks as she eyes them, red pulsing through her now.

They gasped as they stared into her eyes, frozen in place. It was as though they became mesmerized by their glow. Energy escaped from her as they ceased to be all in one final act. She stood over them, lost in herself at the scene before the caw of the ravens outside snapped her back.

She shook her head, smoothed out her skirts and swiftly moved towards the door, her skirts swishing silently around her.

Without a glance back, she closed the door behind her and vanished from sight, returning to the very place in the swamps she had just left hours before.

She gathered her things and scurried back to their cottage as though nothing ever happened, humming softly to herself as she did.

~setting a romantic dinner~

she sets their dining table and heads to their kitchen to gather up the food prepared earlier in the day. She checks on the food in the warmer. The smell of chicken parmesan paired with honey glazed baby carrots with garlic and butter green beans floated from the oven. She smiles to herself as she fixes a garden salad while it continued to cook. Once she sets that in the refrigerator to stay chilled.

While their newly adopted cherubs were playing happily in the living room, she heads off to their bathroom to take a bath while she waits for her beloved to return home. She turns the faucet on, then turns to set some towels on the side table. She slowly slips off her clothing from the day, stepping from the fallen clothes now at her toes. she heads over to slip into the warm water surrounded by bubbles. Resting her head on the edge of the tub as she indulges in it, sighing softly to herself as she closes her eyes. After some moments of her lost indulgence, she never hears the door silently open as her beloved husband had returned home. He steps in his vampire ways, silently across the room to her in the tub and bends down to barely touch her lips with his.

With a smile crossing her lips as she feels his on hers, she slowly opens her eyes to look up at him. "Welcome home, my love..." she whispers after their kiss.

"It is good to be home, my sweetheart. Is that your wonderful chicken parmesan that I smell coming from the oven?" As he picked up a small wash cloth to gently wash his beloved wife with.

Smiling at his guess, she nods. " I know how much you love that dish so, my love. I thought as a special dinner tonight to celebrate?" She leaned forward so that he may help her with her back.

"Celebrate what, sweetheart?" As he leaned forward to barely graze his lips along the wet skin of her neck.

She sighed softly, closing her eyes as he grazed along her skin and whispered back, "of our growing family..."

A smile crossing his lips that she could feel as he kissed her skin a little longer, he washed her back slowly and gently as he leaned back and spoke softly, "I am glad you are happy, my love."

Turning kiss his lips softly, "very happy, darling. You make me the happiest in all the realms..." she wrapped her arms around him as they continued their kiss. He lifted her easily from the tub and wrapped her in a towel to help her dry off.

"Dinner should be cooked shortly. take your time, sweetheart, I shall tend to the rest of the preparations for it for you." He delayed one more kiss before heading from the bathroom in his vampire swiftness to be certain their food did not burn.

She giggled as he had lifted her from the tub and indulged in their delayed kiss. "You are too good to me, my darling..." she whispered as he left the room, knowing he had heard her words. She finished getting ready while he had their cherubs help him finish getting their dinner ready.

He enjoyed the sound of their little chatter and giggles in the kitchen with him. He was glad in his decision on bringing them home to be with them. They were their children now. He will stop at nothing to keep them all safe. As long as his own family didn't know where he was, they would all be safe.

She slowly made her way down the stairs to join them in their dining room, once she was done. The sounds of them all in the kitchen enjoying themselves made her smile all the more.

"It all looks beautiful," she said as she kissed the children on their heads before having them sit down and then kissing her beloved Elijah on the lips as he pulled a chair out for her. "Thank you, my darling..." she whispered in his ear as she sat down for them to enjoy their quiet evening together now as a family.