Curse of the Knight's

"The Bringer of Light"

I guess I should start from the beginning. Yes, that seems like an excellent place to start. I was born in Italy around the year 1748, the month and day I'm not entirely sure of. My parents were young, in a usual arranged marriage. As for love, there was no such thing in that time. Two fairly poor families were united to make ends meet. My father was a priest, my mother was a simple housewife who raised myself and six other children. I was the second oldest out of them all, my brother Maverick was the oldest. An elder to me by two years. We all lived in a small church in a fairly cozy village. We didn't set foot in the main room where the other villagers came to pray, we had a small dainty room where we ate, slept, and were home schooled. Our education wasn't that important, my father expected all his sons to become priests, and his daughters to be married off. It wasn't a bad life, however we didn't have other lives to compare it to.

I grew up to a life of hardship. Everyday consisted of work and "school" work. My mother was a reader, no matter how much my father disapproved of a woman who knew how to read and write, she taught us everything she knew. Mother would read when she wasn't busy cleaning or cooking, and not that nonsense fiction books. The books she read where you actually learned something, she then forward the information to us. We were all very serious when it came to learning, mostly my youngest sibling, Valerie. Val adored learning, and once she could read, she reread whatever ever Mother read to us. Val was a writer too, and whenever we had breaks, Valerie would entertain us with stories and poems. My other siblings were highly envious of her talent, as for me. I just simply adored her from the rest. Where ever she went, I went. I made sure she was safe and out of harms reach. I was the first to read all her stories, and inspired her poems. We ate together, we worked together, and we slept together(along with the rest of the family).

Maverick was the oldest, but he wasn't the apple of our father's eye. Aaron, who was less than a year younger then me, indeed was. He was the biggest out of the group while Maverick was tall and lanky, Aaron was bulky and sturdy. Although he was three years younger then Maverick, he grew into a man before either Maverick or I. He did the most labor, and Father always had him around. They chopped wood together, went hunting together, bought food home together. It was clear who father favored, but that was fine by me. Mother loved us all dearly, and treated each and every one of us with the equal love and equal respect.

The second to youngest were actually three of my siblings. That's right, my poor mother gave birth to triplets. Charlotte, Clare, and Kesler. The three were inseparable, and downright destructive. My father wasn't too fond of the girls, they might as well have been boys the way they roughhoused, mud wrestled, spat, and talked nasty to the other boys. They were an embarrassment to my father, and I think the girls knew. Kesler accepted them and didn't find it impolite, in fact he joined them. They were his fellow triplets, and they stuck together no matter what Father grumbled under his breath. Mother didn't know how to handle them, so Aaron was the one who disciplined them. My family was large and very colorful. Valerie was sweet and kind, who did her work with out compliant. The triplets were destructive and energetic. Aaron was stubborn and rough. Maverick was wise and patient. Who was I in this family? I was Lucifer Knight. The protector.

I wasn't sheltered as most would think, but I made sure Valerie was. My entire childhood I was nicknamed Guardian Angel and kept a watchful eye over her. When our chores and school work were done we'd all join in games at the center village with the other kids. Aaron, as you can imagine, was very popular and was the ring leader. Maverick normally stayed home to help Mother with cleaning and what not. While I was on my guard ready to shove any snot nose brat off of baby Val that dare tried to hurt her. Each day was a battle of dominance with my younger brother, who usually won, with the other boys. I never dared intervened. I was never interested in authority, however one time I was challenged by Thomas Shawn who was a year older then me. He taunted me for refusing to interact with the other boys while I sat by my sister's side. He called me her mutt, a coward, and other nasty names I do not remember. Aaron and I shared the same temper, however, no one really ever bugged me so my temper never arose. I wasn't as big as Aaron, but I was bigger than Maverick and bigger than the other boys. I'll never forget Thomas that day. He walked up to me, pale, freckle faced smudged with dirt. Round green eyes bright with fierce determination. Short blonde hair; caked with mud and twigs from wrestling earlier. I was reading one of Val's story, who was sitting next to me and leaning on me. Wide brown eyes switching from me to the paper for my reaction when Thomas stormed up. He kicked dirt on me and started spitting out insults. Valerie jumped up first, hands fisted and shoved him, before bursting into tears and running home. I just felt anger. I lost control and tackled him. I easily pinned him, and clueless how to fight I raised my fists and swung them down on his chest. Aaron laughed at me later explaining how you tuck in your thumb and aim for the face. Well, my ignorance was no problem for my fury left Thomas winded. Aaron and Maverick had to pry me off and even then I was swinging at the air. By this time the group of children were all huddled close in a circle, awe stricken. Thomas yelled at me while I was pinned by my brothers, explaining how I fought unfairly and a whole bunch of different bullshit. However, the village boys never bothered me again, except for Thomas.

During the winter of my thirteenth year I was working with Mother and Valerie, who was seven, cleaning the floors in the entire church. Blisters were forming on my heels, but I kept quiet. More continued to appear on my feet until Valerie saw them and squealed in terror. As of I care for her, she's equally protective. She sat me down, burst into sobs and fetched Mother who just soaked my feet in very warm water and continued to clean. The Triplets were gone, fetching water and watering our small garden. Maverick and Aaron were with Father hunting. By evening neither the Triplets nor my brothers were home. Mother was getting worried.

"Valerie, go fetch your siblings.". I wouldn't allow it, I stood quickly, and a blister on my heel popped. I howled in pain before I fell back in my chair, but Val promised me her safety and left so quickly I couldn't even blink. I was angered, and worried. I couldn't sit still and became moody. I snapped at Mother more than once, and she would glare at me and whack me over the head. I didn't care, I was sick with worry, and my fidgeting began to annoy her. "Lucifer, If you don't sit still. I will feed you to the wolves, you got that?". Of course I didn't answer. I just sat there patiently, until night approached and Father returned.

He came forth with a dead doe. Aaron and him carrying each side where Maverick came in carrying the bloody weapons. Mother's face twisted in grief.

"Maverick, I just cleaned the floor. Outside!" His head bowed and he turned around. Father set the doe on the table, pass Mother's grumbling and put his arm around Aaron's shoulders.

"Today my Son brought down this doe!" he exclaimed. Tan, withered face producing a wide grin, dark brown eyes twinkling. Mother smiled and congratulated him before turning to me.

"Today our son helped his dear mother clean the floors." She praised gently. I sunk in my chair. To Father, that was nothing worth praising of. Father awarded me a glance and said nothing. I knew what he thought. What type of son did woman's work? Before I could sink in my anger, I sat up straight.

"Aaron! Go fetch the Triplets and Valerie!" I ordered, I was his elder. He should respect me. However, age didn't matter in this house. Strength did. He scuffed and didn't even offer me a second glance.

"Do it yourself." he muttered. I raised my feet from the bucket of hot water, to show my feet dappled with blisters. He just stared at me, face blank with emotion. I turned to Mother who's face was lost in space.

"Aaron, do as your brother says. They've been gone since sunset." Aaron turned toward Father for approval, Father nodded his head and like a obedient puppy, Aaron whipped around and set off. Nearly trampling over Maverick in the process. Maverick stood in the doorway after nearly being shoved aside, blue eyes curious as he turned to me for answers. I stubbornly looked away. I didn't want to speak the truth, the truth made me fidget more. Father barked orders to Maverick to start skinning the doe outside when we were interrupted by loud foot falls. Valerie came storming in, her feet were cut up and speckled with dirt. Her round eyes were pink and puffy. Her face was smudged with dirt, trails of salty tears running down her plump cheeks. She ran to me, flinging her arms around my neck, sobbing so loudly I couldn't even hear Mother's cries of worry, or Father's demands. I held her close and shut my eyes. Val was safe, my baby sister was safe. I was mixed on my feelings, happy she was safe in my arms, but upset she was in such a state.

"K-K-Kesler!" she wailed. I pulled back enough to stare at her. Her small arms were wrapped around my neck and she latched on tighter as I leaned back. I rubbed her back comforting. I glanced up to see Maverick frozen. Mother pale, and looking faint, while Father looked still and emotionless. No one talked, only listening to Val's sobbing for five more heart beats. I opened my mouth to speak, my voice cracked.

"Where is Kesler?" I asked as calmly as I could. Her face was hidden on my chest. Tears and snot soaking through my shirt. I had to pull her back, she cried louder. Fingers grabbing at my shirt trying to pull herself back to the safety of my chest. Father lost it and slammed both his palms against the table top, making us all jump. I clutched her close to me.

"DAMN IT, VALERIE! WHERE IS HE!" He demanded. Father never connected with Kesler as he did with Aaron. But Kesler was no failure like the Girls, Maverick, and I. I wanted to hide my face into Val's shoulder and cry with her. But I summoned my courage and glared at him instead. My arms were draped protectively around my sister. Ready to pop every last blister on my foot and run out the door to carry her to safety.

"H-He's not moving."

A group of kids were playing a game, which you would call hide-n-seek now days, Clare, Charlotte, and Kesler went into the forest to hide. He went to far in, fell down a steep slope, and hit his head. Kesler laid unconscious for hours until he bled to death. He had a broken leg, and a stick had lodged itself deep into his leg which caused his death. When the Girls couldn't find him, after a bit of looking they figured he was just playing around and expected he'd come running back when he got bored of hiding. The Girls didn't come home until later, when the house was empty except me. I wasn't allowed to go fetch my brothers body because of my feet. I stayed in the dark church, alone. Sobbing quietly as I hugged my knees to my chest, rocking back and forth as I muttered prayers to God, begging him for once in my life for Valerie to be wrong. I never felt so alone in my life, even when the Girls were there, poking at me and demanding to know what was wrong. I couldn't tell them, I couldn't.

They figured I was insane and waited until every one got home. I heard Mother wailing, Maverick sniffling, and Aaron and Father shuffling around the room. The Girls entered the room, and I'm sure Mother was clutching to her dead son because the noise the girls made nearly broke my heart. They made no noise at all. Past my blisters I shuffled into the room, Valerie couldn't cry anymore so she hurried towards me, wrapped her arms around my waist and hid her face into my clothing. Father and Aaron were standing there, head bows, faces blank. Maverick stood at the door way, silent tears streaming down his narrow face. Mother was curled up on the floor, hugging a very pale Kesler to her. His limps were still, and stuck out awkwardly. The Girls were just watching Mother, they didn't look emotionless. I can't describe how they looked. They looked as if they saw monsters. Horrified, yet still disbelieving.

That night Aaron and Maverick dug a grave, and we buried him in our backyard. The Girls stood exactly where they stood when they saw Kelser dead, smack dead in the center of the church. I was sitting down, my feet back in the bucket with Valerie curled up on my chest sleeping, Mother in the door way. Biting her knuckles as she watched Kesler's body. Cascades of endless tears streaming down her cheeks.

We never called them the Triplets again. It didn't seem right with Kesler gone.

The year of my fifteenth birthday I became a man in Father's eyes. I hadn't changed personality wise. I was quiet, even more with Robert gone. I was more protective of Val, but she didn't fuss about it. We were all a bit quieter, except Father, Aaron, and Maverick. My temper had died away, and I mostly just took care of Valerie while Mother was always catching some sort of cold and had to sleep. The house was usually dirty, but I did my share with cleaning. We never bickered, the Girls were broken in a way. They dressed like ladies, acted like ladies, and all around were practically mute. Father was pleased, however, I knew better. I was never a twin, never a triplet. I never understood that sort of bond. I tried to relate by thinking I would know exactly how they felt if I lost Valerie. I knew somehow, it was still different.

I was miserable that year, because not only did I win my father's affection in a way I didn't enjoy, but the fact I hit adolescence. I was clumsy, and dropped everything that was giving to me, my feet grew disproportionate and I tripped over them too. Each day I was harassed by Aaron who had hit manhood long before I. Maverick who had gone through manhood was sympathetic and kept his comments to himself. The girls weren't vicious, but when they felt lousy I offered to cheer them up my purposely cracking my voice more then necessary. Valerie was growing up into a beautiful swan, already my father was purposing marriage. How could he marry his sweet daughter to some old man? It sickened me, I didn't understand how accepting Val was of the conversation! She hadn't crossed over to womanhood yet, but once she was able to bear children. She would be married off. Every night I'd toss and turn, fearful that if I fall asleep, she'd be shipped off to some suitor and I would never see her again. I explained my paranoia to Mother. She just stroked my brown hair and chuckled softly, explaining how that would never happen. I was right to never believe her.

I suppose you could say I was a ball of emotions. I nearly attacked every one with insults, but kept down my anger at Val. Though, she did frustrate me with her patience and wise quietness when the subject of her marriage was brought up. However that was briefly forgotten. The day I won my father's love was the day I took life.

It was summer time, and the heat had irritated me to the point of frustrated tears. My hands were cut and bleeding from the labor of farming. You see, our small garden stretched in a bigger one. In fact it was almost a field now. I rank of manure as I supplied all the field with it. I was sweaty, and down right dirty. Not to mention, Valerie was done with her chores and was in the village with the Girls, probably playing a silly game. I of course thought of the worse. What if they got a hold of poison? What if they dared Val to go into the forest? What if the boys were beating her! I completely over reacted, half fasted the job, and ran down to the village. The villagers were appalled by my appearance, let alone my stench. I searched franticly until I found them. The Girls were receiving attention from boys my age, while Val was standing a few yards away. Biting her thumb nail as her head was tilted upward, brown eyes watching the clouds. I raced towards her, getting caught up in traffic of other kids, adults, and horses and wagons. I was close enough to see her, but the busy village was in uproar of afternoon visits for her to hear me call her name. I noticed the exotic animals that were up for sail along the streets, vender's chanting sales and what not. They didn't stink nearly as bad as I did.

It was then I saw Thomas Shawn approach my sweet sister. He struck manhood the same time as I. He was almost taller then me, but I could beat him up anyway. His hands were hidden behind his back before revealed one hand and he tapped her shoulder. I watched his lips move, but was too far to hear his voice over the shrills of children's laughter. Val looked down from her cloud gazing and blinked as he pulled out a yellow daisy from behind his back. He had on a sheepish, "innocent" smile as he extended the healthy gift. She gently took the flower, brought it to her nose and smelt it before she stifled a grin and her cheeks lit up in a bright blush. I. Was. Going. To. End. Thomas.

I completely lost it, I grabbed a sturdy branch and shoved aside the crowd. I had gone insane, I couldn't even think. I was lusting for his agony, for his cries. How dare he even look at my sister? All along he harassed and mocked me, when it was just him who longed for the attention she gave me! I don't know what possessed me, but I certainly wasn't thinking straight. My knuckles were white as I gripped the branch tightly. My teeth were gritted, and I squinted my eyes. I raised the branch aiming to swing when a woman's shriek rattled me to my sane conscious. I glanced around. My heart leapt into my chest as the crowd nearly tackled me. Being shoved from the left and the right. The crowd bustled past me in a hurry. "A wolf! It's loose!" she screamed. Every fiber in my body told me to run.

Valerie!

I turned around. Shoving past the current of people as I worked myself upstream. Still searching desperately for her and her bright colored dress.

There she was, and so was Thomas. He had her hand grasped in his as he tried to pull her away. She was moving her lips, her eyes squinted as tears were leaking down cheeks. Her free hand was stretched towards the ground directed towards something on the ground. She was trying to grab the daisy she dropped. Blood pounded my ears as I saw the wolf. It's pink lips curled back to reveal long, yellow fangs. It's fur bristled and abnormally long claws clanked against the stone ground. I had seen many wolves from Father's hunting. This was no wolf.

It was wounded already, its haunch skinned and still bleeding with two spears sticking upright. Its fur was blotched and matted with dried and fresh blood. How was this creature surviving? It's eyes were dark and crazed for revenge. It sought death.

To my horror, it swung in the direction of Val, its malice eyes were black as midnight and he raced at her. Valerie was to preoccupied with trying to retrieve her flower, while Thomas froze in terror. I let out a bloody war cry, branch brought to chest.

I lunged.

It leaped.

Mighty paw swiping out as it tried to rank it's claws at me. I closed my eyes and swung. Still screaming at the top of my lungs to the point my hearing was drowned out by my own screaming. My eyes were shut tightly. I felt my branch hit something hard, but as quickly as it hit I felt something sharp hit my arm. Burning pain shot through my arm, and down my spine. Sending me to the ground paralyzed with shock. I let go of the branch and quickly my arms crossed over my face as I prepared for the final blow. My ears were ringing, and I heard nothing but the constant beat of my heart. It felt like I kept my eyes closed forever, my breathing rough and shaky. The cold stone under my cheek as I laid there. My arm was throbbing, and incredibly warm. I opened my eyes to see the wolf laying there, eyes fixed on me. The emotion in the depths of them was too deep for me to understand. Its mouth was open, and his body shook with each breath. His tongue lolled from his mouth before his muscles completely relaxed and his chest stopped moving. His charcoal eyes became glazed and lifeless.

I felt weak, and when I tried to move my arm I couldn't. I fought sleep, I fought it bitterly. I tried to call for Valerie, and I tried to cry. Nothing, absolutely nothing happened. All that happened was bitter sweet darkness washed over, and cuddled me into unconscious.