She stopped where the forest began. She held the baby close to her,
the green blanket that was wrapped around it warming her chest in the
cold mid-Autumn air. The woman looked up just as growls began their
escape from the dark clouds that had sneaked their way into the sky.
The dark hood that had covered her head blew back, revealing her
beautiful face. She frowned, her bright red hair flying wildly in a
sudden gust of wind. She looked down at the baby. Her frowned
deepened. She didn't like babies, and didn't see why she was sent
to retrieve (steal) the baby from her sister. It slept silently in her
arms. The hair that poked up from its head was the color of ember just
before it is extinguished. It was cute, she would admit that. And that
cuteness almost made her feel bad for taken it away from its mother.
The baby yawned, and cold shivers ran down the woman's spine.
Her gaze immediately left the baby and she stepped into the forest.
The leaves didn't make a sound as she stepped on them; the only sound
to be heard was the wind blowing through the trees and the annoying
sighs of the baby.
The woman walked and the air grew colder, a light snow fell
sticking to the forest ground. The woman's pace quickened. She knew
that if she was late then Blake would be extremely cross.
She walked until she came to a yew tree in the middle of a glade.
It was a wonderful sight; with its snow covered dandelions' carpeting
the forest floor and the yellowish-silver light of the moon casting
its light through the trees'.
She walked to the yew tree and sat, closing her eyes.
She remembered Blake taking her here.
"Isn't it beautiful?" he had asked her, grabbing her hand,
gripping it tightly with affection.
She smiled. He was happy again; he was showing her love again. She
had missed this tender side of him. Not the hard, emotionless stone
that he had become.
"Yes. Very." She whispered quietly, looking around at the
gorgeous scene.
"My father showed it to me when I was younger. He said that yew
trees' are a symbol of our family." His free hand stroked the trees
trunk.
She looked up at him. His face stared thoughtfully at the tree.
"Why?" she asked, the curiosity overwhelming her.
"Yew trees symbolize immortality." He turned, his blue eyes
shining brightly. "He says that even though we die the impact that we
have made on the world will live on."
She squeezed his hand. "Do you believe that?"
"No," he said smiling ", I loved my father but I've finally
come to realize that the man was crazy."
She lifted her hand and moved his dark hair away from his face.
"You don't believe that."
He bent down and kissed her forehead. He pulled her into him firmly.
"Yes. Yes I do."
She opened her eyes as the baby in her arms suddenly moved. It was
up, its green-gray eyes staring into hers'. She wanted to fling the
baby into the forest. And she just might have, if three figures
didn't appear from the shadows of the forest.
They were all beautiful, especially the one in the middle. They all
had dark brown hair. Their eyes seemed to shine brighter as they came
closer, green, blue, and gray.
She rose hastily.
"Blake." She said, her voice wavering slightly.
The one to the left sneered.
"Blake? What about me and Alexander."
Her head reluctantly left Blake's face and turned to man. "My
apologies Cameron,' her head turned to the other ", Alexander."
The man she called Alexander sighed "its fine. I'm not the one
with the crush."
Cameron glared at Alexander.
"Shut up."
Alexander gave him a bored smile "But really, Cameron. Don't you
think that thirty-two is a little old to be having a crush, and
especially because your brother dated her. To me that's, kind of,
pathetic."
"I don't have a crush on anyone." He snarled.
"Why don't you both shut up." Blake calmly said. His
emotionless eyes stared at the woman.
"Vivian. How are you, love?"
She could feel her face begin to flush. "I fine."
"Good." she saw him glance at the child in her hands "You have
the child. Is it a boy or a girl?"
She frowned "Boy."
He smiled. It didn't seem genuine, only his lips moved.
"That's great. I always wanted a son."
Vivian's frown deepened, "Just take him so I can go." She said
rapidly.
Blake stretched out his hands "Fine, give him to me." Vivian
walked slowly to him, her heart quickening as his hands grazed hers as
she handed him the baby.
"He's cute. Hair like flames and eyes greener than his
mothers." The baby looked at Blake with curious eyes. "Did you have
any problems getting him" he asked suddenly.
"No Andy was gone. And Irene was too knocked out to notice
anything. They were both sleeping in their crib—"
"What do you mean by 'both'?" His eyes abruptly became fierce.
Vivian jumped back, "W-What?"
Blake handed the baby angrily to Cameron. He stepped closer to
Vivian, his eyes burning a dark blue. "What do you mean by
'both'?"
"Calm down," she said.
Anger twisted his beautiful features, as a sharp pain shot up her
spin. She screamed and fell to her down to knees
"Don't you dare talk to me like that. I asked you a simple
question, Vivian."
"W-why a-are you doing this?" she said, voice shuddering with pain.
She had once felt this pain before, and she had always wished that she
would never have to feel it again. What had she done she suddenly
thought. If this was what he was doing to her, the woman he had once
told that he loved, the woman that he had once asked to marry him,
then what did he have in store for her sister's child. "Blake
"Stop… Please."
She looked up at his distorted face. So angry, so…
"She has given you what you asked for Blake, so stop." Alexander
said, placing his hand on Blake's shoulder. Blake's face
immediately became blank, normal.
"I am sorry, Vivian, Blake is right." She sighed with relief as
the pain evaporated from her body.
She swiftly jumped to her feet, and began to back away from them.
"You promised you'd never do that again to me." She said her
voice a little above a whimper.
He sneered "We both made promises that we couldn't keep," he
looked at the child and slowly took it in his arms. ", We should
leave."
Vivian frowned.
"Before you go you must promise me one thing Alexander," her
eyes met theirs as she talked ", Blake, Cameron."
They stared at her blankly.
Cameron spoke first "As if we owe you a damn thing."
Alexander spoke next "Yes, I agree with Cameron for once."
And finally the persons opinion that actually mattered "Go
ahead." He said nodding. Alexander and Cameron glared at him.
"We don't owe her anything Blake—"
"That's your opinion Cameron. I have to say that I feel
differently on the matter… do you have a problem with that?"
Cameron glared at the ground "No, my apologies Blake."
"Accepted. Now go on Vivian."
She breathe in deeply "I have given you the child, and I am sure
that my sister will know that it was me… I don't want that… she
will hate me more than she did before… You have the talent to make
sure she doesn't… all I'm asking you to do is make her and Andy
forget."
Blake smiled "how about a favor for a favor. I'll make sure they
don't remember what you did if you promise… that when we call upon
you, whenever it is, that the favor we ask you to do, you'll do… no
matter how drastic it may be you'll do."
She looked down.
"Deal." She said, instantly regretting it, remembering the last
time he made her make that promise… he had used it just this day.
"Great," all of them turned "Take care love… and I'll do as I
promised."
They disappeared into the darkness of the forest wall.
Vivian sighed and fell to her knees. A slight sliver of pain
entered her heart, the first crack.
She lay there for hours… the sun rose… casting a pale light over
her face. Dried up tears stained her face… she got up and made her
way back to the little cottage where her sister lived. It was like any
cottage you'd see in a fairy tale. She walked onto the porch and
knocked on the door.
There was a shout and the door swung open.
"Vivian," a deep voice shouted in surprise. It was Andy; his
bright smile seemed to tear another piece of her heart out.
She forced a smile.
"Hey Andy."
"You heard, huh?" he said smiling brightly again. He didn't
wait for her to answer; he rushed her into the cabin and into the
small cozy room. "Hey Irene guess who it is?"
A bright red headed woman lifted her head and her face beamed up at
her sister. She quickly got up.
"Vivian!" she exclaimed.
Vivian hugged her sister tightly.
"You came, thank god. I thought you wouldn't make it."
"Of course I wouldn't miss it for anything."
Irene hugged her tighter, and pulled away her face beaming.
"Let's go see the baby." She dragged her into the white and blue
room.
The baby's room.
Another shard of Vivian's heart broke off as she saw the crib.
She led her to a crib, Vivian peered in. it was just like the
other. Red hair, green gray eyes… the only difference was the small
crescent moon birth mark that was on the palm of his tiny hand.
What was left of Vivian's heart skipped a beat, and a cold sweat ran
down her back.
"Isn't he beautiful?"
Vivian frowned, "Yeah, he's gorgeous."