I don't own The Thief Lord or anyone from it! Wish I did, though.
Chapter 1
My parents and older brother doted on me constantly, checking to see that I was all right and not hurt. I think that I knew, deep inside, that the perfection of our simple life could never last as long as I hoped, and my hidden fears of being alone formed a twisted reality after my father died when I was seven. I remember asking my mother what had happened to "Dada", I remember her face crumpling slightly at the question, her eyes filling with salty diamonds as she choked out that "Dada" was gone – in a beautiful place where he waited for us to join him.
And some of us would join him sooner than expected…
Smoke. All around me, choking me, making my head whirl. I needed to find a way out. Glancing around, I prayed that there was a place for me to squeeze through to fresh air. I coughed and started to crawl towards my window. Feeling weak and sick, I sat up on my knees, to see that orange tongues of flame licked the now soot-blackened windowpanes. I could feel my own need for clean air, threatening to blot out my life as the flames had encrusted the windows with ashes. I crouched down again and dragged myself out of my room and into the parlor. Again I checked the window, but this time the window was clean and cool to the touch. I glanced up towards the latch that held the window shut. With trembling fingers, I grasped the cool latch and yanked it towards me, but the window didn't open.
"Emelyn!" my father was at my side in a flash. My grey eyes flooded with tears, although I didn't know why.
"It won't open, Dada!" I glanced up at my father, whose strong fingers found the window latch and yanked it open. Then he gathered me in his arms, kissed the top of my head, and whispered in my ear.
"Say goodbye to Mama for me, okay?" his voice broke and he set me gently down outside of the window.
I remember running away from the burning house, choking on the clean air. My cowardliness haunted me every step of the way before I collapsed in front of my mother and burst into tears. Mama was franticly watching the house, waiting for Dada to run out and find us. She picked me up in her arms and held me close.
Burying myself into her, I remembered Dada's message for her. "Dada said goodbye, Mama," I looked up at her and spoke in a hoarse voice.
My mother looked down at me. "When did he say that?"
"I was trying to get out of the window, but it was stuck. Dada came and opened it for me, and then he told me to say goodbye, and then he put me outside," I babbled on, watching as my mother's face crumpled.
"No…" she breathed, horror written in ash on her now pale face. She set me on the ground and ran back to the house. My brother, Scuro, ran after her, caught her, and held her in a tight hug as she strained to get back to the burnt skeleton of our house.
"Shh, it's all right, it's okay," Scuro soothed her gently and led her away from the house's now smoking remains.
"Mama?" I spoke, my voice quavering slightly.
"Yes, Emelyn?" she looked up at me with tear-streaked cheeks.
"Where's Dada?"
My mother bit back a sob. "Dada's gone now, Emelyn. He's in cielo—heaven—waiting for us to join him."
"Heaven? Where's that? Can we visit Dada?"
"Heaven is where you go when you love Jesus with all your heart," my mother explained softly.
"Did Dada love Jesus?"
"Yes. Very much." Mama's face wavered.
"More than us?"
"Yes, but you two were the most important things in his life, and he loved you very much. Don't ever forget that, okay?" my mother's face crumpled when I nodded silently. "That's a good girl," she choked out.
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Characters:
Scuro—darkness
Sandy-blonde hair, dark blue eyes, lightly tanned skin. Quiet; overly conscious of other peoples' opinions. Easily overwhelmed; violent when afraid.
Emelyn—labor
Dark brown hair, dark grey eyes, pale skin. Quiet; often judgmental towards others. Extremely loyal to family and friends.
Italian definitions:
Cielo: Heaven
Note:
Yay! My first Thief Lord fanfic AND my first fanfic with an OC!
Okay, Scuro and Emelyn's mother was Italian and their father was English. They grow up in southern England, away from most other people (kind of a country-ish house).
Any other questions? Feel free to ask in a review or just message me!
Please review, though. Even if you have issues with the story, please tell me!
~Elissa~
