A/N: This story was previously titled 'You and Me, Across the Realms' and I will be eventually continuing that series but I thought this story deserved its own page. If you've already read 'Daughter of Wisdom, Son of the Sea', then the only thing I've added so far is the Prologue. I spaced out the chapters because having one massive one was a silly idea. Eventually I want to continue this story with another two arcs but eventually is probably going to mean another couple of months.
As always, I don't own anything (except my Cold and Flu tablets - yuck). Please enjoy and review.
The man was driving along the quiet road, forests stretching on both sides. His daughter gurgled in the back seat and he smiled at the sound, still amazed at the breath of emotion such a small person could elicit. He knew the trip must be boring for an infant – especially being able to do nothing but stare at the seat – so he turned up the radio and cleared his throat. The song had been popular in the last year and he knew some of the lyrics so he prepared his best singing voice – or at least one that wasn't completely horrible.
"And life was nothing but an awful song,
but now I know the meaning of true love,
I'm leaning on the everlasting arms"
A small laugh erupted in the back seat and it took all his willpower not to turn in amazement.
"Was that your first laugh, baby? That's amazing, we've got to have another one!"
"I believe I can fly,
I believe I can touch the sky,
I think about it every night and day"
Another laugh encouraged him on as his movements became more dramatic, keeping one hand on the wheel.
"Spread my wings and fly away,
I believe I can soar
I see me running through that open-"
He stopped suddenly as something walked onto the road. It was a tall creature, with the upper legs of a man but the hairy chest, hooves and head of a bull. It wielded an axe in each of its hands and was spinning them around. The minotaur seemed to smile as the man drove closer but he managed to keep his calm disposition, like he was trained.
"Okay, baby, hold on tight, Daddy's going to get us out of this."
He swerved to the right and the minotaur followed so he quickly changed to the left, driving half off the road. A thud from the boot told him the minotaur had thrown his axe and them and he thought they were in the clear when he saw a black shape out of the corner of his eye and a hellhound barrelled into their car.
The man slammed onto the breaks but they still drove into a tree, the impact jerking him forward. His daughter began to cry in the backseat and he attempted to unbuckle himself, hands shaking.
"It's okay, baby, I'm coming."
The baby was too distressed for his soothing nonsense, especially as the hellhound tackled the car once again. The car was jolted to the side and the man finally undid his belt, sliding to the passenger side. He unsheathed the sword that rested there and rolled down the window, preparing for the monster's next charge. He thrust the sword in the creature's face and it turned into dust in an instant.
He had no luck with the door so he exited through the window, buckling his sword around his waist. He saw the minotaur walking leisurely down the road, knowing they had nowhere to turn. He walked around the car to where his daughter was seated and pulled open the door, moving her into his arms.
She was still crying, perfect face scrunched up as he adjusted her baby blanket around her. Only years of training alerted him to the threat behind and he spun, the spear cutting him across his shoulder. He cried out in pain and kicked at the snake-woman, her green skin and double snake trunk showing her to be a Scythian Dracanae. She fell back and it gave him to opportunity to unsheathe his sword and decapitate her.
He looked down at his daughter urgently, checking for any injuries as she simply stared back, green eyes intent on his face. The relief that flooded his system was short lived as the minotaur roared.
The man plunged into the forest, feeling himself grow weaker by the second as he bleed out, staining his daughter's white blanket. He searched the forest desperately, knowing there were most likely more creatures than the minotaur hunting for them both.
His eyes fell upon a tree with a small hollow, perfect for concealing a child. He stabbed his sword into the dirt and placed his daughter in, stroking her cheek with a trembling hand.
He closed his eyes and lowered his head in prayer, murmuring softly, "If you ever cared for me or her, please show me a sign. Please protect her and guide her home if I am unable to do so."
The man heard a fluttering in the tree above him and looked to see a small grey owl sitting on a branch. It cocked its head and seemed to hoot mournfully.
"Thank you," he whispered, "I know there is nothing more you can do."
A roar echoed in the forest behind him and he knew his time was almost spent. Tears trickled down his face as he kissed his daughter's head and tucked her more securely into her blanket, moving the bloodstains away from her face.
"I love you so much, baby. Find them. Find your home."
Turning from his daughter seemed like the hardest thing he'd ever had to do, especially as she whimpered and shifted in her blanket, like she knew she was being left alone. The tears had stopped once he pulled his sword from the dirt, his pain replaced by an icy hatred of those who would threaten his family.
He looked back – not at his daughter, knowing that would break him – but the owl who watched over her and its golden eyes glinted in the shadows.
He ran forward, searching for the minotaur and jabbing at it as it snuffled, hunting for their scent. It roared and swung at him, catching him on the ribs and he dashed away, never once looking back as he lead the monsters away from his daughter.
On the nearby road, an older man – already getting his grey hair – with his young son pulled over, their car inexplicably breaking down. The man exited his car and grumbled, claiming to be a woodworker and not a mechanic.
His young son waited dutifully in the car as the man stared over the engine, that is until a small bird in the forest caught his eye. The grey creature seemed to be moving its wing in an invitation and in the few years of the child's life, he had never been good at resisting temptation. He unbuckled himself and pushed his car door open, ignoring his father's cries as he wandered into the forest.
The bird eventually stopped on a branch and the boy paused in shock, allowing his father to catch up.
"What do you think you're doing, my boy? You could get lost in here," the older man scolded.
The boy simply pointed to the tree and the man stilled, noticing the bundle inside.
"Oh my," he said as he moved forward, looking at the small baby hidden in the hollow.
He smiled as he saw the name embroidered in purple letters, "Hello Emma," he cooed. His smile quickly faded as he noticed the blood on the blanket and he picked her up, checking her for injuries.
"Is it okay?" His son asked.
"She's fine, my boy." He took hold of his son's hand and began walking back to his car, "Come on, let's see if we can get our car to work and take her someplace safe. She's going to get hungry soon."
The owl, forgotten by the two, flew off once the car had started, the baby held securely in the boy's arms. The bird flew until its keen eyes spotted him, lying on the forest floor, sword just out of reach. He was covered in monster dust and slowly bleeding out, but he was still alive. His eyes struggled to focus on the owl and his words emerged slowly, thick with pain.
"Is she safe?"
The owl hooted and the man smiled with what little strength he had.
His breathing became laboured as the owl flew down next to him and in a flash of light, it transformed into a woman. He tried to speak but the woman hushed him, stroking his cheek.
"Be at peace now, brave one. You will find much comfort in Elysium."
The man's eyes fluttered closed, soothed by the voice and words and he soon passed his last, shaky breath. The woman continued to stroke his cheek until they both disappeared in a flash of light and the life in the forest resumed its normal course, as if nothing tragic or momentous had occurred at all.
A/N: The song was "I Believe I Can Fly" by R Kelly.
I happen to like this project so I will get back to it eventually.
Be well!
Adrina Stark.