Chapter I

Cover of Darkness

Arabelle was different from everyone else.

Arabelle was hated by all who saw her.

Arabelle was shunned by all who chanced to see her.

Arabelle was a poor girl who never did anyone harm.

Arabelle was a girl with only half a face.

Some birth defect had robbed the girl of normal features. The right side of her face was perfectly normal, with one beautiful blue eye, large and kind, full lips curved in a slight smile, and a rosy cheek. But her left side was different. The eye on that side was a sightless orb, milky white. Her lips curved into a twisted snarl, her teeth bared unintentionally. Her cheek was blotched with purple and marked with burned areas. Scars crisscrossed down her nose and forehead, and she had no eyebrow on that side. Her golden hair covered her entire head at least, and she often sought to let the hair on her left side hang over her face, covering it. She was beautiful from the right side…but hideous from the left.

Arabelle had been an accident. Her mother, a young girl from a poor family, had been raped by an older man. Perhaps the rough treatment of her mother during the rape had caused the seed to be damaged. Whatever it was, Arabelle had been like that ever since she was born. Her mother had loved the girl, though. But the mother was a frail creature and hadn't lasted long after the hard labor. Arabelle had been raised by her grandmother. Her grandmother thought of the girl as the cause of her daughter's death. She treated the child with contempt, only raising her for the sake of her daughter.

Arabelle was treated as a servant until she was fifteen. Then, she was driven out of the house. After going from village to village in search of means of survival, the poor girl at last gave up. Each time she went to a village, she was driven out. Her hideous appearance frightened people, making them think she was a demon or a cursed being. At last, she sought her living out in the woods.

Arabelle was a strong girl, able to hunt for her food or forage for vegetation. She would still venture into the towns to search for any means of a job, just in case someone would take pity on her…but no opportunity presented itself. All hated her, even though she was a sweet, mild-mannered girl. Her deformed face caused people to avert their eyes, either by contempt or pity mixed with disgust.

Arabelle miraculously was not bitter towards humanity. She had seen herself in reflecting pools and understood the fear she instilled in people. She herself had been frightened of her image. The staring white orb of her eye…the bloody spots on her cheeks…the scars and crude stitch marks from the wounds of her hard birth…the mouth twisted up in a permanent sneer…she had the look of a demon.

Maybe it was better this way…maybe living out in the woods kept her away from those who feared her. Maybe it was for the good of humanity to be rid of something they feared and hated. Perhaps her life was a mistake. Obviously something had gone wrong in her creation. Better to avoid the others.

But one thought always plagued the girl.

Do I have to be so lonely?

It was twilight, and Arabelle was gathering wood for her fire. She was finding plenty. She gathered it up in her strong brown arms, sinewy with hard work and toil and tanned by the sun. She lifted her single eye up to the canopy of trees. It would be getting dark soon…she'd best light her fire soon to ward off wild beasts.

As she bent to pick up another small bit of wood, Arabelle's keen ears picked up the sound of slight movement. She stopped, slowly straightening. She looked about. Though she only had one good eye, it was very good. She could see well in the dark, and the dusky surroundings didn't hamper her vision. She saw a dark shadow flit behind the trees. Cautiously, Arabelle touched the hilt of a dagger she kept stored at the back of her belt. She began moving towards a small stone quarry, long abandoned and a good shelter for her. She had set up her home there.

Forming the fire wood into a cone-like structure, Arabelle struck flint to tinder and caught a spark, fueling it with leaves and grass and piling on charcoal and wood. She pressed her back up against a rock, wrapping an old, ragged cloak about her. She had already eaten a meager meal of nuts and berries, having failed in her hunting that day. She was a good hunter, but her luck had run out today.

Arabelle began to nod, her head resting back against the rock. She could dimly make out the fire shadows dancing about her feet, flickering with a pleasant pattern. The night sounds were no different…all was well.

"Don't turn around."

Arabelle stiffened. The voice came from behind her. Her back was against a rock, but from the voice, she could tell whoever it came from was on the other side of the rock.

But it was no ordinary voice. It seemed a strange, somewhat discordant sound, as if the vocal chords were not arranged correctly. It was deep and big, obviously a man's voice, but grating. It was a whisper, but still very loud.

Arabelle felt fear creep into her being. She wanted to turn, but she guessed it would result in her death or harm. She instead spoke in as calm a voice as she could muster, "What…what do you want of me?"

The voice spoke again, still seeming an awkward sound, as if it hadn't been speaking too long, the words somewhat broken and halting, "Just your fire…may I sleep near it?"

Arabelle felt her throat pulsing wildly, "Are you a robber or a murderer? You don't think I'd really let you sleep near me, do you?"

A laugh came, and Arabelle's skin crawled at the sound. It was like ice on oiled silk, "I thought you would say that. Have you already seen me?"

Arabelle shook her head, "No…no, I haven't…that's why I'm frightened…"

The voice spoke again, "Ah…you won't see me, though…I haven't seen you clearly yet. Not yet…"

Arabelle spoke with a tinge of bitterness in her voice, "Which is why you've chosen to stop here…you haven't seen me…and you haven't run away in terror."

A pause followed. Then the voice came, slightly softer and slower, as if labored, "What…what do you mean?"

Arabelle didn't answer. Then the voice came again, "Wait a moment…"

After a slight lull, the voice came again, farther off, "Stand up and turn around…I promise I won't hurt you. You won't be able to see me, but I'll be able to see you."

Arabelle, filled with unhealthy curiosity, obeyed, her temples throbbing with fear. She stood and turned, looking out into the blackness. She saw only the tip of a shadow at the rim of the fire glow, signaling the stranger's presence just beyond the firelight.

Arabelle felt shame fill her. The stranger could see her now…her deformed features. She heard a long sigh come from in front of her. Whether it was from pity, horror or…she did not know.

The voice spoke, "Ah! I did not know! If I had, I…" He fell silent.

"You wouldn't have stopped here? Is it my eye? Or my lips? Which?" Arabelle felt tears prick her eyes. She had never grown used to the looks of contempt and fear she received.

The voice spoke again, "No…oh, child…I'm sorry…I'm sorry…"

Arabelle heard the footsteps of the stranger circle around the light of the fire until he was across from her, but just out of the light. Arabelle sat back down, wondering what was to come next.

"You may sleep by my fire," she spoke, thinking herself a fool. He would murder her in her sleep! But what did it matter? Her life was a lonely one…who cared?

"Thank you, little one," the voice said, filled with a kind of compassion that wasn't there before. Then it spoke again, "I have a second request…may I enjoy your conversation?"

Arabelle was surprised. But her own thirst for a real conversation with another human being overpowered her caution. She nodded, "Yes."

The voice began, "Why do you live out here alone? Is it because of your…" It faltered.

"My face? Yes…and I'm not afraid to say it," Arabelle said, void of any emotion, "I know I am ugly."

"Only by something that was out of your power. People shouldn't hate you for it."

Arabelle was touched by the words, but sensed bitterness and sorrow in them. She left the issue and spoke, "Who are you? I have a right to ask, as I can't even see you."

An awkward laugh come from the shadows, "Yes, you do, young maid. I am just a traveler."

Arabelle nodded once, speaking, "I'm just an outcast. My name is Arabelle."

The voice sighed the name as if it were a breath of fresh air, "Arabelle…a beautiful name…"

Arabelle smiled, flattered, "Thank you…what might I call you?"

There was a pause, and the voice spoke slowly, "I don't have a name…"

Arabelle paused, "Oh…" She thought it rude to ask why not. But she left it alone.

"Do you stay here every night?" the voice asked.

Arabelle shrugged, "Sometimes I sleep in a forest glade nearby incase I find a wild creature has taken up residence here. Why?"

"I would like to stay with you."

"All throughout the day?"

"No," the voice spoke hastily, "Just in the nights, if you promise not to look at me."

Arabelle thought this an odd request, "Why not?"

"It would compromise our friendship."

"Ah…we're friends, are we?" Arabelle asked.

"Why not?" asked the voice.

Why not indeed. Hadn't Arabelle just been wishing for a friend?

"Agreed…" she answered, hoping she hadn't made a mistake.

"Thank you, young maid. If I have your friendship, I will give you my protection in return. I will watch out for you during the day, and at night, either I will speak with you or watch as you sleep."

Arabelle raised her good eyebrow, "Tell me…I've agreed to share my fires with you…why would you want to do this?"

The voice spoke after a long silence, "I am alone, much like you. I haven't spoken with anyone in a long while. I'm about to go mad with solitude. Surely you feel the same?"

"Aye…" Arabelle spoke the truth. She was glad to have someone to talk to, even if she couldn't see them.

"Sleep now, Arabelle. I will keep watch through the night. And thank you…for your friendship."

Arabelle curled up in her cloak, closing her eyes. If she didn't wake up in the morning after the stranger murdered her, so be it. She wouldn't mind. At least she wouldn't die totally alone.

And if the stranger was sincere…even better.