The Blade in the Darkness

Chapter 1: Change your fate

It was a bright and sunny day in 1754, South Carolina, when a woman, by the name of Rebecca called to her daughter "Asha! Dinner! "Don't make me yell for you again!"

"I'm here," said a young girl of Eight years old walking into the kitchen.

Rebecca smiled at her daughter, kissing her forehead as she sat down. Her daughter looked just like her with her raven black hair and her green eyes are the features that stuck out the most. When Asha was born, she almost died the same day, but for whatever reason pulled through. Her Mother knew right then that she wanted to name her Asha. A name that could bring hope and life. But there was a dark side to her at already a young age that could bring destruction and death.

"Are you ready for school?"

Asha shook her head "Not really. There's a boy in my class who keeps staring at me. I think his name is James Wilkins. He's cute, but I'm not sure why he keeps staring at me."

"Well, he probably likes you. Has he tried to talk to you?"

"Tried a few times, but always gets interrupted by something or someone. Mother, is Stephen...home?"

Rebecca sighed and nodded "He's in the chair passed out in livingroom. Don't worry, you'll be in school by the time he wakes up, I'm sure." She crouched down in front of her daughter "Love, I know you're scared of your Step Father, but you won't have to live here forever. You'll have a life of your own one day."

"Why can't we just leave? We don't have to stay here. Father wouldn't want anything to do with him."

"Yes well, you're Father is dead," said a voice from the doorway.

"Stephen, don't."

"Shut up, woman." He walked up and looked down at Asha "Your Father is dead, so you best get to used to me being around. Now, get your little ass to school. Go on now."

Asha looked to her Mother who gave her a nod "I'll walk you out to the carriage." Rebecca grabbed her stuff and followed Asha outside "Sweetheart, don't pay any attention to him."

"He's mean. When I have a life of my own one day, I want you to live with me. We can take care of each other."

Rebecca smiled "That sounds like a wonderful plan. Remember Asha, no matter what anyone tells you, fate is in your own hands. You can change it, you just have to have the courage to do so." She smiled "I'll see you when you get home."

"Will Uncle Charles be coming by this week? I'd really like to see him."

"I think next week was when he said. He's very excited to see you."

Asha smiled "Bye mother."

"Bye darling," Rebecca said as she helped her daughter into the carriage. She waved at her as they rode off "Oh my darling, I wish nothing but the best for you." She sighed then turned around and went back inside.

Asha looked out the carriage window admiring the ships anchored near the docks. She climbed out the window and joined the driver up front.

"Miss, you know you're not supposed to do that." said the driver.

Asha smiled "When has that ever stopped me, Mr. Leeson? Besides, you can't see much from in there, I love it out here. I'm going to be stuck inside all day at school. I at least want to enjoy some of the outside while I can."

"Well, we are here, Miss Asha. I'll be out here waiting for you when you're done. Have a good day, you hear?"

Asha waved at Mr. Leeson then went inside the school. She found her seat and got her things ready to begin class. Asha then looked up and saw James Wilkins enter the class. She gave a light smiled then went back to what she was doing. He sat down in the seat in front of her and smiled "Good morning, Asha."

"Good morning, James."

"Um, I wanted to ask you something. Would it be all right, if I came over to your house after school?"

"Why would you want to come over to my house?"

"Um," he cleared his throat "Uh..."

Asha smiled "Sure. You can ride with us. I'm sure my Mother would be happy to meet you. I don't have many friends."

"I don't either."

"Well, now you have me as a friend," Asha smiled "Oh boy, teacher is here, turn around. I'll wait for you after school."

The day had went relatively quick which was always nice since the class was generally boring with a teacher who was equally as boring.

Asha caught up with James and they got in the carriage and sat next to Mr. Leeson. "Well, hello Asha. And who is your new friend?"

"This is James Wilkins. He's going to come over for a little while. I hope Mother will be all right with that."

"I'm sure she will be," he slapped the reins down and they were off. Asha and James were pointing to different ships on the way, saying which one was theirs and what they would do with it. Asha wanted to sail the high seas and fight. Wilkins wanted to just own one.

"You can't just own a ship. You have to sail, make it yours. Go out on the ocean and explore, see new things. That's what I want to do."

"Asha is very into pirates, young Mr. Wilkins. She never lets up, so don't try and talk her out of it."

Asha chuckled "He speaks the truth." She could see the house about a mile away "There's home. I can't wait for you to meet my Mother. She's great."

"If she's anything like you, I have no doubt about it," he smiled.

The carriage stopped in front of the house, but Asha didn't see her Mother. It wasn't like her to not be outside waiting for her daughter. She jumped off the carriage "Mother?!" Asha ran inside the house.

"Asha wait!" yelled Mr. Leeson. "Stay here, young Master Wilkins."

"Mother!" Asha ran from room to room. She checked all the bottom rooms, but didn't see her Mother. She ran upstairs with Mr. Leeson closely behind her. Asha checked her room and the bathroom. The only room that was left her Mother's room and the door was closed. Asha approached slowly and turned the knob "Mother?" she questioned. She pushed the door open and dropped to her knees screaming "NOOO! Mother!" She wailed. "Mr. Leeson!"

Mr. Leeson came running in and was in shock as he saw Rebecca hanging from a wooden beam in the ceiling. "Look away child." He grabbed his knife then cut Rebecca down into his arms, laying her down on the bed.

"Mother?" Asha got on the side of the bed "Mother!" She sobbed into her mother's neck "No, mum. No."

Wilkins slowly came into the room and saw Asha near her mother's body. He was unsure what to do. He walked in and placed his hand on her. Asha sobbed gripped her Mother's hair "Please come back." She cried "Come back."

Mr. Leeson found a note attached to her dress and read it. "Dearest Asha, I'm sorry, but this was the only way that you could make your own way in life. Change your fate. I love you. Mother."

Asha looked to Mr. Leeson "She didn't kill herself. That note is bullshit!"

"Language, Miss."

"My step father is gone. He did this. I know it." She closed her eyes hard and looked at her Mother "I don't care what it takes or how long, I will find my step father, and kill him."

The funeral was a few days later for Rebecca. Now the decision was to be where her Asha would go to and was landed to live with her uncle Charles. The day before she was set to go live with him, she ran away. No note, told no one where she had gone, not even her friend, Wilkins. She was on her own now. Her Mother was her life and now she was hell bent on taking away the life of the one that stole hers.