Chapter One:
Today, Martha was born.
It was painful for both Ianite and I.
Apostle held onto my hand like his life depended on it, as we sat in the parlor.
We could hear Ianite screaming in the other room.
"Is mommy going to be ok?" Apostle piped up, his voice filled with fear.
"Of course, little man, she is going to be just fine," I said, ruffling his brown hair.
He moved closer to me, huddling into my black shirt.
After a while, the nurse came in, peeling off her gloves and wiping her sweaty forehead.
I stood up slowly, laying Apostle's sleeping body on the cushioned bench.
"Is she ok?" I asked the nurse in low tones.
The nurse was silent for a moment, before breaking into a smile and nodding.
"She gave birth to a beautiful baby girl," The nurse responded.
"Can I see them?" I asked excitedly.
"Of course. I am going to get some blankets for the baby, so I will be back."
I nodded and I turned around towards Ianite's door.
I practically flew to her room, opening the door gently.
My heart was beating wildly as I stared at my wife laying in bed.
"Can you change the sheets, I do not like sitting in my blood," She complained to her other nurse.
"Of course ma'am, I will go grab you new sheets right away," The nurse ran past me.
"You sound like an old crabby mother already, my love," I joked, coming to sit by Ianite.
"Oh don't you start, Spark, I don't need your sass." She rasped, laying her head back into the squishy pillows.
"Where is our beautiful baby, my darling?"
"Is that all you care about? Not going to ask me how I am, or if I am in pain?" Ianite asked with an amused expression.
I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers softly.
She accepted my kiss, but then slapped my arm.
I pulled back and smiled at her.
"She is laying in her crib, go see her quickly, before your enthusiasm overflows," She teased, stroking my cheek.
I nodded and ran over to the crib Dianite made for our newest child.
Inside, was a newborn baby, with wisps of black hair on top her little head.
"She has my hair," I said joyfully.
I reached down and put my palm against the child's face, smiling.
"We need to think of a name," Ianite said when I pulled away from the baby.
The nurse came back in with sheets, followed by the other nurse with blankets.
"If you don't mind, Mistress, we will change the sheets now," The nurse squeaked.
Ianite uncovered herself and got out of bed.
"Be careful!" I said to her, worried for her health.
"I am fine, don't worry about me, you big lug." She said, coming over to my side.
We looked at our newborn baby together, my arm wrapped around Ianite's fragile frame.
"I like the name Cassandra," I murmured into her hair.
"No, that is too long. How about Martha?" Ianite said, wrapping her arms around me in a side hug.
I looked at the child thoughtfully, before nodding.
"Martha is a perfect name," I whispered, kissing Ianite's forehead.
"Father! Father!" I heard someone call.
I turned around and saw a figure standing in the door way.
"Uncle Dianite is here!" Apostle squealed.
Dianite stepped in with Apostle in his arms.
"Hello Ianite, Spark. I just came by to see how you are doing," He said, walking over.
"We are doing just fine, Ianite had a smooth birthing," I said calmly.
Dianite smiled at his sister warmly, "Thank goodness, I always worry for my little sister."
Ianite scowled at him.
The god handed Apostle to Ianite, and leaned into the crib to stare at Martha.
"She's so beautiful," Dianite whispered in awe.
"That's a first," Ianite mumbled.
"Hm?"
"Dianite actually thinking something is more beautiful than himself," Ianite teased.
I grinned and looked down at Martha, who was squirming out of her blanket.
I couldn't ask for anything better than this.
~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~?~
Years and years pass, and I grow older, along with the children.
Ianite doesn't, being a goddess and all.
And it starts to worry me.
What will happen when I die?
Will she move on and forget me and our life together?
Age is only a number, but will it matter to Ianite when I am an old frail man?
As I quickly walked down the wooded path with Apostle and Martha, my heart starts beating nervously.
Martha flips her light purple hair over her shoulder and is watching my bobbing head with her analytic purple eyes.
Just like her mother.
Apostle has a more confident walk, his brown beard already grown down his chest.
"We must hurry, father, I need to get back to Freya, Alva, and Andor," Apostle said.
"I know, son, but this is important, this could be the key to getting Dianite back," I said.
"Don't you think one of us should go instead of you, father? I don't want you to get hurt or worse," Martha said softly.
"I can do it, Martha. Don't patronize me," I snarled.
She didn't flinch, she just reached over to me and took my hand.
"I believe in you, Father, I do. I just can't bear the thought of you..." She choked up and went silent.
I stopped and turned to my daughter and son, "Listen to me, I built this all for you, and I want you to stay here and guard this place with your life. I can't do it forever, and balance must be restored. And if that means I have to- that I will- then that's it, no question, I have to do it,"
Apostle nodded, his blue eyes shining.
Martha let out a sob and hugged me tightly.
"I want you to take care of your mother, both of you, in case I don't make it back. Ok? Promise me," I said.
"I promise," They both said together.
I pulled back from Martha, "Go ahead, Martha, I need to speak to Apostle."
Martha wiped her eyes and walked ahead.
"Listen to me, you have a family and a sister that need you, and if you are to be King, you must be there for everyone. Don't. Fail. Me, Apostle," I said, cupping his shoulder and giving him a hug.
His shoulders shook and he buried his face into my neck, crying.
"I love you, dad."
"I love you too, son, so much," I whispered, running my fingers through his hair like I did when he was little.
He pulled back and we reached the ritual clearing together.
Martha stood by her mother.
She was the spitting image of her mother.
Apostle joined her and they nodded at me.
I walked up to Martha, taking both of her hands, "Martha, I love you, darling."
Martha pursed her lips and hugged me again, "I love you too, father." She whispered.
When she pulled back, she gave me a smile.
"I will see you soon, ok?" I said to her.
She nodded, but she didn't look assured.
I came over to Ianite, smiling brightly.
"You don't have to do this, Spark, you can let the others go without you, you can stay here," Ianite said, reaching out to touch my face.
"You know I could never do that, they are family," I said simply.
"I know, I know, at least I tried to stop you," Ianite said with a weak smile.
"Spark!" I heard someone call.
I turned to see Mot and Country Bat walk up.
I smiled and walked up to them.
"Are you prepared and ready to go?" I asked.
"Of course, we are just waiting on Jeriah," Mot said.
Alyssa grinned up at me, her bat ears twitching.
"That wet blanket is always late," Mot grumbled.
"Don't call him that, Mot, he is a fine mage." I replied.
Suddenly, something blotted out the sun.
I looked up and saw a shadow bridge, with Jeriah on top of it.
"There he is," I said quickly.
The bridge dispersed and Jeriah landed beside me, his red mage robes fluttering in the wind.
"Sorry I am late, I had to talk to the Blood Knights before I left," He said gruffly.
"That ragtag little blood group?" Mot scoffed.
Jeriah glared at him, but didn't respond.
"If you are all ready, the ritual only takes a few minutes to complete," Ianite said, stepping forward.
We all stepped into the chalk circle drawn my Ianite, and we waited.
"You all know what to do, right?" Ianite asked, her hands poised to start the ritual.
"Find a way to revive an alternate Dianite in a different world, got it," Mot said casually.
I pushed my green glasses up on my nose and nodded.
"Alright, let's begin," Ianite said.
She threw some potions at us, speaking in a language I knew only as deity talk.
The purple in her irises turned white, and her skin started turning a sickly color.
Only then I realized she was slowly killing herself trying to do this ritual.
"Ianit-" My voice cut off and I couldn't speak.
My body started floating off the ground, and I started glowing.
My brain scattered and I couldn't hold onto to my consciousness any longer.
I blacked out.