Hey all! As it turns out, my muse and I are not quite dead. She's playing hard to get these days, but basically alive. I think. This isn't my first FanFiction, but it is the first that I plan to actually finish. I used to have an OC fic, but I realized that my old writing style was annoying. Anyway, I'll stop wasting time and space. If you like it, love it, hate it, hate me and want to scream about it, or want to write secret coded messages to the government agency of your choice (we don't judge here) then feel free to review~
WARNING: this fic will have several dark themes, especially later on including child abuse, sexual assault, murder, and complete insanity. I have absolutely no notion of making light of any of these situations or offending anyone (hence a lack of graphic situations) so if you find these matters intensely disturbing, then I apologize for wasting your time.
Thanks in advance,
Lilly.
Oh, and of course the usual "Idon't own anything but my take on the story." All characters, magical powers, locations, etc that are not out of thin air belong to Christopher Paolini. (A moment to appreciate his genius)
-:- -:- -:-
If you're reading this, then I must have died. I don't foresee this being the case, but in case of some freak accident I have decided to tell this story before it ends. History will know I was evil, generations will say that I was cruel. Only you and I will know the truth. Believe me or not, but I swear that I will not lie within these pages. Well, I will tell stories of several lies, told by me and those that told you of me. I regret to say that I am not some grand creature. I am only a man. Judge as you will off of the truth, instead of history's lies. I leave that decision in your hands.
- Galbatorix
King of the Empire
Oathbreaker
Argetlam
Let us begin at well, the beginning.
-:- -:- -:-
I nearly died waking up.
I was torn mercifully from my dream, sitting straight up, drenched in a cold sweat and panting like I'd run a league in my sleep. I felt the nightmare slipping away, and I grasped for a moment at the memory… but it was no use.
My head stopped just before the low attic ceiling, on instinct or something. Outside, the sun was just beginning to peek over the rooftops, the golden light turned gritty and dim through the small window. Once my pulse returned to a normal beat, I glanced around tiredly. The same old terrifying wood floor so full of splinters I needed shoes whenever I wasn't in bed. The same old nightstand I'd salvaged from a pile of junk in an alley. The same old shipping pallet and threadbare blankets I'd been swiping off of clotheslines for months.
I reached onto the table and grabbed for the sliver of mirror. It had shattered upon impact with the wall next to my ear. Since I'd bled on it, I figured that it was mine.
I examined my reflection with conditioned distaste. Abnormally tall for an eight year old, lanky and disturbingly thin thanks to the infrequency of mother's mercy, sickly pale from lack of sunlight, thick void black hair, eyes so dark they nearly didn't have an iris at all.
It took a keen eye and being bored as hell to notice the flecks of grey.
Out of habit, I finger combed my hair to moderate acceptance. My actions were cut short by an unearthly howl that still haunts me to this very day.
"GALBATORIX! Get your lousy, lazy ass here, right now or I swear to hell, I'll -"
" Coming mother!" Like a shot I was gone, bolting down the ladder, the hallway, the stairs- and then landing flat on my face as my ankles got tangled by an outstretched foot.
" Morning, Brother." Kaur smiled cheerily. He looked something like me, but so different only those in the house could really tell. His eyes were dark brown, his hair a less definite shade of black, tanned, tall, strong, and with a permanent smirk. " You were taking so long I thought I'd go check on you. Mother is in quite a state." He winked at me evilly and walked upstairs to his bedroom.
I just flashed a rude gesture at his retreating form and finished running to mother. Kaur, four years my senior, was the favorite. He had his own room while I was in the attic behind some boxes filled with putrid perfume. He ate at the table with mother while I plotted ways to sneak table scraps like a dog. He had friends and a girl he wanted to marry. I had to care for mother and the house, forbidden to leave on pain of death. Between his superiority and , he was a living headache. All this because he knew what I didn't. He knew the name of-
Ah. So I was dreaming about him again.
My father. In truth, Kaur and I were half brothers. His father got sick when Kaur was only a year old. I personally believe that she poisoned him for his money, but that's only a theory. My father romanced her once, ( as to why I have no prayer of understanding) and he promised her everything and anything. He delivered too, lavishing her with poetry, gifts , and jewels. The one thing he gave that she did not want was another son. The only thing she wanted that he would not give was commitment. He left after finding out that she was pregnant. She sold and destroyed his gifts, she burned everything he ever wrote her. And she refuses to say his name to me. She doesn't want me to leave. I suppose her bringing me into this nightmarish world made me her slave for eternity. She reminded me that he was a devil, and I was the hellspawn that ruined her fairy tail. Her reminders often involved liquor and blunt instruments.
I have yet to forget a single one.
"There you are, lazy brat. Go make breakfast! Your brother has to leave for work." She was such a pig. Coarse voice, beady eyes, scowling face, scraggly red curls and the worst drinking problem in town. Still, considering her endless parade of 'boyfriends' I guess there must've been something human in her? But I sure as hell don't remember.
" Yes mother" always the safest answer. It gifted temporary safety in the kitchen where I could be mercifully alone. A flurry of chopping and frying later, breakfast was served. They ate quietly, occasionally discussing some village gossip. When another series of profanity greeted me, I cleaned up the table. Today was exceptional: a piece of toast. I decided to stash it for the time being.
On my way upstairs, I heard giggling from the parlor. I hated that more than the yelling. She was always brusque and blunt... But when drunk she was a snake, and her comments seemed even more bitingly cruel. Her client tonight must've been important; she'd pulled out her best wine. I retreated quietly and quickly, knowing the punishment if one of her visitors saw me.
I nibbled idly on one crust of toast and stared through the window. I used to have a great imagination, especially while alone. I could think of nearly anything. I had gone on plenty of adventures around the world as I thought it would be. Something rich and grand, cities made of gold and jewels, mountains that tore open beautiful waterfalls in the sky. Yes, my world would be safe, and beautiful, and perfect. The one thing I never even bothered to imagine was a friend. I knew that between everything, I would end up dying alone in a shed somewhere. I didn't mind that though. I had been conditioned to believe that people were so vile and cruel there was no use in leaving. There was nothing better to run to.
My world would be empty.
-:- -:- -:-
I awoke with a sense of mounting dread. The attic was darker, only a distant streak of orange betraying the sunset. Usually mother would have dragged me out of bed by now... Unless he was still here? She wouldn't let a potential source of income see me or Kaur. Something about kids either dampening or enflaming certain emotions, and she wanted neither. Even weirder than that though was the sound of crying. Downstairs, she was sobbing her heart out. My tension only worsened as I saw the note on my nightstand.
" bye, brother. good riddance.
-Kaur "
What the hell was going on?
-:- -:- -:-
The next day, Kaur was gone. He'd taken some clothes, some food, and a kitchen knife. Mother's temper was worse than anything, quick as a whip and sharp as a blade, scathing and brutal. I spent that night cradling an arm I would learn much later had been severely fractured in eight places. Over time I would get used to hearing my own pulse thrumming in my ears, a lack of sleep due to the pains of the day, and the anguished sobbing from somewhere below.
Okay, chapter one check! For now, there may be quite a few time skips, mostly to save everyone's sanity. If anyone feels like reviewing, do you think he's too OOC? (Overly original characterization for the dear newcomers~) I've role played him for a while now, so my version may be slightly different.