Losing Blades

Prologue

The shrill cry of a new-born child shattered the still calm of the night air, and a deep voice rang out,

"It's a boy. Congratulations." In an abandoned building, close to the moats of the Du Couteau mansion, a woman cradled her son, a small, but energetic package. He grabbed at her robes with such strength, it reminded her of a bird's talons.

"That's it…Talon…"

A voice penetrated the still air, from behind the woman.

"Talon's a very nice name. Now I'd like my son back."

In an instant, the doctor who was helping her give birth dropped, a black-hilted dagger protruding from his neck. She stood, and ran past the murdered body, clutching her son. She ran into an alley, black enough to hide anything from the average civilian. She shoved her baby into a box, and placed him behind a dumpster. She looked around for a weapon, something to help her defend herself. She reached down for a piece of glass, and then a thin sword appeared around her throat.

"Hello, Ava. Are you trying giving me the slip?" She made no reply, but slowly inched down toward the potentially lethal piece of glass on the ground.

"Ah, ah, ah. Not so fast, honey." He pushed her back, and into a wall. Bravely, she glared into his hazel eyes, the only thing she could see under his hood.

"Where's my son? You know I have every right to keep him."

"You'll never get him! He'll never be your so-"She hesitated. The sword was no longer around her throat. The mother quickly bent down and grabbed the glass, trying to ignore the pain that shot through her hands. She scanned the area, then panicked. She spiraled around to the dumpster where she placed Talon. The man smiled, his whites showing clearly in the night, a cloth wrapped child in his arms.

"Found him. See you around, Ava." Ava emitted a growl, fierce enough to scare off a legion of men. She sprinted, closing the gap between them. She leaped on his back, and drove her makeshift dagger into his side. He screamed, but didn't lose his grip on neither the sword nor Talon.

"Fuck!" The father flung her off his back, and sent her into the ground. She recovered quickly, and faced him with nothing but a piece of glass. He placed their son down, out of the area of combat. Then he turned to her.

"You know..." he spoke through clenched teeth, as if trying to stay professional. "I really didn't to kill you, but evidently…you won't let me go." He instantly appeared in front of her, and viciously plunged his sword into her body, piercing a lung. She screeched, and drove him closer to her. Using her last bit of strength, she clutched the glass weapon, and stabbed it into his neck. He fell back, pulling his sword out of Ava's body. His screams of pain quickly becoming cries of help. He let out one last gurgle, and fell to the ground, dropping his weapon. It fell to the ground with an audible clang, covered in blood.

Ava stood, trying desperately to keep her balance. She picked up Talon, and brought him to the first house she could find. She knocked, and an elderly man answered.

Ava said one thing, "His name is Talon." Then she fell, letting go of her last breath.

Talon's arms reached out toward the old man, cooing with excitement. The man called for someone, and a woman of equal age came out. They whispered to each other, in a tone so quiet. Together, they took away Ava's body and buried her. They looked at Talon, and brought him inside, feeling a last duty to the dead mother.