Chapter 2

If I Fall

"What?" That's all I could say. All my words were bottled up in my throat. I could not breathe, I could not think, I could not even move my body. I was frozen in place.

"Alaric is rapidly growing like all Eternal children and it is time for him to go to Adremis. This is not up for discussion Akilina."

I was still frozen in place and my head was screaming for me to grab Alaric and run away, far away from Dimitri and Xia. So that my son would not have to go to Adremis, many children if they are incapable of fighting and defending themselves are killed by the other children for their weakness.

I could not have Alaric's death on my mind. I knew from the moment that he was born that I would have gone through this. I wish I didn't have to but all mothers in Xia must send their children to Adremis. Most mothers are proud to send their children there but me on the other hand and I am not proud. I fear for my child.

"Dimitri? Shouldn't we wait till Alaric is a bit older before we go sending him to Adremis? He is not even 7 years old. I know he is aging rapidly but regardless he is still a child." My heart was beating rapidly and I knew my eyes gave away the worry that I was trying to hide.

Dimitri who was holding Alaric in his arms put him on the floor and walked over to me. Dimitri grabbed the back of my neck and pulled my face closer to his. I gasped but I didn't not resist.

"This is not up for discussion Akilina. If Alaric is strong then he will survive Adremis without a problem. He is our son thus he has both of our blood running through his body. Alaric will be 8 tomorrow and 9 the day after and so on and so forth. Before you know it when his body has completed the change he will stop growing and aging." Our foreheads were touching and I could feel his breath on my face. It was a sweet smell; I could still smell the hint of blood in his breath.

But then I thought back to when I was in the academy, I knew all of what he was saying because I learned it while I was in the academy. I remember everything so vividly especially the fact that I was challenged a number of times in the academy and I had to decide to either kill or be killed. I killed a lot of kids my age because of the wanting I had to get back to Dimitri. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think about those kids that I killed, but I was taught to kill means to survive. I could not stop Alaric from going to the Adremis and I hoped that he would be able to take care of himself.

"Ok…Dimitri I…"

Dimitri smiled at me and moved a strand of hair away from my face. His forehead was no longer resting on mine. I suddenly felt alone not having his breath on my face. But I knew that we could not stay in that position for a long period of time.

"You don't have to speak my love. I know what you are going to tell me and my answer will be no. I know you love Alaric and you fear for him, but I feared for you when I had to send you the academy." He let out a breath that hit the top of my head and it sent shivers down my back. "I prayed almost every day, every hour that you would be ok and that I would see you again."

I feel myself grow very self conscious about what he is saying. He never told me this before and it has been 2 centuries since I have returned home from the academy.

"I dreamt of your beautiful eyes every night that I slept. As you have said, they were beautiful nightmares." I avert my gaze from his and look at the floor. Then I remember that Alaric is standing right next to Dimitri and I switch my attention to Alaric.

He is standing next to his father and he is also staring at me, it appears to me that Alaric is studying me just like his father does every so often. "Dimitri…I wish for Alaric not to go to Adremis…"

Dimitri opens his mouth to saying something but I cut him off, "But it is your wish to send him there now then I will agree and pray that he will come back to us unharmed."

Alaric runs to me and I reach down for him. I hold my son in a warm embrace. I pray to the gods right now that my son will prevail in Adremis and that he will defeat any enemy that he comes up against.

"Mommy?"

I hear the small whisper in my ear and it pulls me away from my silent prayer. I hold him tighter to my chest and breathe him in. He has an intoxicating scent to him and I pull away to look into his beautiful purple eyes. I smile at him and touch his cheek. His skin tone is an exotic brown much like Bastien.

"I love you Alaric. I will pray every day for your safe return." I fight the yearning in my heart to just grab him and hold him to my chest.

"Mom…Do not worry about me…" There is so much distance in his voice it is like he is already gone and he is saying his farewell to me.

I stand up and walk towards Dimitri. He is not looking at me though; he is looking at Alaric with a new curiosity. Alaric sits on the floor and crosses his legs and closes his eyes.

"You use to do the same thing, when I first brought you here. When you refused to speak to me or my guards you would close your eyes and sit just like that on the floor or ground. It still makes me smile to think about that." His smile is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen.

"He is a beautiful as you Akilina." He says this just as a whisper.

I look up at him. He has the most unique features. The curve of his nose is perfect, his high cheek bones add more to his appeal, his now brownish glow that highlights his beautiful green eyes, and his hair, it is as black as night and yet has a certain shine to it. The most beloved memory I have of him is training with him. The way his smile always reaches his eyes and how pieces of his hair fall into his face.

I love this man more than I ever thought I would. But I loved a man before him…

"Why are you staring at me?" I am torn out of my daydream and I notice that I am now gawking at Dimitri. I blush and look away.

Alaric is now gone, "Where is Alaric?"

Dimitri faces me and I see that his eyes are now an emerald green. "Akili, he left a few minutes ago while you were day dreaming."

I look behind him and see no sign of Alaric anywhere. "I could not have spaced for that long could I?"

Dimitri smiled, "It's because you were looking at me." Then he winked and grabbed a hold of my hand. He led me to the fountain in the back yard.

I looked over the end and saw a bright object on the bottom. I looked at Dimitri and he motioned to his lap. I moved so that I was now sitting in his lap.

"In all seriousness what were you day dreaming about?" He began to play with my hair and started to wrap it around his fingers. Having him play with my hair is sending shivers through my entire body.

I moved away from his lap and looked over into the water again. The water here was so clear that you could see everything under it. I started to stare at the object under the water again. This time Dimitri moved next to me to see what I was looking at.

"Do you want it?" Dimitri asked me.

I nodded in reply. Dimitri then jumped into the water and swam down to retrieve it for me. He came back up and all his clothes were sticking to him clearly showing his well developed form. I could not help but stare in response. Dimitri held the object out to me.

I grabbed it from his hand and looked at it. I was a diamond. I medium sized white diamond; it was engraved on the side with the initials D.A.

"D.A.? That's you isn't it?" I asked as I continued to examine the diamond.

Before Dimitri could answer Alaric was in the doorway and behind him was Melody one of Dimitri's soldiers holding about 5 bags.

"Dad? I am finished packing and I am ready to go." Alaric was now dressed in black jeans and a blue dress shirt. He looked more like Dimitri in this moment than ever before.

Dimitri got out of the water and said, "The car is already in the front. Say farewell to me and your mother so that you can be on your way."

Alaric walked up to his father and saluted him with a hand over his heart then hugged Dimitri. Alaric came to me next and hugged me and whispered in my ear. I gasped in response. He then kissed my cheek and walked back to Melody. I stared at him till he was no longer in sight.

"What did he tell you?" I heard Dimitri ask me.

I looked at him with shock and joy clearly written on my face. "He said 'If I fall just know that you are the best mother in the world. But I will not fall. I will fight till there is not a breath left in my body. I will be back.' That's all he said to me."

I was clearly shaken by his words, I never thought he could sound so grown up and brave.

"He will not fall." Was all Dimitri said before he walked back into the house.

I stayed by the fountain and held on the white diamond. It was very beautiful and I still felt shudders running through my body as I remembered Alaric's words.

"Akilina?"

I turned around and I could not see any one, just a silhouette of someone standing next to the big oak.