Chapter Five: Birth of the Hate

920 Years Ago

            "Hang on little sister." Anni helped her younger sister, Jenni, towards the Glen's clinic. Jenni was nine months pregnant and had gone into labor a few moments ago. Anni shifted her sibling's arm over her shoulder.

            Anni was a light pink gummi with dark almost red hair. She often wore her hair in a low ponytail or just let it flow loose. She was quite popular among the glen for her fantastic hair and clothing designs. She and her mate, as gummies preferred to call their partners, had yet to have any cubs.

            "I'm trying, Anni." The girl groaned, pushing her aqua blue hair behind her shoulders. She was only twenty-two. She was of a light aqua blue shade, with a lighter colored shade of hair that fell to her backside. She usually kept it in a ponytail but right now it was loose.

            Her mate had been in Ursalia. He promised to hurry back if he got word she went into labor. Her mate's name was Darini and he was a tall gummi of a light orange shade.  They had met two years ago.

            "Hurry! Hurry!"

            The next thing Jenni knew she was looking up at her mate.

            "Darini…what happened?"

            Her mate grinned. "You passed out. We don't know why. But our daughter's fine. Emi's fine."

            The healer, Emili, smiled but inwardly she was baffled. She had never seen a birth like that. Never before had a mother simply passed out as Jenni had done. Blood loss was not the reason. It was the pain. But there was no reason for the pain. It was if the child had been trying to cause her agony.

5 Years Later

            "I wanna go!"

            "For the last time no!" Jenni's patience was thin.

            "Daddy goes."

            Jenni's eyes brimmed with tears. Darini had been killed protecting the human castle. Her daughter did not understand. She knelt down.

            "Baby, I want you to listen to Mommy." Emi nodded. "Daddy was protecting our human friends. But something happened and now Daddy can't come home."

            "Where is Daddy?"

            "He's with my mother."

            "But I never see Grandma!"

            "I know baby."

            Jenni rose when she was called over by her younger sister, Sandi. Telling her daughter to behave for the other adults, she left.

            Emi was confused but mostly angry. Humans killed her father. Why? Why? Why did they even help them? They didn't deserve it! She ran into the library and up to the Great Book. It was open as always. She began to flip through the pages but most of the words she couldn't understand. She could read a bit but her skills were very limited.

            "Emi!"

            Turning, the girl saw her aunt Anni. The older gummi walked over and picked her niece up.

            "You know better."

            "I can look if I want. When I get older I wanna do magic."

            "Emi, only certain gummies can do magic. You may not be one of them."

            "I can try!"

            "Of course!" Anni smiled. "But don't get your heart set on one thing."

            "Auntie Anni, do you love me?"

            "Of course, little one. You're my niece but I think of you as a daughter."

            Emi smiled. She would always be first in her aunt's heart.

15 Years Later

            Emi growled as she watched her cousin Naomi dance. Her cousin was perfect; it made Emi sick. The adults adored her. The girl looked very much like her mother, but her hair was lighter. Emi had adored her aunt but after Naomi was born Emi became second-class.

            Emi was constantly attempting magic but her control was not powerful enough. The others told her it was because her heart was still twisted by hate. She hated humans with a passion. In fact, she was constantly in trouble for attacking any that dared come near her.

            "Hey Emi!"

            She turned and saw her cousin running to her,

            "What do you want?"

            "I wanted to know if you wanted to help me bake some cookies."

            "No! Why would I want to do that? You're already so perfect, do it yourself."

            Naomi was stunned, "I just thought maybe we could spend some time together…"

            "Is that all you think about? Did it ever occur to you that maybe people didn't want to be with you?"

            Naomi narrowed her eyes. She didn't like being yelled at.

            "I'm your cousin…"

            "Don't remind me!"

            Naomi growled, "You are so cold!"

            She stormed off. Emi watched her, her heart pounding with anger at her cousin's accomplishments, the praise she received compared with the contempt she herself obtained. Emi drew her lip back in a snarl.

            "Cold? She thinks I'm cold? Oh no little Naomi I haven't even begun to cool yet."