CHAPTER 2

Cornell sat by the lake in the forest. The water sparkled like glass in the sunlight, even though it was surrounded by the tall trees that shaded the forest. Malus sat nearby with his back turned towards Cornell, paying the sights no attention. He was preoccupied with sketching in the dirt with a broken stick.

"What are you sketching there...?" Cornell finally asked curiously.

Malus turned his head towards Cornell and looked up at him. He had an eerie smirk on his face. After a minute or so, he whispered something barely audible.

Cornell looked stunned. He actually spoke? Malus had never said anything to anyone...

"Erm, could you say that again...?"

Malus grinned. He whispered again, very little louder than the last time.

"Huh?"

"Death..." Malus whispered.

Cornell hesitated. Of all the first words an autistic four-year-old could say, that was one of the ones he'd least expected.

"Death..." Malus whispered again.

Cornell got up and looked at what Malus had been drawing. His eyes widened as he looked at the symbol in the dirt.

"Malus..." He whispered in awe. "This is the sign of the devil. Where did you learn this...?"

Malus laughed.

"No, I'm serious, Malus. Where did you learn this?"

"What do you care?" Malus sneered. "What you don't know won't hurt you..."

Cornell frowned. He took one swipe with his claws at Malus' arm. The boy yelped, dropping them drawing-stick he had in his hand, and grabbing his wounded arm. His eyes watered as he examined the claw marks. The wound wasn't deep, but it was painful. He watched his blood drip from the cut, then looked up at his uncle with hatred.

"The sign of the devil is not to be taken lightly." Cornell said solemnly. "Especially not by a child. Even the bravest men tremble at the sight of his mark."

"I will do as I please." Malus shot back. "I don't need you! I don't need anyone!"

He got up and ran as fast as his legs could carry him, deeper into the forest. He didn't know the way, or where he was running to, but where ever it was, it would be far and far away from Cornell. Fury clouded his mind and heart like a raging flame. Curse Cornell! He always ruins everything! Malus stopped and kicked the closest tree in frustration, then he sat down at its base. The blood from his wound had dried, but the wound itself still stung. A painful reminder not to draw the devil's sign in Cornell's presence, or to retort comments at him... Malus cursed Cornell again. He looked up and let out a startled scream. Three cerberus hounds circled him. They had dark fur and three heads, each with it's own set of flaming red eyes, and bared fangs as deadly as they were long and dripped blood. Malus froze with fear. His legs refused to move, and his mouth to speak. One of the cerberus snapped at each of its own heads testily, while the other two started to sniff Malus. Time was slowing down and death was close by... Cornell charged from the trees with his sword at hand. He sliced it through one of the cerberus' throats, clearing all three of its heads straight off their necks in an affray of blood.

"You will not harm him!" Cornell said fiercely, poising the blood-stained blade in front of him. "Go back to the fiery chasm you came from, demons!"

The remaining two cerberus circled him for a moment, deciding whether he too was weak enough to kill. The choice was made, and the cerberus fled without a word.

Cornell sheathed his sword and bent down to where Malus sat.

"Are you alright? You haven't been hurt have you...?" He checked the boy for wounds. "No, you're fine. Thank goodness."

Malus was still in a state of shock. So close...death...I could sense death...real demons... His heart beat rapidly.

Cornell lifted the child into his arms and comforted him. "You're just abit shaken up, that's all. Come on, let's go home."

Malus wrapped his arm around Cornell's neck and hugged him tightly. Somehow he felt safer than he had ever been... By the time they got home, Malus was asleep. Cornell placed him down on his bed, and went to talk with Ada, who was in the next room over. Malus started to stir when he heard his name being mentioned.

"Malus hasn't been too much trouble to you, has he...?" Ada asked worried.

"No, he was fine. I think he has had enough sunshine for one day."

He heard Cornell yawn.

"Now I just need to get some sleep, myself. I have to be on watch at nine o' clock."

Malus could hear footsteps leading to Cornell's room and the door close. He laid down and went back to sleep. When he awoke again, it was late. Malus could see through the window that the sun had set, and the torches in the village were lit. Marcell had returned home, and he and Ada were both asleep. Malus snuck out of bed and tip-toed to Cornell's room. Cornell had already left. Malus crept out the front door and out of the village. Darkness covered the trees in the forest.

"Cornell?" Malus called hesitantly, looking around for him.

"Good evening, lad. What brings you here at such a late hour...?"

Malus looked up. His uncle sat on a tree branch not too high above, beaming down at him. The light from the village torches luminated the trees around him.

"Nothing..." Malus murmured. He sat down, leaning against the tree.

"So you've finally got the hang of speaking, eh?"

"I knew how to speak" Malus snapped. "I just never wanted to..."

"Why not?"

Malus decided not to answer, but the odd silence was quickly broken when Cornell poked him playfully on the shoulder with a small broken off tree branch.

"Yoo-hoo, is anyone home? Oh no, he's gone cold again..."

Malus smiled.

"Aha! A smile! This is very rare coming from you..."

"Very rare indeed..." Malus sighed.

"You sound troubled. What's wrong?"

Malus looked up curiously at Cornell, who returned the same look. Through his uncle's steely blue penetrating eyes and somewhat daunting appearance, he seemed caring, compassionate, and quite friendly at heart. Malus stared back at the ground in front of him.

"Nothing..." He replied.

"The uneased look on your face says different. You can tell me..."

After a minute or so, Malus spoke.

"Have you ever had the strange feeling that I was Count Dracula? Or that I would become the dark lord?"

Cornell paused at the unexpected question. "No. You seem like a fairly normal child, like all the others."

"Oh, and you haven't noticed the other things too?" Malus asked skeptically. "The entire village thinks I'm strange, my parents think I'm strange, I myself think I'm strange! I don't know how I knew the devil's sign, I don't know how I summoned those demons in the forest. I don't know why I appeared autistic, I don't know why I'm cynical, and I don't know why I'm a prodigy. I don't know anything!" He continued to stare at the ground, as his eyes started to tear. "I'm sorry for everything..." He whispered.

Cornell smiled down at him.

"There's no need to be sorry for anything, lad. Such things do not mean you are fated to be the dark lord. Once you take the time to be with your mother and father, you will know that they love you regardless of what you are. If you go to the meadow with the other children, you're bound to find a friend. And if you accompany me on my journeys, I can help you find your true self."

Malus looked towards the darkened trees ahead, in thought. A few moments later, he looked up at Cornell and did his best to form a friendly smile...something which he had never done before.