Title: Sunrise

Rating: K/G

Summary: The past may fuel the present, but the present drives the future.

Author: Nektry


Violet eyes roam across the scorched, blood stained walls. Each passing step echoes the roars of fires and the moans of those consumed by an ever expanding inferno. The thumps of feet crushing charred ground mix with the crackling flames to fill the hallway with a cacophony of desolation. A shadow lands upon a set of pristine birchwood doors, its empty visage staring back into those violet eyes. The figure tenuously moves a hand to the silver handles, and ever so softly, the doors open.

Behind those solid doors is a white room. Dawn has yet to fully crest over the horizon; the room radiates the raspberry hue of an awakening sun. A Victorian style bed with a silky canopy lies on the farside of the room. Footsteps, light as the gentle tapping of sprinkling rain, trail to the bed. As the footsteps get closer, they fade away. The pitter patter of feet is replaced with soft hums. The trailing feet align with the ever growing sound.

Wrinkled, calloused hands draw back the smooth silk to reveal the bubbly expression of a charcoal haired woman; in her arms, a small child.

"Morning, Marianne."

"And morning to you as well, Darling. What brings you here so early?"

His face drops. "Memories."

Marianne smiles at him and waves him in. "I'm sorry, Charles. I know this place holds some bad memories for you."

"It's alright." He leans in and kisses her forehead. "I know how much you enjoy nature. This is the most beautiful place in the Empire. My mother had the chateau built here for the same reason."

Marianne reaches one arm up to him and grasps onto his shoulder. "But still, this is the place where it all began. Where your mother was killed. Where you and Victor made your pact."

"That's true, but that doesn't matter. The past is the past, it may fuel what we do, but there is no use reminiscing on it." Charles stares at the child in her arms. "Besides, there is much work to do to make sure that he lives a better life than we ever had."

"A world with lies."

"A world where everyone will understand one another."