Serena, Nightstalker
Chapter 2
And I didn't, but that was long ago. The memories sharp edges have dulled and the pain has subsided. I haven't forgotten, but how could I? But the more I remember, the less I feel. The less I feel, the more I slay. The more I slay, the more I remember. I live in a continual cycle, forever burying myself deeper until, finally, I stop feeling, and my body stops moving. Until that happens, my goal is to slay as many Mikara as physically possible. While vengence still runs strong, I still feel pain at the final stare and the utterance in their final breath, "Nightstalker".
Later, I cry. Not from the kill, but for the children of my victims. They feel the same pain I did, and they may grow up to share my horrid fate.
I laid in my bed on a cold winter night to the alarm bell ringing distantly. I grabbed my engraved longsword from my nightstand and let "Serena" glitter in the candlelight.
"I'm sorry Da. I know you wanted me to protect myself with this, not make others need to use one of their own." I recited my apology, as I always do when the bell rings.
I ran into the village crying, knowing what I'll have to do. There was a line-up of children, tied up with rope. On the end was a boy my age.
"What is the meaning of this?" I bellowed at the mayor, who was cowering behind the children.
"N-n-n-Nightstalker! These children were found in the woods alone. They are believed to be Mikara." His voice grew stronger the longer he spoke, but still shivered in fear.
"You obviously know nothing of the Mikara, as is obvious. My dears," I softened my voice so as not to frighten the younger ones. The older boy looked at me with large, hollow green eyes. "Are any among you over eighteen? Don't be shy, I won't hurt you." I sheathed my dagger to prove the point, and reached for the littlest's hand. She looked frightened. I cut her chains with my dagger, and brazenly placed her on my hip. "What's your name, Little One?"
"Alaina, ma'am."
"Call me Serena." The name felt strange on my lips, like a forbidden fruit finally bitten. I ignored it. "How old are you Alaina?"
She held up six fingers. I sat down on a well and picked up a little boy, sitting both children on my lap. "What's your name, young master?"
"Kypel, Mrs. Serena."
"Well, Kypel, I am a miss. I'm not married."
"But you wear the belts of marriage!" Alaina looked up at me in astonishment.
"Well, I'm the last girl here, that makes me a woman. I live over there on that hill." I pointed and set Alaina and Kypel down.
I walked to the boy with the hollow eyes, "How old are you?"
He was silent. I pulled out my dagger. "I have killed beings far larger, older and stronger than you. I would rather not kill you. Now, I asked you a question."
"I am fifteen." I was right.
"I am fifteen as well. The question is, have you been branded?"
"I have not." His eyes were still hollow and no trace of fear or emotion showed on his face.
"Really?"
"It's true."
"What is going?" The mayor had grown frustrated as we whispered.
"What is going on, Mayor, is that Mikara aren't turned until their eighteen. A week before their sixteenth birthday, they are branded with the 'Mark of the Wolf'. It's a pawprint on the inside of the wrist. See," I flipped over his right wrist, revealing unblemished flesh. "this boy has not been branded. These children are not a threat."
"Will the boy..."
"No, he will not change without the mark. They will never harm us."
The group disbanded, and I cut their ropes. "Anyone who is an orphan may come to live with me. If you know where your parents are, you may leave."
Noone moved,and Alaina reached for my hand. "Our parent were killed in the Clan War. They attacked at night, while we were asleep. Lymal has taken care of us since." Her voice was pained.
"All ten of you are orphans?"
Lymel spoke audibly and indignation and respect shone in his eyes. "We numbered fifteen at the beginning of the year. SInce then, two were killed, and three died of an illness. My brother was among the killled." He sounded hurt.
"Who killed them?"
"A woman. She's feared in our culture because of her youth, speed, and stealth. My father was reveared as the man that almost killed her. I was sickened by that knowledge."
"Why?" I pushed him harder, wanting to know what he knew.
"Because I saw her. I was in her house when he stabbed her. He had killed her family, just for sports, and met up with the girl with the girl while she was crying. He saw her dagger, and ran her through trying to protect me. He thought she was dead, and cried me back to our village on his shoulders. We were celebrated, and I was sick that night. The Liortna was beautiful, that night in her cottage. I'm sorry her family is dead." He hung his head, and I felt moisture run unbidden from my eyes. I remembered his father, and was touched that he was sickened by his fathers act. I pulled his chin up.
"I forgive you." His eyes flashed, and he stepped back. "I have never killed children. I couldn't bring myself to do it." I whispered in his ear. "But I will help you find the one who did."
Alaina grabbed my leg. "Serena, can we stay at your house? It's so cold outside." I turned away from Lymel.
"Come along children. We will build a fire to rival the destruction of Ortoy. (A/n a sort of anagram of Troy) All will be warm tonight."
I picked up Alaina and we walked the little one to the house at the top of the hill. I looked back before we left the village to see Lymel still standing in the town square. "Are you coming? I promise not to run you through while you're sleeping." I cried out jokingly.
He stood still, and I whispered in Alaina's ear. I set her down, and she grabbed a hold of Lymel's hand. "Come on, Slowpoke! Serena has food!"
He looked down at her and smile. Slowly, he began to move up the hill toward me. "I have a barn attached to my house. You and the children can set up beds in the hay." I pushed Alaina ahead, and she took up walking beside Kypel.
"The door locks if you don't trust me. I only kill for revenge, and only if they attack first, which they always do. You and the children will be safe as long as you don't pull a weapon on me. I will slit your neck with no hesitation, as I said before."
"Understood, Liortna."
"What does that mean anyway?"
"Vengeful Spirit." He sounded grim.
"Oh." I stopped, and Lymel walked in front of me.
"You coming? I promise not to run you through while you're sleeping."
He was getting comfortable enough with me to joke around. That might be a good thing? The problem is, was it?
I caught up with him again, and said, "So you have a sense of humor. But, can you run?"
I took off toward the house, running as fast as I could. I was no snail, having chased my victims through the woods for years. Yet, there he was, running right beside me. I picked up the pace, challenging him to follow. He met my pace, and issued a challenge of his own. I pushed myself to the limit. We hit the house at the same time. We collapsed together, and breathed deeply. "Good race, Liortna. The legends don't lie. You are swift."
I scoffed. "Then what does that make you?"
"The fastest runner in my village." he laughed, but I heard the bitterness in his voice.
"What happened to your village. Surely you saw."
"They came at night while we were asleep just as Alaina said. My father was awake, due to a few injuries on his thigh getting infected. They tore into my house, and my fathers final cry awoke my mother." His eyes clouded over, remembering what he so desperatly wanted to forget. "She rushed into my room, and hurried me outside. 'Take care of the children, my son, as you are the oldest,' she told me. I ran around the village twice, awakening all I could. All of the children made it out, except for two families. The watchers' children, and the warriors'. They were the first killed. I went back for my mother, only to find her killer standing over her, fresh blood on her claws." By this time, tears were falling freely down his face, and I put a hand on his shoulder. I didn't interrupt, though. Once you stop, it's hard to start back up again. "We did nothing to the other clans. It was well-known that we were neutral parties in the War. My mother, Liortna, was killed by my fiancee.