Disclaimer: I do not own Detroit Become Human. This story contains blood, violence, and horror elements. Viewer discretion is advised.
January 2nd, 650
Dear Sorceress Stern,
He is a failure. Not in the sense that he fails to live but that he fails to function as I had envisioned. His refusal to eat and his additional extremities are a couple of unintended features. I blame myself for modifying the ritual, but the ritual alone cannot give me what I desire. I must find a way. Find a different ritual that suits my needs, or create one myself. But until that time comes, I'll continue to study and nurture what I have already created. I'll update you on my future findings.
Sincerely,
Your devoted pupil, Elijah Kamski
January 5th, 650
Dear Sorceress Stern,
He hasn't eaten anything still. I've tried giving him milk from various animals, but he will not take any. Any human newborn would have died going so long without food. He, however, continues to breathe on with little fuss. I don't know how long that will last. Maybe he does not need food or gets his nutrients elsewhere. I must find the answer. I put too much work into him for him to perish. Besides his unknown diet, he does not do much of anything. He doesn't cry, try to explore his cradle, or even open his eyes. I believe I'm doing something wrong but I must figure out what it is. If you have any ideas as to what I should do, please send them over. Hopefully, the next time I write to you, it will be about my progress.
Sincerely,
Your devoted pupil, Elijah Kamski
January 8th, 650
Dear Sorceress Stern,
I'm disappointed to inform you that I have not gotten far with my creation. With his inactivity, he may as well be a stone at the bottom of the river. He is also getting paler by the day; he needs to eat something. I do not wish to force him, but I am
"What are you writing, Elijah?" Elijah's feathered pen stopped at the tail of his 'a' as a gentle voice inquired from behind him.
"I'm writing to Sorceress Stern, Chloe. To update her on how my creation is doing. Poorly."
"Hm, and she still hasn't responded?"
"Not yet. It is the beginning of a new school year. Sorceress Stern is most likely preoccupied with students. Which doesn't help my creation."
"I know she'll make time for you," a soft hand caressed his shoulder, like to the touch. "But in the meantime, you should set down your pen and continue to work with him."
"What more—"
"Simply holding him will do wonders."
"The daylight will irritate him."
"I'll shut the curtains. You can try feeding him some dragon fruit I left in the kitchen. He's waiting for you where he always is." Chloe left the room to fulfill her task, and he set the pen down to complete his. He walked to the closet door in his study room and slowly opened it. His creation was where he had left him, resting in a wooden cradle wrapped up in blankets. He looked peaceful with his eyes shut and light breathing which didn't stir when Elijah picked him up. He was as light as a feather in his arms as he walked down the darkened halls, shielding the child from the cracks of sunlight that peeked through the curtains with his cloak.
It was a short trip to the kitchen, and he saw on the round marble counter the magenta dragon fruit resting on a cutting board with a knife beside it.
"Hopefully, you find this tasteful," he still had no faint clue whether or not his creation could understand his words, but he spoke regardless. He gently rested his creation in the wool sling around his shoulders and picked up the knife to cut the delicate fruit. He glanced away from his cutting at a distant creek in the castle. The dark was a force he hadn't feared in a long while, but he couldn't help the shiver that made his hairs stand on end. The knife made a crisp cut into something more decadent than dragon fruit, and Elijah recoiled from the sting on the tip of his finger. He internally cursed as he felt his warm blood dripping from his sliced finger, but that didn't hold his attention for long.
There was a movement against his chest, and he looked down to see his creation starting to twitch, his mouth opening up, but no sound came out. He put his hand to his creation's face. He didn't feel too hot, but he wasn't ice cold either.
"What's the matter?" he asked. From his creation's mouth, a tiny grey tongue slithered out. It was a rough and wet sensation that rubbed against the tip of his bleeding finger as his creation lapped up his blood. Elijah stood still, watching in fascination and relief as his creation finally fed for the first time. The realization was as relieving as it was daunting, but Elijah couldn't be worried in the moment. "My apologies for taking so long to feed you." He apologized. "Thank you for holding on, little one."
Slowly, his creation's eyes peeked open. In the dark, Elijah looked back at the solid black orbs gripping his attention. He wanted to take a proper look at his creation, though he knew any natural light or flame from a candle would be detrimental. Instead, he thought of an Umbrae spell, not casting but simply conjuring the thought of it, bringing a soft violet glow to his tattoos. This brought two revelations to light. The first was that his creation could, in fact, move his arms as two tiny hands reached out from underneath the bundle. They reached up to hook his elongated fingers on his illuminating hand. The second and much more startling was that his creation's eyes weren't black. They were nonexistent. His eye sockets were completely empty, dark caverns that went on without an end. However, Elijah could feel in his bones that something in that darkness was staring right back at him.
January 13th, 650
Dear Sorceress Stern,
My creation is making tremendous progress now that he has proper nutrition. He appears to be growing at a faster rate than a regular human child. How fast precisely, I have yet to calculate. He is gaining resistance to the light of flame and magic, though he refuses to be exposed to natural light. Other improvements are that he is more mobile, his skin has gained some flush, and his eyes have finally opened. Or opened his eyelids, I should say. My creation is eyeless. Two empty holes take place where his eyes should exist. Another casualty for tampering with forces too chaotic for mortal minds.
I introduced him to Genevieve, but she refused to have him on her back. Hopefully, she'll grow in his company with time.
Through tests, I have found he is primarily aware of his surroundings. He can navigate with rarely bumping into anything and effortlessly track me down no matter where I am in the castle. Though I have no worries about his navigation, I do not want anything to accidentally get lodged in his eye sockets. I have wrapped a cloth around his head for the time being, but I know there is a better solution, a more discrete solution. If you have any ideas, please let me know, Sorceress. I hope everything is treating you well on your end.
Sincerely,
Your devoted pupil, Elijah Kamski
Elijah let the light from his lantern guide his way through the dark overgrowth of the forest. It would have been easier and much safer to travel during the day, but he would rather his creation be comfortable underneath the moonlight than have a chance of him burning in the sun. Damp dirt and grass crunched beneath his boots, and prickly thorns scraped his robe as he ducked under a low-hanging branch, careful not to terribly disturb his creation resting in his silk sling. Finally, he walked into a clearing that stretched out into the darkness at first glance.
It only took one step forward for the darkness to shift, and Elijah clutched his creation close to his chest with his free hand. A heavy thumping vibrated through the ground, and rattling disturbed the quiet night. Two piercing yellow eyes peered through the dark as the dark molded into the fur coat of the beast stalked its way over. Elijah stood firm when those striking eyes leered down at him from above, a low growl biting at the air as the beast's sharp yellowed teeth caught the lantern's light.
"I've come to do business." Elijah kept his voice steady and jangled the pouch of coins on his hip. The beast leaned down, his head coming into the light, the head of a bear. One more massive than his brethren with a muzzle that could swiftly bite the head off a horse. Elijah looked the arctosmorph back in the eye as he sniffed and immediately reared back like he wafted an awfully pungent scent. Another growl rumbled from the arctosmorph's throat, but he stepped back to the side, revealing another warmer light settled inside the once-hidden cave. "Thank you." Elijah bowed his head and continued to the light, walking past the arctosmorph's intimidating figure and into the cave.
The light came from the glowing windows of a wooden cabin whose roof scrapped the cave's rocky ceiling. The grey marble sign hanging from the front door read 'open' and swayed when Elijah opened the door, a chime sounding. It was warm inside the cabin with dolls and their separate parts lining the shelved walls and shared space with animal parts on tabled displays.
"I'll be right with you," the man from behind the counter called out, back turned to him. Elijah set down his lantern on a nearby hook and glanced at the paw of a fox and the hairless head of a wooden doll as he walked to the counter. "You came just before closing. Aren't you lucky?" the man chuckled, turning to adequately address Elijah. "Oh," he gasped, startled. "You're a magus."
"Sorcerer. Will that be an issue?" Elijah asked.
"No, sir, not at all," the man quickly regained his composure, smiling crookedly. "It's just rare that I get a customer such as yourself." He held out his hand, fingers stained a dark purple, "I'm called Zlatko."
"I've heard you make artificial body parts," Elijah said, ignoring the hand.
"Among other things, yes." Zlatko wiped his hands on his dirty brown apron. "What do you need? You seem to have all your parts."
"It's not for me." Elijah looked down at the bundle in his arms. "He needs eyes."
"Oh, I see. I have quite the selection to choose from, but I'm afraid none of my products will grant your child sight. It's more for appearances' sake. Will that be alright?"
"That's perfectly fine. Do you have multiple sizes? He'll outgrow his infant pair."
"Of course, sir. What color do you want?"
"Whatever is of the highest quality."
"Oh, I've got just the thing." Zlatko went to a back cabinet and pulled out one of the drawers, plucking a few sleek wooden cases. "I have many sizes for when they grow." He set down the cases on the counter and opened one, revealing the synthetic eyes inside. Elijah plucked one up, it felt like a marble between his fingers, and he brushed aside the cloth shielding his creation's face. Then, gently, he coaxed open his creation's tiny eyelid and slid the eye inside the dark hole, delicately adjusting it. Elijah slid the other one in as well and examined his handiwork. The silver marble eyes stared at him dully as his creation squinted and lightly rubbed at his eye, adjusting to the new sensation. "How are they?" Zlatko asked, wringing his hands together.
"They're suitable," Elijah said, softly nudging his creation's hand away from his face. He reached into his satchel and pulled out a glistening red ruby. "Will this cover the cost?"
"Depends. Is it cursed?"
"It's purer than you, I'm sure." The gem hit the counter with a heavy thunk.
"My apologies, sir. I meant no offense." Zlatko bowed his head as he apologized. "The past years have given plenty of reasons to distrust magic," he clasped his gloved hands together, "and those who conjure her."
"Have a peaceful night," Elijah grabbed the other cases and put them in his satchel before heading to the door, taking his lantern off the hook and clipping it to his belt. He took one step outside and stopped. The arctosmorph blocked the cave's mouth, sharp yellow eyes staring him down and a low growl bouncing off the cave walls. Elijah curled his lip. "There's no need for that. We've finished our business." The arctosmorph snorted in response, not backing down.
"Oh, he's perfect where he is." There was a smile in Zlatko's voice. "Seeing as we have more business to attend to." Elijah looked behind him to see Zlatko take off his glove, hand tattooed a dull green, and pull out a staff underneath the cabinet, made of dark wood with an opaque muddy green orb as the topper. Elijah narrowed his eyes, holding his creation close. Teleportation carried too significant a risk when carrying his creation and being so unfamiliar with the forest's layout. "Please don't take this personally. With the state of us magus in this world, I cannot pass up any opportunities."
"… One chance is what I'll give you." Elijah returned the arctosmorph's glare. "Stand down, or I'll bring catastrophe."
"While we appreciate your mercy," Zlatko tapped his staff on the floor, the orb illuminating the same dark green his marking did. The arctosmorph trudged closer, teeth bared and claws tearing up the cave floor with each step. "I'd much more appreciate you telling me how you made that creature you cradle so closely. It reeks so strongly of the most foul of magic." He grinned wildly. "It's magnificent."
"Thank you." Elijah covered his creation with the banket to be comforted by the darkness underneath the soft fabric and held out his marked arm to the snarling bear. A fiery red sparking across his markings with a heated thought. 'Ardere gehennam'. The cave exploded with light as deep crimson flames burst from underneath the arctcosmorph, curling up his limbs like burning snakes and enveloping him in a chokehold. The roar of the flames was only surpassed by the screeches of the creature as he burned. The action never lasted longer than a few fleeting moments, but the harsh scent of char and the arctosmorph's labored breaths in the aftermath exemplified the damage done.
The hairs on the back of Elijah's neck stood up, and his markings shifted to a pale gold. 'Lux praesidium.' The dark bolt of green energy smacked into the pale gold barrier surrounding Elijah and ricocheted it back to Zlatko, who just ducked out of the way, shelves of merchandise taking the brunt of the blow.
"Now, he survived," Elijah turned to Zlatko, markings reverting to burning red, "Will you?" He held out his hand.
"Wait, please!" Zlatko pleaded, hiding behind his counter and clutching onto his staff. "I'm sorry. Please, mercy, Sorcerer!"
"Now you appreciate mercy?" Elijah snapped his fingers, and the counter burst into bright flames, Zlatko screaming in fright as it devoured the wood and all its contents, molding it into charred ruins.
"Yes! Wholeheartedly, I swear to her majesty!" He set down his staff, tattoos losing their glow.
"Lies will be rewarded with more than fire." Elijah let the light from his markings fade, and his arm rested. "Farewell." Elijah walked out of the shop, stepping over fur scraps and ash, and past the downed arctosmorph, as the burned fur coat laid atop the figure of a man. Leaving the cave, Elijah pulled up the blanket to glance at his creation, seeing grey eyes blink back up at him, hands reaching out. Elijah softly smiled, his marked hand coming down to let the small hands wrap around his fingers. "I apologize for the bright lights. We'll be home soon."
May 23rd, 650
Dear Sorceress Stern,
My creation has become more active. While he typically remains dormant during the day, when the night controls the sky, he tries to explore the castle as far as his little feet take him. He learned to walk fairly quickly but hasn't made any sound as of yet if he's able to.
On a less positive note, the lumps on his back have been causing him distress. He recoils whenever they are touched and rests on his side or front. Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to properly examine them and can't allow any doctor to see him. They wouldn't understand him. However, that won't stop me from soothing his pain. Chloe discourages me from sleepless nights, but I didn't bring my creation into this world to suffer. I'll inform you of any significant changes that occur as Summer approaches.
Sincerely,
Your devoted pupil, Elijah Kamski
Elijah set down the grey ceramic bowl painted with crimson markings on the ivory tile floor as he sat down before it with his legs crossed. The bowl was encircled by a ring of grey paste. A stream of moonlight pouring from a nearby window provided enough light for him to see and not stress his creation, who was curled in his lap, wrapped up in his wool blanket that rose and fell with his shuttering breathing. His head peeked out of the bundle, marble grey eyes on the bowl, and dark hair sprouting from his head.
"You'll feast in a moment," Elijah reassured him, patting the top of his head. The sorcerer focused on the bowl before him as he put his hands together, palm to palm, feeling magic crawl at his fingertips. Elijah took a deep breath, exhaling with the shift of deep crimson that seeped into his markings before speaking in a cursed tongue. "Per potestates purpurei, sanguinem meum dono." With each word slipping past his lips, he felt a force painfully sap the essence from within him with the serrated teeth of a ravaging predator. And with every word, the grey ring glowed vermillion, and the ceramic bowl slowly began to fill itself, starting with a single drop, a red stain at the bottom. The drop grew into a puddle, filling as if the fluid was seeping from the bowl itself. The ritual came to an end, his markings losing their glow as he was left lightheaded with a bowl of blood. His creation stirred in his lap, hands reaching out towards the bowl.
Elijah picked up the bowl and brought it to his creation's waiting lips, who greedily drank the lifeblood, the four lumps on his back shifting as if something was poking underneath the pale skin. Elijah softly grazed the one on his shoulder blade, feeling hard like a stone, and his creation flinched at the touch.
"My apologies," he soothed. He needed to work more diligently to remedy his creation's suffering. Knowing he was under constant duress made the sorcerer feel more than troubled. If any books contained helpful information, they weren't on a nearby shelf. He needed to extend his research and—
His creation coughed, his small chest contracting and throat straining in a sickeningly wet sound that left a squirt of blood dribbling. That was the onset of nasty coughs that contorted his creation's small body, back arching and lumps pulsing. Heart racing in his chest, Elijah dropped the bowl and scooped his pained creation in his arms, rushing him to his room and startling Chloe.
"Elijah, what's—"
"He's hurting," Elijah interrupted as he gently set his creation inside the cradle in the closet, shutting the door and blocking out any light that could harm him. "Where are the mercy stones?!"
"In the storage room." With a thought and a flash of magic, he teleported down into his storage room, bringing light with a wave of his hand before searching for the case of stones. He frantically searched around, cursing his lack of attention to his storage room's organization. He'd gotten so far with his creation; he couldn't just let him die. A horrifying sound suddenly pierced through the walls, the unworldly screech embodied by agony as it painfully tore at his ears. With his concentration disturbed, his light extinguished, and the castle fell into silence. Drowning in worry, he teleported into the hall of his room, Chloe standing before his door.
"What happened?" he questioned, walking over to her.
"… He's growing as all living things do." She pushed open the door, showing the contents of his room. All light had been snuffed out, and the closet door was nonexistent, its broken pieces scattered over the floor. A viscous black fluid that reflected no light was splattered over the floor and walls. His creation wasn't in sight. He quietly stepped into the room, his eyes gradually adjusting to the darkness and seeing that the black fluid led a trail underneath his desk. He slowly approached, and strangely he heard the light flutter of feathers as he crouched down. A mass of feathers was what he saw, bone white, stained with ebony fluids, and disturbingly ruffled as they shook.
"My creation?" Elijah spoke softly, and the feathers reacted, shifting to reveal his creation. He was missing his marble eyes and clung to his torn blanket. Those empty eyes seemed so lost until they found Elijah, and his tail thumped on the floor. He crawled towards the sorcerer in a rush, tripping over the mass of feathers jutting from his back once or twice before making it to Elijah's open arms.
"You're safe. I have you," Elijah reassured his creation as he held him close to his chest, being gentle with his freshly sprouted appendages. The four lumps on his creation's back were no more, replaced with four feathered wings. They were stretched out, unlike wings he'd ever seen, with feathers crookedly placed. They were absolutely breathtaking. But even more so, were the pale grey markings decorating his creation's arm, a dance of chaotic swirls and sharp edges.
"I believe you deserve a true name," Elijah said, drawing the attention of his creation and gazing into the eyeless holes with adoration. "I'll bestow you the name… Richard. Do you believe that's a fitting name?"
Slowly, Richard nodded.