Chapter 1
A/N: Hey y'all, welcome back. Glad to see there's interest in the story. Remember, I don't own the Owl House.
The soft sound of rain filled the air as Jasper sat in the damp grass, staring in shock at the doorway where the portal had once been.
He couldn't believe it. Back in the cave, he knew that some part of him registered the fact that once he started, that there would be no going back. That he had been betraying everything he had known. Still, that fact hadn't fully hit home until he found himself standing in a light drizzle. The cool drops simply dampening his hair and clothes instead of searing his flesh, watching as the portal—his only way back—closed behind him forever.
Looking up at the sky, he stared at the falling raindrops. Watching as they fell through the dark green leaves of the overcast sky of an early dawn.
Jasper couldn't help but remember one conversation he had had with Belos. It had been during one of the rare moments when the man had indulged his curious inquires. How he told him about the human realm. About its quiet nights and blue skies. About its vibrant trees and the cool rains.
Jasper hadn't fully believed it. He couldn't believe such a fantastical place existed. And yet, here he was, standing in the very same rains on a quiet morning that he had been told of.
He had done it.
The former Golden Guard sunk to his knees, dropping his staff in the grass. He had really done it. He had betrayed Belos. He had committed treason. He had abandoned everything he had once stood for.
And it had all been of his own volition.
Before he could dwell on the realization that his old life was officially over, he was pulled out of his thoughts by a small whine.
It was then, he remembered the baby in his arms.
A newborn he had essentially kidnapped.
A boy who hadn't even been alive for a few hours, and already his life had changed in ways he couldn't imagine.
Forcing himself to his feet, Jasper stumbled through the clearing towards a small, abandoned house; silently thanking the Titan too many times to count for being kind enough to drop them by it. The wooden steps groaned as he walked up them onto the covered porch. Almost tripping as he barely even made it through the door before he collapsed against the wall, suddenly feeling exhausted as he let himself slide down to sit on the floor. Still clutching the little body close to his chest.
Jasper had never spent much time around children. He never had the time to even consider finding a partner, let alone start a family. And he rarely associated with people who had kids. Darius had told him multiple times that they were disgusting little heathens. Lilith was too absorbed in her work and didn't appear interested in it beyond mentoring students. The Coven Heads were too busy stabbing each other in the back, and everyone else was too scared of him to mention their personal lives.
So, the most exposure he'd had were the rare occasions when Kikimora wasn't available to lead the school tours.
Back then, he had been happy to lead the kids around, showing them how great the Emperor's Coven was. He had been proud to see the admiration in their eyes accompanied by the declarations that they wanted to join the Emperor's Coven. He'd felt honored when they said they wanted to be like him.
Now, after everything he learned, they were memories he could only look at with what he could only describe as disgust.
How many of those children had he inadvertently killed? How many survived the scouts trials? How many did he damn to die at the hand of an enraged Coven Head or a rampaging Emperor? How many had died during the hunts for wild witches? Because of him, how many of those kids had perished in the service of a monster?
Too many. That was the answer. And because of it, their blood would forever be on his hands.
Jasper knew he would never be able to atone for all the lives he had destroyed. But, at least he managed to save one little soul from suffering the same fate.
His tiny nose scrunched as Jasper finally wiped away the dirt clinging to the newborn's face. Giving a small cry displeasure as the damp cloth rubbed against pink cheeks. The former Guard did apologize, however, he didn't stop until he could clearly see the baby's face. He wasn't totally clean; he probably wouldn't be until Jasper managed to get them fully situated. But he at least looked better than before.
Still, despite knowing that they were clones of the same person, Jasper was still surprised to see just how much the child looked like him. They had the same nose, the same short ears, and even the same pasty skin tone. Sure, there were a few differences. Jasper had dark blonde hair while the child in his arms had some of the palest blonde hair he'd ever seen. He was covered in a mix of scars and freckles while the baby's skin was free of the flaws that Belos had always sneered at. But, other than that, they looked the exact same.
He supposed he should be relieved. Their close resemblance would mean that no one would doubt their relation to each other. However, he couldn't help but feel his heart twist agonizingly at yet another reminder of how little Belos had thought of him. How the man he had looked up to and loved was already prepared to cast him aside and replace him.
Just like he had for all the others.
Was this how his predecessor felt? Did the Golden Guard before him even know? Or had he been simply disposed of before Jasper had even taken his first breath?
He had just hoped that the actions he'd taken earlier were enough to keep another from taking their place.
Looking down to the child who had been meant to replace him, Jasper felt his breath catch as he met the gaze of bright magenta eyes. Eyes that were just like his own, yet so different at the same time. Because these eyes were filled with an innocence that Jasper had never known.
How? How could he be mad at such a tiny thing?
This baby didn't know why he had been born. He didn't ask to be created by a madman. He wasn't actively looking to replace Jasper. Not like Kikimora or the Coven Heads had been. No, like all the others before them, this child had never had a choice in the matter. Like him, this tiny life had been made to die for not being someone else.
Adjusting his grip, Jasper felt his body involuntarily curl around the child, pulling the newborn closer. "Hi little one," he murmured, lowering his head to gently press his forehead against the newborn's.
Naturally, the baby didn't reply. Instead, he happily squeaked, appearing fascinated by the untamable forelock that had plagued him for his entire life tickling his face. Tiny fists still clutching the old plush.
Jasper used his finger to gently rub the baby's cheek. Marveling at how soft it was, and how the action earned another happy squeak.
"Yeah," he murmured, "it's nice to meet you too." Smiling to himself, he leaned back against the wall, watching as the newborn gave a small yawn.
He probably had to think of a name for him soon. It wasn't like he could call him the baby forever.
The problem was, he didn't know what to call him.
Jasper thought through all the names he read in Belos' journal. He didn't want to name him one of those names. It would seem like he was replacing one of their fallen predecessors. And, they deserved to be remembered. Even if he was the only one who remembered them.
Nor could he name him after people he knew in the Isles. After all, things from the human realm leaked through to the isles all the time. It meant that there was more than one way to travel between the realms. Jasper could defend himself, he was more than capable of handling anyone that found them. But the kid…Titan forbid if someone found the kid first...
He shuddered at the thought.
Though…did the origin name really matter? Did it matter if it was a name from the Isles? Very few people knew what the Golden Guard looked like. It had been that way for centuries. No one knew what he looked like, let alone his real name. Darius and Lilith had, so did Belos, Kikimora, and the Coven Heads. But, beyond that no one knew who he was behind the mask. Those that did rarely left the palace anyways. The only way they would end up in the human realm would be through a series of very unfortunate events.
But then they would most likely be preoccupied with returning to the demon realm. They wouldn't even bother investigating someone that so clearly looked like they were a useless half-witch.
Jasper chuckled to himself, staring up at the cracked ceiling, watching water drip from between the boards. He always thought naming was easy. Everyone he'd met with kids always seemed to know what they were going to name them right off the bat. Maybe he was just having trouble because he hadn't expected to be in this situation?
He couldn't even use a name his friends liked. None of them seemed interested in having kids.
Maybe there was a story he could use? Lilith had told him plenty of ancient legends. His favorite had been the tale of The Hunter. It was a recognizable constellation in the sky. It had actually been his favorite.
And, now that he thought about it, it was rather ironic that that of all stories had been his favorite.
It had been the tale of a young witch who'd lost his entire village by a rampaging demon. He'd been found in the ruins by a man who claimed he could help him avenge his family. Under this man's tutelage he learned how to hunt down and track monsters. And, eventually he'd been able to hunt down and slay the demon that had attacked his home. It was only afterwards he learned that he'd been tricked by the man who had saved him, a wild witch that had actually been responsible for the carnage. Wanting to use the heart of the beast to destroy everything to build an empire of fear and chaos. It was then the hunter betrayed the man and killed him. Legend said he spent the rest of his days hunting wild witches to atone for what he'd done, and for his sacrifice, those he'd saved had immortalized him in the stars.
The story now hit painfully close to home.
But, he couldn't deny the fact that it still was his favorite. Maybe even more so now. Because while Jasper would spend the rest of his life atoning for his sins, this kid now had the chance he and the hunter never had.
Settling into a more comfortable position, Jasper held the now sleeping baby close to his chest. Hesitantly, he lowered his head, giving him a soft kiss on the forehead—a parental gesture he'd never received but had always remembered fondly from the false memories of the parents that never existed.
"Goodnight Hunter."