Rebirth

Chapter 11: Reawakening (Avalon)

Maya walked into the other bedroom just as Avalon was waking from his half-sleep, half-unconscious rest and he appeared to be quite disoriented upon opening his eyes. It wasn't until his eyes settled on Maya did he begin to remember his circumstances. He seemed to beckon the other forth by simply looking at her and soon she sat down beside his bed.

"Maya, I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me yesterday. I was acting brash…"

"It's alright. I can't imagine how that feels having your origin suddenly snatched away from you like that."

"It was no more than what I deserved. Just as Lang said to me eleven years back, my thirst for power and dominion had corrupted my mind. Obviously, I was the wrong person to have been given that power."

"Avalon, I don't think anyone is ever ready for such things even when they say they are."

"But he was my origin—he chose me out of so many and I feel as if I let him down."

"No, he's let you down."

"But you don't understand. I've always felt like such a burden to Igohl. Long ago, when I was that boy known as Richard, I was never able to fend for myself."

Maya made herself comfortable as he began yet another brief story. She was all ears.

/

The day Richard ran away with Igohl from home was the day his life began to change drastically. Richard found out the hard way that the world was a cruel place for a child on his own. Too soon, Richard learned the reality of a world that had long been kept at a distance.

People were generally rude and uncaring. When it came to counting on someone's goodwill, one would be disappointed every time. Everyone—any living thing—had the potential to steal. At all times of the day, one's life was in danger. Finally, and this was the most important, no one could be trusted.

But Igohl protected Richard from harm as they ventured out. Richard had no money nor did he desire to work for it so he simply stole food with Igohl's assistance.

One day, Richard thought he would steal from a restaurant. He walked into the establishment wearing new clothes freshly stolen from a nearby vendor so as to look presentable. Richard lied his way expertly into getting a seat claiming that his mother had wanted him to reserve a seat for her because she had to go back to get the money and she feared that the restaurant would be filled up before she got back. The lady in charge of seating people bought it and led Richard to his seat. Soon a waitress was there asking for his order. Richard ordered only the most expensive items off the menu all while succeeding in holding up a pleasant smile.

When the food arrived, Richard excused himself to the bathroom only to be able to nab some doggy bag from the kitchen in the back. Waiting two more minutes, Richard returned to his seat beginning immediately on stashing food in the foam containers. But the waitress surprised him.

"Everything al—hey, what are you going to do with all that food, little boy? Shouldn't you wait for your mommy to come back?"

"I've decided that I wasn't very hungry," Richard said looking nervously at the woman.

But the waitress was already catching on to Richard's deception; he could see it in her eyes. And then something unexpected occurred. Igohl appeared before the woman and pierced one solitary claw through her head. There was no blood, but the woman fell back dashing her head against another table and landing in a tangled mess on the floor. Richard closed his eyes in shock unable to move—stiff with guilt and apprehension.

"Come, weak child, I have provided you with an escape route. What sane person would not take it?"

"But, s-she's dead…s-she's dead!"

"Lower your voice. You'll draw attention."

But it was too late. A team of waiters and waitresses were advancing upon them along with some bodyguards, they were surrounded or so Richard thought.

Igohl grew to a massive size and slashed down with his deadly claws a total of two times and the opposition was immobilized if not killed outright. Igohl brought his size back down and grabbed Richard's free hand, dragging him out of the establishment.

"Must I do everything?" Igohl asked when they were in a private place.

"I-I'm sorry," Richard managed through his tears and sniffling. "B-but why did you kill them? We're going to Hell, my mother said—

"You're going to Hell if you don't stop your whining! Is this all I have to look forward to? A whimpering child who's too afraid to take matters into his own hands? Richard, when will you learn? The only person in this world who matters is you. Everyone else fades into the background. Until you learn that you will always be weak."

Igohl disappeared from sight and Richard was left on his own. With teary eyes, he sat down to eat his food, but the image of the waitress kept haunting him and soon he regurgitated all that he had eaten.

/

"I didn't think of Igohl being a burden. He was the only one who was always there and I looked up to him. He saved me on many occasions and taught me so much."

Maya noticed an unfair balance of power present in Avalon's relationship to Igohl that didn't exist in her relationship with her origin. In fact, the same went for Lang and Kazan—they shared similar relationship. One was not dominant over the other.

"He forced you to accept things that you knew to be bad. While you thought you contributed absolutely nothing. You were the only healthy part about it. Under better circumstances, it could have been a successful relationship. Him being powerful, you being virtuous, keeping everything in check."

"Good and bad never mix very well and I wasn't all that good in the first place. I was always so unsure about everything, but Igohl's views were so clear and easier to latch onto."

"How long ago was that when you decided to steal food from the restaurant?"

"Specifically?"

Maya nodded.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying to gauge my age," Avalon said with a slight grin.

"Well, since we're on the subject," Maya said turning her face to his, "How old are you?"

His eyes glittered teasingly at her, "I don't know."

"Aw, c'mon, Avalon. I've been trying to figure that out for the longest time."

"Really? Why does it concern you so much?"

"I was just curious."

"If I told you I was quite young would you start treating me like a child?"

"No, I won't start treating you any different. I promise."

Avalon gave her a thoughtful look with one eyebrow raised, "Twenty-seven."

Maya's mouth dropped—though not literally. She couldn't tell if he was lying, but she simply decided to accept it.

"Remember, I was on my own at eight. Practically an adult at twelve and by the time I was twenty, I had enough experiences to converse with a thirty year old."

Secretly, Maya was happy—she was around the same age, a mere two years younger. Perhaps she felt a little better that she wasn't just living with a bunch of old folks. As Kazan would point out all the time, she wasn't getting any younger.

"Is this a secret between you and me?" Maya asked

"I'd like it to be."

"I guess Kazan would be completely in the dark."

"I suppose so."

"Oh, well, I guess I'll try my best to keep it secret from him."

"Your best?"

"There's not too many things we don't tell each other."

"He's your father?"

"No," Maya said shaking her head, "But he might as well be."

"Something tells me that without him, you would have been left to the streets as well."

"Yes, I'm really thankful for him. It didn't have to happen like that at all."

Her words hung in the air as their conversation soon turned to silence for a while once again enjoying each other's company.

"How long has it been?" Avalon questioned, "Is it the next day?"

"You were out for hours—it's the next day; morning."

"Ah, morning. What do you normally do at that time?"

"Well, I start the fire. I cook something and then visit a few people's houses; usually they might need some assistance with something. I love to help people."

"I can tell."

"If you feel up to it, maybe we could go together."

"I suppose, but I don't know how much help I would be."

"Now when is having a nice, strong man around not helpful?"

"Alright, Maya, if you insist."

Maya smiled to herself. She hadn't been sure if he would agree to do such a thing. Her plan of his full redemption was working smoothly. Already he had admitted his faults. He still, though, needed to admit that Igohl had influenced him as well. Now, however, Maya was going to let him participate in helping others. Apparently, his entire life had been full of bad experiences. Now he could start anew and fill his life with good experiences—Maya thought she might be the one to provide this.

She did indeed liked helping people, but she found even more joy in helping Avalon someone who, even before, she had admired.