ONE /TWENTY YEARS LATER...

TWENTY YEARS LATER….

ONE









Many years ago a world known as Zanarian existed in a faraway realm. The world was earth-like but housed both human and non-human creatures. Trolls, ogres, orcs, half-demons, Minotaur, and many more populated the plains over domestic animals such as bears, lions, goats, or sheep. On the Zanarian plains resided a land marked on the map as Daygon, and it was broken into parts for each to have its own culture. The commons consisted of the poor and only humans were considered as residents. Humans did not like creatures around them and believed them to have been casted from evil. They would slaughter any non-human crossing the commoner’s land. To the west of Daygon was a forest known as the lower plains of Daygon. No human dared enter the blood soaked woods of the lower plains because the devil and all of his offspring were said to rule that area.

If the commoners had found out about her, they would have slaughtered her for being the devil’s offspring and they would have punished or killed her master for harboring a non-human. She knew this but could not shake her wondering mind from taunting curiosities. The cold drafts from under the old wooded door of the cabin, made Eva content in her latent world. She paced across the old wooden floors as she listened to the familiar squeaks beneath her feet. She heard them every day. The sound was accompanied by the sound of her chains dragging behind her. Richard had allowed her enough chain to walk about the house but made sure there was not enough that she could get outside of the cabin.

Eva stood in the middle of the cabin. She looked at the bed where she had often watched Richard sleep, and then she began to recall her upbringing. He had taught her how to speak as a human, he taught her to farm and fish, and he taught her to read and write as a human. She looked away and stared into fireplace and questions seemed to haunt her mind. She suddenly felt a need to know more about herself and where she came from. As the crackles from the burning logs snapped under the dancing flames she dreamed for a moment. Her mother was somewhere and she could feel her own humanity. Eva knew deep within her own soul that her mother had been alive. She felt a need to know the truth.

Eva began to walk around the cabin again. She would have to talk to Richard when he returned. She loved him for his heart because he had never hurt her and he took her into his care. He showed her love and made her happy in any way he possibly could but the time had come. She didn’t want to leave him. She had developed a desire to be free and live about as he did. Richard had filled her mind with stories of what human life was and she wanted to live it too.

Eva had the strength to rip the chains out of the wall and she contemplated it. She stood tugging lightly as the though trembled in her brain. She felt like running away. It would be easier than taking the chance of Richard disapproving of her newly spawned wishes. She convinced herself. She would gather some ration and thought about his map collection, but as she picked up an old sac from the floor under the table, he entered the cabin.

“Good day Eva.” He came through the door and approached her. “How are you today?”

“Richard?” She swallowed hard knowing that she would have to take her chances on talking to him. “Can we have a talk?”

He took his dirty boots off and placed them next to the fireplace as he had every day. “Yes. Yes of course we can. Is something wrong Miss Eva?”

“No.” She lied.

“Alright. What would you like to talk about?” He smiled and she hated it because it made her thoughts harder to speak.

“How long have I been here with you?” She watched him as he washed his feet in a bucket of water.

“I found you when you were just a baby. I have had you here all your life.” He removed his feet from the water and looked at her.

Eva looked into his eyes and saw the worry. She felt guilty for wanting to flee. She wanted to pretend there was nothing more to say but she could not. “I think it is time now. I want to find my way in this world and maybe search for my mother to find the truth.”

Richard dried his feet and stood. “Let me tell you the truth! I cannot allow you to journey across any of these plains alone; you would never make it passed these humans Eva! They do not see you as I do! “He calmed. “You mother left you for dead. She didn’t care to ever go back and find out how you were. Humans are cruel and they will never accept you or even give you the chance to know the good inside of you.”

She took in air and slowly exhaled. Her emotions were confusing because she had not known how to feel. A part of her felt the heat of being angry and wanted to stand ground. Other parts of her felt guilty about upsetting him. She loved him but needed herself. “I am sorry.”

He approached her now and reached for her face. His had felt as rough as her skin yet so gentle. His voice toned to a calmer volume. “I only want you to be safe Eva. I would not be able to live if something ever happen to you. You are my love.”

“If I am your love, why do you not kiss me like I am your love? You have shared many stories of how a man loves a woman”

He leaned in closer and his lips met hers. Her heart pounded and her body began to shake. She wanted that moment to last for eternity as she felt him closer than she ever had before. She even forgot the chains that bound her for that moment and wished she were as human as him so she could fully accept him. He gently disconnected his lips from hers and stepped back as he slid his hand off her face. “Eva you will always have my heart. I really think that you are a beautiful being and it matters none that you are not fully human, but these people would slaughter us both. Do you understand what I am saying?”

“Yes, but when will I be ready. Am I bounded to these chains for eternity? I have done nothing wrong yet I live in captivity. You have taught me well and I can survive.”

“Eva.” He took a deep breath and looked as though he was holding back his words. “We will speak of this at a later time yes?”

Richard then began to dress. He put on a clean pair of sox and trousers, and filled a basin full of water. Eva watched him as he ran the blade up his face. “Are you going someplace?”

He dried his face and cleaned off his blade. “Questions again?”

“No. I am sorry.” She sat down in a chair beside the fireplace.

She watched him as he placed a fancy grey colored hat on top of his head. He tucked his long dark hair behind his ears, pushed his arms through his matching grey jacket, and opened the door. “Eva please don’t worry about anything. Everything will be fine. Tomorrow I will take you into the fields and we will have brunch.”

Eva barley heard him as she peeked between him and the door, a carriage was being pulled by two white horses. She noticed that Richard grew a smile from one ear to the other. He then closed the door without speaking another word. She walked to the small window to see more and watched his deception as it pierced her heart and gut her stomach. He took the girl from the carriage by the hand and helped her to the ground. Her golden hair was perfectly structured on top her head. The woman had a pale and clean face with thin lips and bright green eyes. Richard kissed her hand then bent his arm and held out his elbow. She linked her arm into his and they began to stroll side by side toward the east of the village. She cleared the tears from her eyes and went to the mirror. Staring at herself she saw the beast he had warned her would be seen by the humans. Her coal black colored eyes had no definition and her red colored skin glowed in the light of the fireplace. She touched her horn that felt like tree branches and then sat in her chair playing with the chains. Contemplations began to dance across her mind and her heart grew colder than the drafts under the door.