Post by Kari Muffin on Dec 3, 2008 22:09:26 GMT -5
OMG! Two more chapters of this crazy project in ONE POST *gasp* Kudos to you who are still reading. <3 if you comment you'll eventually get something nice out of this.
So yes, first chapter is about Theo (which is short...ish), and the second is about Conway being a pet for two years of his life. Chapter Six will be "Accidents Happen."
It was a nightmare. He knew it was a nightmare, but he couldn't wake up.
Theofilus sat at the end of a lake. His brother was sitting next to him, nuzzling him.
But his brother wasn't breathing. He was dripping wet, shivering, and covered in all sorts of plant life. Theofilus was shaking, gagging, and gasping for air. His brother had drown because no one was willing to safe "just an Ace."
He never went back. He watched his brother sink. Die. And he had done absolutely nothing. To help him. Who was the biggest monster? Him or the people who wouldn't save an Ace because Myron was an Ace.
"I love you," Myron said.
Theofilus couldn't find the words.
"Why don't you love me?"
He shuddered as he felt the wet seeping into his feathers. "I'm sorry," Theofilus whispered. "I'm sorry. I couldn't do anything. I was afraid. I couldn't even swim. I still can't."
"But why didn't you come back?"
Theofilus woke up with a start, falling off the side of his bed with a thud. Muttering to himself he rose to a sitting position. He straightened his feathers out as he climbed back onto the bed.
Really? Why hadn't he gone back? Was he that afraid to face the past?
With a mumble he flopped back onto the bed and fell back to sleep. The dream would be forgotten when morning's light peaked in through the window shades.
***
"What's wrong?" Calia asked as she sat down next to him. He had managed to acquire an apartment for the pair of them and the family in Capital City. He had been hoping for a larger one, but Zane and Ez got along well enough sharing a room. Not to mention Ceren needed time with her sister. Malc was still always the same wanderer.
Theofilus shrugged. "Nothing."
She gave him a look. It was the look he had gotten many times before that meant "You're obviously hiding something, please tell me so I don't worry about you." And he gave her his typical "I swear it's nothing." look in return.
But of course she would worry anyway until he said what was wrong. And of course there was something wrong, he was just being an idiot and hiding it. He had been hiding it for years now, and Calia still didn't know.
"I've told you numerous times that I've had a brother."
She nodded as she poured him some tea. He couldn't help but watch her. Without hands she did amazing things sometimes.
"Today's the anniversary of his death. I suppose that's why I'm depressed."
"Oh Theofilus," she said in her kind and warm hearted voice. It was amazing how two words from Calia could make him feel better. In all honesty, that's all he needed to feel better, but Calia always did so much more.
But before anymore words or motions could be exchanged, the door opened to the apartment, and Ez walked in, caring a large bag. Zane followed behind him, closing the door for his brother.
Theofilus raised an eyebrow at the pair.
"Mom!" Ez said happily, "Hi Dad." He said as an after thought while he dropped what he was carrying to hug his mother.
Zane rolled his eyes and picked up the few things that had spilled out of the bag.He eventually went to hug his mother as well, giving his father a smile.
"What are you two plotting," Theofilus asked as he looked from the bag to the pair.
"Just an art project Dad! Nothing serious! Shouldn't you be getting to work anyway?" Ez said in his usual cheerful tone.
Theofilus looked at the clock.
"Oh stars above. I should have left an hour ago."
***
Having a family was Theofilus' biggest dream. He had gotten it. Then he had joined the courts. His childhood dream had come true as well. Life couldn't get any better.
For a while it got worse. He decided to take a "Quest" on for the Queen of Hearts. The Lowlands were probably the worst possible place for him to go, and he got stuck with a psychopath cat. While things tumbled down hill at least he found his human form.
And with it his rank became that of a King. But not for long.
He took a small leave of absence from the court to recover from what happened in the Lowlands. Actually it was more for Eilwyn, the boy he had picked up from the Lowlands. He had to teach him just about everything about the world outside the Lowlands. Which was difficult. A lot more difficult than teaching his family. But at least he had plenty of people to help him.
The sparrow was staring at the ceiling. Eilwyn was asleep in the next room. They had just finished visiting the doctor yet again. Everything seemed to move smoothly, though the doctor still seemed worried about him having ailments because of conditions.
"Why is everything so bloody complicated," He muttered into his wing ash he brought it over his beak.He should try to get used to his human form... he should be responsible. Theofilus narrowed his eyes, and shifted to his human form.
He sat up so he could look in the mirror. It was odd seeing himself as a human. His glasses slipped down his nose as he leaned forward. Pushing them back up he studied his features with bright pink eyes.
Hopefully he would come off as noble. Sometimes he couldn't tell what he should dress like or act. Being blunt was easier than dancing around the maypole like everyone else. That really hadn't disappeared when he joined and worked in the courts for a while. People just gave him dirty looks every so often.
There was a knock in the door, he shifted to his biped form and went to answer it.
Zane was standing there with a frown on his beak. "Sorry Dad. I know you've been pretty stressed, but I can't find something to make dinner and I was wonder—" He cut himself off as he looked at his dad more carefully.
Theofilus blinked. "What's wrong?"
"Dad," Zane said with a raised eyebrow as he looked at his father's chest. "When did you... become a Queen?"
There was an awkward silence that filled the hallway. Theofilus stood there and looked down at his chest.
He left the door open as he walked over to the mirror to double check.
There was red "Q" on his chest instead of the red "K" that had been there earlier. Had he been so absorbed in himself that he hadn't noticed the change? Or had something else triggered it? He traced the letter on his chest.
"I have no idea." He said to Zane as he sat down on his bed.
"Congratulations though, this is wonderful Dad!" Zane said as he came into the room. He watched as his father remained staring at the mirror. It was strange seeing your logical put together father filled with utter confusion.
"Thank you." He replied quietly. The sparrow was at an utter lose. So many things had happened in such a short period of time. How was he supposed to process all the information. Not to meantion he was now a member of the courts. He couldn't retain his title of King if he was a Queen. "It looks like my break is going to be shorter than I anticipated."
"What do you mean Dad?" Zane asked with a note of worry in his voice. It was the same note his mother had sometimes.
"I mean I need to go back to the courts and clear something up." He said as he shifted to his human form, once again examining the suit. "I have a responsibility. Hopefully I'll be able to have a new court title and another responsibility soon."
"You know. You're one of the coolest Dad's to have." Zane said with a snort as he nudged his father's arm.
Theofilus didn't really have words to respond. Instead he hugged his son before exiting his bedroom. He needed to check on Eilwyn.
There was a nice woman who taught him how to read and write in the Forest. She was a bit of an outcast in the place, and people often gave him dirty looks. Eventually he left the nice woman. He went from region to region, place to place. Alone. Afraid. Trying his hardest not to get caught. He learned quite a few things here and there.
And then in Capital City he ran into trouble.
Stealing was the only way he could get food. But he got caught. And he was beaten until he lost consciousness.
The major problem, however, was that he now woke up staring up at another human figure. She had silver hair and various bangles hanging from its untamed mass. Her outfit, he was pretty sure from the angle, didn't match. The boy wanted to hide, but he found that it hurt the move.
When he tried he started coughing. The girl made a worried noise as she looked down at him. "Your really should stay still. The guy hurt you pretty bad. If my Daddy hadn't stopped him you probably would have died."
Conway blinked. He looked at his hands and felt his face. Bandages. That probably meant that they had to take off his clothing to mend him.
Oh. oh shit.
But he wasn't dead. That was a good thing, right?
He glanced over at the other people in the carriage. They were both well dressed and wore ornate clothing of a blue-ish color. They both had human forms. One was a rather elegant looking woman with dark blue hair, while the man had bright silver hair that was short cropped. They were giving him a look that made him feel smaller and scrawnier than he already was. They must have known...
"Hey, what's your name?" The girl asked quietly as she leaned forward. He hair obscured his face from the view of the adults, and she began to whisper. "My parents aren't to happy about you, but I'm not going to let them throw you out. So don't worry."
He was still suspicious. "Conway," he whispered in return. Her parents couldn't here him of course, but he said it so it was barely spoken. The girl looked confused for a moment, but was able to guess his name by the way he moved his mouth. She nodded happily.
The girl leaned back up and smiled. "I'm Tabitha! Everyone calls me Tabby! It's nice to meet you Conway!"
Both her parents raised an eyebrow. Obviously they were confused as to how she got his name. But they didn't speak a word.
She continued to talk to Conway, keeping him on her lap by pining him down carefully with one hand. Apparently she didn't want him to move. That was fine with him, he supposed. Moving when he was in this much pain was trouble. "We're going to my house. It's a bit of a trip, but you were asleep most of the time. We're going to be there very soon!" She said cheerfully.
Her house huh? Conway wasn't sure about this.
"Tabby, darling. You should let the poor boy sleep," said the woman.
Tabby looked disappointed, but she nodded.
Conway wasn't sure if he was thankful or not.
***
When he woke up again he found himself on a feather bed mattress. Apparently he had been out for quite sometime, yet again. Sitting up he looked around the room. It was small, like a closet, but it had enough room for the large bed that he was sitting on. There was nothing else in the room besides the bed. There was a small window that looked like it had been placed there as an after thought.
Despite all the aching he managed to sit up and edge towards the window. Once he was settled his elbows were on the window sill so he could peer out at the surrounding area.
It was a very awkward place to build a house. All he could see was mountains. And everything was blue. He frowned as he slipped back down to the bed.
There was no getting away from this place, was there?
The door to the room opened. The image of the man from earlier was framed in the light. Conway shot up, and edged to the corner of the room. His back to the wall as the man entered. There wasn't much room for him to walk, but it was enough. His eyes narrowed as he suddenly leaned forward and grabbed Conway by his coat.
"Listen here, boy." He hissed, "The only reason why a freak like you is alive is because of my daughter. I know what you are. If you ever hurt her I'll have your head on a pike. And you will do as I say when I make requests. Understand me?"
Conway nodded. He wasn't going to struggle.
The man dropped him and walked towards the door. "She's waiting for you in her room. Find your way there. Don't think of running either. You'd never make it to town alive."
He walked out, leaving the door slightly open.
Conway sat in silence for a long while. His chin was on his knees as he stared at the open space. This wasn't good. This wasn't good at all. Someone knew what he was and they weren't going to let him go.
The door creaked, but he didn't look up. He looked down at his feet and he listened to someone slink into the room. He didn't look up when the woman wrapped her arms around him, and kissed him softly on the head. He could feel tears dripping into his hair. It was the woman who was supposedly Tabby's mother. Why was she so terribly sad? Why was she crying into his hair?
"I'm sorry." She said. Her voice was muffled as she buried her face in his hair. She was hugging him now. It was something that Conway could appreciate, but he didn't understand why it was so...sad? Hugs were supposed to be happy things, weren't they?
He remained silent though.
"I'm so sorry. I'm going to treat you the way I treat Tabby. You don't deserve to be treated like a monster." She said through all her tears. It was odd. Conway could feel he pressed up against him. His spine hurt because of it, but he wasn't about to make a sound of protest.
She let go. Conway turned to look at her tear stained face.
The woman looked like his mother had in human form. His heart sank. He could feel the tears streaming down his face now, and he began to cough. The bruises burned as he collapsed on the bed, crying.
She couldn't hear a sound of it. As frightened as she was, though, she still tried to comfort the boy. "D-don't cry! Everything is going to be okay!"
No. No it wasn't. Conway knew it. It was all his fault. He had been a bad person all his life so he was being punished. He deserved to be treated like a monster. His sister deserved better than him. His Uncle was supposed to hate him.
"Mommy!" the voice of Tabby called. She hurried into the room happily, completely oblivious to all the pain.Her mother straightened up, her hand was still patting Conway's back however.
Tabby noticed the boy and stopped in her tracks. She wasn't that far away, but it was still pretty dramatic. She stared at the young boy and up at her mother. "Why's Conway crying, Mommy?"
"I don't know sweetie," was her meek reply.
The girl frowned as she made her way onto the bed. She flopped down so that her face was at Conway's level. She brushed a hand over his hair and tried to make him look up. Conway did his best to ignore her and cry into the sheets.
Then she pulled his hair.
He yelped and shot up, trying to get away from the girl.
Tabby grinned. She grabbed Conway's hand and, causing him to blink in confusion. "Let's go have tea! That'll make you feel better."
It was safe to say it wouldn't make him feel better. But he was literally dragged by the girl. He was the equivalent of a living rag doll to her. Nothing more and nothing less.
This was worse than being treated like a freak and a monster.
***
"Conway!" Tabby said cheerfully as she hugged the boy from behind. After two months of the treatment he had learned that protesting just made things worse. She hugged tighter, and if her "Daddy" saw him struggle when Tabby was out to the doctor he would get a beating. Conway was nothing more than a pet.
This was not a way to live. No wonder his mother locked him away from the world.
She gave a small tug on his hair and pointed to her bed. He rolled his eyes and sat on it. Not a word had come out of his mouth since he started to live in this horrible place.
He watched as Tabby went through a large chest, sorting through various pieces of clothing. He watched as she empty the chest piece by piece. Pulling out feather boas and other odd things. Then she squealed for a moment as she pulled out a top hat.
"This'll make you look adorable! Then we can have a proper tea party!"
It was like a punch to the face. Conway's grip tightened on the bed as she place the top hat on his head. Things just couldn't get any worse.
"Tabby dear!" called her mother. "Daddy needs to take you to the doctor!"
She looked crestfallen. Conway watched as she crossed her arms and pouted silently to herself. But going to the doctor was important. Despite all her energy she was sick often. Conway had his share of illness, but he was surprised that Tabby could get up and bounce around like she did.
"I'll see you later Conway," she said with one of her smiles.
And she was gone. The boy gave a sigh of relief as he flopped on the bed. No "Daddy" to deal with or Tabby. He was left alone with her Mother. The nice woman didn't bother him since that night she came in crying.
He still wondered about that.
"Conway," said the soft voice of Tabby's Mother.
He looked up at her from his place on the bed. His eyebrow quirked as he watched her sit down on the bed. "I'm very sorry about Tabby. She just doesn't have many friends. I'm very thankful that you can play with her."
Conway remained dead silent as always.
"I was wondering if you wanted to learn how to knit. It's not much of a thank you, but whenever you decide to leave it'll be a useful skill." Her voice had fallen to a whisper.
"Your husband won't let me leave." He said flatly.
She was surprised that he spoke. All this time she had thought he was mute. She nearly fell off to bed from shock, but being the graceful woman she was she managed to pull herself together. "Of course he won't. But that doesn't mean you won't figure out a way to leave. You can't stay here forever."
"Why not. Tabby seems pretty convinced."
She snorted. That was a sound he hadn't expected. "My darling daughter is a special girl indeed. But one day she'll figure out what you are and you'll be able to leave. Now. Do you want to learn how to knit?"
"I guess," Conway said as he sat up.
So when everything was said and done. Knitting was hard. He struggled with the needles and the moving and just about everything else. She said he would get better at all of it in time, but he couldn't see how.
***
Two years. Two long years of being dressed up, humiliated, and treated like a stuffed dog. He was tired of top hats and brightly colored clothing. He was tired of tea parties and crazy kitchen experiments. He had mastered the art of knitting, and had picked up sign language out of sheer mind numbing boredom and humility.
Hugging was terrifying. Something he had enjoyed so much as a child was reduced to a repulsive act. Her father had become over bearing, and her mother had fallen in what seemed like a depression.
And then the nightmares began. Conway had dreams about his mother and father's death. The blood dripping down his mother's neck as she laid on the floor in a puddle of blood. The body of his father gasping for air and gurgling when it found none. He woke up screaming more than once.
No comfort to be found. No one could here him.
And then Tabby finally noticed something was "wrong" with him.
"You don't have a shadow Conway."
He made the motions with his hands, 'I've never had one.'
Tabby's brow furrowed. "And I didn't notice?"
Conway shook his head. Was Tabby's mother right? Had she finally figured out what he was?
"I love you, Conway."
That was brick to the face. There was no other way to describe that comment that came from nowhere. 'What?'
"No matter what you are. I love you, Conway."
He stared blankly at her for a long while. The tension hung in the air as thick as fog. This wasn't what he had expected at all. He was a twelve year old boy. She was younger than him. She was crazy. Dressed him up. Called him "Snookie" every once in a while. She had tea with him. That was not love. That was being a play thing. She couldn't even understand what he was capable of and she just said those words.
'You are an idiot.'
Tabby's eyes widened.
"You are a complete and utter moron," Conway spoke at her. "I am a monster. A horrible creature that no one has ever had the pleasure of loving. I don't have a rank. I don't have a symbol. I'm not supposed to exist!"
The girl was obviously shocked.In two years she hadn't heard him speak. In two years he had pretended to neutral to everything she did. Two years was enough time to build up all the anger and have it boil over. If it wasn't for Tabby's Mother it would have happened sooner.
"Go burn in vat of acid. I'm leaving." Conway said as he walked out of the room.
Tabby didn't follow him. She remained on the bed. Staring at the doorway.
Conway stood in front of the doorway out. There was a commotion behind him, but he ignored it. Tabby's mother was screaming, so was her father. Conway knew the consequences of leaving, but he'd like to see them stop him.
He felt bad that he didn't say thank you to Tabby's mother. She really was the kindest person he had met in a long while. Just like his mother.
A gun shot went off. Blowing a portion of the wall out of existence. Conway turned around with wide eyes. The image of Tabby's father with a musket filled his vision. Thank whatever god or gods that were out there that guns had poor aim and took forever to load.
The door flung open as Conway ran with all the speed he had. Thinking that it would be easier if he were a Spade was enough to make him go faster.
Entirely too fast.
He tripped, fell, and tumbled down the side of a small hill.
Life couldn't get any better than that.
So yes, first chapter is about Theo (which is short...ish), and the second is about Conway being a pet for two years of his life. Chapter Six will be "Accidents Happen."
Protect This Land
+He takes charge
+He takes charge
It was a nightmare. He knew it was a nightmare, but he couldn't wake up.
Theofilus sat at the end of a lake. His brother was sitting next to him, nuzzling him.
But his brother wasn't breathing. He was dripping wet, shivering, and covered in all sorts of plant life. Theofilus was shaking, gagging, and gasping for air. His brother had drown because no one was willing to safe "just an Ace."
He never went back. He watched his brother sink. Die. And he had done absolutely nothing. To help him. Who was the biggest monster? Him or the people who wouldn't save an Ace because Myron was an Ace.
"I love you," Myron said.
Theofilus couldn't find the words.
"Why don't you love me?"
He shuddered as he felt the wet seeping into his feathers. "I'm sorry," Theofilus whispered. "I'm sorry. I couldn't do anything. I was afraid. I couldn't even swim. I still can't."
"But why didn't you come back?"
Theofilus woke up with a start, falling off the side of his bed with a thud. Muttering to himself he rose to a sitting position. He straightened his feathers out as he climbed back onto the bed.
Really? Why hadn't he gone back? Was he that afraid to face the past?
With a mumble he flopped back onto the bed and fell back to sleep. The dream would be forgotten when morning's light peaked in through the window shades.
***
"What's wrong?" Calia asked as she sat down next to him. He had managed to acquire an apartment for the pair of them and the family in Capital City. He had been hoping for a larger one, but Zane and Ez got along well enough sharing a room. Not to mention Ceren needed time with her sister. Malc was still always the same wanderer.
Theofilus shrugged. "Nothing."
She gave him a look. It was the look he had gotten many times before that meant "You're obviously hiding something, please tell me so I don't worry about you." And he gave her his typical "I swear it's nothing." look in return.
But of course she would worry anyway until he said what was wrong. And of course there was something wrong, he was just being an idiot and hiding it. He had been hiding it for years now, and Calia still didn't know.
"I've told you numerous times that I've had a brother."
She nodded as she poured him some tea. He couldn't help but watch her. Without hands she did amazing things sometimes.
"Today's the anniversary of his death. I suppose that's why I'm depressed."
"Oh Theofilus," she said in her kind and warm hearted voice. It was amazing how two words from Calia could make him feel better. In all honesty, that's all he needed to feel better, but Calia always did so much more.
But before anymore words or motions could be exchanged, the door opened to the apartment, and Ez walked in, caring a large bag. Zane followed behind him, closing the door for his brother.
Theofilus raised an eyebrow at the pair.
"Mom!" Ez said happily, "Hi Dad." He said as an after thought while he dropped what he was carrying to hug his mother.
Zane rolled his eyes and picked up the few things that had spilled out of the bag.He eventually went to hug his mother as well, giving his father a smile.
"What are you two plotting," Theofilus asked as he looked from the bag to the pair.
"Just an art project Dad! Nothing serious! Shouldn't you be getting to work anyway?" Ez said in his usual cheerful tone.
Theofilus looked at the clock.
"Oh stars above. I should have left an hour ago."
***
Having a family was Theofilus' biggest dream. He had gotten it. Then he had joined the courts. His childhood dream had come true as well. Life couldn't get any better.
For a while it got worse. He decided to take a "Quest" on for the Queen of Hearts. The Lowlands were probably the worst possible place for him to go, and he got stuck with a psychopath cat. While things tumbled down hill at least he found his human form.
And with it his rank became that of a King. But not for long.
He took a small leave of absence from the court to recover from what happened in the Lowlands. Actually it was more for Eilwyn, the boy he had picked up from the Lowlands. He had to teach him just about everything about the world outside the Lowlands. Which was difficult. A lot more difficult than teaching his family. But at least he had plenty of people to help him.
The sparrow was staring at the ceiling. Eilwyn was asleep in the next room. They had just finished visiting the doctor yet again. Everything seemed to move smoothly, though the doctor still seemed worried about him having ailments because of conditions.
"Why is everything so bloody complicated," He muttered into his wing ash he brought it over his beak.He should try to get used to his human form... he should be responsible. Theofilus narrowed his eyes, and shifted to his human form.
He sat up so he could look in the mirror. It was odd seeing himself as a human. His glasses slipped down his nose as he leaned forward. Pushing them back up he studied his features with bright pink eyes.
Hopefully he would come off as noble. Sometimes he couldn't tell what he should dress like or act. Being blunt was easier than dancing around the maypole like everyone else. That really hadn't disappeared when he joined and worked in the courts for a while. People just gave him dirty looks every so often.
There was a knock in the door, he shifted to his biped form and went to answer it.
Zane was standing there with a frown on his beak. "Sorry Dad. I know you've been pretty stressed, but I can't find something to make dinner and I was wonder—" He cut himself off as he looked at his dad more carefully.
Theofilus blinked. "What's wrong?"
"Dad," Zane said with a raised eyebrow as he looked at his father's chest. "When did you... become a Queen?"
There was an awkward silence that filled the hallway. Theofilus stood there and looked down at his chest.
He left the door open as he walked over to the mirror to double check.
There was red "Q" on his chest instead of the red "K" that had been there earlier. Had he been so absorbed in himself that he hadn't noticed the change? Or had something else triggered it? He traced the letter on his chest.
"I have no idea." He said to Zane as he sat down on his bed.
"Congratulations though, this is wonderful Dad!" Zane said as he came into the room. He watched as his father remained staring at the mirror. It was strange seeing your logical put together father filled with utter confusion.
"Thank you." He replied quietly. The sparrow was at an utter lose. So many things had happened in such a short period of time. How was he supposed to process all the information. Not to meantion he was now a member of the courts. He couldn't retain his title of King if he was a Queen. "It looks like my break is going to be shorter than I anticipated."
"What do you mean Dad?" Zane asked with a note of worry in his voice. It was the same note his mother had sometimes.
"I mean I need to go back to the courts and clear something up." He said as he shifted to his human form, once again examining the suit. "I have a responsibility. Hopefully I'll be able to have a new court title and another responsibility soon."
"You know. You're one of the coolest Dad's to have." Zane said with a snort as he nudged his father's arm.
Theofilus didn't really have words to respond. Instead he hugged his son before exiting his bedroom. He needed to check on Eilwyn.
Bad Luck Boy
+After some kindness
+After some kindness
There was a nice woman who taught him how to read and write in the Forest. She was a bit of an outcast in the place, and people often gave him dirty looks. Eventually he left the nice woman. He went from region to region, place to place. Alone. Afraid. Trying his hardest not to get caught. He learned quite a few things here and there.
And then in Capital City he ran into trouble.
Stealing was the only way he could get food. But he got caught. And he was beaten until he lost consciousness.
The major problem, however, was that he now woke up staring up at another human figure. She had silver hair and various bangles hanging from its untamed mass. Her outfit, he was pretty sure from the angle, didn't match. The boy wanted to hide, but he found that it hurt the move.
When he tried he started coughing. The girl made a worried noise as she looked down at him. "Your really should stay still. The guy hurt you pretty bad. If my Daddy hadn't stopped him you probably would have died."
Conway blinked. He looked at his hands and felt his face. Bandages. That probably meant that they had to take off his clothing to mend him.
Oh. oh shit.
But he wasn't dead. That was a good thing, right?
He glanced over at the other people in the carriage. They were both well dressed and wore ornate clothing of a blue-ish color. They both had human forms. One was a rather elegant looking woman with dark blue hair, while the man had bright silver hair that was short cropped. They were giving him a look that made him feel smaller and scrawnier than he already was. They must have known...
"Hey, what's your name?" The girl asked quietly as she leaned forward. He hair obscured his face from the view of the adults, and she began to whisper. "My parents aren't to happy about you, but I'm not going to let them throw you out. So don't worry."
He was still suspicious. "Conway," he whispered in return. Her parents couldn't here him of course, but he said it so it was barely spoken. The girl looked confused for a moment, but was able to guess his name by the way he moved his mouth. She nodded happily.
The girl leaned back up and smiled. "I'm Tabitha! Everyone calls me Tabby! It's nice to meet you Conway!"
Both her parents raised an eyebrow. Obviously they were confused as to how she got his name. But they didn't speak a word.
She continued to talk to Conway, keeping him on her lap by pining him down carefully with one hand. Apparently she didn't want him to move. That was fine with him, he supposed. Moving when he was in this much pain was trouble. "We're going to my house. It's a bit of a trip, but you were asleep most of the time. We're going to be there very soon!" She said cheerfully.
Her house huh? Conway wasn't sure about this.
"Tabby, darling. You should let the poor boy sleep," said the woman.
Tabby looked disappointed, but she nodded.
Conway wasn't sure if he was thankful or not.
***
When he woke up again he found himself on a feather bed mattress. Apparently he had been out for quite sometime, yet again. Sitting up he looked around the room. It was small, like a closet, but it had enough room for the large bed that he was sitting on. There was nothing else in the room besides the bed. There was a small window that looked like it had been placed there as an after thought.
Despite all the aching he managed to sit up and edge towards the window. Once he was settled his elbows were on the window sill so he could peer out at the surrounding area.
It was a very awkward place to build a house. All he could see was mountains. And everything was blue. He frowned as he slipped back down to the bed.
There was no getting away from this place, was there?
The door to the room opened. The image of the man from earlier was framed in the light. Conway shot up, and edged to the corner of the room. His back to the wall as the man entered. There wasn't much room for him to walk, but it was enough. His eyes narrowed as he suddenly leaned forward and grabbed Conway by his coat.
"Listen here, boy." He hissed, "The only reason why a freak like you is alive is because of my daughter. I know what you are. If you ever hurt her I'll have your head on a pike. And you will do as I say when I make requests. Understand me?"
Conway nodded. He wasn't going to struggle.
The man dropped him and walked towards the door. "She's waiting for you in her room. Find your way there. Don't think of running either. You'd never make it to town alive."
He walked out, leaving the door slightly open.
Conway sat in silence for a long while. His chin was on his knees as he stared at the open space. This wasn't good. This wasn't good at all. Someone knew what he was and they weren't going to let him go.
The door creaked, but he didn't look up. He looked down at his feet and he listened to someone slink into the room. He didn't look up when the woman wrapped her arms around him, and kissed him softly on the head. He could feel tears dripping into his hair. It was the woman who was supposedly Tabby's mother. Why was she so terribly sad? Why was she crying into his hair?
"I'm sorry." She said. Her voice was muffled as she buried her face in his hair. She was hugging him now. It was something that Conway could appreciate, but he didn't understand why it was so...sad? Hugs were supposed to be happy things, weren't they?
He remained silent though.
"I'm so sorry. I'm going to treat you the way I treat Tabby. You don't deserve to be treated like a monster." She said through all her tears. It was odd. Conway could feel he pressed up against him. His spine hurt because of it, but he wasn't about to make a sound of protest.
She let go. Conway turned to look at her tear stained face.
The woman looked like his mother had in human form. His heart sank. He could feel the tears streaming down his face now, and he began to cough. The bruises burned as he collapsed on the bed, crying.
She couldn't hear a sound of it. As frightened as she was, though, she still tried to comfort the boy. "D-don't cry! Everything is going to be okay!"
No. No it wasn't. Conway knew it. It was all his fault. He had been a bad person all his life so he was being punished. He deserved to be treated like a monster. His sister deserved better than him. His Uncle was supposed to hate him.
"Mommy!" the voice of Tabby called. She hurried into the room happily, completely oblivious to all the pain.Her mother straightened up, her hand was still patting Conway's back however.
Tabby noticed the boy and stopped in her tracks. She wasn't that far away, but it was still pretty dramatic. She stared at the young boy and up at her mother. "Why's Conway crying, Mommy?"
"I don't know sweetie," was her meek reply.
The girl frowned as she made her way onto the bed. She flopped down so that her face was at Conway's level. She brushed a hand over his hair and tried to make him look up. Conway did his best to ignore her and cry into the sheets.
Then she pulled his hair.
He yelped and shot up, trying to get away from the girl.
Tabby grinned. She grabbed Conway's hand and, causing him to blink in confusion. "Let's go have tea! That'll make you feel better."
It was safe to say it wouldn't make him feel better. But he was literally dragged by the girl. He was the equivalent of a living rag doll to her. Nothing more and nothing less.
This was worse than being treated like a freak and a monster.
***
"Conway!" Tabby said cheerfully as she hugged the boy from behind. After two months of the treatment he had learned that protesting just made things worse. She hugged tighter, and if her "Daddy" saw him struggle when Tabby was out to the doctor he would get a beating. Conway was nothing more than a pet.
This was not a way to live. No wonder his mother locked him away from the world.
She gave a small tug on his hair and pointed to her bed. He rolled his eyes and sat on it. Not a word had come out of his mouth since he started to live in this horrible place.
He watched as Tabby went through a large chest, sorting through various pieces of clothing. He watched as she empty the chest piece by piece. Pulling out feather boas and other odd things. Then she squealed for a moment as she pulled out a top hat.
"This'll make you look adorable! Then we can have a proper tea party!"
It was like a punch to the face. Conway's grip tightened on the bed as she place the top hat on his head. Things just couldn't get any worse.
"Tabby dear!" called her mother. "Daddy needs to take you to the doctor!"
She looked crestfallen. Conway watched as she crossed her arms and pouted silently to herself. But going to the doctor was important. Despite all her energy she was sick often. Conway had his share of illness, but he was surprised that Tabby could get up and bounce around like she did.
"I'll see you later Conway," she said with one of her smiles.
And she was gone. The boy gave a sigh of relief as he flopped on the bed. No "Daddy" to deal with or Tabby. He was left alone with her Mother. The nice woman didn't bother him since that night she came in crying.
He still wondered about that.
"Conway," said the soft voice of Tabby's Mother.
He looked up at her from his place on the bed. His eyebrow quirked as he watched her sit down on the bed. "I'm very sorry about Tabby. She just doesn't have many friends. I'm very thankful that you can play with her."
Conway remained dead silent as always.
"I was wondering if you wanted to learn how to knit. It's not much of a thank you, but whenever you decide to leave it'll be a useful skill." Her voice had fallen to a whisper.
"Your husband won't let me leave." He said flatly.
She was surprised that he spoke. All this time she had thought he was mute. She nearly fell off to bed from shock, but being the graceful woman she was she managed to pull herself together. "Of course he won't. But that doesn't mean you won't figure out a way to leave. You can't stay here forever."
"Why not. Tabby seems pretty convinced."
She snorted. That was a sound he hadn't expected. "My darling daughter is a special girl indeed. But one day she'll figure out what you are and you'll be able to leave. Now. Do you want to learn how to knit?"
"I guess," Conway said as he sat up.
So when everything was said and done. Knitting was hard. He struggled with the needles and the moving and just about everything else. She said he would get better at all of it in time, but he couldn't see how.
***
Two years. Two long years of being dressed up, humiliated, and treated like a stuffed dog. He was tired of top hats and brightly colored clothing. He was tired of tea parties and crazy kitchen experiments. He had mastered the art of knitting, and had picked up sign language out of sheer mind numbing boredom and humility.
Hugging was terrifying. Something he had enjoyed so much as a child was reduced to a repulsive act. Her father had become over bearing, and her mother had fallen in what seemed like a depression.
And then the nightmares began. Conway had dreams about his mother and father's death. The blood dripping down his mother's neck as she laid on the floor in a puddle of blood. The body of his father gasping for air and gurgling when it found none. He woke up screaming more than once.
No comfort to be found. No one could here him.
And then Tabby finally noticed something was "wrong" with him.
"You don't have a shadow Conway."
He made the motions with his hands, 'I've never had one.'
Tabby's brow furrowed. "And I didn't notice?"
Conway shook his head. Was Tabby's mother right? Had she finally figured out what he was?
"I love you, Conway."
That was brick to the face. There was no other way to describe that comment that came from nowhere. 'What?'
"No matter what you are. I love you, Conway."
He stared blankly at her for a long while. The tension hung in the air as thick as fog. This wasn't what he had expected at all. He was a twelve year old boy. She was younger than him. She was crazy. Dressed him up. Called him "Snookie" every once in a while. She had tea with him. That was not love. That was being a play thing. She couldn't even understand what he was capable of and she just said those words.
'You are an idiot.'
Tabby's eyes widened.
"You are a complete and utter moron," Conway spoke at her. "I am a monster. A horrible creature that no one has ever had the pleasure of loving. I don't have a rank. I don't have a symbol. I'm not supposed to exist!"
The girl was obviously shocked.In two years she hadn't heard him speak. In two years he had pretended to neutral to everything she did. Two years was enough time to build up all the anger and have it boil over. If it wasn't for Tabby's Mother it would have happened sooner.
"Go burn in vat of acid. I'm leaving." Conway said as he walked out of the room.
Tabby didn't follow him. She remained on the bed. Staring at the doorway.
Conway stood in front of the doorway out. There was a commotion behind him, but he ignored it. Tabby's mother was screaming, so was her father. Conway knew the consequences of leaving, but he'd like to see them stop him.
He felt bad that he didn't say thank you to Tabby's mother. She really was the kindest person he had met in a long while. Just like his mother.
A gun shot went off. Blowing a portion of the wall out of existence. Conway turned around with wide eyes. The image of Tabby's father with a musket filled his vision. Thank whatever god or gods that were out there that guns had poor aim and took forever to load.
The door flung open as Conway ran with all the speed he had. Thinking that it would be easier if he were a Spade was enough to make him go faster.
Entirely too fast.
He tripped, fell, and tumbled down the side of a small hill.
Life couldn't get any better than that.
; I feel so bad for Conway ;_; but at least he learned how to knit and use sign language? [air fluffs him]
