“My parents were killed when I was a child… but there was more to that. A series of decisions and secrets made the path that led me to this suffering I now endure...
My grandfather was the prideful owner of the biggest farm in the region. It used to be the sole provider of produce from this part of the north. You can think of any kind of food, vegetable, meat, animal products even grains, from other regions. A lot passed by his merchants, he was a very rich man that put his heart and blood into that farm.
He had two sons, twins actually… Crane and Kiev. My grandmother wasn’t in the equation, she hated my grandfather and ended up separating from him taking Crane with her when he was a little boy while Kiev stayed back with his father. It was the agreement they settled on when they parted paths.
Kiev was raised by the hard fist of my grandfather, but he turned strong and learned the business rather fast. He was in charge of most of the people that worked with him, actually… my now foster father used to be his best friend. They both took care of the heavy work and most of the heavy lifting around the farm and all the activities that came with it.
But one day… Crane came back to the farm. He went directly with his father, with his bag full of things and gave him a letter from his mother. She passed away from a very aggressive ailment that slowly ate her up till there was nothing much left of her.
Crane didn’t have much of a choice but to go back to his father. This was one of the things his mother asked of him… to at least go back to the family. She worried for him of being alone after her passing… so he promised her, for her peace of mind in her last moments, that he would go back to him.
Compared to his brother Crane was thin, not very strong but he was very quick at learning, loved to read and made what he called potions and tonics for helping ailments and other little sickness. He learned more from the matron of the farm, my foster mother. His passion was the effects of herbs and the healing properties of it.
My grandfather didn’t approve this, for him in his eyes he was a weak link of the family. He treated him like dirt, he only provided him the only love he knew and it was a hard hurtful angry fist.
Crane spent most of his time out of the farm, the farther the better, he even built a little cabin on the outskirts that every now and then he made bigger and sturdier, he tried his best to be better at his own pace and with his own effort. I think in his mind this was his way to prove that he was as strong or determined as his brother was… a way to make his father look at him differently.
And one day… he found her.”
A young man walked lonely on the snowy road, it was almost dusk. He had in his hand a bag full of fresh herbs that looked just picked. With his free hand he had a little book with notes in it. He murmured to himself with a slight smile in his lips. His short blueish dark hair waved a bit with the cold wind. He took a breath of air as he was lost in his thoughts.
- Such a nice night… I should get home shortly – he said as he raised his eyes towards the road, he stopped for a moment as he saw something odd on the far end of it.
Far ahead he saw a woman tumbling slowly, she wore a long white dress that seemed stained, her long white hair made her look almost like an apparition, but the sun made her shine almost like she was glowing. She stopped and fell on her knees. Crane ran fast to her – Are you alright, miss?- he said as he rushed towards her. He got on his knees as she was on hers shivering, he noticed her dress was torn and dirty, her feet were bare and looked hurt full of blisters and cuts, she was struggling to breathe.
He tried to help her get up but she pushed him away -DON’T TOUCH ME!!- she screamed, Crane stood back a bit.
-Easy miss, I’m only trying to help… Did someone hurt you? Can I get some help for you??- he got on his knees, she was pale blue and he could notice she was crying for a long time. Her face looked hurt too, like she received a beating. -let me help you up…– he said in a reassuring voice. She looked up at him, her blue eyes looked at him, her face was so hurt and full of sadness.
Crane picked her up in his arms, slowly as she cried in pain. -Easy… You’re safe now, miss, my home isn’t that far from here – He started walking. She held tight from him sobbing silently as if every step he did she felt pain.
He walked a bit faster, and stopped for a moment looking towards where his cabin was, he thought to himself “she’ll be safer there...” as he started to walk into the barrens down the undone road into the forest of pines. After a while up on a hill a little cabin stood, there was some materials still on the surroundings but the chimney was built most of it and it had a roof over it protecting them from the weather.
He walked and let her down a bit while he opened the door, inside there was the fireplace and a table full of different herbs and some pots. On the corner there was a bed with some covers in it.
He helped her to get in the bed as she slowly let herself sit as she complained of her pain.
He swiftly ran out to pick up some wood for the fire. He went out and came in a couple of times as he set some water boiling in the kettle and the fire started to lit up. As he finally got everything set he closed the door behind him making sure they were safe.
He then looked at her, walking towards her slowly trying not to scare her, but as she sat on the bed he couldn’t ignore the fact that she looked like a scared animal in the wilderness.
-Miss… Where does it hurt? I can help with the pain… I also want to avoid any infections… - he got a bit closer looking at her as he touched her gently over her forehead and neck. She looked like she was about to pass out, Crane placed his hand over her forehead, she was burning up. He stood up and grabbed a piece of cloth and wet it a bit with the water he brought in. He gently draped it over her forehead and her neck. She reacted a bit as she felt the cold wet cloth.
-thank you...- she said finally in a soft voice. He smiled at her as he kept pressing the cloth on her.
- you are safe now, nobody is going to hurt you anymore – he said as he held her delicate hand.
“My mother was named Diam. She had a rough life since she was born. She was from a poor family and when she was of age her father decided to give her to a wealthy man in exchange for forgiving a debt he had with him… my mother suffered greatly in his hands for years. Till she had enough and fought back… she never did tell me what she did but she always said if it wasn’t for Crane… she would have died or maybe been found by that man. The fact that he hid her might had saved her…
Crane tended her wounds and healed her back with his care. She was very grateful of him after saving her that night. She was very afraid of being found, afraid of whatever that man would do if he got a hold of her.
But Crane made her a promise of never having another day of misery in her life as long as he lived.
They lived together for a while. She stayed in that cabin till she was fully healed. But it was in no time the grandfather uncovered her existence. A lot of voices were whispering about the white angel Crane kept in hiding up on the hill.
And one day he showed up randomly out of nowhere in Crane’s home…
In his nature of strong fist he demanded him to bring her to live back in the farm, that cabin he built was in shambles for a woman like her. He offered her a room and a place to stay. He did not expect to take no for an answer… so he succumbed to his demand, but he was going to go with her, keeping the promise he made her that day.
Diam was afraid that the old man would try and take her for himself, but he was honest with her.. that he didn’t have any evil intentions for him to do such a thing. He actually was impressed that Crane kept her as a secret and did not come and ask for his help. It was the first time he felt his son was being an actual man of good.
But… Crane felt he wasn’t really enough for her. She quickly fell in love with him, after all he saved her that day. He took her in and gave her a place to be safe. But Crane had a quick darkness growing inside of him…
They settled in the farm manor and seemed like it was peaceful, for a time… but not long after Crane started to distance himself.
He started to leave for long periods of time, his reasoning was he needed to be a better man. So he went off… and came back after days. Every time he came back he seemed more different. His eyes started to look darker, she started to feel a bit afraid of him, almost like if some kind of black fog covered him little by little”
Crane sat in his dark library; the smell of herbs and dampness overwhelmed the strange room. Diam came knocking first on the door – hello… - she said in her sweet almost a whispering voice, Crane looked at her and turned back to his thoughts.
- I’m just getting ready to leave… I think it will be my last trip – he said as he grabbed some books.
-I don’t want you to go… every time you leave me, you come back different and you never tell me what you are doing...- she said as he walked in closing the door behind her.
-It’s just one more trip… things will be a lot better after this, trust me– he said without looking at her. She walked quickly towards him and put her hands over his shoulders.
-Don’t go… I don’t care… we are fine as we are… we can get married and just leave this place. You don’t need to prove anything to that man – she hugged him from behind – I just need you by my side -
Crane grabbed her hand as he turned towards her and kissed her. - I am not worthy of you… - She caressed his cheek and sat on his lap. She smiled as she leaned towards him and kissed him softly.
“Whatever he was meant to do… almost took forever. After that night, he left her and went on his journey… never to return.
My mother was heartbroken thinking he was dead or left her behind. Kiev went on a mission to look for him with others from the farm but they didn’t find any trace of him anywhere. His cabin was finished, though, abandoned. By the time they arrived his things were not there.
A year passed, and Diam married Kiev. I was born, for what my mother said… on one of the worst snow storms the region ever had.
And one day… I was 3 or 4 years old, my mother had me in her arms playing with me, we were looking for my father in the farm area. I remember her ...”
-Darling, your son wants you to show him the horses – Diam said as she walked closer to Kiev. She held a young Frost smiling at him, reaching a bit excited to see him. Kiev was talking with Ram , he smiled a bit and picked little Frost up.
- He’s already demanding things? - Kiev said as Ram picked him up and putting him on his shoulder.
-This little man is getting too big for mommy, he needs some real training!- Frost was laughing from being so high up.
Diam laughed slightly at the site when she suddenly felt a shiver down her spine, she felt compelled to turn and as she did she saw him - C...crane?- she said. Kiev and Ram turned back…
Crane was walking slowly behind them, he wore a long blue dark cape and a wolf pelt over his shoulders. He looked different, his baggy eyes and dark hair, he looked almost thinner, his expression was emotionless. They felt almost like the air turned colder.
-Greetings – he said in a very somber voice. He walked closer to them and looked at Frost that was on Ram’s shoulders looking down on him curious. Cain walked to Diam and smiled with a very empty emotion – Congratulations… where is father? -
-Crane, where the hell were you?- Kiev grabbed his shoulder and Crane just shoved his hand.
- Brother… I only want to talk to my father… - he said emotionless, Kiev walked a bit back feeling almost a strange threat from him… the aura he emanated was very thick and overwhelming.
- Can,… we talk? - Diam interfered. - please Crane...- he turned to her, his face full of disgust.
-I’m heading to my room, I’ll talk to my father later… - he turned and walked towards the main building.
As he walked the 3 of them looked at him getting into the old farm building.
-I don’t like how this is looking – Ram said as he kept holding Frost up.
- he is spooky...- Frost said.
“My mother took me to bed that night and kissed me good night. Almost as she knew this was the last time she would ever see me again. She was careful about closing the door behind her, she gave me one last look and smiled at me.
But not long after, maybe past midnight I heard a fight...
I still remember waking up with the screams.
I sat up, when I heard everyone screaming and the loud noises. I was very afraid of opening that door. After it got quiet I finally got up from my bed. I walked towards the door and opened it slowly… It was dark and I could hear someone crying. I remember the long hallway of rooms and it was very dark.
I stumbled over something, it turned out to be my father Kiev… I can’t even remember the way his body was bent, it looked like someone twisted his body in weird forms and angles. I slipped in his puddle of blood then just ran.
Then I found Crane crying on the floor on his knees, my mother was in his arms completely covered in blood. I don’t think he even knew I was standing there the whole time… till Ram showed up running up the staircase with other farm workers.It’s an image that is just burned into his memory till this day.
But what stopped everyone from attacking him was the thing walking out of the room where my mother was with Crane.
She still haunts my dreams, that gray distorted woman…
She walked out that dark room smiling, her gray body covered in blood. And as she walked out she grabbed Crane from the head dragging his body as they suddenly disappeared. The scene was left in pure horror. Ram took me with him and his wife, he said I didn’t speak for months after this happened.
Later that week they found Crane’s body, he was torn apart by the elements I guess, turns out that before he killed my parents he also went insane with my grandfather killing him with a similar end.
There was a lot of gossip after it happened, they tried to give the estate to me but no one wanted that land anymore… it soon turned barren with no expectations of any type of exchanges. Soon the crops and animals died… in a matter of months that place turned in to a barren wasteland.
Ram and his wife adopted and raised me.The rest stayed there… rotting as time passed.
Except for this place...”
Frost looked at the fireplace with burning and crackling logs. Nebbia was bundled under covers listening to his story while the night went by slowly.
- This is the only thing I kept from being destroyed – He got up from the bed and looked around the room as he sat on the chair near the table – This was his home, the one he built for my mother. I remember when I was a little boy, Ram kept coming to this place to take all the stuff he left behind, Crane didn’t leave much. But I liked coming here as I grew up… I tried to fix it and finish some of the things he left undone.– He passed her hand over the table (what’s this last sentence mean?)– Compared to the old farm house… this place actually feels like a home. - he said as he smiled sadly.
- So Crane was your father? - Nebbia said as she sat wrapped in the blanket.
- Yes, when he left my mother was pregnant with him. She did tell me that Kiev wasn’t my father that he was taking care of us while my father came back from his journey.- He grabbed his little wooden wolf figure he was working on – She had to marry Kiev to cover it up, he understood and took the lead … he was a very good man and a good father -
- and Crane… got angry because of that I imagine –
- I don’t really know… or care -
Nebbia cleared a tear after hearing his story. Frost got up and stretched.
- Yeah, I took care of this place… I feel comfortable here...also- he sighed a bit – never mind… I think it’s getting late you may want to get some sleep –
-Mmhmm, yeah it is getting a bit late – she fixed the bed a bit as she started to get comfy on it.
-eh… -
Nebbia turned towards him a bit confused – What’s wrong?-
-I think … - look at the other bedroom – I mean you can sleep on the other bigger bed if you wish, it’s a lot more… -
-Oh… Right!… my bad – she said embarrassed as she started getting up.
- NO, I mean! Don’t take it like I don’t want you here… you can stay if you want, just thought you would be more comfortable in a bigger … bed? -Nebbia was already standing up and started walking towards the other room smiling a bit
-It’s ok really, you have a good night – she walked in the room and closed it softly behind her, she stood behind the door a bit in the darkness, she slapped her face a bit “I’m such an idiot…”
Frost stood there looking at the door shut, he sighed -I’m an idiot… - he whispered to himself as he sat hard in the bed.
Nebbia got under the thick covers and adjusted herself, the room was rather spacious.
The light of the moon came from a little window up on the ceiling, it was rather comforting. It was just a nice spot to fall asleep on. She did think… it would have been better if he was there with her… she just felt that he spent enough nights by himself “But… I don’t want him to think I’m kinda taking advantage… or something” she thought to herself as she blushed “it’s… not like anything is gonna happen”.
Frost was laying in his unmade bed looking at the ceiling with his arms on the back of his head.
“She's going to think I’m a pervert if I try to get in that room won’t she?” he thought to himself. He closed his eyes and tried to relax.
- dammit – he said as he got up and walked towards the door. He opened it slowly, she was laying on her side under the covers, he could see her with the moonlight hitting her a bit… she was asleep it seemed.
He closed the door again and headed to his bed once more. He got under the covers and tried to fall asleep…
- whatever… - he whispered to himself again.
COMING SOON CHAPTER 7
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