Warhammer (CH3) (Patreon)

After a silent walk, Eli found himself standing in front of a door. It was open, exposing a spacious bedroom with a huge double-bed at the end. The smooth covers were disturbed on one side, but not by much. The occupant would’ve been a child—a four-year-old boy, perhaps.

‘I woke up here.’ Eli thought, the memories slowly returning to him. His head felt a little messy. It didn’t bother him too much, since dreams were usually like that.

The woman moved out of the doorway. She looked at him expressionlessly.

Eli paused, but then he resumed walking, standing next to the bed. He glanced at it, then at her. He felt his cheeks reddening. He was too short to climb up. “T-There should be a chair somewhere-…”

Gliding over, she put her hands under his arms. She lifted him easily, setting him on the bed.

He was too embarrassed to even look her in the eye. “Thanks.” He mumbled, minding his manners. He didn’t think she’d dig out and devour his heart at this point, but one could never be too careful.

Retreating back to the doorway, she watched as he dug himself under the covers, drawing his knees up to his chest. He stared at her over the edge.

“Sleep.” She said eventually.

Eli had to stop himself from grumbling. How exactly was he supposed to do that? “I don’t think I can.”

She turned her back to him, her scaled fingers gripping the doorframe. “I will go.” She said.

“You don’t have to.” When the words left his mouth, he blinked in surprise. “I mean, being alone is a little scary, so…” He found himself scrambling to explain, but realized how stupid he sounded. Wasn’t she the scariest thing here?

The woman stared at him. “…very well.” She said after a while, going to sit on the corner of the bed. She smoothed her dress over her legs.

‘Awkward.’ Eli thought. ‘I got her to stay… for some reason. But what now?’ He wondered if he should try to get some information, but decided against it. Best not to push his luck.

“Do human children sleep with their eyes open?” She asked after some time passed.

Eli shook his head, his face warming further.

Some amusement bled through her impassivity. “Then try closing them, perhaps.”

He did as he was told. And waited. He was no closer to falling asleep.

The bed-springs creaked as the woman shifted her weight, leaning toward him. She rested one hand on his knees, and the other on his shoulders. “Lie down.” She said, speaking close to his ear.

He obeyed, feeling goosebumps rising on his arms and neck. He was suddenly glad he hadn’t hit puberty yet.

“Would you have me sing a lullaby?” She asked, not sounding like she was mocking him.

Feeling about ready to explode from shame, he pulled the sheet over his head. “Nuh-huh.” He said, not trusting his voice enough for anything more.

“Then I will sit with you.” She said, removing her hands. “Until you sleep.”

Eli didn’t know how much time passed like that, but he eventually began to feel drowsy. “What’s your name?” He asked, unsure if she was still there.

Her voice came from the same place, if a little lower. Almost as if she’d laid down next to him. “Hush. There will be time for introductions tomorrow.”

He hummed sleepily, not really registering her words. “I’ve never had… the same dream twice.” He yawned, feeling himself sinking deeper. “These nightmares can be really awful.”

“Nightmares?” She asked quietly.

Eli made an affirmative sound, but didn’t elaborate. He was already drifting off. On the edge of consciousness, he felt the sheet shifting. A hand stroked his cheek, the scales warmer and softer than he expected. His mind was suddenly far away, remembering the first time he’d touched a snake at a petting zoo. It had been a very similar sensation.

He surrendered himself to those childhood memories, enveloped in the warmth of distant days. “Good… night.” He mumbled, already asleep before the last syllable slipped from between his lips.

The woman ran her fingers up along his cheek, stroking his hair. “Sweet dreams… my child.”

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The four of them sat at the massive dining-room table in order, from oldest to youngest. A night’s rest had helped to take the edge of yesterday’s tragedy, but not by much. The twins still looked more like little ghosts than living children, and Bee’s eyes were red where she slumped.

Though, to Eli’s shame, his dead parents weren’t his greatest source of distress, not at the moment.  Neither was Thalion’s presence, Beatrice’s father and their ‘host’. Instead, it was the familiar raven-like woman sitting on the far end. Who still hadn’t introduced herself.

Feeling her looking at him, he lowered his head, his cheeks reddening. He’d been completely confused when he woke last night, but who could blame him? His nightmares were so commonplace these days that he’d just assumed that was one of them. He felt like he could crawl into a hole and die. His only solace was the hope she’d write it off on account of his youth and unstable mentality.

They sat in uncomfortable silence for a while before the dining-hall doors opened. Exotic, inhuman servants approached the table with trays and dishes. A goblin-thing with razor-sharp teeth and evil eyes, ridiculous in its frilly lace uniform, served Eli’s. It gave him a look like it couldn’t wait to swallow him whole.

Belle must’ve had a similar experience, because she started sniffing quietly. He went to pat her leg, but realized he couldn’t reach. He sighed. His mother’s words, that she didn’t want this life for her children, replayed in his head. Whatever these things were, he didn’t think they were very friendly to humans. Did he make the wrong decision?

He glanced at his breakfast. It looked like something served in a really fancy restaurant. He didn’t recognize the juicy, sauced meat and roasted vegetables, but it made his mouth water. It was certainly an odd situation, drooling over food served by his parents’ killer, but what was he supposed to do?

When the servants were done, having lined up at the edges of the room, Thalion raised his hand. Taking it as a sign to leave, they went the way they came, walking in single-file. As soon as the doors closed, the master of the house picked up his cutlery.

Eli hesitated. He glanced from the green-golden elf to the woman, watching the movements of their hands. There was some method to this, he was sure, but he might make a bigger fool of himself if he tried imitating it.

He found himself meeting Bee’s stare where she sat, three seats away. She rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue, poorly mimicking the adult’s table manners. Eli hid his smile. It was relieving, her being able to joke at a time like this, even if it was fake.

Moving his weird-looking knife and fork toward the food, he glanced in a different direction. One more person sat at the table—someone he’d never seen before. It was a horned, blue-skinned boy. He appeared around one or two years of age, but who could say for sure? For all Eli knew, the kid was older than the four of them.

Gears turned in his head. Did Thalion have a son? The boy didn’t look anything like him, nor did he resemble the woman. What was the relationship between those three? Eli couldn’t answer any of those questions, but one thing was certain—he was glad for the kid’s presence. Because his etiquette was way worse than his own could ever be.

His fork hovering in the air, the uneven prongs skewering a piece of meat, Eli watched with fascination as the blueberry tore with hands and teeth. Already, his face was slathered with sauce and grease. His clothes too. It was almost admirable, how he managed to leave his bib entirely clean while splattering everything else.

“Hawke.” It was the woman’s voice. Not exactly scolding, but firm.

Evidently, the boy understood her meaning, because he slowed down, looking a little sheepish. His gemstone-like eyes flitted from left to right before meeting Eli’s own, realizing he was being stared at. Their gazes locked for a moment before the kid’s lips parted, flashing sharp canines. He giggled.

Eli found himself smiling too. The child’s grin was infectious. He really did seem like he was just a kid—perhaps not as young as he looked, but he was no old monster.

“You seem well-rested.” It was the woman’s voice again.

Eli waited for someone to answer her, but the table was silent. Raising his chin, his eyes wandered around, only to find her attention on him. In his surprise, he almost choked on his food.

“Ah-… uhm…” He said incoherently. “I-… err...” After trying and failing to form words, he nodded once. He was glad for his medium-length hair, so nobody could see how red his ears were.

Fortunately, after waiting a few seconds, he realized she wasn’t planning on continuing the conversation. He was about to resume his meal when a finger prodded him in the ribs. It was Belle, looking at him with concern.

He met her eyes, relieved to see she’d stopped crying. He had no clue what she wanted, though.

She must’ve picked up on his confusion, because her eyes travelled from him to the woman, then back again. She tried to hide it, but Eli could tell she was stiff from fright. Almost as if she expected a pair of black talons to reach across the table and pluck out her eyes.

He wanted to reassure her, to tell her that… lady wasn’t so bad, but he didn’t quite know how he was supposed to explain it. He ended up giving her a smile and squeezing her hand. He doubted she was quite satisfied, but she did go back to her meal. He followed her lead, thinking he’d probably be interrogated later.

The rest of their breakfast passed in silence. Even if the other three weren’t there, Eli doubted he and his sisters would’ve said much. It was just… a lot. He still hadn’t really wrapped his head around everything. His siblings certainly weren’t doing any better.

Toward the end, a female servant came to fetch Hawk, leading the kid by his hand. On his way out, he waved at Eli. ‘Looks like I made a friend.’ He thought, returning a two-fingered salute.

When he was gone, Thalion raised his head. He was as regal as a king on a throne, his shimmering eyes resting on each of them in turn. “You are all members of this Great House. I know you do not wish to hear it, but it is a great privilege to be as trueborn children of the Sidhe.” He let his words sink in before continuing. “Your new identity entitles you to many things. You will receive all of them in time. First, you must be brought up in our ways—if you are to be worthy.”

None of them reacted to his speech. Even Eli’s own expression was stony, despite knowing an attitude wouldn’t benefit him much. His parents’ faces were at the forefront of his mind. The life they provided him may have been simple, but if it meant having them, he’d choose it without hesitation.

Thalion didn’t seem bothered by their lack of enthusiasm. “Perhaps you will never think of me as such, but it doesn’t matter—I am your father now. And I will not shirk my duties.” He gave them one last look before getting up. “Your education will start tomorrow.” He said, striding out of the hall.

The woman got up too. “You have been granted your place. In that, there is no dispute. But never forget, mortal children—you do not belong here.” She didn’t look at them as she passed.

The twins’ faces turned white, while Beatrice clenched her jaw, glowering at the woman’s back. “We never wanted to be here, you witch!” She whispered fiercely, though she did wait until lady-raven was gone.

Eli pursed his lips in thought. He’d heard the same thing last night. He didn’t detect any cruelty in those words—not then, and not now. So what was she trying to say? After a bit of pondering, he felt it was some kind of warning. Perhaps that they shouldn’t get too comfortable.

If he’d guessed her intentions correctly, then they’d best heed the advice. With the servants looking down on them to such an extent, faeries not under Thalion’s authority were bound to be even worse.

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Seated on a carved stone bench, Beatrice watched her younger siblings play on the grass. Eli had led them to the garden, having spotted it through a window this morning. Apparently. She could always tell when he was lying, but decided not to call him out in front of Belle and Licia. That would have to wait until later. For now, everyone could do with some fresh air, and time in the sunlight.

Her gaze latched on to her little brother. His red-golden hair and honey-colored eyes made him look like a little jewel. Just as their mother did. But there was something in him of their father too. That quiet assurance. That unshakable aura. Both of them always seemed like they knew what do to, how to act. No matter the situation.

She’d thought she had that as well. But she was wrong. How could she have inherited that from him, when she wasn’t even-…?

Her teeth clamped onto her lip. She stuffed her trembling hands in her lap. ‘Don’t cry. You can’t cry.’ She thought, repeating the words like a mantra. ‘You’re their big sister. They need you.'

“Don’t go far.” She said, after she was sure her voice wouldn’t shake. “You’ll get lost.”

Eli and the twins waved at her from where were, playing some sort of kid’s game. They were smiling, but it was plastered-on. They were trying not to think about… everything. As much as that was possible. Beatrice understood. She was doing the same.

The garden was beautiful. She would’ve liked to admire it, but she didn’t want to take their eyes off them for fear that, when she looked back, she’d find them all gone. Consequently, she didn’t notice when someone approached from behind, tugging at the corner of her new white dress.

She turned her head in surprise. It was that horned, blue-skinned boy from earlier. Hawke.

“Hi.” He said, staring at her with a mix of shyness and excitement. A servant was next to him—some kind of… humanoid creature. Its expression was a lot less friendly.

Beatrice met the boy’s inhuman gaze with uncertainty. She didn’t know what he wanted. Didn’t really know who he was. He was related to that man. Somehow. She understood that much. And she wanted to hate him for it, but looking at the way his hands twisted together, the slight hopefulness he tried to hide—she just couldn’t.

She smiled weakly. “Hello.”

“My name is Hawke. What’s yours?” He asked, taking a step closer.

“Everyone calls me Bee.” She said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

After pondering for a moment, he nodded. “I like honey, so I like bees too.” He hesitated before continuing. “Do you like hawks?”

“I’m not sure.” She said. “I’ve never seen one up close.”

He seemed a little unhappy with than answer, but didn’t press the issue. Instead, his sapphire eyes went to her siblings behind her. “What are their names?” He asked curiously.

“Our brother’s name is Eli. My sister—the girl with the yellow flowers—that’s Belle. The one with white is Licia.”

Hawke peeked at them from behind the bench, looking like he wanted to greet them, but feeling too shy. “How old are you? It’s my tenth summer this year.”

Beatrice was surprised. He looked perhaps two years old, if that. “I’m… a year younger. The twins are seven. Eli is four.”

Hawke’s eyes widened, matching her own expression. Then he laughed. “Humans are really strange, just like I heard.” There was some mischief in his voice. “I’m the oldest, so you have to listen to me. If you don’t, I’ll-…”

She raised an eyebrow. “You’ll what?”

“…tell father. He’ll get mad at you. He definitely will.”

“That man is your father? You don’t look anything alike-…” She started, stopping midway when she felt the servant staring at her. For a moment, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. “…never mind.” She finished, standing up. She rubbed her arms. She’d join her siblings in the sun. “I’m going over there.”

Hawke watched her leave, his hand half-raised. “Ah…”

“There’s no need to bother with these… mortals.” The creature hissed, turning its back to the four children. “The half-breed too. Those things are beneath you, your majesty.”

The boy’s expression turned a little sad. He ignored its words. “Maybe-… maybe I can talk to them later. Tomorrow at breakfast. Yes, I’ll see them then.” He said, sounding like he was talking to himself. He left without looking at his servant, who trailed after him in silence.

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That night, the four siblings stuffed themselves into one bed—the one in Bee’s room. It was big enough that they fit easily, with room to spare. The twins had cried themselves to sleep a while ago, finally able to vent their emotions. Eli didn’t. And because he didn’t, Bee didn’t either. She was like that—always forcing herself to be more mature.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t. He came dangerously close to bursting into tears a few times, but he always shoved it back down. He’d gotten used to doing that. When old ghosts came to haunt him—memories from before. When he woke up shaking, terrified by some nightmare. And now, whenever he thought about his parents.

It wasn’t good. He knew it wasn’t, but… what choice did he have? How was he supposed to deal with all of this? Sometimes, there just was no solution.

“Did you talk to that witch?” It was Bee’s voice, whispering so as not to wake the other two.

Eli sighed. He knew this was coming. His siblings weren’t stupid, her least of all. “Yeah, I did.”

There was a pause. “Why? When? What did she say to you?” The words were both worrying about him and accusing him. “You should be more careful. Don’t talk to these people. Not unless you have to.”

He understood Bee’s concerns. At the same time, he felt that her approach was somewhat misguided. He agreed that they should protect themselves, but not at the cost of isolation. However, how was he supposed to tell her that? His sister was headstrong in her own right. She wouldn’t listen to him.

“Last night. I couldn’t sleep. I ran into her.” He said after a while. “She didn’t seem… so bad.”

“Eli.” There was an edge to the way she said his name, like she was barely stopping herself from shouting. “You left your room? That was such a stupid thing to do-… no, forget it. Have you considered that she made you think that? With her-… with her voice. The way he did.”

He bit back a retort. He couldn’t side with that woman, not even if he disagreed with Bee. No one in the world had his back more than she did. And she needed him to have her back too. “I know. My head was a mess. I couldn’t sleep. I was going for a walk when I ran into her in the garden.”

She was silent for a moment. “And then?”

“Nothing important. Really. She said some stuff to me about not belonging here, like this morning. Then she took me back to my room.” He felt a little guilty about leaving out what happened after, but it was probably for the best. It’d only inflame Bee’s suspicions.

Her arms wrapped around him from behind. Eli felt her breathing out, stirring his hair. He stiffened for a second, but then he relaxed. Sometimes, he hated being a little kid again, but not at times like these. It was nice. When they got older, they wouldn’t be able to be this touchy-feely.

“We need to be careful. We don’t know anything about this world.”

“I know.” He said.

Bee shifted against his back, getting comfortable. “I know you know. But still.” She went quiet for a while before squeezing his waist. “I’m… glad you’re here. If I was alone-… I don’t even want to think about it. I feel like I’d have lost my mind.”

He let out an amused huff. “I don’t think so. You’re stronger than you know.” Before she could say anything, he patted her hand reassuringly. “But I’m glad you’re glad. I really believe you would’ve made it on your own, but that’s something you shouldn’t have to do. We can help you. And you can do the same for us.”

“Yeah.” She said, sounding like she wanted to say more. Her voice was a little unsteady.

He yawned. “I’m going to sleep. You should too, since we’ll be starting classes. See you tomorrow.”

“…hmm. See you tomorrow, Eli. And sweet dreams.”

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