An Eternal's Loyalty

Chapter 1 : Strangers

~Intro~

"Don't come out,"

"Don't speak,"

"Don't scream...Keep quiet no matter what."

Dread filled hazel eyes as they stared deeply into light lite green. Water fell down a woman's dark olive skin, her whole body covered in a cold sweat. She looked deep into those young green eyes as she tried to not sob anymore, biting her lips as the next words slipped out. "He may sound like your father. but I promise... He isn't." The last words were nearly a whimper as she ushered a young child into a nearby door. A closet.

Seconds become minutes as that youth waited inside that small cramped space, the child confused and fearful of what was going to happen. Why couldn't they see their dad? What was wrong with him? Why was their mother so scared and why did she say that the youth's father was not himself?

Then there was a sound!

A loud crack and their mothers scream filled the air. The last words moments before the crack etched in the child's mind forever more.

"Our daughter! What about our daughter Lothar!?"

A strained "sorry," was all the hoarse voice of what the child thought to be her dad exchanged before something else broke... Then the sound of water slapped against the floor.

The young one whimpered and curled further into the closet wall as a wail was heard from the other side. It was their dad... But why was he crying? Why did he apologize? She was so confused and slowly grew sick. Then a click echoed and a gun went off... And all the sounds stopped entirely.

It was quiet again... And she was still in that closet. The child had promised their mom that they would not leave. Not without permission. (I promised. But it hurt. It has been so long?) she thought to herself, growing colder each passing moment, her throat closing up.

Hours passed and the child was still inside. Footsteps were heard again and they whimpered, covering her mouth as she pressed harshly against the rugged white wall. Then the sounds came closer, and closer. The door slid open and light shot straight inside, almost blinding them! The child screamed, clawing at the ground, scrambling as she tried to run away when rough hands picked her up and pulled her into a tight hug.

"It's ok Juno... I got you." The voice was so familiar. It was aunty...?

A woman of dark hair and eyes held her close in a tight embrace, the woman built, broad. Her voice was hoarse and on the verge of breaking as she whispered. "You're no longer alone... I'm so sorry. You are no longer alone, little one."

Finally, Juno was allowed to cry out, loud and sharp. Juno's aunt cooed to them, tried to calm her down... That was the last time any of them had ever entered that house... And was the last time Juno ever heard or saw their parents.

After all that had happened, Juno ended up at their Grandmother's house. Talia Felix. She was to be raised by her grandmother until she became of age... Where she would then choose her own path and where to go next.

It has been 11 years since that fateful day, the memories getting more hazy with time... Changing, warped. But the trauma all the same.

Chapter 1

Aged wood and solid brick, this old home was still so sturdy years after it was originally built, inherited by generation to generation: History hidden behind those very solid walls. The house owner walked carefully down her home's staircase, the aged steps just a bit too close to unkempt, each step creaking loudly.