Spirits of the Earth

Four years had passed since the day Lansiter and Nevayah's life would change forever. No it was not the day they found themselves as free people, or the day they moved into their new safe home hundreds of miles away from Essyrn. It was the day that these two who shared a love unlike anything before become parents of not one, but two beautiful children. Their horrific pasts were nothing but a distant memory clouded by the joy they now experienced every day as a family together.

It was mid afternoon when the sun was highest in the sky as Nevayah stood in the yard just in front of their little cottage. Standing barefoot in the grass on this warm late spring day she reached down to grab another one of Lanister's shirts to shake out and hang on the line to dry. A breeze whipped through the other clothes hanging out causing her shoulder length hair to whip behind her almost majestically. As the breeze blew it caused a sheet to flicker up and down, just beyond showing images of two children playing in the field not far off. Echo's of their giggles could be heard as they were carried by the wind past their mother's ears.

Taken aback by the sight Nevayah clipped the shirt on the line and then crossed her arms in front of her chest as she stood in awe watching her beautiful children play  in the distance. After a few moments she went back to hanging the last piece of laundry before picking up the woven basket in one hand and signaling at her children with the other. "Izayah! Emia! Come inside now!" Her voice was loud yet serene as she beckoned for her children to come inside to have a bight to eat. Turning around she walked towards the house and stepped inside knowing her children would be following her shortly. Inside the house smelt of apples and cinnamon as they cooked in the pot in front of the fireplace.

Their home had changed just a bit since having two children to accommodate to now. With Emlia's help Lanister and Nevayah were able to add a room to their house for their children which contained two small beds and an assortment of hand carved toys and crafts. They had also managed to turn their kitchen into something any herbalist would envy. Many more shelves were added to accommodate for not only the basic kitchen necessities, but for an array of herbs and instruments used to create tonics and medicines. Their house was still small, but homey and welcoming.

Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear Nevayah then began to work on a few orders she had to fill before the end of the day for her ever growing list of customers. Once Lanister came home she would set out to deliver them to the appropriate parties.


Standing atop the hillside with his sister Izayah heard his mothers call and smiled at her as she waved for them to come in. "Lets go Emia!" he giggled before rushing off into the house. Flinging open the door he was taken aback by the aroma of apples and cinnamon his mother no doubt had created. "Mommy I want some now" he said as he walked up to her grabbing at her shirt and tugging. "Not yet my dear, we must wait for daddy."

The way his mother smiled always seemed to put him at ease. Izayah had heard before that his mother used to not smile that much, but he did not believe it. She was the sweetest and kindest person in the world to him. "Will daddy be home soon?" he asked not caring that his mother was obviously in the middle of working. This time Nevayah simply turned to him giving him another smile and a nod before going back to whatever it was she was doing.

"I will wait for him then"

From there the small boy walked up to the door and then took about four steps back before plopping down to the floor. Sitting with his legs crossed and arms stretched to touch the floor he stared as if he could will him to come home faster. "I wish daddy could stay home with me all day every single day." his comment not really directed at anyone but more as a fact he wanted to be known. Of course being the child he was Izayah quickly grew bored of just staring at the door and pushed himself backwards so that he was now laying flat on the floor staring at the ceiling. "Mommy...." a soft 'hmm' could be heard from Nevayah as an answer to his saying her name. "It is past soon... where is daddy?" Nevayah simply chuckled at Izayah and continued with her work.

By now surely both children were inside and both Nevayah and Izayah assumed Emia was just in their bedroom playing around, her wild imagination ( wonder where she got that from ) could keep her entertained alone for hours on end... unlike Izayah.

"Mommy!"

A faint knock of one of the glasses Nevayah was working with could be heard as she not so gently placed it on the table. Izayah turned his head, still laying flat on the floor, towards her to see her shoulders had tensed a bit, almost like she was taking in a deep calming breath.

"Yes my dear"

Nevayah had turned in her chair to look at Izayah now.

"Its past soon.... you lied" Izayah's face was very matter of factly as if telling his mother she was wrong and he was right before he turned it back to looking at the ceiling.

"I love you Izayah...." was all his mother said as she turned back to the table to work.

"I love you to mommy... but you lied."

Lanister had been working hard to provide for his new family since his children's conception 4 years ago... He'd been staying late to pull in some extra hours (and therefore pay), actually quite surprised what kind of people show up at his bar near the end of the day. Unlike in the morning where everyone their either wants to be drunk, have a good time, or both, the people that come and sit on his stools as the sun went down were much less... hospitable to say the least and empty their flagons, they did not. All they did was cradle their ale, refusing to make conversation, or even EYE contact, with anyone outside the mental barrier they threw up... He missed the day shift already... Nevertheless! Today was not one of those days! In fact, he was actually taken off his shift early by Boss personally, as she was hoping to do some renovations behind the counter, to change up the stock and such... Of course, Lanister didn't need to be told twice. It was mid afternoon and he couldn't wait to get home to his two beautiful little kids, and his one, sweet wife, Nevayah.

Emia and Izayah were messing around outside their house, playing their little games of tag or just running together to explore the lands. Emia always thought of her brother as the coolest person there was. He was so confident, so strong... She couldn't help but be the one following him around everywhere he went. As she looked up at him, standing atop a hill, surveying the land, the little girl smiled softly, just enjoying the fact that he was so happy. Even at only 4 years old, little Emia didn't have many selfish desires... Just seeing her brother run around and smile like he was... That was good enough for her... Still, that didn't stop her from running back home when mommy called her, knowing it was time for food... Once the two got home, Emia was immediately smacked with the smell cinnamon and the sweet juices of apples, cooking nicely by the fireplace. Emia's mouth was already watering as she stared at the pot with wide eyes... Apples....... Nevayah informed them both that they would need to wait for daddy to come home and Emia pouted just a bit, sitting over near the fireplace, her sanguine eyes flicking between the pot, to the door, to the pot again as she subtly listened to the dispute between her brother and her mother. She flinched just a bit as Izayah accused their mother of lying, that daddy was not home "soon" yet, that she had lied putting that idea in their heads.

"Daddy's coming home..." Emia said to her brother, smiling softly at him. "He's almost here..." And just as she said that, the door to the house swung open again, and in walked Lanister, a large smile on his face.

"DADDY!" Emia squealed as her father walked in, jumping up from her spot and running to him before he even had a chance to greet them. Laughing, Lanister scooped up the little girl in his arms, holding her to his chest as he tickled her sides viciously. She giggled and laughed so hard, one might have thought snot was about to dribble out of her nose. Still, Lanister ceased his assault on her sides and hugged her gently before pulling away just enough to see his little girl's sanguine eyes, ones that reflected his in many ways.

"Hey there, Emia..." He murmured, kissing her forehead before setting her back down. "You're getting so big! I might not be able to pick you up soon!" He winked at her knowingly before turning his gaze over to the other two parts of his family, noticing the obvious dark cloud hovering over Izayah's head. "Izayah! Its good to see you!" He declared, walking over and crouching down so that he was just about at eye-level with the little boy. He placed a hand on his son's head, ruffling his hair just a bit and giving him a warm smile before spontaneously pulling him into a hug, holding him softly for a moment before letting him go, should he desire. Finally, he would turn to his wife, working on her tonics, no doubt to fill out some of the requests she still had to work out.

"And hello to you, my sweet..." He whispered, his head resting softly on her shoulder from behind. If she allowed it, Lanister would kiss her softly, lovingly, before Emia tugged on his pant-leg, obviously trying to get his attention.

"Mommy's making apples and cimanon!" Emia declared, quite confident she had gotten the word right. Lanister snickered to himself, the adorable confidence of his daughter was just.... just great...

"Is that true, honey...? Are we having Apples and... ciminon?"

When Lanister opened the door Nevayah was alerted by her daughters scream. Smiling from her position, still working on ratio's for a herbal supplement to help with sleep she felt him rest his head on her shoulder. Turning her face towards him she accepted his kiss and just as softly kissed him back. When he pulled away she sent him a wink before turning back to her project.

Izayah was so happy that his father lowered himself to his level before playing with his hair and then pulling him into a hug. Of course the boy hugged his father back, the man he idolized and wanted to be just like when he was older. Standing up he to followed his sister to his father's side watching as his sister attempted to pronounce a word. He smiled knowing it did not quite sound right but by no means did he think he could have done any better.

His mothers voice was an echo from across the room at the table "Yes we are having apples and ciminon." she giggled as she tried to copy how her daughter pronounced the word. "Emia my sweet would you start getting bowls out for everyone" Nevayah was just finishing up placing the cork on top of a few bottles and taking the completed product to place it in her bag. "... and Izayah would you help your father feed the animals?" She had just tucked the last bottle in her bag before walking over to Emia and reaching to one of the higher shelves to pull down four bowls and setting them down within her reach.

Izayah was more than excited to be helping his father with anything. Rushing to the door he grabbed his knitted Jacket and pulled it on. He loved his jacket, made for him by his mother and given as a gift the same day she gave Emia a scarf. It was soft and stretchy, perhaps a bit big on him but he loved it nonetheless. He was practically jumping at the door waiting for his father to follow. As soon as Lanister would take even half a step in his direction he bolted out the door and ran towards the wooden buckets stacked on the side of the house. Picking one up, which was about half his size, he awkwardly carried it towards the shed were they kept the feed.

Perhaps it was because he was walking too fast with the awkward bucket, or simply because he was almost too like his mother but Izayah tripped and fumbled over the bucket causing him to land on the grass with a light thud. Sitting up he blinked in astonishment at what had just happened. Tears began to well in the corners of his eyes as he realized he had just fell and not only hurt just a little bit, but he did it all in front of his father. A few more moments of silence came from Izayah before a loud wail burst through his lips. If Lanister had not noticed by now that Izayah fell, he would surely know now. Looking through the tears Izayah noticed he had scuffed his knee and caused a small tear in his pants. Of course it was nothing more than a minor flesh wound, one that would stop bleeding on its own after only a few seconds but still... Izayah did not like it.

His wail turned into a scream as he leaned backwards from his sitting position on the ground to laying in the grass. "D-Daddy! M-Mommy!" the small boy coughed a bit between his cries getting all choked up over nothing. "I'm dying!"

From inside their home Nevayah heard Izayah's cries and very calmly walked over to the door before pushing it open just a smidge to peak out. Izayah was laying on the ground with the bucket a few feet away from him. Closing the door she smiled and looked at her beautiful daughter. "Looks like bubby fell again" she smiled trying to reassure her daughter everything was okay. "Lets hurry and finish getting the table set so that we can all eat before I have to go make some deliveries." Walking over to the pot Nevayah grabbed some thick woven mits and grabbed the handle. From there she carried it over to the table and placed it in the center taking off the lid. "Emia would you like to come with me today? There is no way I could possibly remember what everyone needs without you."

Of course Nevayah was more than capable of doing it all on her own, but she wanted Emia to come with her. Splitting herself evenly between two children was hard so she often tried to take them out every once in a while for some one on one time. "Maybe after we could go shopping to get you a bag just like mine so you can help me more." Nevayah could never say any of this in front of Izayah, as he would get jealous that his sister had something he did not, so now was the perfect time to bring it up to her precious child. Leaning down a bit so that Emia could hear her a bit she whispered another request. "Then maybe we can get daddy and bubby a present if you want."

"'Kay Mommy." Emia beamed, as happy as she'd ever be helping her mother, the woman she looked up too most, the one she wanted to learn everything from. With a wide smile on her face, Emia began digging around the shelves for their four bowls, pulling out as many as her little hands could grasp before setting them on the table.

Meanwhile, Lanister and his son headed out to go feed their animals, the cows, chickens and horses, but not before shooting back another wink at his wife, silently scheduling something for later that night. Izayah was already out the door and gone around the corner by the time Lanister had gotten moving, causing the parent to shake his head and laugh at his child's enthusiasm. He loved how much the little guy looked up to him, how much he cared about how his father thought of him... It touched him deeply that his little boy had chosen him to be his role-model, that he wanted to impress him... Lanister was tempted to just scoop up his son in his arms and hug him right there, but, unfortunately, they had a job to do and all that had to wait until after late-lunch.

But it seemed that Izayah's over-eagerness to please caused him to take a fall. While trying to carry a full bucket of feed (too big for him empty) the boy fell over the bucket, landing face down in the grass. Not feeling a hint of humor at this scene, he ran over to his son as he started to cry, convinced he was dying right where he sat. The first thing Lanister did was wrap his arms around his son making soothing "shhh" sounds in an effort to quiet his bawling. He held the little boy for as long as it took for him to regain control of his breathing and only then would he pull away, smiling softly at his little boy before kissing him on the forehead.

"You're not dying, Izayah..." He murmured as he began checking the young boy for any bruises or cuts. Sure enough, there was a small cut right on his kneecap, his pants ripped open just a bit. "Oooh.... Ow..." Lanister remarked gently pressing the tender flesh around his scratch. His sanguine eyes rose to meet Izayah's again and he smiled in somewhat relief, glad he hadn't hurt himself any worse. "You're so brave..." He murmured, placing a hand on his cheek. "I don't know if I'd be able to hold myself together that well if I were you..." He sighed softly and hugged his son again. After a moment of this, he'd let go, beaming down at his brave little soldier before taking the toppled bucket in one hand, then grabbing another with his other.

"Say... how about I carry the buckets... and you feed the animals...?"

Meanwhile on the inside, Emia snickered quietly to herself as her mommy noted how her brother had fallen down again before urging her to finish setting the table so they could all eat. After a few minutes of getting everything just right, Nevayah asked her wondrous daughter if she wanted to go with her. Before the little girl could exclaim her extreme approval, Nevayah suggested that perhaps they could go shopping afterwords, get her a bag... just. like. mommy's... One could practically see the stars in Emia's eyes as she processed this information. And, if that wasn't bestest enough, Nevayah suggested that perhaps, if she wanted, she could get a gift for daddy and her bubby too....

"YES!" She exclaimed, wrapping her arms around her mother's waist, hugging her with as much force as her little arms could produce. "YES, YES, YES I'LL GO WITH YOU!" And then, at that moment, Lanister and little Izayah stepped inside, having finished their feedings.

"You make it sound so... exciting where you're going...." Lansiter smirked, having overheard Emia's excitement. "Maybe we should all go sometime." He laughed a little before his breath was taken away by the divine smell at the dinner table. Nevayah had really outdone herself with her cooking tonight... It had to be the best thing she's cooked so far and by the gods that was saying a WHOLE lot. Lanister then looked down at his son, patting him on the back lightly with a wide smile on his face. "Lets go get some dinner, huh?"

Izayah slowly calmed his breathing as his father embraced him. As his father pressed around his skidded knee the boy pulled it back a bit not liking anyone touching where it hurt. But when his father said if it were him who had gotten hurt he would not be able to take the pain like him Izayah beamed with pride. Taking in a deep breath he stood up and nodded as his father suggested he carry the buckets instead. "Yeah... cuz your big and strong and need to keep your muskles big. Mine are already too big" and from there he and his father worked side by side to feed the animals.

Nevayah was so happy to see that Emia was more than happy to accompany her to town. When Emia ran up to her and wrapped her arms around her waste Nevayah bent down and picked up her daughter. Holding her to her chest she gave her child a heartfelt kiss on the cheek before setting her down. The moment Lanister and Izayah walked into the door she signaled to Emia by placing a finger over her mouth and making a "Shhh" sound at her. She then turned her attention to Izayah and immediately saw the rip in his knees. "Oh my poor boy!"

Walking over to Izayah she immediately picked him up and set him on the edge of the table so that she could examine his knee further. Rolling his one pant leg up above his knee she looked over the wound with a concerned look on her face. To Nevayah even if this was a minor scratch she was not having it, she never wanted to see her children hurt or sad. "Stay right there and I will fix it all up for you baby okay?"

Izayah simply nodded as he swayed his feet back and forth hanging off the table. "Mommy I am tough... I don't need anything." He looked to his father to show him that he was being brave. Moments later Nevayah returned after digging through one of her shelves. In the jar she held was a mixture of mint and cloves commonly used as an antiseptic in times like this. "This will only burn for a second. Be brave for me okay." Patting her sons head she then tipped the bottle with a rag pressed against the top to absorb the liquid. From there she gave Izayah one more re-assuring look before placing it on his knee.

In this moment he was not brave as the liquid touched his tender skin. "No mommy no!" he screamed as she had to place her free hand around his ankle to hold him still a bit. "I don't like it!" Nevayah simply kept giving him reassuring mantras throughout the entire thing. "Your such a big boy, so brave and strong..." at one point looking him dead in the eye as she said it in hopes he would believe it. When she was done she removed the rag and tossed it on the counter before bending down a bit to blow on Izayah's wound. When her breath touched his skin it tingled and was cold. "Mommy... I am mad at you. I love you but I am mad."

Crossing his arms he shot his mother an angered look, even as she picked him up and placed him back on the ground he let it be known he was not a happy camper. "I love you to" she said knowing this was just a minor tantrum compared to what her son could really do, he really did take after his mother in too many ways. Clearly exhausted from having spent the majority of the day alone with the two children she looked at Lanister to reassure herself of one thing and that was that she loved her family. "Now everyone come sit and eat please. Emia and I have to go soon so we can be back before dark."

Izayah complied with his mother's wishes even if he was mad at her. Obvious by the fact that he pulled at his chair from its normal position and scooted it closer to his fathers. Climbing up the chair he sat flat in it, his eyes just barely able to still see over the table. He was determined that one day he would no longer have to sit on a wooden block to reach everything on top, but today was not that day. Not saying anything Nevayah simply grabbed Izayah's wooden block with one hand and the boys arm with the other. Pulling him up she slid the block under him before going to the other side of the table and reaching to the center to begin spooning rations into each of her family members bowls. Each of her children received only a half of a ladleful as they could not eat more than that if they wanted to without getting sick. Lanister on the other hand received two full spoons worth and when she reached past him to pour the liquid into his bowl she could not help but practically be on top of him when she did it. With her chest just to the side of his face she looked back at him with a brow raised knowing her children would have no idea what she was doing. She then played it off as if she had done nothing wrong and went to her place at the table to begin eating.

Lanister tilted his head to the side as his wife made a "sh" signal to their little girl, as if she was asking her to keep a secret. Emia nodded, smiling wide, shaking her head slowly as her dad looked at her strangely. She seemed to know exactly what look he was giving her and he knew the little look she was giving him. She wasn't going to tell him anything. Lanister's attention shifted as Nevayah tended to her son's wound, plopping him up on the edge of the table and attempting to apply her disinfectant to his wound. Lanister stepped up beside his son as he struggled and screamed, resisting any and all attempts to be touched by the stinging fluid, letting his boy know that he wasn't alone in this. He squeezed little Izayah's shoulder as he pouted, saying that he loved Nevayah, but he was angry.

"Don't be angry, little one..." Lanister said, helping his little boy off the edge of the table. "She's only doing what's best for you... I know it hurts, but she's doing it because she loves you..." He smiled softly at little Izayah before walking over to the table and sitting in his chair, followed shortly by his son, and Emia, sitting on her little wooden block obediently, just wanting to have at the food on the table. Her twin brother, however, still angry and defiant with his mother, sat without his block, his eyes barely able to glance over the rim of their table.

"Maybe someday..." Lanister whispered to him as his wife slipped the block underneath him, giving Izayah just enough height to comfortably eat. Lanister rubbed his hands together eagerly as his wife passed around the food, depositing a little on each of the kiddie's plates before coming over to him, practically pressing her chest against his cheek as she loomed over him to do the same. He caught her glance as she went about her business, knowing exactly what she intended by doing that... Lanister knew there would definitely be a war on later and Nevayah had just lit the spark...

"Lets eat!" Emia exclaimed excitedly, digging into her small portion ravenously, enjoying every last tiny bite she could stuff into her cheeks. Lanister was only slightly more dignified about it, devouring the sweetened apples as if he hadn't eaten in days. Ironically, he knew exactly what that felt like and what it was like to eat after all this time. Strangely, it was a lot like this. The family enjoyed their dinner heartily, just enjoying each-other and their food, but not making too much small-talk as Nevayah explained earlier that she and Emia had to go deliver the tonics soon. After their meal, Lanister smiled widely at his wife, but the expression couldn't truly display the love and appreciation he had for her at that moment.

"Thank you for cooking, Nevayah.... It was great! I love your cooking, but this was especially good!" Lanister exclaimed.

"Yeah!" Emia chimed in, her face just a bit splattered with apple around her lips. "I loved it! Cimminon apples are the best! Right, Izayah?" She turned to her brother, her sanguine eyes wide with the happiness that was resting in her tiny little stomach.

Izayah plopped the first bit of his cooked apple into his mouth and it was almost impossible for him not to smile at how wonderful it tasted. Before he knew it his bowl was empty alongside his sisters. When she spoke to him he smiled and nodded still having a mouthful trying to swallow. "Yes!" his mouth was also covered in apple and cinnamon stickiness. Nevayah being the doting mother she was walked around and collected the bowls placing them on the counter and grabbing a clean cloth. She then walked up to each of her children wiping at their mouths in an attempt to clean them up.

"Okie Emia go grab your sweater please, we don't need you catching a cold." Nevayah went and pulled on her sweater over her blouse as well. She then grabbed her bag full of little glass jars and placed it over her shoulder. "Love you two be back soon" Leaning in she kissed Izayah on the forehead and then walked over to Lanister and gave him a peck on the lips, but also slipped her tongue in his mouth for the briefest of moments. Pulling away she winked at him like she had so many times already feeling as if she was winning a war.

Izayah simply blinked at his parents as he slipped from his chair and walked into the living room plopping himself in front of the fireplace. "Bye mommy, bye sissy"

Holding the door open she motioned for Emia to follow and waited for her to walk through first. From there she reached down grabbing her daughters hand but not before wrapping an all too familiar red scarf around her daughters neck. As they walked hand in hand Nevayah could not help but keep stealing looks at her beautiful daughter. "You know Emia, that scarf I gave you belonged to my mother. It was the only thing I ever had from her and it means a lot to me that you like it so much. Maybe one day you can give it to your daughter too."

Back at home Izayah turned around to stare at his father from the living room. He didn't say anything at first as he simply admired the man before him. "Daddy I want to be just like you one day." Turning the rest of the way he rolled over on his stomach propping his head up with his two small hands. "I also want to be a warrior. I want to have a big shiny sword and beat up bad guys." The young boy rolled again onto his back and stared at the ceiling. He was surely a talkative boy around his parents, no doubt he got that from his father. "... and I want to protect you and mommy forever."

Izayah had no idea of his parent's past, just that he was not allowed to ask about it. He had always been told that what happened in their home stayed in their home and that it was for their own safety. "Daddy I have a question... why is our blood special? Why can't I tell my friends that I am special?" the boy then lifted his hand in front of his face and looked at it before continuing. "Why do you and mommy freak out every time me and sissy bleed?" Izayah had always wondered about that question. It seemed that anytime especially when Emia was hurt that both his parents were frantic about covering it up. "I ask mommy and she tells me not to talk about it. She gets mad at me...."

By now Nevayah and Emia had made it to town and were stopping at different businesses and houses delivering bottles of tonic. Nevayah even let Emia go up to some of the houses to hand them their bottle and collect the money. Looking into her bag she pulled out the final bottle of her very 'special' tonic and held it out in front of her. "Last one then we can go shopping! Anything in particular you want to get daddy and bubby?"

"Kay mom!" Emia agreed, running back to her room to grab her shirt, licking what remained of her the cinnamon off her lips all the while. After she came back, sweater worn over her dress, Nevayah said goodbye to daddy and her brother, declaring her love for them both and giving daddy a little kiss.

Lanister kiss Nevayah back, but was caught off guard when her tongue slipped into his mouth, already striking a decisive blow against the tainted parent. He stared at his wife with a somewhat playful glare, egging her on to try that again. She could take as many pot-shots as she wanted against him, but he was determined to win when the actual battles started.

"I love you too! Be safe!" Lanister called to them before the two slipped out the door, off on whatever little adventure they wanted to keep secret. He got up from his place at the table and went to join his son, sitting beside him in front of the fire-place. For a while, they didn't say anything, just enjoying each-other's company. But then, Izayah spoke, saying how he wanted to be like him someday, that he ALSO wanted to be a warrior, having a sword and wanting to beat up all the bad guys, that he would protect him and Nevayah forever. Lanister laughed out loud, not at the absurdity of the notion, but at the eagerness in his little boy's voice. He was so totally Nevayah's kid.... The parallels were so obvious, it was like he was staring into her male counterpart.

"I love you, you know that...?" Lanister asked, patting his son's head lightly. "You're the best son I could ever ask for..." After a few more moments of their love for each-other Izayah popped a question, one that was hardly discussed within the confines of their household: Why is their blood special? Why couldn't he tell his friends that he was special? Why did they freak out when they were hurt? It wasn't as if it were a social taboo or anything, but they had always thought the kids were WAY too innocent to tell them their story and what their blood actually meant...

"If Mommy says not to talk about it, we shouldn't talk about it." Lanister spoke, his voice somewhat stern. After realizing what kind of tone he took, he looked back over a this son, his expression far softer. "What I mean is... its kinda a little secret, you know? A very important, super secret secret.... One so secret, we gotta keep it between mommy and daddy." He then poked Izayah on the belly, sending a ripple of tickle through his little body. "And it's your job to keep the secret about you a secret! If they were to find out, it wouldn't be a secret anymore, understand?" Whether or not the boy truly understood, Lanister would scoop him up in his arms and hold him as he stared into the crackling flames of the fire-place. He'd rock his arms gently as if to lull the young child to sleep, his motions slow, rhythmic, soothing, all the while humming a tune he had forgotten the name of a long time ago.

The moment Emia and Nevayah stepped outside, Nevayah draped a scarf around the little girl's neck, a long red one she had seen many times, but never wore herself... It was mommy's scarf after all... She beamed with pride all the way down the road... she simply couldn't stop smiling. When Nevayah noted that this scarf used to belong to her mother, Emia's eyes grew wide.

"Reeeeeeeally???" She asked, agasp, clearly wanting to hear more about this story. She smiled again when her mother-dearest noted that it meant so much to her that Emia liked it so much and that maybe one day, she might pass it onto her children... Emia responded by squeezing her mother's hand tighter, showing how much love she felt for her then...

As they entered town, Emia and Nevayah dropped by several houses as if they were milkmen making their rounds, selling their tonic to those that had placed an order. Sometimes, Nevayah even allowed little Emia to deliver the flask and collect the gold they were given, making her feel more useful than she would just watching. She loved her mother so much... she really, really did... Nevayah pulled out the last vial, exclaiming that this was the final one before they could go shopping and asked if she had any idea what she wanted for her bubby and daddy.

"A sward for Bubby!" Emia smiled widely, just anticipating her brother's reactions. "He wants to fight evil and stuffs! I think we should give daddy... gloves! Nice, soft gloves!"

Nevayah giggled at her daughters request as she walked up to the last door for delivery. Knocking on it three times and taking a step back it did not take long for a young boy to open the door to the giant house. He was dark complected and probably in his early teens. Then a massive woman came up behind him placing her hand on her sons shoulder. "Hello Emria!" Nevayah smiled as she placed on hand on the back of Emia's back to push her a bit more forwards. "Emia has a delivery for you two" She then motioned for her daughter to hand the massive woman the vial. Both of Nevayah's children knew who the woman was and were actually watched by her from time to time, Emria being the only other person she trusted her children with. Emria then spoke up "Thank you for bringing it. By the way I may have a new customer for you. A gentleman who said hes in need of a 'miracle' to save someone, I guess a family member. Figured it was right up your alley. Also stated he would pay whatever he had to."

Nevayah simply listened and Emria spoke nodding her head and then pulling out a small parcel of paper and piece of charcoal to write it down. "Okay I will have it in about a week or two. Right now the demand tends to outweigh the supply. Unless he is in need of it immediately he will have to wait. Please let me know what he says." and with that the transaction was over as Emria handed Emia the coin for the delivery.

"So gloves for daddy and a sword for bubby."

Among the many small shops the two visited Nevayah had manged to find a small leather bag that was kind of similar to hers, perfect for her precious little angel of a daughter. In the same shop they also found a pair of leather gloves that seemed sturdy yet soft enough to meet Emia's demand for Lanister to have soft gloves. The price alone on them was as much as two vials of her special tonic, but anything to make her daughter happy. "Put these in your new bag to give to daddy." Nevayah then handed off the gloves to Emia.

It took them a few more stops to find a small 'sword' for Izayah. Nevayah was already uncomfortable with the idea as she realized just how sharp even a small one was. Turns out they made blunt swords for children to learn how to handle them. They were made of metal, but not sharp enough to hurt anyone. Also buying a cheep holster that would fit around Izayah's waste Nevayah attached the sword to her belt still unsure about it. "Well looks like we are all done, let go home before it gets completely dark out. Without prompting Nevayah reached down and picked up her daughter holding her on her hip as she walked. "It's almost bed time isn't it?" She could tell whether her daughter knew it or not that she would be getting tired soon. Walking all the way from home to town and then making a deliveries was enough to make Nevayah tired, much less a small four year old.

While Nevayah and Emia were out Izayah was home with his father asking questions he should not have been asking. Had anyone else's child been asking they may have given up... but not Izayah. As his father tickled him he laughed before being scooped up and held. "But why do I have to keep it a secret?" his statement followed by a yawn from the soothing sways of his father's arms. He almost fell asleep with his head against his fathers chest but pushed through it. He could see what Lanister was trying to do, to make him go to sleep... and so... the nightly battle of bedtime would begin.

"No!" he yelled pushing himself away from his father and wiggling himself out of his arms. "I will not go night night! Not yet!" running across the living room and into the kitchen he firmly stationed himself under the table. "No! No! No! No! No!" If Lanister tried to chase him the boy would simply move out of his reach and run somewhere else in the house to hide.

From outside as Nevayah and Emia approached the cottage Nevayah could hear her sons screaming. These... these were the tantrums her son was known for. Whether or not Emia fell asleep in her arms on the way home Nevayah pushed open the door and set her on the couch as the real battle was about to ensue. Casually she put down her bag and even went as far as unbuckling her boots ignoring his rage. It was however when Nevayah had her boots off that the real battle would ensue. "Izayah! Get out from under that table this instant!"

His mother's voice was no longer soft and gentle, but angry and harsh. Unfortunately he would mirror her attitude and tone. "No night night!" he had poked his head out from the table just to scream at her. From there he bolted for his parents bedroom to go to the one place he knew they would never reach him... under the bed out of arms reach. But before he could get that far Nevayah managed to grab his arm and pull him to her. "No!" he screamed as loud as he could in protest. Ignoring him Nevayah pulled him up and pulled each of his boots off, his torn pants and sweater all in a matter of minutes. She had mastered how to undress a screaming and kicking child, she had to.

"Listen Izayah! You will not scream at mommy and daddy like this!" the power struggle between mother and son ensuing. Despite the fact poor Nevayah had already been slapped and kicked numerous times already in the tantrum Izayah had managed to land one more smack on her face, this one causing a silence to follow the sound. Nevayah's face went blank before slowly turning her gaze to Lanister signaling it was time for some kind of intervention from him. "Take your son before I smack him silly" her voice very serious.

Izayah though was still not having any of it as he continued to kick and scream even if his father were to get involved.

Emia waved shyly at Emria as they made their little exchange, taking the coin she offered as payment and stuffing it into the little bag that held all of their earnings. It seemed today was only getting better and better for the little girl, receiving such wonderful gifts as her scarf and now... her bag! Much the better, she was even allowed to use it right away, hiding her daddy's gloves away on the inside was well! Still, as they went about their shopping, all the walking was starting to take it's toll on the little girl. She was tired, exhausted really, but she never whined or complained, just following behind her mother with a sort of determination that kept her from falling asleep. Even as they walked home, the little girl was being held by her mother the whole way, the temptation for falling asleep seeming to increase by the second until eventually...

Lanister jumped in shock as Izayah jerked awake from his near-sleeping state, refusing to go to sleep as he dashed under the table, yelling how he wasn't ready.

"Come on, Izayah..." the supposed-role-model coaxed, reaching under the table-cloth for his son. "Even warriors have to sleep too..." It wasn't until after several (and ultimately frustrating) failed attempts did Nevayah and Emia get home, the young girl wide awake from her brother's screaming. Nevayah sat both her and the sword down as she then took a stab at trying to get the little kid out from his spot, using more forceful language and attempts, grabbing at him and demanding his compliance like the good mother she is. Thats when they heard it: A resounding *smack* blasting across the room as Izayah managed to hit Nevayah's cheek in the process of his struggling. Emia placed a hand across her mouth, eyes wide in shock as her two parents exchanged a look that made it clear there was going to be trouble. With only one quick lunge under the table, Lanister grabbed the little kid by the arm and yanked him out from under before he could try the same tactic he did with his wife. Lanister glared down at Izayah, clearly disappointed and angry with his behavior.

"You're behavior tonight was disrespectful and will be punished." The tainted parent spoke, his voice commanding so much authority, little Emia flinched as if it were meant for her. "You are going to your room. Now. And you will not come out until we say you can. Understood?" His last word was THE last word, the look he gave Izayah was enough to shut him up real fast. Whether his son nodded or not, he would escort the child by his shoulder, pushing him into the room he shared with his sister before closing the door behind him. "And I don't want to hear any noise from in there, young man."

Emia could only watch silently as her brother was detained, eyes wide in shock as if she'd just watched something horrible. Lanister would see the shock upon his little girl's eyes before walking over to her a kneeling so that he was at eye level before pulling her into an embrace.

"I still love your brother..." He whispered to her, as if knowing exactly what she was thinking. "I still love you too, as does your mommy..." He gently reached out and tugged on Nevayah's arm gently, pulling her into their little group hug as well. "We love you and your brother so, so much..." Emia hugged both of her parents back with all the little strength in her arms before letting out a big yawn. Unlike her brother, she knew when she was tired. "Go to sleep, little one..." Lanister coo'ed letting his little girl go and gesturing back to her room with a nod. "Sweet dreams..." With that, the little girl slipped inside of their room, leaving only Lanister and Nevayah alone. First thing he did was kiss her right there, the very first thing. He kissed her with as much strength as he could manage this exhausting evening, pulling away just a bit so that their lips were only an inch apart.

"Maybe we should go to bed too, huh?" Lanister asked in a near whisper.

Izayah was so shocked by his father's outburst that he could not even muster a word to counter the argument. Tears welling in his eyes he looked at his father and mother hoping they would take pity on his little soul, but they did not as his father escorted him to the bedroom closing the door behind him. From inside the room Izayah turned around looking at the door in defeat. Reaching down he picked up one of his sister's stuffed toys and flung it at the door making a 'humph' sound, none of which could be heard on the other side of the door. 

A few moments passed as the little boy paced back and forth in the room in an attempt to calm down his pent up frustrations. It was then that his sister opened the door and came in, clearly as tired as he truly was although he would never admit it. One look at his innocent sister and he knew he had messed up big time, and he felt horrible. As Emia crawled into her bed Izayah tip toed to the door and creaked it open to see his parents standing very close to one another. "Mommy.... daddy" his voice breaking the silence after his father whispered something to his mother.

Nevayah turned her head to the teary eyed boy having already forgiven him the moment she looked into his adorable eyes. Winking at Lanister she walked over to Izayah who's arms were held out and scooped him up into an embrace holding the back of his head with her palm just as she did when he was a mere baby. Izayah then pushed back a bit so that he could look at his mother. "I love you mommy and I am sorry." he then turned his head to look at Lanister as well. "I'm sorry daddy I came out before you told me I could." the boys face then twisted as he began to fight back more tears, yep definitely Nevayah's child.

"Its... its just that when I sleep I see monsters. I see you mommy and your all cut up" Izayah took a finger and traced it along his mothers cheek. "And I see daddy wrapped up in bunches of bandages and he is bleeding too. You both have a lot of owwies and no one to make it all better."

As the boy continued Nevayah looked at Lanister with great concern. Turns out he could see things just like Nevayah and Lanister. Of course a mother would share a blood bond with her children, it was silly for her to think they couldn't. Looking into the blue eyes of her child he continued with his confession. "And there is that man.... the one with no face and he scares me!" with that he buried his face in his mothers neck sobbing and grabbing at her shoulders for comfort.

"Mommy and daddy are here Izayah and we promise that we won't ever let the man in your dreams get you. He is just pretend okay?" Lying to her child made her feel sick to her stomach, but she would never tell him what he was seeing was actually his parent's pasts... the very thing they tried to shelter their children from. Instinctively patting her son's back she swayed back and forth trying to comfort him to sleep, she knew he was beyond tired, this was usually what caused his usual outbursts. Within minutes of Nevayah whispering to him how special he was and how much mommy and daddy loved him the boy had fallen limp in her arms fast asleep.

Mouthing to Lanister "be right back" Nevayah took her son into their child's room and laid him in his bed pulling the covers over him. She then brushed her hand on his forehead and kissed him before doing the same for her already sleeping daughter. "Love you" she whispered closing the door as delicately as possible. As soon as the door was closed she rested her back against it for a moment eyeballing Lanister. Without saying another word she lunged towards her husband wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him as deeply as possible.

Pulling at his shirt she led him to their own bedroom unbuttoning her own blouse the moment their door was closed behind them. "I'm exhausted, but I need you now" she whispered between kisses and breaths. Helping Lanister undress and then pulling off her remaining garments she plopped onto their bed beckoning for her husband to follow. If he did so she would then partake in the activities adults normally do when sharing a bed together. Kissing his entire body up and down she cherished every single moment she had alone with her beloved.

-x-

Afterwards it took only a matter of seconds for her to drift off to sleep with her body entangled with Lanister's. She would not awake until Lanister stirred her in the morning to start another day of their beautiful lives. Thankfully it would be a day in which she thought he did not have to work which meant she would not have to try and fill orders and keep the children occupied all at once. Motherhood had really taken its toll on the young mother. Nevayah was still very much herself, guarded around those she did not know but her protective instinct multiplied by thousands due to her children.

Meanwhile in the other room Izayah's nightmares ensued in his mind causing the young boy to awaken from his sleep. Sitting up in his bed, hair standing up in all sorts of ways, he rubbed at his eyes looking around to see he was safe at home. Tiredly he slid out of his bed and crawled into his sister's snuggling up beside her as he often did trying not to wake her up. "Goodnight sissy" he whispered before going back to sleep comforted by the fact that his twin was right beside him.

When Lanister saw his little boy's distress, the true regret in his eyes, any anger he had for his son was immediately lost he stepped up beside his wife to comfort little Izayah, rubbing his back as Nevayah held him in some attempt to calm him down. When Izayah apologized for coming out early, Lanister smiled and kissed his forehead, but not daring to separate a mother from her child.

"Its okay Izayah..." He said, gently placing a palm on his cheek. "Its okay..." Lanister flinched just a bit as his son said that when he slept, he saw both he and Nevayah all "cut up" and something about a man with no face... Whether they wanted to admit it to their children or not, little Izayah was experiencing their memories, those of which they desperately wanted to keep secret for their children's sake. Nevahyah tried to calm him down, telling him how mommy and daddy wouldn't let the imaginary faceless man get him.

"Yeah! Daddy's all big and strong, just like mommy! Mr. Faceless man won't ever get you..." Lanister contributed. It seemed that their word was good enough for the young boy as in a few seconds, he was asleep on Nevayah's shoulder. Lanister watched as Nevayah put Izayah to bed, wrapping the covers over the little boy before stepping back outside, a certain change in her eyes now that they were alone. As if to fire the first shot of the war, Nevayah lunged at her husband wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her lips to his as powerfully as she was able. Lanister smirked and kissed her back, already beginning the struggle for dominance between the two that had existed since 4 years ago. The moment they got inside their room, they began stripping each-other tearing off their clothes without a care in the world. As Nevayah plopped down on the bed, Lanister wasn't far behind, pushing her back gently with a hand before landing on top, kissing her relentlessly along her chest, neck and, of course, lips. She attempted to do the same and as their bodies met in a connection to complex for kiddies to understand... the war officially began.

-x-

After it was over, it was impossible to tell who had beaten who this time, both extremely exhausted parents on the verge of passing out that night. All Lanister could say before he was dragged into the world of the unconscious was: "I love you..."

Meanwhile, Emia was already dead-asleep in her bed when her brother returned to his, but she could see his nightmares in hers, feel the terror he felt and when he snapped awake, she did too, staring at her brother with obvious concern. Little Emia may had seen completely and utterly innocent, but she already knew that whatever those dreams were, they were NOT hers... and so, when her bubby wanted to crawl into her bed alongside her, Emia graciously helped him up, pulling little Izayah into her bed next to her and wrapping her little arm around his torso almost possessively. Emia knew that her twin needed her.... badly.... She could feel the need for companionship deep within his soul, afraid to go to sleep at night. The little girl gave Izayah a sweet little smile before she hugged her best friend, holding him their until they both fell asleep.

"I wuv you, bubby..." She sighed before passing out asleep.

Next morning, Lanister cringed as light barraged his eye-sockets, signaling it was time to get up. Still, he fought the morning, shifting over and wrapping his arms around is wife, lover and friend as tightly as he could before attempting to go to sleep once more. The tainted knew this was a fool's effort anyway. Once he was up, he was up... right now, he was looking for any and all excuses to just stay there in his lover's embrace... for as long as he could..

Emia woke a few minutes later, her twin still snoozing away in the embrace they shared later that night... She smiled softly, her sanguine eyes glowing sweetly as she stared at her bubby, all worn out from last night's events. Well, she wasn't going to be the one who leaves him alone. Gently, deftly as not to wake up her brother, Emia tightened her grip on him, pulling him closer to her so that their foreheads touched just the tiniest bit, all she could do was stare into the sleeping face of her brother.

Nevayah felt her husbands embrace and happily snuggled herself into his arms for a few extra moments before beginning her day. Crawling over her husband she planted a passionate kiss on his lips before slipping out of bed. If he tried to pull her back in she would simply pull away giggling at him. "I have to make Izayah and Emia breakfast..."

Slipping on one of Lanister's shirts that went down to about mid-thigh and her boots she slipped out the door and made her way outside to collect some eggs. Gathering about half a dozen from the coop she went back inside and began preparing scrambled eggs for her family. With her cast iron skillet in one hand and spoon in the other she stirred the eggs around until they became the correct consistency. Letting them cool for a moment she set the skillet on the table and went back outside to gather some milk from their only goat. Walking back inside she poured the milk from the bucket into two small glasses set beside two small plates. Then she scooped out some of the egg and placed a bit on each of her child's plates. The remainder of the eggs she divided between two slightly larger plates along with a piece of a sweet bread for the parents. They would be drinking water as the goat milk was too precious for their children's development to waste on themselves.

After finishing the breakfast preparations Nevayah cracked open the bedroom door to her children and looked inside to find them once again in the same bed snuggled together. Seeing that Emia was already awake and just watching Izayah the mother slid into the bed behind Izayah pulling both of her children close for a precious moment. "Wake up Izayah... its time for the day to begin..." her voice was so soft and serene, clearly full of nothing but love for her two children. Running her fingers through his unruly hair she looked into Emia's beautiful eyes seeing a reflection of their father in them.

Izayah stirred for a moment before letting out a long yawn before smiling with his eyes still closed. He could feel his sister beside him and mother behind him and it made him not want to move. "No" he whispered as he buried his face in the blankets.

"But Emia and Daddy and Mommy are already up." Nevayah's voice still soft and serene as she spoke.

"No"

Taking in a deep breath she kissed his cheek and reached over him to scoop up her daughter. "I will let you sleep for another five minutes then its time to get up my precious." Getting out of the bed with her daughter in her arms she straightened Emia's hair with her fingertips before pulling her into her chest for a hug. "And good morning to you beautiful." Carrying her daughter to the kitchen she placed her in her chair where the block for height was already waiting. "Go ahead and eat Emia while I make daddy go wake up bubby." leaning down she kissed her daughters cheek before seeking out Lanister.

"Izayah is extra sleepy this morning so I am letting him sleep a few extra minutes. Will you go and get him when you think its time?" looking at Emia Nevayah leaned in a bit to whisper so she could not hear what she told Lanister next. "They were in bed together again. I think the nightmares are still happening." Leaning back a bit she showed Lanister a concerned look before going about her business once again plastering on a smile for her child's sake. Grabbing at a brush she walked up behind Emia and began running it through her hair as she did most mornings while her daughter ate.

"But Nevayah...." Lanister complained, kissing her drowsily as he attempted to keep his wife with him there in the bed. "Five more minutes..." But parents never go five more minutes. As his beautiful wife took one of his shirts, slipping it on so it just barely covered her groin before slipping on her boots and heading out. He watched her go, raising an eyebrow at how she had forgotten to grab some pants on her way into the kitchen, but then, if he knew his wife as well as he thought he did... She didn't forget. Snickering to himself lightly at how shameless she was at that moment, Lanister slipped on a pair of sweat-pants and  loose shirt before making his way out into the kitchen as well, slumping into a chair at the table and watching Nevayah cook their eggs, more than once his eyes glancing at what remained barely hidden between her legs. Still, as Nevayah set the table around them, Lanister's hand just briefly brushed the inside of her exposed leg, just barely reaching the mark he intended (or perhaps not), a little payback for that little episode with her chest last night... If she gave him a look, the father would just stare at her blankly, giving her a look of feigned confusion as if he had no idea why she was looking at him that way. The moment she disappeared into their children's room, he laughed quietly to himself and sighed, just... impressed at the woman he fell in love with.

Meanwhile, Emia hadn't once taken her eyes off her exhausted twin from the moment she woke up, tightly holding him to her as if he might disappear the moment she let go. It was when their mommy slipped in behind Izayah, hugging them both to her did Emia break eye-contact, smiling widely. She then went back to snuggling her sleeping brother, holding him as tightly as she could. Nevayah attempted to coax him into waking up, telling him that they day had begun and that everyone else was awake, but the little boy just wasn't ready to join the world just yet. In response, Nevayah scooped up Emia, much to her enjoyment, and carried her out of the room, all the while the little girl laughed softly.

"Good morning, mommy!" She giggled, hugging her wonderous mother with as much strength she had in her little four-year-old arms. Nevayah carried her to the table where Lanister was already sitting, smiling softy at his little girl, red eyes meeting with the tenderest of gazes.

"Good morning Daddy!" Emia greeted him, reaching over and squeezing his hand with her little fingers. Lanister smiled a grin with such love, such sweetness, one might think he could melt in the rain.

"Good morning, little one..." He responded, leaning over and kissing her forehead softly. It was then that Nevayah walked up to him, mentioning how Izayah seemed tired so she was giving him a few more minutes of sleep. More than she gave him it seemed...He was about to turn that into a joke, but Nevayah's face grew serious before she leaned in close, making it so the little girl wouldn't hear what she had to say. She whispered that they slept in bed together again, that the nightmares he was having were still happening... Never once did Lanister's smile slip, but a chill did seep into his gut.... Izayah's blood-bond was activating so soon, it was no wonder he was acting out so much... He and his wife shared a glance, a moment of understanding, before he turned to his food as did his little girl.

"Lets eat!" They said in comic unison before digging in, all the while, his beautiful wife brushing the little girl's hair.

"Sleep well, little one?" Lanister asked as they ate. The little girl nodded as enthusiastically as she could without disrupting her mother's efforts.

"Yup! But...." She paused, her face somewhat falling to a concerned frown. "I'm worried about bubby..."

After finishing getting all the knots from her daughters hair Nevayah glanced at the bedroom door once more before sitting down to eat. Picking at her food she found herself looking at the still full plate laying where Izayah should have been. Whether it was her motherly instinct or the blood bond she shared with her family she was truly concerned for the state of her little boy. Caught in a daze she practically dropped her fork when her daughter mentioned she could tell something was wrong as well. It was almost impossible for her to keep up the charade any longer as she once more faked a smile at her daughter. "I am sure bubby is fine, just worry about you being happy and leave him to mommy and daddy."

Meanwhile behind the closed door of the children's bedroom Izayah's sleeping body remained, his fingertips twitching just barely along with his eyelids. In the young boys dream he was standing before a large wooden door in a place he had never been before. The ground was practically gravel and dirt and the air was really dry, almost desert-like. He doesn't know why he did it but the four year old child reached up and knocked in a strange pattern that somehow he knew from heart. A small window in the door opened and then closed quickly before the door creaked open and a large hand emerged from the darkness beckoning him to come inside.

Hesitantly he passed the thresh hold of the door, the owner of the hand mysteriously gone. All that stood before him was a long hallway in which he could see a light and hear the roar of a crowd. Izayah walked down the hallway for what felt like hours as the room ahead didn't seem to be growing any closer. And then a voice... one he knew all too well reverberated off the walls, it was his mother. Running as fast as he could he tried to close in on the room and surely his efforts paid off. Inside the room stood a tall man who's back was turned to him. All he could see was the broad shoulders of this man and he was holding something up, showing it to everyone else in the room. Izayah's eyes were so trained in on whatever the man was holding he did not even realize the scene ahead to a full extent.

Finally the man turned just a bit and Izayah saw the worst site possible, his mother being held up by her scarf as she scrapped at the man to get away. His mother looked younger and for some reason.. different. Maybe she was more boney or shorted but he could just tell she was different. Izayah went to scream but nothing escaped his mouth and no one seemed to react to it. From there his horror only intensified as the man with broad shoulders flung his mother like a rag doll onto the floor... and then there was his father laying on the ground. He had not noticed him until this very moment and immediately went to run to his parents aide. However, Izayah made no progress in making it to them. He watched as his parents were laughed at and how his mother screamed to be released, and then there was this prod.

When the broad shouldered man turned to grab it Izayah got to see his face... or lack there of. He immediately recognized the man from his previous dreams and slinked back into the shadows as he watched on helplessly. It was when the face less man held the rod to his fathers chest that the little boy was truly broken, seeing the pain in not only his fathers eyes, but his mothers as well before it happened. The no face man pressed the rod into his father and the strong man he admired so much fell to the ground helpless.

Izayah's eyes jolted open as he found himself laying in his sisters bed alone. He could hear her talking outside with his father and realized he was safe at home. Sitting up in the bed he rubbed at his eyes in an attempt to wipe away the dried tears. He did not want his mother and father to worry further about him. He knew... it was them he had to worry about instead. Jumping out of the bed he pushed open the bedroom door and as fast as he could ran to his father clinging to his leg. "Daddy I will protect you forever!" The boy buried his face in the leg of fathers pants as he held on for dear life feeling as if he could lose him at any moment.

Nevayah watched as it all happened and was speechless...

Lanister nearly jumped up from his seat when his little boy ran out of his room, clutching at his pant-leg, declaring that he would protect him forever. He had no idea what do say... What could he say to this besides the typical parent-isms that everything was alright when it very clearly was not? Without another word, Lanister reached down and plucked up Izayah from his leg and held him close to his chest, hugging him gently as the boy clung at him for dear life... Lanister could only imagine the horrors the little boy had seen... the nightmarish things he and Nevayah had to endure now coming to bare for the little one. It was torture for the older tainted to stare down at his son, reduced to fearful clinging as if his father might be taken from him at any moment. Lanister said nothing as Emia scrabbled up on his lap too, wrapping her arms around her brother, both of which being hugged close to him with his arms. Emia said not a word as she pressed herself against her brother, as if this act would cause his pain to ebb. Lanister would glance up at his wife, a look of fear clear in his eyes before returning his sanguine gaze back down upon his terrified boy, kissing him atop his head.

"Hey..." Lanister said with a small chuckle. "Good morning, my little soldier..." He hugged his two children tightly before just going back to holding them. "It's okay... It's okay Izayah... Everyone's fine..." He tried his best to soothe his baby, his flesh and blood, but not knowing exactly what more he could say to quiet him down.

With a quick nod in Nevayah's direction, he gestured for her to come help him, to aid her partner in calming down little Izayah. He seemed so.... scared.... It was as if he had watched them be tortur-........ Maybe....... maybe he had... Oh no... Lanister looked as if his heart had shattered into a million pieces as he realized the horrible things his little Izayah had seen... Since he had been having dreams about the faceless man... he must have seen the rod and the horrible agonies that had been inflicted with it...

"Faceless man isn't here, Izayah..." Lanister spoke, his voice somewhat shaky. "He couldn't.... because you were protecting me...." He offered the best smile he had, kissing his son's forehead. "We're so lucky to have you...." Even Emia began to chip in, smiling reassuringly at her male counterpart, wrapping her little arms around his frame.

"We wuv you bubby...." She murmured, gently pressing her forehead against his shoulder. "We wov you so much..."

Izayah was all too willing to let his father pick him up and hold him close. Listening to his father call him a soldier made him proud, made him feel like he was recognized as one. Beaming it was only made better when Lanister continued by saying the faceless man could not possibly get them because Izayah was there to protect them. And then his sister chimed in telling him how much she loved him. Releasing his grasp on his father's shirt Izayah wrapped his little arms around his sister hugging her as tight as he could, but not too tight to hurt her. "I wub you too sissy..."

Nevayah simply watched from across the table until Lanister begged her with his eyes to help. The only thing she could think of was to give Izayah the present Emia had picked out for him the night before. Standing up and scooting her chair back she stepped away from the table and made her way to the sword shaped holster still laying on the couch. "You know what every little warrior needs Izayah?" she asked picking it up. Izayah simply peeked over his dad's shoulder to see what his mom was holding. He could not get out of his dads lap fast enough as soon as he realized what it was. Nevayah simply knelt down to Izayah's level and held it out to him. "Sissy picked it out just for you."

In pure awe Izayah reached out and touched the case of the sword just to make sure it was really what he was seeing. Then without words he turned and ran to his sister and practically ripped her from his father's lap. Pulling her down he tackled her with a hug smiling from ear to ear. "Sissy I wuv you soooo much!" He then released his hug on his sister and ran back over to his mother who was still kneeling down holding it out. When he went to reach for it a second time she pulled it back tilting her head to the side. "Warriors have to eat their breakfast first!"

Standing back up she placed the sword on a shelf out of the child's reach to give to him later in the day. "They also have to get dressed and do their chores then MAYBE if they are good they can practice with it." Izayah was practically jumping up and down as his mother discussed the terms to getting his hands on the sword. As soon as she finished talking he ran over to his chair, climbed up in it and began shoveling food in his mouth, barely breathing between bites.

Happy that she had made his day she then looked to Emia and motioned towards her daughters new bag. "Emia... don't forget about what you got daddy too..." Assuming her daughter would then go running across the room Nevayah took advantage of the moment and walked over to Lanister running her fingers through his hair before brushing her leg against his lap. Suggestively she gave him a look and continued on her way towards her chair. "After you guys get done eating and get dressed you should go out and play... chores can wait for later."

.... Nevayah had plans

Emia smiled widely as her brother reciprocated her embrace, the two just holding eachother in their father's lap for as long as they wanted... or at least... until Nevayah revealed Emia's gift, the one she had picked out for her brother. As if a switch had been flipped, Izayah lunged from his father's lap (much to his surprise), immediately running up to the training blade and placing his hands upon it's sheath, as if testing to see if it were real. When mommy mentioned that Emia had picked out the gift just for him, Izayah ran right back to her, practically ripping her off of Lanister's lap as well, tackling her to the floor in a hug. It was all the little, red-eyed girl could to to keep herself from breaking down in tears at how happy she had made her twin, her best friend and perhaps the most important person to her... She hugged him back for all it was worth, holding her brother and trying to express her love for him through their moment of contact, no matter how brief. She smiled widely as her brother went about devouring his breakfast watching him eat with so much vigor, she was afraid he might yack it all up in a few moments. Somehow, though, he managed to keep each bite down, determined to get to practice being the warrior he always dreamed of being. Her concentration was disrupted as Nevayah reminded her of the other gift she had in store... the one she'd bought for her daddy. Eyes lighting up even futher somehow, the little girl ran off to her room, disapppearing for a few moments as she fished around for her bag.

In those few moments, Nevayah's half-naked form slipped up close to her husband, her exposed leg brushing up against his lap as she stared at him in such a way... it was as if they hadn't slept together just a few moments ago... Lanister smiled back, mimicking the look she gave him with his own, a sort of sexual intensity ever rising between them. Before it could escalate any further, his beautiful daughter returned, holding a pair of soft leather gloves... gloves she had picked out just for him... Lanister held the pieces of handwear in awe before scooping up his little girl in his arms and kissing her softly on her cheek, causing her to giggle happily.

"I love them..." He whispered softly before setting her down once again, just marveling at the wonderful family he was so lucky to have had.... Once Nevayah had made her suggestion that the two get dressed and go play, Emia's  actually *squee'd* on excitement, tugging at her brother's arm as she tried to coax him into hurrying up and finishing eating. Once he was done, both of them would disappear into their room to get dressed an play for a little while, leaving Lanister and Nevayah alone once again. The tension between them was undeniable... unmistakable... He stared into the Azure orbs of his wife before innocently, almost timidly pecking her lips, almost as a taunt akin to saying show me what you got...

Izayah jumped out of his chair as soon as he was done and followed his sister into their room where he quickly pulled on his clothing. From their he and his sister played with their toys and talked about how cool it would be when he was a warrior. "I bet I am the bestest swordsman ever!" he exclaimed as he imagined how fun it would be when he would finally be able to play with his sword outside.

In the kitchen things were taking a different playful turn as Nevayah jumped up on the table a bit so that she was sitting on the edge of it. Accepting his peck on her lips she stared into his eyes with the same expression as him. Raising a brow she leaned back a bit on the table opening her legs in front of him to show him what she has . But before he could make a move on her she closed her legs and sat up on the edge of the table taunting him almost.

Sliding herself off of the table mere inches from him she began walking towards their bedroom giving him a 'come and get it' kind of look before disappearing behind the door frame.

Meanwhile in the childrens bedroom Izayah was playing with one of his toy soldiers crafted by his father at the smithery when he stopped dead in play and looked at his sister. "Emia...." his blue eyes rested solely on his sister, careful not to talk to loud that his parents could here. "You feel it to don't you? The man in our dweams?"

Izayah knew that Emia almost always shared the same dreams as him, she was just braver than him about it. "I feel like when he is in my dweams that he sees me. He knows that I am there." he lowered his chin a bit still locking eyes with his sister. "... and he shows me him hurting mommy and daddy just to make me hurt here." Izayah then lifted a hand to cover his heart. "We gots to protect them sissy..."

Emia and her brother disappeared into their room, slipping on their signature clothing the instant they got inside. Of course, the little girl put on her dress, and small jacket and shoes. Of course, she simply couldn't forget her mommy's scarf, one that had once been her prize possession before passing it off to her daughter. Emia laughed as Izayah went on and on about how he would be the best swordsman ever, how fun it would be whole they played with some of the toys daddy had made for them... Sure, Emia had seen kids with more.... elaborate toys, but she held a special place in her heart for the little toy soldiers he made for her twin. There were very few things in the world that displayed as much love as the attention to detail and paint-job along the metal soldiers held in her brother's hand. Besides all of that though, they just looked plain cool.

"You ARE the best swordsman ever, bubby!" She encouraged him, sitting beside her brother as he watched him fiddle around with the little tin soldier. Spontaneously, however, all the joy in her brother's eyes went dead before he looked at her in such a way, she felt her heart stop for a second or two. He was so serious... When he asked her if she felt the presence of the man in their dreams, the little girl silently nodded, having no reason to lie to her brother. Emia wrapped her little arms around her brother softly, protectively, as if her mere presence alone would keep the bad man out of Izayah's head.

"Its just a dweam though, bubby..." She murmured as she hugged her brother close, but not just for his sake anymore... The little girl herself was starting to believe that the dreams they shared weren't just dreams anymore... The thought shook the little girl to her very core, more than the events that played before her at night, ones that she once thought were fiction. For some reason or another... She didn't think she'd be able to sleep alone that night... she'd desperately need the presence of Izayah (or better yet, Izayah and her parents) beside her in her bed... It was when her brother said that they needed to protect their parents did Emia start to tear up just a bit, horribly afraid at that the man was actually coming for them...

Meanwhile, Lanister raised an eyebrow at just how forward Nevayah was being right there on the table, spreading her legs before him, retracting them before he could even make a move. A taunt for a taunt, huh? Lanister smirked as she gave him that look he'd always loved, that look that dared him to come after her as she slipped back in their own bedroom to play in a sense. He thought back to the days of when he first met her nearly 5 years ago now... She was such a quite, stoic creature... but in the few hours they had known one another, he had managed to thaw that frosty heart into that of a completely hopeless romantic, a trait they shared with eachother. They could hardly keep their hands off eachother in front of the kids and when they were alone.... well... it was, for all intents and purposes, impossible.

Lanister took up on Nevayah's look and followed her into the bedroom, the first thing he did being shutting the door behind them. He couldn't help but marvel at what a magnificent woman she was, scoping down her gorgeous figure with a look that was not appropriate with kiddies present. Still... that shirt was getting in the way of all that... Slowly but purposefully, Lanister would grab the lower rim of Nevayah's shirt and flip it up over her head, tugging it free of her body and leaving her standing there, naked and absolutely beautiful. Still, he didn't make a move other than that, daring her to make the first move with his restraint.

As Lanister pulled his shirt from over her head Nevayah stared him down for all it was worth. The hunger she had for him multiplying with each passing second. As soon as she went to reach out for him though a rhythmic knock could be heard on their front door. Embarrassed and shocked Nevayah dressed as quickly as she ever had in her lifetime. Throwing on her usual skirt and stockings, blouse and sweater. It was obvious though the time was not taken to dress properly as the blouse under her sweater was slightly uneven from being buttoned incorrectly. Pushing her hair back a bit and tugging at her sweater she gave Lanister a peck on the cheek before rushing to see who it was visiting. Nevayah knew that if it was this early in the morning it was most likely a customer needed an urgent dose of tonic.

Just before her fingers touched the handle of the door Nevayah closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, only then pulling it open. "Nevayah! So sorry stopping by so early but that customer I was telling you about.. the one who would pay anything for your tonic. I talked to him late last night and he said it was an urgent case. So I just wanted to give you a heads up that he may be stopping by later on this evening." It was Emria, all smiles and cheerful and quick to the punch on telling the family why she had interrupted them. Nevayah simply smiled and nodded at her before ushering for the woman to come inside. "Of course Emria, I can never deny someone who is in dire need."

Nevayah meant it too. From the beginning her sole purpose in mixing her blood with her signature tonic was to save lives. She always wanted to share her gift with those who needed it most. Emria stepped inside the door before taking a quick look around the Tainted's house. She had been inside of it many times, but I guess it would never compare to her beautiful home.

From the children's bedroom the knocking on the front door could be heard as it interrupted the silence the two twins were sharing. Izayah gave his sister a nod as if expecting the no face man to be the one his parents invited into the house. Peaking open their door the boy saw the giant of a woman and then turned back to his sister. "It's Emwia" his smile a reassuring one.

Stepping out of their bedroom and into the living room Izayah walked up to stand behind his father (assuming he was in the living room by now). Izayah had always been hesitant around anyone who was not his parents, even if he had known Emria since birth. "Hi Emwia" his voice only slightly on the shaky side as he pulled at his fathers pant leg. If his father looked down he would see Izayah holding his arms out wanting to be picked up. The boy only wanted to be in the safest place he could think of, which was in his fathers arms.

Nevayah eyed her child for a moment, her heart warmed by the fact her son looked up to his father so much. Breaking her silent stare she looked back at Emria only to reassure her with a glance that Izayah was simply a shy child.

Lanister's breath began to quicken as Nevayah's hands reached out for him, ready to clasp around his cheeks before 3 sharp knocks, only 3 sharp knocks, shattered their moment, causing both parents to blush heavily in embarrassment. Red streaks flushed across their nose and cheeks as they scrambled for their clothes as if they were caught in the act. Of course, Lanister was never ashamed to be seen with Nevayah. He wouldn't dream of such a fate! He loved every little microsecond he spent with his wife and would (perhaps not gladly), stand in front of a crowd of people naked, declaring his love for her (if they didn't have children of course). However, with such an abrupt interruption, it was something akin to a mother catching her kid and his girlfriend about to kiss for the first time, a very intimate moment shattered, the void of awkwardness in it's place. Of course, his wife was at the door first as Lanister struggled with his pants, seeming to forget what leg went in which hole. By some divine wisdom, however, he was able to get fully dressed and slipped out the door to the living-room, smiling in relief as it was only Boss on the otherside, leaning down so that her head wasn't cut off by the door.

"Heya, Boss." Lanister waved from a few feet behind. She noticed the gesture, smiled at him, but then continued her conversation with his wife, talking about a new customer, one that would pay anything for one of her tonics. She explained how he might be along later tonight. It was then that he felt a presence at the back of his legs as little fingers clasped at his leg. With a grin, the happy parent scooped up his baby boy, kissing his cheek before walking up closer behind Nevayah, leaning his head gently on Izayah's shoulder.

Emia followed closely behind her brother as they made their way to the front, but instead of going up behind daddy, she slipped up beside mommy, reaching up and tugging at her skirt, raising her hands to the sky in an effort to signal that she wanted up too. If Nevayah complied, Emia would smile widely, snuggling into her mommy's neck before greeting the woman at the door in unison with her brother.

"Hi Bwoss!" She greeted, using her father's name for her. Of course, Boss laughed and patted Emia's head if Nevayah let her, the family friend just loving their children.

"Good! You picked up on it, sweetheart!" Boss laughed, looking from Izayah to Nevayah, a playfully demanding look in her eyes. "Better take after Lanister and Emia, you two... Soon, I might buy your services and you'll all be calling me 'Boss' anyway!" She laughed before walking back down the road into town, Lanister reaching over and shutting the door a moment later. He smiled softly at his children, kissing Izayah on the forehead and hugging him gently before letting him down again.

"I love you two... so much." Lanister said, seeing no other reason to declare his love for his children beyond the fact they were standing right there. Emia laughed and blushed a tad before running over to her brother (assuming she was set down) and holding his hand, her fingers intertwined with his in a way that was just...... something else...... If only Lanister had a device that allowed him to save this moment forever....

"Hey..." He said, putting a hand on each of the kid's shoulders on the outside. "Mommy and I have some things to talk about in private, but afterwards, hows about we all go play in the back yard! Maybe we can teach Izayah to become the best swordsman ever!" Emia's eyes sparkled with wonder as she stared up at her wonderful dad, so glad she was making them smile like this... Especially her bro. After the many sleepless nights and horrors they have shared, he was so happy to see him smile. With that, Emia would wink at her parents before dragging her twin back with her to their room, awaiting for the time Lanister would call them.

The instant they were alone, Lanister planted a firm kiss on Nevayah's lips. Wasting no time, he pushed his wife back into the bedroom, shutting the door behind him with a swing of his leg. He'd pull away only when he ran out of breath, undoing Nevayah's blouse and allowing it to fall to the floor in a heap on the floor.

"We're gonna need to make this quick..." He whispered, his breath snaking behind her ear. "I need to go play with the kids..." The moment he finished with that statement, Lanister pressed his lips to hers again, kissing her with everything right off the bat, a blitzkrieg erupting between them.

-x-

It was a long day, but definitely a fun one. Between his wife and the kiddo's Lanister's day was just... Just the best one... He had taught little Izayah a basic over-hand chop with the blade, even managing to help him keep them level and rhythmic. After he and Izayah practiced for a bit, he spent some time with his daughter, telling her long, detailed stories about all sorts of things from talking snakes, to spiders.... two a pair of former servants who escaped bondage to live forever, in love for as long as the other lived (a retelling of how he and Nevayah first met).

It was late afternoon as the kiddies laid in Emia's bed together, worn out and taking a nap. Lanister sat on on of the kitchen chairs, worn out himself, rubbing the side of his head as if there could be such a thing as too much fun.

Reaching down Nevayah picked up her daughter and held her to her chest as she said her farewells to 'boss'. After she had left Nevayah held Emia just a moment longer before setting her down and planting  a kiss on her forehead. From there Lanister sent them to their room and Nevayah knew it was game on. Nevayah could not help but giggle as Lansiter pushed her back into the bedroom closing the door behind them. His comment on making it quick heightening the joy of it all.

-x-

The day went on without any further disruptions. Nevayah managed to whip up a few different bottles of her tonic while the children were outside with Lanister. It truly was the perfect distraction so that she could draw some of her blood undected by her children and work in peace. Minutes turned to hours and before she realized it the day was already almost gone. Lanister had brought the kids in for a late nap that would likely result in them sleeping away throughout the night.

Izayah himself was completely worn out from the day as he practiced with all his little might to perfect the trick his father showed him. He had such determination in his eyes while he was being taught wanting to be nothing less than remarkable all for the sake of his father. Somehow though his parents had tricked him into sleeping, no doubt the reason they played so long and hard that day. Yet this did not stop the nightmares from creeping in on the child.

In the kitchen Nevayah leaned against the wall her arms crossed over her chest as she smiled at a very tired Lanister. "Tired?" she asked before pushing herself off the wall and walking over to her crate of tonics and home remedies. Pulling out a vial she popped off the lid and handed it to her husband. "Its a mix of quilted lavender flowers and nutmeg for flavor... to help with the headache."

Once again though their moment was ruined as another knock on the door rang through the house. "That must be the gentleman that Emria sent."

Walking to the door and opening it Nevayah greeted a very tall and muscular looking man. Something about him immediately caught her attention. Perhaps it was how large his muscles were or that he in some way seemed familiar she was unsure.  "Come on in while I grab what you need." As she always was with new customers her voice was very monotone, yet knowledgeable in a way. Leaving the door open she turned her back and made her way to the kitchen to grab the special bottle of tonic she made earlier that day. A small thought lingered in the back of her mind as she tried to piece it all together. With her back still turned she pulled out the bottle from her crate as she asked the man a question. "Have we met before?"

Meanwhile in the bedroom Izayah's nightmares were now at full force. This one was however different. He could see his home, the lights through the window, the smoke rolling from the chimney. Even though it was a normal if not relaxing image something about it seemed eerie... frightening. The nightmare caused him to wake up from his slumber, his mothers voice heard in the kitchen just outside their room. Sliding out of bed careful not to wake up his sister Izayah cracked open his bedroom door and slid out, careful not to make any sounds. Originally all he was planning to do was sneak into his parents bed and sleep there for as long as they allowed it. He had made it as far as under the kitchen table before he saw the figure in the doorway and froze then and there. He did not need to see the mans face... the outline of his shoulders was enough, it was the no face man. Completely overtaken by fear the color drained from Izayah's face and his small hands trembled along with his knees. He couldn't scream, he couldn't run, he couldn't even cry with how afraid he was in that moment. So afraid in fact that a of liquid began to form around his feet, starting from soaking part of his pants and trailing down to his socks.

Lanister sighed and snickered a bit as his wife leaned up against a wall as she observed his exhaustion.

"Was it that obvious...?" He murmured, already craving his lips to press against hers once again, just wanting to make out with her for hours on end. He might have proposed the idea, but Nevayah handed him a little vial of her tonic instead, explaining that it was made with lavender and nutmeg to help with his headache. He stood slowly, taking her chin in his forefinger and thumb, staring into her azure eyes with his Sanguine before slowly closing the gap between them once again "You're too good to me..." He whispered. Just as he was about to kiss her again, a heavy-fisted knock rang across the house, once again ruining a moment that might have become something far more... Annoyed, Lanister himself as about to answer the door, but Nevayah got there first, leaving an exasperated Lanister to sit back down in his seat, sipping the (wonderfully made) tonic given to him.

He glanced up from his drink only when he overheard his wife talking to the stranger/customer, asking if they had met before. Slowly, the boy got up from his seat, cautious, wondering what this was all about... Yes... he did have an oddly familiar face and bodystructure... it was as if they were once familiar with this man, but a name just couldn't reach their tongues.

"Oh thank you.... thank you..." He whispered as Nevayah let him in, ducking back into the kitchen to grab his order. "I didn't know what I was going to do... I.... I...." Suddenly, Lanister was sent flying across the doorway to their home by a killer backhand, slamming his head on the table to the kitchen on his way down, dazing him. Before Nevayah could let out a scream or even realize what was happening, a second arm would extend at an impossible, unnatural length, claw-like fingers wrapping around her throat and squeezing before she could make a noise.

I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS REAL! the man's voice morphed, along with the rest of him, his legs shortening but his upper torso extending along with his arms, becoming more ape-like in appearance. His chest grew far more bulky and the expression of satisfaction/sadism melted into his flesh, leaving only a flat canvas of flesh for a face, not a single facial feature in sight. I told you FOOLS before, you didn't leave Eyssrn, you didn't hide your powers and now... here.... you do it all over again! YOU TWO ARE JUST TOO MUCH! Lanister spat a glob of blood from his mouth where it dribbled forth, the fluid landing on the demon's arm not far from Nevayah's throat. There it sizzled, burned its way through the monster's flesh, but it simply laughed, reaching out it's damaged arm and wrapping his fingers around Lanister's neck too, keeping him from doing that again.

Golly, Lanister... There's no crowd of innocent people for you to poison this time! What an inconsiderate young MAN- He threw the parent into one of the china cabinets, a piece of shattered shelf digging its way into his side, causing Lanister to gasp in pain as it poked out the other side, already sizzling as a red smoke rose from the devoured wood. His eyes bugged from his head as he slowly peered down at the wooden stake through his side, shaking as he started to fall into shock. -you've been. And you... Nevayah... healer and submissive slave-girl... I can only begin to guess how little you really care for this boy... I mean... he's just an excuse to feel, now isn't he...? You couldn't care less if he lived or died... The demon began to glow with a pinkish aura as a large pink bubble encompassed the house in a dome-like shape before disappearing, placing a ward around the land that muted any noise from inside and made it all seem normal from outside.

Before Izayah could do anything stupid, beit scream, cry, or run at the demon, Emia reached out from behind her twin, pulling him back inside the room and shutting the door so the demon wouldn't notice them. She had been awake from the moment her brother had been, only now getting up once she had heard the noise from outside. Now, as she stared at her brother, tears flowed down her little pale face, unsure of what to do, unsure if any of this was real at all.

"Izayah..." She whispered, on the hair's-edge of sobbing in pure terror. "I'm scared...... Mommy.... Daddy........ please......"

Nevayah was about to turn before a loud thud rang through the room and then before she could react she felt a large hand grasped around her neck. It was when she heard the demons voice she realized what had just happened and who was in there home and she was simply beyond a doubt mortified. Helplessly she watched as the other half of her heart was wounded only to be picked up just as her. The demon then continued to taunt the two as he made it a point to show them just how weak they were to him in comparison. With eyes full of fear and hatred she clawed at the demons hands with her eyes darting towards her children's door across the kitchen. Nevayah hoped with everything she had that they would simply remain asleep and therefore nonexistent to the demon.

Making it her new and only mission she had to keep the demon's attention, keep him occupied. "Lies! He is the other half to my heart! Your a fool if you could ever think that I do not love him with every fiber of my being!" It had been so long since Nevayah had to scrap her way out of a situation. Things were different now, she had more to fight for but almost more to lose. "Why are you so concerned with us!? We are mere mortals in your eyes, nothing special other than being a tainted! You don't even care that we have special blood so why!?"

The mother then continued with her futile attempt at pulling herself from the demons grasp. Ripping at his arms with her fingernail and kicking with everything she had she was determined to get away, determined to lead him as far away from their home as possible. Seeing an opportunity she reached as far as she could with her arm to a little knife sitting on the counter just a few feet away. By the time the demon would notice what she was doing it would be too late. The moment she had the knife in her hand she plunged it into the demons arm hoping it would be just enough to make him let go.

Izayah saw the majority of the action begin. He heard his father hit the table that was shielding him from the demon's site and he saw him laying in the ruins of their cabinet. It broke Izayah's heart in a million pieces and yet he still could not bring himself to react, could not bring himself to do anything other than stand there in a puddle of his own urine scared out of his mind. He was so lost within himself he didn't even notice his sister had pulled him back into their room. It wasn't until she said his name that he snapped back to reality completely terrified. "Emia daddy is hurt! I don't know what to do!"

So badly did the boy want to run back in their and attack the demon with everything he had, but in reality he had nothing. So Izayah did the only thing he knew how to do. Grabbing his little sisters hand he pulled her under his bed and there he hugged her as tightly as he could. "M-mommy always said that if something bad happens to h-hide." It was so hard for him to speak and try not to burst out crying at the same time. If Emia would begin to cry he would simply hug her tighter with his eyes squeezed shut trying to make everything just go away.

"Izayah......." Emia was unable to hold in her tears anymore as she fell into her despair, her brother holding her ever tighter as she sobbed quietly and hopelessly into his chest, her sadness and fear spilling out of her eyes as she clung to her twin.

Oh.... did I hit a nerve or two? The demon asked as the woman in his grasp engaged in a futile struggle for her freedom. You really ARE dumb, aren't you...? This isn't about your blood or the fact you are mortals, stupid girl. You humiliated me in front of hundreds and then.... you killed me. Something so scandalous cannot go unpunished. There are rules, you know. The demon suddenly hissed in agony as Nevayah plunged a knife into his arm, causing the appendage to twitch and flop around abnormally, but refusing to lose it's grasp on Nevayah's neck. Ugh.... BITCH! He growled before slamming her down upon the table, causing it's legs to give way and the knife's blade to fall out of the demon's arm, clattering to the floor just out of reach. Slowly, his fingers began to contract around her throat, tightening and tightening until... they retracted, giving her just enough room to breath again.

Actually.... I have a better idea.... He hummed to himself, turning his faceless head in Lanister's direction just to see if he managed to pick himself up yet. There he still lay, his eyes locked on the scene playing before him as his blood ate at the stake still embedded in his stomach. He coughed in agony, blood spilling forth from his mouth and over his chin, and onto his shirt, more dark-red gas rising up as his blood wore away all it touched. His jaw shakily opened as if he were going to say something, perhaps something defiant or profound, but all that came out was an inaudible series of gurgles, noises that only showed the true weakness of his position. Laughing, satisfied, no-face withdrew a small rod with the tip broken off, jagged points on the end revealing a cruel and painful edge. If he could smile, the demon would have been doing so right at this moment, his face very close to Nevayah's as he showed her the rod.

Remember this, girly...? He asked, chuckling to himself before turning back towards Lanister, pointing the rod's cruel edge at him. What about you, tough guy? Remember this? As the demon spoke, Lanister's body jerked and twitched as he gurgled, moaned and coughed, agony of a horribly familiar level raking itself across every nerve-cell in his body. The demon flipped the point up and Lanister fell forward on his chest, the eaten remains of the stake falling out across the back with a cloud of dark red mist, the stuff starting to coagulate at the top of the ceiling. He was barely conscious by the end of the torture session, The demon forcing Nevayah to watch her husbands torture before turning to her, a content edge in his voice.

I think he remembers... But we never got to try this on you.... did we...? What was the game we played.... "There are 5 Lights", hmmm? Heh heh heh.... I got a new one for ya... its called "How long can you last." The rules are very simple... Since you're obviously well acquainted with the first level of the rod... we'll kick things up a notch. If you stay awake... I'll spare you're little friend's life a little longer... If not... well... lets leave that for later... And with that, the demon lowered the rod upon Nevayah, demonic levels of agony and suffering flowed through the girl's veins, every last bit of her body screaming and clawing to get itself away from the ungodly suffering before the demon raised the rod, ending the pain and leaving only a VERY vivid memory in its place. Lanister only looked on helplessly as his wife suffered the pains he should have been right now, his acidic blood pooling upon the floor around his mouth and torso. More red mist floated into the air, the tint of which fading into a light red.

Oh.... that looks like it hurts a lot... Are you okay? He asked, feigning concern.

Emia sobbed harder as her mother's and father's cries of agony rang out through their household, her brother being her only source of strength. Unable to bear it anymore, the little girl pulled away from her Izayah, her eyes still flowing with a seemingly endless stream of tears.

"We have to do something...." She whispered, flinching as the noise started up again. "We have to help mommy and daddy, Izayah, we HAVE too!"

Nevayah threw an accomplished smile at the demon as he called her a bitch. When he slammed her into the table though it caused a scream of pain to escape her mouth, even as the piece of wood buckled under the pressure. "Is that all y...." Not able to finish her statement by the demons tightening grip on her neck she struggled to breath feeling the oxygen leave her body. Just when she thought she would pass out the demon loosened his grip just enough for her to take in a big an inhale as she could. Coughing she tried to push through the pain from being slammed into the table and then choked as best she could... but then the demon spoke once more.

Asking her if she remembered the demonic rod was foolish all in its own. Of course she remembered it, and what it did to Lanister. Then he brought up the five lights game and how he was going to change it up a bit, instead just as long as she stayed awake Lanister would live. That alone was enough motivation for her to fight the urge of losing consciousness. Just before the rod touched her stomach Nevayah managed to spit out a final statement, only to show the demon she was far from giving up. "FOUR LIGHTS!" she screamed as the rod touched her causing her body to be engulfed in unimaginable pain. The pain was so severe in fact the screams that escaped her mouth were something she herself did not know she was capable of. The muscles on her stomach tensed, her arms flat at her sides, hands in very tight fists as she tried to fight the pain. Even a tear managed to make its way from the corner of her eye and roll down across her cheek to her ear.

When the demon finally removed the rod from her stomach Nevayah took in a deep breath of relief. Finding what little resolve she had left she once again spat words at the demon between gasping breaths hoping to get her point across. "You seem to have forg..." a leftover pain in her stomach surged causing her to stop for the briefest of moments and wince before continuing. "...forgotten who I am." She paused once more to take in a few more breaths. "I... I am Nevayah of the Tainted. Slave who has been bought... sold... and traded since birth." Lifting her head just a bit to be sure the demon could see in her eyes she shot him a look of pure hatred. "I have been tortured... I have been starved....I... I have been..." Ironically she began to laugh at the next part, finding it humorous that he thought he could break her of all people. "I have had my own blood consumed before me for christs sake!"

In all honesty her front was just an act. She knew her small body could not take much more from that rod, but she would not let him onto that. She had to be a diversion for as long as possible not only for Lanister, but for her children. So far it seemed the demon had no clue there were others in the house. Even with the children's coats hanging by the door and the fact that there was four plates sitting on the counter. Not even the tiny pair of boots and flats laying on the mat below the coat rack tipped him off. "So I say again.... just so you know that I never forgot. There were only four lights that day... FOUR....LIGHTS!"

Izayah held his sister with everything he had as she began to sob. He really did not know what to do or how to save his parents. Trying to console her the best he could despite he was just as upset and sobbing as she was he held her close. All up until she raised her voice about helping them. "Shhhh!" she half whispered to her as he put his hand over his sisters mouth. "Mommy and daddy will get him, they did before and they will again." Izayah wanted to believe with everything he had his parents would make the bad man go away, but based on the noises coming from the other room he was scared to admit the truth.

Silly, silly girl... no-face tsked, turning his attention back to Lanister. We aren't playing that game anymore... With words like that, the delirium must already be taking over your mortal senses. He held Nevayah there on the ground among the shattered remains of their table as he walked back over to the one who had killed him, crouching down so that the rod's edges were hanging just a tad over Lanister's center back. The former slave glanced up at his wife, staring, enraged at the arm that held her by the throat against her will... He traced that long, extending arm back to the body who possessed it and his hatred magnified, his sanguine eyes seeming to glow with outrage, his pain only throwing more fuel on the fire. He glared at the demon defiantly, extending neck before chomping down on one of his fingers that held the rod. With a chuckle, the faceless monster ripped Lanister from the spike he was stuck on, holding the broken body out in front of Nevayah, pulling her from her place on the table so that the two lovers were only a few inches apart, Lanister's acidic blood just a few inches from Nevayah's vulnerable lips.

We wouldn't want Lanny over here to suffer, would we....? Look at him... Because it'll be the last you ever see of him if you don't play by the rules, Nevayah. The demon dropped Lanister, causing him to fall to a crumpled heap on the ground, gasping and clutching at his stomach as he landed on his bad side. He curled up tightly in a ball, desperately trying to remain conscious, to work through the pain, but it was so.... hard.... Nevayah, meanwhile remained suspended by no-face's hand as he jabbed the rod into Nevayah's stomach again and again, laughing all the while as he cranked the severity of the weapon's magic up again. If the girl thought she knew what pain was, her horizons had just been broadened substantially. New levels of pain wracked her senses, almost as if her veins were filled with a slow-acting acid, eating her alive slow enough for her to be completely aware of her situation. no-face snickered and laughed as Nevayah's state deteriorated.... before he heard a noise... quiet, soft, muffled... near the back of the house... the demon dropped Nevayah to the ground and the moment her skin touched the floor, chains of wood and stone erupted from the floor-boards, entangling the young tainted and her husband, leaving them pinned to the ground, unable to move.

There's someone else here....? no-face asked himself, glancing around the house as he tried to pinpoint the source. Naughty, naughty, little tainteds... we can't just exclude your guests from all the fun! That would be rude! But I am a gentle-demon... You two just wait right there and I'll go introduce myself, alright? All Lanister could do was struggle feebily against his confinements and and moan as the demon stalked closer and closer to their kids' room.

Emia still sobbed into her brother's chest as he attempted to soothe her, unable to get a grip on her fear and terror as heavy foot-falls made their way towards the door, each one making the little girl flinch. And then... the door opened and the blank face of the demon peered into the room, his head turning in the direction of the kids. Emia's eyes widened and she gasped in horror. He was real..... and he was standing right there......... It was as if her heart had stopped in her chest.

no-face seemed equally surprised, taking a step back as he saw Emia and Izayah. Children....? Why would they have.... unless it was their children....

Mommy and Daddy are waiting for you... The demon coo'ed, grabbing Izayah and Emia by their hands, very nearly crushing them in his grip. Will you not go to them?

Even as the demon continued to taunt her Nevayah tried to hold up the best front she could. A front that was practically shattered when no face walked over to Lanister next with the rod. "No!" was all she could get from her lips before Lanister himself bit the demon causing it to rip him up from the spike that was impaling him. From there the demon was only amused and held the broken Tainted before her as he also lifted her up. The way the demon spoke to her about following the rules sent some kind of message to her subconscious, one that made her realize she had indeed been defeated. When Lanister was dropped and crumbled to the floor it was as if no face himself had broken her heart. Another lone tear streamed down her face as the rod was jammed back into her stomach over and over again.

With each touch of the rod Nevayah's body grew weaker and weaker, barely able to hold onto consciousness any longer. The first few times she was still able to let out a curdled scream as her body recoiled from the pain. But the last, yes the last time was what did her in. She never closed her eyes, and her body seemed to stop curling up from the pain. Even as she dangled there in the demons grip her body tensed purely on instinct when the rod touched her stomach, each muscle flexing beneath her skin. The light from Nevayah's eyes had been fading after the first few blows but now... it was completely non existent. As her body was dropped it hit the floor with a thud shortly accompanied with the sound of chains of stone and wood erupting from the earth. But as the chains made their way around her body holding her to the ground she did not move, barely even blinked. Her expression was cold, emotionless... nothing left in those blue eyes as they stared at Lanister. It was as if Lanister had a corpse staring at him from across the room, her gaze stuck on him but dead.

With each footstep Izayah flinched alongside his sister, scared to death of what was approaching them. No Face's voice searching for them caused Izayah to place his forehead on Emia's one last time, thinking he would never be able to do so again. Then two large hands reached for the children grabbing each of them by the wrist with no mercy. Izayah screeched in pain from both being pulled apart from his sister and by the tightening grip on his wrist. Whether it was adrenaline or a bit of his mother's spirit running through him Izayah's attitude turned very quickly. His eyes were now full of the same hatred his mother wore only a few short moments ago, intensified when the reality of the situation came to light. It was the image of his father that got him the most riled up, how the man he thought was invincible was practically a pile of mush on the floor.

Whether it be divine intervention or just fate the knife that his mother had plunged into the demons arm moments ago was laying right there on the floor within his reach. As if watching a replay of minutes before when his mother performed the same action Izayah reached for the knife with his little hand and plunged it into the arm of the demon as hard as he could causing no face to fling the boy across the room in the direction of the closed front door. His little body crashed into the old coat rack causing the contents hanging upon it as well as the broken pieces to fall in a heap over the boy. On any other occasion Izayah would have broken down into an 'I'm dying' fit right there, but not this time. Determined as ever the boy managed to get himself onto his hands and knees, his fathers jacket sliding off of on top of him. Izayah bore a deep cut on his forehead, blood dripping down over one of his eyes and down his cheek dripping onto the floor. With one hand holding him up he used the other bruised and most likely broken one caused by the demons tight grasp to wipe at his face.

It was when he opened his eye that he saw his father only a few feet from him, laying on the ground practically choking on his own blood. Crawling over to him causing a little red hand print trail behind him Izayah was determined to spend what he thought were his last moments with his father. Looking to his sister one last time as if to tell her it will all be over soon, that surely they would all die and it would be done. Izayah closed the distance between himself and his father showing the same gesture of love as he did with his sister pressing his forehead to Lanister's... and then he felt it.

At first Izayah did not realize what was happening, all he could feel was a strange pull leaving his body through the cut above his eyebrow. But then slowly the realization set in that this was the gift his mother and father passed down to him. He remembered now how sometimes he saw his mother mix in her own blood with other items to create her special medicine. He knows now why it was all a big 'secret'. It was all the story of the Tainted his father had recited to the two children many times, except it wasn't a fairy tale.. .it was all true and it was his parent's story.

Somehow he knew in his heart that the weakening sensation he was feeling was somehow helping his father. "Daddy... its gonna be all otay now." the little boy whispered closing his eyes to concentrate further.  Almost able to visualize the energy transfer from his body through his cut into his dad Izayah pushed at the feeling with all his might, giving every last bit he could manage, even bringing up his little blood covered hands to place on his fathers cheeks. What Izayah did not know was that with every action there was a reaction and that although he may have been giving his father some of his own life force, he was losing his. He felt his eyes growing heavier, his breaths falling shallower, his skin getting colder... his heart beating slower. He would have continued if he could have, but the draining of it all quickly tired out the boy causing Izayah's forehead and hands to slide downwards off of his father and onto the floor leaving a streak of his own blood down his father's face. But before he had completely fallen he managed to whisper one last thing. "I tried to be a soldier for you daddy...." the statement barely even audible. From there Izayah's body was limp, almost dead looking laying on the floor in front of Lanister's shackled body.

Nevayah's dead eyes watched the scene unfold as her son was practically dying before her in front of his father. All she could feel was her heart grow even colder in that moment... but that was it.

Lanister watched helplessly as the demon before him ripped away Nevayah's humanity with each poke of his blasted rod, the light that signaled the presence of the woman he loved fading by the second. It was when she was dropped to the floor beside him, chains pinning them to the floor did he get the misfortune to assess the damage done and the results....... they chilled him to his very soul. He was just like she was when he first met her... that first day in the cages... Her eyes were so blank, her body so compliant to the restraints... even impaled and bleeding out, he put in more strength to escaping this situation than Nevayah had in this moment... From her mere presence beside him as his blood began to pool did he truly know how far she had gone inside herself. It was as if she had given up on everything... Life, their kids.... him... they all seemed to lose their importance in that void of apathy that circulated around his wife. But, instead of such utter despair spreading to him... it empowered the former slave, at least, enough for his adrenaline to kick in. Lanister struggled and grunted against his confines, rattling the tight chains and even managing to splinter some of the weaker wooden links, but his strength gave out quickly, leaving him heaving in a decrepit ball.

"Damn you...." He hissed as the demon went about to check the house. "DAMN you...!" Lanister watched in horror and outrage as his little girl and boy were dragged into the center of this horror show, and everything that happened since.

Emia squirmed and struggled against the grip of the demon, digging her heels into the floor to stop any kind of advancement, but she was hardly even an inconvenience for No-Face's superior strength. Tears now flowed freely down her face as she screamed and ripped at the hand that held her still, trying desperately to do something... ANYTHING that would get her away from this image: Her parents bloodied, battered and broken on the floor, the smell of blood everywhere... on her, on her brother... It was all splattered across everything.... Their bodies thrown about with her daddy's impaled torso chained to the ground as he glared at the monster that held her and mommy dead, but still dying right beside, her eyes as blank and lifeless as any corpse. Perhaps that's what scared her the most... The mother she idolized, the parent she wanted to grow up to be just like... The woman she wanted to emulate right down to the profession was lying there as if nothing even mattered...

You see, children... The demon laughed, squeezing their hands tightly, making an already unbearable grip even more unbearable. We were just having a pleasant discussion and- AUGGH! Izayah had plunged a familiar knife into the demon's hand, causing him significant pain and discomfort as the steel pierced into his flesh. With a wave of his hand, Emia's twin went crashing into the coat rack, bringing down a good majority of everything that hung there with her. The little girl stared in shock and awe at the horridness of this act... the witnessing of her brother get brutalized in just one stroke. She stared at the demon, then back at the ruins of her family, seriously considering dying as her mother was now, losing everything else but her life first to make the process of it all the less painful.

Lanister stared in disbelief as the demon slammed his son into the coat-rack, gashing his head on the way down. Surely, he thought his boy might've died on impact but by some grace of the gods, he managed to survive, crawling his way on his hands and knees over to him, pressing his bleeding forehead against his, tears welling up in his eyes as his son began to fade away, his parting words cutting him right down the core of his heart. As Izayah fell unconscious, Lanister froze, staring as his son flopped over beside him.

"Izayah...." He whispered. "Nevayah....." He glanced over at his wife, still as dead and emotionless as a door-nail. "Emia..." His voice grew more edged as strength that wasn't his flooded through him, wrenching his arms free of the magically constructed chains and throwing himself at the demon, managing to catch him around his neck with enough force, it caught the monster by surprise and he dropped the child.

WHAT!? The demon hissed, losing his composure as Lanister attempted to smash him with his fists. YOU WERE IMPALED AND BLEEDING OUT! WHERE DID YOU GET THIS STRENGTH!?

Emia fell to the ground hard, landing on her arm, her fair, pale skin scraping against the floor. She winced and yelped in pain as she lifted her arm off the floor, what was supposed to be blood dripping from the wound onto the floor. It was black, soupy, far thinner than blood was supposed to be and smelled of death. It flowed from her body, but she felt no weakness, the ground around her turning to ash wherever the blood touched. She stared at her blood, wide-eyed and mystified, unsure what this all meant... But she felt strong as more of her blood flowed from her body.

Lanister, however, didn't last long against the demon, even with his berserker's rage and acidic blood. With each blow he dealt, the demon delivered three more, all in or around Lanister's wound. Although his acid made quick work of the demon's flesh, it seemed to grow back a moment or two later. The tainted was just unable to keep up as the demon smacked him to the floor once again, a chain wrapping up around his throat, choking him and threatening to snap his neck if it grew any tighter.

DIE..... No-Face growled before a hand was thrust through his lower stomach poking out the other side... Emia's hand coated in a black, thin substance. Instead of blood, ash spilled out from inside the demon, the skin surrounding the ash starting to fade and so on, his body beginning to fall apart at the seems as a flaming purple aura began to engulf the little 4 year-old.

N-NOOOOO! No-Face snarled, attempting to rip himself free, but found he didn't have the strength. NOT.... AGAIN.......! His body crumbled beneath him until only his faceless head rested upon a while pile of ash. Emia's eyes glowed a sinister red as the demonic energies that once belonged to this thing were at her command. AS.... MEDDLESOME..... AS YOUR ANCESTORS....... Not knowing and not caring what this meant, Emia pressed her blood-soaked palms into the demon's head, it's skin fading away to nothingness as it fell back to hell once again. The chains around Lanister and Nevayah crumbled to nothing as Emia stood there in the center of the house, heavily breathing as she attempted to contain this immense unholy power. With a scream, a pillar of pure dark pink erupted from around the little girl, blasting through the ceiling but without causing any visable damages. Dark red voltage sparked through Lanister's red mist, causing it and the blood on the floor to disappear as the pillar of raw demonic energies blasted forth. The Barrier set up outside was struck right at it's peak, it's center, the energies cracking and conflicting before the dome shattered as if it were glass, disappearing before the shards could fall to the ground. But Emia fell backwards, landing on her rear as her eyes drooped, staring at her hands as if trying to figure out what just happened. There was no evidence of a scratch, or even the blood... just her skin as the last of the demonic energies faded away.

"M-mommy...?" Emia said, stumbling over to her mother. "D-daddy....? Bubby...?"

As the demon faded away Nevayah's eyes slowly re-lit, the presence of the demon seemed to be what caused her to stay emotionless for so long.. even as her children were drug around. Sitting up she whipped her head from one direction to another as she took in the state of her family and home. Her daughter calling to her is what caused her to completely snap out of it, to completely realize what had happened. "Emia..." her voice horse and on the brink of breaking down as she half sprinted half crawled to her daughter. Scooping her into her arms as if she would never be able to hold her again she pressed her sweet Emia into her chest with her palm on the back of her head. "Thank the gods you are okay." Nevayah had since allowed her daughter to sit back in her arms so that she could look her over. Sweeping a hand over her daughters head and down her hair she set Emia down and frantically made her way towards Lanister and Izayah.

Both of them seemed way worse off than she initially thought. "Emia sweety..." Nevayah tried to sound as calm as possible but the urgency in her voice was still something that could not be ignored. "I need you to run to mommy and daddy's room and get a towel. They are folded in the basket by our bed. I know your really tired but please try for mommy okay?" From there she knelt down before Izayah first looking him over thoroughly but as quickly as possible. The boy's right arm was bruised, no doubt broken, and the cut above his eyebrow was deep but not life threatening. He was pale but still alive and breathing. Thanking the gods once more Nevayah gently as she could set him back down and went to Lanister next. She felt guilty leaving Izayah there but his life was not in danger, she could not say the same for her beloved.

"Lanister..." she whispered kneeling down in front of him as tears began to fill her eyes. He was in bad shape, bleeding out from his side and already bruises had begun to form where the chains once were. Delicately she lowered herself even further to where she was now just above him, one hand next to his side while the other ran its way through his hair, her knees a few feet above his head. "Don't die okay... I can't do this on my own. I can't live without you here... so hang on just a little longer." The way she spoke was similar to the way she comforted her children when they were in distress. Her voice so full of love and compassion for the man laying there almost dead beneath her. Sitting up just a bit she took in a deep breath before biting down on her lip as hard as she could.

Her own blood now dripped down her chin as her lip began to bleed. She could taste the copper on her tongue as she lowered her face to just above his before closing the distance between their lips. Passionately she kissed Lanister with everything she had allowing for her blood to flow into his mouth. Only coming up for short breaths she would keep her lips locked with his until she could feel him coming to life beneath her.

Izayah's body just a few feet away began to slowly show color again. First a slight shade of crimson flushed his cheeks before he opened his eyes and sat up. Looking to his side he saw his mother kissing his father and crawled over to them grabbing his fathers hand. Understanding now what Nevayah's blood did he figured out what she was doing and wanted to help but couldn't. He knew that if he were to somehow push more life force into his father that he himself would use what little he had left and die.

"I wove you mommy....." Emia sobbed into her mother's shoulder as she picked her up, holding her to her chest for a few moments. "I wove you so much....... I do...." Tears stung her eyes as the fear of imminent death passed, replaced by relief that the horror-show was almost over. It was when Nevayah set her down was she given an order: to go to daddy's room and grab a towel. The urgency in her voice was such that Emia didn't waste a beat and immediately ran back to her daddy's room, ignoring the overwhelming exhaustion that plagued her tiny form.

Meanwhile, Lanister's breathing began to slow as the hole in his side continued to leak his valuable life-blood, the crimson fluid flowing about atop the floor-boards, not even burning them away anymore. With the slowing of his heart and the reaper at his door-step, Lanister's blood had begun to distill, becoming merely normal as his condition worsened. His vision began to fade as the ghost-of-a-feeling of his son clasping his hand shot through his system and the lips of his beloved pressing against his, her bloodied saliva entering his mouth and being forced down his throat by her tongue. He was so sleepy... so tired... but he kissed her back completely on instinct, far slower and much less passionate than his other half, but he was doing the best he could. Every time she pulled away for air, more and more life was breathed into his system, his heart-rate picking him, his strength very slowly returning, but he didn't open his eyes until the 5th kiss. Of course, he could have done so around the third or fourth, but he was enjoying himself a bit too much for her to stop now... Nevayah hadn't kissed him like that since the first day they met and he was craving more of those kisses as she delivered them. He raised his free arm slowly and wrapped it around her neck, pulling her on top of him and pressing her lips even harder against his, the hole in his side completely gone, only leaving a small pool of distilled, normal blood where it once rested. Only after they both ran out of air would he allow her to pull away, a long trail of saliva falling out, connecting their tongues before it fell away. Lanister smirked softly, tiredly, before raising his head and kissing her cheek softly.

"I'm alive...." He whispered, pressing his forehead against hers, before turning to his son. He tugged him over and wrapped him in a hug as well as they lay there on the floor, kissing his cheek lovingly before staring into his deep blue eyes with a level of love never before seen. "Oh, Izayah.... You were the bravest soldier I've ever seen... I owe you my life, little man..." Suddenly, his face grew as serious as he could make it. "But that doesn't mean you get to skip the vegetables at dinner, young man." He burst back into his smile before holding his family close, feeling more alive than he ever had before.

Emia returned to see her daddy embracing her twin and mommy, smiling and laughing as if he weren't badly hurt a moment ago. Their eyes locked and Lanister's smile grew as Emia ran quickly at her dad, jumping into the family pile with the last of her energy and wrapping her arms around them all.... before comically falling asleep right there. Lanister's eyes widened in surprise at how quickly she fell out, noting the towel in her hand. Had Nevayah sent her for this...? Still, He held them all to his chest tighter than he ever had.

"I love you all.... I love you, I love you, I love you...." Emia's only response was a soft, dreamy smile in her sleep.

A few weeks had passed since the near death experience for all of them at their home. Thankfully no one in town even got a hint of an idea at what had happened. The only person who was informed was Emria, only because Nevayah had to discuss with her how to keep something like this from happening again. Of course she still wanted to save lives, but it would now be a lot harder to find the 'miracle' tonic she was infamous for.

Standing outside Izayah swung his sword back and forth at the air envisioning an enemy before him. Pretty much every day since the incident he began training himself as hard as he could, refusing help from everyone. Izayah had decided that he needed to be stronger so he could protect those he loved most and not be worthless other than to give people strength. He really felt like he had gotten the short end of the stick when it came to his abilities, he hated them and resented his sister for hers. It was not fair that she did not even have to try and she was able to take down a demon with one blow. A demon that had not only defeated his mother and father, but himself as well in a matter of minutes. Izayah saw his blood as worthless and a waste.

"Izayah! Time to come inside before it gets too dark!" His mother's voice as sweet and concerning as ever.

The boy did not even realize how late it was getting, even with the sun setting in the distance. Without responding he tucked his small sword into its holster and walked towards the cottage opening the door to his family inside. Kicking one boot off and then the other he placed them in front of the door and placed his sword against the wall. Nevayah reached down and picked him up setting him on the edge of their new table before walking over to the counter to grab a rag. Izayah had grown used to this, his mother checking the wound on his head to make sure it was healing properly. "Mommy I'm fine..." an irritated tone escaping his mouth.

Nevayah simply shrugged off his remark and was now standing in front of him holding a bottle of astringent and a cloth. Tipping the bottle onto the rag she soaked a bit of it before reaching up and carefully pealing at the bandage on Izayah's forehead. Setting the old bandage aside she pushed at the wound a bit with her fingers, a very serious look in her eyes. "Oh my Izayah! It seems it is ready to take out the stitches! No more bandages for you my little soldier."

Izayah simply rolled his eyes at his mothers enthusiasm and did his best not to show his concern for having the stitches removed. First his mother cut through the stitches before carefully pulling them out one by one. The boy simply wrapped his fingers around the edge of the table and squeezed to hide his discomfort. When Nevayah pulled out the final stitch she took the wet cloth and dabbed it on his wound to ensure it was clean. "There you go! All done!" His mother then bent down and pecked a kiss on his cheek before helping him down from the side of the table.

Crossing her arms in front of herself Nevayah watched half brokenheartedly as her son walked off into his bedroom. Ever since the incident she had felt completely devastated she could not save her children and that she allowed herself to fade away, even if it was for only a moment. It seemed as though Izayah had not forgiven her for it either as he had been very cold towards her. It was even worse with Emia, Izayah refused to even play with her anymore. He had told his parents that she was "in his way" when they sat him down and asked why. The only person it seemed that Izayah had not changed towards was Lanister. In fact he was probably more attached to him than before.

Emia had grown more sorrowful in the weeks that had passed, her brother's neglect weighing heavily on her own heart. No doubt, her parents loved her just the same, if not moreso after that incident with the demon, a love she wouldn't trade for the world... but she might have just traded it to have her old brother back. He had been nothing but cold and ignorant to both his mother and herself, but he hardly acknowledged her anymore, declaring that she was..... in his way... What did that mean? Did she wrong him somehow? Did she misplace his favorite toy? Did he find out she had been using his sword without asking him? (Mommy and daddy had given permission of course) Who knew? He certainly wouldn't tell. All he would ever give her is a glare that demanded she stand aside whenever she tried to confront him about it, barely tolerating their shared room as it is. Little Emia just couldn't understand how the close, love-packed relationship with her twin could have fallen so low, hallowed so quickly... She couldn't see how he could treat mommy this way, showing her nothing more than the respect she was due. Emia peered around the edge of the door leading to the bathroom, watching from behind as Izayah got his stitches removed finally, how stoic and uncaring he had become. The only thing he seemed to show any concern with was his capability with a sword, practicing seemingly day in and day out, only coming in when it got dark like it was getting now. She had silently cried herself to sleep many nights in a row, thinking that she had hurt him in some way, that she had somehow stamped out the fires of their relationship on that day the demon came into their house. She watched as Izayah walked past her without even sparing the twin a glance before disappearing into their room. Emia slipped out only a second or two later, running up to her mommy, her eyes watering, her lower lip trembling. She raised her arms up, signaling she wanted to be held, desperate for the love and comfort only her mommy could provide.

"Mommy...." She whispered, burying her face in the shoulder of her parent. "Why........ why does he hate me..... what did I do....?" She asked all these questions, praying to every god she had memorized that he didn't actually hate her, that he was just angry at something else, that she couldn't have been the target for his spite... Lanister was gone, working later that day that he usually did. They were still paying off repairs for the house after that horrid night and he needed to make as much money as soon as possible to pay off that debt. He wouldn't be home for another hour yet, leaving the three tainteds alone.... 2 more alone than others.

"Mommy... can we go shopping...? I..... I want...." She took a deep breath, already envisioning what her mother was going to say. "I want a sword like bubby... He won't talk to me.... he only wants to fight... Maybe.... with a sword.... he'll talk to me again...."

Nevayah without hesitation picked up her daughter to console her in her time of need. Patting Emia's back she listened to her question not really sure of the answer herself. "Bubby just needs some time honey. What happened effected us all in different ways and he is just dealing with it the only way he knows how." Continuing to pat her daughters back Nevayah walked with her to the living room before sitting down on the couch, her daughter still in her arms. It almost broke her heart when Emia asked if she could get a sword of her own. Pushing Emia down so that she was sitting on her lap Nevayah tried to find the best way to word her response. "I think that if we got you a sword just like bubby's he may get more upset. "How about instead we get you a small dagger or something... in case you ever need it to protect yourself.... how does that sound?"

She knew she was pulling at strings with the suggestion of something else for Emia, but it was the only thing she could think of. Plus even if she really wanted to they did not have the financial means to purchase a sword like Izayah's. Ever since the incident they had been doing anything possible to get the money to repair their home. Glancing over to the wooden bin she kept her completed tonics Nevayah figured she may have enough extra to sell of the head ache and fever tonics to at least buy her that. Since Lanister would be at work for another hour or so she could not leave Izayah home alone. He would have to come with and perhaps she could drop him off at the bar to leave with Lanister while she had some mother daughter time with Emia.

"Let me go tell bubby we are leaving and you put on your coat." Giving her daughter a kiss on the forehead she lifted her off of her lap and set her on the floor. Nevayah then made her way towards the twin's bedroom to get Izayah.

"Knock knock" his mothers voice came from behind the door before she opened it. Inside Izayah had been sitting on his bed just staring out the window. He sighed not taking his gaze from the image outside of his room. "If your coming to tell me I made sissy cry again I don't care." Nevayah practically gasped at what her son had just said. Looking back into the living room she gave Emia a reassuring nod before stepping inside the room and closing the door behind her. "Now listen here young man I am your mother and you will not talk to me like that." Her voice was stern as she continued to walk towards his bed, sitting on the edge of it. "Sorry" was all he said, but it lacked any meaning behind it. Nevayah was slowly growing frustrated with Izayah, tired of trying to get him to understand that you cannot help what your born with.

"Izayah... we are going to town. I will not leave you hear by yourself so get your shoes back on and sweater so we can go." Nevayah then began to get up from the bed but Izayah's response stopped her dead in her tracks. "No.... I don't want to go anywhere with you and sissy..." Sitting back down on the bed Nevayah reached out and grabbed Izayah's shoulder making it so that he had to look at her when he spoke. "Listen I know your mad at the world right now but we need to go for sissy's sake. Deep down I know you still love her so you WILL get up and go with us."

Izayah's eyes turned apologetic for a mere second before turning back into their bothered state. A part of him deep down really did still love his sister. That's why he had to keep her out of his way, so that he could get strong to protect her one day. "Okay mommy" From there Izayah slid off of the bed and walked out of his room and to the door where his boots and jacket were. Silently he slipped them on, refusing to acknowledge Emia only a few feet away.

Nevayah took a moment to muster up the patience to deal with him before standing up and accompanying her children. Grabbing her bag from its hook she placed about 6 small bottles of her headache tonic inside before clasping it shut. "Let's go" she said as she held open the door for her children to go on out.

It took about 20 minutes to walk to town and it was the longest 20 minutes of her life. The entire time they walked in silence, only the crunching of foliage to accompany the sound of their breaths. "Izayah go on ahead and go to daddy's work. Tell him sissy and I are shopping and that I want you to wait with him until we are done." The boy practically took off sprinting at the mention of being able to hang out with his dad... and at work too! Nevayah simply reached down to grab her daughters hand as she made her way towards the local medicinal shop to trade in some of her tonics.

Izayah was not afraid to go into the bar, he had done it already a few times before. Pushing open the large wooden door he walked inside and ignored the patrons that were staring at him. One patron even going as far as walking up to Izayah and picking him up. "Well if it isn't a small clone of his mother!" the man, also know as Max, yelled holding little Izayah in the air. The boy simply shot Max a look of pure hatred at the way he was being handled. "I am not like my mommy" he scowled as Max obliged in lowering him back to the ground. Max could not help but to pat him on the head, bending down so that he was at eye level with Izayah. "Oh my boy you have no idea how much you are like her." Max then simply stood up laughing, walking away to finish whatever it was he was doing.

"Okay, Mommy...." She murmured, giving her one last hug and receiving the kiss on her forehead with a smile. She always knew how to make a little girl smile... She loved that about her really... she was so gentle, but also commanded so much power, it only made her love her mommy more and more with each and every one of her declarations.

Emia had the fortune to not overhear her twin's insensitive remark, too busy trying to find where she stuffed her jacket. It was remarkable that she hadn't figured out until it was time to go that it had somehow found it's way between the couch-cushions just like all the times before. Honestly, the article of clothing must have just enjoyed the cool space between the cushions because otherwise, Emia couldn't fathom how it manages to get there each time. She wrapped her little coat over her dress and slipped on her shoes, smiling at her twin despite everything he had put her through before heading out. It was a LONG 20 minutes from here to the town square where everything was, a normally short trip once.... when they were just one big happy family. Believe it or not, there was a time they were happy to go into town, when they talked and laughed and had fun with one another... a time when Emia and Izayah were as close as any two siblings could get. Those were the times she had longed for, the ones she wished stuck around after everything... Weren't families supposed to get closer in times of crisis? Like.... didn't struggles make them realize how much they all mattered or was daddy only making up stories again...? She hoped that this one was true... she wanted all this to just go away....

Izayah disappeared into the crowd of people, heading for daddy's shop as Emia and Nevayah began dropping off their tonics. It was only afterwords did Emia say anything, making sure that Izayah was completely out of earshot. She didn't want her brother to hate her more than he already, most obviously does... She wouldn't even be able to sleep in the same room with him if he somehow caught wind of this.

"....He's jealous of me..... isn't he....?" She asked, her head down-cast. She may have been young, but she wasn't ignorant. Izayah wasn't exactly going far to keep his emotions a secret though either. The real question was.... why did he hate mommy so much?

Lanister was busy all night with people coming and going, drinking and eating, but he always had time for his little boy. He would have laughed, seeing his child being picked up by ol' Max, but it was his response that kept his mouth shut. Izayah declared that he was nothing like his mother, something he hadn't said, implied or anything in between before now. Whatever humor was in Lanister in that moment died and was resurrected as nothing but concern. With a mere gesture, the bar-keep signaled his son over to one of the only empty stools, even helping the little child into it if needed. From there, Lanister would stare down at his child, a gaze both intense, but also caring.

"What was that about?" He asked, his voice HEAVILY implying he wasn't taking no for an answer.

Nevayah was slightly taken by her daughters question, one of many difficult inquiries she has had to answer lately. "Don't be ridiculous Emia... like I said bubby is just going through something right now." She looked at her daughter with concern in her eyes, hoping that one day everything would truly get back to normal. "So lets go trade these in shall we?" Nevayah reached down and patted her bag causing a light jingle from the glass bottles.

At the medicinal shop Nevayah was able to get plenty enough money to take Emia wherever she wanted to go. Counting out the coins she shoved them in her pocket... "So are you sure you want a weapon? Or maybe we could get you a new doll... or a dress?" Honestly she knew that if she did indeed get Emia a dagger that Izayah would probably still be upset.

In the bar Izayah smiled when he saw his father happy to finally be with him and not his mother and sister. Having been helped onto the stool he grabbed at the edge of the bar with his small hands. But when he caught his father's eyes he knew he was serious. "I am like you daddy because I don't....." he pursed his lips and avoided his gaze before continuing. "... cuz I wont ever give up. Not like mommy did." Truthfully Izayah was hurt that his mother gave up on them during the incident in their home. Even if it was only for a moment he saw his mothers eyes, he saw how she did not care that he was hurt.

"Im sposed to tell you that mommy and sissy are out shopping together and they didn't want me to come so I am here with you." Of course that was not exactly what Nevayah said, but it's how Izayah took it. "Mommy says that the only reason I had to come to town was to make sissy happy..." From there the child fiddled with his fingers as he tried to push back tears. He knew he had been cold lately, but he never expected to be pushed out like he was. Everything was always about Emia lately when it came to his mother. He felt like she did not love him anymore and he really didn't know why. "I think that mommy is buying Emia something to try and cheer her up. Cuz I'm bad and I make her sad all the time now..."

Pulling his knees up on the stool he wrapped his arms around them still averting the gaze of his father. "I don't want to talk about it anymore."

Nevayah's question went unanswered as the little girl truly thought about what she wanted. In truth, she didn't require the sword or dagger or whatever else she claimed she did. All Emia really wanted was her twin, the one she cared about above all others. She wanted to hold him, hug him, laugh and talk like the old days...

"I want my bubby back..." She nearly cried, running to her mother for support of any kind. She wrapped her little arms around Nevayah's waist, hugging her tightly as she truly felt the loss of her sibling. It was as if half of her had been scooped out, leaving Emia with a vague sense of emptiness that haunted her every second of every day. She wanted them all to sit at the dinner table and not have the children avoid eye-contact for fear of starting something. She wanted to just hold her twin as they slept, helping each-other through their nightmares that plagued them separate and alone now... She wanted her bubby... She wanted him so bad... All this buying and gifts Nevayah offered didn't matter... It was just a toy or a piece of clothing that would only hold her attention for a week or two before she started taking it for granted...

Ironically, this was exactly how Izayah was feeling right now as he poured his heart out to his father: Weak, ignored, taken for granted. Lanister's gaze softened a bit before he stepped out from behind the counter, pulling his son into a hug before picking him up gently and patting his back.

"Mommy never gave up...." He whispered, kissing his cheek softly. "She was a big help, you know... without her, I'd be hurt real bad..." He paused for a moment. "Mommy got hurt... very badly when she was just a little-one... things like what happened.... they hurt her too and make her remember..." Lanister paused, however as his little boy exclaimed how he was here because both his wife and his sister didn't want him to come with them, that the only reason they were going was to make Emia happy... that couldn't have possibly been the reason.... Lanister's brow furrowed as he examined his son, the grief and regret obvious on his face, some kind of self blame dancing along his features as if his and everyone else's misfortunes were his fault. Still, he chuckled lightly as Izayah guessed mommy was out buying something for Emia because he was bad.

"You couldn't be bad if you tried, you fruitcake..." Lanister snickered before hugging his son close before kissing his cheek. Lanister was aware that Izayah was acting out, that he was paying his twin less and less attention as the days passed, but between work and... more work... he had little time to actually consult with Nevayah on what to actually do... "You know... Mommy and Emia love you... Just as I do." He smiled softly at the little boy, stroking his cheek with his fingers. "I know that Emia wants nothing more than for you to talk to her... to be her friend again... I know that Mommy cares about you just as much as your sister... I know that we all care about you so much, little Izayah..." He set his son down gently on the stool once again before returning to his bar duties: currently cleaning glasses.

"Would you like some juice...? Water...?" Lanister asked, winking lightly. Of course, this was all on him, he was just playing around.

Her heart nearly split in two as her daughter simply stated that what she wanted more than anything really was to get her bubby back. Feeling heartbroken for her Nevayah picked up her daughter and held her there, in the middle of the street not caring who was watching. She could not help but cry a little too, both of the girls expressing their emotions to one another. "Sweetheart bubby never left, he is just in a hard place right now. Don't worry... everything will go back to normal soon."

Nevayah couldn't help but feel like part of this was her own fault. If she had just kept to herself and never begun selling her tonic the demon would have never found them. And yet here she was again selling it. "Emia.... Mommy is gonna fix this okay." Nevayah wiped at one of her eyes with a free hand while the other still held her daughter to her chest. Instinctively she kind of bounced Emia as she did so just how she did when her children were babies. Mustering up the best smile she could she stared into her daughters beautiful eyes, a reflection of the eyes she fell in love with four and a half years ago... the eyes that saved her and made all of this possible. "Let's go... I don't think there is anything here we really want to buy today."

Keeping her daughter in her arms Nevayah began to walk towards the bar where Lanister worked. "Let's go see daddy and then go home."

Inside the bar Izayah listened as his father told him of his mothers past and a vague description of the things she endured. It sent the boy into deep thought as he reflected on how he had been acting towards his mother and sister. Izayah was beginning to regret being so cold and mean, but he still couldn't completely shake this feeling he had in the pit of his stomach towards his sister. When his father called him a fruitcake he perked up a bit. Lowering his knees from the stool he sat up straighter, trying to act as big and tall as he could to make his father proud. But then he was asked what he wanted. Even though it was just a request on what the boy wanted to drink Izayah looked into it much deeper. "I want you to not work all the time daddy..."

If he had upset Lanister it was not his intention at all, he was simply speaking about the first thing that came to his mind. Izayah knew his mother was working a lot too... always mixing together herbs and testing them in order to make more money. He had also noticed that she didn't stick herself as much as she used to be. In a sense they were all working hard.. making up for things lost on that dreadful day.

By now Nevayah had made her way to the bar with Emia in tow. Greeted the same way as Izayah was Max appeared once more instead holding his arms out for Emia. "And here is the little Lanister now!" but instead of letting Max grab her Nevayah turned a bit. "Hi Max... I don't think she is in the mood for it tonight." She then gave him a half smile before pushing past him and towards the bar.

Izayah had heard what Max said to Emia and it caused his mood to shift to a bitter one once more. He wanted to be the one that was like his father. He wanted to be the one that when he did something everyone was going on about how much he acted like Lanister. But no, since he looked like his mother he was immediately the image of her. What the boy did not know was that he really did act just like his mother, he really was almost a carbon copy of her before she had children. Stubborn, strong willed, always wanting to help save someone no matter how small she was.

Nevayah could see that Izayah had perked up a bit when they first walked in, but now it was gone again. It hurt her heart to know that being compared to his mother was what bothered him... it had to be. Silently setting Emia down on the stool next to her brother Nevayah gave Lanister a lost look, like she didn't know what to do anymore. Her son hated her and he was jealous of his sister. Walking around the bar to where Lanister stood not caring about protocol or other customers Nevayah grabbed Lanister's arm and pulled him far enough away so that their children would not hear her. "We came to town because Emia wanted a sword. I managed to talk her down to a dagger but before we even got a chance to buy it she changed her mind. Anyways, I am going to take the two of them home and put them down for bed so they are asleep when you get home. I need to talk to you... we need to fix this."

It was so hard for Nevayah not to break down right there and tell Lanister everything. His presence alone made her want to talk about everything bothering her, but she could not. He was working and still had a good half an hour left in his shift. Reaching up to wipe away a stray tear she took in a deep breath. "I love you and will see you soon.", and then she pecked him on the lips before taking off towards the children. "Let's go home and let daddy work guys."

At first Izayah was thinking about refusing to leave, but then he figured he might as well ease up on his mother. The short talk he had with his father did help him a little more about understanding, but he was still confused. Sliding off of the stool he looked back at his dad one more time before following his mother out of the bar. Nevayah ushered for Emia to follow before leaving, overall not looking forwards to another silent walk home. If either of her children wanted to hold her hand as they walked Nevayah obliged, of course Izayah did not want to.

When they reached home Nevayah helped each of her children take off their boots and coats before following them into their bedroom and pulling out their night clothes. First she held out a white night gown for Emia, slipping it over her daughters head before picking her up and setting her in her bed. She then pulled the covers over her and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "I love you so very much my precious angel" she whispered before turning to Izayah.

Of course Izayah had already slipped on his night shirt without waiting for his mother, a habit he developed all on his own over the last two weeks. But then he did something out of character compared to the last few weeks. "Mommy?" his voice surprising her. "Can I talk to you?" Seeing the concern in his eyes Nevayah simply nodded before walking to the door and holding it open for him to follow. Obliging Izayah followed and found himself standing in the kitchen with his mother. Closing the door behind them so that Emia was not disturbed Nevayah then walked over to her son, crouching down to his level.

"Mommy... I'm sorry that I have been a bad boy. Daddy said some things to me about you when you were little. Can you tell me more?"

Nevayah was beside herself that Izayah was apologizing, but then mortified by the question that followed. Trying her best to make her story as appropriate as she could for her four years old's ears she began recounting a few things from her past. "Well you see baby when Mommy was very little I did not have parents around. I had these people that passed me around a lot... they took advantage of my special gift." Izayah nodded hoping she would continue. "Well mommy used to make her mind go blank so that I did not have to feel all the horrible things that were happening to me. But then I met your daddy and he saved me. Your daddy made me feel again and I will always love him so much for that. But then I had you and sissy and that made my heart even bigger."

She knew her explanation was a mess and VERY filtered but she didn't really know what else to say. Izayah on the other hand seemed to understand the majority of it and nodded when she was finished. "Well Mommy I want to be big and strong so that you never have to feel that way again." And then Izayah did something that caused Nevayah to almost melt away. Lifting his small hand he placed his palm over her heart looking at her with a very serious face. "I will protect your heart too otay?"

Completely overtaken with emotion Nevayah scooped up Izayah and hugged him tightly. "I love you so much!" she whispered as tears began to fall from her eyes.

Izayah hugged his mother back, tears streaming from his face too as they embraced one another. "I still have nightmares mommy. Can I lay with you for a little while?" Immediately Nevayah walked Izayah into her bedroom and laid him on the bed. Kicking off each of her boots she then crawled into the bed with him holding him as tightly to her as she could allow. Izayah was relieved that the tension between himself and his mother was finally over. He felt so at peace in her arms that he did just as he did when he was a baby and held a small strand of his mothers hair in his hand, playing with it until he slowly drifted off to sleep.

Nevayah on the other hand was wide awake even though she held her eyes closed. Her son's head just below her face she could smell his hair and feel his little hand playing with her hair until it slowly stopped. She was so happy and content in that moment that she did not want to move him. Eventually though she would have to, but decided to wait until Lanister came home. When Lanister did come home he would find his wife and son curled up together on their bed. A doting mother watching her son sleep. She would then get up carefully from the bed gentle enough so that Izayah did not awaken. From there Nevayah would quietly creep out of the bedroom and closing the door leaving Nevayah and Lanister alone in the living room.

The male tainted only grinned at his son's response, ruffling his hair softly before taking out a small glass and filling it up with water and setting it in front of him.

Lanister smiled softly as his wife walked into the bar, always happy to see his family frequent his establishment. His smile, however, grew a bit strained as Izayah's chipper attitude fell back into a pit of bitterness once again, overhearing big-ol' Max note Emia's similarities too him. Lanister had no siblings that he knew of and that made the understanding of his children's sibling rivalry a bit harder to comprehend... The older tainted just couldn't quite grasp why Izayah felt this way towards her sister, why he even felt this way towards his mother... Why the little boy couldn't reciprocate the feelings for him onto his own twin and parent... Still, Emia was set upon a stool besides her brother and Nevayah pulled him off to the side, forcing him to abandon his post but with very little resistance from him. All the other patrons were finishing off their drinks and closing time was in a few minutes... He could afford not the be behind the bar for a few moments. What he expected to be a half-way decent conversation quickly took on a dark tone as Nevayah explained that they were out shopping because Emia wanted a sword (being down-played to a dagger) before she changed her mind entirely. Lanister didn't know how he felt about his little 4 year-olds having access to weapons like this and Izayah was ONLY supposed to be practicing with his sword when one of them was watching. While he was somewhat relieved that Emia had decided against wanting such a thing, he was somewhat angry that his wife had decided to comply with such a desire. Self defense was one thing, but with a defensive tool in the hands of someone who didn't even know who they were yet... such a thing could very quickly turn into a disaster.

"Alright, honey..." Lanister whispered, kissing Nevayah softly after she explained her plans at home. "Give me about 15 minutes and I'll be on my way... Say good night to the kiddies for me..." And with that, they were gone again. With a big sigh and a crack of his fingers, the male parent went about his duties... but he couldn't keep his mind of his children...

Emia was carried home by her mommy with Izayah walking besides, the little girl far too tired to make the trip back on her own. Between the late hours and the exhausting act of crying twice in one day, Emia was just completely wasted. Half asleep by the time they got home, the little red-eyed girl slipped into her white sleeping gown before being tucked in by the mother she loved, staring up at her with the sweetest red eyes Nevayah might've ever saw.

"I wov you too...." She whispered before dozing off, unable to resist the call to her sleep, even if she so very wanted too.

Lanister arrived home about 5 minutes later, tossing his apron on the coat-rack before flopping down at one of the kitchen chairs, just trying to recuperate some of his energy before the inevitable talk they had schedualed. Both the kids were now sleeping soundly in their beds, at least, that's what he expected before he saw his gorgeous, if exhausted Nevayah sneak out the door to their bedroom.

"Izayah's in there, huh...?" Lanister asked, nodding in the direction from which she came. "Nightmares again...?" Although this may have been the most logical reason he was sleeping in their bed, it was also likely he simply didn't want to share a room with his twin anymore. Both thoughts heavily disturbed him... Lanister patted the table beside him, gesturing for his wife to take a seat, eyes heavy with seriousness. At any other night, he might have jumped at the chance to have sexy-time with the woman he fell so deeply in love with.... but this was not the time for that and she knew it.

"So what's going on, Nevayah?" He asked, taking her hand gently in his.

Responding to Lanister's question of why Izayah was in their bedroom the mother simply nodded. Nevayah then walked over to the empty chair beside her husband and sat down, placing her hand on the table for Lanister to hold. Taking in a deep inhale she looked her beloved in the eye before continuing.

"Well I think Izayah and I may have patched things up for now. But, there is a rift between our children that we need to address. Poor Emia is heartbroken that Izayah wont play with her anymore." Nevayah's eyes were tired. Ever her posture in the chair showed that of an exhausted mother at her wits end with everything.

"Any chance you got anything out of him at the bar as to why? And also how much longer are you going to be working double shifts? We have practically repaired everything and I have been selling and making more tonic than ever to help out. I can't keep doing this on my own... Our children need their father and I need my husband." Taking one of her hands she ran it through her hair trying to soothe it out a bit, really a gesture that had no reasoning behind it.

"Every day is the same... Izayah goes outside from the moment he wakes up to practice with his sword and Emia is left alone. I can't entertain a heartbroken child and be sure I am not messing up ratios that could potentially make someone sicker."

Lanister was hardly surprised when Nevayah noted the rift growing between their children, but that didn't mean it was any less painful to hear. They didn't even curl up with eachother whenever they had the horrific nightmares they often shared. They used to do such things so freely and now it was hard to even keep them in the same room together... how did it come to this...?

"No... He didn't want to talk about Emia. But he did want to know about you-" Lanister halted as Nevayah went off about his working hours and how she couldn't do all of this on her own. She complained that everything was just about fixed and that their children needed their father and htat she needed her husband. The tainted stared at his wife silently for a moment, collecting his thoughts, before taking a deep breath responding.

"Nevayah... everything is fixed, yes, but we are still paying it off... I can't just drop the extra hours and expect the tonics to cover up the rest... There simply isn't as much demand as there was." His tone seemed somewhat exasperated, unprepared that with the fact that she was unsatisfied with his work. It was only at this moment did she ever voice her concerns with how he chose his work hours, how he chose to bring home the bacon. He understood why she was struggling and that she wanted help, but without him putting in those extra hours, he would soon not have a home to return to.... and Nevayah knew that. With her tonic's presence, she had lowered any amount of disease in the town as a whole and as a result, there were less and less need for such a thing and therefor she brought home less and less less consistently. Lanister's over-time was the only reliable source of income to this house and he found it frustrating that he was being judged for his hours now.

"Nevayah... maybe... you need somewhat of a break... You said that you find it difficult dividing your attention between the kids and your work... maybe its time to take a break from the tonics and focus on the little ones... I think Izayah and Emia need you now more than ever." He paused a moment, glancing between their bedroom and Emia's room, heart-broken the two were already distancing themselves from each-other like this.

"I won't be able to safely reduce my work hours until the end of the month, 3 weeks from now... By then, all our debt should be paid off and I'll be home more often." Lanister's gaze softened substantially as he stared into the exasperation that bubbled beneath Nevayah's Azure eyes. "I'm sorry... but it's the best I can do to ensure we all live comfortably..."

Lanister wanted so bad to just throw himself on his wife to kiss her and hold her, comfort her and love her like they had 4 years ago, but with the parent powers came a great responsibility and he couldn't put off the own questions he had. Questions revolving around their children and weapons.

"Nevayah...." Lanister said, squeezing her hand softly. "When you bought Izayah his first sword, I didn't take it away because I was under the impression he would only use it when he was under one of our supervisions.... Then you tell me you went out to get Emia a weapon of her own, our sweet little girl whom, need I remind you, has blood that can sap the life out of anyone with a touch... Why?" He chuckled a bit as he spoke despite himself, his mind racing as he tried to comprehend why Nevayah would ablidge such a reckless move. "She changed her mind... but if she didn't... would you have refused to get her the weapon...? You would've right? We can't have our kids running around with these things! They could get seriously hurt!"

Nevayah listened to Lanister as he spoke about her needing a break. Her gaze changed from a woman that was just venting to one that was offended. Besides the fact the Lanister had stated the obvious on her needing a 'break' she took it more as not feeling helpful. "I'm sorry my tonics are not selling like they used to. If I could travel farther I am sure I could make everything we need and then some in just a few days. But I cannot... because then someone could find out who or better yet what we are." Nevayah felt like she had to defend herself, to explain for some reason why she could not contribute as well as Lanister.

"And don't you think that maybe they need you as much if not more than they need me?" Her attitude by now had done a complete turnaround from how the conversation had started. When Lanister squeezed her hand she simply pulled it away tucking it in her lap. When he finished talking about supervising Izayah with his sword and how she could not possibly have been really on her way to buy Emia one of her own as if she did not care for her children's safety."

Standing up from her chair Nevayah had had enough of listening. "You tell me Lanister that if your daughter was crying to you about wanting to spend time with her brother and that if she had a sword maybe he would play with her that you would not think about it? So yeah Lanister, I would have gotten it for her despite the fact we cannot afford it. I would do anything for our children to make them happy." Taking a step back from him she started to tear up, getting emotional about the entire situation. "You wouldn't know though would you? Since you are never here. You don't get to listen to your children cry about you not being home, and then cry because the other is being mean. You don't have to deal with the questions that I don't have answers to or the complaining about being bored."

If Lanister tried to get up and take a step towards her she would simply take another step back.

"Nevayah!" Lanister gasped at what she was implying, that his absence was all about him trying to avoid contact with his family, that he wouldn't possibly know what was going around the house because he was never there. She said seemed to doubt his love for his kids because he wouldn't have given into his child's demands, because he would have been more strict and tight-fisted. He knew that this was only her anger and exhaustion talking, that she couldn't really believe everything that she was saying, but that didn't soften the impact of each of her words at all. It was as if each implication were a cannon ball shot right through him, leaving clean, gaping hole through his body in place of what was once flesh. He kept waiting for her to apologize, to admit that she didn't mean everything she had said, that she was wrong... ANYTHING... but she did not. She tore her hand from it's embrace and stood, taking a step away from him with tears in her eyes. Still, his expression grew firm, solid. He would not budge on this. He could not. It was wrong and dangerous and mere lack of energy wasn't going to deter him.

"Are you going to listen to me, or not?" He demanded, crossing his arms as he sat there, staring up at his clearly frustrated wife. "I'm tired to. I empathize! I want nothing more than to come home at regular time and spend the remaining hours with you all! But I just can't yet! If I do, we risk having to default on some of our debts and or force me or you to pick up another job, leaving me at work more, or leaving the kids with no supervision! That, I will not abide, Nevayah."

"As for the weapons, I wouldn't care if she asked for a mere pocket-knife! We aren't like the other humans out there! When we bleed, we risk either killing everyone or drawing attention to ourselves that we REALLY don't want. Even if we were, these are things that are designed to kill our babies! Not even half a year past four and Izayah has a sword, one he's proud and to swing around and does so every day. What if Emia was walking toward him when he was outside practicing? What if she approached him with her own sword and he accidentally slipped or she did? What if one of our little Emia and Izayah got horribly hurt because we decided to give them weapons used to kill fully grown adults? I love my children... I would kill and die for each and every one of you... I almost did a little while ago... And I was afraid I'd lose you forever..." Lanister looked up at her, tired, but strong, his stance on the situation as firm as it was when it all started.

"Our children mean more to me than the world and everyone in it, my love... But weapons....? Just so Emia can talk to her brother...? She's going to have to find another way."

The argument escalated... both wanting the other to back down but neither giving in. "Of course I am going to listen... but I will not let you sit there and make me out to be the bad guy because I want to make my children happy." Deep down Nevayah knew that Lanister was right, that god forbid her children ever get hurt from playing with things she bought them simply to make them happy. She had a problem with drawing the line of making her children happy and being a parent at the same time. But there was one thing she would not budge on and that was Izayah's sword.

"Our four year old son is feeling defenseless! You have no idea what its like to not have the ability to protect yourself! I don't even have to talk to him and I know that all he wants is to be able to protect his sister. Can you imagine? Sitting there watching your mother and father practically dead in front of you and all you can do is just give them a boost!? Then to have his sister, the person he wants to protect most, save us all without even trying!" Tears were now in full cycle streaming down her face. Nevayah had not realized how loud she let her voice get, how if she was not careful she could potentially wake up their kids.

In an attempt to calm herself Nevayah started picking up dishes and placing them in the sink, however the loud clanking it created was unavoidable. With her back turned to her beloved she began wiping them out trying to clean them. "Lanister I love you with all my heart but you have no idea how it feels to not be able to do anything but make others stronger." Her voice had now calmed a bit, the tears no longer flowing but drying to her cheeks. She had not even realized that all she was doing was simply staring at the bowl in one hand and rag in the other. Somehow this conversation had gone from finding a solution to help their kids to a very personal one on Nevayah' s mind for a while as she watched her son go through the same torment she always had.

Lanister's rage only grew as Nevayah still refused to listen to what he was trying to say. Oh sure, she claimed she was going to and maybe she tried, but that didn't last long. It never really did when it came to things like this. She was as stubborn as a boulder and sometimes just as thick, and at any other time, he might've found such things endearing, perhaps even hot. Now, though, it was just a hindrance to what they both wanted to be: great parents. Nevayah accused him of not knowing what it was like to be able to do nothing but heal, not not have the ability to protect themselves in any way. She accused him of being clueless to their struggle, effectively talking about things he had no idea about. This time, Lanister conceded that she was only HALF right. No, he wouldn't know exactly what it was like to do nothing but heal, but gods be DAMNED if he didn't know what it felt like to be helpless, to watch as his blood was sucked out of him like a straw, only to know it would be crafted into a weapon of mass destruction. Lanister's gaze turned somewhat cold in his anger, silent, as he stared down his wife, waiting for her to finish. He waited a solid minute or two after she was done hammering her point into his head before he next spoke, intent on making every last word count.

"No? You don't think I wouldn't know what it's like to be helpless...?" He asked, a sarcastic edge in his voice as if he were asking if she had gone insane. "Try having your blood sucked out of you day in and day out, leaving an unhealable gash upon your flesh that seeped your life-blood, given only old, crusty bandages to keep your insides inside. Try knowing that your blood would be manufactured and sold as a bio-weapon and that you, lucky ol' you, were the great mind behind this revolutionized warfare. Try watching as a pocket of life in a desert is wiped out with the blood they had been stealing from you for years, a demonstration of the havoc they would soon wreak upon the world thanks to you just being alive, Nevayah." He paused a moment, looking away, his own tears building up in his eyes. "But then... why would I even have to tell you about this again...? We have a blood-bond.... you know the story, just as I know what you know..." Lanister's pain was unbearable, this argument turning from a marital to a personal. Nevayah would do anything to secure their happiness while Lanister would do anything to ensure their growth. He hated that these two ideologies had to clash with them... He hated it so much...

"Don't you dare try to assume I don't have any idea what's going on through your head, Nevayah. I HATE what I am, what blood I have squirming its way through my veins! I would trade my powers for none without a second thought, but the fact is, I'm stuck with this eternal burden of making sure not a single drop of my blood touches the air and now, my children are too. If Izayah is as much like you as we both know he is, then you can't deny I understand him just as well as I do you."

She could tell she had struck a nerve within her husband. She understood how he thought he could relate, and in a way he himself had struggles she would never understand. But she refused to turn this into a 'my life was worse than yours' argument. Both of them struggled growing up, living lives no human should ever have to endure. "Don't even try that on me Lanister! You know that I know what it was like for you... for both of us! Is that not what we are trying to protect our children from?" By now she had turned back around to face him, leaning against the counter with her arms crossed across her chest. "I am sure you are reminded just as much as I am every single day you look into our children's eyes and see how they differ from our own."

This argument was clearly going no where, neither side budging. Nevayah was just as riled up as Lanister and it was beginning to build into something far worse if something didn't happen soon. Both of them stubborn and set in their opinions, they would be here for days if one of them did not falter soon. "Dammit Lanister! Why do you have to be so damn stubborn!" Nevayah was feeling angry with her husband for not understanding her point of view, for not just agreeing with her this one time. She wasn't quite sure what caused her to do it, what crazy idea popped into her head to make her next action make sense. But her eyes filled with something, not quite anger but not quite remorse either, she took a few quick steps towards her husband planting a firm grip on the back of his chair while the other pushed against his shoulder.

Without words she intensely stared into his crimson eyes before pressing her lips against his. The passion that had built up inside of her was unlike anything she had ever felt before. The need to kiss him.. to show him how she was feeling. She didn't wait for him to react before climbing on top of him in the chair, a leg on each side of him. Lifting one of her hands from his shoulder and moving it to his hair, violently running her fingers through it.

"Damn it, Nevayah! Why do you have to be so damn stubborn!" he growled at she same time she said the same thing, seeming only to bolster the frustration inside. It was like they were on the exact same level, but they couldn't agree on a gods-damned thing! She was so impossible sometimes...

Then she walked right up to him, straddling Lanister before staring deeply into his aggravated eyes with her anger-filled own. They two seemed to glare at eachother for several moments before they pressed their lips together powerfully, passionately, Nevayah's hands running through his shorter, lighter hair more forcefully that she normally would. Meanwhile, Lanister's hands tugged at her clothes, nearly clawing holes in them, pressing himself against her with all the energy his frustration had given him. They would sit there, kissing angrily for a long while, going to lengths normally left untouched with their lips and their tongues. Never once did their eyes break contact, almost as if it were a symbol of their battle of wills at this moment.

It was only when they ran out of air did they pull away, the two still glaring at each-other, but more equal parts passion and frustration for one another. Lanister stared deep into Nevayah's eyes as if to find some sort of weakness in her defenses that he could pierce, something that would give him the upper hand and allow him to dominate her so hard, she would want to keep coming back to regain her lost pride. Unfortunately he was having intense difficulty finding a chink in her armor and decided to focus on the girl right in front of him, glaring down at him, challenging his authority.

"You're so frustrating to talk to sometimes." Lanister declared before forcefully kissing her again, running his hand through and tugging at her darker hair. The other had somehow found it's way under her shirt and up her chest, snaking it's way up to her breasts with an alarming speed.

Nevayah simply pushed back with every thing she had every time Lanister attempted to 'win' against her. "Like your one to talk" she countered pressing herself against him some more. As his hand made its way up her shirt and to her breasts Nevayah's went downward to the brim of him pants, pulling at them before unbuckling them one handed. Shortly after that she reached her other hand down to beneath her skirt pulling off her undergarments and hiking it up a bit only lifting herself off of him for a few short moments.

From there she pulled at the bottom of his shirt in an attempt to pull it off over his head before discarding it on the floor next to the kitchen chair. Normally by now they would have made their way to the bedroom, but with a sleeping child in their bed that was not an option. It was a miracle by now they had not woken them up with their yelling, crashing of dishes and of course their love making. Nevayah then placed each of her hands on Lanister's now bare back, scratching at him yearning for more.

With each passing moment the two battled for dominance, pushing and pulling at each other while neither of them gave in.

-x-

After it was all said and done Nevayah sat on top of Lanister in the chair her skirt bunched at her waist and sweater pushed up halfway exposing her breasts. Still heavily breathing she held her hands behind his neck as she looked deep into his beautiful eyes. "Listen.... next time the kids want something I will ask you first okay? And in return would you please try to be home a little earlier to at least put the kids to bed?" She felt is was a fair compromise, her final proposition if you will. "And as far as Izayah is concerned, we will both just have to be patient in helping him through this time. I won't let him practice on his own anymore for his own safety."

Leaning in she began to trail his neck with her lips up to his ear lobes, biting it a bit before meeting his gaze once more. "But most importantly lets not forget that we love one another and we are in this together. I know you are just doing what is best for us. I just get lonely being the only adult sometimes."

"Heh..." Lanister snorted in response to her comeback, determined to "defeat" her at all costs. They very quickly began to tear at eachother's clothes, Nevayah dropping her skirt and his pants while Lanister rolled up her sweater and and undid his own shirt. They pressed together tightly, kissing and loving in their own angry, passionate ways for the longest time, all within the confines of that one dinner chair. It was an intense battle of wills, each of them giving it their all in some attempt to force the other to give in, but neither ever lost the will to keep going.

-x-

Lanister sat underneath his wife on the dining-room chair, his pants shoved down around his legs and his shirt on the floor beside him. He stared up into Nevayah's beautiful azure orbs as she spoke to him, his arms gently resting around her back while hers around her neck. She decided to make a concession, saying that she would consult him whenever the kiddies wanted something, but in return, he would have to be home a little earlier. As for Izayah, they would both work together to help him back onto the path they wanted him to follow, the good path, the one that would bring him back into the family he had ignored for long enough.

"Sounds reasonable...." Lanister smirked, pecking Nevayah's lips before she began to trace his neck with hers, leaning around near his ear-lobe and nibbling upon it gently. She whispered that it was paramount that they all remember how much they love each-other, that they were all in it together. When she admitted she was lonely being the only adult in the house, Lanister smiled widely before pulling her into a hug, her bare-ish chest pressing against his before he softly kissed her cheek, then pulling away and giving her a long, heart-felt kiss upon her lips.

"Believe me... Its hard for me at work without you... I missed it when you used to surprise me at work, coming in just to spend time with me...." He sighed softly before pressing his forehead against hers, hugging her tighter.

"I love you Nevayah... I will always love you... I promise, I'll be home much sooner..." With that, he scooped up his shirt, and gently pushed his wife off of him, smiling suggestively at her very gorgeous body before pulling his pants on again. "I'm going to grab Emia and meet you back in our bed room, okay...?" Lanister asked his palm gently brushing against her pale cheek. "We'll all be sleeping together tonight I think... Unless Nevayah had any objections, the male tainted would slip into his little girl's room, seeing her all curled up with the sheets seemingly thrown off her little form. With a sigh, he scooped her up in his arms, careful not to wake is little girl, but at this point, he didn't think anything could wake her up. Once in his room, Lanister would gently lay Emia down between he and Nevayah, having just enough space to lay comfortably on his side.

"Good night, my love..." Lanister coo'd before closing his eyes and attempting to sleep... Gods know he wouldn't forget this day...

Nevayah was happy the argument had been settled, both of the parents able to agree on a set of terms. Listening to his confession of missing her popping in on him from time to time at work. In truth it was almost impossible with the children. Even though they were full of plenty of energy, the trek back and forth always tuckered them out. Nodding at the fact Lanister wanted them all to sleep together Nevayah quietly snuck into their bedroom while Lanister was getting Emia. Grabbing one of her hardly used gowns to slip over her head after pulling off the rest of her clothing. Crawling into the bed next to Izayah she waited for Lanister to return with Emia.

Once they were all curled up together as a big happy family in their bed Nevayah snuggled her children. "Goodnight" she whispered before falling into a peaceful slumber.



The sun had just begun to shine through the window of the bedroom when Izayah opened his eyes. Sitting up in the bed he saw his mother on one side and father on the other accompanied by his sister Emia. The boy sat there for a moment as he stared at the sleeping face of his sister. He felt something in his chest turn as he thought of how distant he had been from her lately. He knew it was really bothering her, but it was for her own good. Izayah not only felt that he had to make himself stronger in order to protect her, but also wanted to keep himself from holding her back. He could not deny the power he saw her display that horrible evening weeks ago. In comparison to him she was a titan, a force that one day could do so many things.

Holding his small hand out he grabbed his sister's squeezing it just enough to not wake her up as he made a silent vow to always protect her. Removing his hand he crawled out of the bed as carefully as he could trying not to wake up his parents or his sister. Tiptoeing out of the room and closing the door behind him he ran to his room and changed into his normal pants and tunic. After that he ran into the living room and slipped his boots on before grabbing his sweater and sword that was still leaned against the wall from the night before. Opening the door the brisk morning air flushed his cheeks as he stepped outside, not looking back as he ran outside shutting the door behind him.

Nevayah opened her eyes at the sound of the door and knew immediately what was going on. Seeing the blank space where Izayah once was she reached over to Lanister placing a hand on his shoulder and shaking him gently to wake him up, if he wasn't already. According to their agreement last night they both decided it would be safer if Izayah had someone watching him while he practiced. No more going out on his own all day doing god knows what. Even though they both agreed it did not make it any easier and Nevayah was not going to be the one to break it to him. She had just barely gotten on good terms with him again and she would not shatter it all in one day. "Honey... Izayah is already up and out the door no doubt with his sword. You get to be the one to break the news to him.."

Leaning over Emia she planted a kiss on his cheek before laying back down snuggling her daughter who was most likely awake by now.

Meanwhile outside Izayah was swinging his sword around like he did most days, trying to get down the basics of his form. He had actually gotten pretty good on his own, no doubt from the countless hours spent practicing. His hands had begun to develop blisters from grasping the sword so tightly and he did a very good job at hiding them from his parents. He had only been a few minutes into swinging his sword around when he had to set it down, leaning it against the makeshift fence his parents had built for their goat. Sitting down in the grass he picked at his hands trying to pull off the dead skin around his blisters. He winced from the stinging sensation but refused to let himself cry, not like he would have before everything happened. If Lanister thought his argument with Nevayah the night before was bad... he had no idea what a full on brawl with their spawn would be like. Izayah was not going to take this news well.

After everything that had went on last night, Lanister slept heavily alongside his daughter, just barely prompted into consciousness when Nevayah shook him awake. He groaned, unhappy that he was taken from his peaceful slumber so soon, tempted to just turn over and forget the disturbance... that was, until Nevayah remarked that Izayah was probably outside right now, practicing with his blade. Immediately, the former slave jerked up in his bed, immediately regretting that decision as all the blood rushed out of his skull, causing an intense bout of vertigo and forcing him to flop back down in his spot, trying to blink the stars out of his eyes. Noting that he should probably be out there to stop him, Nevayah placed a kiss on Lanister's cheek, causing him to look over at her and smile, returning the kiss, but this time on her lips, then placing on his sleeping daughter's cheek. This time, Lanister rose slowly, slipping on a pair of sweatpants and a thick shirt to ward him against the chill of the morning. The moment the door to the bedroom closed, Emia's eyes fluttered open, her sanguine eyes fluttering open, realizing that she was in the embrace of her mommy within in her bedroom. The little girl smiled and hugged her mother tightly, feeling nothing but comfortable in the embrace of her parent.

"Good morning, Mommy..." She murmured before letting out a big yawn, her eyes still droopy and still waking up. Little Emia's brown hair was wild, but not crazy, still as curly and straight down her back as it usually was, but a lot of stray hairs poked out every which way. The untidiness didn't seem to bother her though... In fact, she somewhat rebelled in it."Did you sleep well....?"

Lanister stepped out into the chilling (just) morning air, seeing his son stand over by the half-finished fence, picking at his hands. One day, the fence he was leaning up against wouldn't look like it was made from scrap, termite infested scraps.... One-day it might actually look like a fence... But Izayah really shouldn't be picking at his blisters like that... It would likely lead to infection and then where would they be?

"Best stop ripping those blisters open, Izayah." Lanister called, likely breaking his son of his concentration. "You'll get them infected and mommy will have to make a tonic just for you." He walked barefoot upon the fresh dew-laid grass of his land, making his way slowly as he adjusted to the im-POSSIBLY bright morning sun.

"Listen, Izayah. We need to talk." Lanister said, getting right to the point. He reached out and gestured for the sword in his son's possession. "This, my son, is not a toy, you know this?" he asked, taking the blade whether or not it was given. "This is very dangerous. It can hurt anyone one of us... but you are in the most danger. I do not believe you are ready to carry it." Before Izayah could say anything in protest, Lanister held up a hand, commanding him to stop dead in his speech before it even began. "You are young and you can barely hold it up, let alone swing this weapon safely. As a result, you may NOT touch this weapon unless mommy or I are watching you practice. No more getting up this early, and no more spending all day out here, is that understood?" He spoke with a sort of authority that compelled obedience, but more or less, this coming here and explaining this to him was more of a formality than it was a necessity. He knew JUST how much Izayah was like his mother and he also knew how (god-forsakenly) stubborn they could both be. If the little boy was about to start any trouble, Lanister was getting ready to shut it down with parent powers.

Izayah was jolted from his concentration by his father's voice. Simply pressing his lips together he pulled at the sleeves of his sweater to cover his hands a bit. As Lanister continued on about needing to talk and Izayah could tell that whatever it was about, he was not going to like, nothing good ever came from saying 'we need to talk'. He quickly found out the subject of the conversation as his father grabbed his sword from leaning against the fence. Instinctively he shot out one of his hands to grab it but his father was simply too quick. Lanister continued on about how it was not safe and he was not ready to handle it. Izayah took it as a full on insult and was about to speak up before his father held up his hand to silence him.

Only angered further by his father's speech Izayah continued to listen as he was told he was too young... too small. But what really tipped him over the edge was when he was informed that he could not practice anymore without his father or mother around. He did not care about the authoritative tone in his father's voice, driven by anger any sense of rationality was gone. "That's not fair daddy!" Izayah stood up from his position on the grass and made it very visible with his posture that he was upset. With arms straight down at his sides he stomped one of his feet. "You can't take it from me! It's mine not yours!" Crossing his arms in front of him he stared his father down, very upset with the man he normally idolized. "I will never get to practice! You are always gone and mommy does not know what she is doing!" Kicking at the grass with his little boot Izayah was clearly very upset.

Inside the house Nevayah was in the process of getting dressed as well as helping Emia out. The normal morning ritual had already begun of starting breakfast for her family, setting up the table, helping the kids (or one of them) get dressed before finally getting dressed herself. Nevayah could not help but peak out the window in the living room to watch what was unfolding outside. Crossing her arms she almost giggled when she saw Izayah cross his arms as well. Typical move that she often did, in fact realizing she was doing it then caused her to awkwardly lower her arms to her sides. "Good luck honey" she whispered to herself before turning back to what was going on inside.

"Izayah!" Lanister growled over his son, his voice becoming forceful and angry at his child's continued defiance. The older tainted could understand why he might be angry, that he was getting his favorite toy restricted and effectively taken from him, but Lanister was afraid he was starting to see this thing as a toy. The moment he lost sight of how dangerous this thing was was the moment he would lose something important... Like an arm.

"You live in my house, under my rules. Everything you think is yours is ultimately mine. I just gave it to you. Until now, I have been lenient with you, son, but you will obey the rules. Now, I will be coming home at least an hour or two earlier than usual from now on and, if mommy isn't feeling up to watching you practice, I will set aside that time for for us and I'll even teach you a few new tricks. If you're unhappy with that arrangement, I'll simply make the sword disappear, and you won't practice with it at all." Lanister's glare seemed to be waiting for Izayah to continue protesting, pleading for the little boy to keep flapping his lips so Lanister could cut this problem out by the roots. The boy may have been as thick as a brick, but he wasn't stupid. He would very easily be able to see that his father would make good on that threat and make good on it with due haste. Lanister even had a plan in mind regarding on how to make the weapon disappear. He could probably resell the blade back at the smithy for a nice sack of gold pieces that would go a good long way to covering their debt. Still... he didn't want to go that far... unless Izayah made him.

"Now go inside. Mommy's making breakfast. When I get home today, I will ask mommy if you've been a good boy. If you haven't, I won't watch you train with your sword and you'll have to wait until tomorrow. Is that understood?"

Meanwhile, Emia and Nevayah had gotten up from their bed, the sweet little girl being helped out of her night-clothes and into her day-clothes by her mother. She always loved how nice mommy was.... She helped her put on her dresses... made her breakfast in the morning... It was all she could do not to obstruct Nevayah's path with hugs around her waist all day! Eventually, though, after following around her mother for a while, Emia would follow Nevayah's eyes out the window of the livingroom and out into the backyard where Izayah and daddy were... arguing...? They never argued before... It was almost as if the world was out of sync with the universe or something and Emia could just BARELY understand it. Izayah must have been really bad.... Reaching out, the little red-eyed girl would tug on her mommy's skirt gently to get her attention, arms raised, signalling she wanted to be held.

"Mommy...? What are daddy and bubby talking about...?"

Nevayah's attention was pulled away from the window by her daughter pulling at her skirt. Turning her head she listened as Emia spoke of her concern. "Oh honey.. Daddy and Bubby are talking about responsibility. We just want to make sure bubby is being safe with his sword." Reaching down she patted her innocent daughter on the head before looking back out the window. She could see Lanister's posture change to a bit more stern, and of course Izayah's had changed as well. Knowing that things were going to get worse before they got better Nevayah did not want Emia to see everything happen. "Emia sweety.... how about you go sit at the table for breakfast."

Outside tempers were beginning to flare as the argument was escalating. Izayah barely flinched when his father raised his voice at him. As Lanister went on about living in his house with his rules and then threatened to take the sword away indefinitely if he did not follow them. The rest of his statement was pretty much a blur as Izayah felt his very soul had been crushed. "You cant take my sword daddy!" Small tears began to well in the boys eyes as he tried his very best to remain strong. Rubbing at one of his eyes with a balled fist Izayah was clearly distraught by what was happening. The person he looked up to the most in the world threatening to take away the very thing he treasured most.

"Fine!" Izayah screamed before storming off towards the house. Just before reaching the door Izayah turned back one more time. "And I don't want to practice with you ever!" his final words before going in the house and slamming the door behind him. If Lanister had said anything to him he would simply ignore it continuing on his way inside. Once inside he ignored both his mother and his sister as he walked straight towards his room slamming the door shut behind him.

Nevayah stood speechless in the kitchen not really knowing what to do. Taking a moment to reflect on what she would want if she were feeling that way she decided to sit down at the table with her daughter. "Honey I know you may want to go comfort your bubby but I think he may just need a minute to calm down okay?" She sent a reassuring smile before scooping up some scrambled again and plopping it in her mouth.

In his bedroom Izayah immediately began pacing back and forth before coming to a final decision. He had convinced himself that he did not want to follow his daddy's rules and in turn, was going to run away. He didn't even leave a note behind as he squeezed himself out of the window in his bedroom and fell the the ground outside. The little boy was quite determined as he got right back up and began walking... err stomping away.

Emia glanced between her mother, to the scene playing outside, running over to the table the moment she saw her brother coming. Izayah slammed open the door then slammed it closed, practically running back to their room and slamming that door shut too behind him. Emia stared, in complete shock, unsure of what to do, say... anything.... Never once did he ever see his brother so angry... It was better when he was ignoring them all with a cold front compared to this volcanic explosion of temper. Immediately, as siblings do, Emia started to get up from her seat to attend to Izayah when their mother stopped her, noting that bubby just needed some time to himself to cool off. One could tell from her expression, all she wanted to do was run in and hug her bubby and damn the consequences... she just wanted to hug him and make him feel better and be the good sister she had obviously neglected him from seeing. But mommy always knew best and she trusted her... The last thing she wanted was to make her best friend even angrier with her mere presence and so... she remained seated at the table, poking at her breakfast eggs with her fork, but without any of the gusto she shared with her father.

Lanister didn't even need to demand Izayah go to his room as he immediately stomped his way back into the house and back that way by his own accord. Being a parent, he should have had some iron-clad integrity or something that would have prevented him from feeling guilty at this moment, but the utter soul-breaking disgust on Izayah's little face struck Lanister in places in his heart he didn't even know he possessed. It was as if he had lost his little one right then and there, that he would never see his son smile again... The mere thought practically brought a tear to his eye but he refused to cry. He would not. This was all for Izayah's own good and he believed in what he was doing. He couldn't show a bit of parental weakness simply because his son didn't approve of his decision! ......And yet....

Lanister walked back in a couple minutes after Izayah stormed in, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand sheepishly, as if he had done something wrong.

"That could have gone better...." He muttered to himself before sitting down between his wife and his daughter, his sanguine eyes immediately falling on the empty chair and untouched plate beside his wife. Izayah's plate. He couldn't help but feel that something was very wrong... Call it parental instinct or intuition, but the mere fact that Izayah wasn't sharing his breakfast with them make the whole scene very incomplete... Especially after he didn't return from his room several minutes later. He was as stubborn as his mother, however, and he couldn't force him out of his room and demand he eat... that would have just been tyrannical... and he had been too much of a tyrant for one morning.

Emia stared at her father as he walked in and sat at the table beside her, the first thing she did being to jump out of her chair onto his lap, causing Lanister to gasp in surprise, then smile noticeably half-heartedly. The little girl got right up in Lanister's face, staring into his sanguine eyes with her own, her little hands on his shoulders, holding him steady as she tried to find something in there...

"Are you okay, daddy...?" She asked before plopping back down in his lap, wrapping her little arms around his torso in some kind of hug. The older tainted didn't respond for the longest time, just staring down into the adorable, but oddly wise face of his little 4 year old Emia.

"Yeah... of course..." He smiled before kissing her forehead lightly. "Everything's okay..." But Emia wasn't so sure...

Nevayah finished her dinner while trying to think of the best way to resolve the situation at hand. All she could do was think of what she would do or want in this situation. Obviously, she didn't quite have tantrums like this as a child but only because she was locked away. But then the memory hit her like a ton of bricks as she thought of how many times she just wanted to run away.

The silence from the room, the lack of either objects being thrown or gurgling sobs all a tell tale sign that something was wrong. Frozen in her place at the table she went from a mother who was simply deep in thought enjoying her breakfast to one who was deeply concerned. Without words she scooted her chair back from the table and walked over to the twins' bedroom. Cracking open the door her thoughts were confirmed as Izayah was nowhere in sight. Calmly she closed the door and tiptoed back over to the table, sitting down very slowly before looking to Lanister. "Honey... I don't think you will be going to work today." Grabbing her cup of warm mead she took a sip before shakily setting it back down on the the table.

"It appears Izayah has... well... he's gone." Nevayah was trying to seem as calm as possible for her daughter's sake. But she knew that Lanister was either going to blow his top or just simply kill him. Both not an ideal situation.

Izayah on the other hand was not regretting his decision at all. Having somehow finding himself on the path to town he walked with his head held high. He had already begun planning his life without his family. He would sign up for the military and become the best swordsman ever .. all at four years old. His plan was solid, no way it could possibly go wrong.

Lanister watched as Nevayah went back into the twins' bedroom to check on their son, clearly just as concerned as he was that there was no noise of any kind emanating from in there. He would have felt more comfortable if he heard him screaming angrily or ripping up his space but this... deafening silence... it was something else. When Nevayah returned, he looked at her expectantly, as if requesting she report what she'd found and what she found was.... nothing... Izayah was nowhere to be seen... Not under his bed, not hiding... the room was vacant. His son had ran away. Oh, how easy it would have been to explode like cannon, to go off and swear up and down that his son was going to regret making them worry like this, putting himself in danger and so on, but Emia was sitting in his lap right now, looking up at him wide eyed and confused, not quite comprehending what it meant that he was gone. Very calmly, Lanister pushed himself away from the table and set Emia down beside him.

"Get your coat on, Emia." Lanister said, his voice obviously strained as he attempted to keep all his rage and fears from exploding outward, splattering everyone like a can of paint.

"Okay...." Emia whispered, clearly sensing the tension in the air before slipping back to their room to grab her jacket. The tainted glanced over at his wife, giving her a look that warned her Izayah would not be the same when he was done with him. The moment they found him, that little boy was in for the biggest, most god-slaying punishment he could possibly think of... Problem was, he still had to think of it. How could someone really, effectively punish a child for running away like that...? He didn't know, but he'd find a way. Emia returned a moment later, her eyes wide, her little heart thumping in her chest as she had done her own thorough investigation of their room, her search coming out just as empty. Her bubby really was gone... She couldn't believe it... He had left her here all alone, scared for him with no indication as to where he was going....

"Nevayah, please stay around the house in case he comes back." Lanister requested, the look on his face emphasizing how he REALLY didn't want to argue right now... Emia stood beside her father, her little brown jacket tucked over her form and Nevayah's scarf wrapped around her neck. Taking her hand (somewhat tightly), The enraged father set out in the direction of town, down the road to civilization, judging that was where he was headed.

"Dammit, Izayah...." Lanister kept muttering under his breath. Beneath that inferno of outrage and fear rested a heart frozen over with horror, a parent's heart that prayed to every conceivable god that his child was okay.... Oh gods.... Izayah.... where are you....

Realizing that Lanister was not in the mood argue Nevayah kept herself seated at the table. She herself was scared of what Lanister was going to do to little Izayah when he found him. After Emia and Lanister left Nevayah started cleaning up breakfast, then the entire house in an attempt to calm her nerves.

Izayah on the other hand was about ten minutes out when he heard his father's voice echo through the trees. The boy was about to turn back and admit he was wrong only because he was growing hungry, but the fear alone of how much trouble he was in instead caused him to walk off the path and hide behind a tree.

Standing there with his back against the tree the boy reflected on his poor decision and realized that maybe he was wrong. The footsteps of his father and little sister were now very close and Izayah had to decide then and there if he wanted to give himself away. So overtaken with emotion he came barreling out from behind the tree before falling to his knees a few feet in front of his father. "Daddy I am so sorry!"

Izayah's face twisted into that of a sobbing child as he lowered himself even further to the ground, almost bowing before his father. "I was a bad boy I'm sorry!"

Emia and Lanister had been calling Izayah's name for nearly 10 minutes on their way down the road and the latter's fear was starting to show. The lack of responses of any kind was starting to wear down the facade Lanister had put on for both his own and his little girl's benefit. He was starting to worry that maybe he had decided to take a detour, that the road wasn't fast enough for him so he'd take the wooded route. If that was the case... He could hardly imagine it... He wouldn't... he had to hope and pray that his child hadn't been so  dumb...

And it seemed his prayers had been answered. Izayah came tumbling out of the woods, sobbing, throwing himself at Lanister's feet and begging for his forgiveness. Of course, before the astonished parent could react, Emia was already throwing herself at her brother, wrapping her arms around him and throwing him to the ground, tears of relief running down her face.

"Bubby..." She moaned, holding him tighter and tighter before both of them were scooped up by their father, holding them to his chest like this would be the last time he'd be able to. Tears of his own ran down his face as he held his stupid little boy in his arms, kissing his head and hugging him tightly, never wanting to let go again... And so he didn't...He carried both of his little ones all the way home with him... He made an effort to make it back to the house as quickly as he possibly could without running, not wanting to risk accidentally tripping and falling on his own, precious children. Making it back home in only half the time, Lanister set both of his little ones down and smiling at them softly. He then proceeded to flick Izayah in the head once... twice... three times, not stopping until he was satisfied.

"Don't EVER do that again!" He demanded, glaring down at the little boy. However, even Lanister's parental integrity couldn't hold back the grin he had been surpressing and he pulled the little boy back into his arms along with his little Emia, holding them for several moments before he was inevitably forced to let go...

"Go inside and apologize to mommy, Izayah..." Lanister said with a small smile, knowing just what kind of temper Nevayah would have in store for their son. "She really wants to see you..." Lanister would watch from outside as her little boy would walk in, waiting a good minute or two before following him in with Emia at his side, just happy that the family was back together.

Izayah happily accepted his sister's embrace and continued to hold onto her as he was scooped up by Lanister. It was a short walk home as his father carried both of the four-year old's the entire way. Once arriving back at their homestead Lanister set Izayah and Emia down before being scolded by his father. All Izayah could muster was an "Otay" after being flicked in the forehead a couple of times. If that was the worst of it, he made it out of the situation better than he thought. But then his father suggested a fate far worse.... facing his mother.

Gulping before opening the door with a shaky hand Izayah stepped inside to be greeted by a glare that nearly scared him as much as the no face man did. "Mommy... I-" but before he could finish Nevayah stormed towards him grabbing his arm and yanking him into the living room. "Izayah how dare you worry us like that!" her eyes were caring yet cold, and her voice as stern as ever. "I was worried to death!" Nevayah went from half dragging the boy to pulling him into an embrace with a hand on each of his shoulders. It was very short lived as she then pushed him back so that he had to look into her eyes. "Don't you EVER do anything that foolish again! What if someone took you! Or for the love of gods if they found out what you were!"

Nevayah then began to gently shake Izayah as if it would make the message sink in deeper. "Do you want to live the rest of your life in a cage or a cellar... or chains! Because that is exactly what they would do to you young man!" From there she grabbed his wrist and pulled him to the table where his breakfast was still sitting, practically cold. "Now you get in your chair and you sit and eat! Then after put your dishes on the counter and you sit in that chair until I have decided otherwise."Turning from Izayah she placed a hand on her chest to take in a deep breath. She felt horrible for yelling at him like that but proud that she thought maybe she had gotten her point across.

Izayah complied and climbed up into his chair before pecking at his food bit by bit. Getting yelled at like that was not something he enjoyed, but at least she didn't kill him. Even when his father and sister walked into the house Izayah kept his eyes trained on his plate, scared to death of what might happen if he dared look elsewhere. After finishing his cold food Izayah slid out of his chair and did exactly as his mother said, placing his bowl on the counter along with his cup. Before he could get back to his chair though Nevayah stopped him, grabbing him once more but instead this time picking him up and holding him to her chest. "Please don't ever worry me like that again" her voice half a whisper half a cry as she pleaded with him.

"I won't mommy I promise, I'm sorry" he whispered burying his face deeper taking in all the smells of his mother. Finally it seemed as if everything had been put into place. Izayah no longer hated his mother, father or sister and understood why they have the rules they do. Nevayah and Lanister were on the same page with how the children should be raised and most importantly had not lost the love they had for one another.