Chapter Thirty One: Her Fear of Being Found

Spring 1692

Amros was lying against a tree while Amya was across lying in the grass. Amros appeared to be about the age of sixteen while Amya fourteen. Amros had little white flowers floating above his hands. Amros’ has short blond hair and blue eyes. Amya moved rocks on her stomach up and down with a smile. Her long blonde hair scattered across the floor above her.
Amros
Where is Amron?
Amya turned her head to him.
Amya
He said he was going to look for some berries.
Amros
Should we find him?
Amya
No, leave him. He can’t get into much trouble here.
Amron stood above a bush. He appeared to be ten years old with black hair. His blue eyes gazed through the bush searching for berries.
Amron
Where are you?
He shook the bush.
Amron
Found you!
Hayden
Or did I find you?
Amron did not jump. He straightened himself up and turned around.
Amron
Who are you?
Hayden
Hayden Olymny.
Amron
Were you looking for me?
Hayden
No, but I’ve found you.
Amron shrugged.
Hayden
What is it you’re doing?
Amron
Searching for berries. I like berries.
Hayden
Any luck?
Amron
Yes, just now. I found some right behind before you interrupted.
Hayden
Well, carry on.
Amron
I don’t want to anymore.
Hayden
But wouldn't you rather enjoy your berries? You seemed quite happy with your discovery.
Amron
I was. I’m just no longer interested.
Hayden
Why’s that?
Amron
I find you more interesting.
Hayden moved a bit forward.
Hayden 
And why is that?
Amron
Your ears, they aren’t like mine. Your clothes, they have blood on them.
Hayden
Very observant.
Amron
What are you? Why are your clothes bloody? Why are you here?
Hayden
So many questions, young one. Why so curious?
Amron
I’d just like to know.
Amron turned around.
Amron
Will you tell me? Or should I go back to my business?
Hayden
I am an Elf. We’re the race that shares this planet with you humans.
Amron
I’ve never heard of an elf.
Hayden
Well that’s the way we want it. We aren’t friendly creatures. Well, we weren’t. Most of us are dead now.
Amron
Dead, why?
Hayden
Civil war. You see, I am a prince. My family has been in battle with another for centuries over power. I have no one anymore. I sought human company, and I found you.
Amron
Me?
Hayden
Yes. The passage to our world has led me to you.
Amron
Do you believe I owe you something for this meeting?
Hayden
Not in any way.
Amron
Well then, you may leave.
Hayden sat on the floor.
Hayden
But I just got here. I thought you were interested in me.
Amron
Well I don’t know what I can do for you.
Hayden
Can we be friends?
Amron
What would that accomplish?
Hayden
I just lost my parents. I’ve lost my entire family. I could use some company.
Amron 
I am not the best at being company. Plus I'm not supposed to have outsiders as friends.
Hayden
What’s the problem?
Amron
My brother. He says I’m not allowed to talk to strangers.
Hayden
Well that’s no fun.
Amron
I know. He says it’s important though. He says it’s for my own good.
Hayden
What could possibly be wrong?
Amros
You wouldn’t understand.
Amros came into view with Amya behind him.
Amron
I didn’t mean to talk to him, he approached me.
Amros
Quiet.
Amros turned to Hayden.
Amros
How can I help you, sir?
Hayden stood up.
Hayden
I’m going to kill you. All of you.
Hayden moved forward. Hayden flew backwards into the tree and it split in half from his weight. Amya ran forward and tried to touch Hayden and placed her hand on the tree instead. It turned into stone. Hayden jumped into the trees and landed behind Amros.
Hayden
That won’t work again.
Hayden’s body stood there despite the wind blowing fast passed him.
Amros
How is it you still stand there?
Hayden
I’ve made myself too heavy for you to move.
Amron
Stop!
Hayden, Amros, and Amya fell to their knees clutching their heads.
Amron
No, no, no, I’m sorry!
He fell on the floor and closed his eyes. Hayden stood up before Amros and Amya.
Hayden
You may stop now. I mean you no harm. My actions were only to see what you were capable of.
Amron
I didn’t mean to!
Amros stood up.
Amros
Who are you?
Hayden
I am Hayden Olymny, prince of the elf race.
Amron
Please don’t tell momma.
Amya
What is an elf?
Hayden
It’s a race aside from your own.
Amros and Amya walked towards Amron.
Amros
I am Amros, this is my sister Amya, and that is Amron.
Hayden smiled.
Hayden
I’ve already met Amron. He is quite a child. It would seem all three of you are, for your ages.
Amron began to cry.
Amros
Stop crying!
Amya
It’s okay Amron, we’re okay.
Amros
He’s not allowed to use that power.
Hayden
I’ve never met any humans in my life, but from what I’ve gathered in our libraries of books on your kind, you’re without power. I may be incorrect, but I do not believe you’re human.
Amros
It doesn’t matter to us either way. We’re family, and that is all.
Hayden
Well said.
Amya
Would you like to meet our mother?
Hayden
Are you sure I wouldn’t be a bother?
Amros
We’re sure. Mother will be happy to meet another person with special abilities. We have kept to ourselves for so long afraid of being condemned for what we are. It’s very comforting to meet someone else who is different.
Hayden
I don’t want to intrude uninvited by your mother.
Amron
Come, please?
Amron wiped his eyes.
Amron
Momma will love you.
They began to walk.
Hayden
I’m sorry about earlier, I did not want to harm you in any way.
Amros
It’s okay, we won’t hold that against you.
Amya
Be best not to tell mother though.
Hayden
Right.
They approached the little brown house at the end of the forest. Hayden stood in front of Amber Anselia.
Amber
It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Olymny. I do apologize for the state of my home. I was not aware my children would be bringing company.
Hayden
No need to apologize Mrs. Anselia.
Amber
You can call me Amber, sir. Children, off to bed.
Amber smiled and motion for the chair. They both sat at the table while Amron, Amros, and Amya went to their room.
Amber
Forgive me, I haven’t had company over since Amros was born. Those days have long passed.
Hayden
You’re afraid of the other humans?
Amber
Yes, yes I am. They don’t know what it’s like to be different. They’ve been burning up others lately calling them witches. It scares me. I can't let them know what my babies are.
Her voice began to rise.
Amber
They’d think of my children as freaks.
Her grip on her cup tightened.
Amber
My children aren’t freaks, Mr. Olymny. They are special, that’s all. I want to be able to let them have friends and allow them to go to school but that’s just out of the question. They’d be teased and ridiculed by their peers. This just isn’t a place for them, let alone a world.
She took a sip of her drink.
Amber
It’s either this or be hung on their gallows. I don’t know what scares me more, death, or the fear of being found.
Amron walked into the room and hugged his Amber. Suddenly her upset face turned into a smile.
Amber
See, he has the power to make people happy with the touch of his hands.
Hayden
Amazing.
Amber
They’d want to kill him for that, for making someone happy? What madness is that? I’d die before they touched my blood.
Hayden
You’re a strong woman. I dare say the first to raise three of your kind with unnatural abilities.
Amber
I’m just trying to make sense of what has been given to me. This is all I have and I won’t ask for more. I just want my family to be happy. I don’t want us dying for what we are.
Hayden
Yes, you’ve stressed that point.
Amber blushed embarrassed.
Amber
I’m sorry. I don’t mean to go on and on about the same thing. It’s just a rare opportunity to speak to another person who understands. You’d think of us to be a civilized people, but I wouldn’t bet my chickens on it. It’s not hard to understand, I think they’ve got it right, it’s accepting that they just cannot do. I don’t think humans will ever be able to do that. Understanding is not enough, it’s accepting that matters.
She kissed Amron on the forehead.
Amber
Go to your room.
Amron walked out of the kitchen.
Hayden
Would it be okay if I trained them?
Amber
Trained them for what?
Hayden
Their own good.
Amber
I don’t see why not. If the world is against them, they should know how to fight for themselves, should anything happen to me or their father.
Hayden
Where is their father?
Amber
He’s out doing business. He still has a connection with our village. Someone has to put food on the table.
Hayden
I understand. As I said, I’d like to train them. Teach them how to harness their powers.
Amber
I like that idea. My babies need to be strong.
She stood up and shut the curtains on the window.
Amber
Can you promise me something, Mr. Olymny?
Hayden
You can call me Hayden. What would you like me to promise you?
Amber
If anything happens to either me or my husband, can you take care of them?
Hayden
Of course, Amber.
Amron stood at the corner of the door watching Hayden and his mother speak.
Hayden
Well, I think I’ll take my leave now.
Amber
Where are you staying?
Hayden
I don’t know yet. I’m sure I’ll find somewhere.
Amber put her hand on Hayden’s shoulder.
Amber
You can stay here for the night. Our living room is room enough. My husband won’t be home for a week.
Hayden
Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude anymore.
Amber
I’m sure. Now go make yourself at home while I put Ron to bed. I have a feeling he’s listening to our conversation still.
They heard footsteps come from the living room.
Amber
I knew it. Goodnight, Hayden.
Hayden
Goodnight, Amber. Thank you so very much.
Amron got onto his bed without waking his brother and sister. Amber walked into the room.
Amber
Fast asleep already?
She sat on the edge of Amron’s bed.
Amron
No.
He said in a grunt.
Amber
Are you okay, baby?
Amron
I don’t know, momma.
She stroked his hair with her hand.
Amber
I’m here for you. What’s wrong?
Amron
You said, you said he’d protect us if you died. Why would you die?
Amber
Well I don’t know, Ron. There are plenty of reasons why anyone would die. You can’t outrun death, baby.
Amron
I will. It will never find me.
Amber
Really? You think you can do that?
Amron
If I wanted to.
Amber
Well, do you want to?
Amron
Yes!
Amros stirred in his sleep.
Amber
I don’t know if you’d want to, baby. Death isn’t such a bad thing. It’s the end of the road. After putting so much work into this life, it all ends. Think of it as sleeping forever. Once it comes, you never wake up again.
Amron sat up quickly.
Amron
But I don’t want sleep, momma. I want to be awake with you forever!
Amber smiled.
Amber
I know Ron, I know. Thing is, if you figure out how to outrun death, I won’t be able to follow you. What’s the point of living forever when you don’t have the people you love around you?
Amron
It works both ways, momma. What’s the point in living after those people are gone?
Amber
You’re a smart boy. With this start, there has to be an end, Ron. Don’t be afraid of the end of your life.
Amron
I can’t help it momma. Death’s never going to find me.
Amber
Well baby, it will find me.
Amron
What if you hide with me? Amros and Amya as well!
Amber
We can’t hide forever.
Amron
Yes we can!
Amber
It’s time to go to bed, Ron.
Amron
Don’t ever leave me.
Amber
I can’t make the promise. The flesh of me will be gone one day.
Amron looked down at his sheets.
Amber
It’s up to you to keep me with you. It’s up to you to remember me forever.
She stood up and extinguished the candle’s fire.
Amber
Goodnight. baby.
Amron
I love you, momma.
Amber
I love you too, baby. More than you’ll ever know.