Prologue: Joyful beginnings

  When I was born, I didn’t see my parents or a wet nurse, what I saw was a being shrouded in a grey fog with its malicious mouth twisted into a grin. When it spoke the bass in its voice pierced far past my ear drums echoing behind my eyes. “My child one born to riches a plenty wrapped in gold and good fortune. But I am no holy god thus you must make a deal to keep all these blessings one deal as hellish as the reward is heavenly. You must sacrifice one’s own love every three years starting from the age of nine up until your life ends, do you accept?” next thing I knew I was in the infant ward swaddled as my parents watched on. I lived a grand childhood one filled with joy, laughter and happiness and spending time with my friends Gaspard and Jean-Pierre; I wish now that I would have cherished these moments more with what is to come.

  That night I had a dream about the god; in the dream he just watched me from a dark corner same wicked grin the being wore on my birth this time I could also make out one eye that had the same gazer as a starving beast waiting for its food. It spoke briefly only in a whisper saying. “Two years my child before it cackled and slowly dissipated in the corner of the room. When I had awoken my parents were looking down at me with worried expressions and exclaims of relief when I rose to my feet with a smile telling them good morning, after going to fence with my friends I kept having this pit in my stomach that would. As my run became a stroll I got lost in thought about what the god meant what so I must do to keep this joy filled living I’m having, what must I do-? Before I could completely spiral into the abyss I heard Gaspard yell for me. “Louise, where have you been we’ve been waiting all day, we were about to send a party to your house” Gaspard said playfully. “There’s no need for that, the last prank you lot pulled had me sent to bed without dinner.” I retorted in equal jest. “you guys leaving me out of the greeting like always.” Jean-Pierre said catching up to our sides as we walked.

  As I lay there getting ready to doze off, I see the silhouette of the god slowly form as I feel this deep anxious feeling build in the pits of my stomach. The world slowly fades away and now it is just me in my bedroll with a malicious deity standing across from where my feet lay. “I see you are fostering grand bonds, bonds so great it is almost as if they were family. I would say they make good offerings for your future.” The god said mockingly. “I-I don’t understand what you are talking about they are like my brothers I would never hurt my friends, we will grow strong enough and we- and we will find a way to beat you so I can be free.” I stammered out. The god started to chuckle which grew into a cackle completely devaluing my lasts statements. “you can try child but many have tried. Just remember the deal we made.” The god said dismissing my threat. “I will leave you with this warning.” The god said while lifting his hand up and then raising one finger. I was puzzled as to what this motion meant. But after that though my heart began to beat so fast, I thought it would burst out my chest while my breath began to leave my body, I could feel my life begin to leave my body as tears began to well up in the corner of my eyes. Just before I could pass out the god lowered his hand as life filled my body once more. “Heed my warning you are no golden lion only a mere cub, choose your course of action wisely, do your duties and all I promised will be yours, now farewell my child.” And with that the god disappeared as the sun rose. After that night and Jean and Gaspard left I was entranced in my thoughts what power was that, to cause life to leave me so easily. Perhaps I was being overconfident. I am only a child, and this God has been around for who knows how long - gaining power, creating armies, destroying worlds. How could I stand a chance against something I could not even comprehend. I was drowning in despair. “Why so gloom my son.” My father said in an uplifting tone. “Nothing I’m just stuck in my thoughts,” I say trying to stifle my depressing tone. Tell me son what is causing you this trouble in your head, it’s my duty to share it with you to help you grow into a strong honorable man. He said as he flexed his arms. I let out a sigh, what would you do if you were faced with something so much stronger than you that it felt impossible to beat. Without a pause and a face full of determination he said. “I would fight.” I think I understand father I just- I don’t know. Listen son he said as he placed his hand on my shoulder “I may not know how to win every battle, but when you have been in as many as I have you learn how to stand in the fight.” His words helped me find my resolve and pulled me the tar pits of depression. Thank you, father, I said, as I gave him a big hug. Any time my son he said squeezing me in our embrace. After we parted, I just stood on the porch as I watched the sun set with a newfound resolve to find a way to break this curse.

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  It was days before my nineth birthday where I would see God, and he would remind me of the deal we made this time not wearing the malicious grin but this time an expression that could only be described as pity as if he knew the decision I made in my head already. The god only said today is the day as a small tear of blood fell from his eye before he faded out of this realm, leaving me with only anxiety I wasn’t going to sacrifice anything I know to try to joust against a god is out right foolish but I must stand my ground I won’t be trifled with or veered off path in this matter it’s my choice and mine alone.

  My birthday was a day that started with my parents rushing to set up. I was left at the house with Gaspard and Jean-Pierre. We joked and played while other guests slowly filed in as we all sat and waited for my father to end his speech my head began to hurt and my father’s voice slowly faded away I closed my eyes and when they opened again it was just me and across the table from me was the god wearing that wicked grin as always filled with hidden malice with his hands clasped together in front of him. “I know you don’t plan to honor the agreement we made, I come hoping you reconsider.” I take a moment to before I reply. “No, I won’t honor our agreement, I want no part of this arrangement anymore.” I say defiantly. The gods’ hands slowly unclasped as his expression switched to a sorrowful frown; his eyes began to pour as he cried tears of blood only staring at me. As the blood poured from his eyes his skin changed from ghostly white to abyssal black only leaving his beady red irises as his shapeless form grew larger until I was staring into his now giant eyes as his presence filled this astral plane. “Very well.” Is all that the god said in deep voice that shook my vary soul before he vanished and I was back at the table as my father finished his speech. The sun began to fade as grey clouds filled the sky, I look over at my mom who is now wearing a troubled face as her eyes look sunken in as beads of sweat gather on her brow. Are you alright whispered her personal maid, my mother waived her hand signaling she is fine right before she started coughing fit. She raised her hand to cover her mouth and stifled her coughing fit, as she rose and turned as she tried to stumble off. Her maids helped her inside of the house as my father tried to stop the guests from worrying making jokes and telling the group to cheer to my birthday and many more to come.

  But as they cheered a ghastly wail could be heard from inside the house followed by the crash of glass and servant running towards my father. Lord Roy, your wife she’s- just come quickly, the lead servant Paul said desperately. My father and I rushed to my mother to see her convulsing on the floor as she sputtered and coughed up blood. I could see her eyes were filling with blood as they poured like tears from her eyes. She was doing well today helping my dad build the tables for the party and testing dishes the chef had prepared. She was a strong willed woman, whose smile and kind words would make whole battalions bend a knee to her I couldn’t stomach seeing her like this, as I turned to leave in the corner of the room I could see the god cackling in the corner as blood leaked from the corners of the gaping maw he called a mouth. I ran out of the room burning with shame. As I wailed in the empty field I fell to my knees. “I yield I beg of you I yield.” I scream at the heavens. “Please grant my mother mercy I swear I will fulfill my duty for all eternity.” But alas nothing heeded my call, as I sat in the rain now filled with dread, I felt the rain stop as the god slowly appeared “You were warned, you broke our agreement. Heed it. until we meet again, I bid thee farewell my “lion cub.” Before he could disperse, I ran towards my home hoping my mom was doing well. When I arrived, everyone was gone, my dad was at my mom’s side holding her hands as she wore a weak smile saying she was fine. I ran into her arms as I cried, I won’t let this happen again I will honor our agreement some battles can only be one by yielding until one has the means for a counterattack and I swear I will not lose this contest of will.