The Forgotten (The Lost Children Series Book 1)

by Jennifer Sivec

  Kell noticed that the figure seemed to be stumbling, and as he got closer, his heart was beating wildly in his chest. The figure was small, and Kell wondered if it was a child. But as it got closer, he realized that it was a woman. The woman was small and beautiful and as Kell looked at her, he thought she carried a familiarity that he could not explain. He noticed that the woman put her hand on her scabbard as she approached him, the hardness in her eyes unmistakable.

  “Hello. I won’t hurt you,” Kell said gently. “What are you doing out here?”

  The woman stared at him without speaking. Kell could tell that she was considering her options and he waited patiently for her to answer.

  “Who are you?” she asked, disregarding his question.

  “I’m Kell,” he responded, noticing how she favored her right side, as though she were wounded. “What is your name?”

  As the woman opened her mouth to speak, Kell realized that her eyes were rolling back in her head, and he reached out instinctively catching her before she landed on the ground. He easily lifted her up and carried her the mile to the village before stopping at Ava’s cottage.

  “Ava! Ava!” He yelled out, excitedly. “Let me in, I need you and Serah.”

  Ava opened the door and Kell could see Serah peering at him from behind her. Ava and Serah were never far away from one another, their bond strong. Serah was the only one of the children who hadn’t changed at all over the years; her smooth face and pretty green eyes still very childlike but knowing, yet not giving anything away. Ava’s eyes grew wide as she saw that Kell was carrying a strange woman.

  “Who is that?” Ava asked, staring at the woman.

  “I don’t know. I ran into her when I was taking my walk and she passed out when I was talking to her. She was favoring her right side and I don’t know if she is wounded, but I thought you and Serah would be able to take a look at her.” Kell laid her down gently on Ava’s bed, careful not to jostle her too much.

  He stared at the woman while Ava took off the woman’s armor, which looked like it had been in many battles. There was a pretty good scar on the woman’s chin and several more on her neck and arms. This is one tough lady. She would fit in well here with us if she decided to stay.

  “Brother, you need to leave the room. This is not for men to see,” Ava scolded Kell.

  Kell left the room sheepishly, embarrassed for not thinking of that on his own.

  “We will take care of her on our own, won’t we, Serah?” Ava smiled at Serah who stared intently at the woman as though trying to see through her.

  Serah looked at Ava. “She’s hurt … bad.”

  Ava continued to take off the woman’s armor and gasped as she found a deep wound in her side, where presumably something extremely sharp had gone in. “What in the world would she be fighting to get something like that?”

  The skin around the wound was white and full of infection, and Ava did her best to clean the wound. Behind her she heard Serah begin to hum.

  Outside of the room Kell paced back and forth. He was anxious, though he wasn’t sure why. Suddenly the earth began to shake and Kell froze. They had worked hard to build a life in this place, and Kell didn’t want to leave it.

  He ran outside just as the others did.

  “What is going on?” Claire screamed, the rumbling continuing.

  Kell realized that this was not like the other times when they had disappeared. The rumbling didn’t usually last as long, and this time the sky remained its usual vivid blue.

  The sudden screeching that came from above them was unbearable as Claire threw her hands over her ears to protect them.

  Kell and Claire looked desperately to the sky to see where the sound was coming from.

  “Look! There!” Claire pointed.

  At first, Kell couldn’t see anything, but as he squinted he saw a small speck in the sky that was rapidly moving closer. Cal, Saiya, and Philip had all appeared and saw that Claire was pointing. Their eyes followed her finger as they stared in confusion.

  The speck was getting larger by the second. At first Kell thought it was a bird, but as it got closer, he realized that the wings were far larger, spanning almost the full length of Kell’s own body. It was long and lean, it’s body black and sleek, but it was not a bird. Kell had never seen anything like it before and as it got closer, Kell could make out a large, thin, sharp beak. The rumbling came from the Creature’s wings as it flapped them through the air, leaving a gust that shook the cottages. It’s screeching was horrifying and they all stood frozen, staring as it flew closer until it was nearly upon them.

  “Run!” Kell yelled, grabbing Saiya’s hand and pulling her along with him. They ran to the nearest cottage, but just as they were about the make it to the door, Kell heard a scream from farther behind them.

  “Kell!!”

  Kell turned around and saw Cal’s feet floating in the air. He shoved Saiya into the cottage and ran toward Cal as fast as he could. The youngest of the boys, Cal was also the slowest, and wasn’t able to outrun the winged Creature. Kell looked up with horror to see the Creature’s large, sharp, talons digging into Cal’s arms as it flew higher and higher, far out of their reach. It changed course, taking him farther away until they could no longer see it in the distance.

  “No! No! No!” Philip screamed up at the Creature as spit flew from his mouth and tears streamed from his usually bright green eyes. Just a year older than Cal, they were extremely close. “Come back! Take me instead! Take me!”

  Kell grabbed him and held Philip tight.

  “Philip, we’ll get him! We’ll go find Cal!” Kell grabbed Philip’s shoulders and stared into his green eyes. “We will go get him and bring him back. Everything will be okay.”

  “Kell! You need to come, now!” Ava’s voice called for him as she motioned wildly.

  Kell ran to Ava’s small house that also served as the place where they were cared for when they were sick or hurt. His mind was racing a thousand miles a minute. He was unable to get the vision of Cal’s legs dangling helplessly in the air.

  “The woman, she’s awake! She said our names, Kell. She looked at me and called out to me, and then she said your name and Jakob’s!” Ava said excitedly, tears in her eyes. “I think she knows us somehow.”

  Serah was sitting with the woman stroking her hand as the woman’s eyes were closed in peaceful slumber. A leaf filled with healing ointment lay on the woman’s side as Serah continued to hum. As Kell approached, Serah got up and gave Kell the woman’s hand. “You hold.”

  Kell took the woman’s hand gently, feeling awkward. The woman’s eyelids fluttered as though she were fighting the sleep her body so desperately needed.

  “Jakob … don’t leave. Go with me …” the woman tried to sit up. She looked confused, her gray eyes hazy until she looked at Kell, bringing him into focus. “Kell … Did you come to rescue me?”

  “Yes,” Kell nodded. “Did you say ‘Jakob’? Have you seen Jakob?” Kell’s heart was beating wildly. “Tell me! Have you seen Jakob?”

  The woman lay back, moaning. “Jakob … no … stay. Don’t go.”

  “Wake up! Wake up!” Kell cried out just inches from her face. She opened her eyes wide and stared at him. He was stunned by the grayness of her eyes, and it suddenly struck him how much she resembled Ava. How did I not notice this before?

  “Kell,” The woman said grasping his hand tightly with hers as she fought to keep her eyes open. She motioned toward Ava, gesturing for her to come closer. She used her free hand and grasped Ava’s hand tightly as she pulled her face close to her. “Thank you … my children. I’ve missed you both so much.”

  Kell’s heart froze in his throat and he felt like he had stopped breathing. No, this cannot be. He stared at Ava in disbelief. They stared hard at the woman as though recognizing her for the first time. Images of her from childhood began to form and Kell thought they might be memories of her hugging him, giving him small pieces of candy, kissing him affectionately on
the top of his head. Tears sprung to his eyes as he realized who she was.

  “Mama?” Kell said, hesitantly. He looked at Ava who stood in stunned silence.

  “Yes, boy.” She murmured. “I would know you anywhere, my boy. I … have been searching for all of you for so long … somehow … I knew I would find you.”

  Kell forced himself to breathe, the blood rushing to his ears.

  “Oh, Mama!” he cried, bowing his head in her hand that he was holding. “You found us Mama. I’m so glad you didn’t give up! You found us! Why did you call out Jakob’s name? Have you seen him somewhere? Is he out there? Please, tell me you’ve seen him.”

  “Yes … yes. He’s there … he’s out there, child. He’s been looking for you. We were together for a couple of years, but then we got separated, and I’ve been alone looking for my children ever since.”

  Kell wept openly. The feeling in his heart that his brother was still alive had stayed with him all of the years since he watched him fall to his death. Kell had always known that if anyone could survive a fall so horrific it would be Jakob, and his heart leapt inside of his chest. Emilie held him close and Kell felt like the little boy he once was the last time his Mama held him in her arms. With pure abandon, he began to weep in a way that he never knew he could, the tears washing away the pain that had taken root inside of him since he became lost.

  46

  THE BIRTH

  Kyla lay on the floor, the loss of blood making her weaker.

  The pain in her belly was growing hotter and almost unbearable. Milo … I need Milo. A few moments later there was a knock at her door.

  “Governess … Governess,” Milo’s voice came loud and insistent from the other side of the door.

  “Milo …” Kyla’s voice was weak. “Milo …”

  She crawled to the door, a thin trail of blood behind her. She reached up with all of the strength in her body and pulled herself up, unlatching the door. When she opened the door, Milo’s eyes widened.

  “Governess,” he said, sounding alarmed as he stared at her pale, clammy face. “I don’t know why I came here, but I was compelled to find you. Let me help you!”

  He tried to lead her to her bed, but she resisted. “No, no …Will cannot know. There is something wrong with the baby …I need your help. Please ...”

  Milo looked out into the hallway, afraid. Nobody can see me with the Governess like this. They can never know that we are connected in any way other than through the Governor. Milo’s heart was pounding so loudly in his chest, he was sure the Governess could hear it.

  “Come with me,” he said, picking her up easily and shutting the door behind them. He made a mental note to have one of his loyals clean up her room. He walked swiftly to his quarters, careful not to be seen, his senses on high alert. When they got to his quarters, he laid her down on his bed and placed a cool cloth on her head.

  She moaned, gratefully.

  “Tell me Governess, is it time to call the Midwife?”

  “Yes,” Kyla said, her voice barely audible as she writhed in pain.

  Milo summoned one of his loyals and whispered in his ear. “Hurry,” he said out loud. He was thankful the day had just turned into night and the Midwife would have less of a chance of being seen entering the Governor’s House.

  “Tell me what has happened,” he urged Kyla, sitting on the side of the bed.

  “I cannot tell you, or I will have to tell you everything. I cannot tell you everything, Milo, or you will think I am a horrible Creature.”

  “I promise, I won’t.” Milo assured her, carefully. He didn’t want to seem too eager, but he needed her to tell him what happened. He couldn’t take a chance that the Ubilez would be betrayed, and he needed her sacrifice to ensure that the Ubilez would rise to power. He still hadn’t found Emilie yet and was desperate. The Ubilez promised to deliver her back to him in gratitude for his loyalty, once they received the One Thing that would bring them back to the top of the earth.

  Kyla was tired of being alone in the world. She could never tell Will what she had done, and in Milo she sensed she had found a kindred spirit. She had been watching him closely and saw in him that his core was not as loyal and pure as he appeared to be, even to Will. As Milo leaned in, she told him everything about her transformation, her promise to the Ubilez and their visit. She watched his eyes for even the subtlest shift, and she studied his face for any kind of reaction. Focusing on his face helped her to forget about the pain inside that made her feel like she was being ripped apart.

  Milo was careful to mask his reaction and when Kyla was finished speaking, Milo was silent.

  He placed his hand on her forehead, repulsed by the clamminess of it, but careful not to show it. “You did it for love, Kyla. I understand it and nobody will dare judge you for that. I will make sure of it.”

  There was a loud knock on the door and Milo got up to answer it.

  An older woman shrouded in a long dark cloak entered quickly, closing the door behind her.

  She shook off her cloak and stared at Kyla silently.

  “I’m here to help you, Governess.” She said, her voice hard and her eyes sharp.

  Kyla looked up at Milo, fearfully. She shivered, suddenly very afraid.

  “What’s your name?” Kyla asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she fought the urge to pass out.

  “That’s none of your concern, missy,” the older woman said, not looking at her. “I’m here to help with your … baby.”

  She placed a blanket on Kyla’s legs and lifted them roughly. Kyla began to feel faint and dizzy, barely able to hold on to consciousness. She heard Milo and the woman talking, but couldn’t understand what they were saying. She felt her body being pulled and tugged, but the woman placed something that smelled extremely strong under her nose, and she barely felt anything else. Kyla felt like the room was floating and couldn’t remember why she was lying there. She heard the sound of a baby crying far, far away, but didn’t know what she was supposed to be doing. The woman was suddenly standing in front of her with a blanket. Kyla squinted and saw that the blanket seemed to be glowing and it reminded Kyla vaguely of the Yashwa and the Pyto, and her heart became sick.

  Milo’s face appeared close to her but he was talking in slow motion. “Your. Baby. Is. Going. To. The. Ubilez. Now.”

  Kyla cried out.

  “Noooo!” she fought to get up, her body betraying her. She held her arms out and took the baby from the Midwife’s arms. Then she looked at Milo questioningly. Milo grabbed the baby from her and held it tightly in his arms.

  “I’m sorry, Kyla. But this is what you promised to the Ubilez, and they are waiting for it. They planned to take her from you and they want her now.” Milo looked at Kyla who struggled to get up, but was getting weaker and weaker.

  “Her? It’s a girl? No, please, don’t. Please, let me hold her.” Kyla sobbed as she stared at her baby, wanting nothing but to touch her.

  As Milo walked toward the door, Kyla cried out in agony. He nodded at the Midwife who stood close to Kyla, holding her down, though she was barely able to put up a fight. Kyla’s eyes fluttered open and closed as she desperately fought to remain conscious and awake. Kyla felt her eyes rolling back in her head, finally giving into the slumber that was pulling her in.

  The last thing she saw was Milo holding her baby.

  The Midwife nodded curtly at him and continued to clean Kyla up without saying a word.

  Milo held the baby close and left the room cautiously, making sure there was no one around. He stole through the courtyard and walked for miles until he came to the hidden place where he met regularly with the Ubilez. Once he was safe in the darkened room, he held the baby out in front of him. He marveled at her perfection, her eyes bright and a head full of thick, dark hair like Will’s. Her skin was baby soft and Milo shook his head, saddened by her fate. While he was anxious to reap the reward of his loyalty to the Ubilez, he was not without heart, particularly for the innocents.
<
br />   As he held the baby in his arms his heart ached with her beauty.

  “I’m sorry, but this is the way it has to be. There can be no other. We have come too far.” Milo whispered. He had not imagined it would be this difficult, but her presence seemed to vibrate through him and he felt her essence deep within, strong and beautiful. He understood why the Ubilez wanted her, and he cringed inside as he imagined how the Ubilez would use her as a sacrifice.

  Suddenly, he felt their presence in the tiny room and he remembered how something as simple as thinking of them could beckon them.

  “Is it done? Do you haaaaave it?” the voices said, needing and desperate, surrounding him and pulling at him with their wickedness.

  “Yes,” Milo said hesitantly. “I have her.”

  “Let us seeeeee it, nooooow,” the Ubilez said, as Milo imagined them salivating with black, slimy tongues. “Noooooow!”

  Slowly, Milo held the baby up, a foul acrid smell emanating throughout the room as it got instantly hotter.

  “Ahhhhhhh, it is beautiful,” The voices hissed and squirmed over one another.

  Suddenly the room glowed bright above him, a soft glorious light, and Milo realized that it was coming from the baby.

  The voices screamed painfully, collectively, in such a tortuous way that Milo could feel it in the depths of his soul, causing him to nearly drop the baby.

  “What have you brought to us, you wretched Human? It glows like Yashwa,” The voices cried out, angry and painful.

  “Yes,” they agreed with one another, still squealing in agony, “It smells like Yashwa.”

  The room suddenly got small and Milo lowered the baby, holding her close. Suddenly, in front of him stood the Ubilez, large and spindly, taking up the entire room around him. Milo realized that he was standing in the middle of them as they towered over him, their teeth large and eyes black. The heat that radiated from them was sweltering and he held the baby close, instinctively, as though to protect her. Milo could feel his heart pounding as hard as it ever had, a man who was forged in battle, suddenly as frightened as a small child. The Ubilez were depraved and vicious and Milo was terrified to breathe a single breath.