He was already a Quintessence, that much I could feel from him, as he boasted a strength higher than his brother’s when he was born. If that was the case, it was completely feasible that he indeed did recreate the means for him to gestate longer in my womb when his brother was born. Even though they had utilized my power before, this must have exhausted him as well, which is why he arrived so late.
As I cradled this sweet bundle of pure joy in my arms, I could not even remember the pain and torment that brought about his conception. All I could feel was the love I had for him, and his love he had for me in return. The pain of not being able to hold both of them together crept its way in, but it was nearly muted by the bliss.
I found myself in for another shock as I held him in my arms. It may have been a result of being completely lucid rather than falling comatose as I had done in my previous birth, but this child continued to confound with his ability. Right before my eyes he began shifting between an Aqueous and Gaseous form, indicating he was not just a Quintessence, but a True Quintessence. From what I knew this was not something children were able to do from an early age, as they lacked the power to manifest it, but this little one, less than an hour old was performing it as instinctually as breathing.
When I saw this occurring, it made me wonder if this was the reason I felt practically nothing when he was born. If he had done this as he was bursting forth from inside me, it made sense that his body would conform to mine, and not the other way around. There was still the fact that I was in a better state now than before he was born, so he must have done that as well.
It had only been two months since I gave birth to his brother. Holding him in my arms made me long so intensely for the little one I had left behind that I had made a decision for myself to undo my wrong. I would go back and reclaim my child so we could be a family again. These children were special and needed one another, that much was clear from the way they mingled in my womb. As I began to strengthen my resolve and formulate my plan to reclaim my child, I was hit with a powerful vision, so intense it was as if I was living and breathing it.
By reuniting my children, I was setting the world back on the path of destruction. To my horror they stood at the sides of their father and the world was powerless against their might. Such unstoppable displays of power were enough to topple the structure of government and civilization in the world as we knew it.
In the midst of my horrible foretelling of the future, I thought to hope for at least being able to keep the one child with me, but almost as a punishment for my insolence in thinking I could be happy, my vision shifted, but somehow ended on the same path. He would be taken from me and the world would still fall to the same fate as before.
It felt as if my destiny was to forever experience heartbreak, because no path forward with me keeping my children ended well. The first time I had barely managed to push through the pain and agony, the imminent danger dragging me onward. Now, with no imminent danger, the weight of what had to be done was almost more than I could bear. For the briefest of moments, I contemplated ending both of our lives since we were doomed if we stayed together much longer.
Thankfully I was able to come to my senses, not succumbing to such horrendous selfishness and cowardice. I knew what had to be done, but it did not make it any easier. For the second time, I would have to give up my child. I now understood why my fate was shown to be barren, because I was capable of being nothing more than a surrogate, never to know the joy of raising children of my own.
My fears actualized, it seemed that Meysam had indeed survived, and I would be the one to bring my children to him. The pain of what I would have to do was staggering, but I knew there was no other option. The first thing I needed to do was ensure the health and security of this child.
I utilized my contacts to find the most advanced affinity testing site that could be utilized discreetly. If it turned out he was able to have his affinity tested unlike his brother, that would put him in just as much danger as his father could. To my extreme joy he shared the same trait as his brother, all testing, even the most advanced of prototypes returned inconclusive results. I could only think it was because it was not designed to measure a being with two attunements.
With his health and security ensured, I knew that I needed to get him to someone who would love and care for him as their own, and could also keep his secrets safe. It also scared me that during their time in utero they were able to draw upon my power. Though I could not say this was something they were capable of now that they were born, I thought it best to keep him away from greater sources of power that could potentially bolster his already staggering abilities.
Thankfully I had the perfect candidate in mind. During my time I met and befriended a woman named Brighid who had lived through a life of unspeakable tragedy. Because she was born with such a low echelon and also an Earth Affinity, she had been captured and been subjected to a sex trafficking ring for almost a decade of her life.
When we freed these women, she was all but used up, there was not much in life that she responded to. I believe this was a defense her mind put in place, but it also made her the perfect plaything that never fought back for years. With time I had been able to reach her and little by little she opened up to me. In her healing, we formed a bond that was stronger than any I had known at that time. We also bonded over being barren, and how the world saw fit to steal from us the joys of motherhood. We had kept in touch, but I had not spoken to her since my own capture. Even then I was sure if I reached out and explained the situation, she of all people would not only understand completely, but be sympathetic to my plight.
Brighid had always been a hard worker in whatever she did, but she was not particularly adventurous. This made things easier for me because I was able to find her in exactly the same place I last knew of her to be. When I showed up at her doorstep she cried tears of joy to see me because she had heard of my disappearance and everyone presumed me dead. The place in my heart that was still in tatters from losing Dinu was soothed by Brighid’s presence.
She was shocked to find the bundle I carried began to coo, and when she saw I had a newborn child she was filled with happiness for me. I told her my entire story and as I expected she completely understood, and could understand why I wanted to keep this child from harm. It was extremely difficult for me, but I chose to leave out the information about my first child, just in case by some cruel twist of fate Meysam found Brighid. I also did not want her to live with the burden of knowing the child I would be asking her to raise had a brother he could never know.
Brighid had always been an intensely honest woman, so she could not help but express her sympathy for my situation, but her utter elation at the thought of being able to have a child. Even though she thought this distasteful, it only further affirmed how grateful I was to know this remarkable woman with whom I could entrust my child to. Together we devised a plan to make her legally the child’s birthmother so that there would never be any sort of paper trail that could lead back to me for Meysam to follow.
I had but a few requests for her regarding our child. Firstly, I asked that he be named Anaar. Even though his father was a terrible man, I wanted him to know of and be proud of his heritage. As such we decided to tell him that his father was where he obtained both his Niukonska and Persian genetics. By giving him a name from his father’s lineage, it would let him have a piece of the man we so dearly sought to keep him away from.
Secondly, I asked that whatever she did, she never spoke of me. There was too great a chance that he would wonder about his heritage and seek me out as a resource. I knew that if I was to keep him safe, I had to all but disappear from his life, not matter how much it tore me apart. Even though we would stay in contact, we would do so very infrequently, and I would always initiate it when I knew it was secure.
Finally, she had to protect his secrets at all costs. I did not go into detail about what exactly that meant, but I did explain that he was extremely special and would
likely grow to be somewhat of a handful. I apologized in advance, but she saw the opportunity to experience motherhood as the greatest of blessings, no matter the challenges.
I did explain to her that his affinity could not be detected, which would surely come to be an issue at some point. Initially it worked in our favor because combined with her incredibly low echelon, the doctors all but expected the inconclusive measuring of his affinity. This would make the perfect cover for him growing up.
I gave her as much money as I could to get her started, and told her I would find some way to get her more over the years when I could. She tried to refuse it, but we are both stubborn women so in the end she saw reason when it came to supporting a child. I was surprised when she asked if she should tell him he was an Earth Affinity since his could not be detected. I knew very well that he would know that was untrue quite early in his life, so I decided to instill in him the only wisdom I had the chance to as a mother. With tears in my eyes, I left my child for a second time, leaving only these words as his legacy.
“Tell him that his affinity does not make him who he is, and no one else for that matter. All that matters is the strength of their heart, the purity of their spirit, and their dedication to rising above arbitrary shackles that prevent us from being the humans we should be. People will try to label him, let them, but never acknowledge their labels as truth, even if he has to bear them in this current society.”
38
With Yatik’s story fresh in his mind, Anaar found himself once again brimming with both feelings and questions. Since he found out she had abandoned him, he had long since wanted to lash out at her for being irresponsible and heartless. Now armed with the knowledge of the circumstances, he was no longer apoplectic, and he sympathized with someone put into such a terrible predicament.
To be denied something for your entire life, only to by miraculous means obtain it and lose it twice was something he was not sure he was strong enough to bear. His loss of control seemed like mere tantrums compared to what this woman had endured. Even as he sat in front of her he knew she must be hurting because his presence only reopened old wounds that had not fully closed.
Even though it was growing quite late, he could not restrain himself from delving into his questions. Rather than beginning with the things he had come to learn before arriving, he instead started with new interests from what he had gleaned.
“Essentially everything you have done has been driven by your ability of Prophecy. Do you really believe in your visions so strongly that you could find no other way out of your situations?”
“Having the ability to foresee things relating to your future is much more taxing than anyone could imagine. Most people live their lives wondering if the choices they made were good ones, or if they could have done something better. When you are essentially handed the script to your life and you choose to make bad decisions, you feel guilty because it feels as if you squandered an opportunity others would kill to have.”
“I suppose I can understand that point, but I’m not sure you actually answered my question. It was your genuine belief that if we had been allowed to fall into our father’s hands, Yefferson and I would be responsible for the destruction of the world. I understand you have a good track record, but do you not see how that is rather farfetched? I mean we are but two people, and even if our father is as powerful as you say, that makes three. Three against billions seems like pretty poor odds.”
“I understand your reluctance to believe. Even after all these years I too sometimes doubt my own visions. With that being said, there is something completely different about feeling and experiencing it firsthand rather than telling someone about it.”
“How so?”
“When I have a vision, it is like I am living it. I am fully gripped by that which I am experiencing, unable to escape. I am sure you have read stories about slavery and how it was during that time. You may experience sadness or sympathy, but it does not compare to it being your reality.”
“I suppose… But I can’t help but think that there were so many more options available to you throughout these experiences. For instance, rather than leaving Yefferson alone, why could you not send him with your caretaker Dinu so he did not grow up alone?”
From the lowering of her head and the tears beginning to well in her eyes, Anaar could tell she must have asked herself something similar many times in the past. He was about to apologize and move forward when she dabbed her eye and gave him a response.
“For all my visions, for all my ‘wisdom’, the fact remains that I was but a 25 year old girl. No amount of visions can make up for life experience. I would be lying if I told you I felt I made all the right decisions, or that I made the best out of a bad situation. Leaving Yefferson at that clinic that day is my biggest regret. That is why I refused to make the same mistake with you. I needed to make sure you were well taken care of.”
“I suppose that explains why he feels such resentment toward me, at least partially. I didn’t know his last name until you told me today. Somehow he found me and learned enough about my past to grow to hate me. How did he manage that when I have been grasping at the crumbs he leaves behind?”
“Unfortunately I do not have that answer for you. That is something you will need to ask him yourself.”
Sighing as he rubs the back of his neck, “I don’t see that going well for me, but if the situation presents itself, I will be sure to jump on it.”
“Why do you think he would be opposed to a simple conversation?”
Scoffing, “You mean besides the fact that he is a punch first, forego the questions and keep punching kind of person?! Need I remind you he has tried killing me twice already?! I have heard of big brothers being assholes to their little brothers, but this is a little extreme.”
“Hmm, I see. If you do not think talking to him will prove fruitful, why do you seek him out?”
“Are you worried about your prophecy?”
“Partially, but it always hinged on your father’s influence. From what I can tell, I cannot help but believe you two are mature enough now that he would not be able to sway you in the manner he expects.”
“Yeah, neither of us even know what he looks like. I doubt we would be swearing eternal devotion to him. Even if Yefferson were to fall in with him, I can’t see him being easily controlled. To answer your question though, I have a number of reasons that I have to risk myself to reach him.”
“Such as?”
“Well for purely selfish reasons, he keeps doing bad things and we have the same face! I get into more than enough trouble on my own, I don’t need any help. With all the things he is doing, I feel an obligation to stop him. I feel like… I’m the only one that can stop him.”
“That surely cannot be all.”
“Wow, did my display of altruism ring that hollow?”
“Oh no! I did not mean to imply-”
“You are pretty much right even if you did mean to imply that. All my life I have felt this… hunger, no… more like a yearning. It sometimes is so strong it is practically unbearable. I never knew what this was until I met him. Even when he is trying to kill and barbecue me, I can’t help but feel a sense of peace and wholeness.”
“This is to be expected. Most twins are said to have a deep unbreakable connection. It is related to coming into existence and growing together. This is even stronger for identical twins as you split from one into two. In your situation I believe it goes much deeper.”
“What makes us so special?”
“I told you that in my womb I could not tell the two of you apart. It was only once Yefferson was born did it become evident. My original prophecy always foretold of one child with all the attunements. I believe there is a particularly strong resonance between you two since you were technically supposed to be one. You complete one another.”
“I can buy that. I am a guy with two attunements. If I started being picky about what was possible now, it would pretty much negate my own exi
stence. Something else that bothers me is this thing inside me that I can only describe as darkness.”
Yatik’s eyes grew wide at Anaar’s mention of darkness, and she placed her hand on her chin, nodding thoughtfully.
“Something tells me you know what I am talking about.”
“Do you find yourself acting out of character when under the effects of this darkness?”
It was now Anaar’s turn to become baffled as he sat speechless for a few moments. “I never mentioned anything about it existing as a state of being. How did you know that?”
“I’m a shamaness and a seer of course! I have had many visions and dreams that I did not understand until you made mention if this darkness. Now it is like a large puzzle that is finally complete. I can see the picture.”
“What does that even mean?”
“I suppose it will help if we once again take a step back. I always thought your births were completely random, but over the years I obtained more and more information to prove a belief contrary to that.”
“Okay… I’m listening…”
“Our people have long worshiped the stars and constellations, long before civilizations like the Greeks or Romans. The basis for the zodiac actually came from our ancestors.”
“What does that have to do anything?”
“I once upon a time had dreams of a child being born of magma, and another being born of a rainstorm.”
“I still don’t understand what that has to do with us.”
“Yefferson was born on April 20th, while you were born on June 21st. He was born 31 days early, and you were born 31 days late. With this 62 day gap in your births, it places you in a very unique position relative to the stars. Yefferson, a Fire and Earth attuned was born in the cusp of Aries and Taurus, Aries representing his Fire attunement, and Taurus representing his Earth.”
Apotheosis (Song of Sophangence Book 3) Page 45