PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

A child sits on the ground of a marvelous cavern, quietly fiddling with a piece of paper, she looks upon the striking figure standing to her right. It’s dark, really dark, the only light shining eerily from the waters in front of her; making it hard to see what is happening. She wonders why she was brought here, to this cave, by the woman. She should be intimidated by her, anyone would be: and she would be too if she did not know that it was her mother. Her loving, caring, beautiful, warrior mother. 

The woman exudes power, the very air around her seems to crackle with it, even here in the dark it is not diminished. Her attire alone should warrant concern for any would-be enemies, with the blood red corset cinching her billowing white blouse, the black leather pants, and leather boots with iron shin and thigh guards. Not to mention her spiked gloves, shoulder armor, the daggers attached to each thigh or the sword on her back.

The woman looks to be in deep thought, staring off into the waters beyond. There is a hint of sadness on her face, she tries to conceal it, but you can see it nonetheless. She pulls her long locks of auburn hair forward and idly begins to plait it.

“I know Brighton but this is the only thing I can think of.” 

A man kneels beside her, in obvious distress. He looks heartsick.

“Oh Mylaina can we not send her to the Forrals instead? And have the gargoyles safeguard her? At least we will know where she is.” the man pleads.

The woman, Mylaina, looks upon the man. Her face heating with frustration.

“And what kind of life is that for a child Brighton?” She pauses, waiting for a retort she knows will not come. “You know as well as I do that it is not my wish to send her away. But there is simply nothing else we can do. If he sinks his greedy little paws into her, everything, it is all lost.” Her tone is clipped, angry.

“I know” Brighton whispers “but there will always be a part of me missing until we can bring her back.”

Mylaina looks back towards the waters, the plaiting of her hair forgotten. “That’s if we get to bring her back, if we even get to see her again.” Her voice cracks, a lone tear slipping down her cheek as she kneels beside Brighton, who pulls her into an embrace. 

The child looks confused, and bewildered. It seems as though they are talking about her, but she cannot fathom what they are talking about. Surely they cannot be talking about her, they would never leave her, they love her. She stands up and starts to make her way over, intent on questioning them. 

Hearing a noise she pauses to look behind her, looking to the stairwell that leads to the surface. There are hurried footsteps descending towards them. Her heart skips a beat, and for a moment she stands there waiting, paralyzed with fear. Mommy said that they would be safe here, that no one else would be coming to this cave. So why then does she hear the footsteps? 

A man appears at the foot of the steps, just a faint shadow in the dark distance, but he is a large beast of a man. His presence is intimidating, it commands the whole cavern, much like her mothers’ does; he looks like Mommy too, she thinks, but mommy doesn’t look scary. This man, he is scary. She screams as he takes a measured step into the cavern, towards her. 

“Mommy!” 

Mylaina and Brighton lookup as one, startled by their daughters’ outburst. They jump up as they notice the man, Mylaina draws her sword, and the ring of it is deafening.

“The water Lilli, run towards the water!” Mylaina screams, as she barrels towards the beast.

She hears a crash, and at the urging of her mother the child starts running, running towards the water. She clutches the piece of paper that her mother gave her and told her to keep safe. 

At the edge of the water she hesitates, she’s not sure what mommy wants her to do with the water. 

“In the water, jump into the water Lillianna!” Brighton pleads, as he stands at the edge and starts to mutter words that she cannot understand. 

She jumps in; it’s cold, so cold. The water is swirling, sucking. There’s a big hole in the middle. She’s pulled deeper and deeper towards it, her head bobbing under the water.

“Pray keep her safe, I love you little one” is the last thing she hears as she slips underneath the surface of the water and down into the big hole.