?You were born for greatness, Alystrianna.?
The scene went fuzzy like the tuner on the television had gone out.
?You are the one.?
The scene continued to morph, her father standing over her while she sat in the large ornately carved, oak chair. The science project in front of her remained untouched because she had been busy staring out the window, wanting to go outside and play with the other children.
?I just want to go play, Papa. I?m only six. Can?t I go play?? Large violet eyes too big for her face stared up at him, brimming with tears.
It wasn?t that her father was a harsh man or unkind, he was actually very loving, gentle, and every bit of the nurturer that a small child needed. Even though Alystrianna was not the biological child of either of her parents, she had never been made to feel otherwise.
?Child. If only you could see what you are. We?ve been waiting hundreds of years for you.? Reaching out, his fingers stroked lightly over her cheek.
?But I?m only six. What greatness could a six year old do??
How could her father argue with that? The innocence of a child who had not seen the horrors of her world was refreshing. A child who was not aware of her capabilities continued to stare up at him, crystalline tears streaking down her cheeks now, so different from the bloody tears of her clan.
?You would be surprised what a six year old can do, if only you would apply yourse?? He trailed off as he reached out to wipe the tears from her cheeks.
?Alright alright.? He softened. ?What have you done to me my dear girl?? Picking her up from the chair, he placed a kiss to each of her cheeks, remembering how hardened he had become before her arrival and how she had changed everything.
?Go outside and play, but tomorrow, we start your physical training. No arguing and no tears, young lady.?
?Yes Papa. Tomorrow.? She bounced giddily as he let her feet reach the floor and then yelped in surprise as he gave her bottom a playful swat. ?Get.? And with that she took off running.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leaning away from the window, Aly blinked, trying to clear her eyes of the tears that clouded her vision.
?Damn.? Looking down she noticed how stained her shirt was with the bloody tears. You?d think she would be used to it by now. Her eyes were burning from how bright the day was; she hadn?t meant to sit there and stare out into the sunny sky as long as she had. She hadn?t drunk enough of Wolvinator?s blood to be able to withstand it, without some kind of repercussion.
Closing the heavy drapes that blocked out the sunlight, she stood up and walked, half blinded now out of the room, her Father?s words playing through her head.
What greatness had she accomplished? She had been blackmailed into working for a secret organization where she had created many things, many things that had ruined lives. Ruined her life; nearly ruined Wolvinator?s life. She had been stripped of every honor and award she had ever received as a scientist, falsely, and now was the laughing stalk of her profession. The way they had framed her, there was no way to prove them liars, no way to recover from that kind of deceit.
Since she had found Wolvinator, all of her so called greatness had been used in her plotting revenge against the organization. She had been training every day with the computer and with Wolvinator to sharpen her defense skills, she was stronger than ever and yet, there she sat, doing nothing with all of the power, knowledge, and skill she had.
If she couldn?t save her family, then she had to do something; something that was worthwhile, something that would make her father proud. Pacing through the halls near Wolvinator?s office, it clicked. The apathy and lazy attitude she had against the Avengers Initiative seemed to fade as she leaned up against the doorway, watching him work at his computer.
?Wolvie?? She knew she must look scary, what with blood running down her face and splattered on her shirt, but he was used to this.
?I?m ready. I think I?m really ready to join the Avengers.? The words were whispered, as though she was frightened to admit it, but she couldn?t sit back and do nothing, not when she was capable of so much. And maybe she would finally get the answers to her questions. What was this supposed greatness she had? How was it supposed to help her kind and others like her? Pressing her lips together as she watched the surprise and shock register across her husband?s face, she shrugged and finally the corners of her mouth tipped up into a small smile.
?Make the call.? With that she turned and walked off, ready to shower and don her specialized suit once again.
"And open a vein, I'll need a drink." She couldn't resist calling that to him from over her shoulder as she rounded the corner to take the stairs two at a time.
The scene went fuzzy like the tuner on the television had gone out.
?You are the one.?
The scene continued to morph, her father standing over her while she sat in the large ornately carved, oak chair. The science project in front of her remained untouched because she had been busy staring out the window, wanting to go outside and play with the other children.
?I just want to go play, Papa. I?m only six. Can?t I go play?? Large violet eyes too big for her face stared up at him, brimming with tears.
It wasn?t that her father was a harsh man or unkind, he was actually very loving, gentle, and every bit of the nurturer that a small child needed. Even though Alystrianna was not the biological child of either of her parents, she had never been made to feel otherwise.
?Child. If only you could see what you are. We?ve been waiting hundreds of years for you.? Reaching out, his fingers stroked lightly over her cheek.
?But I?m only six. What greatness could a six year old do??
How could her father argue with that? The innocence of a child who had not seen the horrors of her world was refreshing. A child who was not aware of her capabilities continued to stare up at him, crystalline tears streaking down her cheeks now, so different from the bloody tears of her clan.
?You would be surprised what a six year old can do, if only you would apply yourse?? He trailed off as he reached out to wipe the tears from her cheeks.
?Alright alright.? He softened. ?What have you done to me my dear girl?? Picking her up from the chair, he placed a kiss to each of her cheeks, remembering how hardened he had become before her arrival and how she had changed everything.
?Go outside and play, but tomorrow, we start your physical training. No arguing and no tears, young lady.?
?Yes Papa. Tomorrow.? She bounced giddily as he let her feet reach the floor and then yelped in surprise as he gave her bottom a playful swat. ?Get.? And with that she took off running.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leaning away from the window, Aly blinked, trying to clear her eyes of the tears that clouded her vision.
?Damn.? Looking down she noticed how stained her shirt was with the bloody tears. You?d think she would be used to it by now. Her eyes were burning from how bright the day was; she hadn?t meant to sit there and stare out into the sunny sky as long as she had. She hadn?t drunk enough of Wolvinator?s blood to be able to withstand it, without some kind of repercussion.
Closing the heavy drapes that blocked out the sunlight, she stood up and walked, half blinded now out of the room, her Father?s words playing through her head.
What greatness had she accomplished? She had been blackmailed into working for a secret organization where she had created many things, many things that had ruined lives. Ruined her life; nearly ruined Wolvinator?s life. She had been stripped of every honor and award she had ever received as a scientist, falsely, and now was the laughing stalk of her profession. The way they had framed her, there was no way to prove them liars, no way to recover from that kind of deceit.
Since she had found Wolvinator, all of her so called greatness had been used in her plotting revenge against the organization. She had been training every day with the computer and with Wolvinator to sharpen her defense skills, she was stronger than ever and yet, there she sat, doing nothing with all of the power, knowledge, and skill she had.
If she couldn?t save her family, then she had to do something; something that was worthwhile, something that would make her father proud. Pacing through the halls near Wolvinator?s office, it clicked. The apathy and lazy attitude she had against the Avengers Initiative seemed to fade as she leaned up against the doorway, watching him work at his computer.
?Wolvie?? She knew she must look scary, what with blood running down her face and splattered on her shirt, but he was used to this.
?I?m ready. I think I?m really ready to join the Avengers.? The words were whispered, as though she was frightened to admit it, but she couldn?t sit back and do nothing, not when she was capable of so much. And maybe she would finally get the answers to her questions. What was this supposed greatness she had? How was it supposed to help her kind and others like her? Pressing her lips together as she watched the surprise and shock register across her husband?s face, she shrugged and finally the corners of her mouth tipped up into a small smile.
?Make the call.? With that she turned and walked off, ready to shower and don her specialized suit once again.
"And open a vein, I'll need a drink." She couldn't resist calling that to him from over her shoulder as she rounded the corner to take the stairs two at a time.