A Life Founded on Lies

“Look at the way she sleeps, it’s the most adorable.” A woman smiled, looking up at her husband.

“She has your eyes,” he smiled back with his reply, looking down at the child she held in her arms. Eyes of crimson looked up at the couple, the bundle of joy cried out with laughter as her eyes fell upon her father. “I fear for the life she will have growing up around here though.” The husband glanced back over to the wife.

“We can only do our best, to give her a happy, fun-filled life.” The woman sighed, returning the baby to her crib.

There was a knock. “BAKERFIELDS! STORMWIND ARMY! BY ORDER OF THE KING — “ The man wheeled back around to the woman. “Here?! NOW? We must hurry and leave, Charlotte!” The man marched towards the door, picking up his sword as he did. “We must escape and head south to Moonbrook!”

“No Daniel… It is too late for us… but perhaps, not too late for Abby.” She picked up the child and walked over to the Daniel. He held himself against the door.

“You are ordered to execution by the House of Nobles of Stormwind! By order of the king! Resistance will be met with a blade!”

Daniel looked down at his child, then back to the door. He took a deep breath. “We surrender.”

Six guards, dressed in heavy plate armors and wearing a tabard representing the city of Stormwind walked into the small abode. Two other men followed in shortly, one wearing a tricorne on his head, one with a big beard, muscular and handsome, the other clean shaven and wearing a brimmed open helmet.

“By order of the House of Nobles, you are to be hung in the gallows. Please, come with us.” The clean shaven one stated.

“Now now, let’s not be so -hasty-, Demetrius.” The handsome one grinned. “Really, do these two deserve public attention?”

“It is the order, Leon.” The man furrowed his brow, narrowing his eyes on the man.

Daniel spoke up. “We will go with you, freely, we accept punishment, but please, take our child somewhere safe.”

“No. I think you will not go anywhere.” Leon grinned. “Guards. Kill him.”

“Leon? What? NO!” Demetrius argued, looking at the guards, but it was too late, one took a bayonette and stabbed him straight through the back of the heart. Daniel would fall to his knees, bleeding out.

Leon turned to Demetrius. “It is alright, Deme, you will learn this is how we get things done.” He raised a pistol to the man’s face, and finished the deed.

“No!” Charlotte cried out, falling to her knees while still clutching the baby in her arms.

“No? Did you say no when you housed those cretins in the Brotherhood? Did you say no when they shot and killed one of my guards? Did you say NO then? An innocent’s life was lost.” Leon smirked, turning his attention to the woman.

“And now I have claimed one criminal, it is time for my gun to claim two more.”

“T-two?” Charlotte spat out.

“Yes, your child.” Leon grinned. “Perhaps her first.”

“Absolutely not!” Demetrius shoved Leon. “That is against the o — “

As Demetrius spoke up, he was backhanded. “Actually, very well. I will spare the child, and YOU will deal with where it goes. Take the child, Demetrius.”

“I didn’t mean — “

“Take the child, or I will have you kill it.”

Demetrius shuddered, she’d reach for the child. Charlotte was reluctant, she looked up into the eyes of Demetrius. Something in her soul stirred her to give the baby up.

The child looked up to Demetrius, the beady crimson globes looked back at the man with a twinkle in her eye. He smiled, as the child did back at her.

“Please… take care of her.” Charlotte looked up at Demetrius, she’d murmur under her breath something else to the man. He nodded in return.

“I will.”

“Guards, please escort Demetrius back to Stormwind. He will be tried for Treason.” Leon sneered.

“Treason?”

“You defied a superior, and must be punished.” Leon glared at Demetrius. “An example will be made,” he rose the pistol up to Charlotte, “to all that stand in my way.”

A gunshot run out from the farmhouse, the ravens gathering outside cawed and scattered as it hung heavy in the air.

Demetrius limped through the Cathedral Square with the baby tightly wrapped in his arms. He had kept the child safe, the dying wish of the mother it was born too. He approached the small little abode that was the Stormwind City Orphanage.

“Matron Martina?” he asked, looking around as he walked in. There was several children gathered in a circle playing a game.

“Hmm? Demetrius, it is good to see you again. How do you fare?”

“I bring.. a child.” He handed over the baby to the Matron and fell into a chair with a heavy thud.

“Demetrius! What happened, are you hurt? What of this child? Do I need to register them.”

“L-Leon… he had me beaten and told me to care for this child, to which I have no experience.” Demetrius was panting, grasping at his leg.

“Again? So many reports against the man, yet he leads the army still. I do not understand.” She looked down at the child. “I have a crib, I can take care of this little one for you. Do you wish to keep her?”

“N-no.. I am not a good caretaker.. I told the mother.. her dying wish before she was executed by Leon… that she would be taken care of.” Demetrius looked up as the baby was placed into a crib.

“I see.. we will keep her safe here.” Martina turned around, turning to Demetrius. “You should go get yourself looked out at the Cathedral… see if they can patch you up.”

“Mmm- am fine.” He nodded, standing back up with a gasp of air. He walked over to Martina and placed an arm around her, looking down at the child.

The baby looked up with a smile and laughter. The crimson eyes started at the two.

“Did she have a name, Demetrius?”

He pondered for a moment. “Yes.. If I recall..”

“Abbigail.”