Crimson Angel
Prologue
Under the cover of night, they fled. It was raining lightly and neither mother nor daughter was dressed for the rain or the cold wind that tore at their clothing. The little girl wore a blanket her mother had wrapped and pinned around her small frame to give her some protection from the wind. In one had she clutched her dolly, while her mother pulled her along by her other hand. They passed by houses and shops, made their way down tight allies, until they finally emerged at the edge of the town, at the foot of a large hill. "Mamma? How much further?" she asked when her mother paused to gaze at the top of the hill. "Just to the top of the hill, Cassaera, we'll be there soon, I promise." She turned and knelt, drawing the small girl into her arms, "Once we get to the top, you can rest." The little girl nodded her agreement, and again they set off, climbing slowly but steadily onwards and upwards.
The path up the hill was muddy and Cassaera stumbled on small rocks a number of times. Her mother helped her up time after time, and after what seemed like forever they finally reached the top of the hill. Cassaera's mother stopped at the top to survey the town they had left behind. There was no visibility, even from their high vantage point, though the woman could make out some of the closest roofs. "I-I'm c-c-cold." Cassaera announced, shivering. Her mother looked down at her, taking in the small frame of her daughter, the blanket that was meant to keep the young girl warm and dry was now muddy and soaked through. Somehow, the five-year-old had managed to keep her dollie free of the mud that covered the rest of her. She would have to get the heavy wet blanket off of her daughter soon, or the girl would catch a chill. Again she took her daughters hand, and without a word pulled the shivering child towards the tower that crowned the hilltop. It took a few minutes of struggle before the heavy wooden door squealed in protest and gave beneath her shoulder, and she ushered Cassaera inside. She quickly shrugged off the small leather bag that contained their other clothes then unpinned the blanket from her daughter's shoulders. Underneath, her daughter's clothes were mostly dry, there were only two damp spots on the ragged clothing. Cassaera shivered still, and her mother pulled her into the center of the tower, and they sat together on the floor. In minutes, Cassaera had fallen into a light sleep, her head resting on her mother's lap.
Her mother held her close, no longer aware of the tower, or the howl of the winds outside, or the warmth of the small girl in her lap. Her mind had wandered away, to a happier time, not even half-a-year gone, when she had been more than a mother, back to a time when she had been a happy wife. She loved her daughter dearly, but she missed her Luke, and most worrying, she had no idea how she would be able to support herself, Cassaera, and a baby. A protective hand absently drifted towards her abdomen, and she was momentarily returned to the last time she and Luke had been together. It had been almost six months since he had disappeared, and earlier that very evening her brother's wife had thrown her and Cassaera out of their house. The memories faded, leaving her again in the confines of the tower. In the morning, she would take herself and Cassaera to her cousin's home, where she would beg for work and shelter, but for now she would let Cassaera sleep.
Outside the storm continued to increase in size and speed, almost ready to unleash its full fury on the hilltop. The air grew around the two figures grew thick with tension and energy. For a moment, everything stopped. The wind died, the rain faded to the lightest drizzle, and the flow of a mother's memories halted their attack on her heart. Before she could stop herself, before she even realized what she was doing, she had already spoken the words of her wish. "I wish we could start over, somewhere far away, where we wouldn't have to worry." All the gathered energy swirled around the two figures in the center of the tower, forming a bubble around the two. As suddenly as the storm abated, it raged again around them, lightning illuminating mother and daughter, the following thunder startling Cassaera awake with a yelp. The rain returned in torrents, and the wind whipped at the stonewalls.
"Mamma?" Cassaera's voice betrayed her fears. "What's happening?"
"It's just the storm, love, everything will be ok." Her mother assured, though it did not escape the little girl that her mother's voice was shaking. "Just close your eyes and hold tight to me, all right, love?" Cassaera nodded her assent, and squeezed her eyes shut and buried herself against her mother's side.
Lightning struck the ground, close to the tower, making Cassaera whimper and held her mother tighter. Cassaera could hear the wind outside, and she imagined the wind was screaming a name.
This time, when the lightning hit, it hit the tower. Cassaera's eyes shot open, and the energy that had been collecting around them exploded outwards with a crack of thunder, and suddenly, for both mother and daughter, everything went black.