Your Hand

Fic by Fallon

## PROLOGUE

“Daddy, is Mommy going to be okay?”

He looked up from his pacing, seeing his three children watching him, his daughters from the bench they sat on by the door that separated them from their mother and his son leaning on the wall opposite of the door with his arms crossed.  Seeing his youngest daughter’s worried, young face, he mustered out a smile and went over to kneel in front of her and his eldest daughter, placing his calloused hands over the youngest’s small ones.

“She will be,” he answered against his own fears, trying not to let his quivering voice be detected.

“What about the baby?” the youngest daughter asked with her large blue eyes.  “What’s going to happen to the baby?”

He opened his mouth to speak but the door opened and a nurse quickly motioned for the father.  He quickly stood and rushed in after telling his children to stay put.

He rushed to the bed, going on one knee and looking over his beloved wife tenderly.

“How is she?”

The doctor sighed as he rubbed his creasing forehead.  “I fear that if we don’t do an immediate operation, she and the baby will die.”

He widened his eyes at the thought of it.  “But it is not yet time!  The baby could die!”  The pain of the loss of their last two children still gripped his heart wretchedly, the feelings and memories very much still alive.

“Leonar.”  The doctor’s voice was gentle, but also stern and urgent.  “It’s either the baby or your wife.  Because of her injuries, this pregnancy has proven to be the worst for her.  We don’t have much of a choice.”

“Leonar...” a weak voice struggled to say.

He jerked his head over and put his hand on her arm lightly, tears filling his eyes.  “Do what you must, doctor.”

His beautiful wife’s once bright, cheerful blue and white eyes were now dimmed, filled with agony and sorrow.

“Leonar...” she whispered again and he leaned in close.  “Your hand...”

He immediately slipped his calloused hand under her smooth white one, closing his fingers gently.  “It’ll be okay, Eirlys,” he choked as her hand tightened around his to help bear the pain.  He tried to ignore the feeling that he could barely sense her life force.  “It’ll be okay.”

The process was long and painful, but the couple endured it as best as they could.  As soon as it was over, they were close to their tiny son.

The child gave no cry, no sound, no movement, but was breathing, very much alive.  And yet...

“What do you mean “the baby doesn’t have long”?!”  Leonar stared at the doctor in disbelief as they stood a bit away from the bed.

The doctor looked over to the sleeping mother and child, sighing.  “He didn't have the time to fully develop.  And because of that, he showing symptoms that are not normal for babies at all.”  He shook his head.  “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid you’ll only have a couple of months at best with the child.”

“Leonar, stop staring at your new son that way,” her voice weakly whispered.  “He may end up with that expression for the rest of his life.”

Leonar lifted up his tired, multi-colored eyes up to meet his wife’s, the corner of his mouth twitching up in an attempt to smile at her mild joke.

She smiled gently.  “Your hand, darling."

He placed his hand on top of hers and she squeezed it.

“We’ll make the most out of the time we have with him,” she softly told him with unshed tears in her eyes.  “Let’s not worry about the future.”

The door opened and their other children peeked in, their youngest giggling and gasping, their older two looking worried if they should get closer while shushing their little sister to be quiet.

Their mother smiled warmly as she beckoned to them.  “Come, my darlings.  Come meet your new baby brother.”

The youngest was at the bedside in a flash, trying to lean forward to get a closer look without falling on top of her fragile brother.  Her older siblings approached, the oldest sister leaning over to give their mother a kiss on the cheek.

“What’s his name?”  their son asked from the foot of the bed, looking at the baby with a blank expression.

Leonar and Eirlys smiled at each other, then at their silent, sleeping child.

“Eugeo Ashtar.”

-[]-

This...was just the beginning of my story.  My story that no one knows about, not even my legendary parents.  I should know...for I made sure that no one ever knew.  For I...am The Seer.

## Chapter One

​Kamal Ishean Mystereoru was the jewel of the ladies.  His slick, dark red-brown hair and golden-brown eyes were unlike any of his siblings or parents.  He was taller than most young men at his age, with broad shoulders and a distinct jawline.

​Just being in his presence was enough to send love-sick girls dying at the sidelines or at his feet, much to his annoyance.

​An apathetic young man, he was highly regarded as he was the eldest son of his legendary parents, respected among the elders and envied by the youngers.  He was favored by his teachers and criticized by his peers.

​However, he was not one to care.  The perks of popularity irritated him, often silently reproving his parents for being the cause of his problems.

He cared not for the young, adoring ladies...except three.  The only time he ever really smiled at one of opposite sex were his sisters, his only companions of joy and laughter.  Though he understood that Nereida was older by a year, that didn’t stop him from poking fun at her, relishing in her vexation.  To Sereia—who was five years his junior—he was the ideal big brother who played with her almost every time she asked him to.

​Aaliyah...she was his constant companion for most of his life.  Just two years younger than him, she made a promise to always look out for him, even if she got married.  He often wondered how true her promise was when she died.

​She was his everything.  She made sure he kept out of trouble, while also doing a bit of mischief herself.  She scolded him, teased him, supported him, defended him...who was to do it in her place now?

It seemed so far off when she died...but had it really only been almost two years?

​He often remembered how they would always hold hands when they go out in their younger years, laughing at the perplexed and envious looks others were giving them, contemplating on whether they were siblings or very close childhood friends.

​The feel of her hand was nearly forgotten and he didn’t want that.  He wanted to keep remembering how soft, smooth, and warm her hand felt...hear for her voice when she called for him.

*“Kamal!” she giggled.  “Give me your hand!  We’re going to the market today!”*

​Aaliyah Amaranth...

​He often spent his time since that dreadful battle walking aimlessly around, not his easy-going self anymore.  He became a hollow shell of what once was.  He wished for what was no longer there.

​When his brother came into the world, Kamal was afraid of getting too attached to him, as he did with Aaliyah.  He couldn’t go through that pain anymore.  Especially when he overheard the doctor.  He couldn’t do what his parents could for Eugeo.  He couldn’t risk losing another that he loved.

​He couldn’t understand how his parents could continue on with this.  Along with Aaliyah’s death, Eirlys had been pregnant but the baby died in her womb when she received her wounds.  And now...Eugeo did not have that much time to live.

​How could the gods be so cruel?!  Kamal hated those figurative beings who apparently ruled over them like his parents ruled over the Thysticals.  At least his parents were real.

His deep anguish became immense hatred toward the divine beings, ones he knew were not possibly real.  If they were, he would use every last ounce of his magic to be rid of them.

Just once more...just once more he wanted to hold your hand, Aaliyah.  Once more before you had died long before he even reached you.

​Aaliyah Amaranth Mystereoru...the sister whom I never got the chance to meet; I want to hold your hand to know if Kamal’s words are true of the feel.