Atticus navigated his way through the catacombs, squeezing himself through many small tunnels and adjacent rooms.
When he was younger, he explored the catacombs and the contents of the caskets. It always baffled him as to why the caskets were so small. The bones it contained were that of what looked to be small children. Barely half the size of Atticus. Although some caskets contained bones that were even smaller.
Atticus questioned the existence of these bones. Yet no matter who he asked no one seemed to know. And those that gave the impression of knowing why the bones were so small never told him.
In the end, Atticus concluded youngbloods were the only ones ever buried in the catacombs. While the adults were sent away by the river in the old days. Now, since resources have gotten so low within the past hundred years, everyone had to be sent down the river.
High pitched voices echoed in the distance. It grew louder the closer Atticus got. Their voices bounced off the walls, traveling in such a way that they seemed to be everywhere.
Atticus stopped in an open room where an independent coffin made of stone sat in the center. The lid of the coffin was in the shape of a man lying on his back with what looked to be a weapon on top of him. His eyes were closed and he was beardless but had a sturdy face.
Atticus knelt at the foot of the stone tomb then moved a head sized piece of debris away from its resting place. Behind the slab was a hole nearly elbows deep and palm sized wide. Atticus stuck his hand inside and pulled out an object wrapped in a leather cloth.
Inside the cloth was a long thin whistle. Atticus placed it on his lips and made it sing a structured tone. One that was short but easily recognizable.
Once Atticus had finished the song, he wrapped up the whistle and put it back in place. He sat himself down on the edge of the tomb and waited.
After some time, soft footsteps echoed nearby. From the tunnel where the voices originated a young boy stepped forth with thick black hair and a small frame.
Atticus looked over the young boy. He noticed the features on his face were more distinct than the last time he saw him. The jawline was nearly identical to Atticus. As well as the shape of his eyes and nose. All of these were things they inherited from their mother. And that is also where their their similarities ended.
Where Atticus was tall the boy was small. Where Atticus had fair skin, the boy was darker. Atticus had slight curls at the end of his hair but the boys was made of tight ringlets.
The other major difference was their ears. The boy had round ears, commonly found in humans. Atticus had a different kind entirely. Not long like the elves but pointed to an even sharper point than the elves. It was the same size as a human’s but nowhere near the same shape.
“I brought you some food, Cornelius.” Atticus said, handing the small sack of food to the youngblood.
Cornelius raised his hand, unwilling to take the bag. Atticus stood up, took Cornelius’s wrist and forced the bag into his hand.
“You need to eat, Cornelius. Take it.” Atticus pressed the bag into his hand. Letting go he stepped back.
“I have food, you don’t need to take care of me. I’m thirteen now, nearly fully grown.” Cornelius said, tossing the bag onto the tomb. “Besides, if anyone needs it it’s your youngblood.”
“Mom’s not here anymore so I have to take care of you, besides” Atticus muttered, “she’s not even my blood anyway.”
Cornelius let out a dry laugh. “Have you seen her lately?” He waved a hand in front of his face. “She looks like you but, you know, pretty. And she’s got the ears.”
“That doesn’t mean anything.” Atticus said. “A lot of people have the ears.”
“Lies.”
“And Io knows how to get her own food, she’s been going to Edan for supplies.” Atticus added.
Cornelius raised an eyebrow. “So, you have been keeping tabs on them?”
“Shut up and take the food.” Atticus snapped.
“I told you, I’m fine. We’re fine.” Cornelius waved his hand toward the voices. “We have our own food.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Conelius sighed then scrunched his nose as he peeked at Atticus through half closed eyes. “I’ll show you but you have to keep it a secret, all right?”
“Of course.”
Cornelius let out a smile then nodded. “Good. Follow me.”
End of Chapter 1
Comments (0)
See all