Micah: Short Story

Old Micah held the child closer to him. The little girl smiled, and gave a giggle. Micah frowned. This girl, a hybrid between elf and Immortal, should not have been named after her mother. That would be easier for her to find them.

“Isla,” Micah said, slightly changing her name. The little girl snapped her head to him, and he saw that she was full-elf, no matter if her father was an Immortal.

Where’s mother? she asked through her mind.

Micah almost jumped back. The girl, Isla, has the power of Mind. Micah was still recovering from his shock when she asked again, Where’s mother?

Micah was more experienced than Isla. But, before she grew older, she had to believe this one lie.

“Your father and mother are dead, Isla.”

The girl is silent for a few minutes more, thinking over his words. Then, she thought, What will happen to me?

Micah smiled, You’ll live with me.

At that point, they reached the meadow where the house was at. Micah walked up to the door, and opened it. Dust had settled over everything, but it was his fault for not coming here for years. He set the child down, and he lit a candle. After cleaning up a bit, he took some food out of his bag and gave it to Isla. She smiled, and said, Where are we?

He replied, Home.

The child grew, if not a bit faster than human children. But, then again, Micah kept her from all humans, elves, and dwarves, so she wouldn’t realize that not everyone has their power of Mind. If she found out, then she’ll be curious, and she’d leave. And then she’d be killed.

When Isla turned thirteen, she was a bright, fair child, with light blue eyes, long, pale blond hair. She never questioned Micah, and she was a good listener. But it all changed on midsummer’s eve.

Micah was growing weak. He had known it for so long, but he couldn’t worry Isla. Isla, the young girl who cared for him as a true daughter would. Unlike her mother. Micah just sent Isla on a trip to gather wild walnuts, when he sensed them. Barely a minute after, a woman walked in, followed by two men.

“Where is she?” the woman asked.

Micah stayed silent. His daughter did not deserve the truth.

“Where is she?” she asked, staring at Micah as if she could read his soul.

“Islana, she’s not here,” Micah said.

“She is. You’re just hiding her. You took my daughter. I had thought that you would have known the consequences,” Islana took a knife out of her pocket, “And you would have thought that my father would actually care for me and my children. I never was able to tell Wilem that he had a missing sibling.”

“Well, then, you aren’t the best mother around, are you?”

Islana’s piercing eyes threw daggers at Micah, “You took my only daughter away. And you somehow changed her name. Now, for the last and final time, where is she?”

“She must be around. Who knows? Anyways, she doesn’t remember you.”

“She does. She will always remember her mother.” Islana said coldly.

“She will not. She will become one of the Order of the Keepers, because she is strong enough to know the truth.”

Islana gazed at Micah, her eyes glimmering, “You know where the Keepers are?”

“Not that I would tell you.”

“Well, then, your fate is sealed,” Islana threw the dagger at Micah, silencing his heart. Then a sound like a moan came from the bushes. Islana whipped around, looking for her daughter. More rustling followed, and then silence.

Islana went outside, but she couldn’t find the source of the sounds.

But, someday, she will find her daughter.

But that day may be far from now.