An Introduction to Divine Chaos

The past is our definition. We may strive, with good reason, to escape it or to escape what is bad in it, but we will only escape it by adding something better to it.
eep down some part of me knew, and accepted, that the Fates would soon snip Daddys twine of life and Charon would escort him far, far away from me, to a place I couldn't yet visit. Instead, foolish ignorance chose to keep the flame of hope burning while pride refused to believe Daddy would ever give up. It was these childish thoughts that gave me the strength to struggle through the day and onto the next.
But not today. Today, I had let my mind wander too far and doubt had begun to take root.

The hallway light cast a sliver of dim light a crossed Daddys person, only breaking when I passed through the stream with fathers wash pan that I sat on the nightstand beside the bed. As I climbed up beside him I gave him a peck on the cheek, as always.

"Good morning, Daddy." Though father hadn't been conscious for several days, I still greeted him as if he were. "I thought it might help you feel better if I were to wash you up a little." I allowed the sponge to gently caresse his face. "I've been keeping on top of your paperwork but Daddy, there are a few pieces that I don't understand and require your signature. I secured them in the middle drawer of your desk." ... "You shouldn't keep the elders waiting father, you know how impatient they are and I couldn't stand the thought of one of them trying to run the Damoure name through the mud."

"They would be a..., dead fool to..., dare try and..., oppose me, Alexiel."

Immediately following his words, they were met with a gasp of shock and delight though I was hesitant to believe my ears. None the less, my arm slowly pulled the sponge away from Daddys face and I was met with my proof: fathers gleeming eyes. "You're awake..." I was quickly becoming overwhelmed with the emotions delight and a ping of guilt, for doubting father; I couldn't move the the wash pan quick enough before I curled up between his arm and side.

His fingers had idly began to comb through my hair before he gathered the strength to speak again. "You act..., surprised." Though his voice was hoarse, he was still able to scold me with a single glance, he even spanked me once on the bottom, but it didn't matter. All that mattered was him being awake.

For fathers sake, I tried to downplay how worried and lonely I had been and I don't dare mention how I doubted him ever waking again. "I was just surprised by the sound, that's all." Despite my excitement and desire to share with father everything that had taken place while he rested, a wide yawn escaped my lips.

"Do not lie..., to me..., Alexiel." I could hear it now: the dreaded death rattle; my fingers held onto father. They wouldn't take him from me. "Now..., rest. I know..., how late you've been..., staying up." He didn't even allow himself to finish before he was pulling the thick comforter over the both of us.

How was I to refuse? I could feel my eyes closing but what if Daddy isn't here when I wake up? "I love you, Daddy..." What if he isn't here... when I wake?

And The Thunder Rolls

n awful roar of thunder echoed throughout the countryside, causing the house to tremble before its might and effectively woke me from my short lived slumber. My eyes had trouble adjusting in the dark before I realize Daddy was missing from bed. My stomach began to knot and twist as my heart began to race.

"Daddy?" I couldn't shake the feeling of dread and sorrow that loomed in the air as I reached the edge of the bed. Perhaps it was just the spring shower but as much as I wished I could believe that, I knew it was more than that. "Daddy, where are you? I'm scared..." I hadn't noticed but my feet were greeted by the cold, wet rug beneath them and I finally took a better glance at my surroundings.

The nightstand lay surrounded by a pool of water from the wash pan, the lamp lay in pieces and the bedroom door stood partially open. For some reason, I hesitated in approaching the open door, and with another strike of lightning lighting the room with a brilliant flash, I could've sworn Charon stood beside the door and pointing for me to go with a boney finger.

I gathered every ounce of courage I could find within my body before I approached the door, my focus never leaving the spot where the man in black had seemed to appear and disappear just as quickly as he came.

The hallway, as it stretch in front of me, seemed as if it could wrap around the earth twice but, before me lay a trail of smeared, bloody hand prints along the wall and those same walls carried the faint sounds of items being shattered from the first floor. An assassination attempt? What was I, a five year old, to do?! I was no match for an aged vampire, especially while I was unarmed. I would simply have to improvise on the way. I couldn't waste precious time searching for a weapon to arm myself with, not while Daddy's life hung in the air.

Making my way slowly toward the staircase, where the hand prints led to, while keeping my eyes open for any weapon-like objects. It proved fruitless, however, when I reached the top of the staircase, without a weapon. Yet I began to descend down them, with my back against the wall with the banister, I would not be struck down for making such a common mistake.

Upon reaching the last stair, the dreaded stair, it was obvious to me that the trouble was inside of Daddy's office, with a path of destruction leading to the door...

My Empire of Dirt

I don't recall walking through the dining room to reach the office door, and I don't recall the feel of the cold steel in my hand as I turned the doorknob, but I do recall my blood running cold as I stood in the threshold as Daddy spun around to face me. His torso was littered in deep, bleeding punctures, there was no assailant in sight but a bloody dagger dangled in his right hand. Tears, I had so desperately been fighting back, began to burn their way down both of my cheeks.

"Do you see?" He asked. I could see that his eyes were as wide as they would possibly go, claw marks littered both sides of his neck and the deranged crooked grin that played on his lips. "Do you see them, Alexiel?" I shook my head, unable to manage even a simple reply. "They're all around us..." His voice lowered to a whisper, and made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. "They have always been around us. Watching, waiting for us to die..."

It pains me to admit but I was helpless. I didn't know what in the world I could do OR say to help him. My wits had betrayed me, my courage betrayed me, even my voice had began to abandon ship. "Daddy," my voice cracked. "There is no one here but you and I..." He shook his head violently as he backed himself into a corner. "Won't you please come to bed? To-tomorrow we can visit Lucien and he can help you..."

Daddy's eyes began to dart to and from either side. "St-Stay away you, you monster!" While one trembling hand slashed wildly at the air, the other kept his person braced off of the wall. "Where did you go?" I could barely make the mumbled words at, but they were clearly there yet they made little sense.

My body trembled and a soft whimper escaped. "Da-Daddy... please. I..." I swallowed hard, I could hear Charons eerie chuckle with the pitter-patter of rain. "I haven't moved." As soon as the last syllable passed my lips, I was shushed. I followed his gaze with my own eyes; first to the right, then to the left and finally down before we both slowly started to look to the ceiling.

» A Piece of Heaven in Hell «

Dante is an infuriating, demanding and jealous man... that I love with every fiber of my being. We have been inseparable since elementary school and yet we didn't start dating until our junior year of high school together.

We were just children when we first met. I was new to school which meant I was like a raw steak threw into the lions pit. The rest of our classmates had decided to give me a "warm" welcome to being the new kid in school. The name calling and whispers started first, then came the chants and just when I thought I couldn't stand anymore it got worse. The physical abuse had started.
I would luck out as I had an "angel" watching out over me. With each attack they attempted, Dante got them back three fold. We'd began to speak more and I was slowly coming out of my shell. A shell I never thought I would climb out of.

We bicker with one another quite often; I love challenging him and I love him reminding me of my "place". Which is above him, even if he refuses to admit it. Some may assume we have a rocky relationship but that's simply how we are. It would be far too dull without the constant bickers between us for us to ever consider calming down. We must be doing something right as our marriage is stable and our children are happy and well taken care of.

Of course if you were ever to mention any of this to Dante he would simply deny it.

» A Sister Like No Other «

Morgan, while being the youngest, is like a mother figure to Dante, Poe and I. She is always going out of her way to do something or another for one of us and always putting hersef last without any expecting any of us to do something in return for her. In fact, if it weren't for her mediating Dante and I may have never came to be. That's just how Morgan is though and when she isn't doing something for Dante or I she is shadowing Poe; they're quite taken with one another and have been since elementary school. I always knew they would be cute together and I must admit I was surprised to see how much of a romantic Poe is but I digress.
I owe more than I care to admit to this woman and I am proud to call this woman a friend, though she is more like a sister to me than a simple "friend".

» Brother's Grim «

Ah, Poe. I have watched him over the years drasticly but yet at a steady pace change over the years. When we first met he had cut himself off from human contact completely but when little Morgan came into the picture that all changed, even if he wasn't ready to admit that in the beginning. She helped him through the darkest time in his life and he gave her the security she needed. Poe is fiercely loyal to all of us yet refuses to deal with the rest of humanity. That I do not blame him for; humans are quite dense and an irritating species. That aside, I owe this man a great deal and am glad to call him a friend. Even if he can be a tad sappy for my tastes.

» Setting «

A unique mixture of ancient Rome, America's Civil War era and a pinch of steampunk are the ingredients that make up the world that Alexiel, Dante, Morgan and Poe are set in.

Dorton: Stunning architecture, politics, but most importantly the Gladitor Arena are what sets the capital of apart from the rest. Only those that can stand the heat reside here. Aside from it's stunning appearance, Dorton's crime rate is, unfortunately, through the roof.

Fayeview: Home to the main cast. Although it's appearance may not be quite as grand as that of the capital don't let it fool you: only the cream of the crop reside here. Intricate architecture, only the best ranked schools, medical advancements and a low crime rate make Fayeview the best city to reside in all of .

Shadehollow: soon to come.

Oldhaven: Alexiel's hometown. Oldhaven's beautiful scenery makes for a peaceful retreat when one is looking for a getaway from the hussle and bussle of the big city. Home to a wide range of public parks, from rocky caverns to trails leading one deep into the Reddell forest to a man made lake, there is something for everyone of all ages to enjoy.

» Snippet Note(s) «

● Alexiel is an adult; these snippets are in no way, shape or form happening one after the other. They are simply my favorite scenes so far.

It should be explained that the snippet is what happened when the Creator* put Alexiel through a test. Let me elaborate.
As a side effect of their rough childhoods each horsemen has devolped a fear. Alexiel's fear is not only losing the man she loves, a fear of canines and somewhat afraid of Dante. The Dante that broke up with Alexiel is not truly the man she loves but instead a look-a-like that the Creator made to make Alexiel face her fears. She was ran out of her house for no reason other than for her to run into the man that raped her as a child and again as an adult. Alexiel was pushed to her lowest point to see if she would break or if she would realize the greatest that she, as a horsemen, is. Alexiel realizes in her darkest moment she is the rider of the white horse, she is Pestilence, and she has nothing to fear from canines nor should she be afraid of War (Dante).

* The Creator is just that. He created God, Lucifer, the Roman gods, the Greek gods -- everything. He saw the corruption spreading amongst mortal and immortal alike and made the four horsemen -- Pestilence, War, Famine and Death. As such, the horsemen are the legends of legends. They are to Gods as Vampires, Gods and the like are to us.