Malevolence: A Beginning

Chapter 1

Xenos glanced out the window, watching the sun rise on the ugly, crowded upper city of Charmaine. The trees had long been cut down to make way for more homes and streets for the ever-growing population. Brushing some of his jet black hair out of his silver eyes he let out a long sigh. It had been a long time since he had been outside, the maids wouldn’t permit it until he reached Orteg; the time of growth. Orteg was when a person of Dakarai became of age, was qualified to become an adult. It was different for everyone, but most children started at about their 200th moon. It was shown by a strange characteristic that would last forever until the day you died. You got the characteristics of those from your birthplace plus an extra unique trait. Xenos’s eldest brother, the heir to the Zelus rule, had undergone Orteg like all of Charmaine and had his hair bleach into a silvery white. Some unlucky people would never reach Orteg and die of Malevolence poisoning. Malevolence was the chemical people were born with that made the people of Dakarai change. It was of course, only the slight amount of the disease that would go away over a period of 5 moons. It was the fact that you survived that made you be of age. Of course, Orteg wasn’t always a good thing. Some would grow an extra leg, or even have your eyes merge into the skin of your face leaving you eyeless and blind. These mutants were always killed if not by the large amounts of Malevolence.

As he watched the busy, crowded streets below, Xenos wondered what it would have been like to not be the youngest son of Kyros Zelus. Being so, Xenos could not: leave the palace, not attend formal meetings, or any of the things normal boys did. His father was not King of Dakarai, only ruler of Charmaine, but Xenos didn’t think it would make a difference if he was or not; Kyros was quite strict, and wanted his family to act just like the grand ruler’s. Life was not boring, however. It was tortuous for young Xenos. Being a Balthasar, or ruler, Kyros was never around for his family, or even fond of them. He was too obsessed with his reign. He was a great leader, but a terrible father. Never, did he pay attention to his four sons without needing them to do something for him. Even his heir was only given consideration so that he could be a great ruler, though not as great as Kyros himself of course; he didn’t want anyone to be better than him.

All Xenos had were his two older twin brothers who hated him. It was a known fact that everyone in the palace hated Xenos. He had been cursed before he was even born. His mother had gotten a strong case of Malevolence while pregnant; meaning she and her unborn child would die. It turned you into horrible things, things that not even your worst nightmares could ever give. Xenos was cursed when he was born because he wasn’t supposed to be born. He had been born with no trace of mutation, only the fact that he was a weak, scrawny kid who couldn’t be the noble, fierce warriors the Zelus family was known for. His mother had died, like all of Malevolence’s victims. Her brain had shutdown when the mutations she suffered became overwhelming. Xenos didn’t remember anything about his mother the day he was born of course. All he had were occasional nightmares of that night. He was the cursed child that wasn’t supposed to live. For all the Charmaine healers knew, he was the child blessed by the devil, if it can be called a blessing, which it can’t.

Arsen and Zevo, the twins, hated Xenos the most. They always thought of him as useless and weak, and made him do their bidding. They beat him, and just plain tortured him. They were the ones who hated him and his curse; they blamed him for Mother getting Malevolence and dying. When something went wrong, it was always Xenos’s fault. When something was stolen by the twins, it was Xenos’s fault. It was even Xenos’s fault when Zevo harassed some of the Ladies. It didn’t matter what it was, Kyros always believed the twins so they would get out of his life. Chogan was the eldest brother. He was the only one who didn’t dislike Xenos. He treated him fairly, and didn’t give in to the twin’s lies. Chogan was the only one who ever listened to his youngest brother, ever giving him the love that was reluctant to be given form anyone else. But being the Zelus heir, he barely had time for his brother.

Xenos picked himself up from the windowsill and walked out of his chambers. His emerald tunic reflected off his eyes, pools of silver liquid. Hated as he was, Xenos still was treated as royalty, thus dressed like one. His hair was grown to his shoulders and pulled back. It was the simplest look for royalty, and the seamstresses wouldn’t exert any more energy or time on ‘the cursed one’. The young child walked down to the dinning hall. As a son of royalty, he was forced to be at the dining hall at sunrise everyday.

“Hey, it looks like the twerp decided to wake up today. It took you long enough,” Arsen whispered to his twin, but it was loud enough for Xenos to hear. He sat down, and showed no expression. It was best that way to avoid getting a beating on later, yet not seem like a wimp. Chogan was sitting right to Zevo’s left.

“Knock it off you two,” he ordered.

Zevo glowered, but quickly became emotionless as the ruler, Kyros Zelus, sat down. He may not have had the political power the King of Dakarai had, but he was a force to be reckoned with. It was said that if he wanted to, Kyros could turn a man to stone with only the incantation of two words. Magic was something only those who have undergone Orteg could do, and that wasn’t everyone who was blessed with the power. So far, Xenos only knew of two people who could use magic freely in the palace; Chogan and his father. Arsen and Zevo had only lived through 190 moons. They would be able to use magic in a matter of months. Xenos however, was only 153 moons old and would have to wait a while before he could gain any respect, if anyone would allow him some.

The breakfast was the usual, toasted bread with an egg and a leaf of lettuce. It was a normal breakfast, and Xenos didn’t care. Today was one of the days he had to watch his twin brothers train afterwards. He himself was not allowed to try of course; people were afraid that his curse would destroy them if he knew how to fight, or that’s what he was told. The real reason was that he was considered weak, and not worthy of wielding a sword, and he knew it. He did only weigh 50 pounds.

Kyros clapped and the palace workers stopped talking to one another and gave their attention to their ruler. He stood and motioned that the meal was over. Everyone stood and gave a deep bow towards their master. The room was cleared in a matter of minutes. Only Arsen and Zevo remained in the room with Xenos.

“Ok you little maggot,” Arson threatened, grabbing the front of his brother’s shirt, “You know the drill, you watch us, don’t do anything, and if anyone asks, we are your idols and you wish you were like us.”

Xenos looked to the floor and answered, “Yes, I know that by now.”

“Good,” Zevo said, “Last time you cost me a date with that fine Lady,”

Xenos nodded. He remembered telling that Lady Zevo was eyeing that he was an ass. Zevo tried to explain that he was laying but, all she did was walk away. What Xenos got was a few lashings and a week of hurt.

They walked to the training field just outside the place, but still inside its gates. It had the ever pungent smell of dirt, sweat, and the occasional blood. Xenos took a seat on a wooden bench that over looked the court that his brothers always used. They both unsheathed the swords they wore at their belt. Arsen’s sword was of the finest silver that he polished everyday. Its hilt was embedded with sapphires that glinted off his blue eyes. He held it sideways, in his ready to strike position. Zevo, on the other hand held his bronze sword in front of him vertically, ready to stop any attack Arsen might have pulled. The blade gave off an orange sheen with hints of gold from the topaz in the hilt. Arsen was the first to attack. He went for a straightforward blow. Zevo went to block, but Arsen went and curved his swing to set his brother off balance. This would have worked, if Zevo hadn’t been so agile and dogged. This was how it always went; an attack, then a dodge or block. It was extremely boring just watching when you’ve seen it over a hundred times. He sighed and closed his eyes. In moments, he was asleep.

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Note: This is the original Malevolence. It is my no measure like the new one (except for hte names) but it's here just because...