Gabriel walked through tall grass of a flourishing forest, He couldn't hear a sound, nor could he produce any. This forest had a different texture for everything his skin touched. He sensed the grass underneath the soles of his feet, stiff like paper and the puddle he stepped into was thick and black. Something pierce the skin of his foot, tiny little shards embedded in his skin. The shard was cold and inviting to the touch much like the winters he so much enjoyed.

Gabriel heard a voice call to him, he could hear many of them, but he continued to walk and ignored them. He didn’t understand why he needed to walk but he was sure he needed to be there. “Gabriel.”

A hoard of demons and witches crawled from the shadows and chased Gabriel as voices spoke from the black skies. “God will cleans his holy land and maketh the promised land.”

A hand pulled on his shorts, ripping them off and making him fall from the force. Upon trying to stand on his feet, Gabriel was tackled by the demons and pinned him down, ripping off what little he had left of clothing and feasted on his skin and bones. “Gabriel…!”

From the shrill orchestra, an elysium star chanted his name. A gray hand broke through the snow fire sky and extended down to the screaming child. Gabriel lifted his broken arm, in a feeble attempt to grab the small hand. Purple diamonds painfully sprouted into a spear, piercing through the palm of the hand. The hand bled words and prayers as it gripped the spire, pulling Gabriel from the river of sin.

“Gabriel!”

“Gabriel!”

Gabriel’s eyes burst wide open and filled his lungs with the air he so desperately needed. A white light blinded his vision, it was warm and pure. As it dimmed and shaped into a familiar face, the boy’s body tingled with acute spasm of pain. All the screams he wanted to release were clogged in his sore throat, only small groans and squeals squeezed through.

The child’s eyes blurred with tears opened to the dimly lit room, right after he started to make out a silhouette his face was pressed into a bosom. Recognizing the scent of pixie moss and rose dew then Gabriel realized it was just a bad dream, suddenly the weight over his shoulders crumbled as a string of quiet sobs escaped his quivering lips.

“What’s wrong sweet prince?” Johan whispered and kissed the child’s wet cheeks. “Another bad dream…?” he asked.

Gabriel nodded and griped Grizelda’s nightgown for security. “I shouldn't have left the house…” he sobbed. “I’m sorry…!”

“Sweetheart,” Grizelda sighed as she held Gabriel close, “while we agree you shouldn’t have done it there is not much we can fix other than protecting ourselves from danger.”

Gabriel paused putting a thought to it and then agreed with a quick nod. “Be strong, Gabriel,” his father said, leaning in to both and holding them close before getting up the bed. “We should go out today and close the clinic.”

“Johan, we can’t do that. What if someone needs us?”

“Grizelda, it’s Sunday and we worked 3 weeks none-stop. I understand what you are feeling but we need to live as a family.” Johan stared out the window before glancing at Gabriel. “When was the last time we spent time with our little miracle?”

And with that the family decided; they dressed up in their best vestments and gathered at the parlor. “Are we ready to head out?” Grizelda asked.

“Yeah, I made sure our guest stays comfortable. They also promised to care for the clinic.” Johan said.

“I think we chose a good day, the other midwives and nurses are in church…” Grizelda conversed with her spouse. Gabriel was hesitant to leave the house, the little one hid under his mother’s heavy skirt and stayed quiet. He much rather hide indoors. “Gabriel, you mustn't take refuge under my petticoat,” his mother said as she lifted the skirt to guide him out.

“Can we hold hands at least?” Gabriel asked.

“I can do you one better,” Johan said with a giddy smile as he set foot out of the clinic and crouched on one knee. “Why not climb the highest tower?” Gabriel wasted no time and climbed over his father and sat on his shoulders. Johan laughed as the little Amesthyn gripped on the red hair.

“Alright, Rook, just move straight forward,” Grizelda chuckled and patted Johan on the mid back.

“Yeah? But what if I move diagonally?” The tall redhead held the small legs of Gabriel and with a horse stance he crossed Grizelda, inciting a laugh from both the child and the mother.

From the high seat, Gabriel could see everything. There were very few people walking around town, some were distant warriors crossing warm and cold terrains just to get their names known, some could be foreign merchants trying to make a living, and of course the domestic folk that spread gossip and gospel into their daily lives.

“Good morrow sir Amesthyn,” a man wearing a black cloak approached the family. Gabriel quickly recognizes him as a member of the Aschfahl, in-charge of the security of the continent fighting against the unholy and evil. “I am surprised to see you outside of the clinic.”

“I am surprised to see you by yourself, Gustav…” Johan exasperated. “Am I needed?”

“Not as of yet, but we would like to discuss what happened in the Woodlands,” Gustav said with a rather sneaky smile. “We heard that you were seen with your spouse, your child and a stranger at the crack of dawn entering your home. I hope you are not tampering with the Devil’s brides.”

“Word does indeed travel fast, but not necessarily correct words.” Johan dismissed the silly assumption. “I assume you are a tad curious about the visitor. I can assure you they are not a witch, but I can’t allow you to see them.”

“We all just want the safety of our little town. I am sure you can understand that, much more now that you have a…” Gustav glances at Gabriel, “little angel you need to care for.”

“You seem to use that as an advantage for anything.” Grizelda said. “We don’t risk our child to aid the scum of the earth.”

“Have we giveth permission for you to speak, woman?” Gustav said with a cocky smirk, almost looking down at Grizelda.

Grizelda scoffs, and Johan guffaws as he slams his meaty hand on Gustav and tightening the grip. “You speak out of line to my wife or my child, I will smite you to hell and back.”

Gustav, taken aback by the sudden violent reaction Johan made towards a fellow member of the Aschfahl, he almost crumbled by the painful squeeze on his shoulder.

“Apologize at once to Grizelda,” Johan said with a bright smile.

“Johan, there is no need to correct the feeble minded. The tarr below his feet will swallow him whole for when He comes…” Grizelda walked past Gustav almost uncaring.

Johan lifts the cloaked man and throws him off the road and follows Grizelda.

Gabriel looked back, the people helped Gustav onto his feet, somehow he seemed to reject their aid as if he were humiliated by the event. “At times I wish we still lived in Vatican City…” Grizelda said.

“Holy Mother, thou speaketh of irrelevance.” Johan laughed. “While I agree, Italy is far warmer and richer in culture, I was born in this country, you take out the witches and the stupid people and it would be paradise.”

“You lived somewhere else?” Gabriel chimed in.

“Oh, yes!” Johan laughed. I lived here until I turned 10, and because I lost my parents the nuns took me to the capital where I studied my faith. I traveled to Italy to strengthen my studies and I met your mother.”

“Why did you come back?” Gabriel asked.

“Well,” Johan paused, almost as if he were collecting his thoughts.

“There was a catastrophic event in Italy,” Grizelda spoke, “I would rather not get into the ghastly details… but, just know we did it all for you.”she smiled sweetly to Gabriel and stopped by a street merchant to buy edible goodies such as handcrafted candies, exported fruits and herbs, and books.

“Zaphyra, it is a pleasure to see you around once more,” Grizelda smiled at the merchant.

The merchant sat on a colorful pillow surrounded by baskets. Zaphyra wore colorful robes and veils with gold trims and designs. Her accent was very charming too. “Dearest Grizelda, Johan, I am happy to cross paths again. I see Gabriel has grown so much as well.” From behind the merchant, a beautiful girl with golden blond wavy hair and tanned skin about Gabriel’s age was eating candy. Her eyes were as gold as her hair. Her very presence stirred little Gabriel’s heart.

“Oh, who is this?” Johan asked.

“Ah, that is my son, Zephaniah.” Zaphyra said as she placed a gentle hand over her child.

Gabriel almost fell off his father’s shoulders at the revelation. “You’re not a girl?!”

Zaphyra laughed, “Our family are descendants of deities beyond the desert. Men must grow up and face the challenges of women before they become men,” she explained as she covered half of Zephaniah’s face with similar robes. “Half of the time we have to be mindful of the people who like to look at beauty from up close.”

“I can imagine, depravity always lived in the dark hearts of humans,” Grizelda said as she picked herbs and fruits from baskets. “Johan is gawked at almost all the time because of his hair resembling rubies and duotone eyes, at times it’s his bizarre height.”

“Oh dear, I can imagine how it must be like…” Zaphyra lamented.

People always spoke about the distant lands around his own, never similar to his hometown.

It reminded him about one of the stories of the ancient book. The kingdom of Glass was essentially a vibrant merchant city with colorful characters and creatures, there was one character who was the best smith and jeweler of the entire kingdom. The smith was the king’s personal designer, the most notable design was the star vail dress made for the king.

Gabriel knows there are places similar to the book, perhaps someday, when he is older and stronger to cross the forest he can explore those massive merchant cities but for now he will immerse himself in the snow fall and in the warmth of his parent's arms.

They continued the conversation while Gabriel stared at Zephaniah and he stared back. Even if his lips were covered by the robes, his smile was beautiful. Gabriel never really thought about his own looks, and now that he did he realized he barely had anything resembling his father.

Gabriel tugged at his father’s mohawk. “Hey… How come my hair isn't red like yours…?”

“Whatever do you mean?” Johan asked. “Well… my hair is dark, and my eyes are blue, I look more like Mother.”

“I heard that far up in the north west, some men and women have copper colored hair.” The merchant overheard their conversation. “Many mistake it for hell fire, which frightened the natives. Some say they are warriors viciously ripping their enemies apart, blood raining onto their once blond hair. Even their freckles are just small blood specks that forever imprint their skins.”

“Are you saying his hair is red because it is stained with blood?” Gabriel loosen the grip on his father's hair and verified if his hands were stained.

“He is indeed a warrior, a warrior of our lord and savior. However, your father was blessed with rubies for hair,” Grizelda explained as she paid the merchant.

“Then… how come I wasn’t blessed with rubies…?”

“Don’t be silly, you were blessed with hazelnut hair.” Johan chuckled and curled his fingers through his dark hair. “Not quite black, far from blond, but a rich earth tone that only an Amesthyn can harvest.”

A large crowd collected at the heart of the town. They could hear a man preach, “My children. Our land has been forsaken by the filth of the devil. It will try to place a foothold in the land our Lord gifted us..!”

“Do you hear that?” Grizelda asked.

“Yeah, sounds like a street sermon…” Johan answered. As they broke through the crowd, Johan plucked Gabriel from his shoulders but kept him safe in his arms as they reached the centerpiece of the Town, the gallows.

A man standing on the gallows shouted to the crowd. “No longer shall they sacrifice us to the devil! No more shall we let them do as they please! They are an abomination! When our Lord created us and brought us to this land he told us never to tangle into the web of lies of Satan. He will disown us and his wrath will be a reminder of what sort of filth we rolled over!” A small girl with white blond hair and colorless eyes stood beside him weeping, heavy rope tangled loosely around her pale neck.

“Dear God, don’t tell me…” Grizelda gasped.

The man turned the girl around showing people the devil’s brand: four feathered wings sprouted from her back, one was visibly damaged, no doubt caused by the struggle of fighting the church. “We shall remove any abomination from his land, sanctify every soil for they have used for their rituals and sacrifices. Children were born into monstrosities because of this horrific reality! Witches married to the devil, conceiving the devil's children! Men are being deceived by witches to steal their souls and humanity!”

Gabriel has not seen this type of being before; she could just be a daughter of the night and an enemy of the day. However the smallest Amesthyn couldn't fathom why they treat her like a monster just because she had wings. Angels had wings, and so did the heroes of his ancient book. She also had this soft gentle glow, very inoffensive.

People threw rocks at the poor child who tried to shield away from the projectiles but proved a challenge with her hands tied behind her back.

“What is the meaning of this?!” Johan shouted. “Have you no mercy on a child?”

“This ain’t a child but a monster!”

It all happened so sudden. Gabriel was placed on the ground quickly held by his mother. The floor underneath the child collapsed the rope instantly snapping her neck as she hanged. There was a brief moment of silence before the crowd cheered. The girl swung on the rope for only moments before his father cut the rope and assisted the limb body, by the grimm look on his expression, there was nothing else he could have done.

“Let her blood spill and be a lesson to the witches! Thou shall not conquer the promised land!” The man shouted. “This happens to children that misbehave.” He spoke in a cruel tone. “For mocking the Lord with profanities as welcoming the devil to her home. Let this serve as a lesson for those who played with fire!”

The shouting between parties became noise to the stunt child, His young body tensed and he felt a shooting pain up his spine. Gabriel’s eyes locked on the dead child in his father’s arms. The child felt a little sick to his stomach. He was unsure why they were evil. “What have they done to us?” he wondered, children don't take the form of evil just because.

Sure, he witnessed a witch and he can understand what sort of power they possessed but he couldn’t let go of this sinking feeling that even if children were born from sin they had the right to live, and if that were the case can this logic be applied to everyone in the town.

At least he knew that it is not just he who’s affected by the witch pandemic, but if this continues where will it end?

Gabriel then looked up above at the cross where Jesus was crucified; his own creation mutilated him following his own rules. The little one trembled at the thought, Gabriel’s shoulder weight heavy and stung similarly to a hot dagger piercing his frail skin. It suddenly grew colder and strong winds carried a dense snow storm into the town. Gabriel’s mother held him closer as the heavy gust tumbled the cross over the deranged man, crushing and trapping him under its weight.

A woman with a protruding stomach stood over the chapel staring down at the public. The people shouted and pointed at the threat, unsure on how to even process what even happened. “Let this be a lesson to all of you.” The woman stated. “You murder our children and we will trial those with stained hands.” She lifted her arms and the winds picked up again. “I curse yee to tremble at the might of our husband, and become his next winter coat!” the witch chuckled.

Johan held the dead girl in his arms and followed Grizelda out of the pandemonium and into the refuge of their sanctuary.