A/N: More of little Eden! This chapter goes a little more into Edgar’s feelings toward being a father! Next chapter will likely be flashback to when he found out about Eden!
“Come now, little one. It’s only going to be worse if you fight me.”
His voice iced and lacking the sweet tone that his age would use when speaking to a child. It rattled the girl shivering beneath the bed. Eden had barely managed to escape his grasp, darting into the nearest room, the empty guest room attached to Lancelot’s personal quarters.
“It seems my nephew has yet to teach you a single thing. I’ll have to remedy that.”
Eden clamped her hand over her mouth, jade eyes wide in terror and locked on the space between the skirt of the bed and the floor. His polished brown loafers came to a stop at the foot, purposefully silent.
He stilled.
If she couldn’t see the shoes, she wouldn’t know the man was still in the room. Quite similar to her father, who could easily sneak up on her or appear without a sound, but it didn’t frighten her as this did.
Claudius shifted, bending down to one knee. His hand snaked under the skirt like slithering through tall grass, preparing to spring on his prey.
The thud of her heart likely giving her away.
Thump. Thump.
Thump.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Growl.
The whole room settled in silence, like time itself had paused.
It hadn’t come from the girl beneath the bed. Certainly not from the proclaimed great uncle. Again, a growl rippled through the room, moving the attention to the door separating the guest and King’s quarters.
“What is your business here, Claudius?” Lancelot’s low voice slicing as swiftly as his sword fell on his enemies.
Claudius retreated as quietly as the wind, abandoning his target for the time being. His empty cordial laugh was short. “I thought I’d spotted a little mouse. That’s all.”
“You must be mistaken. If that’s all, I’ll have to ask you to vacate this room. It’s currently in use by a guest of mine.”
Eden remained where she was, jumping slightly when Shine slinked under to join her. His warm tongue licking excitedly on her face. “Shine, you saved me,” she whispered, scrunching her fingers into his soft fur with a relieved smile.
“You can come out now, Eden. He’s gone.”
At Lancelot’s call, both the child and his pet vacated their hiding spot. Eden cautiously peeking at the doorway for Claudius, but he’d vanished as a grim reaper that hadn’t snatched it’s appointed soul, still lingering in her mind. She startled when Lancelot patted his hand once against her head.
“He’s gone. You don’t need to fear him anymore.” His words not ones he himself believed. Clearly, Claudius was not aware about Eden until this moment, and likely he’d use her to control his nephew.
<< << <<
After the long, arduous task like the one he’d completed, Edgar could nearly forget his secondary responsibility. Returning to headquarters, the only thing on his mind was resuming his duties as the Jack. That is, until a sheepish Kyle caught him in the hallway.
“I’m not saying that I lost Eden, but what I am saying is... I can’t tell you... exactly where she is,” Kyle admitted. He’d gone to give her the evening treatment but upon searching the whole of the building, he’d come up empty.
Something must have frightened her, and like all frightened animals, they typically returned to a familiar space to conceal themselves. Over the last year, he’d worked tirelessly to gain her trust and paid close attention to her habits. “I’ll show you where she likes to hide.”
In his bedroom, a wardrobe and dresser sat beside each other. The space between them was minuscule and if one were not careful in their search, they’d never spot the tiny girl squished in between them. “Eden, come out from there.” Edgar knelt down, waiting for her to run to him as she always did.
But the girl only curled up tighter.
“Did something happen today?”
Kyle scratched his head, mulling over the question. “I think Lance did mention that your uncle stopped by, but I was half asleep so I might have heard him wrong.”
“Claudius was here?” Jade irises flickered back to his daughter. If his uncle knew of Eden’s existence, it wouldn’t be safe for her to remain here in his care. His own soul be damned, but not hers. If she were to be subjected to what he’d been, in her frail condition, she’d certainly die long before Claudius could turn her into his ideal pawn.
Edgar nearly toppled, too lost in his own thoughts to see Eden slip out from her hiding spot and throw herself at him, little arms around his neck. He gently pet her head, debating where to send her that was outside of Claudius’s reach. “Is that man going to take me away?”
“No. I won’t allow that.”
Her small body relaxed, the anxiety subsiding. She’d wound herself up so much that after her breathing treatment, the little girl fell promptly asleep in her father’s arms.
“Kyle, I believe it’s time.”
The doctor fiddled with his machine, sitting on the couch with his legs crossed. This conversation one he’d hoped never to come about. “Her illness isn’t under control. If she isn’t here, I won’t be able to properly treat her.”
He knew that. Of course, he did. “She’s in danger here. The best course of action would be to place her with a loving family. There, at the very least, she could have a normal childhood,” Edgar answered. The transition would be painful for her, but in the end, worth it if only to keep her from Claudius.
Kyle scoffed, rolling his eyes. “If she survives her childhood without me treating her. It’s dangerous for her anywhere now that people are aware of her being your daughter. Here, you can protect her.”
“It’s not that simple. What kind of life am I giving her at an army base?” It would have been easier if he’d never agreed to keep her temporarily. He could have found somewhere, anywhere, to prevent this heartache. “I never intended for her to remain here indefinitely.”
A year had passed so quickly. Kyle spent countless hours working to fight each attack, each illness. Edgar convinced himself that Eden was a wounded animal, tried to keep her at arm’s length, but he couldn’t say that out loud now.
“If you aren’t attached, then why are you still holding her? She fell asleep a while ago. You care for her more than you are willing to admit.”
“That’s irrelevant.”
“I disagree. She’s your daughter and she loves you.” He wouldn’t use guilt. Kyle wanted his superior to choose Eden because he wanted to, not out of obligation.
A knock at the door broke the tension in the room. As Kyle left, Alice came in. “I heard you’d come back. Oh, is Eden feeling better?”
“Yes.” He couldn’t sort through his emotions, ones he believed to have buried deep enough to never return. It made little sense. He had no experience in this field. He tended to her as he would the Creeks. The intention always to return her to the normal world, with a family that would care for her.
And yet, his chest ached at the thought.
It was best. Safest. Logical.
“I overheard a little of your quarrel with Kyle. It’s probably none of my business and I haven’t been here long, but even I can see how much you love her.” Alice crossed the room to stand beside him. The little girl sleeping so soundly in his arms.
“Love?” Did he love her? Was she not categorized as a duty he had to fulfill until she was well enough to leave?
Alice smiled softly, reaching out to rub the girl’s back. “She’s yours. You haven’t accepted it, and I’m not quite sure why. She doesn’t need anything special, just you.”
Her words were soothing, even if he couldn’t fathom how a demon like himself could ever be what a child needed. Eden tightened her hold around him, hugging him in her sleep. He’d need to consider much before making a decision.
A/N: You know I love any excuse to write my two best girls. Finley’s love for Eden knows no bounds.
Snow days weren’t fun for all.
While most of the kids could run around out in the cold throwing snowballs at each other on their day off from school, Eden wasn’t so lucky. Chilly air wouldn’t be good for lungs, nor would getting soaked as the snow melted through her clothes. Thus, the girl was stuck inside while the others were enjoying a fun snow day.
Edgar finished his current report before taking a break to check on her. Normally, quiet didn’t alarm him. Eden was calm and soft when playing, not making much noise. However, as stealthy as they were attempting to be, he’d overheard Caroline fussing at Finley.
The lights were off for all but the small bathroom. His boots squished with each step, the carpet sopping with water. He couldn’t fathom what the trio might be up to. Perhaps the sink had been left running and spilled over? They were all aware of the rule not to use the tub without supervision.
But through the crack in the door, the sight surprised him.
Caroline adjusted the mitten on Eden’s hand, amber eyes checking to make sure she was properly bundled up. “Even though we’re inside, we have to be careful that you don’t get too cold.”
“As long as we don’t get in it, she’ll be fine!” Finley countered, receiving a wicked glare from the young Clemence. She took Eden’s free hand and tugged along.
“Why is our bathtub filled with snow?”
All three turned at his voice and the two older girls exchanged a concerned glance. Eden clapped her clothed hands together and said, “They brought me snow.”
“Yeah, since she can’t go outside, I carried in so many buckets full of snow!” Finley explained, grinning happily at her successful plan. It had taken a lot of time, and her arms ached from it. Soldiers had questioned her but thanks to Caroline, they’d gotten away with it.
The heart defenders couldn’t say no to her.
“I see.” He was clearly impressed. A simple solution to a complex problem. Obviously, she’d spilled some, leading to the floor being soaking wet. “Well, carry on. Let’s make use of the snow while it’s still cold.”
The three girls all lit up at his blessing to continue their crazy plan. Instead of leaving, the Jack joined in. Winter usually brought down Eden’s mood, since most of it she spent stuck inside. But today, she was elated to have a chance to play with snow.
The two mortal enemies had managed to work together in order to make Eden happy. Although, they still bickered quite a lot. His break turned into retiring for the evening. He’d complete the rest of his work tomorrow, instead choosing to build snow castles and draw pictures in the bathtub full of snow.
Edgar patted his daughter on the head, delighted that she was having so much fun. Emerald eyes fell on the misfit of the group, a question arising. He knew why she’d come. Her undying affection for Eden always on display. But..
“Finley, how did you get here?”
Amethyst eyes flickered away, debating on what to say. “Well, I told Ray that I was going to see Eden and then I did.” It didn’t answer his question, but Edgar was sure that the King of Spades probably didn’t give permission.
“I’ll send a messenger to inform them of your whereabouts.”
Eden tugged on his sleeve. “Can Finley stay the night? Isn’t there supposed to be a storm?” She didn’t want to send her back in dangerous weather, and was having too much fun for it to end already.
Sending her home wouldn’t be a problem, but he found it quite hard to resist the pleading look in her puppy eyes. He and the Ace of Spades had come to an agreement after their daughter’s had become friends. Since Eden couldn’t stay away due to her health issues, Finley had an open invitation if Edgar allowed it.
“Alright, I suppose I can arrange for that.”
He chuckled softly at their cheers of delight. It was never a dull evening with Finley around. And she always made his daughter quite happy.
Characters: Eden Bright & Finley Godspeed Ft. Sasha Hyde
Tagging: @christmaswarlock @plumpblueberry
A/N: Some angst for the lovely requester! I hope you enjoy this little bit of Finley and Eden! I aged them up just a little bit for this fic! Finley is 7, Eden is 6, and Sasha is 9.
[Spooktober Event is CLOSED]
Although peace had been brokered between the two territories, bias and anger still remained, even a year after the threats of war.
Jade eyes darted between the three masked figures towering around the two girls in a semi-circle. They wore mock army uniforms and crisp silver masks to hide their identity. “Please-please leave u-us alone,” Eden stammered, reaching a shaky hand out to clutch the back of the other girl’s dirt-stained shirt.
“Get the hell out of our territory, you red bastard!” The leader spat at the younger girl trembling behind Finley. His irritation clearly etched on his face as his brows creased.
The second one of them moved a step closer, Finley countered. It shouldn’t be so damn hard to fend off a seven-year-old, but they found it nearly impossible. She’d land pointed punches to the jaw, throat-- the slight girl having to be hauled off by both the other boys. They hadn’t the opportunity to attack their actual target.
“I won’t let you touch her.” Finley raised her fists again, defensive in her actions unless one of them moved first. They were familiar to her, but the moon cast a shadow across their mask, making it hard to remember.
Eden’s gaze flickered toward the town just beyond the trees. How long would it take for anyone to realize that they were missing? With the large crowd, perhaps they simply thought the children lost among it.
A decisive look between the three boys made the young Godspeed tense in anticipation. Their only real option would be attack all at once, but she wouldn’t allow that. She lunged, effectively toppling over the leader. The other two less likely to act without his guidance.
His arm thrust up, palm connecting with her chin to put distance between them. “They’re the enemy! You’re a traitor for protecting her!” He shouted, turning his head to avoid a direct connection of her knuckles to his cheek bone.
“You don’t deserve to have on that uniform! Hurting innocents isn’t what the Black Army stands for!” Amethyst eyes caught the movement to her right, and the girl reeled back with her elbow. The crunch of the other boy’s nose worth the pain that radiated through her arm.
It was her voice.
That sweet voice filled with absolute terror that Finley couldn’t ignore.
She’d only taken her eyes off her target for a split second, but it was enough. The leader shifted their weight, managing to plow is foot into her abdomen and throw her slight form off him...
right into a headstone.
The rough granite greeted her head with a sickening thud, not giving a single inch in the hard ground. The world blurred. It was distant. And yet, it hardly hurt in that moment.
Get up. You have to get up.
One had Eden securely in his arms, easily keeping her under control even as she struggled. Through the haze, Finley could see the tears spilling from her jade eyes. The pang in her chest, heart clenching at how despaired her love looked.
“Traitor!” The leader, enraged, struck his boot down into her rib cage. Twice. Three times. The fourth nearly caught with sluggish hands but managed to slip through once again. He observed her, cocking his head to the side before completely turning again. “We’ll rid Black Territory of all its enemies!”
“F-Finley!” Eden was desperate to escape but lacked any skills to do so. Her shaky cry for help drowned out by the disgusting cheers of the three boys.
The ache in her body begged her to rest, digging into her muscles to make every movement more painful than the last. Even her eyes betrayed her when she made a feeble attempt to stop their cruel game. Finley lurched forward but with little force.
“Why won’t you stay down!” The leader shouted, easily tearing her weak grip off his arm. One half-hearted shove sent the young Godspeed to the ground, knocking what little air she could get out of her lungs.
As much as she willed herself to stand back up, she couldn’t. Her fingers dug helplessly into the soil, clinging to it as if it could aid somehow. Her ears rang, registering the screams before Finley realized that it was her own voice echoing through the cemetery.
A calculative error.
The sword unsheathed not wooden as she’d believed but painfully real. It skewered her to the ground, glinting in the moonlight.
Darkness descended upon them. Shadows springing from the forest, silently slithering across the open space toward the group. Following like a wraith was an older girl. One with a reputation.
“That’s- That’s the one they say can summon demons!” One boy shouted, leading the retreat without the permission of the leader.
The leader shouted of cowards but the closer the shadows came, the more his legs trembled in terror. Without a second thought, he, too, sprinted away with screams of a demon.
Sasha gave a passing pat on the head to Eden before she knelt by Finley. Her accompanying shadows dispersing like the wind, like a question of whether they’d truly been there or not. “You’ll live.” Her fingers ghosted around the wound.
Amethyst eyes turned upward to her favorite person. “See? Nothin to worry about! I’m gonna be alright so no more cryin’, okay?” A grin pushed her lips up, happy that the tension seemed to leave Eden’s shoulders.
“I’ll- I’ll go get Fenrir.”
Finley let her cheek rest back against the dirt once she was out of sight. She squeezed her eyes shut and bit down onto her lip. “Sash, I-”
Sasha hummed in response, sitting on back on her heels beside her. “I know. The feeling here-” Her index finger tapped down her left leg and then back up her right. It was quiet. Nothing indicated flow to her lower half.
These are the Red Army kids that exist in the universe when Eden is 3 years old. They are the older generation because there are few more red army kids (like Zero’s kids, and younger siblings) that haven’t been born yet.
I will be adding information to these whenever I discover more about them!
Tagging some peeps @plumpblueberry @christmaswarlock @youreawizardharr
I added a read more because this is very very long! Please excuse any mistakes because my brain is fried from working on this.
Enjoy!
Lancelot Kingsley:
Status: Married to Victoria Buckley
Home: Owns a large home near Red Headquarters; kids visit often but mainly live at their home
Kids: 2
Atticus Kingsley
Age: 6 Years Old
Appearance: Fair skinned, red hair, rich blue eyes. A little shorter than average for his age.
Some Facts:
Spends most of his time out of school at Headquarters with his sword instructor. This is his favorite pastime and he wants to grow stronger so that he can inherit the King of Hearts position from his father one day.
Hates any other lessons, like etiquette or dance, but he masters them quickly so he can go back to sword play.
Extremely smart and manipulative. He believes because of his status that he can boss every one else around, especially his staff at his home. Though, it typically only works on new workers.
He’s sent many nannies away over the past few years. They all tend to find him too hard to handle and quit within days.
His current nanny has become the exception. Annalise Perry has been the only successful nanny to corral the young Kingsley. Atticus adores her. She doesn’t chastise him for his pranks, instead usually finding them funny, but she does not let him boss her around either. Annalise will play swords with him and doesn’t mind getting out in the woods. She is one of the few adults he listens to.
Thoughts/Interactions with other Red Army Kids
Lyra Kingsley:
His baby sister that he doesn’t really care for. She can’t speak or play with him so she bores him easily. He doesn’t care for how everyone coos at her for being cute either, but secretly likes when he makes her giggle and smile.
Caroline Clemence:
Atticus likes Caroline for how easily bossed around she is. She always jumps at an opportunity to sword fight with him, despite her never beating him without him giving it to her. The two have been together since they were born. His least favorite thing about her is how stuck to the rules she is.
Jude Clemence:
Like his own sister, he is bored with babies and tends to avoid them if at all possible. He rarely sees the younger Clemence, unless Caroline drags him along.
Eden Bright:
When Eden was first brought to headquarters, Atticus was immediately interested. Since Eden is much younger and more timid than Caroline, he vowed to protect her, especially since she gets sick so easily. He refers to her at the Princess of Headquarters since she lives there full time. He hates to see her cry and wants to do everything he can to make her smile.
Beckett Ash:
Immediately sees him as a rival. Until Beckett arrived, he was the only boy with the two girls. He tries to assert his status over Beckett as soon as they meet. Atticus finds his niceness as weakness and picks on him often. Since Beckett is so level-headed and shy, he doesn’t fight back, giving Atticus the control and power in their relationship.
Sadie Ash:
Atticus really doesn’t know what to make of her, at first. He’d never experienced a girl like her. She always surprised him with how she defended her brother from his antics. Unlike Caroline, Sadie doesn’t care that he is the son of the King of Hearts and that is entertaining to him. He enjoys how angry she gest at him, and he often pins her to the floor during a physical fight and taunts about what she is going to do.
Thoughts/Interactions with Black Army and Neutrals:
Castor Oswald:
Occasionally sees him on the playground or at assemblies. Since he isn’t in his immediate circle of friends or his grade, Atticus pays little attention to him. He does think that Castor is boring since he rarely sees him with other children.
Sasha Hyde:
Atticus thinks that Sasha is very strange because of how often he sees her reading big, old books. He can’t boss her around like the rest of the class, nor does she fawn over him like the other girls, so Atticus is generally frustrated with every interaction he has with her. He wants her attention so badly that he tends to follow her around practically begging for it.
Valen Tweedle (Dean):
Not in his class, but plays with him at recess. His second in command during school hours. Enjoys having him around to follow his orders and play sword games or pirates. Atticus drags him into his shenanigans that land both of them in trouble. Even when sitting in time out, they make funny faces at each other and goof around.
Lyra Kingsley
Age: 1 Year Old in present
Appearance: Whispy blonde hair and sky blue eyes; most say she looks exactly like her father
For the purpose of telling her personality, the following information is based on Lyra being around 4 or 5 years old.
Some facts:
The reserved child, but still understands her status. She is nice to everyone and willing to help out.
Hates the idea of fighting and would never pick up a sword. Instead, she would rather solve problems by talking about it.
It rarely happens, but should another child pick on her, she always runs to her brother to protect her.
Doesn’t make friends easily because of her shyness.
Red Army Thoughts/Interactions:
Atticus Kingsley:
She see Atticus as her protector and often follows him around, much to his displeasure. Their age gap puts a strain on their relationship at this age. She likes for him to tell her stories before she goes to bed.
Caroline Clemence:
Lyra believes that Atticus and Caroline are going to get married. She likes to let Caroline dress her up and play house with her. Although they are four years apart, Caroline dotes on her like she did when Eden.
Jude Clemence:
Being nearly the same, the two were always put together when the elder siblings went to school. They are best friends and go everywhere together. She finds him incredibly sweet and would rather play with him than anyone else. They are constantly playing hide and seek together in HQ and Jude brings her a flower every day as “a gift for the lovely lady”.
Eden Bright:
Closer in age than Lyra is with Caroline, the two don’t spend much time together. Lyra is similar to Eden in being a little clingy to her parents, but not quite so drastic as the young Bright. If Caroline is not around to get all the girls together, Eden and Lyra don’t play together. But, when all the girls get together, they can get along.
Beckett Ash:
Lyra likes Beckett a lot because he is so nice to her all the time, but Atticus doesn’t like the two of them being together. Beckett reads to her a lot and tells her about the things he is learning.
Sadie Ash:
Since Eden and Sadie become very good friends, Lyra doesn’t spend a lot of time with her. She doesn’t like how much Sadie and Atticus fight with each other, and she fears they’re going to hurt each often, making Lyra upset.
Other Interactions:
Since Lyra is so sheltered, she doesn’t see any of the other kids enough to have an opinion of them (at this age), but she is polite to every person she meets, but rarely talks unless she has to.
*****
Jonah Clemence
Status: Married to Eleanor Atlas
Home- Owns a home near Red Headquarters; the kids live part time between home and HQ, due to Eleanor traveling overseas often.
Kids: 2
Caroline Clemence:
Age: 5 years old
Appearance: A mini Jonah. She has little features from her mother. Mint hair and amber eyes. The only difference in her and Jonah is that her mole is under the opposite eye, like Luka’s.
Some Facts:
Similar to Atticus in knowing exactly what her family name means and can do, but she isn’t very manipulative about it. She takes her surname very seriously and always follows the rules that are set for her. The only exception to this if she is approached by one of Jonah’s Heart Defenders, then she might abuse her power as a Clemence.
Unlike Jonah was raised, Caroline has a lot more freedom than he did. She gets plenty of attention, despite not being the current choice for the Queen of Hearts. Jonah is very protective of her, but also spoils her a little too much sometimes.
Enjoys being girly and rich- spends money as easily as her father.
Caroline has a fondness for sword fighting, but mostly because it’s one the only ways she can get Atticus’s attention.
She typically mimics Jonah and tries to speak in the way he does sometimes.
Red Army Thoughts/Interactions
Atticus Kingsley:
Caroline adores Atticus and would do anything he asked. She has never beaten him in a sword fight but pretends that she has. All her skills come from his instruction. He told her it was because he wanted a sparring partner, but she took it as him saying she was special.
Lyra Kingsley:
As a baby, Caroline loves to take care of her along with her own baby brother. She is very motherly towards Lyra, even as they grow older. She tries to get Lyra to be more outgoing and always makes the others listen to her when she wants to speak.
Jude Clemence:
Her little brother might as well have been her own child. Caroline fully took her mother’s place anytime she was away. She memorized Jude’s schedule, knows what foods he can eat, and thoroughly loves sitting in the rocking chair and holding him while he falls asleep. As the two get older, she finds him to be meek but charming.
Eden Bright:
Her little sister. Caroline loves Eden so much. Any time she can spend with her, she’s there. She teaches Eden things that she learns at school and likes to read books to her when Eden is feeling sick. Before Beckett and Sadie arrived, Caroline had Eden following her around everywhere. Despite Eden spending time with Sadie a lot, the two remain close.
Beckett Ash:
Caroline doesn’t really mind him, but also goes along with whatever Atticus tells her, so she typically shuns him when Atticus is around. She admires how smart his is and when he joins her class in school, Caroline looks out for him.
Sadie Ash:
The enemy. Oil and water. Sadie stands up to Atticus and talks about him. Caroline isn’t fond her at all. Especially once Eden and Sadie start playing together. She sees her as disruptive, because Sadie doesn’t let her boss around Eden when all the girls are playing together.
Black Army/Neutral Interactions:
Caroline also only sees those in her school grade as Kindergarten doesn’t play with the older kids. The only other kid that Caroline knows well enough in the present is Finley.
Finley Godspeed:
Her biggest rival for Eden’s attention before Sadie arrived. Eden talks about Finley a lot because of all the presents she receives from her. Caroline greatly dislikes that and tells Eden that Finley is lying to her because they cannot get married. Her reasoning is that they live in separate territories. She bickers with Finley any time she sees her.
Jude Clemence:
Age: 11 Months
Appearance: Dusty brown hair and hazel eyes, very much like his mother has the porcelain complexion of Jonah.
For the purpose of this section, like Lyra, I’m aging Jude up to around 4 or 5 to give insight to his personality.
Some Facts:
Bashful child, unless he is with Lyra. He finds talking and interacting with the other kids tiring and would rather be alone with Lyra.
He brings Lyra a flower every day because he says that she is angel and he wants to see her smile.
Jude doesn’t like to talk, and his family thought that he was late in learning how to speak but he just chose not to.
Sometimes he is confused for being a girl, especially when he was a baby because of he took after his mother. He grew used to it, and because he didn’t speak up, many still refer to him a “she” by mistake.
Terrified of swords and fighting. He does not want to take lessons in learning swordplay, typically hiding away or sitting on the floor to protest.
Red Army Thoughts/Interactions
Atticus Kingsley:
Jude finds Atticus’s outgoing and bossy personality scary and he tends to avoid him if at all possible. With their age difference, he doesn’t mind that Atticus that ignores him.
Lyra Kingsley:
The love of his life. Even at a young age and he doesn’t understand what love is, he is enamored by Lyra and would do anything to stay by her side. He likes to hold her hand and the two often run off together to play without other kids.
Caroline Clemence:
His big sister that he adores. Jude and Caroline play a lot at home together, and she is a good teacher to him. She is always willing to help him learn big words in the books he is reading.
Eden Bright:
He doesn’t spend much time with Eden when he gets to the toddler age. She is in school and tends to stick with Sadie. He doesn’t understand why she gets sick or why she gets angry when other kids want to be around her dad.
Beckett Ash:
As he grows older, Jude begins to see Beckett as the older brother he never had. The two are both on the shy side of the scale but share a love of reading. Jude doesn’t mind spending time with Beckett whenever he is around.
Sadie Ash:
Her brash and honest way of speaking scares him as much as Atticus does. He doesn’t like fighting so Jude is always the first to go running for help when Atticus and Sadie get into a physical fight, after he makes sure Lyra isn’t going to be hurt in the process.
Black Army/Other Neutrals:
Like Lyra, Jude is very sheltered in who he can be around at the toddler age, so he doesn’t know many of the other children in Cradle at this age.
Ezra and Valarie Clemence:
Unlike his big sister, Jude has never known a time before his cousins weren’t around. Since Ezra and Valarie were a secret for the first 4 years of their life, Caroline never knew them until she was older. Jude doesn’t mind his cousins but he still finds their personalities to be strong.
*****
Edgar Bright
Status: Single
Home: Red HQ
Kids: 1
Eden Bright
Age: 3
Appearance: Brown hair and matching Jade green eyes, fair skin, very much like Edgar
Some Facts:
Her mother kept her until she was 2 years old, leaving her Edgar’s care for only a little over a year at the beginning of her story.
She is extremely clingy to Edgar, and jealous if any other kids take his attention away. It gets worse when she is sick.
Eden has weak lungs, so Kyle gives her breathing treatments. Her immune system is also low, making her sick more often than a normal child.
Overall, the sweetheart of the Red Army. She interacts with the other soldiers and in turn, they all dote on her. Eden is very polite and doesn’t get into much trouble.
Eden loves candy as much as her father and will sweet talk her way into getting sweets from the kitchen staff on a daily basis.
Red Army Thoughts/Interactions.
Atticus Kingsley:
Her big brother figure. Once she settled into HQ with Edgar, Atticus would visit her with Caroline. She found him to be really nice and she likes when he pretends she’s a princess. The only things she dislikes is how fast he plays, and she tends to get left behind until Atticus notices her lagging.
Lyra Kingsley
Complete opposites. Eden doesn’t like Lyra when she is a baby because of jealousy. Any time Eden is in a room with Lyra, she will not let Edgar put her down to hold Lyra. It takes a long time for the jealously to subside.
Caroline Clemence:
Big sister figure. Eden loves Caroline to visit her and read her books. Caroline’s personality intimidated Eden at first but with time, she grew to like it. She spends the most time with Caroline and likes for the older girl to dress her up and fix her hair.
Jude Clemence:
It’s not often that Eden sees Jude unless Caroline takes her to him. She has mixed feelings about him, but in the end, she wouldn’t like for Edgar to give him any attention, so she stays away.
Beckett Ash:
Mostly friends by default. He stays with Sadie, therefore he spends a lot of time with Eden until he goes to school. Eden doesn’t mind him because he is typically very reserved and kind to her.
Sadie Ash:
Once Sadie arrives at HQ, Eden begins to play with her the most. Since Caroline has school, and Sadie is only 3 like Eden, the two get to spend a ton time together, especially since Kyle often looks after Eden. The two become really close. Eden likes the Sadie is patient and never forces her to play things that she doesn’t want to.
Black Army/Neutrals
Finley Godspeed:
Eden was absolutely terrified of Eden the first time that they two met. She grew to like Finley because of the attention and her persistence. Seeing how excited Finley gets to see her, the two begin an odd friendship. Eden looks forward to seeing Finley in town.
*****
Kyle Ash
Status: Single
Home: HQ
Kids: 2
Beckett Ash
Age: 5
Appearance: reddish-brown hair and blue eyes
Some Facts:
Beckett like his father, is incredibly gifted. He taught himself basic first aid and treats all his sister’s wounds that their mother inflicts. He is typically spared her wrath because of his timid nature and he complies easily.
He has saved his mother from an overdose on many occasions despite her constant neglect of them.
Had to become the “parent” figure to his little sister and make sure she gets meals and bath every day.
Does not like to start trouble. Beckett is considered a suck up to adults because he does not want to rock the boat.
Red Army Thoughts/Interactions
Atticus Kingsley:
Beckett finds Atticus to be overbearing and he tends to avoid him at all possible. He doesn’t like how much Atticus can rile up his little sister, but he rarely comments on how the Kingsley torments him.
Lyra Kingsley:
As a baby, Beckett doesn’t spend much time with her. But as she grows older, Beckett begins to like her because she is the opposite of her brother. She listens to him talk about his day and things he is learning at school. He is her honorary big brother.
Caroline Clemence:
Beckett has no ill will toward Caroline despite her mean behavior toward her when Atticus is around. He can see that she holds onto Atticus’s every word and he admires her for being so devoted to him. At school, he is always grateful for her assistance with his peers.
Jude Clemence:
When Jude grows older, Beckett becomes quite close to him. He was not surprised that Jude is as dedicated to Lyra as Caroline is to Atticus. He takes on Jude as his apprentice and teaches him big words and all the names of the flowers so he can impress Lyra.
Eden Bright:
He feels bad for Eden because of how easily she gets sick. He tends to follow Kyle around and help tend to her. He likes to take care of others so Eden is no exception. He takes extra precautions when they are playing outside to make sure Eden doesn’t overdo it.
Sadie Ash:
His little protector. Beckett adores his baby sister and chastises himself for not being able to keep her safe at their home. He wants to protect his little sister but typically she ends up protecting him, whether it be from their mother or the other kids that like to pick on him. He admires that she is so strong despite their situation. He wants her to find a place where she doesn’t have to fight for her right to live and for her to finally feel safe and loved by a parental figure.
Black Army/Neutrals
Lux Genetta:
He is fascinated with her, never met anyone with magic much less magic like hers. Beckett tags along with Kyle on his days out for working with patients just so that he can try and find Lux out and about. It isn’t often the two meet up.
Finley Godspeed:
He finds her to be most entertaining and genuinely a good person. He’s seen a lot of fakes in his life, but he is always astounded with how much Finley genuinely cares for those around her and makes an effort to make everyone happy.
Sadie Ash
Age: 3
Appearance: reddish-brown hair and golden eyes. She looks identical to Kyle.
Some facts:
Her appearance being so similar to Kyle is why their mother hates Sadie so much. She resents Kyle and therefore takes it out on Sadie.
Strong willed and stands up to anyone who opposes her or her brother. She has issues with authority because of her terrible mother. Adults tend to set her into a spiral of rebellion.
She has burn marks and permanent scars from her abuse on her back and torso.
Sadie doesn’t like reading or studying like her brother. She would enjoy learning to wield a sword because it would be another way to protect herself.
Red Army Thoughts/Interactions
Atticus Kingsley:
Oil and water. Sadie does not like him one bit. She wants to wipe that smug smirk right off his face and she tries her hardest. She fights dirty with him landing her trouble often.
Lyra:
Sadie isn’t too fond of babies because of her 3 half triplet half siblings that keep her awake at night screaming and crying. She steers clear of her for the most part. As they grow older, the two don’t get along because of Sadie’s behavior towards Atticus.
Caroline Clemence:
Her arch-nemisis. Sadie and Caroline tend to fight quite often, either over Eden’s attention or Sadie is trying to let Eden get a word in and let her make her own decision. Sadie can’t stand that Caroline leads Eden around like a puppy. She also dislikes that Caroline sides with Atticus when Beckett is getting picked on. Sadie has smacked her more than a few times.
Jude Clemence:
Like Lyra, Sadie avoids him as a baby. As the grow older, Sadie still doesn’t have much to do with him. But, she dislikes that he always runs and tattles on her and Atticus when she is fighting with him.
Eden Bright:
She didn’t quite understand at first why Eden got sick easily, but once the two began spending time together, Sadie grew fond of her quickly. She teaches Eden how to speak up for herself with the other kids and not let them walk all over her.
Beckett Ash:
Sadie loves her big brother, and she does everything she can to protect him, even at only ¾ years old. Her mother doesn’t pick on Beckett because of his compliant attitude and Sadie is happy for that. She does wish that he would stand up for himself, but until he does, she will defend him with everything she has.
Black Army/Neutrals:
Finley Godspeed:
Not allowed to be alone with her. The first time the two met in Central Quarter, they caused a ruckus and destroyed a fruit stand by startling a horse. Fast friends, and partners in crime. They bond over their adoration for Eden and love of causing mischief.
I will definitely be updating this as I explore more of their relationships with each other and delve more into their stories. Stay tuned for a breakdown of the Black Army kids and the Neutral kids! ^_^
Please feel free to ask me questions or comment on the munchkins! <3
I updated a thing! Eden was my first Ikerev baby and I’ve finally finished this chapter that has been sitting in my drafts folder for a very long time!
Tagging @plumpblueberry for supporting my 53 Ikerev babies
Her labored breaths broke his concentration on the duel between Zero and Edgar. Kyle pressed his hand against her forehead. Her fever had returned, probably higher than it had been this morning. “I’ve got to take this one back inside. Will you let Edgar know? I can’t risk her waking up and seeing him,” Kyle said, standing carefully as not to rouse her. It would be a pain to have to pry her away kicking and screaming.
Alice nodded her head, but asked, “Is that a bad thing?”
Kyle gave a breathy laugh. She didn’t know the half of it. “She’s very attached, especially when she is sick.” It was hard for her, being sick more often than not. All he wanted was for her to have as much of a normal life as she could. “Eden had weak lungs, so she has a lot of trouble breathing. And, also, a low immune system. It’s a daily struggle to keep her from being stuck in her bed.”
“That’s horrible. It must be hard for you to take care of her all the time,” Alice replied, her heart openly aching for the child. She couldn’t imagine being so young and having most of her days spent in an infirmary or in bed.
He smiled at her kindness. “All I want is for Eden to be healthy. When she’s smiling and feeling good, that makes it worth all I do. Edgar has it just as rough. With all of his other duties as an officer of the army, he also has her. Eden demands a lot of attention.”
That was true for both when she was sick and when she was well. A lot of her days with Kyle were when she wasn’t feeling well, so he treated her and put her to bed. Days when she was well, unless Edgar was out for the day, he was the one watching her, while doing paperwork, going to meetings. He fed her, bathed her, dealt with all her mood swings. It was a miracle he still got all his duties done. It impressed Kyle.
Kyle excused himself, just barely entering the building when the girl began to stir in his arms. “Hey sleepy. Are you hungry?”
“No.” Her voice came out a whisper. Eden rubbed her eyes with her hands, breath catching in her throat. The almost inevitable breakdown seconds away from happening. Her dazed expression amused him, but Kyle knew better than to tease her when she was like this. “Did daddy have to go back to work?” She asked, voice trembling.
“Yeah, he did,” Kyle answered, patting her back.
Her head dropped, the backs of her hands rubbing against her tear-filled eyes. “That makes me sad,” she whined, little shoulders trembling with sorrow.
The doctor sighed softly. What came next was the most pitiful sight. He had plenty of experience being around children, since his job brought them to him often, but none rivaled this one in the heart wrenching crying department. Rarely did she scream. No, instead she quietly sobbed while whining like a lost puppy.
“I’ll take her, Kyle,” Edgar said, having completed his duel with Zero. His work for the remainder of the day would keep him cooped up within his room. Keeping Eden with him would be easy and it would give the resident doctor a break.
His voice drew those teary green eyes up, more tears spilling over. Small arms outstretched in a plea to take her.
“Goodness, what are all these tears for?” He still hadn’t grown fully accustomed to dealing with a toddler, tending to lean towards how he would speak to a baby animal. Her mutterings incoherent through the hiccupping sobs. Brushing her brown locks away from her face, his gentle voice started to calm her down. “I can’t understand you when you are crying like that. That’s enough now.”
The girl only tightened her grip around his neck but her crying softened. Finally, her words were clear enough, though the Jack could have guessed what she would say. “I want to stay with you.” Words he heard daily.
“Okay, I think that can be arranged, so there’s no need for that sad expression on that pretty face,” Edgar said when she’d calmed enough to meet his gaze. The light returning to her eyes at the news of getting what she wanted.
Kyle, though relieved that he didn’t have to calm her down, raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? She’s running a fever again.” Letting her sleep in the infirmary would be okay when the kid actually fell asleep.
Edgar nodded. “It’s fine. If she gets worse, I’ll bring her back by. Maybe you can get some work done while she’s gone.” The two officers split ways. By the time he reached his quarters, Eden had fully recovered from her meltdown.
***
Absentmindedly stroking her hair with his free hand, Edgar worked on the pile of papers in front of him. Her small arms wrapped loosely around his waist, cheek against his chest, lashes fluttering with tiredness. If she gave over to sleep, then he could get her into bed. Until that happened, Eden would remain attached to him.
A soft knock at the door drew the Jack of Heart’s attention as he told them to enter. “Ah, Alice. I’m glad you’re here.”
Alice shut the door behind her, ready to take on her job as his assistant. “What do you need me to do first?” She paused at the sight of Eden, even more pitiful looking than she had been when outside with Kyle.
“She gets like this when she’s sick,” Edgar replied, before the question could be asked.
“How are you getting any work done?
The pure amazement in her eyes amused him. Scribbling his signature at the bottom of the document, he answered, “I’m quite adjusted to it. If it’s at all possible, it’s best for everyone for Eden to stay with me when she has a fever. However, being in the same room isn’t enough. She’s like a little leech.” A soft smile grew on his lips when the girl shifted on his lap with a whine.
“That’s mean,” She mumbled, hugging him tight despite her words. Tired green eyes were narrowed at Alice, as if daring her to come any closer. Eden didn’t like for other women or children to be close to her dad.
Casting a glance at the clock, Edgar decided that it would be best to get the girl to sleep, even if it meant upsetting her. “You can start by sorting those letters. I’ll be back in a minute.” He closed the door between his room and Eden’s to keep the noise at a minimum.
Eden curled up under the covers with her stuffed duck tucked up against her. Edgar brushed her hair from her face, thoughtfully admiring the girl as she fell asleep, a testament to how tired she must have been. On good days, there were no problems getting her to take a nap, but on sick days, it took some time to convince her.
The Jack of Hearts sighed after he was sure that she wouldn’t wake up if he stood. He hadn’t known what to expect when the news came to him that he had a child. It had been nearly a year now. Her mother far away and unable to harm her anymore. Did he really have what it takes to be a father to a little girl as innocent as her?
He couldn’t answer that question, but every time she smiled at him with an “I love you, Daddy!”, Edgar desperately wanted to give her the world, to protect that innocence that had been stolen away from him.
***
Eden had woken up to an empty bedroom, both hers and her fathers. Kyle brought her some dinner, checked her fever that had gone down significantly, sat with her during her breathing treatment and then put the girl back to bed for the night. He could only tell her that Edgar had gone out for his work and would be back in the morning.
But, when morning came for her, he was nowhere to be found. Well rested, and no longer feeling ill, the young Bright set out in search of him in headquarters. The sun had barely peeked over the horizon, leaving empty hallways to explore in her quest to locate him.
“Well, this is quite the surprise.”
Eden turned at the voice, finding a middle-aged man with a cane watching her curious eyes and a grin that didn’t reach his eyes, matching the same color as her own.
He bent slightly to get a better look at her. “There’s no doubting those eyes, is there? I’m shocked that Edgar would hide this from me. How intriguing.”
The girl took a step back, not liking the way he looked at her.
The man chuckled. Her timid attitude would need to be well adjusted for her to maintain the Bright family name. Reaching a hand toward her, he held that same empty smile that only frightened her more.
“I’m Claudius Bright, your great-uncle, and I believe it’s time you came with me, little lamb.”
A wild Claudius has appeared! Finally getting into the more angsty/moving the plot forward of Eden’s story.
I was too lazy to come up with a good title for this one so I just stole the Day 4 theme which was fireworks. It wouldn’t be an Edgar week without having his baby girl with him, would it?
@plumpblueberry I made some fluff!
The celebration has been in full swing for quite a while. Both armies having gathered atop the civic center for the festivities. A wide variety of food and sweets lined across elegant tables, music being performed for anyone to dance to.
The first crack signaled the beginning of the fireworks that had been prepared to end the celebration. The Jack of Hearts had not seen it, only heard the explosion in the night sky above. Jade irises scanned the area. All the business died down, all heads turned upward to see the colorful display.
No panic had set in, at least none that he would admit. It would be ridiculous to allow those emotions to cloud his judgement. She would turn up, most likely off with some of the other kids.
One bright illumination from the sky above pointed out the small girl hiding beneath the dessert table. If relief had not been flooding through him, he might have teased her for it.
"Eden, what are you doing under there?" Edgar crouched, lifting the cloth high enough to see her clutching her knees to her chest.
The three-year-old lifted her head, hands pressed against her small ears. "What is that? It's so loud." Her voice was nearly drowned out by the cacophony of fireworks rising into the sky and raining down over them.
"They are quite loud, aren't they?" It had not occurred to him that this was the first time his daughter had been around fireworks. His gaze drifted upwards, catching the last bit of the cracker sizzle out.
Eden snuck the opportunity to jump into his embrace. Her small hands trying to pull his arms around her.
Her father chuckled and lifted her up into his arms, rising to his feet. Holding her up with one hand securely around her waist, he stroked her hair as she hid her face in the crook of his neck. "Eden." He called her name softly, attempting to soothe her trembling body. "Nothing is going to harm you. I would never allow that."
The girl lifted her head only slightly enough to meet his gaze through her brown locks that shielded most of her features.
"There's my brave girl." Gloved fingers tucked the strands behind her ear before Edgar tapped his index finger against her nose. The squeal of another firework shooting up into the air drew her attention away from him.
Reflections of purple and yellow light illuminated her face. Bright green eyes sparkling with wonder and awe. Despite her fear of the noise, Eden couldn't bring herself to look away. "Pretty," She muttered, yet still clung to her father for protection.
Not near as breathtaking as the sight of you.
The myriad of fireworks up in the sky could hardly draw his attention. He wished to remember every single detail of her delighted features at her new discovery, utterly fascinated in the way that she shuttered at each explosion but didn't dare look away from the colorful display.
If this was the true meaning of peace in Cradle, Edgar vowed to uphold it for the rest of his days.
If only to give Eden a life filled with happiness and sweet memories.
Her melodic giggle brought him out of his own thoughts. A grin growing on her lips. Eden brushed her fingertips across his cheek. "Aren't you going to watch them too? I'm not so scared anymore," she said, yet without much confidence behind the words.
"Oh? Shall I set you down, then?" He teased, chuckling at how she tightened her legs around his waist, silently protesting the questions. Edgar pinched her nose lightly, eliciting another laugh from her, a sound he would never grow tired of hearing.
She swatted at his hand, hiding her nose underneath both of her palms until she was sure he wasn’t going on the offensive again. "I’m not scared because you’re keeping me safe. So…” Her eyes slid closed, nose crinkling up with a big smile. “Don’t put me down, Daddy.”
Edgar paused, her words having struck straight through his heart. Her trust in him making her incredibly vulnerable, like all children were. “I wouldn’t dare,” he answered, planting a soft kiss on her cheek.
Her eyes rose back up to watch the colors explode and fill the night sky with rainbows, while the Jack of Hearts continued to observe her every change of emotion that spread across her delicate features. The fireworks could never bring as much joy to him as the little girl snuggled in his arms.
Have I mentioned that I love Edgar with a daughter? Cause he is one good dad. ^_^
