The Blood Of The Innocent

Enjoy the part three here The Veil Of Treason 3

Intro:

Evil has a plan, and this time it targets the most defenceless lives imaginable. This is Part 4 of the Veil of Treason series. While the child of light grows in hiding deep in the forest, protected by three angels and raised by grandparents who have sacrificed everything, Mighty Osaka and his loyal enforcer Bagnus are running out of patience. The boundary between worlds is weakening — but not fast enough. Their new strategy is the darkest yet: curse the land so that every child born dies at birth, their innocent souls crying loud enough to tear the veil wide open. If you are new to this series, start with Part 1 first — the full story of the Veil of Treason begins there.

The Hunt Fails

Bagnus roared as he couldn't find the child he was looking for. His frustration could be seen in his eyes as they turned red. "How dare that child elude me! Who could be protecting him?" He turned to his men who were standing a short distance away watching him. They were weary, knowing even they weren't safe from his anger. He beckoned to one of the men as the others turned to flee. The unlucky one went to him and bowed. "Master."

"Where is the child?" Bagnus asked him.

"We are still looking, Master," the man said, shifting on his feet.

"You were standing watching while I do the work."

"No, Master, we were waiting for orders."

"In that case," Bagnus said, advancing toward the man, "here is my new order." He drew out his black sword and stabbed the man. "Go to hell and serve the dark one."

After killing the man, he turned around and roared, then hurried toward the road leading to the outskirts of town, hoping with all his heart that he hadn't been too late.

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Osaka's Fury

Mighty Osaka could feel the frustration bleeding from Bagnus. He knew then and there that he had failed. He bowed his head in defeat, and even the soldier souls that Bagnus had sent to him didn't give him the joy he used to feel. All his plans meant nothing if the child lived. Everything would be a waste because the child would be the one to stop him.

How could he not have seen this coming, he wondered. How could my brother hide this from me? How? I thought we were winning. I thought Bagnus had everything in order. How could my brother manoeuvre me just like that?

He fell to his knees with his head bowed, wisps of smoke rising from him. His anger was so intense that those in his throne room lost their lives and the floor melted from his fury. Then he roared — a mighty roar that caused earthquakes.

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The Gate

Bagnus had been waiting at the gate leading out of town for hours, inspecting everyone and everything passing through. He even looked inside a woman's bag and a man's pocket, and when the latter had complained, he received a beating for it. Now it was getting late and Bagnus knew deep down that he had lost the child. He ordered his soldiers to check beyond the gate and every nook and cranny, warning them that failure would lead to swift death.

As the sun started setting and he saw the men he had sent coming back, he knew they had failed. He sighed and shook his head, knowing it was a great setback. His anger boiled and he clenched his fists until they turned white. He looked up at the sky and muttered, "You think you have won? Wait and see. I will make sure that veil is destroyed and this child will be food for the crows."

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Deep in the Forest

The sound of a baby could be heard deep in the forest, and the joy of those around him could be felt as it lightened the mood. Liam was just a few weeks old and Baldric could tell he was growing up fast. He wondered what would happen when he woke up one day and found the child walking. He looked at his wife Allora and smiled as he saw the love and devotion in her eyes. This woman is the best mother anyone could aspire to have, he thought, shaking his head. She is so loving and doting. She never left me even when I was paralysed and bedridden. She has suffered for me and now I could repay her, and yet we are hiding.

He closed his eyes and called the protectors, and the three angels appeared.

"When can we leave this forest?" he asked them.

"Not now. Not until he turns fifteen," said the first protector.

"That is a very long time," Baldric said, glancing up at his grandson.

"He needs training with no distraction."

"Yeah, but living in the forest — it is too isolated."

"No need to complain, Baldric. You know what is going on," his wife told him.

"I'm just frustrated living in the forest. This is not a place for the child of light."

"It doesn't matter. He will have all the training he needs here, right?" She directed that to the three angels who nodded in agreement. "See? Don't fret."

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The Child of Light

Liam turned out to be growing fast, and Baldric couldn't believe his eyes when the child started walking in just a month. He felt worried and summoned the angels again.

"This is not right — the way the child is growing."

"You don't have to worry. He has the Creator's power in him and that is what is causing his rapid growth," Angel One said.

"Will it be okay? The way he grows — will it not affect him?"

"No, it wouldn't. He is part of the Creator."

They lived a simple life in the forest. Even though Baldric had been given wealth, he couldn't spend it on his wife or daughter because they were hiding, and Liam was not yet of age to use his power to protect them. Baldric became a farmer and the angels did the hunting, providing them meat and making sure their dwelling place was not compromised. Both Abigail and Allora tended the house and sometimes supported Baldric on the farm, but he always refused their help, claiming they had suffered for him so much when he was bedridden and that it was his turn to repay their kindness and love. So he worked hard providing for them, and they lived happily as Liam grew gradually.

Then one day, Liam said his first word. Allora was trying to skin a deer that had been provided by the angels, and Liam sat in front of her watching as she worked, slowly and methodically. She was distracted by a noise and in her startle she nicked her hand. She hissed, watching as she bled. Liam stood up, went to her, and held her hand in his small hands. He looked into her eyes and said, "Grandma," giggling. When he let go, there was no bleeding and no cut — nothing. She stood there in shock as the child turned and went back to where he had been sitting, watching her continue the skinning.

When Baldric returned home, she told him what had happened. He called the angels, and they began training Liam.

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A New Counsel

Bagnus was summoned by Mighty Osaka again to his throne room. This time the place was subdued and the voices of the wailing souls were muted. Mighty Osaka was angry, and so was Bagnus. It was a tense moment as all those around them held their breath, knowing that even a simple mistake like shifting one's feet could end a life. They sat in silence and Bagnus waited a few more minutes before Mighty Osaka addressed him.

"Bagnus! My most loyal servant — I have failed you."

"No, Master, you haven't failed me. Please don't say that," Bagnus said, bowing down.

"My brother's champion lives, and that spoils everything."

"Mighty Osaka, it doesn't matter. We must send more souls to the veil and it will fall."

"Be that as it may, before that happens the child will be of age to stop us."

"I will put more effort into locating him," Bagnus vowed.

"I think it is too late. We must take measures to hasten the fall of the boundary."

"How, Mighty Osaka?"

"We must put a curse on the land."

"You command, I obey, oh Mighty Osaka," Bagnus said with a bow.

"You are so loyal. My brother was a fool to let you go."

Bagnus said nothing, just bowing and waiting for orders.

"The land will be cursed, and everyone who gives birth will lose their child at childbirth. Innocent souls always weaken the boundary more."

Bagnus shifted at that. He wasn't sure he was capable of enforcing this, not when he too had plans to one day have a child of his own.

Mighty Osaka could see that Bagnus was uncomfortable. "Speak now, Bagnus."

"They are children — innocent. It is an abomination."

Mighty Osaka laughed, a chilling laugh that rattled Bagnus's teeth, and he bowed low. "I'm sorry. I spoke out of turn, great lord."

"Better. Now, that curse will be placed on the land as from now, so get ready. When the boundary falls, have the soldiers on high alert."

"Yes, great one."

"Good. You may go. And try to encourage people to be intimate more so that babies will be on the rise."

"Yes, great one."

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The Curse

So the land was placed under a curse — any child that was born would die at childbirth, and their innocent souls would cry the loudest, weakening the veil and causing the boundary to fall far sooner than the twenty years they had estimated.

If you enjoy this, read the part one here The Veil Of Treason Series

Read the Price men pay for wealth here The Price Of Blood