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Cressa…Dendrath…what even was her name anymore? She cast aside the name Cressa Kaiamore months ago when Dendramore told her to come to Paradise under threat of her children being harmed, yet once the others were told it they refused to call her anything else. Dendrath was meant to be a reminder of who she was fighting for…though perhaps indirectly she was stating that she was fighting for her former patron. However, every time someone used that name she was given by parents she could no longer remember it felt like knives being shoved into her body…a feeling she knew somewhat well.
The nameless Aasimar brought herself out of her mental reverie as one of her children, Yali, stood at the foot of the bed she was placed in by Dr. Agon. They didn’t say a word, the Yuan-ti child hardly ever did, but the look in their eyes was enough to get the point across, “I will listen before I make my decision about what we’ve been told is truth.”
She sighed before starting, her voice slightly hoarse after all the screaming she’d done moments before, “I’d wanted to tell you all. The day you all were delivered to the new orphanage, I had planned to tell you…but between the reunion and my price of breaking my pact being taken the moment I saw you…it got lost in everything.”
She took another breath before continuing, “I served the Aberrant lord Dendramore. I’ve been in his fold since I was about Frill’s age. He offered me a deal after I survived an aberrant attack on my home village, scared and about to be corrupted by their taint. I was so scared about dying that I accepted…not knowing what would be asked in return. He suppressed the corruption then told me he’d reach out when he had work for me to do. At which point I was found by traveling priests and brought to a nearby orphanage. The priests did their best, but with so many to watch over, I ended up slipping through the cracks and was bullied for both my heritage as a fallen Aasimar and my being scarred by Aberrants. One day I was pushed too far and enough of the corruption left my body…marking my first taken life. The first of many I would later learn.”
She closed her eyes, memories she wished she could forget bombarding her, “I ran away that day. I found myself on the streets, simply waiting each day to see if Dendramore would use me for his own ends or if I would be left to survive. I stole, conspired and killed for him…all without remorse. Then one day I was tasked with the duty that would lead me to all of you. It was a routine for me at that point: mark a house with his power, observe the carnage to make sure those inside were killed, then confirm the kill myself before moving on. However…I hadn’t accounted for the child of those I was sent to kill having left the house. A young minotaur boy, who asked me what happened to his house…to his parents. That was the first lie I told any of you…that I didn’t know what had happened. Soon after I was given the orphanage you all came to know, whether because Dendramore thought it a potential prospect for young acolytes or because he knew I’d grow attached to you all I know not. But as I saw each of you come through those doors I knew deep down…that the reason you were all orphans was because of me.”
She sighed once again, the tears that had begun falling down her face as she looked up at the ceiling, “And that leads us to now. When Dendramore sent me here, he informed me that he wouldn’t be able to keep track of me as well as he was able to on Raltek. I hadn’t thought much of it until I was granted a wish by the god Kaladon. From there I began to plot all of your escapes…a plot which succeeded as you can see.”
She looked over to Yali, “So there you have it…my sins laid bare.”
She settled herself against the bed again, waiting to hear what the child had to say to her. They waited a minute, clearly processing the story they were told from both his former caretaker and the cultist who’d invaded their new home. After a minute, the Aasimar heard them speak, “There is much we can blame you for…but there is also much we have to thank you for. While it may be true you were likely the reason for our being orphans, you still treated us with love, kindness and protection. You took the time to know us, to help us grow and never once did we think you were grooming us for something like what Thatch told us.”
They looked over to the far corner of Dr. Agon’s lab, where the Aasimar knew Kara and Jeffery were, “Many of us are scared. Not a few days after we were brought to a new home unexpectedly were we attacked by those claiming to know our caretaker more than us. It does not surprise me that Kamera has latched onto the winged one, it is likely she is taking this betrayal of our trust the hardest seeing as she idolized you. Nor does Veri’s continuing to follow her surprise me either, considering her attempts at befriending Kamera. Frill I suspect is much like a boat lost at sea, trying to grasp onto anything familiar in a sea of chaos. The other two however…I think it is not my place to speculate on their thoughts. They are the oldest of us…and likely taking this news just as hard as Kamera. They are more steadfast though, I doubt they will make a decision without hearing your words first.”
Yali looked back at her, “As for me, I do not care to make decisions with only one part of the story. WIth all the information now at my disposal, I will relay it to the others so that we may come to a decision on what to do next.”
The Aasimar let out a chuckle despite the situation, “You always were the most calm of them, Yali. It’s what made you special.” She turned to face them, “I want you to let them know that no matter what decision you all make that you will find no judgment from me. Should I never see any of you again I will not be surprised. Should you return to me then I will endeavor to rebuild the trust I’ve lost from you all this day. Let them know…that I’m sorry.”
Yali took her words in, then nodded, “You know Cressa-”
They were cut off, “Dendrath. I’m sorry, I meant to tell you all that as well; I cast off the name Cressa a while back.”
Yali raised an eyebrow, “That seems to be a recurring thing with you. Casting off things, leaving them to be forgotten. But Cressa,” she winced at their continued use of her given name, “your story has given light to something I think none of us had yet considered; for as much as you are our senior in years, you are still very much a child like us. Orphaned just as we are. The difference being that you decided to protect us from the dangers of the outside world, while you were forced to fight them head on. You have my thanks for that…but I think something that will need to happen is our separation. We need to be free of you for a time, and I think time away from us will be beneficial for you as well. Your chosen name reveals much, when you were not thinking of us, you were serving your patron. You’ve never been given a chance to grow outside of that. I think you need to, and for us we need to regroup. Think over whether we wish to stay with someone who betrayed our trust and reacted so violently when said truths were revealed outside of your control.”
The Aasimar simply nodded, closing her eyes, “One last request if I might be so selfish? Do not discount Drake’s words. He is brazen, boastful, and incredibly prideful…but he speaks truth in that the person he’s offering to take care of you would be far better at it then me. I’ve met with her on more than one occasion. She commands power I could only hope to grasp and would be more than capable of protecting you should Dendramore attempt to reclaim you all.”
She took one last look at Yali, “Let them all know this; my story, the truth Drake speaks…and that my love for you all has not diminished even if you all have nothing but hatred in your hearts for me now.”
Yali nodded, “I will relay these messages…but, how sure are you that it is love and not desperation that you cling to us? When you have known nothing else, nor true love? Hmm… When next we meet…I hope it is on better terms.”
The nameless Aasimar let her head fall onto the bed again as Yali left her side, no doubt to make good on their word, and let their final words hang in the air, unanswered for the time being. She felt weariness begin to seep into her bones and in spite of the anxiety she was feeling, she felt herself drift off into a dreamless sleep.