Kian's story is shared with his twin
Talisia .
However, this is the rest of his side of the story...
Both twins came from the union of a gypsy shifter and the ice woman who had caught him in her trap. However, while Talisia was often rejected by their mother Ciarán found himself kept close to Nivedita. After all, unlike his sister who took after their mother, Ciarán was basically a replica of their father. While he once sought to play with his father and sister the boy quickly learned that it was only with his intervention that Talisia would be spared. While Kaleo spent more time with his daughter, Ciarán found himself constantly playing music to distract their mother from her jealous rage.
Every day held a new story for them, depending on their mother’s mood. While Nivedita was away on business the trio would be happy and play together without fear. While their father was away with their mother it was then that both Ciarán and Talisia took the time to bond. He learned to teach her then the things he had been taught while away from her and to also wipe the tears that fell onto her cheeks without their mother’s love.
In those moments that he did share with his father and sister Ciarán was always happy. His father taught him to love music and dance, a rare light in his childhood of strict rulings and darkness. Music quickly became his passion and he found himself sneaking off night after night to practice or to show his sad and tired sister a new melody to cheer her spirits. It was during such times that Ciarán even managed to make a friend with a merchant’s son that lived in the area. From him Ciarán even learned about magic and how the world was much different outside of his home. Eresin had been his name, but Ciarán’s time with him had been short due to the tragedy looming over the horizon.
Kaleo was dead.
When Kaleo died Ciarán found his freedom completely ripped away. His mother found that his similar looks to their father could soften the blow of losing the shifter she had loved and obsessed over. Often he would spend many nights taming her anger so that his sister could be spared from his mother's rampant jealous and despair.So while he appeared pampered and cherished, the secrets of his troubled world started to reflect in the scars on his back.
His twin sister, though, was his secret fuel to get him through every day. Seeing the rare smiles he gave her and the few fleeting moments he could hold her in his arms was enough to keep him going. After all without him who would stop their mother from hurting his dear twin? It was only Talisia's presence which tamed the darkness growing inside of his heart.
Months passed and Ciarán's watchful eye never left his sister's side. His studying increased and he found that he could begin to outmaneuver his mother's actions. For every step she made to secure him to her side the boy would obey while secretly gaining more freedom. The less she doubted his ability and desire to contest her will, the more she lowered her guard. He was her ideal son, but on the inside he despised her. He wanted nothing more than to take Talisia and flee into the hills.
Still he never could find the perfect opportunity to escape. Instead Ciarán kept practicing his role in the life that Nivedita wanted for him. All he could do was secretly gift Talisia small things and to also give her hope in the shelter he made for her and her animals. As long as he could keep her safe his own personal hell was worth it. He had to take care. Once he was caught in an attempt to leave with his sister and his mother's punishment kept him chained in the darkest rooms of their home for days. Others were told that he was off on a trip, but inside those cold walls the boy was trapped. Even as years blurred those memories, the scars remained. Since then he learned to be extra careful, even harsh towards his sister at times. For both of their sakes...
Life was cruel, but the worst night finally came to life. When their mother found Talisia’s hidden shelter and Silva, the raptrix that his sister had adopted since helping it to recover from injuries, the shield that Ciarán had desperately created for his sister broke. Nivedita was infuriated that her daughter dared to defy her rules. Reaching out she had slashed over and over in the air with the dagger, but it was Ciarán who she dug the blade into instead.
He had pushed Talisia away and told her to run while their mother stood in shock at the damage she had done to her son, her replacement "Kaleo". Yes, before she had tortured him and even chained him...but she never wanted to kill him. She had already lost her lover once, to lose her son would destroy her. Her despair at his severe wounds allowed his sister to escape, but as he recovered and she saw he was no longer near death his punishment resumed. Even more so because of the loss of her daughter due to his foolish actions. How dare he choose Talisia over her! Just as Kaleo had done before him! What did that wretch have that she didn’t? Blood be cursed! She should have just destroyed her a long time ago! Finally Nivedita’s mind, once consumed by grief and rage, had completely snapped at the fear of losing Ciarán.
Eventually something had to change.
Without Talisia to keep him calm, Ciarán started to drift further into the darkness that had been lingering in his own heart. No affection remained for this woman, years of blood and tears had seen to that. And in that darkness, without his sister to give him a reason to live a secret lock inside of him broke. Without it a power started to shine, a power that could destroy many things including himself. Before as a child he had felt it, long ago when he could express himself in music with his father, and now it was back. That natural energy he found in the world around him....that magic which flooded his veins. Music, it seemed, was not his truest calling at all. Once, perhaps it may have been, but desperate times awaken even the most secretive part of men.
It would take time to recover and to learn how to unleash it, but he could learn…
Talisia had been gone for weeks now and his body felt the burdens of it. During this time a great battle was brewing outside in Tendaji as Alkilides fought against the other races, even their own sisters. Yet, a greater battle was being fought inside the walls of Nivedita's own home. Insanity had completely taken over the woman's mind and her abuse of Ciarán was growing. Important business gave him relief from her as she was called away for a few days...and in those few days he gained strength. Even while chained up in the cursed prison of his childhood the male rested. And while his blood dried on the floors and on his back he felt it.
That burning sensation was back. The more he concentrated the more the brilliant blue lights flashed in his sight. What it was, was a mystery to some but his knowledge his extensive studying as a child revealed the magic. For years he had hidden it, kept it suppressed so he could stay with Talisia rather than being sent off to train under some mage. Yet, in secret it was less worry of leaving but more so of destruction. The anger, the darkness inside that made him forget the beauty of life had loomed. While he never cared about himself his fears for Talisia had kept the monster at bay.
But now...she was gone, she was free.
And he was alone and without his sister's love those restrictions fled. And as his mother, no that monster, came back for him she found a surprise. You will not abuse me any longer. Magic, raw and free in its power, flooded out of him. A blind rage, he could barely remember the day if someone asked him, took over and all he knew was that in the next few hours not only was he out of those chains he was far from his childhood home and prison.
Not caring to go back and see what exactly had happened Ciarán took up his belongings and left the home. He was burnt out. Honestly how the boy survived was lost in that fog. He hadn’t cared if he died, he just wanted to end the nightmare. While he prayed for Talisia’s happiness he had cared nothing for himself. As long as she was free he was thankful. Perhaps if his soul could be redeemed then he may find her again in the next life...as he stumbled through the deep snows the boy actually braced himself for death. Finally it was time for that sweet release…
Destiny had other plans for him. A mage, known as Nerio, found the boy half alive in the ice. Without hesitation he took the boy into his home and helped him to recover. Surprised at the scars on his back and the more recent wounds the mage listened to the boy’s tale as he began to recover.
“I can’t stay here.”
“I know. I’m not planning on keeping you here either.”
“Good.”
Nerio had laughed, “I’m taking you out of Zena with me.”
Surprise had flickered across Ciarán’s features, but the boy found himself suddenly apprenticed to this mage. While they traveled he found himself taking on a new name, Kian. It was Kian who posed as the musician, a traveling gypsy who moved through the lands with the caravans. His music slowly began to take on a tune again. Still while promising hope and freedom a darkness still constantly lurks behind...the burden of the past was too harsh on his heart and even Kian still slips into "Ciaran" at times. Even under Nerio's watchful gaze rumors of a destructive mage or an attractive male who causes trouble out on the road began to arise...
While Nerio helped Kian to physically recover the emotional and mental scars remain. Without Talisia to help keep the darkness away, Kian has shrouded his true self in ice while leaving his alter-ego, his mask, on the outside to please others. Violent nightmares still haunt him from his mother's abuse, but he has grown stronger. Magic now floods his veins and he is determined to learn as much as possible so that chains never again will bind him. Even at the cost of others...
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