The birthing chamber is perhaps one of the most lavish rooms in the Mansion of Lord Aika. Rugs as thick as your thumb carpeted the floor from wall to wall. A huge fireplace loomed on the Eastern side, with bright yellow flames burning constantly. A huge canopied bed stood at the center of the room, with lavend er drapes all around, and white silken sheets meticulously arranged by the household servants. Tall silver candelabras adorned the tops of tables, as well as vases filled with fresh irises. A stained glass window overlooked the rose garden, and heavenly scents fill the room every time someone opens one glass pane.

It was in this very room that Lady Roubre sat, swaying slightly in her wicker rocking chair as she held a baby in her arms. Her usually creamy complexion has gone pallid, and her white face set off by the black luster of her raven hair. She bit her lower lip as she looked down at the baby's cherubic face; the endearing button of a nose, the slightly puckered lips... the pointed ears and those dark, glowing eyes studying her as if they could read her very thoughts.

The door to the room burst open, and Roubre jumped slightly, hugging the babe protectively. Her husband walked in, his little eyes snapping and his pudgy face filled with anger.

"Where is it? Where is that brat of the devil?"

Roubre's eyes widened as she pressed the babe to her chest.

"No...please Aika... she's just a baby. My baby."

Aika eyed his wife, his eyes narrowing into mere slits.

"You have tested my patience greatly, woman. Now give me the changeling or I swear to God you both wouldn't live to see the sun rise."

Aika strode over to where Roubre sat, his heavily booted feet making dull, thudding noises in the carpeted floor. With a gesture far too quick and fluid for a man of his build, he snatched the child from Roubre's reluctant arms. The baby, perhaps sensing Aika's anger, started wailing and squirming.

Aika looked down at the caterwauling changeling, disgust plainly written in his ruddy face. His gaze transferred from the baby to his wife, intensifying in its path.

"Why, the brat kind of looks like you, my dear."

Roubre, still weak from her birthing, managed to utter a weak shriek as the Aika took the child from her arms. She looked up at Aika, her arms outstretched, as big fat drops of tears cascaded from the corners of her blue eyes.

"My baby, Aika, Give her back to me... my baby..." She whispered harshly, her face contorted into a mask of faint hatred and helplessness.

Aika smiled hollowly and patted his wife on the head, as he would a pet dog.

"Don't worry, we'll make another one. A human one, this time."

He looked down at the baby and alien eyes, pulsing steadily with grayish light locked with his. He felt his head grow heavier, as if someone was pressing on them, trying to get inside his mind. Aika gritted his teeth and shook his head, and the strange, rather unpleasant feelings vanished.

"In the meantime," He began in a cold tone, trying to mask the small flicker of fear that ignited in his heart, "we'd best rid ourselves of this one."

Aika walked out of the room, the baby still in his arms and nodded to the guard outside the door.

"Lock her in," He began gesturing towards his weeping wife, "Then throw this monster into the dump." He handed the squirming baby into the surprised guard. With a dignified swish of his red velvet cloak he walked away, already dismissing the ugly incident from his mind.

A solitary figure strode along the garbage dump, as if strolling in a park. His cloak shifted against the wind, revealing dark blue skin, and a young looking, handsome face. The pungent smell of blood seems to emanate from his pores, and the evil, contemplative smile he wore added a harsh edge to his exotic beauty. He breathed the unpleasant odor of the dump with relish.

"Ahh, to be in the upper world again," He murmured and chuckled softly. He looked up, rejoicing in the surreal beauty of an upper world night when a soft mewling sound reached his pointed ears.

Hmn, what is that? He thought, frowning slightly. He followed the source of the sound, and came upon a pile of garbage... and a baby thrown carelessly on top of it. The baby raised her arms to the man, and the figure picked her up, studying her closely.

"Why, you're a pretty little creature, aren't you?" The man said cuddling the baby.

The baby gurgled and grasped the man's hood with her short, chubby fingers. Her eyes begin to glow dimly, revealing her delight at being cuddled.

The blue-skinned man drew a loud intake of breath, as he realized that this child is of his race.

How dare they throw a perfectly lovely child into a garbage dump just because she's a Changeling?

He cursed softly, his handsome features contorting into a grotesque mask of hate. The baby sensing his change of emotions began wailing again.

"Shush child." The man began, his face solemn once more as he patted the baby on the back. "Well take care of you... I'm your daddy now."

And someday, we will wreck vengeance to those people who threw you in here, the man vowed to himself, vehemently. He walked away from the dump with the baby in his arms, and disappeared into the night.