He left a trail, of course. One that was easily capable of being followed, especially at first since moving would be difficult for her so soon after birth. As far as the child was concerned, she got the best of care. He allowed her to suckle from the udder of a cow or a goat and kept her warm by holding her each night in his arms. She really was such a precious little thing and his mind continued to play the miracle of her birth over and over again. There was a true adoration for the child and a true joy in watching the girl grow month by month, year by year.
At around her fourth year of life she began exhibiting signs of having the magics of her mother and father, but greatly diminished. And after four years of traveling, she adored the man that cared for her, called him Sir, and never thought it odd that they continued to move. It was how she had lived her life up to that point, so there was nothing odd about it. But it created an irking feeling in him watching how her mind flickered in the years and, even though he tried to teach her the appropriate ways of the world, keep her as an innocent, he really was her biggest influence and there was nothing he could do to subtract him from her life.
Mymyk still followed, of course. She still followed for those four years, stumbling along under blind faith, only eating when someone saw her in her tattered dress and pushed food her way. She only slept when one of the towns she passed through happened to force her into a room. Even then, the sleep was fitful and short, but as soon as her head landed on the pillow she was dead to the world. For years she followed the disappearance of her child, pushing along in dire hopes of finding that which she desired so much. At year nine, it wouldn't be long.
“Ava, you have been a most lovely traveling companion.” The ebony locks of the young woman fell into her face as her head hung at the sounds of his words. After a few moments of thought her head tilted upwards to view the golden eyes she had grown so accustomed to as her tresses parted and fell back with ease.
“Sir? Are we finished traveling, Sir?” Her voice was just a minute squeak of a sound still, tiny and high as she pressed her question.
“We are both finished traveling, yes. But it is here that we must physically part ways.”
“But Sir! I don't want to leave you.” Needless to say, he has been all she had ever known. How could he say such terrible things to her? She didn't want him to leave her all alone. She wouldn't know what to do with herself, and if she didn't know what to do with herself then she was just a waste of life that someone else would be more than happy to use.
“Physically, we must. But you can remain with me, if you like. Your life wont be a waste if you travel with me and allow me to use it. Would you allow me this most great honor, Ava?” The look on his face, that questioning look that seemed so strangely to reflect a deep love in his eyes. And she did love him even if she didn't know what that word was, but the feeling ran through her like a deep canyon, something that could never be buried. She took his hand without another second of thought and held her breath. Finally she offered a short nod that this was exactly what she wanted as little cheeks flushed a great crimson color at the thought of always being with the man who has been nothing but kind to her.
“Do not be scared then, Ava. We will prepare a ceremony, you and I, and you will remain with me forever.” The thought of forever was a blissful one for the both of them as time would have no meaning any longer in the void where the two of them would remain holding hands and traveling to new places together. As he has done many times in the past, something she has seen many times in the past, he drew finger and thumb down in a straight line revealing a needle thin sword after a shimmer died down around it. “You know from viewing, Ava, that this will not hurt unless you struggle. Please don't struggle, child. I don't want to forever remember your fear.”
She was a brave soul as she took a step back from him and threw her head back and arms abducting from her body. She took in the sights and sounds around her before her eyes closed and she relaxed once again. “No, Sir. I wont struggle. I am ready.” And she was. He could see deep into her inner most soul, see all the beauty there and her thoughts of just holding his hand. He could see the adoration, the love, the desire to never leave the only one she has ever met. Perhaps it was not precisely the way he should have taught her, but she was an innocent. He taught her in moments of chaos and she was an innocent. She saw him kill so many times and she was innocent. She helped him to find those who were wasting their life so that he may put them to better use and she was an innocent. She was an innocent as much as he was, for they believed there was nothing wrong with what they were doing, and was there?
“You are not a victim, Ava. Victims deserve death to release them from themselves. Only then can they truly live. You have lived an innocent life. Linked for life, you will come and join me now.” With that being said, the sword gently eased through the little girl's chest where her heart would be. She knew from watching him that this was a beautiful way to join him and not many at all were privileged enough to receive this. Yet here she was, knees falling out from under her as she seemed to deflate, slipping to the ground with a soft grunt before all life was gone from her body. Perfection, even in death. His brother did well.
The sword was replaced into the void where it was taken from earlier in much the same manner before The Investigator took out a small hunting knife. A mid-line cut was made following the muscles on her abdomen, peeling flesh to shortly reveal the more earthen body of muscle and viscera. Once all had been removed, he took what there was of this pale flesh, bundling it up in his arms before allowing his wings, which for nine years have been exposed in a way he never desired them to ever be, and gave them one last flexing tremble before casting himself into lift off. Ten minutes later all that could be heard from town to town was the most grievous wail of a mother having come across all that was left of her child. For even in such a raw form, she knew it was Ava that lay there on the side of that road.
