The days grew tiring as I sat in my fortress and watch the inhabitants of the wasteland. Many, far from the Queen of Beast's court, struggled to find their way. The wasteland is a harsh land and the monsters that reside there are a hardened people. Too many families follow the Queen's example and consume their young for survival. Some even consume them for pleasure and others for status.
Among the broken children of the outlying lands lived the blackened soul. His mother was one of the few not corrupted by the sickness that filled the land. She dulled her pain using chemicals and potent alcohols, corrupting her body but allowing her mind to survive. She bore one offspring and one offspring only. Though she cared for him ad tried to protect him, the wasteland is no place for the fragile. The blackened soul's Lord was cruel and selfish. His son was his status and shown to others as proof of his virility. His son was nothing to him more than what he could gain from his presence. The Lord's followers tormented the blackened soul and sent him back to his mother cracked, easy to shatter, should any further pain be inflicted. Pain, however, is the very essence of the wasteland and pain is what he received throughout his life.
I heard stories of the blackened soul through one of the friendly inhabitants near my fortress. He told of how his music was beautiful and transported one to the lands beyond, if only for a few moments. I often wondered about this beauty, how could anything in this desolate place evoke color or emotions beside fear and anger? I soon received word that the soul was wandering in my direction. When the soul arrived at my fortress, I saw his beauty was not only in the music he created but in his very essence. His battle torn skin was only made more enticing by his beautiful saddened eyes and dark hair as deep as the vast universe. I was unable to speak as he walked slowly up to my fortress. We shared a glance, then sat down next to each other in silence and remain there at the fortress wall for weeks. Then one day we looked at each other and share a revelation. Our broken souls were bound together from this moment forward for better or for worse.
