Chapter 1
|ELIA|
|October 24th, 2010|
AURELIA LYANNA 'ELIA' POTTER-BLACK realized that the end of the world wasn't as hard to survive as one would think, once you knew what you were up against and could adapt.
The thirty-year-old woman was five-five with a lithe hourglass build, delicate defined features, flawless golden beige skin, large and loose silky hip-length black curls, almond-shaped jade green eyes, and blood-red heart-shaped lips.
She yawned tiredly behind her hand, standing up and automatically pulling her knee-high lace-up boots on. Everyone slept fully dressed, Elia commonly wore tight black leggings and a thin long sleeve.
She straightened out the covers on her bed before walking out into the main area and outside of the Haven, a forty-foot luxury motorhome.
She walked towards garage of the Haven and over to Merle's tent, which sat under and to the right of the hanging cocoon tent which was strung between the roof of the Haven and the roof of the thirty-two-foot enclosed cargo trailer.
Her stomach dropped when she noticed that Merle wasn't there. Had he gone hunting after going salvaging with the group yesterday? Or was the group just not back yet?
Daryl wasn't in the cocoon tent, but she hadn't expected him to be, it was his turn to hunt. Merle was better at processing and tanning pelts, Daryl and Elia were the ones that preferred to hunt. Elia cooked most of the meals since she had the full kitchen.
The worry about yesterday was twice as bad today. Sniffing in distain, she withheld a grimace. The camp was makeshift at best, despite having nearly three dozen people and more than a month to put together a decent set-up.
Frowning at being alone in a group she didn't trust, Elia retreated back into the Haven and knocked on the door across from the bathroom, the expanded space being home to some very special people.
The door was opened by a twelve-year-old girl, she was beautiful.
Stella was five-five with a lithe slight-hourglass build, delicate defined features softened by young age, flawless ivory skin, large and loose hip-length platinum blonde curls, almond-shaped jade green eyes, and blood-red heart-shaped lips.
"Morning, Mama." Stella greeted as her sisters joined her at their bedroom door.
The triplets were nearly identical. The way to tell them apart was their hair and eyes. Stella Narcissa Malfoy had platinum blonde hair and jade green eyes, Selena Dorea Black had black hair and ice blue eyes, Solana Lyanna Potter had blood-red hair and silver eyes.
"Morning, Mama." Selena and Solana chimed in unison while pulling on their protective leather jackets. All three of them matched their mother with black leggings, thin long-sleeve shirts, and protective leather jackets.
"Eat something and get on with your lessons." Elia told her daughters with a soft smile. "You can sit in the cocoon tent, but it'll be hot even with the fan on."
The three girls nodded and grabbed their book bags before following their mother into the kitchen area. They all grabbed a sixty-four-ounce reusable water bottle in a different color before going outside.
Elia watched her girls and made sure they were actually getting to work on their studies before taking a seat at the long white folding table in one of the twelve white folding chairs.
Sniffing in distain, she withheld a grimace. The camp was makeshift at best, despite having nearly three dozen people and more than a month to put together a decent set-up.
Elia worked with silk fabrics and the pelts that they've gathered over the last months and a half to weave blankets. She didn't mix the different animal pelts together, so they were of various sizes.
"Merle!" Daryl called, announcing his presence and easing the tension that lined her shoulders. Putting down her work, she slid her hand to the sheath of throwing knives on her thigh and grabbed the G26 from right below the sheath. The subcompact gun was placed on the table in easy reach.
"Get your ugly ass out here," Daryl yelled again. Elia chuckled in amusement, shaking her head softly. Elia and her girls had heard worse coming out of their mouths. Daryl was either exhausted or in a good mood.
"I got us some squirrel!" Daryl yelled again, a note of worry creeping into his voice. Usually, Merle had a comeback for his brother. Elia's smile fell and worry grew in the pit of her stomach.
She stood with the gun tucked back into its holster and her hand right on top of it as she made her way over. She stopped between the tents and in front of the cocoon tent.
"Daryl, just slow up a bit, I need to talk to you." Shane said uneasily. Elia frowned at the group surrounding Daryl, as if they were getting ready for something. There was someone new and he must be a part of what was going on, he also seemed too comfortable around everyone, so he was probably related to someone in camp.
"About what?" Daryl asked as Shane approached him, looking slightly apprehensive. Glenn and T-Dog looked downright terrified so they must have some part in whatever was done.
"About Merle. There was a..." She said, hesitating as he turned to face Daryl with tension lining his body language. "A problem in Atlanta."
"Bloody hell." Elia muttered in annoyance, and she began to walk over to help at a moment's notice.
"He dead?" Daryl demanded, pacing restlessly, not wanting to know but needing to know at the same time. Daryl loved his brother; he was the only family the man had ever really had.
"We're not sure." Shane admitted, tensing further.
"He either is or he ain't." Daryl argued angrily.
"No easy way to say this, so I'll just say it." The new guy said walking over. Elia arched an eyebrow as she continued over, impressed by the nerve of the newcomer. Daryl was like a cornered snake, and that was when snakes were most deadly.
"Who are you?" Daryl spat, glaring harshly at the two.
"Rick Grimes," Rick introduced. Elia tilted her head as she got within distance, twirling around the women that tried to stop her from approaching the volatile man.
"Dae?" Elia asked softly, her lilting voice drawing all eyes to her. Daryl relaxed minutely, his eyes examining her for any injuries.
Daryl faced the group, much calmer in her presence. "Rick Grimes, you got something you want to tell me?" Daryl asked with a hard stare.
"Your brother was a danger to us all," Rick insisted. "So, I handcuffed him on a roof, hooked to a piece of metal. He's still there."
Elia closed her eyes for a second before stepping forward and sliding her hand into Daryl's. His light blue eyes met her jade green, and they silently conveyed support, caring, and the warmth of something deeper.
Her eyes warned him to stay calm, to prove them wrong. His eyes calmed with the firm belief that they would get his brother back.
The decision made, they refocused on the two men who were terrible at delivering bad news, despite having been cops before the end of civilization.
"You're saying you handcuffed my brother to a roof in the middle of the infested city and left him there?!" Daryl asked rhetorically.
"Yeah," Rick admitted, his tone revealing shame and guilt.
Daryl tensed, barely resisting the urge to strike.
Then the girls popped up startling the entire group. They looked warily at Daryl, worried he would take his rage out on them. Their presence eased the tension from him, and he relaxed.
"What's going on?" Selena asked warily as her eyes scanned the group.
Solana nodded as she tilted her head, allowing her blood-red fishtail to fall over her right shoulder. "Yeah, you promised to take us hunting for that deer, but you didn't come back last night."
"I lost track of time." Daryl said, a softness to his voice the group had never heard before. "We'll have to find more tracks, but after Merle gets back, we'll spend the rest of the afternoon hunting."
"Is Uncle Merle alright?" Stella asked worriedly, glancing around and noticing that the others from the supply run were back.
"He'll be fine." Elia assured her daughter. "Keep an eye on your sisters and stay inside."
"Okay, Mama." Selena agreed softly.
Elara Astra and Eliana Iris Dixon were seven-year-old identical twins. They were four-two with lithe slight-hourglass builds, delicate defined features softened by young age, flawless golden beige skin, large and loose mid-back length blood-red curls, almond-shaped jade green eyes, and blood-red heart-shaped lips.
"We'll make sure they work on their lessons." Stella assured calmly as she met her mother's eyes. "If they finish before you return, we'll play some games."
"Don't make a mess." Elia warned softly and then nodded towards the Haven. "Get inside and lock the doors. I'll let you know when we get back."
As soon as the door shut behind the triplets, Daryl tensed slightly as they got back to the situation at hand. "Where?" Daryl asked through gritted teeth.
"The department store." Glenn said stepping forward, stopping just out of reach. "We've been there three time in the last week."
Daryl looked at Elia, knowing she went on a few runs in the last week. She nodded. "I know which one he's talking about." She assured him softly.
"You stay away from us." Daryl warned the group, pointing at the entire group aside from Glenn. Glenn was a good man, a bit of a pushover and people pleaser, but a good man that they trusted to have their backs when they went on supply runs.
"I come with you." Rick said stepping forward. "You'll need some help."
"No." Elia stated sharply, surprising everyone except Daryl and Glenn with her tone. She was usually soft spoken and kind, so it surprised them. Daryl has known her for nine years and has been married to her for eight. Glenn has seen her decimate a dozen walkers in less than a minute.
"Why not?" Shane asked. He didn't want Rick or anyone else going, but he was curious as to what had made the kind and helpful woman so cold towards them.
"We don't trust you." Elia stated icily, glaring at the group sharply.
"It's just Merle." Lori stated confused as to why they cared about him. Sure, he was Daryl's brother, but the two antagonized each other all the time.
"He's family." Elia stated simply, as if that was all the reason she needed. It was a sentiment that reminded them all of just how kind and giving the young woman was.
"I'll come with you." Glenn says, confusing the group as to why he would be allowed when others wouldn't.
"It's fine, Glenn." Elia told him softly, giving him a kind smile. "Just make sure no one approaches my girls?"
"Of course." Glenn said with a nod. He liked the kids and was actually the only one to ever meet the twins; they were sweet girls, mischievous yet willing to help and follow the rules without complaint. The triplets were older and less restricted, responsible and trained enough for them to be allowed to wander through the camp without Elia or Daryl.
Elia lifted her hand from her holster, causing the group to realize that she had been worried they'd hurt them. It shocked many of them to realize that the kind woman didn't trust them at all.
They watched as Elia and Daryl faced each other, tension leaving them. "It'll have to be a quick run." Elia told him quietly, but the camp could still hear her clearly.
"Grab some supplies while we're at it." Daryl agreed calmly, wiping his bolts clean.
"Leave the squirrels with the girls. Solana can process it and put it into the dehydrator." Elia stated with furrowed brows. "Maybe Merle was right."
Daryl looked up and his eyes widened, as did everyone else that heard. The group didn't know what she was talking about, but they could see the shock written over Daryl's face.
"We agreed there was safety in numbers." Daryl said with a frown. They had stayed for that very reason, but he could see why Elia was saying that. They couldn't trust these people to watch their backs.
"Not if we can't trust them; one of us would have to be on watch at all times." Elia explained with a shake of her head. "We should pack up and head off on our own."
"We'll discuss this in the morning." Daryl said with a nod, agreeing with her after a few seconds to think it over. "Maybe stick around for a few more days of hunting and a supply run or two. Give ourselves and them some more reserves. They'll need it if we leave."
Elia nodded in agreement. "We'll discuss it in the morning and then a few days after that before we decide if going on our own is really the best option." Elia stated calmly. "Now, let's go find your brother. He gets to explain to the girls why he was so stupid."
The group watched the two walk away, wondering if they were really going to leave in a few days. Did they really think they'd be better on their own? Considering how they handled everything involving the Dixon brothers and the fact that they could do supply runs and hunt on their own, it didn't sound like such a bad idea for them.
"I still think someone should go with you." Rick called out causing the two to stop and turn to face the group again, faces guarded and bodies tense, ready for a fight.
"You don't get to lock someone up and leave them for walkers, then go back for them when you realize that someone else will." Elia stated coldly, eyes staring harshly at the man.
"I'm gonna go get cleaned up and pass the squirrels to Solana." Daryl told his wife before walking away.
Elia waited for Daryl to enter the Haven before she got closer to the group.
"We work day-after-day, hunting and going on supply runs to keep everyone fed. Instead of being thankful, you ostracize the brothers. Do any of you know the first thing about hunting and processing animals, about which parts can be of use? No, I didn't think so." Elia snapped icily; eyes glaring at them with harsh truths.
Elia turned and stalked away towards the table in front of the large and luxurious motorhome.
"Who was that?" Rick asked staring at her retreating figure, his face revealing none of his thoughts.
"Elia Potter, she and her children were with the Dixon brothers trying to get to Atlanta. It seems we all had the same idea, the three of them were here when we pulled up." Shane frowned thoughtfully.
They never fully joined the group and kept the youngest children away from them, another sign that they didn't trust everyone in the group. Shane silently wondered if they had ever trusted any of them.
"Are the Dixon brothers safe around the kids?" Rick asked concerned, not so much about Daryl after seeing him interact with the three girls.
"They care for the kids, all of them." Carol said, speaking up for the first time, her voice barely above a whisper. "Sophia adores them, they bring back toys and treats whenever they go on a run. Elia lets them hang out in the cocoon with the fan on and watch movies on a small projector."
Daryl and Merle both threatened Ed and Carol didn't know what they said, but he hasn't laid a hand of either of them since then.