Ep. 1 - Biography of Enid Kenzie

Since the beginnings of time, a certain class seemed to rise among the human population with powers enabled to them that were not available to anyone else. The jealous of the normal population have always sought out to either acquire the power for themselves or destroy the ones who have what they do not have.

The sources of the power come from one of two places - the Lightness or the Darkness.

In order for one to get the powers from the Lightness would mean to sacrifice any form of personal gain and to serve humankind only. The powers they received were to never help themselves nor their family and loved ones to get out of the consequences of life or the retribution of reaping what they have sown.

The more popular one, the one that everyone secretly wanted and despised at the same time, was from the Darkness. These powers were meant for personal gain, to create your heaven on earth and get anything one desired.

A rare class of near-immortals were born with this gift because one of their parents have conspired to live among the humans and bore a child. The immortals from the Darkness who paired with a mortal could only create near-immortals. As immortals could never give birth in a natural way on their plane of existence, they could only breed near-immortals on earth with a human. Immortals could never die, but near-immortals could be killed.

As half-breeds, these near-immortals would never have a home in the plane of the Darkness where their parents lived as kings or queens. They were also rejected by the Lightness. The fate of the near-immortal was a pitiful one. It was a defect that could be passed on for the next 3 generations until it is cleansed from their system by mating only with humans without the Darkness gene or in 1 generation by mating with an agent of the Lightness willing to sacrifice their soul to eternal damnation.

The other class are those who sold their souls to the Darkness. These people who were not born into the powers have agreed to get anything they wanted and in exchange would do the bidding of the Darkness any time they were called. At the end of their lives, they were condemned to live as the invisible undead slaves and demons who had no will or choice for the rest of eternity.

The only way to kill a near-immortal with natural powers was to be burned by fire. This is why they burned witches at the stake with the intention of permanently banning their souls to hell. What they did not understand was most of the people they did burn as witches had nothing to do with the Darkness, but merely what they deemed as loose women or those with a mind of their own.

The few near-immortals they did kill were actually kept in an eternal state of limbo, cut off from any sensation, thought or pleasure. They were not suffering, except they were aware that for eternity nothing would ever happen to them again, unless a parent of the Darkness would stop and visit their child on rare occasions. Those who attempted to kill an immortal would be powerless because they would rise from the ashes as a Phoenix and wipe out those who tried to harm them.

Enid Kenzie was born sometime around the time of the powerful kings of Babylon when a temptress immortal, Hestia, came to seduce a powerful king. Her father was assassinated by those wanting to take over his power and it almost exposed her mother for what she was, an agent of Darkness.

As was tradition, those who tried to take over power would often kill off all family members so that none of them would try to claim the vacancy of the throne. Hestia hid her away from the angry mob. As soon as they raided the temple they found Hestia and doused her in wine and lit her on fire. The moment they started to attempt the assassination on her daughter, she arose from the ashes and struck down the mob which turned into huge pillars of salt. She then fled the area with her daughter and raised her in various area while teaching her how to use the natural powers of her birth.

Enid had a really great childhood with a loving mother and several fathers who came and went. She had a knack to attract the higher classed men who were beautiful and had their own means. None of the men she partnered with through the ages ever knew of her secret nor did they really need the extra powers she bore.

Hestia grew bored of the earth plane and bid her daughter farewell as that was the nature of the immortals of the Darkness. It's not that she didn't care about the fate of her daughter, but when you live forever there are more exciting things to do than be contained in the mundane existence of earth or any one place.

Enid did fine for herself, even if she had to periodically move from place to place or magically change her appearance for the locals who might get suspicious of her status of a near-immortal. She had fun and many adventures with the company she kept. Eventually, she got bored with this class of men and wanted to see how the other half lived in the dreary middle-class.

As people were starting to move West from the East Coast Boston harbor area where she landed over a few centuries ago from the Mayflower, she decided it was time for a change of scenery and hitch with a party making their way to the new, untamed land that was up for grabs. She spotted a newly developed town called Kensington Falls that was occupied by a highly religious group of Congregationalists that were very occupied of running things by the book - the Bible. Those who did not conform to the town's religion or fit in were often railed out of town. Those who refused to get out when not welcomed often met their fate at the hands of an angry mob.

It was a harder life than Enid was used to living. She built her home practically overnight and marked off the territory she bought which was a huge section of over 1000 acres. When the townsfolk asked how a single woman could manage to afford such a purchase and have a home built so quickly, she simply said she came from a wealthy family and they sent people from out of town to quickly build her home. Her home was nice and simple and just like most of the other simply built homes in the area, so she could blend in and everyone would buy her excuse.

Most of them were suspicious of her, but she never caused much trouble so they left her alone. She was not one to attend the town's church services. She would dare look the men in the eye when she talked to them, but never flirt or act like the other helpless women of town. She had a very high intelligence and was never afraid to challenge a man when he said something incorrect. She was not exactly embraced by the people of the area, but she was not considered a danger either. She had so much property and kept to herself that it seemed best to let her be.

One day, while visiting the heart of town to get some goods, she met a man named Wayne Brecklin who was camping on her property for a few days. She felt sorry for him and fed him while making sure he was safe.

He was a handsome, yet struggling young man who just came into town looking for odd jobs to make ends meet. With winter about ready to come soon, he begged Enid for any type of work she might need done so he could afford to stay in town or at least have the money to go off with the party making their way West. After months of struggling, he could not find any luck. She felt sorry for him and gave him a chance.

He was a good worker and gave an honest day's labour. She was so impressed with his skills that she allowed him to have a piece of her land where he could build his own home in exchange for doing jobs for her. He agreed and in exchange did the odd jobs, work her land, fix the structure of her home from time to time. While watching this very determined man, she was starting to fall in love with him, but at a distance.

It is very well known in town that his heart belonged to Gail Gannette, daughter of the wealthy banker who moved from Paris, whose parents would never let her associate with the likes of a commoner like Wayne. Wayne knew the only way to win her heart was to become as wealthy as her family. Until that day, she would not even give him the time of the day. He was alone with a dream that he could never fulfill on his own. He was so grateful for the kindness of Enid to give him a chance when no one else would.

He began to make a play for Enid to gain her heart when he thought no one else would have him and eventually she did fall for his pitch. She had a crush on him for the longest time, but was suspicious that all of a sudden he showed that kind of interest in her. She was in love and not thinking straight and wrote it off as part of her natural powers in action.

As time went on, Enid used her powers to bring Wayne the success and riches he desired. He never asked for them directly because he had no idea it was her powers bringing him luck, but she knew doing these things would make him happy. The only problem was he was not in love with her. His heart still pined over another woman who would not even notice him.

Thinking he would never have a chance with Gail, he proposed to Enid and told her as soon as he developed a successful trading company in town, he would marry her. Enid was happy to speed along his success. In fact, Wayne became such an overnight success that the rich people of town were talking about his genius. This got Gail to finally notice him.

While working in his field one day he noticed a strange sight, Enid was talking with something that looked like a mythical creature - part human and part eagle, with a tail and horns. It was not something he ever saw before and he got close enough to hear them talk, but not close enough to be seen.

He discovered that was her mother stopping by for a visit. She warned her about the dangers of staying in a town like that and feared for her safety. Enid assured her mother that all was well and although the people didn't embrace her, they didn't go out of their way to harm her. She told him about the wonderful man she wanted to marry. When her mother discovered it was a struggling commoner who grew up with perpetual lack in his life, she warned her this man would break her heart if he ever knew the truth about her. She said Wayne was nothing like that and he loved her for who she was. They departed and that was the last time she saw her mother.

Half in shock and in fear, Wayne went to the local library and browsed through books of mythical creatures to figure out what it was he saw. He could not believe his eyes nor could he really understand the conversation, until he found the book that explained it all to him. He also learned that these immortals and near-immortals had natural powers to make their lives on earth however they wanted it to be for themselves and their loved ones. He considered for a moment how his life could be much better if he were to marry the woman. He felt guilty, but it was hard for him to live his life the way it was going, especially as he had no chance with Gail. He never once mentioned to Enid that he knew of her status as a near-immortal and wanted to keep it that way as he was a kept man with a wonderful streak of luck.

Gail approached him in the shop and acted like a helpless woman who needed a strong man to help her shoe the horse so she could get back home. Wayne gladly helped her and offered to ride along with her home so she would be safe. She invited him in to dinner with her family and they spent the evening cozied by the fireplace and as she seduced him. She told him she heard he was about ready to marry "that horrible woman down the lane whom no one likes." Wayne said Enid was a good woman and helped him along the way and felt a sort of obligation towards her. Gail made her intentions known. She wanted him all to herself and wanted Enid out of the picture. If he wanted her, he would have to make it happen. And then she threw him out.

Wayne was hesitant to hurt Enid who was the first person in town to treat him decently. He knew it was her powers that made him the man he was and knew there was no way to repay such a kindness. He refused to hurt Enid, but every time he went into town to work, Gail would deliberately snub him and take business away from him. She knew what she wanted and wasn't going to have him reject her orders. She was killing his business and reputation in town and he needed to do something.

Enid was so in love and was not aware of the town gossip. She thought Wayne was in love with her and all would go as planned for their wedding day. She was not aware of her competition from the hill, the spoiled, rich heiress who could have any man in town and usually did. Enid kept pressing forth to prepare for the big day, but it seemed like Wayne was no longer interested and asked her to move the day later so he could sort through some things.

The wedding day was getting further and further off and finally he postponed it permanently. Enid was hurt and didn't understand why, until she went into town and saw him with Gail in the park making love under a tree. When Wayne returned to his home that night, Enid was waiting for him and asked how long he was seeing another woman. He explained that he wanted to move on with Gail. Enid reminded him that all that property and his business was given to him on the promise that he would work for her. Not wanting to lose all that he had, knowing Gail would have nothing to do with him without the money and power, he decided to lie to Enid and told her he would dump Gail and move on with her.

Feeling trapped and resentful, he went to the library to do more research on Enid's kind. He discovered such people have connections with the Darkness who would grant mere mortals the powers in exchange for their souls. The idea of being able to have whatever he wanted without being further obligated to a woman he did not love seemed worth it. On a warm summer night, he swept Enid off her feet and made sweet love to her. She thought she finally won his heart back, until he brought up the real reason why he was there. He admitted he knew her secret and wanted to have a connection with the Darkness and be exactly like she was.

That left her in a moral dilemma. She knew if she connected him, he would be damned to eternal unhappiness, misery and slavery. She loved him and was under the impression he did it only to be like her. Enid told him he did not have to go that far to prove his love to her and she would love him no matter what and give him whatever his heart desired once they were married. Wayne explained that was not the reason why he wanted to meet them. He told her he wanted to walk on the wild side and be the master of his domain. He convinced her to make the appointment, even though she warned him he was making a bad decision - temporary bliss for an eternity of misery.

In a field under the new moon of Equinox, Wayne was lead off to meet with the mysterious creature which was Hestia true form. Enid was told to go and wait at home for his return. The deal was to be in secret and she would only distract him from paying attention to the fine print of the contract. He was now a new man full of power and a change in his nature who had the power and wealth he craved. He made the deal to retain all Enid had given him and the ability to get whatever he wanted in the future. Now, he wanted Gail and he no longer had to feel obligated to Enid.

That night, he ran off to Gail's mansion and proposed to her. The next week, they were married. As he stayed in the mansion, he had a crew build a mansion on his lot given to him by Enid as a gift to his new bride. It would be the biggest one in town.

As the house was halfway completed, Enid meekly approached Wayne to let him know she was carrying his child. She wondered what he was going to do about the situation. He told her she had better not mention it to anyone or else her life would be over in that town. Feeling hurt and upset, she went behind his back and defied his orders by talking to Gail who laughed in her face and said she was crazy. Some of the women of the town overheard the conversation and the rumour spread that Wayne was the father of an illegitimate child.

Gail could not have this kind of bad rumour going on around her and demanded he stop the gossip. Wayne did the only thing he could think of, going to the town council and report Enid as a prostitute. He told them the only reason she could afford all she had was because she slept with many men for the money. He told them he knew because he sinned and slept with her once and begged for forgiveness, but said that child she is carrying could belong to anyone.

Using his powers, he mesmerized the men into believing the lie and thinking they either slept with her or saw her in action and backed up his story. The story went before the townspeople at church and they were outraged that such sin was allowed in their town and the men rose up to deal with the situation.

That night, a group of men came to her home in the middle of the night to talk with her and tell her it was time to leave town. She refused and said she had as much right as anyone to be there and to leave her alone. They would come back time after time offering her many things, but to leave before her baby was born. She would not leave because she did not want her daughter to be in danger to move while she was in this condition.

The abuse got worse as time went on. Night after night while she was close to her due date, the men would harass her. One night, the men took turns and raped her as her screams fell on deaf ears. Wayne could hear her in the distance and tried not to think about it as he was ready to make love to his beautiful wife in the home they just moved into.

The rowdy men left leaving a very upset pregnant woman in need of help. Her labour pains began and she was scared and alone. She made her way to Wayne's mansion and banged on the door. She asked the servants to call Wayne to help her. They returned and told her he would not be coming, but lead her to the barn where one of the farm hands would help her.

As she writhed in pain for 4 hours, she felt glad that Wayne would suffer the eternal torment of the damned. Soon, a baby girl was born. They helped her clean it and allowed her to rest on the hay until she was stronger. Wayne sneaked into the barn as his wife slept to see his daughter. Enid was weak and angry, but allowed him to hold his child in hopes that he would do right by them. He held her and looked as if he would bond with her, then he heard his wife calling out for him and gave her back.

"Don't think that this means anything. I don't owe you anything. I did not ask for the child. I am not in love with you. Take my advice and leave town. Don't approach me for anything again."

Enid was hurt and although weak, she stumbled back home with her daughter. She thought a good rest would help her feel better.

Every night for the next month, the men of the town would come to her home and harass her into leaving town. Then one night they said they had enough. She would have to leave now or else something bad would happen. She refused and they left. Then they returned with torches.

Jethro Mayson, Jonathan Smythe and Lawrence Johnson led the angry mob. Jethro smashed through the door of the home of the sleeping woman and child. Jonathan led the crowd inside and started smashing things up. Lawrence beat Enid to within an inch of her life and knocked over the crib where young Agatha was sleeping and she rolled under a heavy nightstand which protected her from the violence going on around her. The crowd left everything in shambles and torched the house.

Enid was starting to come to consciousness and realised her home was burning around her. She was weak and could not get up. She was even more worried that she could not reach her baby and get her to safety and a beam landed on her pinning her to the ground. Enid screamed out for help and as the fire engulfed her, even Wayne could hear her dying groans. He also heard the screams of his newborn daughter.

Gail was asleep and the men were leaving the area. Wayne saw the commotion from the field and went to the house to help get Enid and his daughter out of the house. He made his way past the flames and found a dying Enid who let him know that Agatha was under that table and not to worry about her, but to take the baby to safety. As he grabbed Agatha, the house was starting to fall around him. He ran out with a baby in his arms and went home. He had every intention of taking care of his daughter and felt guilty that he did not do more to protect the only person who loved him for what he was.

As the house burned to the ground, the spirit of Enid was forever trapped in a state of nothingness. She would never suffer pain again, but neither would she ever know happiness. From time to time, her mother would intervene and communicate with her. Enid was happy to know that Hestia would make sure her daughter would be in good hands.

To be continued...