Chapter 1: Blue Eyes and Black Hair
14:00 – 26th December – 1888 – Algeria
Helen scuttled through the crowd. Intent on her task she scampered about searching for something to steal. No, she corrected herself; it wasn't stealing just 'borrowing' only without asking or giving back.
Shaking her head slightly to get rid of the internal debate she focused on the task at hand. She needed to get something to trade. The others were counting on her to bring back either food or something or money for food.
Now focused on her task Helen hurried onwards. She had to reach the market place now before most of the people were gone.
Ducking and weaving through the now deserted back alleys she began to relax. She never felt more at peace than when surrounded by the familiar sights of her route from home to the market square.
Home. It was a strange thought. Where was her real home? Was it with her 'parents' who abandoned her nine years ago when she was only three because they didn't have enough money and she was a burden? Or was it the hidden shack where she lived as the leader of a vast group of orphans and cast-outs? Defiantly the second one.
They had become her new family and what an odd one they were. Children of all different ages, colours, sizes and personalities. They shouldn't get along and yet they did. Probably because they all had one thing in common. They were all unwanted, a burden on everyone else.
Dispelling the unnecessary thoughts Helen arrived in the bright market square. With a sigh of relief she noted that the square was still busy with people. Silently she slipped through the crowd while carefully relieving some of their valuables. Today was good pickings.
Reaching the other side Helen paused momentarily. Scanning her surroundings for a second time she noticed that there seems to be a large gathering near the entrance. Curious she sneaked over.
Approaching the crowd she was slightly nervous when their shouting reached her ears. Pushing her way through she caught snatches of what they were yelling.
"Devil!"
"Daemon!"
"Disappear!"
"Just Die!"
Finally emerging at the centre of the ring the first thing she saw was a figure lying prone in the dust. Thin emaciated arms reached out imploringly to the angry mob surrounding her. Startlingly blue eyes dulled by exhaustion searched imploringly for a kind face or any kind of help.
Helena could only watch frozen to the spot as the girl, for she had long flowing hair and a distinctively feminine face, searched the crowd over and over for someone not looking at her with disgust written on their face. Finally making contact with Helen's eyes she cried out imploringly,
"Olakarap, Esihtiov em" (1)
Before finally fainting from the effort.
Seeing the child finally exhaust herself the crowd surged forward, kicking, hitting and spitting on the now still figure. Most of the blows rained on her back as if the crowd was trying to beat something out of her.
Having finally exhausted their lust for violence the crowd began to disperse mustering angrily under their breath and making signs as if to ward off the devil in the air.
Finally the only people that were left in the square where Helen and the girly. Pitying her, Helen wondered as to why the crowd hated her so much. She herself was used to angry words or the occasional blow but, she had never in her twelve years of life witnessed such senseless violence.
Creeping closer, in case anyone had hung back to torture the poor girl further, she noticed that the girl's hair was black like the night with bright blue highlights in it that reminded her of the sky. The highlights were strangely enough very much like the girl's eye colour. Thin rags hung loose from her stick like body, barely covering her body at all. Bruises covered her skin which was so pale that you might think that she had never seen the sun. Her hair, eyes and skin were strange enough but that shouldn't make the crowd attack her, shun her maybe, but not attack her.
Picking her up Helen decided to put the mystery of the crowd to the back of her mind until later. Right now it was obvious that she needed her help and she defiantly belonged with Helen and her 'family'.
No matter what they all belonged together and this girl was no different. As who else would look after them?
Settling the girl in her arms Helen felt a faint trickle of something wet seeping down her arm. Looking closer she noticed that the blows on the girl's back had broken her skin and were bleeding. Intent on helping the girl Helen set off hurriedly towards the shack that was home.
While hurrying along Helen noticed how light the girl was. She barely weighed anything at all.
Questions burned in her mind. Who was this strange girl? Where did she come from? Why did the people attach her? What did she say?
Rounding the final corner Helen sighed in relief as the shack came into sight. Quickening her pace Helen strode through the door into the surprisingly spacious interior.
"Hey Helen"
"Where ya been?"
"Get anything good?"
Various greetings rang out as children emerged from the various rooms in the shack.
Concentrating on the girl on her back Helen strode through the interior intent on reaching her bed where she could treat the girl's injuries.
Fending off various children Helen got half way towards her bed before they noticed the girl lying in her arms.
"Hey Helen, who's that?"
"What happened?"
"Where did you find her?"
"Oi there, where did you find that pathetic brat?"
The sneering voice instantly silenced the rest. Turning round Helen came face to face with Jared, a mean, bulling boy who fancied himself as the leader and was constantly trying to undermined Helen's authority.
"Listen Jared"
Helen said with sudden steel in her voice.
"It's my choice to bring her here and as long as I'm here everyone is welcome, no matter whom. If you don't like that then you can leave."
Jared paused and considered the obvious challenge.
"Fine, I'll stay. But don't blame me if we all start getting hungry because you let any old rif raf in without enough food to feed them."
With that Jared turned and stalked off, his followers trailing behind like the obedient dogs they were.
Releasing a deep breath of frustration Helen made her way over to her bed. Seeing how she would like some privacy the other peeled away, going back to whatever they were doing before she got back.
Helen laid the girl carefully on her bed, afraid that any sudden movements could break her. She looked like a small broken doll, covered in bruises with blood seeping from her back.
Straightening up Helen decided that before she could treat her wounds she should clean her up then find something for the girl to wear as the rags that she was wearing would suffice in the biting cold night air.
Not wanting to leave the girl for too long Helen hurried over to one of the many back doors of the shack. Opening the door she emerged on the backs of the river that ran down from the mountains to the east. They were magnificent, tall and proud, reaching up to the sky. They were called The Mountains of Atitoohta and there were rumours that they were haunted.
Dispelling the unnecessary thoughts from her head Helen filled the bucket with some of the pure, clear water. Returning to where she left the girl Helen was worried by the fact that she hadn't moved at all.
Seeing something glistening on the girl's arm and around her neck Helen bent closer to get a better look.
Around the girl's neck was a silver chain, small and delicate it seemed to have no clasp and didn't seem to be able to be removed. Hanging from the chain was a tear drop shaped crystal. The crystal was bright blue and there seemed to be something swirling in the centre. The crystal was enclosed in a silver cage that almost seemed to be attached to the crystal itself. (2)
Around the girl's wrist was a beautiful silver bracelet. Like the necklace it also seemed to be irremovable. It was a simple silver chain with a plate in the centre. Turning the plate over one word was written there. Engraved in a deep blue was 'Leona'.
Is that the girl's name then? Leona? Helena wondered
Getting back to the task of removing the grim and dust covering the girl's body Helen marvelled at the smoothness of the girl's skin. Smooth, pale Helen wondered where she had come from to have such a complexion.
Finishing cleaning her front Helen moved onto the girl's back. Washing off the blood Helen noticed that many more bruises covered the girl's back than any other part of her body.
Removing the last layer of dirt Helen gasped. The cloth fell to the floor forgotten as Helen stared in wonder at the girl.
Deep blue lines snaked over the girl's back. It looked like a large tattoo. The lines reached from shoulder to shoulder and were strangely beautiful. Helen noticed that one line snaked up the girl's neck and on closer inspection spiralled over her head stopping at the edges of her eyes.
However the most startling thing was a bright blue crystal, which was similar to the one round the girl's neck, in the shape of a cross was embedded in the centre of the girl's back and surrounded by the spiralling tattoos.
Running her fingers over one of the lines Helen marvelled at how cold they felt, almost as if they two where made of crystal as well.
Shaking herself Helen dressed the girl in a skirt and trousers, covering the tattoos.
Settling beside the bed Helen watched and waited. Questions burning in her mind. Wondering is she would ever solve the mystery of this strange girl.
Olakarap, esihtiov em – please, help me
Crystal is very similar to what Leenalee is in just before reaching Edo, about chapter 75
