The Wasteland
The Calm
"Come on, sweetie. You can do it! Say 'mama!' Oh, honey, you're just being capricious." Missa leaned back, smiling at Hawnt, who was enthralled by a passing moth. The soft moonlight shone on the meadow, making it seem like an enchanted fairy glen. A stream babbled merrily, its sound like crystal bells being rung all at once. Missa and Hawnt were sitting under the boughs of a great rowan tree, her dress the same silver as the light of the moon. Rubbing her temples good naturedly, she looked up at her companion. Vlad had become a doting 'father' to Missa's sweet young son. He had been protecting them for almost five months now, and never since that first night had he ever said a word about the child's father.
"I think that yours is a wasted venture, Missa. We should hurry back to the manse, before we are sighted." Vlad gently lifted her by her elbow as she shouldered Hawnt. He was right, she knew, but it was such a fair night. Hawnt got to see so little of trees and lakes and other wonders of nature she had taken for granted in her youth. And even less of sunlight. All their adventures into the world were by night, and even then they dared go no farther than this little glade. She noticed the warming sky in the east, the twilight shade lightening to a pale honey color.
"Oh, well. Nothing to do about that. Thank you, Vlad, for reminding me of the time. With dawn so close… I could have jeopardized my son's life." Missa hung her head, realizing once again how ill fit she was to be a mother. She was rightly old enough, but she was still locked away in the child of yesterday. And she could ruin what little life she and Hawnt had. Vlad looked down at her with soft eyes, and a smile crossed his lips. She really was hard on her self.
"Well, that's why I'm here. To make sure you two stay safe." He felt a lump in his throat. Missa and her son had become closer to his heart than he dare let her realize. She was so young, too young for what had happened to her. And Vlad he knew that the slightest breeze might break her, mind and spirit. Missa's head lifted, and he saw a happiness there that had been missing since her childhood.
"Thank you, Vlad. I don't have words enough to say how indebted to you I am." They moved swiftly across the blades of grass, and soon they saw the farthest corner of the manse. As they approached the hidden side door, Vlad paused and motioned Missa to get behind him. The door, which they had locked behind them for their excursion, was wide open.
"I'm going to investigate. Please, Missa, hide yourself and Hawnt. No, don't tell me where. I don't want to expose the two of you to a threat." She nodded silently, and even as he watched, seemed to disappear into the undergrowth of the small wood they had just left.
Steeling himself up for whatever lie within his walls, he entered into the dark castle that had seemed so innocent just a few hours before. But now the shadows seemed to hide sinister eyes, and it looked as if malicious creatures were hidden in every room and corner.
His footsteps on the rock flooring echoed eerily, announcing his location better than any alarm. Vlad felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead as he saw the corridor lead out into the grand hall. He fervently hoped that Missa and Hawnt were well, and that they could find another safe hole if he didn't return. Moving into the open of the hall, he looked up into the fissure riddled ceiling and into the breaking dawn.
"I would ask you to show yourselves, please. This is my home, you must know, and it is impolite to ignore your host." His voice was filled with a scathing condescension, dreading what might answer his challenge.
Nothing happened. Nothing moved. There was no tell-tale Ghost-light, no ectoplasmic attack. Vlad was standing like a fool in the great hall, talking to nothing and being returned with it. Sighing, he allowed his shoulder to droop and turned around. And straight into very big glowing orange eyes.
Vlad jumped back, a strangled cry dying in his throat. His hand flew to his heart, and he looked at the Ghost before him. Her big eyes were even wider than before, and she was looking ashamed and anxious.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Masters! I didn't mean to scare you! Please, don't be mad!" The Ghost promptly floated down, sat and started to cry, her little hand balled up at her eyes. Sighing again, Vlad went over to the girl. Her six year old body glowed a silky, soft green and her pale green flowing dress flowered out around her.
"Vania, darling, you need to take in mind that humans can't sense a benevolent Ghostly presence. You almost scared me into a heart attack." If anything, her crying got louder. Rubbing his temples, Vlad swore that if Hawnt ever did this, he'd buy ear plugs.
"I'm – I'm – I'm SORRY!" She was really shaking, her sobs thick and adorable. All kids were cute when they cried, especially the ones who didn't know they were. Allowing himself a smile, he gently picked up the child Ghost.
"I'm fine, Vania. Now, I'm going to take you outside and introduce you to a friend you haven't seen in quite a while. But you must – I insist in the strongest possible terms – to be quiet. If you aren't, we both might be in an unfavorable situation." Quietly retracing his steps, Vlad was very glad all that had entered his home was this diminutive Ghost. She was quite harmless, and her presence meant that other malevolent beings had not yet entered. Vania might be sweet, but she ran from all things malicious. But if some other entity had gotten in… he shuddered to think of the consequences to himself and poor Missa.
This time around, the walls were less menacing, and Vlad had barely the time to think of spooks when he was busy trying to soothe the six-year-old Ghost, a feat in itself. The passage went quickly by, and soon they were at the rear door again.
Quickly placing one finger to Vania's lips, he cautiously walked through the door and onto the green grass. Looking about, he saw no sign of Missa or her young son. Moving forward a little more, Vlad spoke loudly but calmly, his subdued voice resonating strangely amongst the trees.
"Everything was fine. Alls well to enter, my dear." He stood stock still as he heard a rustle in the undergrowth. Who knew what was released in the times since the fall of The Phantom? What creatures lurked in the human world that should not have even seen the light of the Ghost Zone?
But as Missa's slim figure emerged from the undergrowth, Vlad smiled slightly and felt his shoulders relax. Missa brought a sense of calm to the clearing, as though somehow she banished all the terrors released by her tormentor. Her dress, salvaged from a ruined department store, had leaved snagged upon it and there was a little dirt on her knees and arms.
"MISSA! Oh, Missa! You're back! I missed you so so so so much!" Vania struggled in Vlad's arms, trying to free herself of his restraining hold. Letting go, the girl Ghost literally flew to Missa's skirts, hugging her legs, burying her face in the mother's dress folds.
"Vania! Oh, sweetie, I missed you too! Goodness knows I was afraid for your safety… I wasn't sure how you would defend yourself. I'm so happy you're alright." Kneeling down, Missa hugged the small Ghost.
"What are you holding, Missa?" Vania looked up at Hawnt, head tilted inquisitively. Hawnt was sucking his fingers, looking right back at Vania's staring. His oddly colored eyes showed vague interest before he turned back into Missa's shoulder. Smiling slightly, Missa touched Hawnt's hair gently.
"Vania, this is my son. His name is Hawnt, and I love him very much." Vania's eyes widened as her eyes darted from mother to child. Without meaning to, she took a step back, running into Vlad's legs.
"He's the son of the Phantom, isn't he?" Her voice was quiet and barely audible in the dawn. Her eyes were wide with fright and a strange kind of awe. Missa nodded softly, her eyes holding so much hope and despair.
"Yes, he is. But he's also my son. I love him so much, Vania, and I couldn't live without him. He is all I have that is truly, undeniably mine." She held the baby close and closed her eyes, waiting for Vania's response. If the girl, her one friend from before… everything, didn't accept Hawnt, Missa knew that there would be a missing place in her heart.
"Well, if you say so… then he is ok with me. When can I hold him?" The child's sudden change of moods caused Vlad to smile. It was so like a real child's reaction to something different and frightening. As soon as an adult said it was ok, and it held no obvious menace, it was deemed safe. It also spoke volumes as to why some children allowed abuse.
Looking at Missa, Vlad watched how she too smiled and explained that Vania had to wait while Hawnt got a little bigger until she could hold him. What had happened to her in the interim care of The Phantom, other than the obvious? How could she survive such and still smile?
"Vlad, the sun is fully risen. We should go inside." Looking at her companion, Missa was slightly chilled at the look of pity Vlad gave her. What thoughts had caused such a sharp reaction? Clasping one of Vania's ghostly hands in her own, Miss shouldered Hawnt and waited for Vlad to come to her side before entering.
As Vlad moved towards the door with them, he suddenly paused, a question forming on his lips. Kneeling down to Vania's eyes level, he looked at her, his eyes serious and non-condescending.
"I have been trying to answer what was odd about this situation. Vania had no idea that Missa was with me, and yet, she sought me out. What caused you to do this, Vania? Why did you try to find me?"
Vania looked right into Vlad's eyes, her orange eyes as serious as his own. Missa felt her little hand clench, and there was a stillness to her that scared the mother. What wasn't Vania telling them? Staring dead into Vlad's eyes, Vania spoke, her voice clear and sharp, if not loud.
"He's back, Mr. Maters. The Phantom is free."
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spooky music THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA IS HERE! ... wait, wrong fandome. Heehee. Anyway, review if you can, please. If you have no fingers, thenI don't expect you to. However, if you DO have fingers, write a review!