Kiera
Three weeks...I have been on my journey away from my former home for three weeks now and what a long three weeks it has been. I've encountered many people along my path but have spoken to none, instead of confronting them as I probably should, I've run away to hide...to avoid those who I know will ridicule me for my strange appearence. I've arrived in a little town outside of Rouen, northwest of Paris.
I enter under dark of night, hopefully to find shelter, food, and water...I'll not stay here long...remaining any one place for an extended period of time is risky. The police may be stupid but I doubt they are dumb enough to not look everywhere possible.
I sit behind a bush, waiting for the right moment to spring forward into the town unseen. I suddenly feel the presence of another being hovering nearby. I turn about and search the shapes and shadows for any unfamiliar objects. To my left, I notice a tall, lean figure standing next to an oak tree. Above their head, a broken branch dangles, barely attached. The crackle of the remainging wood splintering apart, I dash forward and push the person from below the tree just as the branch gives way and comes crashing down.
"What in the world was that?" the person's voice asks. "You saved me from that falling limb. Thank you."
I quickly pick myself up and walk away, consealing myself in the shadows.
"Do you not wish to speak and accept my gratitude?"
I stop but say nothing.
"Can...you...speak?" the female voice says in syllables.
"Yes, I can speak. I'm not ignorant and you don't have to talk to me as if I were a toddler...prenunciating each and every syllable of every word," I reply sharply.
"Good. Now, will you reveal yourself? I prefer to be able to see clearly the person I am addressing."
"It is best if you do not. I'll not be able to frighten you and you'll not be able to run off and tell your friends that you encountered some sort of demon in the forest."
"Come out of the shadows! Now!" She lunges forward and grabs my arm, pulling me out into the faint moonlight and what amount of light the town lamps emit.
I stare coldly at her.
"God in heaven!" she screams. "A ghost! A demon! A monster!"
"I told you it would be best if I did not appear for your viewing."
"You horrid thing, you retrieved me from my doom only to torment me with your foul features. What is it you intend to do with me? Take me away to the pits of Hell because of my sin?"
"Madame, I assure you, I know nothing of your sins other than being stupid enough not to take notice of the broken branch."
"Yes, you do. You've come because I've cheated on my husband with his brother!"
Hmmm...this may have some sort of advantage. If she thinks I am a demon here to take her away...perhaps I will have that affect over the entire town and be able to get everything I need by claiming to know their sins..threaten to take them to Hell if my directions are not met. Indeed, I believe I will use this little encounter.
"Ah, yes, your night of 'fun' with Monsieur's brother. Truly, I am here to take you away but I have strict orders to do as I please with you."
"Oh, please, have mercy!" she groans.
"I will only have mercy should you do exactly as I say. Meet my every command and I will consider letting this mishap go. Do we have a deal, Madame?"
"Yes, dark one. What shall your bidding be of me now?"
"I need shelter and nurishment...surely you can provide that."
"But why would you need such things...you are immortal?"
"If you do not do as I say, I'll take you to into Hell's enternal fire right now!" I boom.
"Oh, no! Please, this way to my home." She leads me into the town and to a small house near the square. "Here we are, oh, evil one."
I step inside. "A very well kept cottage...very good. Is your husband about, Madame?"
"Not at the moment...he's at work. He's a blacksmith...the town's only one. Make yourself at home, Ma'am. I'll get you a glass of water and then fix you a fine meal." She disappears into another room of the little home and then returns with a cold glass of water. She nervously gives it to me, splattering a few drops upon my dress.
"An accident?"
"Yes! Yes...I didn't mean to get you wet, do forgive me!" she exclaims, throwing herself upon the ground before me.
"You have my forgiveness, but this is not to happen again!" I sneer.
"Thank you and it will never happen again!" She hurries off to the kitchen to prepare my meal.
Within an hour, there is a hot plate of bread, pasta(though odd for France), corn and mashed potatoes. I eat slowly and savor the delightful meal. "That was positively delicious. Merci. Now, I need lodgings."
"Of course, this way." I follow her up a flight of stairs, down the tiny hall into the last door.
I find myself in a quaint little room simply decorated, much like my room at Madame Bardoix's before we fixed it up. "This will do. Goodnight, Madam." I wave her away and sit down on the bed, opening my violin case. I keep it with me at all times.
I begin to play one of my birth mother's lullabies, I only vaguely remember the words, but the melody is engraved in my memory. I believe the words were:
Sleeping babe
So young and sweet
Many memories you've made
Fond memories to keep.
Eternal love
I pray you find
My little dove
So cute and kind.
Forget me not
My precious little girl
Whenever your alone, remember that you're really not
For I'm in your heart, forever there to swirl.
This lullaby I sing
In your memory to engrave
So you'll never forget
Your mother loves you
Even beyond Judgment Day.
This song is tough to sing, though the the tune and lyrics are simple. The last time I sang this was to my mother the day she died. She passed away with my hand in hers as I sang our song. She was really sick and the only peace she'd find would be through death, the pain was always there but atleast she was smiling when the dark finally consumed her.
Tears swell in my eyes and are close to falling but I choke them back and simply whisper, "Maman."
Over the years, I've forgotten her...pushed her memory into the back of my mind. I had tried not to show it then, but I couldn't bare to be without her. She was the only person who treated me as if I were a normal child, despite my looks and many talents.
"That was beautiful. How can you be pure evil and be able to sing and play something so lovely?"
"I am a dark angel, Madam, not a demon as you believe. I know the hurt and ridicule this world brings. I once endured it but escaped only to be sent back. Now, I wish to be left alone...I need my sleep. Again, I bid you goodnight, Madam."
The night passes slowly, as all other nights do. However, with morning, I find strength and leave the cottage to explore this new place and perhaps terrorize the townspeople.
My first victim is a young woman near the fountain at the center of the town's square. She is going back and forth, pouring buckets of water on the flowers along the path. As she is emptying a bucket, I slip into the fountain's water and lie on my stomach. When she returns and sticks her hand in the water, I grab it and pull myself up, widening my eyes. She screams in terror and tries to shake me loose. I keep my grip on her arm as she backs away...I step out of the fountain and onto the cobblestone, still grasping her arm. She turns away and just as she does this, I release her arm, and disappear into the nearby bushes. Leaving her awe-stricken and believing that she has seen a ghost.
My next victim is a man in his mid-forties perhaps. I stand in an alley, a blank expression captured on my visage. He notices me and stops to look. Thinking that he is seeing things no doubt, he looks the other direction, but when I looks back to the alley, he cannot see me. I am hiding behind a cart. He scratches his head and continues on. I follow him, unseen, until he goes into a cafe and takes a seat near the window. While he is not looking, I position myself at the window just to where I can quickly duck into the alley. Again, I use the blank look and stare at him with eyes widened. He doesn't notice me at first. To get his attention, I place my hand on the glass, and let it slide, causing a squeaking noise. He looks to the window and jumps. I see his lips move to call the waitress. However, when she comes to his aid and looks to where I had been standing, I am gone again.
The final person to fall to my pranks is a teenage boy, stealing things from carts. I follow him about and elearn how he does things and then, as he turns to swipe a loaf of broad, I jump behind him. He turns back round to see me staring at him angrily.
"It's not nice to steal," I say in an angered tone.
"So, what do you care, ugly?" He goes to turn around and finds me blocking his path in the other direction. "How did you? All right, nut-case, what's with the tricks?"
"I told you it isn't nice to steal."
"What are you?"
"A ghost. What else?"
"A g...g...g..g..ghost!" he screams in terror and runs away, throwing the loaf of bread into the air.
I catch it and palce it back on the cart, then hurry away myself, before I can be blamed for the theft. Though, it really would make no difference, I could just scare the accuser and change their mind. I laugh to myself and run off in search of something else to do.
There is a gathering at the fountaint where my first "attack" took place.
"I swear to you, there was a ghost. It was in the water and attacked me!" my first vistim claims.
"Mademoiselle, I'm sure you were just imagining things," an older man says.
"No! I swear! She was there!"
"It is a shame when you do not believe your own townspeople," I say, managing, somehow, to make my voice echo all around them.
They all grow tense and begin to look about, searching for me. In the midst of the ruckess, I slip into the center of the crowd. "Looking for something?" I ask.
They all turn to me and scream in terror.
"Do not run or I shall make your lives horrible!" I order.
They all stand their ground despite the urge to flee...human curiosity.
"Are you the said ghost?"
"If you are asking whether or not I was the one who scared your Mademoiselle," I motion towards the young woman. "Then the answer is 'yes'. Howeverm I am no ghost, but an angel of darkness."
"Why are you here?"
"I need somewhere to stay as I wonder this horrid earth in search of my lost family. I've chosen this little town to be my resident unti lI choose to move on."
"Then yo uare welcome here," the apparent mayor says.
"What?" many townspeople protest.
"Do you want her to destroy us?" he says to them. "You are most welcome here, Ma'am." He bows to me. "Anything you want or need, do not hesitate to inform me of. My house in there." He points to a large home nearby. "Come to me, if you please."
"I shall. Merci. Now, farewell. I shall wander the nearby valley before returning. But, when I return, I require new lodgings. I will noy burden the woman who took me in last night."
"You shall stay with me," the mayor volunteers.
"Then when I return, I shall be at your door."
"My wife will prepare you a wondrous meal if you like."
"I would like that very much. Goodbye, mortals." I turn and walk towards the people behind me, causing the crowd to part like the Red Sea allowing me to pass unharmed and untouched my them, into the valley several hundred yards away.