(Picture is not owned by me. Artist unknown as I cannot remember the artist name, sorry. But can find it on )

Chapter song: I wish I had an angel-night wish

"I wish I had an angel
for one moment of love
I wish I had your angel tonight"

Chapter three-Eyes of an Angel

Meanwhile….

Tammy had awoken from her slumber and found her pillow was drenched but had no acknowledgement of crying. Touching her cheeks, to find they were dry then leaned over the edge of the bunk and gazed upon her little sister; Talia. Sleeping soundly and contented then sighed as she quietly climbed out of bed and dressed for school. Standing in the mirror reflection as she softly commented to yourself. "Another day, until the end."

Moments later, tammy woke her little sister for school when the sounds of her step father's footing was making their way down the corridor and stopped outside their bedroom door. Luckily tammy had installed a deadlock on their bedroom as she feared they may become targets for his sinister rage. Watching the shadow of his physique standing the other side of their door for a few seconds until disappeared. Walking away from the door and ascended in silence. Both sighed with relief and continued dressed for school. Talia looked up to tammy and asked softly. "Why would he be standing outside our bedroom door?"

"I have no idea, but it is good thing that I installed a deadlock on our door with mom's permission." Tammy assured, whispery softly and smiled tenderly. Talia nodded agreeably then hugged her older sister. "Let's get some breakfast and go to school." Tammy gently encouraged. Talia agreed and stood up, finished getting dressed for school then unlocked the door; making their way to the kitchen and made some toast. Tammy didn't feel safe as the room seemed a little too quiet, wondered where their step father could be whence quickly looked to the key rack and discovered that the keys were still hanging. Immediately felt the deepening churning twist in her stomach, whispered to her sister and led her out of the kitchen; quietly as possibly as able. Quietly walked out to the front door, and slowly opened it as they both grabbed their bags on their way out the house. Not too soon afterwards, which their mother had followed and smiled. Farewelling her daughters off as she handed some pocket change to each daughter and kissed their foreheads. Tammy noticed the bruising and gritted her teeth quietly then sighed in frustrated anger and softly whispered. "He has hit you again, hasn't he?"

Nodding quietly and replied. "Have a good day at school and try not to worry about me." Both girls hugged their mother, taking the pocket money which they were given and went on their way to school. Soon had she returned inside, the daily abuse had resumed and continued until he had left for work.

~meanwhile down the street~

Both daughters walked together to school, hand in hand. Tammy stared down to the pavement, in silence while Talia softly hummed. Tammy thought about how their mother would be, while left alone with an abusive husband that seems to be only after her money. "Tammy…Tammy?" Talia called. "Hmm?" she answered, looking to her sister with a soft glance.

"Are you ok?" Talia asked, curiously. Tammy smiled, nodded and replied. "Yeah, im ok."
"Fibber." Talia stated. "Fibber? How am I a fibber?" tammy replied, joking. "I know you are thinking about mama." Talia said, seeing through her sister's fib. She sighed and closed her eyes as she exhaled also. "Can never hide anything from you." Tammy giggled. Talia giggled then smiled. "Nope."

~Later~

Once the sisters returned home, it wasn't long until they witnessed their street to be an occupied by countless vehicles both police and new crew. Blindly ran to their home, fighting their way through as Talia cried out for her mother. Tammy demanded to be allowed with her sister to enter inside as they were told they could not. Wanting answers and weren't given any except barred from the premises. "Let us through! That is our house! Our mother is in there! Let us through!" tammy roared, demandingly. "No! You are not to enter miss. It is like a war zone in there, girls." Police officer tried to assure them, whilst holding both girls back.

"I don't care! Let me through or I will run you through!" tammy roared with anger. "Is that a threat, miss? I will be forced to arrest you for that remark." The police officer replied, holding her back. Tammy ignored all what was said to her and continued to fight her way through and had threw a hard fist into the jaw of one police officer; bleeding his lip which forced him to release his grip upon her as she ran without hesitation into the house; followed by the officers that had tried to hold her back from the dwellings. Talia cried and shouted for her mother and sister as she was held back by social worker.

Tammy cried out for her mother, running to her room where she was covered with a white sheet before taken away on the gurdy. Tammy's eyes widen with disbelief, filled with sorrowful tears that covered her cheeks. Trembling, forcing herself to go to the side of her deceased mother; reached for the sheet and pulled it back as she was grasped once again. Tammy roared a deepening broken cry that put fear into those surrounded her. "Let her go." The coroner ordered the police officer to release his grasp upon her as she just cried and held her dead mothers body in tight embrace then looked up with empty, glassy gaze. Her tone had changed from calm soft to hoarse gruff as she demanded for the one is responsible for the death of her mother. "Where, is he?"

At first, there was only silence. Secretive and worrying gazes then one finally spoke. "You should pack your bags and prepare to leave." He was cut off before could finished what, both tammy and Talia should do. "I am not leaving. My sister and I are not leaving. Where is the bastard that murdered my mother?" tammy demanded once more.

"He is in custody, ma'am." Sargent Hawkins answered. "Good, you ought to protect him from me as I will kill him far worse than he has done my poor mother." Tammy replied, threatening Rick's existence. "You do know that we will arrest you if you harm him?" Sergeant Hawkins informed. "As long he is dead, does it matter what happens to me as he has taken my mother from me." Tammy hissed, angrily then continued. "Make sure he gets the death penalty."

Sargent Hawkins sighed and nodded, hoping the same but couldn't guarantee the promise. "Come along miss, we should get the body to the coroner office." The coroner stated. Tammy released her grip and stepped back, watching her mother's body taken away then followed as she was embraced by the police officer on the scene and then she tightly hugged her sister as she ran to her, in tears. Trying to comfort her, then as she gazed up over Talia's shoulder was when she saw and glared into the eyes of her step father's evil glance. Quietly grunted her teeth, silently vowing that she would ensure her mother's death would not go in vain or her murder go unpunished. Rick glared back, smirked then smiled as he was taken into the patty wagon.

A slender and slightly taller but pale skinned woman with dark chestnut brown hair and deep green eyes, approached the orphan sisters. Softly said with her condole scenes and sympathies. "I am so very sorry for your loss, girls."

"Thankyou." Tammy replied, tightly held her sobbing sister in her embrace, never once release or loosened. As she too, tighten her embrace around tammy. The social worker sighed and gestured. "You should pack and come with me as you are not legal to look after yourselves."

"And what right do you have to say that we cannot care for ourselves? I am legal to do so, I can take care of my sister as well." Tammy hissed as she glared to the social worker. "You have no job or other living relative to care for you." The social worker stated. "I have a job and I will care for us both. Don't tell me no different as you don't know us, lady." Tammy roared. Talia deeply embedded her fingers in her older sisters back.

The social worker sighed with frustration and tried to pry both sisters apart, Talia cried and demanded to be left alone as tammy tried to defend her. And fought to keep her embrace around the petite child. "You should consider the safety of your sister. She will be better hands and protection until the matter is dealt with." The social worker told them as she tried to tear the sisters apart. "No! You will not separate us!" tammy hissed with a deepening gruff tone, gritting her teeth. Talia cried, tightened her embrace around her sister, pleading to be left alone. "You will be safer for the night until we find a place for you to be accommodated." She replied, trying to assure the sisters. Tammy disbelieved the words spoken and glared with such hate that she hoarsely demanded. "We must be kept together. Don't separate us or so help me by god, you will regret it."

The social worker nodded in defeat and fear then stepped back. "I make some arrangements." She said, walking away. Tammy held Talia in her arms, watching the ambulance that took their mother away while the police car took their step father away. Glaring into the eyes of whom murdered their mother, vowing her vengeance if justice doesn't prevail and give back their honour that was taken.

Rick just glared back and smiled. Tammy felt a trembling chill in her spine, and saw the words been mouthed. "It will be soon. You're next."

Tammy's eyes narrowed with deathly slit glance that her pupils had dilated into cold darkness and venging desire to avenge her mother's death.

~the following morning

The social worker returned once again and repeated her intentions of their future. "Are you ready? To go where you are accommodated?"

"We are staying here." Tammy replied. "We are going to be late for school if you continue to pester us."

"I will be forced to take you in and separate you and it may take years before you get to see your sister again. And I don't want that for you." The social worker told tammy, insisting for her cooperation. "I said no. We are staying here and I will take care of my sister as I have arranged for a sitter when I go to work after school. Now if you would please leave." Tammy demanded, pushing past the woman with her sister after closing and locking the door behind them. "I will be back."

"I will be more uncooperative to tell you once again that we are not going." Tammy replied, walking away with Talia as they made their journey to school. The social worker watched the young women walked away as she was intrigued and admired her strength as the older sister but wondered if she could handle the responsibility.

~thirty minutes later; principal's office~

The school principal requested for tammy's presence as she was concerned about both orphaned daughters well being and wished to discussed about their future. "Thankyou for coming to see me, tammy." Principal Shelley Grant softly stated as she closed the door behind them, before sitting down at her desk. Clasping her hands as they laid upon the folder underneath. "I wish to give my condolesences for you and your sister."

Tammy just glared in silence for a second before answering as her face was replaced with only, responsibility of her younger sibling and desire of revenge towards her step-father. "Thankyou, principal grant."

Principal grant exhalt with a soft sigh as she opened the folder of both tammy and talia then continued with the meeting and discussion of what is to be validated for school purposes and understanding of their well being. "AS yourself, had never one complaint of your attendance at Reddall high, same with your sister. And would be happy to have you both to continue your schooling here but." Principal closed her eyes, averting them slightly from contact and sighed then rose her viewing towards tammy and regained her attention, continued after was interrupted with a question. "But what?" tammy inquired, concerned. "Neither of you are taken care by a guardian as you are not legal to take care of your sister while attending school." Principal grant replied. "That should never stop me from taking care of my sister and myself as I will not allow to be separated from her. She is having nightmares since seeing our mother, murdered by our step father as he was only after her money." Tammy explained, clenching her fists as she tried to control her anger and temper. "I am legal to work as I have been working for six months now, and I will take care of my sister."

"By the law you are not legal to care for your sister. For that I am sorry but I was given this that you must signed to have a guardian with you at all times after school, even though you have a job." Principal grant explained, handing the paper work over to tammy. Tammy looked to the forms and glared with infuriated anger as she hissed. "I will not sign them, I will prove I can do it. I had to go to work for my mother and sisters sake to begin with as my stepfather continuously made her ill. And I will not allow to be bullied as I know this is about signing guardianship to separate us. To guard us together. I will not allow it."

"I understand you are angry but you must do what is best for your sister, tammy." Principal grant told her, gently. "Have you ever lost someone to an gruesome murder, Mrs Grant?" tammy asked, snatching the folder from the desk and stood up, trembling with anger as she glared at the older woman. Principal grant lowered her eyes in shame, sighed then answered. "No, I have not."

"Then you could not possibly know or understand how I feel. As you have no idea what I am feeling." Tammy replied, her voice trembled with deepening growl of offence. "I apologise, tammy. But please consider the safety and what is best for your sister."

Tammy looked to the folder and quietly gritted her teeth as she felt her heart pounded hard and fast. Feeling the tears welling up in her eyes, but fought to keep back from sight. Then answered with a gentle tone. "How long do I have to think it over and discuss with my sister?"

"Not sure, I was informed that you will be collected after school so you are to come to the office once school has ended."

Tammy remained silent, turned her back and opened the door. Just as she took her first step out the door, the principal said. "I only wish things were different for you, tammy but I have to follow the rules of the school and board of education with the law of safety. One day you will understand."

Tammy listened to all that was said to her then continued, closing the door behind her and attended her class that awaited.

~later; school concluded.~

Talia ran to her sister, embracing tightly and asked as she looked up. "What's for dinner?" tammy smiled, gently petted her head, lightly ruffing her fringe alittle then replied. "How does pizza sound?"

Talia smiled, excited and gleefully. "Pizza? Yay, awesome. I want double cheeseburger with extra BBQ sauce." Tammy chuckled, answered. "You have the strangest taste in food." Walking with her sister as talia replied. "What about you? You have garlic sauce on yours."

She chuckled again and answered with a smile that hid her worries. "You're right, how about we try some red onion on our pizza's this time?" talia nodded and giggled as she challenged her sister with new dessert idea she thought up. "As long you try my ice cream with sprinkle jelly and marshmallow whip cream and chocolate sauce."

"You're on." Tammy smiled. "Yay." Talia cheered with glee.

Both sisters were approached by the principal and woman that didn't seem to be no more than twenty-two years of age. A taller, slender dark ebony haired woman stood beside the principal as she waited quietly. "Tammy and talia. This is Stephanie Lawson, she is here to come collect you from school." Talia immediately glanced Stephanie with shyness and fear as she tightly grasped tammy's forearm. Tammy ignored the tightening grasp on her arm as she glared with strong, independent stance; showing that she will not surrender to any one and give out her trust because they appear to be genuine or friendly. "Hi, it is nice to meet you both." Stephanie introduced herself as she held her waiting open hand towards them. Tammy looked to the woman's hand, then looked up to her eyes but politely shook her hand, so she doesn't present herself to be rude or ignorant despite inside she didn't trust the woman as she was after all, a stranger.

Talia remained still beside her sister's side and held on her arm tighter. Stephanie smiled, offering her assistance to take the books that tammy carried as she carried her own briefcase with the information that principal gave as she was assigned to hand over information about both girls. Tammy politely declined as she replied. "No thankyou, I will carry them myself."

Stephanie smiled and nodded as she said. "Alright, thankyou principal grant and come along girls. Time to go home." They followed and never once released their grasp unto eachother as they got in the car. Driving to the premises as they were asked, to retrieve their belongings until further notice as the authorities have been notified that their recent deceased mother had left them a will. Containing a inheritance that was mentioned to be kept silent til after the trial was commenced and sealed.

Tammy still refused to leave the premises and requested to remain where they were until they decided to agree of rehoused with their new guardian. Stephanie sighed and understood how they felt as she explained a small piece of her own experience that may give what the girls need to see that they were understood with sympathized mutual feeling of what they are enduring.

"I understand you are feeling this is a big change, but this is where you shouldn't stay."

"What would you know about what we enduring, miss lawswon?" tammy asked quickly and straightforward. "I once lost my mother at your age too. And I was a only child." Stephanie replied with a gentle smile as she looked over her shoulder. Both talia and tammy felt a sinking feeling their chests. Especially tammy, but this was just the first stepping stone but didn't mean that her trust is won over that easily. "You lost your mother as well?" talia asked. Stephanie nodded, opening her heart shaped locket with a photograph of herself as a small child with her late mother. "This doesn't change anything as telling us that you have experienced what we are enduring now. Doesn't mean that you have our trust." Tammy softly stated. "You are right, tammy. But I do hope in time, you will come to trust me." Stephanie warmly smiled and continued. "I have two other children that are waiting to meet you both."

"How old are they?" talia asked, curiously. "Rachel is 8 and angie is 7."

"You have two girls?" tammy asked, worried. "Yes." Stephanie nodded. "Are you married?" tammy asked, curiously. "Yes." Stephanie replied. "I do know it will be a long road for you to understand that there is still good people in the world, tammy. Give me one chance, and I promise that you will be safe." Stephanie assured.

Tammy looked into stephanie's eyes as she listened. Her gaze softened from hardened and empty, distrusting glance to, agreeable. "Alright, I will give one chance. But my trust be earned with honesty." Stephanie nodded, smiled tenderly kind and replied. "Agreed. Ready to go to your new home? Oh, before I forget. I called your boss at the Kentucky chicken that you will be away for the week which you are given a week off with pay."

Tammy blinked with surprise and stammered alittle as she answered. Unsure what to say. "T-thankyou, but I wanted to be at work so I can take care of myself and my sister." Stephanie assured softly. "I understand, but I explained to your boss of what was happening and he was kind enough to allow you have the week off and give the week work pay too."

"Thankyou ma'am." Tammy said with gratitude. Stephanie nodded, assisted the girls with their belongings in the trunk of the car then drove to the new house that will become their new home. Looking back in the window, as the house they called home. Filled with wondrous memories and haunted by one that will always over shadow the rest. Stephanie looked in the review mirror, sighed and softly assured. "Home is where the soul is founded, and filled with love."

"Yeah, we know." Tammy whispered. Talia snuggled in her sister's embrace, quietly cried as she held the photograph of herself with tammy and their mother. Kissing the photograph softly and whispered. "Bye-Bye mama."

~Later that evening~

Tammy laid awake, with her sister close by. Sleeping deeply, sighed softly and sat up to gaze out the window of quiet, sky of bright stars. Keeping the tradition they kept as their mother pledge that she will always watch over them. Searching for one star that shone the brightest and would carry the love, they carried. Tammy's eyes filled with warm broken tears as each tear streamed down over her cheeks, unable to find the one star in the night sky. Closing the curtains and laid down, curled up tightly in the blanket and closed her eyes. Drifting to a deep slumber, as she prayed to see her mother while she slept. But what she dreamed was what never intended to see.

Standing in a endless void of darkness, calling for her mother and sister only to hear herself calling as her voice echoed. Turned around in circles where she stood until a bright light appeared, with a shadowy figure standing within the centre of the light.

A tender, calming voice called to her. A pair of hands arose, openly and waited to embrace her as she was sceptical but immediately accepted the welcoming embrace as she was drawn to them. As if had known them once before. Unable to see the face of the mystery figure, standing before her and warmly embraced her close, a soft strange purr filled her ear and massaged her skin as the outline of this faceless figure nuzzled her cheek.

Nuzzling back as she felt safe. Closing her eyes, before she had realised. Her lips were tenderly taken by this figures soft, tender and passionate kiss that tammy entire being had melted. Returning the kiss as she slowly rose her arms and draped them around the neck of this shadowy figure.

The kiss was broken followed by a purr, and soft whisper of tender love. "I have found you my love, wait for me as I am coming for you." Tammy was released and left standing in the light once again. Her heart pounded fast but steadily then she looked down to the rippling water in front of her appeared, revealing a golden locket. Scooped down, picking up the locket and held close to her beating heart; closing her eyes then looked up once again and smiled as she whispered softly, pledging her vow.

"I will be here, waiting."

To be continued in chapter four

R & R tootles