I like where this story is going. I cant help but write like a mad woman! ahh! I got reader fever and in a writing craze. FANFICTION! WHAT HAVE YOU DONT OT MEH! -enjoy disclaimer: OCCS ARE MINE! EVERYTHING ELSE BELONGS TO THE GUY WITH THE AWESOME BEARD! (terry pratchett)
Catherine woke up the next morning feeling the mother of all pain in her stomach. She groan as she sat up in bed, and shuffled to the mirror on her wall and carfully exposed her abdomen. A huge bruise stared back at her on the right side of her rib cage. She saw dark bruises the shape of fingers around her neck. She gentally placed a delicate hand over them, and hissed in pain. She got dressed and made her way downstairs for breakfast. She had gotten a few curious looks, but that was all. She paid the owner for the time spent there, and sattled her stollen horse. She soon arrived in the next town and made her way around the crowd of people as they went on with day to day business. She whould have to keep moving to loose that man from her trail. It was true she hated gossip, but everyone at least heard of the name Stanford the Stout. He was the son of a rich Governor, he attended one of the most expensive schools in discworld, and was known as a bit of a ladies man. Catherine cringled her face in disgust. How could her mother force her to marry that monster? She was better off married to a chicken! At least she'd he treated more fairly, and have free eggs.
She giggled at the thought, but it died as the thought of being found and brought back to that man and what he whould do to her. This caused her to turn a bit pale.
Catherine stopped at a local market and picked up a few supplies, mainly food, some clothing, and personal hygene products like soap, then left that town into endless farmlands. Catherine made it to the naxt town over just as the sun was just about to set. She made her way through town looking for a place to stay for the night when a sign in big bold red letters caught her eye. It stated : Help needed. Now hiring. She dismounted her hourse and stepped into the small shop. She could tell right away that it was a tailoring bussiness. Catherine had learned to tailor clothing from her mother when she was young, so she thought this could work out for her. She entered the small shop and was greated by an aged woman. She was a bit chubby, and wore spectacles. She gave her a warm smile from where she sat in her rocking chair, looking through fabric that piled up on her lap.
"Why, hello! Welcome! What can I do for you today?" She asked kindly.
Catherine gave her a small smile at her warmness towards her. "I'm.. here about the sign. Are you hirring?"
The women set the pile of fabric down on the floor and got up slowly, reaching out for her cain that leaned on the wall next to her. She carefully made her way to Catherine.
"Why, yes! Do you have any experiance with tailoring?" She asked warmly as she stood just a foot from Catherine, leaning on her cain.
"Yes, I learned from my mother when I was younger. She sort of made a living tailoring clothes for people that lived nearby." Catherine said fondly, remembering how her fingers where constandly wrapped in bandages when she was younger, striving to learn to sew up a pair of trousers. 'Stupid trousers.' She thought.
"Well, its a start. I'll see what you can do once we put your skills to action. When can you start?" Said the old woman as she shuffled her way to the cash register and took out a sheet of parchmant from behind the counter, dipping her feather into a well of ink and adjusted her glasses.
"Um.. Will tomarrow be alright?" Catherine said nerviously.
The woman let out a chuckle. "I like your work attitude. Get here by seven, and we'll see if you are up to the task. Name?"
"Catherine." She said simply.
The woman scribbled down her first name, and looked back up at her expectantly. Catherine shifted uncomfortably where she stood.
"Is it.. Ok if I don't give you my full name?" Her palms where begining to get sweaty.
The woman gave her a nod, and put her things away. "I wont press on what this is all about, as long as your an honnest worker, your fine by me, lass." She gave Catherine a re-assuring smile and shuffled around the counter. "You can adress me as granny Maggie."
Catherine couldn't help but smile. "Its a pleasure to meet you, ma'm." Catherine gave her a small bob of her head.
Granny Maggie returned her smile. "Its getting a bit late, love. I must be closing up shop now. I'll see you at seven, don't forget."
Catherine then said her goodbyes, and exited, mounting her horse, and stayed at an inn just a few blocks from the tailor shop.
Death found himself laying in an ally just behind the tavern he had recently occupied. He rubbed his skull as he began to sober, as the events of the news he had gotten about Catherine returned to him like a slap to the face. he felt a mixture of emotions. He didnt know if he should be angry, or bash his skull into the wall till he blacked out again. After debating on what todo, he decided it whould be best to return home and.. start working. he got up slowly, and snaped his fingers. A few moments later, Binky galloped towards his master, and death rode back to death's country. He stalked down the halls, his shoulders slumped, and he sighed. He searched for the hourglasses that needed to be attended to, when a name poped into his head. Catherine.
Death, forgetting about everything else, went to the shelf that contained Catherines Hourglass. He picked it up with much care and tenderness as he looked it over. the sand ran this time, but he noticed something strange. for one, he noticed the flowers that seemed to bloom slowly, did so one by one. two, the flower that was just to bloom next was tainted black. He examined it, curious as to what it ment or symbolized. He ran his thumb over her name. The blue flames in his eyes flickered back on as he looked at this with a hurt and longing expression. Then as quickly as it came, it went out, back to the hollow dull pits they once where. He stalked back to his office where he sat for hours, staring at her hourglass, and debating on what he should do. After much thought, he decided he should pay her a visit.. After all, she did say he was welcome anytime.. And theres no time like the present. Death stood up from his seat, and stalked out of his office to where binky was waiting outside. He mounted his steed, and rode off, arriving at Catherine's home. He knocked at the door as the chubby woman from yesterday answered him.
"You again?" She said a bit edgy. "Look, I don't know who you are, but Catherine isn't here."
Death just stared at her, making her wither under him and unsettled.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE SHE IS?
Mrs. Dalegate gulped. "W-with her fiancé, just south of here." She replied.
WHO IS THIS MAN. he demanded.
"St-Standford.. Standford the Stout. W-Why?"
THANK-YOU. That was all he needed to be on his way as he left the women in a bit of confusion and shock.
Death mounted his steed once more, and located Stanford. He arrived at a white mansion that was quite impressive. This made death a bit outraged. He walked up to the door as was about to knock when a bizzar and angered man opened the door while barking orders around. In the back ground, he could see servants and gaurds running maddly around in search for something. The man who opened the door ran right into him, and took a step back, trying to comtimplate who this being was and why the hell he was in his way.
"Who are you! And what are you doing on my doorstep!" He demanded.
ARE YOU THE ONE THEY CALL, STANFORD THE STOUT? Demanded Death, brushing his question aside.
"Yes, and I will make your life misserable if you don't get out of my way and leave my properly at once!" He waved a few gaurds over, but once they layed eyes on him, they quickly retreated, like they never saw the order.
Death looked at him hard, and proceeded to question him.
IS CATHERINE DALEGATE HERE?
The man scoffed at the name. "No, but she soon will be. It will be matter of time till I find her." when he said that, a vile smirk plastered itself on his face, but he quickly sneered when he looked back to Death. "What's she to you?"
Death was loosing his patience with this man, but at least he knew where to come to look for Catherine. Still, something nagged at him about this man. He didn't know why, but he had to find her before this man did. Death simply turned around, his mind occupied with thoughts and questions as he mounted his horse once more. The race for Catherine was on.