AN: Hello out there if anyone is still reading this long ago abandoned story! Well it's only been 3 months or so since I updated this story, I'm the worlds worst updater, I know! This is thanks, once again, to the amazing 'chocolate&drama' and 'sparklyskater' and their persistent nagging, pestering and threats of attacks by vicious abnormals if I do not finish this story one day soon! (i mean to say the endearing encouragement and inspiration of the aforementioned individuals). All my love and thanks to my beloved naggers who also helped me write much of this chapter and helped me brainstorm ideas for the direction of the story, you guys rock my world xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Chapter 12
She laughs ever so slightly. "Dear boy, do you not recognise a Magnus woman when you see one?" She asks.
He felt dizzy. Magnus? As in, Helen Magnus? She seems able to read his thoughts.
A twisted smile lights up her face as she turns the knife over playfully in her hands.
"Yes William, that Magnus. I am Kathryn Nicole Magnus. Ashley's sister. Whether older or younger, who can say? Conceived after, born before. Now why didn't your dear Helen say anything about me, even when she promised 'no secrets'? Why there are probably no records of me?"
"I don't know. He concedes. "Are you going to tell me?" He tries to keep a calm demeanour. He can not quite reach his weapon, and he is backed up against the kitchen counter with a mentally unstable woman who has a knife. And if she is the daughter of Helen Magnus, he is certain she knows how to use it.
If only Ashley were here. But would she save him? He isn't sure any more. He isn't sure of anything anymore.
"Yes." Kathryn answers brightly. "Because you are going to die today, I'm going to tell you everything. Dead men tell no tales, right?" She laughed a high, cold laugh. " I was a mistake, an even bigger one than Ashley! So scared, and too busy to raise a child, she simply could not be bothered with me. Gave me away for adoption before I was even 5 years old."
"So, who adopted you?" Ashley should be home soon. She will help him, won't she? He just has to keep Kathryn talking.
" Some silly worthless mortals." She waves her hand dismissively.
" And your father?" He asks.
" I'm never going to know, thanks to my heartless bitch of a mother. But probably some poor sap who only served to fill the lonely nights. " Her eyes turn suddenly dark with resentment. Even in his life-or -death situation, he can't help that his curiosity is sparked. Why did she hate Magnus so much? Once again, it is like she is able to read his mind, as she answers the unspoken question.
"I despise my mother because she abandoned me. Because I wasn't good enough for her, I was a mistake. No one can live up to her expectations, which is why I welcomed my dear sister with open arms. No one can live up to her standards, which is why you're out in the cold too, dear boy."
" That's a lie!" He snarls, loyalty rising in him, even though he probably should be agreeing with her if he wants to stay alive.
" What? So she really didn't fire you? I suppose that's alright, I can't be a shelter for all ex- proteges, now can I? I'd need a bigger house." She laughs eerily to herself.
"You're wrong. Ashley isn't a failure." Will insists.
" Really? I don't know, but I think a dead daughter is a failure."
" She is not-"
"Ashley Magnus is dead. The girl you are chasing is merely the empty shell. The poor girl, tossed out alone, changed almost beyond recognition, but still hunted by the people who are so thoroughly convinced she is the same. Do you really think she could go through all she did and not change? No, that's why she had to stay away. Because she was clever, and knew it would break her dear mummy's heart, having a broken toy she'd never be able to fix. Why she cares so much about you all is far beyond me. I don't care about you at all, which is why I'm going to kill you now. Simmone will be getting home soon, pity she bought groceries for three."
With those words, she lunges towards him, and he is barely able to get out of the way, his mind still reeling. Was she telling the truth? Was Ashley- Simmone- whoever, really gone?
"Please Kathryn..." He tries in vain to reason with her. "We can work this out. I'm not threat to you. I don't think it's necessary for you to kill me, let's talk."
She looks him in the eyes at that point. Years of betrayal and anger and pain evident in her stare. "This time, no one is going to take my sister from me, do you understand?"
With those final resolute words, she lunges towards Will with the knife.
Something is awakened in her as she approaches Kathryn's flat. That familiar instinct- danger. Something she has not felt since leaving the sanctuary. She quickens her pace as she nears the buildind, berating herself for leaving Will and Kathryn alone, it had been a bad bad bad idea.
When she enters she finds them struggling on the kitchen floor, knife in Kathryn's hand, Will trying to reach for his gun, which it appears has been knocked out of his grasp onto the kitchen floor.
Swiftly, instinctively, she reaches for the weapon, picking it up. The object is cool and familiar in her grasp. It makes her feel empowered. It makes her feel grounded. It makes her feel alive. She aims the weapon steadily in the general direction of the two of them, still struggling on the floor. Only after she has the weapon in her hands do they both turn to acknowledge her. They both jump instantly to their feet, but Kathryn does not drop the knife.
It is Kathryn who speaks first. "This so called friend of your just attacked me." She sobs in convincing tones of horror and distress.
"Come on Ashley, you know me better than that." Will is trying to plead with her. "That's an out and out lie!"
She looks from one, to the other. Searching their eyes. She can't make sense of it. She doesn't know who to believe. She looks to Will, he was annoying, very annoying, but to mount a vicious unprovoked attack on a virtual stranger? A school principal who posed no threat to him. That was astoundingly out of character.
She turns her gaze to Kathryn, and there is something familiar about her, something reassuring.
She doesn't find it difficult to come down on Kathryn's side. It's somehow incomprehensible to her that Kathryn would mount an attack on poor Will. Even though she has not known the woman long, she feels an innate sense of trust. She feels connected. Kathryn was the one person who made her feel that her world hadn't ended. The one person who made her feel understood. And she can not bring herself to believe her trust in the woman is misplaced
She is about to open her mouth, order will to leave. But he speaks first, "Ashley, you know me, listen to me, I have to tell you..."
Kathryn interrupts him before he can finish. "Ashley, kindly ask your friend to leave my house, or I will be forced to call the police." She punctuates her demand by slamming her free hand down on the kitchen counter.
Ashley stops still for a moment, starring at Kathryn. Kathryn does not realise what she has done. But it strikes Ashley as odd immediately, to hear her new-found friend, flat mate, employer, call her by her sanctuary name. And yet it rolls off the other woman's tongue so smoothly Not awkwardly like Simmone. It had been a reflex. Something Kathryn had not meant to do.
"What did you just call me?" Ashley utters softly...
