Chapter 14

Kalan didn't know why but she felt terrible. The sun was rising and she was sat on a hilltop that overlooked the landscape, its pink clouds blushing in the morning while the birds went about their morning song. The morning was surprisingly cold but Kalan didn't feel it as she spent all night outside. The thought of going back to the Phantomhive manor was almost sickening to her, "I don't want to deal with interaction" she muttered to herself. Eventually when the sun had risen fully Kalan got up and slunk back into the confines of the theatre. During the day it looked wonderful, even more so than last night when Malum gave it life again, well the inside anyway. Walking through the auditorium Kalan gave a soft smile and sat in front of the orchestral pit, her eyes clocked on the violin. Her hands and fingers began to ache wanting to pick it up and pluck at its strings, but she was not ready yet. Sighing Kalan laid down and feeling her body relax, instinctively she closed her eyes.

The next thing she knew Kalan woke to find that half the day had gone by and feeling just as awful as she did in the morning Kalan went to turn back over and sleep a little more when she heard voices. Children's voices to be exact. Kalan slunk to the windows and she saw that there were many children dressed in old and ragged clothes playing around the outside. Sighing she made her wings disappear, went to the door and very nearly told them to get lost, but there was one child that stopped and stood just outside the entrance to the theatre "Careful Miss! It's dangerous in there!" he said with a soft squeak. There came an echo of agreement from the rest of the children as they gathered around with curious eyes.

Then there was a quiet whisper that grew louder of the colour of her hair. Kalan felt like she was the centre of some freak show when she smiled and then chuckled. "Well good afternoon! You know it isn't good to judge a book by its cover" and Kalan stood to the side and the children gasped as they saw the lavish inside decoration. They began to laugh and ran inside, Kalan looked around and noticed no one was watching and so she closed the doors behind her.

Kalan watched as the children explored the downstairs ticket and waiting room. To their disappointment there was no food there behind the snack stand but they stood waiting excitedly as Kalan stood in front of the auditorium doors. "Hey, you ready to see the inside?" The children gossiped in wonder as Kalan swung open both doors. The kids all ran past and running to the front they sat in the seats and excitedly chattered together.

In the dark shadow behind her Malum whispered "You are going to regret that"

Shrugging Kalan nodded "Most probably, but I will deal with it when I get to it"

Kalan then ran down to the front and asked them what they wanted to do.

"Oh I thought we were going to see someone perform!" A young girl spoke up from the front. The children made a resounding agreement sound as they all looked at Kalan.

Kalan blushed and shook her head "I can't remember how to play! I used to be able to make so much music, but… I can't anymore" she confessed sadly.

"How can you forget!?" Cried a boy in the back who stood and folded his arms. "You are mean!" he added and began to run off, the others followed him out of the auditorium and back outside where the sun was still shining and the weather was cool. Kalan was left alone yet again, abandoned by children.

"You know, you will never be able to replace Adam and Eve. No matter how much you like to try" Malum's voice came from behind her.

"I… I wasn't trying to replace them. I wanted to give myself a purpose. Looking after those children, but, without my music… I am nothing" Kalan sighed dejectedly.

All of a sudden, the doors swung back open again and one of the children came bounding in with a look of panic all over his face. "Miss! Miss! Come help! Karleen has collapsed on the floor! We think she is dead!" he wailed. Breaking out into a run Kalan grabbed his hand and ran outside to the collapsed child. They were all around her as she got there, the echo of pleas to help her were overwhelming. Kalan checked her pulse and made sure she was still breathing.

"She is still breathing, I need to take her to a doctor. Stay inside and I will be back as soon as I can!" Kalan said and tried to usher the children back into the theatre.

"No! We want to help you!" they all replied stubbornly. Kalan's heart dropped, this means she couldn't fly to a doctor, it also meant that there was a large chance she would die while they travelled to the doctors.

There was no time to loose, Kalan started off at a run but Karleen was sobbing "owch, no running" she whispered.

"If I don't then you will probably not make it to the doctors" Kalan whispered.

"No running" she said again. Kalan stopped running and began to quick walk towards the doctor. The longer the travelled, the shorter her breath became. "I can't breathe" Karleen whispered in gasps.

"It's okay, we will be there soon" Kalan said looking behind her to see that the children were still following, but at a distance.

"I know that isn't true. It happened to my sister and my momma. Take me home." She gasped.

Kalan stopped and had a few tears in her eyes. "Are you sure."

Karleen nodded. "Quick while they are still lagging behind" Kalan nodded and with a few turns they had lost the children and was guided by the dying child to her house. It wasn't much of a house, in fact it wasn't a house at all, it was a tiny shed based box that had a door attached to it.

Placing her inside Kalan laid her down in her bed and placed a wet cloth on her forehead.

"Miss, can you stay with me, please?" Karleen asked as Kalan stood up.

"I had planned to" Kalan said closing the door to keep the cold out.

Kalan sat down and Karleen mustered the strength to curl up onto Kalan's lap. "My momma used to sing to me as I went to sleep and now I can sleep and go to see her!" Kaleen whispered "Do you think there are angels in heaven Miss?"

Kalan stayed silent for a while as she smiled. Turning her around Kalan had her fingers to her lips "I will let you in on a little secret. There are plenty of angels in heaven, because I am one" she winked and allowed her wings to show. They were pearl white with a blue hint at the top of each feather, almost as if they had been dip-dyed.

Karleen gasped and began to cry "Miss Angel, will you sing me a song like my momma used to?"

Kalan's eyes began to well up with tears as she looked at this poor child who she doesn't even know and yet here she was crying over her dying body. "Of course, your mother and sister will be waiting for you when you wake" Kalan whispered and touching her forehead Malum used her powers to find and sing the same song her mother sang.

"Hush, little baby, don't say a word,
Papa's/Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird.

And if that mockingbird don't sing,
Papa's/Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring.

And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Papa's/Mama's gonna buy you a looking glass…"

All of a sudden a dark figure came into the home, his glasses glittered in the dying light. Kalan clutched the girl tight and continued to sing as she nodded to the Shinigami who came over and using his extendable weapon thrusted it into the girl. Closing the girls eyes Kalan watched her cinematic record along with him, still singing the lullaby until he was done and only stopped when Karleen had finally gone limp in her arms.

There was silence for a few seconds but he spoke first. "I thought I said not to get in our way." He sniffed.

"She came to me and collapsed in my presence. She asked me to bring her here and stay with her, so I did. Nothing more to it" Kalan responded in kind. And as quick and easy as that he turned to leave. "Will, had Grell returned to you get?"

William T Spears sniffed, adjusting his glasses he shot "No" and leaped into the outside world.

Kalan stood up and carried the lifeless body to the Undertaker.