Coming down to the bottom of the stairs, Katherine staggered towards the dining room, using the settee and any other furniture along the way to support herself. Turning left, she managed to grope her way down the hall and into the kitchen. One hand clutching the knife box to her chest, her other hand groped blindly in cupboard after cupboard until her fingers closed around a small bottle. Relieved upon reading the label, she set the nutmeg on the counter and rummaged in the icebox for the jar of milk. She found a glass and a spoon before returning to grab the bottle. Stirring two spoonfuls of the brown dust into the milk, she gulped the liquid down in a few gulps. A dry cough threatened to wrack through her lungs but by taking deep breaths, she was able to stave off the attack. Her nerves were calming after taking the home remedy but she still wondered briefly why, during the past the few days, it always made her feel so tipsy and her mouth feel like a desert. Ignoring the nausea that roiled in her stomach, she clutched the box tighter and drifted towards the door, stepping out into the cool night air.
The breeze was refreshing and whispered in the trees, playing until each leaf rustled into song. The moon, shining down from between misty clouds, had began its monthly waning into a soft crescent and gave off only a faint glow. The light barely lit the way of the girl walking forlorn into the yard. Katherine's ankle-length nightgown whipped in the wind and her mass of red hair blew about her petite face, making her appear more as a pale but angelic ghost floating across the grass. She walked numbly, her eyes containing no emotion as each bare foot settled silently in front of the other, down the trail around the back of the house until the small stand of pine trees came into view just ahead. Their trees, her and Adam's.
Stones drew blood from Katherine's tender, young feet but the pain went unnoticed as she broke into a frantic run; sobs rising in her chest and threatening to tear her soul to pieces. The box fell to the ground as she flung her arms around one particular tree, her tears soaking into the rough bark. She remembered the warmth of her beloved's body as he had stumbled back into this same tree. His mouth subtle, his lips soft and his velvet skin quaking at her touch, he had moaned.
Caressing the spot on the tree where his head had rested, she called upon the memory of black hair tousled by the wind and she could almost feel the vibrations that had risen in his chest but his eyes...they had been filled with horror and something else too. Pity. He had pitied her when she had been trying to show him how much she needed his strength and protection. Why couldn't he see that? She only wanted to be understood by someone and to be coddled in an embrace. She yearned to find out how fast a loving heart could race along side a beloved's and she longed to feel protected against a broad chest. Protected...yes, that is what she wanted the most. So alone and so scared, running from some unseen terror, she couldn't see a foreseeable end to her pain...except for the dagger's blade. But even then, she wouldn't have anything she really wanted.
Sliding to the grass in a crumple, her slim body shook violently, so deep was her sorrow. She drew her knees to her chin and hugged her legs tightly, whimpering in grief as a proverbial door was unlocked deep inside that she had worked for many years to barricade. The walls falling, wretched filth poured forth, nightmares cascading and tumbling her mind between them until Adam's face came out of the pit, his countenance making the pain fade behind him.
Only...a sneer was twisting his mouth rather than a genuine smile. He started to laugh, his handsome head thrown back; his eyes dissolved eerily and was replaced by hot flames. His taunting laughter melted into the screech of an inferno. His combed hair transformed into the collapsing roof of a two-story house, flames shooting out the top towards a starless sky. His faultless nose blurred and a red door taking its place. At last, his full mouth and sensuous lips also were whirled up into the raging purgatory and only his blameless, white teeth were all that remained of his once onyx seductiveness.
Too terrified to cry out, Katherine stared into the night and her breath stilled, lungs freezing in their desperation for air as those beautiful teeth were deposed by white rose blooms, innocently bordering a path to the burning house. Similar roses clinging to an arbor mere yards away from her face came into view and she gasped. The frightening images receded until, once again, she could feel the cool air hitting her face and the natural sounds of the night soothed her somewhat. She moved to her feet in one graceful motion, her cheeks wet with her grief. Bending down, she opened the discarded box and withdrew the dagger. The blade flashed as she closed her hand into a fist around the ornate handle and walked toward Marie's rose garden.
Stepping inside, she turned slowly inside the collection of arbors and trees, taking in the dozens of blooms all around. She reached out a hand to touch the delicate petals of one perfect white rose. The bloom wobbled at her touch and gave itself up to her will as the dagger sliced it free of its red and pink companions. Bringing the rose to her nose, she couldn't help the smile that touched her lips. The dagger loosened from her grasp and fell to the ground so she could grasp the stem with both hands. Eyes closed and breathing in the delicacy, she began to sway to a musical number only she could hear. The notes resonated on the wind and trickled through her soul, pulling her deeper and deeper into their aura of inducement.
A sharp prick of pain disturbed the soundless dance and Katherine's reverie was cut short. Wild-eyed, she brought her right hand up to her face. A bead of blood ran down her index finger from a tiny jab mark made by an unforgiving thorn. Motionless, Katherine stared at the cut then transitioned her gaze to the rose. A wailing shriek, one of pure anguish, was ripped from her throat and pierced the night air. The silence of night came through as she collapsed into a heap, slipping into the comfort of darkness while the white rose fell from her limp fingers to rest by her body.
I* * * * *I
Sitting bolt upright in bed, Joe passed a shaky hand over his face and glanced around his room in confusion. Wondering if he was the only one who had heard the bloodcurdling scream that only a woman, a girl or a child could have uttered. Someone was in trouble...and his heart quickened, thinking of three souls whom were supposed to be sleeping mere walls away. He bounded out of bed, struggled into a pair of pants and a shirt. Taking his boots in hand, he left his feet bare and tiptoed out into the hall, heading straight for Evangeline's door. He knocked softly, standing nervously and shifting from foot to foot until the door opened a crack.
"Joe, is something amiss?" Evangeline asked, her voice faint with sleepiness. "Nothing is wrong with Adam, is there?"
"No, nothing like that but I heard a noise and wanted to make sure you were okay. Sleep well, sorry I woke ya up."
"Do you need my help?"
"Nah, I probably just heard a coyote outside or something. Goodnight."
Perplexed but losing interest, Evangeline merely shrugged, a yawn engulfing her senses and she shut the door to return to her bed. The smile on Joe's face faded immediately and he spun around to look into Jody's room. The boy was sound asleep, his breathing even and his face relaxed in happy dreams. Joe's heart sank as he went to Katherine's door and found it ajar with no sign of the girl inside. The bed was neat and tidy, suggesting that she had never went to bed in the first place. He made for the stairs, making sure to not disturb his exhausted family any further.
There was no sign of Katherine downstairs although there was a dirtied glass in the kitchen sink, suggesting that she had perhaps come down for a drink. A draft drifting over the floor brought Joe's attention to focus on the kitchen door which was hanging open an inch or two. He stepped outside and the wind ruffled his hair as he studied the ground. Footprints made by small feet were imprinted in the dirt and he tracked them around the back of the house. A box lay opened in the grass and, upon closer inspection, looked to have contained a knife of some sort. He was loathed to think of the possibilities attached to the missing weapon and he began to call out to her softly, listening for silent seconds in between. He searched, his concern turned into panic until he was closer to the rose garden and happened to see two feet surrounded by what looked like the hem of a nightgown.
His breath catching in his chest, Joe cried out her name as he ran to her side. She was unconscious, a dagger lying beside her and he reached out tentatively to turn her over into his arms. Relieved that she appeared to be unharmed, he brushed the red locks back from her face and was once more struck by her beauty. Her long lashes resting against her creamy skin, the petite set of her chin and the luster of her lips made something tug in his soul. He gathered her closer, lifting her slight body into his arms. For the first time, he realized how thin she was. He could feel her backbone pressing quite sharply into his forearm. Hadn't she been eating at all?
Feeling an overwhelming urge to protect her, his heart softened further and he cradled her head against his shoulder as he walked toward the house. Carrying her through the kitchen door, he made his way carefully to the settee and laid his light burden down, propping her head up with a soft pillow. His eyes narrowing, he contemplated what to do next. Going back into the kitchen, he found a clean rag and prepared a bowl of cool water. Returning to her side with the items, he sat on the coffee table and wrung out the rag in the water. Gently, he dabbed her forehead, around her face and made sure to pay special attention to her wrists and hands. Then he laid the cloth to rest on her forehead again and left his hand there to hold the comfort to her skin. To his delight, she began to stir, moaning and her head rolled to face him.
When she opened her eyes, the deep-gray of the large pupils nearly stopped his breathing. He knew he was staring but didn't care. She moved her head and stared back, any number of emotions passing through her eyes. He backed off to give her space and sat up, clasping his hands self-consciously between his knees. He watched as she studied him with confusion then her features puckered up and she began to cry.
"Why...why are you...where am I?"
Joe steadied her as she struggled to sit up but collapsed back into the pillows. "Don't try to move just yet. You're safe, don't worry."
"I don't want to be safe, don't you get it!" she cried, realizing that she had fainted before being able to go through with her plan. The image of the inferno returned and she felt an overpowering urge to run in whatever direction would get her away from the nightmare. She pushed Joe's hands away and tried to rise but only managed to begin to fall forward, into Joe who caught her.
"Sit down before you hurt yourself and I'm not leaving until I know exactly what's going on. Why were you outside in the middle of the night and what were you doing with that dagger? Something was bothering you during dinner and you need to get it out before you do real harm."
Katherine shook her head repeatedly, fighting his grip on her arms but finally she gave up and fell against his chest, sobbing so hard that she began to cough.