Chapter Two- The Second Sister
Shadi kept his word and remained with Alexandra. However, only the young girl could see him. He was biding his time. The days that followed were both trying and tiring for the small girl, as she was required to take on the duties of the missing cook. She had explained to Shadi about Claudia's sudden disappearance. Although he hadn't said so to Alex, the man decided that Claudia's absence was no coincidence. It had a purpose. Just what that purpose was, he wasn't sure yet. All he could do for the time being was try to offer some comfort to Alexandra, and provide her with some form of friendship.
"Do you think she'll be back, Shadi?" Alex whispered one night after a long day of work.
"I must say….I have a feeling she will not. This is not something I wished you to know, little one, but I think you being here is a bad thing."
"Where else will I go, Shadi?" Alexandra looked up at him seriously. "The trial period isn't over until September."
Shadi sighed, and looked out the window. How was he to explain that this was not a trial period? This Amelia Prescott meant to keep the girl.
"Are you sad, Shadi? Is it because of me?" Alexandra tugged lightly on the man's cloak.
"No, of course it isn't because of you, Alex. It is because of how that woman resumes hurting you in this way. She barely gave you a crumb for dinner." Shadi stared out at the darkening fields. Something was moving in the shadows. "I will return soon. Go to sleep now, Alexandra." Shadi shimmered, then descended into the floorboards.
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"What did you do with the girl, Sister?" Amelia stared at the transparent form of her twin sister, Agatha.
"She is taken care of. She will no longer be divulging secrets to our little niece. That brat knows too much already."
"I will take care of that myself, Agatha. I will be removing that trunk tomorrow, while she is busy playing," Amelia disclosed.
"Playing? Have you had a change of heart?"
"Of course I haven't! She will think I have by the time tomorrow is over. I want to know what she knows, so I will loosen her tongue by kindness. " The woman paused. "I may well use a drug on her, to cause delirium. I hear people tell the truth under drugs. "
"Careful how you dose her. We don't want to kill her yet," Agatha advised. Suddenly the ghost froze. "Huh? Someone's listening in!"
"If that little brat has run away again…." Amelia began, but her sister silenced her with a glance.
"It was not a human presence. It was a spiritual presence," Agatha spoke up softly. "Someone is guarding that child."
"Then we must destroy it, in order to get to Alexandra." Amelia said sharply. "I will not have that child lost!"
The ghostly form of her sister nodded. "We will get to her. If we have to pull out old family weapons, we will."
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"What do you mean? Do you think this ghost killed her?" Alexandra's eyes were wide in fear. Shadi had come back shortly after daylight.
"I'm not sure. I don't think she is dead. Alexandra, you're in a great amount of danger, child. There is a possibility I may not be able to protect you like I wanted to."
"You're not going to leave me are you?!" Alexandra clung to Shadi tightly. "Please don't leave me!"
Shadi picked her up, sighing deeply. He wasn't really sure what he was going to do yet. "Shhh…..Calm yourself, Alex. I told you the night we met I wouldn't leave unless it was absolutely necessary. " He rubbed her back gently, wondering what to do. Before he could decide, the footsteps of that horrible Amelia Prescott were heard on the steps. Shadi tightened his grip on Alexandra and stared at the door.
"Hello, Alex-" Prescott stopped dead in the doorway, staring at the man holding her niece. "Who the hell are you, and what are you doing with my niece?!
"Who I am is of no consequence, and as for what I am doing with Alexandra, I am protecting her from your cruelty."
"Give me that child!" Amelia's eyes didn't leave Shadi's.
"I will not, and if you continue to insist, I'm afraid you're going to leave me no choice but to teach you a lesson. " Shadi's eyes expressed no emotion, yet, his voice was full of anger at the injustice of what was happening to Alexandra.
"Teach me lesson? You? I highly doubt that." The woman advanced, fully meaning to take Alex.
Shadi set Alexandra behind him quickly, and held up the ankh. "This is your last warning, Woman!"
Alexandra clung to Shadi tightly, watching the scene unfold from behind her friend. " 'careful, Shadi.." She squeaked. She wondered what good that large ankh would do.
"You don't think that worthless piece of metal will really hurt me, do you?"
"I assure you. If you come one step closer, you will be sorry. This is no ordinary neck ornament." Shadi replied crisply. "Do not dare to toy with me."
Amelia snickered, and moved closer still. Just as she was about to grab Alex, she let out of an uttered shriek of surprise. The ankh held by the man called Shadi had produced a laser-like beam, that blasted her clear across the room. Amelia scrambled to her feet, as Shadi came closer.
"Be gone." Shadi said barely above a whisper.
"This isn't over, you little twit! You can't protect her forever!" Amelia proclaimed, as she ran out of the room, slamming the door.
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The next morning, Claudia was back in the kitchen, and treating Alexandra as if nothing had happened.
"You were gone for two days, Claudia." Alex told her, as they mixed up dough for teacakes.
"That's ridiculous. I've no memory of being gone. " Claudia informed her young charge. "Perhaps you dreamed it all."
"It was no dream! Shadi heard my aunt say you were dead!" Alex insisted. "Two people can't know something without it being true!"
"Watch your tongue, Alexandra. You will not speak to me in such a manner." Claudia's eyes darkened dangerously. "As for this Shadi…..I know of him. Unlike my Mistress, I know of his power, and wisdom. He would not come to the aid a child such as you."
Alexandra's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean by that?! Shadi's my friend!"
"Enough of you! Get back to work, before I set my paddle to you!" Claudia raged suddenly.
Alexandra cringed nervously, and carefully went back to shaping the dough into the shape of the teacakes. Something was very wrong with Claudia. She'd never spoken to her so harshly. When Claudia wasn't looking, the young child glanced in the doorway, where Shadi stood, keeping an eye on her. No one but Alex could see him at the moment. The man merely nodded slowly, with a reassuring smile. Of course he had come to help her. Claudia was lying. She had to be.
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"Of course she wasn't Claudia. She had no soul." Shadi told Alexandra later that day.
"Then….who was she?" Alex played with the ankh around her neck.
"I'm still not positive. Whoever she is, I can assure you, she only means more trouble." Shadi watched the child play silently for a long while. "Did you honestly believe what she tried to tell you?"
"No, Shadi. I couldn't." The girl looked up at him. "Do you have family, Shadi? A daughter or son?"
"Sadly, my life never allowed for such blessings. I assure you, if I ever wound up with a child, I would want them to be as pure, and innocent as you."
Alexandra smiled. "We could pretend I'm your daughter." She longed for a father figure herself. Shadi was the closest thing she'd ever had.
"I…All right. Just for now though, okay?" Shadi agreed reluctantly. Did the girl find him to be like a father? What would happen when it was finally time for him to leave her? "Now as your father….." He scooped her up, and carried her off to her bed. "I declare it is way past your bedtime." He laid her down, tickling her a little bit.
"Good night, Daddy Shadi." Alexandra said with a giggle.
Shadi blinked at the name, the smiled lovingly. "Good night, Alexandra. Sleep well. I shall remain on guard. "
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( A/n:There's Chapter Two. I hope you are all liking this so far. I'm having fun coming up with some intriguing twists. Chapter Three is forthcoming!)