Stepsister Two
II
As I screamed my voice died in my throat, killing any hope I might have had of someone hearing me.
The shadowed figure stepped closer, its breath wheezing in its throat, "You," It said, extending what looked to be a gnarled hand with sharp claws on its knuckles, giving it the appearance of having ten fingers on each hand. "The breath that humans breath belongs to me," It breathed stepping closer, the shadow around it never leaving.
I stood, breathing heavily, not knowing what else to do. I could never take on this creature, I wasn't strong enough. You could do something else, if only you were not afraid of yourself. A small voice whispered in my head. "No," I whimpered, more to the unwanted voice in my head than the oncoming shadow.
"I shall suck the life out of your kind." It said, pausing in its strides, as if savoring every word it spoke. "And once again I shall be king!" It hissed lunging at me.
My eyes widened as my father's voice ripped through the air, "No!" He screamed, wrapping two strong arms around the creature's neck, "You shall not have her! If it takes the last of my breath to protect her from you, it shall be done!" I stared at my father's agile form, knowing I should do something, anything!
The creature turned, my father clinging to its neck with all the strength he had in his body, one word escaped from his mouth as the shadow creature flung him to the ground, "Run!"
I sat up in bed; tears and sweat streaming down my face, and the foreboding thought that always invaded my mind ringing bright and clear. The truth was; I could have done something to prevent my father's death. The truth was, I never even bothered to try.
I stuck my fist in my mouth, breathing heavily. I hated myself.
Slipping my feet into the warm slippers Robert had given me, along with a lavish bedroom, I ran to the closed window, pushed on the closed latch, opened it and stuck my head out, breathing in the fresh, country air.
I supposed that was the one thing I liked most about Robert's home. It was set far out in the countryside, where one could breath without too many people asking too many questions. Sadly, news spread no matter where you were or how far you ran.
Suddenly I had to be outside, the walls of my room seemed to be suffocating me, and I didn't want to be alone with my thoughts. At least outside there were things that lived, even if they were only plants and animals.
Remembering that Robert had mentioned he had a private and a kitchen garden, I donned a warm woolen dress and left the room.
"'Ey you!" Someone shouted at me, from across Robert's large garden, "what be ye doin' 'ere?" I closed my eyes. I had been here barely two days and all ready I was in trouble with someone.
"No one told me the gardens were off limits," I said, opening my eyes to a bedraggled gardener.
"Oh," The gardener said, tufts of white hair sticking out from beneath a gray cap, "Ye be one o' Rob's new daughters." I winced, he wasn't my father and I certainly was not his daughter. I said nothing. "I thought ye be someone else."
I nodded my head in sympathy, "It's quite all right," I murmured. I found myself trying to give the old man a reassuring smile, failing terribly.
"I be Zechariahs the Gard'ner" he held out a gnarled hand for me to shake. My mouth turned up in its first real smile, in over two months, at hearing his name.
I took his hand and shook it, "I'm Darlene."
"Well, hello Darlene. Welcome to our 'umble 'ome." Humble? I looked at the tall building, with its gray menacing stones. It was anything but humble.
I smiled again, forgetting that I should not be smiling in such a situation as mine, "Thank you." Was I actually beginning to enjoy this man's company? Was I actually beginning to think things really weren't as bad as they seemed? I sighed.
"Ye be missin' your fader." I looked at him; it had not been a question; but a statement. "Yes," I said with a short nod.
"Don' a be worryin', ye 'ill never forget 'im but da pain 'ill leave in good time." I stared. How would he know what I was feeling? How could the pain ever leave me? "I know, 'cause I lost me own dear Pap when I be yer age." He said softly.
Was the man a mind reader? "Thank you," I said quietly, wrapping my arms around my middle, I walked away, lost to my thoughts.
"You could have told me before bringing them into our home!" I heard Tiffany's voice ring clear in the crisp morning air, from somewhere in the garden, "Papa, they're from the barren lands!" She lowered her voice so that I had to strain to hear her next words, "Rebecca Darling, from town, says that the people there are cannibals!" I put a hand over my mouth, trying to muffle a laugh that had slipped out. Who is this Rebecca Darling, she might be fun to meet. I thought wickedly before I could stop myself. I frowned suddenly, remembering that I didn't deserve to be happy.
"Tiffany," I heard Robert's voice take on a stern tone I had never heard him use before, "They needed a home and I love Bethany," He said mentioning my mother's name. "And I don't know where Rebecca Darling gets her information but I do believe someone has been lying to her." A laugh crept into his gravely voice.
Instead of walking in the other direction like I should have, I crept closer, wondering what Robert would say next. "You're right," He said sighing. "I should have told you about them, I'm sorry that I didn't. Please promise that you will try to get to know them before you judge them," Robert paused, through the leafy branches of a bush I saw his face wreathed with care for my family.
I didn't stay to hear more, I turned running back in the direction of the house, tears blinding my eyes. Why did he have to love her? Why my mother? Why not another woman?
Blinking rapidly, I stumbled on the stone covered path and fell, my hands and knees pressed into the little white stones. A small cry of dismay caught in my throat as I pulled myself to my feet and stormed into the house, longing to lock myself away somewhere and never come out.