Chapter 8
Shamrock looked first at Jake then at Raven, unsure whether their strange request was a joke or serious. Finally she decided it must be serious. She'd sent Shasta to make tea, and when she returned, she ordered the three Manhattanite's to sit, as she did as well, finally unfolding the two pieces of paper.
"The Last will and testament of Cherish Larusso, also known as the Ice Princess" Shamrock started as Raven gave a sobbing gasp and Jake's face went very ashen. Shasta put down her tea, not at all thirsty an more. Shamrock continued.
"I named you executor of my will, because you were the one person that I think held the key to unbalancing me. You didn't even realize it did you? Our first meeting, you managed to sadden me with so much grief I was able to shoot back at you with twice the anger. Your hand helped in my persecution of Raven."
Shamrock read aloud with a feeling of sickness... she looked down at her own hand as if it had betrayed her and everything she stood for. The other three though all became instantly still at the bombshell.
"Before I move to my bequeaths, for those who may care, Cherish LaRusso is dead to the world, as is The Ice Princess, but our body does live. Just not as either Cherish or Ice did. I don't know what is yet to happen but, I promise to spend the rest of my life repenting the havoc I caused. I expect no sympathy and that is why I crept away without being seen so I wasn't swayed by the loving nature of all that surrounded such a deviant as myself. On to my bequeaths." Shamrock continued to read more and more intrigued.
"To My boyfriend Jake I leave the knowledge that you were fooled, you were lied to. And the culprit was myself. It's with shame and guilt that I write, From the moment you whisked into my life, defending me at the distribution centre, helping me in more ways then you could know with my sister, and introducing me to a life to start again, I felt a desperate possessive need to never lose you. When the lies started it was fear that drove me, please believe that I never meant it to go to where it did... I just wanted to be sure you wouldn't leave me... but then it become something else... I needed to know all the time that you were looking out for me... that you cared, that was why I had to rid you of Raven. That's why everything I ever said in relation to Raven was a lie, and I hope that I haven't done too much damage to be repaired."
"To my Best friend Raven, I leave the knowledge that you were my hero. And that's why I hated you. You had everything I ever wanted, and I suppose that is why I set out to destroy you. I know what I've done will never be able to be forgiven but please know that in the alley was when I realized that you were my saving grace. If I had taken the time before to realize it, I know things would have been different and I only beg that you realize the error of my human jealousy."
"To my most noble enemy Shasta I leave the knowledge that you were right all along, and the task, that should be mine to carry out but, I shan't be there so it's up to you. I leave you the duty of seeing Raven and Jake back together. If you want to deny my wishes I wouldn't resent you, but this is something bigger then you or I and I can hold my peace at least over the knowledge that leaving this job to you I can be sure you will succeed."
"To everyone I've known since the day of Marea's death I leave you an explanation of what happened that day, in the hope that you may one day understand my reasoning." Shamrocks clear voice had called the words so easily, but she started to stumble as she read the graphic, sickening, and pitying words that related Cherish's life as the youngest child of a Northern Italian mother, who never wedded the gambling, abusive Gypsy man Cherish and Marea had called father. She stumbled sickeningly over the description of Marea's abortion and Bill's fury, then of Jake's part as her saviour.
Shamrock was ready to drop the letter obviously writing in sharp digging pain, that had eaten away at the girl who had writing it. "In closing I suggest that you treat my time with you as a bad dream, and I hope one day if we meet again I will be a better person. Until that time though, the Cherish that you at one time loved, only wishes that the four of you, will heal the pain I caused, and one day maybe forgive my memory if you could never forgive me." With those final words Shamrock dropped the letter as if it burnt her.