Order 39: Dissension
Rugby Rd. 10:00 A.M.
Skey stopped in front of the old mansion. It still looked as glorious as it had the day she came into its rooms and halls. Nothing had changed. Not the trimmed hedges, the pastel flower beds nor the large oak tree with its not golden leaves that dwindled down. One would assume such a place would be paradise. Maybe on could only gather that from simply glancing at this place. What laid there was nothing but bad, unforgettable memories.
" Ye ok?"
" I'll be fine."
Anderson gave a stiff nod. Both approached the porch of the mansion. Skey led the way, her heart beginning to race with every step closer to the place. Birds chirped happily in the oak tree above. What Skey wouldn't give to have never set foot upon this place. She stood facing the door, gathering her wits. It was humorous to even believe the mere thought that they would hit her again or try anything while there was a witness. Skey rapped on the door gingerly, the hard oak echoing her presence into the mansion. A child crying inside wailed louder. A voice, belonging to a woman, told the child to sit in the corner for five minutes. Skey wondered...did this child too have welts and bruises like she had experienced before? The door creaked open to reveal a woman of becoming age. Wisps of gray graced her ebony hair. The cold blue eyes Skey had remembered had dulled out to become more of a cloudy gray. Wrinkles were forming in the corner of her lips and under her eyes.
" May I help you?"
Skey couldn't forget a face no matter how long she hadn't seen it. The aging process didn't fool her the least bit. Anderson stood behind her like a statue, impassive and cold without any motivation to get involved in this mess. The woman kept on looking at the two kindly as a polite upper-class woman would.
" Don't you remember me?"
The old woman took a second glance at the girl in front of her. The face was cold, vengeful...but it did ring a bell somewhere in her mind. Once upon a time, maybe she had known this girl. Wind blew gently, combing Skey's long, brown hair.
" What? You do not remember the teenager you adopted long ago? beating her and forcing her to work as a slave in this household? Oh, I'm sure you remember a fragment or so when you used that switch on my ass. Come now, rack your memory and try to accept the horrible truth."
The woman's dull eyes become wide with fright. The old venom she had once spat long ago started to come back to her teeth. This frail, old woman became rejuvenated with the spunk and haughtiness she had once possessed years ago. A man came walking down the staircase to glance at who had come to his household. He was astounded to see a priest standing at his door with a woman. It was uncalled for!
" Excuse me, may I help you?"
His wife stood to the side and let the priest and woman in. The snake-like glare in her aged eyes hadn't left. Skey stood in the middle of the foyer, looking to the man standing on the third step of his magnificent staircase of white marble. Anderson feared for the wrath that may overtake Skey's intentions of coming here. All the pent up anger she had bottled up against this couple, never being able to let it open, to let the pressure out. Now here she was, free of their bondage and chains. Nothing they said could stop her from rampaging if she wished to do so. As Anderson took a glance down to her face, there was more madness within her eyes focusing on this man. He knew why she would ever give such a look to him. For when one takes away a woman's virginity by force, it leaves an awful scar in the heart that can never go away.
" I have come here...as a devout Catholic. Only to say that I forgive you for what you have done to me. (Looks behind her to the approaching mother) BOTH of you. Still, there is a piece I must say to ease my pain and mind. I can see a questionable look in your eyes, 'Father'. Let me refresh your memory...About say, five to eight years ago, you adopted a teenage girl from an orphanage. You promised her a good home with love and care. I was young then and easily fooled, something that you were looking to take advantage of in an orphan. Slowly, I became a slave in this household, to my own foster parents. Do you have any idea how it feels to be told you'll be worth nothing but a whore? A dog? I did everything in this household! Every little thing from washing your forks and plates to maintaining the lawn! I never objected! Not even for the sake of my humanity and person. Then you...(Takes a few steps towards the father) YOU took me and you raped me you sick son of a bitch! What? Do you think it was FUNNY when I was being shoved into shards of glass and crying, BEGGING you to stop? (Turns to the mother) and you...always making me get you tea, sew your dresses, serve dinner on hands and knees, sleep on the floor with a curtain for warmth...no child should ever be put through such shit...and even though you both caused me such severe psychological damage without remorse, made me feel so hateful of myself, I still find words to forgive you...I sat up last night trying to think of how I could even BEAR to forgive such hapless, disgusting demons as yourselves. This is the only way I could forgive you...I forgive you for the torment, the hatred and heartless injustice you doted upon me! I forgive you for being the sad son of bitches you are! And lastly, I forgive you for not knowing how sad and sadistic both of you are. (Turns her back to them and starts walking out)...Father Anderson, I'm done."
The giant of a priest moved with her like a shadow. The green eyes of his struck fear into the hearts of the man and woman. their anger that Skey had ruffled up dissipated with the priest's glare. Not one would dare to object to such a demanding face. Those piercing eyes commanded their silence as the two left.
" I wish you to the deepest pits of hell. Maybe there you will come to realize and live my pain over and over and over again...and then lament for the rest of your pathetic life there. Enjoy."
Skey walked out of the household, never glancing back. Skey walked out the door and down the porch steps for the very last time. Now, when she heard the birds chirp, it filled her with relief. Finally, after so many years, a weight had been lifted. Every minute of her teenage life with them, she had wished to summon the courage to tell them off, to bark out for the sake of her own life and freedom. It would have seemed too late to have done so now, but to speak your opinions and feelings was never too late. The feelings and the emotion would always be the same and always have the same effect.
" Father Anderson..."
" Aye..."
" Thanks for coming with me."
" Yer welcome, thoo it seems tae me that ye really didnae need me here for ye. Ye handled yerself weel. Ye didnae attack them or try killing them. Thoo yer words were ae wee bit...harsh, Ah think yer got yer point across tae them. Thas what matters."
Something was wrong with his voice. It came off as monotonic, almost emotionless like he didn't care what would have happened. The whole purpose of bringing him was to hold her back just in case she lost it. If she had, would he had cared enough to hold her back or sit idly by? Skey grabbed his wrist and held him back where she stood. The priest gave her a hard, uncaring look that took her back. It gave Skey the impression she had done something wrong and like a child, she hadn't known exactly what it was.
" Dinna touch me, Skey. Get oot O' ma way."
He shoved her to the side and walked back to the Vatican. Skey stayed, her feet planted where they were. Something in her chest yanked her heart and stomach. The only person she had ever placed full trust in, rejected her. His mood was so frigid and heartless. The tall man walked back to the Vatican without the desire to turn around to beckon her to come. Just like that, he left her there to fend for herself. Tears fell down her cheeks, mixing with the rain that hardened its emotion and begun to pour harder.
Abandoned Apartment. 10:15 A.M.
Red eyes opened in shock. Malakai sensed something terribly wrong with Skey. There was no way to actually say what it was, but vampiric instincts told him something was out of the ordinary. Malakai leapt up and ran to a broken, stained window. He placed both his hands firmly on either side of the pane and peered up the best he could into the cloudy, stormy sky. This was his chance! With the sunlight concealed and that damned priest to be sensed no where near her, she was alone and vulnerable; victim to his charms. It was more tempting than that of warm blood from the jugular vein of a ripe adult. Malakai stepped one foot onto the window sill, preparing to leap through the broken glass and into the air to scan the land, and find his lover...but a voice held him back from his glee.
" Lord Malakai...where are you off to?"
Malakai stepped down and hung his head. He knew he was their leader, but at times he felt prisoner to their needs. Those selfish animals never thought of what Malakai would like to do. This was irritating him. He couldn't go out now without informing anyone? This was not the way leaders were treated and he wouldn't be the first to let it slide by.
" That's none of your business, Holgen. Where I'm going is my own affair, thank you."
Holgen couldn't stand Malakai's childishness. Here was one of the most ancient vampires. Revered, respected and feared by most vampires. The stone heart he carried made him immune to such distractions as love. Many would view Malakai as the Messiah of vampires; the perfect vampire. Yet here he stood near a broken window about to fly out and woo a human woman. A human he was willing to love and a human he was willing to name his queen, his emperess.
" I still cannot see how you, Lord Malakai Percival Drachus...would ever take a human for a wife. You've never been the one to show the emotion of love. Never! And here you are, whipped by some human girl who, pardon my rudeness, would like nothing more than to cut your head off and drive a stake through your heart!"
With the howl of a eerie wind, Malakai leapt quickly and pinned Holgen to the ground. The broad sword had been drawn and pressed to his neck, both vampires hissing at each other with shining fangs. Their eyes gleamed like rubies in Caribbean waters. Malakai growled and swiped Holgen across the cheek, slashing the skin apart. He stood up, sheathed the sword and walked off. There was much that was going on in the ranks. Speculation about Malakai and his 'love' for this human. How hard could it possibly be for them to believe that love exists? They too, were once human and at one time or another, felt that emotion with the trueness of their hearts. By becoming a vampire, shouldn't mean you should be restricted from ever showing the emotion of love, or hate or sadness. Being a creature of the night, did not mean one must give up their feelings...Malakai could see Babylon was awake now from the commotion. He turned his furious eyes on her and barked angrily.
" Babylon! You're in charge of this place! Do not let ANY dissension in the ranks form and overtake!"
Malakai kicked the broken glass of the window, shattering pieces of it everywhere in a ear piercing clash. His long cape ruffled as he lunged out the window and into the air, streaking across the stormy sky to find his love somewhere in the land. The wind screeched past his ears and the clothes ruffled with a deafening roar of flying at near supersonic speed. Yet, he cared not. He had only one objective of this moment.
