Her screams were silent. It didn't matter how wide she opened her mouth, nothing came out. She was smoldered by the heat which had devoured her mother, father, and sister Lela. Slowly, the flames licked at her hiding spot under the bed when she awoke.
Beads of sweat poured down her face from re-living the fire which had so long ago taken her family. She didn't know why she had been spared from the men who had murdered her kin. Roma, her mother had called them, yet she knew them now as Gypsies. Her mother had spoken to them in another language, but she hadn't understood any of it. She also didn't know how she had escaped the fire.
It seemed a routine now, a 15 year ritual. Every night since the fire she would awake in the exact way she had previously done. Having the dream so often one would think she would be used to it by now.
One would also think that an 18 year old woman would have found herself a husband by now, at least her adopted father did. Mr. Worthington, a stock broker, was continuously bringing to dinner young, promising, business employees; though none seemed to interest Ravenna Dooryia Worthington. She had accepted Mr. Worthington's name as her own simply because she could not remember hers. She was 3 during the fire and it apparently had blocked out some of her memory.
The orphanage had found her on the sidewalk clutching a stuffed rabbit and a gold locket containing a picture of her mother and father, as well as an inscription on the back that that she had yet to find the meaning of, she could only assume it was the same language that her mother had spoken to the Gypsies that night. Ravenna had been living in the orphanage for almost a year when Mr. and Mrs. Worthington had adopted her.
Mr. and Mrs. Worthington were a fairly wealthy couple and lived in the upper part of Manhattan in 1889. Mrs. Worthington, being in delicate health, was unable to have any children of her own, causing them to adopt. Upon seeing Ravenna, almost 4, with her "raven" black hair, wide caramel eyes, and golden skin, the couple could not help but fall in love with her.
That was 14 years ago, and they had been a relatively happy family until Mrs. Worthington had departed in 1895, leaving Mr. Worthington and Mrs. Smith, the cook, the task of raising a 10 year old girl. Ravenna had a loving relationship with both though, and adored them dearly. She had even deemed Mr. Worthington "Dad."
Looking out her window, she could tell it was still early in the morning. That means he hasn't left yet she thought. Quickly slipping on her light blue velvet robe and cream slippers, she hurried down the stairs and into the kitchen. There she saw her father eating his eggs and toast, and sipping his coffee with his valise by his side.
Her feet padded over the black and white tile to her father where upon she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and placed a kiss upon his aged cheek.
"You haven't left yet? When are you going?"
He looked up startled, he hadn't heard her enter the kitchen.
"Oh, hello Pumpkin. No, I haven't left yet." He looked at his pocket watch and gave a soft sigh.
"I'm leaving at 5:00, in about 15 minuets."
Her golden hues widened, "That early? What time does your train leave?"
"It leaves at 6:00, but you know I always want to get their early. You are aware that Mrs. Smith won't be back from her parents' house for another two weeks and I will not be back from my sister's in Missouri for four?"
This time it was Ravenna's turn to sigh. She had been through this entire ordeal with her father before, and had hoped that the last time they had discussed this issue it had finally been laid to rest.
"Yes Dad, I know. I'll be fine, don't worry."
"I just don't like the idea of you staying here all by yourself for two weeks! Especially you being an 18 year old woman."
"Dad, we've been through this before. I am 18, and I don't need a babysitter. I am responsible enough to stay here by myself."
Mr. Worthington simply shook his head.
"I just don't like it. Not one bit."
His looked at her pitiful pleading face and had to smile. There was simply no hope for him not to give into her desire to stay at the house alone, not with her face holding the expression it did.
"All right, you can stay here, but if anything happens, don't hesitate to telegram me. I don't care what one costs. Better yet I want you to telegram me every other day." He paused when he saw her perturbed expression. "I just want to know you're alright Pumpkin."
"I'll be fine Dad, stop worrying. I won't truly be alone; Williams as well as the rest of the staff will be here to watch over my every move, and if anything does happen to me Melissa lives a few doors down and I can stay there."
"That's an idea, wouldn't you much rather stay there for two weeks instead of in this house by yourself?"
"Dad" Ravenna warned. "For the fiftieth time, I will be fine."
She glanced at the clock in the kitchen and noticed that it was 15 minuets after 5:00.
"You better leave now; you wouldn't want to miss your train."
She tightened her belt on her robe and stood up. Picking up the empty breakfast dishes she placed them in the sink, leaving them for the maids to deal with later that morning. She walked over to her father, helped him stand, and handed him his valise. She led him to the door, opened it, kissed him on the cheek and pushed him outside. She waved at him until the family carriage was no longer in sight.
Quietly, she shut the door and stood there for a few minuets relishing the silence. She had been in the house alone before, but not for an entire two weeks. Even though she loved her father, it would be a nice change of pace for her to have total freedom for the time he and Mrs. Smith would be gone, or what freedom a woman living in the late nineteenth century could have.
Beams of soft orange and pink light were piercing the darkness and entering through the many windows in the Worthington house as Ravenna started up the stairs to salvage what little sleep she could.
Lying in bed two and a half hours later, not having slept at all, she gazed into space enjoying the reticence of the normally busy household. A grumble in her stomach was the only thing that made Ravenna get up and ready for the day.
Lazily setting her feet on the ground, she dragged herself out of the warm cover and into the chill of the November air. Slipping out of her dressing gown she struggled to get herself into her corset before sliding on her navy blue hoop skirt with a creamy white shirt that had tiny pearl buttons running down the front. Normally Lisette would help her dress, but today being Sunday, a day when all the servants could sleep in, she saw no reason in waking her maid when she was perfectly capable of dressing herself.
Moving towards the mirror, she pulled her midnight tresses into a chignon and secured it with many pins to prevent any of her unruly curly locks from spilling down her back. When she was satisfied with her appearance, Ravenna slowly headed towards the kitchen.
After descending down the stairs and wandering into the kitchen, Ravenna looked through the pantry for something appetizing. Finding the cabinets to be practically bare, she remembered today was Mrs. Smith's market day. Excited to have a journey so soon into her new independence, Ravenna looked in the bread box for the emergency market money.
With money in hand and a hungry stomach demanding food, Ravenna was out the door and heading towards her newest adventure. She figured she could stop by a fruit vendor for breakfast and perhaps buy also buy a newspaper from a Newsboy along the way.
Beads of sweat poured down her face from re-living the fire which had so long ago taken her family. She didn't know why she had been spared from the men who had murdered her kin. Roma, her mother had called them, yet she knew them now as Gypsies. Her mother had spoken to them in another language, but she hadn't understood any of it. She also didn't know how she had escaped the fire.
It seemed a routine now, a 15 year ritual. Every night since the fire she would awake in the exact way she had previously done. Having the dream so often one would think she would be used to it by now.
One would also think that an 18 year old woman would have found herself a husband by now, at least her adopted father did. Mr. Worthington, a stock broker, was continuously bringing to dinner young, promising, business employees; though none seemed to interest Ravenna Dooryia Worthington. She had accepted Mr. Worthington's name as her own simply because she could not remember hers. She was 3 during the fire and it apparently had blocked out some of her memory.
The orphanage had found her on the sidewalk clutching a stuffed rabbit and a gold locket containing a picture of her mother and father, as well as an inscription on the back that that she had yet to find the meaning of, she could only assume it was the same language that her mother had spoken to the Gypsies that night. Ravenna had been living in the orphanage for almost a year when Mr. and Mrs. Worthington had adopted her.
Mr. and Mrs. Worthington were a fairly wealthy couple and lived in the upper part of Manhattan in 1889. Mrs. Worthington, being in delicate health, was unable to have any children of her own, causing them to adopt. Upon seeing Ravenna, almost 4, with her "raven" black hair, wide caramel eyes, and golden skin, the couple could not help but fall in love with her.
That was 14 years ago, and they had been a relatively happy family until Mrs. Worthington had departed in 1895, leaving Mr. Worthington and Mrs. Smith, the cook, the task of raising a 10 year old girl. Ravenna had a loving relationship with both though, and adored them dearly. She had even deemed Mr. Worthington "Dad."
Looking out her window, she could tell it was still early in the morning. That means he hasn't left yet she thought. Quickly slipping on her light blue velvet robe and cream slippers, she hurried down the stairs and into the kitchen. There she saw her father eating his eggs and toast, and sipping his coffee with his valise by his side.
Her feet padded over the black and white tile to her father where upon she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and placed a kiss upon his aged cheek.
"You haven't left yet? When are you going?"
He looked up startled, he hadn't heard her enter the kitchen.
"Oh, hello Pumpkin. No, I haven't left yet." He looked at his pocket watch and gave a soft sigh.
"I'm leaving at 5:00, in about 15 minuets."
Her golden hues widened, "That early? What time does your train leave?"
"It leaves at 6:00, but you know I always want to get their early. You are aware that Mrs. Smith won't be back from her parents' house for another two weeks and I will not be back from my sister's in Missouri for four?"
This time it was Ravenna's turn to sigh. She had been through this entire ordeal with her father before, and had hoped that the last time they had discussed this issue it had finally been laid to rest.
"Yes Dad, I know. I'll be fine, don't worry."
"I just don't like the idea of you staying here all by yourself for two weeks! Especially you being an 18 year old woman."
"Dad, we've been through this before. I am 18, and I don't need a babysitter. I am responsible enough to stay here by myself."
Mr. Worthington simply shook his head.
"I just don't like it. Not one bit."
His looked at her pitiful pleading face and had to smile. There was simply no hope for him not to give into her desire to stay at the house alone, not with her face holding the expression it did.
"All right, you can stay here, but if anything happens, don't hesitate to telegram me. I don't care what one costs. Better yet I want you to telegram me every other day." He paused when he saw her perturbed expression. "I just want to know you're alright Pumpkin."
"I'll be fine Dad, stop worrying. I won't truly be alone; Williams as well as the rest of the staff will be here to watch over my every move, and if anything does happen to me Melissa lives a few doors down and I can stay there."
"That's an idea, wouldn't you much rather stay there for two weeks instead of in this house by yourself?"
"Dad" Ravenna warned. "For the fiftieth time, I will be fine."
She glanced at the clock in the kitchen and noticed that it was 15 minuets after 5:00.
"You better leave now; you wouldn't want to miss your train."
She tightened her belt on her robe and stood up. Picking up the empty breakfast dishes she placed them in the sink, leaving them for the maids to deal with later that morning. She walked over to her father, helped him stand, and handed him his valise. She led him to the door, opened it, kissed him on the cheek and pushed him outside. She waved at him until the family carriage was no longer in sight.
Quietly, she shut the door and stood there for a few minuets relishing the silence. She had been in the house alone before, but not for an entire two weeks. Even though she loved her father, it would be a nice change of pace for her to have total freedom for the time he and Mrs. Smith would be gone, or what freedom a woman living in the late nineteenth century could have.
Beams of soft orange and pink light were piercing the darkness and entering through the many windows in the Worthington house as Ravenna started up the stairs to salvage what little sleep she could.
Lying in bed two and a half hours later, not having slept at all, she gazed into space enjoying the reticence of the normally busy household. A grumble in her stomach was the only thing that made Ravenna get up and ready for the day.
Lazily setting her feet on the ground, she dragged herself out of the warm cover and into the chill of the November air. Slipping out of her dressing gown she struggled to get herself into her corset before sliding on her navy blue hoop skirt with a creamy white shirt that had tiny pearl buttons running down the front. Normally Lisette would help her dress, but today being Sunday, a day when all the servants could sleep in, she saw no reason in waking her maid when she was perfectly capable of dressing herself.
Moving towards the mirror, she pulled her midnight tresses into a chignon and secured it with many pins to prevent any of her unruly curly locks from spilling down her back. When she was satisfied with her appearance, Ravenna slowly headed towards the kitchen.
After descending down the stairs and wandering into the kitchen, Ravenna looked through the pantry for something appetizing. Finding the cabinets to be practically bare, she remembered today was Mrs. Smith's market day. Excited to have a journey so soon into her new independence, Ravenna looked in the bread box for the emergency market money.
With money in hand and a hungry stomach demanding food, Ravenna was out the door and heading towards her newest adventure. She figured she could stop by a fruit vendor for breakfast and perhaps buy also buy a newspaper from a Newsboy along the way.