When Doves Cry
Amonl'isa (Whisper of Quietus)
Chapter Three; Cure to Growing Older
I don't remember why Daddy needed it so much. It all was rather fuzzy. Little Big Brother wanted it, too. I suppose. At least, that's what I remember of the Philosopher's Stone. The cure to growing older. I don't see what was so special about it, maybe I'm too young, too naive. I don't care about a stupid rock, I just want to know why it's so loved. Perhaps the world would be better with the stone? Oh, I don't know, I don't even know what it is. It's supposed to be the cure to growing older - though there's another cure to growing older. I heard Daddy on the phone. He said the cure to growing older was dying early.
It was early in the morning, yet again. I had just awoken, garbed myself, and ran downstairs happily. Unfortunately, the two were gone. I knew they had to leave - but I was still sad. I missed them already. Daddy told me that missing things and people was totally fine, and that I shouldn't worry about it. Still, I wanted somebody to play with, and they had left ever so quickly. I sighed, not wanting to think about the fact that they were gone. I didn't know when I'd see them, oh! But I did miss them so very much. I remembered about the trip to the flower shop, and smiled, remembering the bright, exuberant colors of the flowers. I don't know where the word exuberant came from...I heard Daddy use it though - must be good.
The day dragged on slowly, and I remember that I was having a hard time sitting still. Daddy said not to come downstairs, into the basement, for he was very, very busy. I was obedient, and I remained on the ground floor, scouring the house for something to do. Loyal Alexander at my side, we walked through our large house, stumbling upon the library. I can't read very well, I suppose I shouldn't have even bothered. Though curiosity struck me a bargain, and I wandered inside, looking at the thick volumes of alchemy inquieries, theories, ideas. Books on how to do things and stuff. I learned, that Alchemy was spelled "alchemy," pardon my previous mistakes. I had pulled a rather heavy, thick book from the shelf, hoping not to knock all the books over. Feeling secure, I placed the worn book on the ground, opening it to a random page, which read '145.'
I didn't understand it. Of course, I don't understand too many things, for I know I am still young. But oh, there were pretty circles, that seemed impossible to copy. One with complex lines drawn in through it, and a nice curl in the middle. Different sized rings were added to it, a triangle, I think. Maybe it was just a different few lines. I don't know. I flipped ahead a few pages, and there was a picture of a lion. Oh, it was an ugly lion, though. It's body was all wrong! The tail was different, like that of a lizard's, or something. I stared quietly at it, Alexander curled up next to me, not a care on his behalf. I turned the next page, finding another ugly bird. My goodness, I can draw better than those people can. Their animals are all wrong. There was a few words, ones I could read, and it went something like:
"Chimera - Human x Animal"
I couldn't pronounce the first word, I tried and tried, though I couldn't manage it. I knew 'Human' and 'Animal' however, and my mind instinctively told me the 'x' was a crossing of the two. Though I pondered on the Chimera, oh I wondered what it was - and even how to say it. For my mind wasn't with me today, I suppose boredom had gotten the best of it. The bird was so very ugly, I decided to turn the page, seeing another creature. This one seemed more appealing, I think. It looked something like a dog - a long shaggy haired dog, like Alexander. I grinned, patting my friend.
"Oh dear Alexander, I think we shall call this little picture...Alexander. It sort of looks like you, see?" He raised his head quietly, looking over to the book, as if to humor me. He sniffed the page, licked it, and went back to sleeping. A frown found itself on my face as I used the hem of my dress to repair the page, oh, it was still wet. I prayed Daddy wouldn't notice, for I didn't think he'd be happy to find me in the Library. I turned the page yet again, to see some sort of flying thing. It looked sort of like a bee...But like a person, too. The person had designes on her, and they were very, very strange, much like the circle. Though her's weren't a circle, they were prettier. Her form didn't wear clothes though, which I thought was kind of bad for a book. Oh well. I traced the tattoos with my finger, noting how they wound around her arms, and down her torso, ending about her knee. So very strange they were. Yet again, the page was labled 'Chimera.'
Becoming bored again, I closed the book, replacing it on the shelf. Alexander stood up slowly, following me quickly out of the Library, which I was eager to leave. I had entered it, and well, I didn't want to see anymore ugly badly-drawn animals, or intricate circles drawn on people. I think a toddler got hold of that book, now that I think of it. They were really, really ugly animals, just staring up from the page. I shuddered, pulling myself onto Alexander's back, and riding him around the house.
Lunch came - and my goodness I was hungry. Though Daddy didn't come up to make lunch for me, nor Alexander. My stomach was starting to growl, and oh I was so very hungry. Though Daddy had told me not to go downstairs...Well, he hadn't told me not to wait on the staircase, now had he? I smiled happily to myself, trotting over to the opening of the basement, running half-way down the stairs and stopping, calling out quietly at first. There was no sound, no reply to my call, and I figured it had remained trapped in the little hallway-like enclosure I was in. Strange, for I thought sound carried very well downstairs. Oh well. I called again, a small shuffle, nothing. Alexander darted ahead, running into the room, barking. I heard a small crash, my Daddy swear, and a sigh. He came up from his work, Alexander at his heels, his glasses reflecting the light oddly.
"Oh Nina, I told you not to come down here. Hungry, I think? Alexander seems so. I'll go fix you something."
He pushed me gently up the stairs, only a small gesture to get moving. He followed - then Alexander, who was very, very hungry by this point, for he was shaking his tail like mad. Wagging - sorry - wagging, not shaking. Lunch was short, for Daddy didn't eat with us. Instead he told me that if he wasn't up by Dinner, to go next door and eat, but by no circumstances should I go downstairs. I nodded, figuring it was a Christmas present, or a birthday thing, or something. I didn't care - why should I? I was too hungry to bother. My short-lived lunch ended eruptly as I went outside, staring at the front yard. Oh how there was nothing to do! I grumbled, returning inside and pulling out a coloring book - one with pretty lions, and pretty birds, and where the people had clothing.
Time passed quickly - and I had forgotten Daddy's words about not going downstairs. I didn't pay attention, for I had been desperately hungered, and well, I wasn't one who wanted to be talked to whilst she was eating. My mind wandered, and as it did, my stomach gave a loud protest of it's emptiness. I blinked, noting how only a minute ago it had been lunch. I gazed out the window, oh it was dark, time must have decided to take a vacation. I sighed, replacing my crayons and book, and running downstairs, down to the floor-story, where I looked around, unable to find Daddy. Alexander walked toward the basement, where I could here Daddy talking to himself - what he said, however, I had no clue. I called to him, once, then twice, and the voice stopped. As if thinking, it stopped. A moment later, he called to me, strange enough.
"Oh Nina - do me a favor, darling? Come down here, won't you? Bring Alexander, too."
Being the obedient child I was - I complied.
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Envy: -Sick of hosting.- Okay, Boodah isn't gone yet. Tootles.
Iris: Hello. -Waves paw, ears bounce.- I'm Iris the bunny. That was Nina Tucker. Sad yet? Oh well. Review, no flames. Raven hates flames, so do I. Flames are bad. Review. Review. Review. Review. Rev-
Silas: -Pops up for no reason.- ...OPUS DEI.
Iris: You mean Sudo Pie.
Silas:...