~ Hello again, to anyone who reads this. I hope you like it, and take into consideration that part of it, yes, is Miss Bray's words. Please, read on!
Disclaimer: I own nothing outside of the twists and turns put in to change the over-all ending. ~
Chapter Two
Mrs. Nightwing waits for us in the chapel, where she cradles the body of Mother Elena.
"The creatures?" Ann asks, her voice ragged with the screams she's spent.
Mrs. Nightwing shakes her head. "Her heart. She didn't fall to them. There is that, at least."
Mrs. Nightwing counts us as we file past -- Felicity, Ann, Kartik, me.
"Sahirah...?" she whispers. "And Fowlson?"
"Yes, there was nothing we could have done," I say. "I am sorry."
I look over at the girls of Spence, huddled together. Their eyes show the extent of their fright; what they have seen tonight is beyond teas and balls, curtsies and sonnets.
Mrs. Nightwing puts her hand on my shoulder. "There is nothing more I can tell them. They've seen and they are frightened."
"As are we all," I say. A hard edge has come to replace the weariness of my voice. I sigh.
"They can't know what has happened."
She wants me to take what magic I have left and blot every memory of this evening from their minds. To make them forget so that they can carry on as before. I know I should, because there will always be those who cannot bear the burden of truth, and it will help nothing for me to add a few more girls to the list of those who do.
But it is a luxury, this forgetting. No one will come to take away the things I wish I had not seen, the things I wish I did not know. I shall have to live with them.
I wrench away from her grip. "Why should I?"
I do it anyway. Once I am certain the girls are asleep, I find Kartik, whom Mrs. Nightwing has given a room for the night, and we creep into the rooms of the girls, one by one, and lay our hands upon their furrowed brows. I watch while those brows ease into smooth, blank canvases beneath my fingers. It is a form of healing, and I am surprised by how much it heals me to do it. When these girls awaken, they will remember a strange dream, a late teacher whose name they can't recall, and nothing more. They will carry on with their days, giving no more thought to it.
I have done as Mrs. Nightwing wished, but I have not taken everything from the girls; I have left them with one small token: doubt. A feeling that perhaps there is something more. It is nothing more than a seed. Whether it shall grow into something more useful, I cannot say.
When it is time for us to visit Brigid, we find her awake in her little room. "That's awl righ', luvs. I don' care to forget, if it's all the same," she says, and there are no rowan leaves at her window anymore.
*later*
When Kartik and I are finished, I lead him back to his room.
"Kartik, I need you to promise me something," I say once behind the closed door.
"Anything, Gemma."
"I need you to promise me you will not leave me." As I say this, I feel another tear slide down my cheek.
He reaches a hand up and wipes it away. "I promise you, Gemma. I'll be right where you are, always." He pulls me to him and whispers against my lips. "Always."
We just stand there for a long while, locked in an embrace neither wants to break. Finally, it is I who pushes away.
"I must get to bed. I will not see you for a few days, I predict," I say. "Do you still have your half?" I ask, regarding the handkerchief.
"Yes. I shall keep it close at hand." He smiles down at me and kisses my nose.
"Good. We leave in a few days for London. I shall still have to curtsy before the Queen, and begin my season, and...," I trail off, thinking to myself. "Oh, no, and confront Father about not continuing my season, and --" Kartik cuts me off with a kiss.
"And then you shall stop fretting over everything, my Gemma. You must stop thinking for a moment. Your mind will thank you, I promise."
"Kartik," I say. "You are to follow me to London, aren't you?"
"Yes, of course."
"Right, silly me. Good night, Karitk." I start to pull away again, only to be pulled into a last kiss, as I knew I would be.
"Sweet dreams, my love."
And then I am out of the door and racing down the hall. When I finally manage to fall into my bed, I am asleep within seconds.
*in the morning*
When I wake up in the morning, Ann is up and dressed, as usual.
"Kartik came in this morning. I pretended to be asleep, of course. He left this for you." She says, and extends a hand, a white paper held there.
"Oh. Thank you, Ann." I am about to ask if she's read it, then think better of the idea. Of course she has.
Dearest Gemma,
I have decided to go ahead to London and inform the Rakshana of
Mr. Fowlson's death.
Do not worry, I should think they will mean no harm after what you did the last
time you were in their company.
I shall see you when you return to your grandmother's home. Please keep
out of harm's way while I am gone. Please.
Kartik.
"He's rather sweet, isn't he?" I ask.
"Which part are you referring to? I didn't see that anywhere." Ann says.
"The mere fact that he bothered to leave a note at all is a noticeable improvement, though. You must consider that." I smile, and find a wave of butterflies in my stomach. "Oh, Ann. I do love him so."
"I know, Gemma. I know." Ann smiles at me, and I can see a little secret shining in her eyes.
"Ann, are you not telling me something, dear?"
"Oh, Gemma. Well...," she looks down. "You do remember Charlie Smalls, of course."
"Ann!"
"No! It's just, well... I'm a bit afraid of singing in front of him again, because I fear I've developed a bit of a crush." Ann looks down, slightly shamed.
"Ann, don't fear that, he loved you! You won't disappoint at that rehearsal, and you know it!" I say.
"You're right, I suppose I do know it." Suddenly, Ann seems to take in the sight of me for the first time. "Oh, Gemma, you've not dressed! We're going to be late!" Same old Ann, love struck or not.
"I suppose your right," I say and pull off my nightgown.
~ Well, what did you think? Should I continue on? (I'm going to, regardless.) Anyway, hope you liked it! There'll be more soon. :) ~
