Chapter 13: Secrets

My jaw immediately dropped to the floor for a second time in five minutes, as I began to laugh uncontrollably, "I-I'm so sorry," I whispered, wiping a few tears away from my eyes when I'd at last finished, "But, God! That was just-- just-- just so funny! Not only did you nearly convince me that I've been sent to some place called D'Nalge, and it's 1800... You also claimed that you're my fairy godmother! I'm not five, Elaine. This is no fairy tale, y'know. But I must admit, you've got a pretty great sense of humor,"I blinked the remaining tears out of my eyes; picked up the piece of toast, and resumed breakfast; Elaine, however, looked quite concerned, "Now, if you wouldn't mind, Elaine, could you start at the beginning and provide me with a truthful tale?"

She stared at me for a moment, with eyes as wide as a deer in front of headlights; obviously surprised by my previous statement and reaction, "Dear me," she whispered, "I knew that you would not believe me at first, but I wasn't expecting anything at all like that."

I swallowed what remained of the toast in my mouth, and nearly choked, as her intense gaze gradually became more and more serious, "You-- you're not serious, are you?"

She nodded; I dropped my toast again.

Uh-oh, I suddenly thought, rising from the table, this bitch is crazy! Fairies? What next? Is she going to claim that she's my long lost nephew, or is she going to pull out a nice little knife, and kill me...? Oh, why was I foolish enough to trust her?

"Look, Beatrice," she whispered calmly; her steady voice rising with each syllable, "I am telling you nothing but the truth. I swear it."

"Of course you are," I whispered, deciding it best to play along with the maniac until I could find a safe way to flee, "and I believe you. Just don't hurt me or anything." What am I going to do? I wondered, slowly backing away towards the door, and noticing the heavy walking stick that stood in a corner; Is she going to beat me to death with that thing...? I wondered, dryly.

"Beatrice, I know that you don't believe me," she suddenly whispered, as if reading my thoughts.

How does she know? I thought, wildly, looking around the small room for some sort of a weapon to defend myself... perhaps a knife or something-- even a hairpin-- anything that would save me from her

"Just sit down again, my dear Beatrice. Sit down, and I promise that I'll explain everything. You aren't safe without me."

"I'd rather the oasis than here with a madwoman," I replied, firmly.

"Sit down, Beatrice."

"No."

"Sit down, Beatrice," she whispered, rising from her seat; her voice no longer soothing or understanding, "Now." she finished, almost angrily, and my eyes widened in surprise as my body was suddenly heaved across the room, and I landed back safely in my chair; Elaine was somehow holding the walking stick now.

"Now do you believe me?" she asked, almost exasperatedly, as she took her seat next to me.

I hesitated for a moment, before nodding; it was pretty much useless trying to avoid her now. She sighed, "Beatrice, there is much that you do not understand... I, myself, have lived for over five-hundred years, and there is still much that is a mystery to me. But I do know one thing; the fairies and the shaska have been mortal enemies for hundreds... thousands... millions of years. Some say eons even. The woman whom you came to know as Jacqueline was in fact a shaska."

She paused for dramatic effect; almost as if expecting me to gasp or scream; I remained silent for a moment, processing the words she had just said, "Wh-Wh-What's a-a shaska, did you say?" I asked; still a little shaky, after having experienced magic firsthand; her intense gray eyes widened at my lack of knowledge, So, magic is real...

"You don't even know what they are?" she asked, putting a comforting arm around my shoulder; I shook it away, and then shook my head in response to the ridiculous question she had just posed; ten minutes ago, I hadn't even believed in magic-- did she think that I'd have some deep understanding of everything now?

She remained silent, until I finally asked, "Well, what are they?"

Her booming voice had suddenly become as meek as mine, "You don't even know that it was a shaska that killed both your mother and father?"

I stared at her for a moment, angrily; taken aback at the mention of my parents, "You're wrong," I finally answered after a long moment of uncomfortable silence, "Jacqueline killed my father, remember? My mom just... just... died."

I looked out the window, at the bright sunshine, the forest and beyond; tears streaming down my cheeks. It had been so long since I had had a real family. Now, both my parents were dead, and I had somehow been banished from my remaining family and friends-- and all because of that whoring bitch, Jacqueline. Jacqueline-- everything-- well, nearly everything was somehow connected back to her. I closed my eyes to stop the flow of tears, "It's just not fair," I murmured, deciding to open them at last.

"I know," she whispered, as I wiped the last tear away with my sleeve, and turned to face my fairy godmother as she continued her story, "A shaska is a false-face," she whispered, "they live their lives to simply kill for both youth and eternity; in the process, gaining the life-force of the slain-- becoming even stronger. This is why Jacqueline married your father."

She paused, as if frightened that I would start crying again; my face remained dry, "She told me afterwards that I would not understand the reason..." I drifted off, "Go on," I whispered.

My fairy godmother nodded, before going on, "They are somewhat like a succubus, for they bewitch only to destroy. Your mother was killed by a shaska; your father was possessed while they were making love, and his cold touch caused her to fall into a deep sleep from which she would never wake again. This is what they live for, and they have very special reasons for destroying your family as well... I don't mean to alarm you, but your grandmother-- feeble and drugged as she is-- she is in great danger as well, Beatrice. Now that you're here especially."

I shook the image of my grandmother's corpse out of my mind, "But how is all of this true?" I asked, after the twangs of guilt at the losses of my parents-- and impending loss of my grandmother had subsided, "It barely makes any sense, but I actually believe you... I guess it's because my life has been so fucked up ever since that night when she came-- before that even," my voice was now shrill, as tears once again began flowing freely, as if they were a waterfall. She put her arm around my shoulder; this time I did not shake it away, and we embraced; me feeling deeply ashamed for ever having had doubted this kind woman, "But, Elaine, why me...? Why did they choose our family?"

She shook her head, "There are reasons-- many, actually. But for now, I cannot answer that question. It would put the both of us into grave danger-- we're already in enough-- especially you. The shaska is the most powerful and deadly being in all of existence. Their face is but a mask, used to conceal their true grotesque form. When--"

"But why was I allowed to survive?" I suddenly interrupted; my brain now buzzing with questions, "If Jacqueline was so keen on killing me at first, then why did she end up sending me here-- to D'Nalge?"

"She had her reas--" she stopped speaking; her eyes rolled into the back of her head, and she looked like she was having a seizure, "Elaine!" I screamed, panicked, "Elaine!"

Suddenly, she returned to normal; her blue eyes glowing strangely, "Hurry, Beatrice. We must leave the cottage-- now. You are no longer safe here. She is coming for you; we must go to REH--"

Then a knock came on the door, and my fairy godmother spun around; ending our embrace; facing the door; her blue eyes now glowing red, "It is Jacqueline," she hissed, "Hide somewhere... Whatever you do, don't look back," I hesitated, "Hide!"

And without being able to ask any more questions, I stood up from the table, and ran into my bedroom; opening the door that led into the closet, I crept inside, and slowly let it creak shut... My heart was now beating wildly, and I was perspiring and breathing heavily-- wondering all along it this were all a terrible dream, How did she find me? I wondered, frightened; enveloped in the darkness of the closet; How did she find me so easily...? I fell silent, closed my eyes, prayed for calm, and waited for what would conspire.