Chapter 29: Home
Before long, the darkness disappeared, and I found myself, once again, inside the forest; the sun was beginning to rise, and the forest was filled with the sounds of singing birds. I looked down at my clothes, and found that I was now dressed quite casually; I could not recall if I had still been wearing the ball-gown when Elaine had sent me away from D'Nalge; I had also forgotten all of the jewels that the King had given to me, but it was of little importance. I was alone. Again. I realized that I would probably be alone for a very long time; Elaine could not remain at my side forever, after all. I smiled, recognizing the familiar surroundings; I was standing in front of my fairy godmother's cottage. I now knew the way home; I fingered the stone around my neck for strength (at least that bitch, Jessica had had the sense to give it back to me), and without a second thought on the matter, I walked into the cottage, for its door still stood open; just as I had left it all those months ago.
I find that it has not changed since my absence; although my fairy godmother's body is now gone from the floor; I pause at the spot where it had lain, and can't help but wonder if Jacqueline-- or another shaska-- for I knew that there were many, had taken it. I entered the closet, and stepped through the wall, and into the attic that had kept me safe from Jacqueline before... My attic. Home... I left the attic, and began walking down the stairs... Someone had attempted to scrub the bloodstains from off the floor, but to no avail; the carpet was still stained with my father's blood, and I knew that it would remain there forever.
The house is pretty much the same. I smiled bitterly... It had been five years since that night when my life had been changed forever; there were cobwebs everywhere; the place had obviously not been sold yet...
I doubted that it ever would.
I did not know what to do now; there was much to do-- but so little time to do it in; for all I knew, the world as I now knew it could change once again tomorrow. I had to try to live. I had to attempt to heal. I knew that I could not stay here, though. I fingered the stone around my neck for strength once again, and stepped out of the house, and into the golden sunshine that foiled how I felt inside... but all the same, I was home.
To be continued in:
Beatrice, Book II: Identity
