Our little kingdom
So unfortunately I do not own the Covenant or any of the characters mentioned in the movie. Everyone and everything else is completely out of my imagination. Well maybe not all of it…
"Standing still while time goes by, counting the time until my beloved we I shall see you again" she read softly. It was way past our bed time but she kept reading over and over again her favorite book, which's name will never be found – she ripped the first couple of pages when she was little, so no one knew the name of the book she was caring with her for years. Even when Caleb's mum told her that she could get it fixed or just buy her a new book she insisted on keeping her mother's copy, Caleb's mum didn't insist .
When her parents died, Mandy wouldn't put that book down, even at the funeral she would keep it close to her chest, that and the brown teddy bear her dad got her for Christmas. That night, Mandy was staying with her grandmother – Miss Mille, whom to me she seemed like a very strange old lady. Definitely not like mine, mine was all smiles and well-look-who-became-a-big-boy looks, Miss Mille was anything but that. Tyler said that it was normal, her daughter and son-in-law died" it was going to be weird if she acted anything unlike this" he said. Well I wasn't buying it, why you ask? Because I had the incredible luck of meeting Mandy's grandma way before the funeral, way before everyone else did. And so I can be precise I met her the day her grandchild became 11. I was sleeping-over cause my mum and dad were out of town, when grandma Mille came to visit.
The very first thing I noticed on her where her eyes – Mandy's eyes. I was flipping out! Could there be any other pair of eyes just like Mandy's? And one more thing- she never called Mandy with her first name. And I mean never as in never ever, when she was addressing to Mady (the nickname we had for her, since Ty couldn't pronounce her name correctly when we first introduced)she always called her "Mandy-Lane" . Yup, full name and all, guess the grandma didn't like the new, something not that weird since she was dressed like a freaking queen. Pearl earrings, classic dresses, heels and all that jazz. And may I say that she was the fashion icon/role model of Mady. I couldn't see it, Mandy was such a sweet heart and Mille was just, well some kind of a witch in an angels body, because even though I hate to admit the witch must've been one heck of a foxy when she was young. I know it sounds discussing even thinking about it but its true, Mady even showed me pictures. It was like Mandy had some kind of a twin, honestly. Oh and trust me the weirdness did not stop there. When I was finally introduced to her she looked at me in this creepy way, like she knew I was bad news, no it was more like she knew that at one point I would be her grandchild's end . Till that age, I was anything but that, sure I was full of energy and was getting into trouble from time to time, but hey I was a kid, it's what we did best, I was nothing like the person I am now. You know there were times, mostly when she left, when I looked in the mirror and hoped that that kid I left back is still somewhere deep down, I really did miss him and I really did miss her. Cheesy I know, but hey you want to know what happened before all of this, before we ended up where we are now. Trust me, you do.
Well anyway that night I overheard my parents say that she was the strongest eleven-year-old they ever saw, she didn't even cry out one tear. She just stood there, holding that book and that teddy bear, looking nowhere. The witch hugging her, keeping her close. That night many things happened. My dad got sicker, the witch was keeping an eye to us and how we were looking at Mady, and Mady finally got her first kiss from the most unexpected person. But the thing that stays written in my memory until today is what the witch told us when she saw Tyler leaving the library with Mady behind him. She simply came close to us; close enough so we could hear her loud and clear but far enough so "Mandy-Lane" couldn't hear her and said like it was the most simple thing in the world: " Remember this day boys." She said while lifting her cup of tea to her mouth. Her beautiful eyes looking her beloved grandchild surrounded by strangers asking if she needed anything, offering her their condolences. I could see it in her eyes even back then. The fury she felt for the people that pitied her little girl – she is going to achieve incredible things, they should be admiring her, not pitting her, the witch would say if she talked- but also a hint of pride as she could see that Mady had everyone at her feet. "Not because of the grief that surrounds you right now, but because from this day you have sealed your fates. And though another may seem to have her but another seem to love her more than anything, at the very end she will have the final say- and will chose cruelly and wisely a different one. Seems like all the boys do love Mandy-Lane".
SIX YEARS LATER
"Well now I'm offended. Aren't you guys going to say something?" an eighteen-year-old-Mandy said. And just like that Tyler's and Pogue's voices filled the room "Oh god, Mady? Is it really you?" Pogue said while lifting her of the ground and twirling her around. Her sweet laughter filled the room. Caleb flinched at the sound of her voice. Ty was less enthusiastic "Mady?" he asked softly. After her carousel ride with Pogue spinning her around, laughing like he was high ended she came closer to him. "Hey Ty" she said, showing him that sweet half-smile she used when she was little. Immediately Tyler hugged her like his life was depending on it, his head hidden on the hollow of her neck. She then hugged him back really tight and whispered something to him. When he finally let go she faced Caleb. And this is the part were those annoying little bugs that make cricking sounds come in, you know like the ones in the movies where you can only hear silence. And may I just point out that I have never heard silence quite this loud. They were just looking in each other's eyes, but not like the way they did before. Caleb was looking at her like she was the love of his life that came back to him after many years, she was looking at him like he was a person she once loved very much, but ended up becoming complete strangers and hating him at the end. Evelyn finally spoke "Well don't just stand there! You might as well speak to each other. Go on!"
"Mother!" Caleb said. "No it's fine" she said back.
"You look good Mandy" Caleb told her. "Yeah, I guess I do" she replied.
"Well this has really been lovely, Miss Danvers you really shouldn't had" – "Darling how many time do I have to tell you? It's Evelyn for you" Evelyn said with a motherly smile.
"Thank you, Evelyn but you still shouldn't have" she answered with a smile. "Besides I said no mushy stuff" At this even Caleb and I smiled a little. This was her favorite word when she was younger. "You're right! No more tears of joy! You are here now"- Evelyn said hugging Mandy by the shoulders "and you will be staying with us for a while… right?" Misses Danvers said hopefully. "Yes, yes Evelyn I will be" Mandy replied "My grandma is actually searching for a place so we can move in" So this is where she stayed all this time. Makes sense actually, the witch must've been one heck of a happy broomstick-flying woman.
"But where will you be staying until then dear? Surely you cannot be staying at a hotel!"
"Well actually I am. I'm still waiting for Grandma Millie to come in Ipswich, and since I couldn't find anything for rent, I got myself a very cozy room"- "Dude, you can stay with me, my mum would go nuts to see you, and you know she will be more than happy if you do stay with us!"Pogue said happily. From the whole bunch Pogue seemed the happiest. And why wouldn't he be? The person he loved most in the world (after his mum and Kate) and whom he considered to be the little sister he never had came back to him, of course he was happy. He didn't know. None of them did. "No! Absolutely not! Pogue, you and your mum did so much for me! I won't, I refuse. I already owe so much"
"You owe me nothing kid. Common it will be like old times". Why was I so sure he was going to play the old-times card? Besides sleeping over at my place, Mady also slept often at Pogue's house, having the brotherly-sisterly bond they sheared. Of course his mum wished for something more than just that for her son and the sweet girl from next-door. To be honest, all of our mothers hoped that one of us would end up with Mandy-Lane, and while in the end it all seemed like Mandy was going to be an official member of the Danvers household, and by officially I mean rock and veil included, things got an interesting and dramatic twist when the girl disappeared. Call it luck, fate, freaking karma- to me really its same shit different name. Point is she didn't end up with none of us. Throughout the whole scene I was surprisingly quiet, just standing there like a moron watching everything but not being a part of it- like Caleb, only he got the chance to speak with her.
"No! I insist! Mandy dear you must stay with us! Caleb is often out and I am left all alone in this big empty house" Caleb's mum told her. Did she want here to "babysit" and keep her company, because she missed her or because she still hoped to be her mother-in-law? Somehow I still believe it's all the above.
And to save you from complete boredom after many of "no's" and "yes you must's" she was convinced if not forced to stay over her at Caleb's house until Millie arrived. And after an hour of being there and watching from a distance Ty and Pogue talk with Mandy about her experiences from Paris, Italy and Europe in general, where she had apparently been the last couple of years, Evelyn asking her how she has been or where she went after she left – something on which Caleb warned his mother not to ask no matter how egger he was to know too. In fact this was the only time Caleb spoke during that hour; he was also just like me starring her from a distance, listening to what she had to say.
When it was finally time to leave, I went in the library to get my jacket. There in the silence of the room I began to realize what her return meant. While I was putting my leather jacket on I was trying to figure it out. Was she going to tell anyone? Did she return here for Evelyn? Did she came back for him whoever he was, the one she truly ever cared about? Did she come back to the place everything started just to put an end to all of this madness that has been eating my insides for years? Was it for her friends? Or finally-and most unlikely-she she came back for me? I started panicking, I thought that my heart was going to break my lungs and get out of my chest, and I never got that anxious about anything in the world! In my panic and dismay I didn't hear the library door open, a pair of heels clicking on the floor until two long arm circled my waist and s seductive voice whispered in my ear "Hi Reid. Long time no see" I immediately turned around to look at her like a mad man. Was she kidding? What the fuck was she doing? Where did all that come from? "What's the matter Reid? Cat got your tongue?" she quoted herself from the little "chat" we had at Nicky's, while smiling that side-grin that screamed trouble with a promise. This wasn't her. This wasn't the Mandy I knew. Right now she seemed nothing like the sweet girl I once knew- and something told me that this version of hers was here to stay for a long, long time. She then came so close to me that I could actually feel her breath on my lips. "What are you doing?" I asked breathlessly.
"Finally you talk to me. You know I was wondering when that time would come, the time when you and I will meet again, what you were going to say to me, if you were going to talk to me at all, the last night we saw each other, a lot a details about that night actually had been in my mind for quite some time" she said while her eyes never left mine, her body inching even closer to mine, making us one.
"Sounds like one heck of a deal of thoughts"
"Oh, you have no idea" and then when she finally released my eyes from hers, her hand started trailing down, past my chest and reaching my belt. "How would you like to refresh my memory on that last day, huh Reid?" she said and let her lips touch mine slowly.
It was stupid, insane and fucking crazy, I know believe me, but I couldn't control myself. One moment she was standing so close to me, provoking me to do something I knew was beyond madness and the next she was pushed on the library shelves with me kissing her neck hungrily and her signing , asking for more, holding my hair, pulling my jacket off, this time though I wanted it off more than anything. Screw Caleb and the guys in the next room, right now it was only her and me after what seemed like an eternity, now was all that mattered. And just when I lifted her up from the ground and pushed her even harder against the books, having her moaning in my ear, Tyler screams my name. "Reid common, where are you? You gotta go!" Moment there and then moment flew right out the window. Since he is my brother I can't really say anything but: Freaking buzz-kill! Slowly I let her down, adjusting my jacket, and her adjusting her shirt. "Don't worry Reid"
"About what?"I asked worried.
"Everything" she replied with a grin. "Go, your brothers are waiting for you" she said sarcastically. And even I was very terrified I had to ask, I had to know. "Mandy? Why did you co-" "I found it out you know, the title of that book I had" she said ignoring my question and looking at the bookshelves. "What's it called?"
"Our little kingdom"
I repeated the title, for some reason it fitted perfectly, even though the story had nothing to do with fairytales or castles. "When, where?" I asked her.
She laughed "Don't be scared Reid, I'm not a ghost" she said trying to avoid the subject "let's just say that I'm here to finish unfinished business and one of them happens to be with you".
Now, I got pissed. Was she threatening me? "If that is so then why did you just let me leave you hickey that will last for a quiet some time?" I asked cockily getting closer to her and grinning. I really had no idea who I was messing with. "All in good time Reid. All in good time. Go they're waiting for you". And as I was about to leave the room she told me:
"Oh and Reid. Don't be afraid, better days shall come in your little kingdom too. Happy days with a little wind that will make everything seem like nothing has changed. But it's not the wind you must be afraid of; it's the thunder and rain that come after that, and all the devastation they bring along with them" and just like that she left the room before me , leaving me arrogant-needing to prove her wrong, and scared, for what she may say may destroy us both for good.
Hey everyone! D How have you been? Why yes this is another update! Shocking huh? I know. But real none the less. So anyway, thank you so much for all the great advice you have given me (shout out to Serendipity10 -thank you so much) but also for all of you lovely people who read this story, review and comment with incredible things and favorite it- you have no idea what all this means to me. You can't imagine my surprise when I receive an email for a favorite alert or a review! Happy dance included:D. Oh, also! You can now follow me on twitter right here for any questions/suggestions you may have or to just say hi! (: And again reviews and comments are very welcomed and thank you all so much!:D