I spun around to find the old woman standing in the doorway, her long silver hair flowing like spider's silk down past her waist. She looked to be in her sixties but her eyes told me that she was about in her forties...

Stress ages people.

Her deep brown eyes shining with wisdom and her wrinkled face showing her life's experience. Her dress was a bit old, it had a few patches here and there; it was a sandy color, had long flowing sleeves, and fell down past her ankles nearly caressing the floor with its satin lining.

"Forgive me for intruding Miss." The old woman spoke bowing slightly.

"It is fine... You just startled me a bit... No harm done." I replied as I sat down on my straw bed.

"Well, I came to make sure that everything is in order, I had to chase off a few trouble makers a moment ago." She said.

"Yes, I heard." I replied watching her eyes begin to glimmer a bit.

"You know of our language already?" she inquired.

I smiled a bit for an answer and she smiled in return.

"The stories are true I see. You are infamous Miss Phantess, which is how I knew your name." the old woman spoke slyly.

"Infamous? So that is why you used my name as a threat." I laughed.

"Why yes Miss, it does keep the trouble makers away from here, although one of them kept insisting he must see you." She ranted on.

"Who?" I inquired my stare cutting through her silver hair.

"Oh just a young boy... Probably has confused you for another Miss. It happens." She ranted on.

"I see." I replied, averting my gaze down towards the floor.

"Well Miss please do rest and if you need anything, please let me know. Diner will be brought to you at 5:00." She spoke softly.

"Thank you." I said my voice extremely soft, "OH MADAME!"

"Yes Miss?"

"I did not catch your name." I said.

"Oh please do forgive me Miss. My name is Dian... Dian Harrington... That is my maiden name. My husband died a while ago after the birth of our twin daughters."

"Twin daughters?"

"Yes... One is to be wed soon." She spoke.

"What of the other?" I inquire.

"Oh, she disappeared after her fathers death about a year or two ago. God I hope she is safe." The old woman said.

"What of her name?"

"Her name is Melissa... She should be around fourteen years of age now." the woman replied sitting down in a chair next to the tarp doorway.

That name sent chills down my spine...

"Melissa?" I inquire shaking.

"Yes."

"Miss, may I ask, what is your married name?" I sat motionless daring not to breathe as the old woman began to speak.

"Oh dear me! Please do forgive, I do get off the subject... My married name Miss was Grasmere." She replied smiling a bit.

I fell backwards onto the straw bed, startling the old woman.

"MISS?! MISS?! WHAT HAS HAPPENED?!" she cried as she came over to the side of the bed.

"Miss Harrington, I knew your daughter." I reply after sitting up, the old woman sitting next to me.

"You knew her?" she inquired.

"Yes, I did. Miss, I am afraid I have some things to tell you."

I then began to tell the old woman of how I met her daughter and what had happened along the way. I then sadly told her of her daughter's death.

"So... She is really gone now?" she asked me, tears streaming down her wrinkled face.

"I'm afraid so... I am sorry..." I reply placing a gentle hand upon the old woman's frail shoulders.

"OH, DO NOT BE SORRY! It was not your fault...Well, at least now I know she is safe and... happy. Thank you Miss Phantess." Miss Harrington said, dabbing her cheeks with her sleeves.

"I just hope for the best."

"As do I." she replied as she stood and walked silently towards the door.

She then turned to me, wiping away another tear.

"Thank you." She whispered.

She smiled an old wise smile before bowing and leaving me alone in the small room.

"You're welcome." I breathe.

Her presence left a strangely warm and comforting feeling in the room, sending me into a content state. Feeling the affects of the sun's heat, I lie back onto the straw bed and fell into a light sleep. Before completely dozing off, I made sure a dagger was within reach... No more surprises and no more taking unnecessary chances.

My dreams were filled with Melissa's cries, Akira's death, and Ms. Harrington's tears. I could feel the tears that Ms. Harrington shed turn warm and red like the blood that dripped from Melissa's wound and Akira's lips. I awoke in a cold sweat, the darkness of the room closing in around me. I sighed and sat up, welcoming the coolness of the night air. My stomach ached with hunger as I stood from the warm straw bed and I gathered my things and went in search of food.

With my bag on my back, I silently crept from my room. I entered the main room to find a few old men gambling and drinking; my presence silenced them immediately. At this, a minute sense of power wafted in the cool night air. I felt a smirk begin to reveal itself upon my weary expression, sending shivers down one of the drunken men's spine.

I walked up to the counter in which a man stood, wiping out a glass before setting it upon a shelf.

"Excuse me," I begin, "Do you know of some food I perhaps could obtain?"

My voice was soft and polite yet sharp with the fear I had bestowed upon the drunkards.

"Good Evening, Milady." The man behind the counter replied as he set down another cleaned glass before picking up another dirty one.

The man's voice chilled my blood with its gruff and hate-filled tone.

"Oh God... It's you." I breathe as the man turns around, setting a glass cup down right in front of me.