Chapter 5

Crawling in my skin

There wounds they will not heal

Fear is how I fall

Confusing what is real

Linkin Park, Krwling (reanimation)

"Dad? Dad!"

Grace hurried over to the blond, quiet man who waited at the door. He had no true expression, only an expression of warmth that looked fake. But Grace loved him more than the stars and the moon and the Disc itself.

A brief hug was exchanged, and he whispered, "I am sorry for the irregularities, Grace. I will try to see you more often." Then her mother, a brown headed, but warm hearted woman, stepped outside….and he vanished into a gray mist that dissipated in the morning sunlight.

"Sweetheart, what are you doing?"

Grace smiled secretly, and honestly said, "Talking to Daddy."

Her mother ruffled her hair and replied, "You know very well you've never met your father. As I told you, he ran away before you were born from the local authorities."

As she was lead into the house, she turned around. Her father waved to her, turned, and vanished again.

Susan stood over Grace's prone body inside the chocolate shop. "Oh, thank the Disc you're awake. You're not going back to grandfather's house. It does strange things to people. You can't handle it—" Susan babbled, uncharacteristically, knowing very well Grace would insist they go.

But something about his girl was important; something in Susan's memory was triggered by the girl. Something in Susan's mind wanted to keep this girl from the Domain.

But what?

Grace mumbled, "Sorry. What happened?"

Susan snarled, "You passed out outside Geinhime's shop! I made them bring you in here." Grace smiled. "You're a very nice person, Miss Susan. Although you hide it real well."

The schoolteacher blanched. How dare this…this…writer, this useless writer tell her the way she was honestly and truthfully? She had no right! She barely knew her! And as Susan opened her mouth to give Grace a thunderous monologue of outraged fury, she was stopped when Grace added, "I wish…I had had someone like you when I was young. You're…a very good person. Much…much better than me." Grace's eyes looked hollow, their gray irises…wait…gray?

When were her eyes gray?

Grace got up rather shakily. "Can we go back now, Miss Susan?"

Susan looked at the girl. She was innocent. No one had a right to be that innocent and carefree. She had just collapsed in the middle of the street, and didn't care.

Slowly, but very pointedly, Susan said, "Aren't you bothered that you just passed out here?" She gestured to the filthy and crowded streets of Ankh-Morpork outside the shop, through the window. Grace smiled. "But you were here to help, so I was okay. I don't need to worry."

Susan snarled, "I help too many people as is without you as an added nuisance to my life. My grandfather for instance. Dear old granddad," she hissed, losing control in the face of the girl's unending optimism and lack of common sense. "He leaves or messes up or decides to try and be human and who has to fix it? Me! If there's a crisis, his dear granddaughter Susan will take care of it, oh, no problem! He can just fuck around and rely on the fact I'll be there!"

Grace was trying not to laugh. "And are you?"

Susan was taken aback. "What?"

"You're always there, right? I think…but maybe I'm wrong, that he respects you as both a person and his granddaughter, if he trusts you like that," Grace absently said, as Binky trotted up outside the store. Everything around them was frozen, as if time was stopped. Grace turned and had a look.

"Miss Susan? I know you're doing that. Knock it off."

At last, Susan sighed and didn't argue. "Let's go," she muttered, knowing she had just made a complete asshole of herself. As she had just thought to herself, she didn't know this girl. And she had just completely revealed her private feelings and emotions.

What was worse was Grace seemed unaffected by it. Normal people didn't act like that.

Binky whinnied a little as the two women got on his back, and whisked them off.

ALBERT, I REALLY THINK THIS COLOR IS UNSUITABLE.

"Master, I promise you, this is what women like! They get all their things gussied up and prettified.'

BUT…SO MUCH PINK? IS THIS NECESSARY?

"Yes," insisted Albert, although deep in his crusty heart he was wondering that very thing. But no wizard in history was uncertain, and he'd be damned if he was fickle now.

FINE THEN. BUT I PICK THE WINDOW ORNAMENTS. I REFUSE TO HANG UP A SMALL WINGED CHERUB IN MY WINDOW, ALBERT. IT JUST DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT, OKAY? I'M CERTAIN WOMEN DON'T LIKE THOSE THINGS.

"And master, exactly what are your experiences with those of the, er, female persuasion?" Albert's mind was dredging up all sorts of unpleasant possibilities for this, but Death solved it all by replying, icier than usual, ALBERT, DO YOU KNOW THAT FEELING WHERE YOU WISH TO STRIKE ALL THAT IS NEAR YOU? INDISCRIMINANTLY AND POWERFULLY? WITH NO THOUGHT TO THE FUTURE?

Gulping down a breath, Albert, replied, "Er, yes, Master. I think I get the point."

There was a knock on the door. Albert hurried to answer it, and there was Grace, and surprisingly to the old man's eyes, Susan.

Who immediately said, "Sweet merciful gods, what happened here!?"

Death abashedly held up a fluffy pink curtain.

ALBERT SAID THIS ADDED AMBIENCE TO THE HOME.

Grace was laughing so hard she was snorting air through her nose. A flash of pain—an image of a gray cloak—then gone again.

Susan looked concerned slightly, but after Grace collapsing, she wasn't too troubled. "Headache?" Grace nodded, "Yeah, a hangover. Mine are pretty bad. Should be gone tomorrow."

SO…Death said, interrupting, SHOULD THERE BE A CHERUB?

To my two lovely commenters, thank you so much! I updated especially for you two!