Chapter 36 :D

Chapter thirty-six—Bloody Riding Hood

Give me a reason that you’re fully dead, I thought, as I stared at the top of my canopy bed, unable to sleep. Abby had gone back to her rooms, and Nikki was writing at my desk by candlelight. We did not speak; we did not know how to protect ourselves now.

Give me a reason, I thought, as envisioned the dream Nikki had experienced. Was this the future, as our dreams have been?

Give me a reason that you’re fully dead, as I thought of my mother. Could she possibly be alive? Was the woman in Nikki’s dream actually a demon?

I held the knife to my chest calmly, besides my amulet, its cold metal burning into my skin. I remembered the softly spoken words my mother gave me, and I knew even in death our love lives on.

They didn’t hear you singing to me. I closed my eyes, and tried to think. I remembered that they buried her in Unicorn Way, and that the Headmaster had built a monument for her. A large unicorn in the Unicorn Way Park. My heart ached; I wanted to go home so bad. How could I be so homesick, when I truly have no home?

And I couldn’t miss or love my deceased family anymore than I do, but I wish that I could love them enough to let go of them.

If I saw her again, I knew my weakness would give in. I would want to go with her, stay forever with her, and listen to her sweet lullabies. Nobody knew me like she did, nobody knows the memories I had of her but me.

I remembered laying my head on her lap when the night came, too tired to go to bed. She would stroke my face, and when she thought I’d fallen asleep, she’d pick me up and put me in my bed. Then, she’d kiss me on the forehead and close the door quietly. Even then, I could feel the warm press of her lips on my forehead, and I mourned for her warmth and love again. I wanted my mama back.

I sighed, and rolled over in my bed, the knife still branding itself onto my chest. Slowly, I closed my eyes, but I did not fall asleep. I only saw blackness, and listened to the rhythm of Nikki’s quill on the parchment.

My sister was everything I needed to see; she was the smile and sunlight in my view.

My mother was love reincarnated, and was the beauty in everything that was life.

The constant voice within my heart was them. I fell into peace, knowing one way or another, they would always be there.

Then I fell asleep in the sea of hope.

The next day was complicated. Abby certainly had been correct about not seeing each other; I couldn’t find her even if I tried. However, I had Nikki to help me with the evidence.

I saw Rachel running around, trying to suck up to Courtney. It looked as though she was trying to mooch something out of her; probably money. I’ve learned that that was Rachel’s normal schedule.

Before we were ordered to go to the Observatory, I had made a quick trip to the mail. With wonderful glee, there was a vile from Alhazred in a spellbound envelope, ready for tracking. I snuck it into my purse, and hurried off to the Observatory.

I told Nikki quickly and quietly when I arrived. She looked as though she was about to scream and jump in happiness, but she only put on a pair of silver gloves, and could barely contain her smile.

Together, we studied the clothes the victim’s were wearing the night of the crime scene. Dried blood covered most of the clothing, and some of it was in shreds.  

When Nikki found a black hair, I stared at her with doubt. “The woman’s hair was black.”

“The woman’s hair was silver-ish black, Mary.” She stuck the hair in my face, making my eyes go slightly cross-eyed. “It would have been silver in the root of the hair. This is pure black.”

I shrugged. “There’s barely anything worthwhile on these clothes.”

“Well, we aren’t finished yet.” She put the hair under a scanning device, searching its DNA. The machine beeped, and it lit up negative.

I stared in disbelief. “How could it not be the victim’s hair?”

“Because,” Nikki replied, putting the hair into a plastic bag. “It is the S.A.’s hair.”

I didn’t hear her. “What about this?”

I picked up a tuft of thick hair from a shredded part of the clothing, hidden under the baby’s blanket. Its hair shined ebony in the lamplight, as though it was almost a midnight blue.

I saw Nikki pale. “I think we are talking about… No, I cant believe it would be possible.”

“What is it?” I asked simply, still staring at the fur.

“I think we are talking about Red Riding Hood.”

“What? You mean the Fairytale curse? How?” I felt the blood drain out of my face.

“The tuft of hair you are holding right now, Mary,” Nikki spoke through gritted teeth. “Is Wolf hair. Malistaire’s curse made our next S.A. Little Red Riding Hood.”

“How could you be so sure about this?” I asked, dumbfounded.

“Because,” Nikki took the hair, examining its fur in the light. “There is only one Fairytale related to the Angel of Battle and the Hunt; and that is where the Wolf hunts the Girl in the Forest.”

“And the Wolf has been hunting the Mysterious Woman on the rooftops.” I gasped. “It all makes sense!”

Nikki lifted up the baby boy’s shredded clothing. “It has claws as big as a grown elephant’s foot.” She touched the mother’s clothing where the stomach would have been. “And its teeth are as sharp as needles, sharp enough to rip out somebody’s stomach in one bite.”

I winced. “What do we do now?”

Nikki put the clothes down gently, with pity. “We shall use the tracking potion Alhazred gave us on the night of the Enforcement Ball; that’s when everybody will be preoccupied.”

I nodded. “And then we shall meet our blood sister.”

Nikki nodded. “We shall.” 

Chapter 35

Chapter thirty-five—Eyes of Silver

I froze, realizing who was talking. With strong doubt, I couldn’t believe it could actually be her.

What would she be doing here from Wizard City?

The hand moved away from my mouth, and I whirled around the see the face I expected. Taking in her half shaded face, her green eyes, and her raven black hair- I saw that she has grown in the years I’ve seen her last.

“Remember me?” She smirked, putting her pale hand on her hip.

“Abigail.” I breathed out. “What in the worlds are you doing here? In my room?”

“It was the only time I could talk to you. Plus, we need to be alone in what I need to tell you.” Abby spoke and I noted a bit of worry in her voice.

“Sit down.” I ordered, and I took a broom and swiped the glass into a corner with one big blow. Looking up, I saw myself in the mirror. I looked cordial, and not myself. I sighed, and realized how different I must look to Abby. I turned around, and sat next to her on my canopy bed.

          “I’m sorry to frighten you, Mary.” Abby avoided my eyes. “But this thing is… Different.”

          “Why are you here, Abby?” I asked again.

          “It’s difficult to explain.”

          “Just tell me.”

          Abby twirled a lock of black hair with her fingers, standing out in the pale moonlight. “I know why you left, and why you’ve been traveling.”

          I laughed at that, but only to drown out my disbelief. “What are you…? Talking about?”

          Abby grimaced. She sat up, and I watched her as she took the ruby-hilted knife that I unconsciously put on the window sill. Before I knew what she was doing, it was too late- she sketched a gash into her arm before I could shout.

          Blood poured out of her arm, but I didn’t rush to help her. I was hypnotized by what color the blood was.

          It certainly was red- but gold was deeply mixed in the color. Unlike my blood, which was full gold, hers still had the maroon color. “How do you have that gold in your blood..?”

          “I’m half of what you are. That’s why.” She replied.

          “But that doesn’t make sense.” I stared in astonishment at the idea of it. “Your either full Seraphina-Alleyen, or your not one at all.”

          “Do you honestly don’t believe this?” She stuck out her arm, and I winced. She grabbed a thin towel from a rack near the bathroom, and tied it around her arm.

          I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts so I could think intelligently. I sat up, and walked to the door. Abby looked confused when I turned the handle. “Stay here, I’m getting somebody.”

          “Mary, I’m not crazy- you know that..?”

          “I’m not getting some mentalist, Abby. There is somebody who will be able to help you.” I sighed.

          “Oh, by the Fates, you are thinking that I’m crazy! I trusted yo-“Abby cried out.

          “Shut up and sit down, Abby, I’m not getting some kind of enforcement on you. Just wait here.” I left the room, and starting making my way to Nikki’s room silently.

Knocking gently on the door, Nikki opened it suddenly. I gaped at her.

“Light sleeper. I heard voices. Are you alright?”

I stared at her. “Why is everybody in a paranoid mood tonight?”

Nikki rubbed her temple. “Sorry, I just had a dream…”

I raised my eyebrow. “Well, I can’t ask you about it at the moment, even though I wish I could, because something has happened to me, too.”

Nikki’s mouth went into an “o” form. “What is it?”

“Just… Follow.” I replied numbly. I took her wrist, and led her to my door. Bringing Nikki into the room, Abby looked up in surprise. Nikki cocked an eyebrow.

“Who is this?” Abby spoke, eyes burrowed in interest.

“Abby, this is Melissa Nicole, but you can call her Nikki. Nikki, this is Abigail Silvereyes.” I introduced them, and they shook hands awkwardly.

“Who is she…? Is the one of the..?” Abby started, and I interrupted her.

“Nikki is the Seraphina-Alleyen of Knowledge and Remembrance.” I started, and Abby suddenly stared at her with intensity.

Nikki’s eyes widened. “Abby is a Seraphina-Alleyen, isn’t she?”

“Uh… Err…” I stumbled. “She is half  S.A.”

Nikki moved her head over near her shoulder, and with a large frown, she spoke: “That’s impossible.”

“I know, but it’s true. I’ve even gotten powers.” Abby murmured. We stared at her.

“Does the S.A. even withhold powers?” I studied Nikki’s face, and she had no expression.

“Of course we do. When I had turned eighteen, all a sudden I saw things.” Abby frowned in displeasure. “Spirits. Ghosts. Spirit animals, even.”

“Spirit animals?” Nikki looked as though she wanted to laugh. “No such thing.”

Abby folded her arms. “I always see a person’s animal at first sight, or at grave danger. Since I’ve met Mary before, I can’t see her animal. However, you Nikki, have a beautiful animal.”

Nikki raised an eyebrow. “And it is..? Not that I’m curious…”

“A pure white owl.” Abby smiled, and she lifted out her arm. I saw six pink marks grow on her arm, as though a bird was perched upon it and its claws her digging into her.

Nikki blinked. “So you can see.”

Abby nodded. “Sometimes it feels like a curse; like when I saw my own parent’s aura’s were black and red, with horrid vultures as their animals. They are pure evil.”

I’ve never seen Abby speak about her parents that way, or even so as abruptly. “So, you can see aura’s too?”

Abby smiled again, but it did not disguise the sorrow in her green eyes.
”You guys have the most beautiful aura. It’s so golden and colorful.” She glanced at her skin. “I have a tint of gold, but not as colorful. Probably because I’m only half Angel.”

I sighed. “You ran away from home, didn’t you? Because of your parents?”

Abby nodded. “I’ve been working as a potion master’s apprentice in the castle. I may be Death, but potion making is so fun.”

“How did you figure out about the S.A.?” Nikki asked curiously.

“Well, I figured out my powers. Then, I saw my aura, which was strange.” Abby looked lost in thought. “And then I connected it with Mary. I remember when Malistaire gave Mary that box, and that he had said that he wanted something from her. What else would Malistaire want but power? So, I figured… Mary’s mother must have put something in that box for Mary, because Mary had special powers that Malistaire wanted.”

“And since Malistaire didn’t have the powers that you figured Mary had, you decided that Sylvia had them instead-” Nikki added thoughtfully.

“My mother was not an S.A. She was only of Angel blood, perhaps a descendant from an Angel, but she wasn’t chosen by the Fates. She thought she was, but she failed, because she wasn’t one of the S.A. She was only an Angel by blood, not by destiny.” I interrupted. “My youngest sister, Sabrina, inherited her father’s blood more than my mother’s. She may have the tiniest bit of Angel blood in her, but not enough to call her an Angel. If she ever could have grown into one, then I don’t know, because she is long dead. I’m quite reminded of that every single Christmas day.” I announced quietly.

Abby and Nikki looked at each other with concern. “I’m sorry to bring that up, Mary, but it had to be said. If we’re going to figure out where Malistaire is and kill him, then we need to bring up our pasts.”

I nodded, understanding. “While we are on the conversation of the past, you could tell us that dream you had, Nikki.”

Nikki nodded, and winced as if she had a headache. Slowly, she began to tell her story:

“I was on the rooftop of a huge clock tower, where the Krokonomicon is hidden. Stars twinkled in beauty, and the sky was black as ebony. There was something wrong with the place, though, because it had this feeling of big regret and guilt. Suddenly, I had heard a chorus of moans, almost in a song, but they were in horrid emotions of moans. Pain, sadness, anger, and betrayal.”

I nodded, and she continued.

“In this place, I suddenly saw you, Mary. It was Mary and Abby.” She looked at Abby sadly. “This was before I met you, Abby; and when I saw you, you were lying on the ground, bleeding and dying.”

Abby shifted her position uncomfortably at the sound of herself wounded. Nikki continued. “Then, there was this woman with marble white skin, and it was glowing and looked so unreal. She had rosy lips, and cheeks were pink as a sunset. Her eyes were moonstone, like Mary and I. In fact, she looked a lot like Mary; she even had the golden hair.”

I frowned. “That sounds like my mother, but… Exaggerated.”

Nikki nodded.

“She began to talk to you, Mary. I couldn’t hear what she was saying, but you began to cry. She circled around you, and she looked as though she was floating. She stroked your face with a finger, and wiped away your tears. All of a sudden, the woman started to glow red, and I saw her eyes grow all white… She had no pupils.”

I stiffened. “So, we were being attacked?”

Nikki squeezed her eyes shut. “I… Don’t remember the ending. I don’t remember if I was there, or if I was just watching…”

Nikki put her face in her hands, trying to remember.

‘Well, we know one thing.” I decided. “That woman wasn’t my mother, because she was dead. Evidently, she was a demon, and I bet she is working for Malistaire.”

“Something doesn’t seem right here.” Abby’s voice shook.

“Well, when the time comes.” I held my knife tightly, wondering if I’d ever let go of it. “We will be ready for it.”

Most beautiful love poem :)

She Walks in Beauty
                                      1
    She walks in beauty, like the night
        Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
    And all that's best of dark and bright
        Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
    Thus mellowed to that tender light
        Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
                                      2
    One shade the more, one ray the less,
        Had half impaired the nameless grace
    Which waves in every raven tress,
        Or softly lightens o'er her face;
    Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
        How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
                                      3
    And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
        So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
    The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
        But tell of days in goodness spent,
    A mind at peace with all below,
        A heart whose love is innocent

I'm going to add this poem to my story :D

Making dinner and blogging :P

Guess what i'm making for dinner??? Pepperoni and vegetable vegan pizzas, WITH non-dairy chocolate ice cream. :P yep, thats what my mom wants!
Anyways, around 12 o'clock, i was really jizzed (In a bad way). I cant blog at my school :'(
Woah, something in the oven just exploded x_x i'm not even trying to be funny...
Anyways, back to the school thing-- I write during lunch (which my friends think i'm weird for) and it wouldnt let me post. SOOO i will have to post later tonight I: Dang the district for blocking blogging. Heh, that ryhmed; i will underline it cuz i'm just that cool.
Oh, guess what! I got a new nickname! Anybody wanna hear it? I know you do ;)
Here it is:
SugarPuffHoneyMonsterPlushToyQuakerOats.
Yep, thats it. Some shortened name, right? It sounds even better when you say it real fast XD
Well, i got to go eat some vegan pizzas, and i will be online later.
Cya suckers ;)

WATCH IT :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcuI6K9daIw

Quotes (kind of a sneak peek)

“I don’t ever believe in mistakes… I believe in failures of the right side of mankind’s mind. One person cannot have one right mind, without its half being wrong. One, who impossibly has a right mind, is as stupid from never learning from right and wrong.”

“A clever person knows the difference from small troubles and little troubles. A wise person would know how to make all troubles go away without war. A smart person would know if small troubles or large troubles are not any troubles at all, or at the same height of balance.”

“Love should not hold secrets. Love should never be a lie. Love is truth, and a diligent adventure. It should never be ratified, or spurious, or withhold such adversity. After this experience, you shall dare not recur the amount of pain you immorally cause. Dare not improvise.”

“The sight of the sky’s many magical colors shall never be judged by the amount of times you see it in one lifetime.”

“The weak and the strong make pure harmony of Fate’s intentions.”

Alright, so these arent really scenes for upcoming chapters... But they are words. However, each quote has something to do with an upcoming event (so think wisely, as though its a riddle) :P Have fun. Also, I'm not sure if I made these up or not... I just found them in a random folder in my Word thing, and I know its for the story. There are words I tend to use in them, though, so I think I found quotes like these, then changed the words and meaning :P I dont have time to make up quotes XD even though I'm good at it!

Chapter 34, guys :)

Chapter thirty-four-- Tracking the Rooftops

“Wake up! Now!” A sudden white light burst through my eyelids, my head sending up waves of pain. A sharp voice rang in my ears, and I opened my eyes with irritable resistance, noticing the dark ringlets and strut of a woman. Of Rachel.

“Ugh, how did you get in here?” I grumbled, putting my hair into a quick pony tail. As thick and messy as my hair was, it didn’t look half bad as usual.

“You left your door unlocked, and its time to get ready to investigate.” Rachel opened another curtain and more sunlight burned into my eyes. I grimaced.

“What investigation?”

“Sierra told Courtney that you and that red-headed girl favor some case. I don’t know what.”

The Mysterious Woman. I suddenly shot up out of my bed, and glared at Rachel to leave me alone so I could get dressed. She sighed and rolled her eyes, and walked out of the room. I could hear her tapping the heel of her foot outside my door.

While I was looking for combat boots, I only found high heels. I got dressed in the least dressy outfit I could manage, and the darkest; a black dress with slim pants underneath. It showed off my curves and not so much fabric as the long gowns.

Then, I began to search for combat boots once again. However, when Rachel became too impatient, I just slipped on a pair of black high heels, and rushed out the door.

“What the hell took you so long?” Rachel screeched like a bird, but she didn’t look too grumpy. Maybe she just didn’t like me.

“I can’t find any other shoes but these damn high heels.” I growled, stabbing the floor with the tip of my shoe.

“It’s Marleybone. Get used to it.” Rachel led me stubbornly to a group of people. I noticed Nikki, Blaze, Courtney, and four other boys. Sierra must have the day off.

“Yay, you’re ready!” Nikki rushed towards me. I noticed her wearing a similar dress to mine, but dark blue, with another pair of high heels. Her hair was down, as always, but in a loose braid. Her eyes dazzled in excitement.

“Hey, Nikki.” I greeted. I looked over to Courtney. “When are we to depart?”

“Right now.” She grinned. “Follow me, officers. We’re going to the rooftops. When we get there, I will explain the whole situation.”

We nodded, and began to follow Courtney’s footsteps. She led us through a few spiral staircases, through many stone hallways, and up a large flight of stairs. My legs were burning when we reached the morning air, and we were on a rooftop of a very strange area.

It was a rooftop: anybody in the world could know that. However, the roof tops were connected to each other by little wooden bridges, and it created a whole new street, in a way. The area was blank and empty as a desert. But with stone, not sand.

“This place may seem empty to you, but the case we have is deadly. Follow me, and you shall discover that this area holds many secrets. One, including a murder related to the Mysterious Woman. Follow me, Ladies and Gentlemen.” Courtney announced curtly, and we followed her to a landscape between a brick wall of a tall building against the roof, and a large metal chimney.

People gasped, and I made myself push up to the front of the Department, besides Nikki. Her eyes glazed in sorrow. I narrowly moved my eyes to the thing they were watching, and dreaded the outcome. It came anyways.

There was a woman, with silver black hair and a wide eyed expression. Her eyes looked as though they may have been beautiful once, but now, they were just green and blank. Her skin was pale as snow; as she had lost a lot of blood. In her arms, small and fragile, was a baby boy, also slaughtered. The woman’s stomach seemed to be torn up, and the child’s body was mutilated with five large gashes throughout its limp body. “By the Fates.” I gasped. “What in the worlds happened here..?”

“The Mysterious Woman, that’s what happened.” Blaze spoke up bravely. I gazed up at him, and I realized that he looked sick. I didn’t feel too well either.

Nikki had a blank expression on her face, but I could see the distaste in her eyes. She walked forward, and put two fingers on the woman’s face. Somebody hissed in anger. “You idiot girl! You know better to not touch the damn evidence..!”

Nikki shot up, her long hair turning into fire in the quick flash. Her skin was too pale, and she looked stressed. Ignoring whoever yelled at her, she rushed towards me and took my arm. Pulling me away from the crowd, people watched us in slight interest.

“Nikki, what is it?” I demanded. I don’t know how she could even touch the corpses, and shivered at her cold hand on my arm. I noticed a golden tint on my skin where she had clutched my arm, but I took it as the sun’s reflection.

“An S.A. wouldn’t have done that.” She decided immediately.

“I know.” I agreed. I glanced back at the corpses. “One of them is a baby boy. How could something be so cruel?”

Nikki nodded. “That’s why I think its something else. Remember those marks?”

I thought back to the five gashes drawn across the baby boy’s body. “Yes. They are similar to the gashes the Hellhound put on you.”

“Exactly, but not quite. I don’t think it was a Hellhound.” Nikki spoke quizzically. “I’m not sure what it is, but it’s obviously demonic and it has monster claws. Not to mention, it most likely has powerful jaws.”

“Nikki,” I reminded, “We are in Marleybone, remember? What would a demonic creature, relevant to a Hellhound, be running around on rooftops?”

“How do you think I know? I’m not the controller of these beasts.” Nikki sighed.

“So, the Mysterious Woman is possibly being framed?” I asked. “How do we even know she could be an S.A.?”

“I wasn’t sure at first, but now I am.” Nikki opened up her hand. “Look at my two fingers. There’s blood.”

“Yes, there’s blood, but wha-“I gasped, staring at the incredible evidence smeared on Nikki’s fingers. Instead of red and normal blood, it was as though she dipped her fingers in gold paint. “So that’s why you walked over to them; you saw the S.A.’s blood.”

“Just a little, not enough to be noticed by anybody who is not part of the S.A.” Nikki took out a vile, and tried to get as much as the blood on her fingers into the vile. “It’s evidently the Mysterious Woman’s blood, and she is evidently an S.A.”

“How do we know that? We don’t even know if the Mysterious Woman was even here at the crime scene.” I ran my fingers through my hair.

“Yes, but what I do think… It may be a bit disturbing.” Nikki bit her lip, and rubbed her hands along her arms, as if cold.

“Sooner or later, you’re going to have to tell me; I wouldn’t even bother hesitating.” I coughed, looking everywhere but at Nikki.

“The beast that killed those two victims…” Nikki whimpered. “Mary, I think that its after an S.A., not innocent, mundane people.”

I suddenly saw in terror in my mind, of a girl with whatever angelic powers, dead and torn apart by a bloody, hungry monster. I shut my eyes to block out the thoughts. “Are you sure?”

“The beast had attacked the S.A. that was here; we know that because of the golden blood. However, the S.A. somehow got away. I hope.”

I nodded. It made sense. “Do you think it has something to do with the Fairytale curse?”

“Maybe. I don’t know.” Nikki grimaced. She looked frustrated, that she didn’t have the answers.

“Well, the most we could do is to look for clues.” I considered the Department, whom completely ignored us, looking around for evidence. About four people were studying the corpses.

Nikki glanced at her wristwatch. “We have about three hours. Lets get to work.”

Unfortunately, as much as we looked, there we no tracks. No more evidence, but that little bit of blood. The best part is, however, was that if we sent the blood to the Order, Alhazred could make us the tracking potion he made for Krokopatra, and we could find the next S.A. With this idea in mind, with the evidence of the crime collected (nearly nothing), Nikki and I stayed behind the group walking back to the Palace.

Slipping the vile with the tiny bit of golden blood in an envelope, I quickly wrote a note to Alhazred of our plan. Nikki sealed the envelope with a spell, to protect it from everybody but Alhazred: which was the smartest thing I’ve ever seen.

Quickly putting the envelope in the mailbox- how ordinary- we rushed away, making sure that nobody saw us.

Sneaking into the Palace was the easiest part. Nobody seemed to notice us, and once dinner was made, everybody was heading to the same place anyways, so it was easy to follow. Together, we made it through and secretly sat the tables that the Force were sitting at.

The dinner was grand; hot roast beef, sweet baked potatoes, roasted chicken, vegetables, fruits, apple ciders and dressings, hot and cold drinks, salads, beef, fish, and more. The tables were made out of gold, and the walls out of fine white marble. Long red rugs cascaded down steps of stone, and people danced around the large dining hall with shimmery silver gowns.

I would have never known in my entire life that I would see sights like this. I sighed, as if hypnotized, at the beauty. Then, with sorrow, I remembered what got me here in the first place. I sat up stiff and tense for the rest of the dinner.

Around ten or so, we were led back to our guest rooms, and bid our goodnights. Tomorrow, Courtney had told us, we would be analyzing the evidence in the Observatory. It seemed like a good idea, but I dreaded the fact being around those corpses again.

Sleep dawned on me, and I listened with serenity in the wind blowing in the curtains, the rustle of a bird flying by the window, my mother’s wedding present glowing in the moonlight.

All of a sudden, I heard something crash onto the floor. I jerked up, pushed my hair back, and got to my feet. With courage, I rushed to my dresser and obtained a ruby-hilted knife from my socks drawer.

I spotted the thing that had crashed. In front of the open window, glass littered the marble floor. Walking silently over, careful with my bare feet, I saw nobody.

Studying the glass, I recognized it as the glass lamp that was on a decorated table. I then studied the window, and wondered if somebody could escape. However, this was a four-story room: how could something that high be an escape route?

Looking out the window, I held on to the window sill in panic. The street down there was deserted; just a few parked carriages and a white cat.

Suddenly, I felt something close over my mouth. The skin of the hand was pale white, and was warm and clammy. A felt a pair of lips near my ear, as I clawed at the hand, trying to scream for help.

“Shhh.” The voice was recognizable, and I would have gasped if I had access. “It’s me.”