"The Last Day"
Many days, weeks, months, and even years had passed. Though not nearly enough to wipe all her earliest memories away. Enough to make her forget what it was like to feel a breeze and smell fresh picked flowers. But she still remembered things, one day in particular. A day she dreamt about over and over again. Each time she would wake up at the same point screaming until her voice gave out, and then she would sob silently as she scratched at the black walls........
She was laying in her cradle, in the middle of the wall, directly in line with the window. She got the best view, a view she never would never forget, it would always be a part of her dreams. Each detail was perfect, from the snatches of powder blue sky seen between the twisted gray brown branches, to the rusty colored leafs of the fading tree. Rusty like the color of dried blood.
The last of the birds where chirping their song as the sun tinted the room pink and gold and red. Splashing color across her and her brothers as they waited. It was to be a special day. Nana had said so time and again. They where all cleaned and dressed in their best clothes. That's what Nana said at least. She wasn't sure what the words meant though, they just sounded import and special.
Nana had such a beautiful voice...she sang to them constantly. But She could only remember one song, the song she sang that day. Nana knew she liked it the best and so she sang it for their special day. One day in the far future the girl would sing it as well, it would be the only song she knew.....
It was the day of their naming and as the sun sank lower Nana grew nervous and fidgety. Which made the boys fussy and start to cry. It only made her worry for her poor Nana...but Nana had to calm the boys so she contented herself to watch the little bird chirp and hop along the window sill before fluttering over to land on the white Mobil above her bed. Aqua's where still watching it when the door opened and heavy steps came in. The bird gave a screeching cry and flew out the window while the boys wailed and Nana screamed. Aqua's looked for what was wrong, but couldn't see anything. Until the shadow fell over her crib and the oldest most wrinkled man she ever saw leaned over her crib and smiled at her. He had long silver hair and silver spun clothing. He seemed to have a glow that rivaled the sun. His eyes where wise and kind beyond compare.
She cooed and reached for him like she had known him always. And she had, his voice was in her dreams constantly, and she couldn't yet tell dream from reality. Strong arms reached down and lifted her tiny frail body, she was the runt of a litter of five. A tiny delicate flower of snowy white. His lips brushed her forehead in a feathery kiss before he whispered his golden words, words she didn't yet understand, in a voice that made the world stop to listen when he spoke.
"Rest well my child. Trials and tribulations are with ye from now till the end of eternity. Ye are blessed and cursed in one breath. Ye are the salvation and the destruction of everything ye hold dear. Such a poor, darling child. Ye never dreamed what a curse life could and will be to ye." She didn't understand then....but the words will never leave her heart mind and soul. He laid her back down and turned to Nana sending silver sparkles raining down on the babe. A long moment he watched the sobbing wet nurse before he finally gave a sad smile and vanishing. Moments later her tear streaked face appeared over the cooing babe. She looked so very stricken as she whispered to the babe and watched the door nervously.
"We'll run away, just you and I. Right now before anyone else sees you. Then everything will be all right. I'll protect you...." It was far too late for them though. The door opened a second time and in came the nightmare. Even then she could never remember what he looked like, a shapeless monster that her mind refused to ever show the picture of again. Even then she wanted to scream and cry, but she was too afraid to. So she laid there trembling and looking for the comfort of Nana.
Nana was speaking to him now though so she couldn't come. "Look Master, you have four handsome, strong male children. And an adorable girl child that is destined to greatness." She sounded scared, terrified even, which made the girl child even more afraid of the presence in the room. She wanted the nice old man to come back and hold her again. Where did he go?
The horrible voice grated in a deep chuckle as he moved to the two cribs holding the boys. "Yes, they are handsome and they need their names. What a Naming Day this will be. And tonight they'll see their mother, she's so excited about this. I never dreamed that all five would survive this first year. The feast we're having has set me back and fairly emptied my pockets you know Nana.... And for doing such a wonderful job, you may come and eat beside the babies chairs and say your final good-byes there. I hear your husband and children are ecstatic that you'll be going home tonight so I wont keep you at the feast too long dear, and I'll of course add a bonus for the job. Now lets get down to business."
With that he turned from her and moved to the first crib. He lifted out the oldest child, an all black furred male who was bigger and stronger then all the rest. He had dark brown eyes that even then look cold and hard. "I shall call you.....Torrant." The scribe behind him mumbled about how great a name it was and scribbled it down in the book. So it went for the three others. The brown one with the tuft of red fur between his shoulder blades was named Blaze. The calico like child was named Salu. And the child with the ears and tail that looked to be on fire was named Flame.
Each of the four named babes where carried out of the nursery, never to be seen again. And then he turned and moved to the cradle that held the girl, in the best of mood after seeing each of his boys. His family status was improving greatly and he knew that meant more wealth and power. But then...he saw her. His smile faded and a terror welled in his sea green eyes as he looked down at her. It couldn't be. Just when he paid all his ancestors debts off and started making a name for himself and his family. They where the fourth most powerful family on the island! And by one twist of fate it'd all be ruined!
His voice turned deadly and soft as his hands clamped down on the side of the crib, knuckles turning pale as he squeezed and the terror was replaced by hate and anger. Both of which that babe could read perfectly, she whimpered once before falling quiet and looking for Nana.
"Is she all white? For her sake and yours she better not be all white..."
"Oh Master, she's the best child. She hardly ever cries and she's sweet and happy and loving and...."
His voice bit like steel as he growled. "I didn't ask that....I want to fucking know if she's all white you stupid wench!!"
Nana sobbed and snatched the baby up, holding her close as she backed towards the door. "She is master...but you can't kill her! She didn't do a thing to you and the curse is and old wives tail. I've never head such a silly thing in all my life. She's perfect and wonderful and couldn't hurt a fly. Let me take her and raise her as my own. Please Master. I promise you and no one else will ever hear about her. I'll even dye her fur!"
He stood there a long moment. As if thinking about the Nurse's plea. During the whole time she was moving towards the double doors and opening one side. He growled as he saw the door open and in a flash he was upon the sobbing wet nurse, giving her a stunning blow across the jaw. Grabbing a hold of her ears and then of the babe's dress with the other hand he gave a vicious jerk to both sent them apart. The babe was almost thrown out the window before he seemed to of changed his mind and tuck her under his arm as he shook the nurse by the ear.
"Do not "Ever" defy me like that again. I should kill you as well for betraying my family like this. Think of my son's and how this would ruin their life's. All you could think of was yourself." He slammed her back against the wall and brought his knee up into her gut before backhanding her. That was soon followed by a slap and a spin. His foot met her tail and she slammed forward into the door.
"Get out of my house and take this with you." He lifted the purse from his waist and threw it to hit her in the back of the head. The nurse looked back at the babe he held before grabbing the money and fleeing out the other door, the open one never to be seen again.
Through the whole ordeal the babe had been calm and oddly silent. Aqua's watching the bird that was once more at the window. The sun was down now and the bird should have been in it's nest but it was hopping along the sill and watching the babe in its odd bird like way. Things aren't always as they seem though and the bird wasn't truly a bird.....
And the scream came as did the blackness. The feeling of being so very alone in that small black world. It was raining outside. She didn't know it but it was. The only thing that girl knew was the wall was leaking more and as she grew hoarse she moved to the slimy corner that had the trickle of water running down it's length only to slip and slide across the floor and down the drain. Swollen tongue was pressed to the running water a moment before she lapped at it. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she drank the only thing that ever got into her world without the door opening...........