hazeldream
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Registered: 04-2009
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Drawing of the Taltos
The small town beamed, and every house seemed to sigh in its own contentment. Their windows bright and cheery, faithfully reflecting those who remained inside. Worn with the day's activities, and the anticipation of what tomorrow could bring.
Pure white and gaily colored lights blinked bashfully as they lit up the sleepy town. Tucked in by an ever growing blanket of snow gracefully drifting down from heaven, there could be no more beautiful sight on earth.
Everybody was together again with their loved ones in honor of this one special day. Everybody except one, a lone figure in a black hooded trench coat wandered determinedly through the winter dreamland. Her head stubbornly facing to road, refusing to acknowledge the scenery around her, the scenes playing in her head were distracting enough.
Part of her longed to bring herself back to the time when this season meant everlasting goodwill and hope, where there was untold joy in the simple comforts sung around the world in unity. Yet things were different in this alien era, as if the world around her was in constant motion while she remained here, trapped by her anger and despair.
The wind began to pick up, aggravated at the sour mood ruining such a pleasant night. Yet she kept her head down, ignoring it as she desperately tried to ignore all the memories inside. With a final puff of frustration, the wind blew underneath her shielding hood. Forcing her to see all that was around her.
Against her will, she was halted by the gentle caress of the snow. Coaxing a tired smile as her sorrows began to melt away like the flakes on her cheeks. Dreamily she closed her eyes, banishing the pain for this one blissful moment.
When she opened them again he reached out to her through the long years, his bright hazel eyes laughing along with the contagious smile on his innocent young face. Yet as she reached out to him, his eyes turned a vengeful red as he came at her. Her heart felt like it was being torn from her as she tried hard to look away.
Flinching as she braced for his attack, she turned to face him again only to find that he had never been there. Her eyes begged her permission to cry, and for a moment she considered betraying her dignity. Reaching behind her neck for her misplaced hood, the deeply carved frown returned. The figure would not be distracted from her anger again.
There weren't enough roads in the entire world, she realized, to simply walk away all she had been through. This Christmas Eve march only served to stir up what had previously been well settled and easily ignored. She began to wonder why she had ever begun her ill-fated journey.
She looked to the west where the sun had set several hours before. Knowing exactly what lay down that path, what had happened down that same path so long ago. A lot had been built up around that place since then, yet she had faith she could find it with disturbing ease. Perhaps that would be the key to bringing peace to her heart.
The figure turned down the street alone. Questioning herself after every step. It was a gamble, and most likely just vain hope to believe that this would heal her. Each step that followed was a miracle after surviving her indecisive nature.
The iron gate she sought was now in sight. Though it once protected the hallowed ground beyond it, it could barely be seen from the brown vines that made to conquer the man made obstruction. She cautiously put hand to it, knowing in her heart that she could never take it back once she passed. The lined still was uncrossed, and the scent of death did nothing to aid her in walking through. Her heart grew heavier the more she pondered.
"Alright" she finally said with grim determination "It is past due for you bastards to be put to rest!" the gate opened with little ease "Time for you to make peace with your fates!"
The brown haired man in the shadows was intrigued by his new visitor. Normally there would be dire consequences for disturbing his solitude. Yet perchance the holiday spirit possessed him for that one moment, he let the figure be.
As she passed the crumbling granite, she caught glimpses of names. People she knew once, people that became different people than she knew, and died the same lonely deaths. Walking down the aisles she looked for the one name that would at last confirm everything to her. The one that for years she had tried to pretend never existed.
It wasn't long before it was found. She knew the way long ago, and she knew the way now. But it was still a shock to find herself breathless in its presence. She kneeled down gingerly in front of it, brushing away the snow that tried vainly to hide the truth.
The brown haired man hid nearby. Growing more and more curious with every move the figure made. He stayed silent as she read the name aloud to her unknown audience, just above a whispering wind.
"Kayleighana Weatherly" she took a second to recover from the initial blow "Lost Soul, Beloved Daughter, Sister, Lover. Committed To The Lord December 25th, 1735, Aged 18 Years."
Beloved daughter, she thought of the fiery haired woman that had nursed her, clothed and fed her from the sweat of her back. With no husband and no name for the child she bore, the village cast her aside. A young rebellious woman, widowed and with child. No one wanted her.
They were tortured memories of a ragged mother and daughter fighting for survival wherever they went. A mother and daughter turned to Queen and Princess overnight by an unlikely romance.
Made sister to Ben by that same unlikely romance, she could easily recall how they both strove to make the others life miserable. No fault went without taunt. No trip, spill, or fall passed without its deserved verbal abuse. All of these sights invisible to the man who watched over her from the shadows.
Lover, only as their parents curse extended to their children. Once upon that yesteryear, he became the only man she ever wanted. Brother was no longer strong enough to describe how she felt towards the man three years her senior.
"All that is gone now" she sighed "See my old friend, there it is written in the very stone." The figure growled as her demon held steadfast "What have you now to doubt?"
It was only chance that she happened to catch a glance at the grave beside her. The two headstones nearly joined together both in their placing and appearance. Curious she stood to look down upon it in wonder. The brown haired man was equally intrigued.
"It appears that he has passed on as well" she spoke to herself "This one who haunts you." The figure plucked both cigarette and lighter from her coat pocket "What have you to fear? That whoring bastard is as cold now as the world encircling his unholy bed."
"Adrian Channing" she whispered to the wind "Beloved Son, Brother, Husband, And Father. Committed To The Lord December 25th Aged 45 Years."
Lighting up she let herself forget her dignity, and the stinging tears fell freely down her face. Any hope of releasing her pain was gone now. Placing the cigarette in her mouth she inhaled its poison deeply, chocking away her pain. Holding it in as long as she could before exhaling again.
"Annie" he called so sweetly to her "Annie"
"Leave me alone Ben!" she cried to whatever powers that be, helpless as the memories consumed her "Haven't I bled my heart enough for you!"
"Annie" he replied as her world was completely cut off "You'll never forget me will you?" The innocence in his eyes was more valuable than the greatest diamond.
"Whatever do yah mean idjit?" her youthful self teased mercilessly "How am I to forget you if you'll never let me be?"
"Answer me!" he pleaded in earnest while holding her hand tightly in his "If by some force unknown we are separated, would you forget this? All of our time together?"
She smiled at him, her eyes not yet darkened by her long years alone gleamed a magnificent emerald green. Ben waited impatiently for her answer, silently daring her to come up with another smart alec remark. She laid her head on his tense chest and replied.
"Nay you foolish boy, I could never forget you. Not even if I tried." Ben's chest relaxed as he smiled in triumph.
"Aye" he answered back, playing with her then bright red hair in long loose curls "Nor shall I"
Finally freed from her vision the figure took a deep clean breath before taking in more of her poison. She couldn't help but reflect on all that had happened since that day. The person she was then could never imagine the life she led now. So much lay between that simple girl and the woman who stood today, none of which had been planned or even thought possible.
Dark, terrible scenes of that one night that changed everything cursed her every waking moment and into her deepest dreams. The evil she had succumbed to so willingly would not leave her alone. No one had even tried to save her from that fall, and it was too late by the time she realized for herself how sweet her own mortality was. There was no way now, no way to put back the blood. To no longer walk among the damned and eternally cursed.
Tears froze on her pale cheeks before coming to a halt. Grief quickly turned to rage; she found that she had lost all control. Closing her eyes she let go of all sense and reason. In a matter of seconds she was standing tall, and her full force was applied to knocking the innocent stone to the cold unfeeling earth.
The brown haired man was furious at this act, yet when she found herself again he could do nothing but forgive the figure as she was brought to her knees in a wave of violent tears and sobs. She pounded on the ground, beating it as she was beating herself within her mind. Repeatedly she drove her fist into the ground, until she noticed it gave way much too easy for this time of year.
"Indeed" she commented to the recently dug grave "Jonas you piece of horse****!" she screamed as her tears stopped on site "What have you done now? Can you not let your old enemies rest even in death?" Despite her grief and new found anger, a realization came over her face.
The man looked on in wonder, for he knew exactly what had happened. Yet he could not understand why this figure seemed to be so concerned with the matter. He could not comprehend what could possibly tie her to the two silent stones.
"I am on to you Jonas you ancient fool" she continued, ignorant to the man's thoughts "You obviously think that tugging at my tender heart will bring me home to you!" She lit another cigarette since it goes without mention that she obliterated her last, and took a drag.
"Well dear, it appears that after centuries you still haven't learned much about me have you?" she laughed loudly, startling the brown haired man "Not that you ever thought yourself in need of any more knowledge.
The mysterious figure stood to her feet and looked hard at the suicide in her hand. Dropping it into the fresh snow, she listened to the quiet hiss. With that she turned to face the graveyard gate, and she made a vow to the rising sun.
"I will have to gather all who I know and all that I have, but I will find you Ben." Her eyes burned from the light, but faithfully she continued "If it will take my entire being, then let that be my sacrifice for my remaining humanity!"
Walking to the towering gate she looked back one last time to the tombstones. Barely catching sight of the man who was attached to her in more ways than she could know.
"I'll find you" she started through the open gate "I will destroy the one who has disturbed your eternal rest, and all of those who serve him!"
The figure in the black trench coat then fled into the wakening town, and the brown haired man followed.
---
Not All Who Wander Are Lost
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5/7/2009, 12:32 am
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Firlefanz
Lady of the Land
Hero (premium)
Registered: 05-2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 2511
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Re: Drawing of the Taltos
Hello hazeldream,
it's nice of you to post your tale. However, I think it would be fair to say hello to everyone in the introduction forum before you expect any comments. That's why I have locked the thread.
I also want to be fair and warn you that anything posted on an open forum will be counted as published by most magazines. If you want this topic moved into a private forum, that's possible. However, we'll need to get to know you a bit better before you will be granted access to any private areas.
Last edited by Firlefanz, 5/7/2009, 4:08 pm
--- - Firlefanz
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5/7/2009, 4:06 pm
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