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 Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 10:55 am
It...Had been quite a month. Most of the wands had found homes and Ianna was happy for this. The little siren, however, along with the water elf and wendigo, had yet to find homes. It was like a game show!
Which of you will find a home today! We'll find out after these messages!
Ianna rolled her eyes at her own wit - if it could be called that. Sighing, she leaned against the desk and looked at Coailiann who was sitting on the desk beside her.
"Mommy tired?"
Ianna smiled slightly and nodded, "Yes, love, Mommy's tired."
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Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 11:01 am
The man entered to the soft jingle of a bell over the door and to a sort of hushed dimness, quite a contrast to the blazing sun and the hustle and bustle outside. Somewhere, a fan hummed a monotonous tune.
Cal Morgan, in his faded jeans and his white workshirt, had not intended to come here. No, he had ventured in town to purchase for paint for his sailboat, the Lovely Lady. He wasn't sure what about this place had lured him there; the rows of slightly dusty books along the outside walls were mildly intruiging, as were shelves labeled as holding various "wands."
But it seemed as though he had inadvertantly stumbled upon some sort of Wiccan shop. At least he supposed. Assuming there was nothing for him there, that his instincts had led him astray, he placed strong fingers on the handle once more to leave.
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Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 11:12 am
"Hello," came a rather tired voice, the woman's head lifting from it's resting spot on the old, immaculate desk. It seemed to be the only thing in the shop not covered in dust, "Welcome to Ghosts of the Past."
"Hi!" Coailiann called out cutely, her green eyes slightly bright as she waved. She had started to feel that 'instinct' that her sister did. She knew he was a guardian, and by the way she had piped up, Ianna knew before she heard the ping from Matilda.
The only question was...Which wand would it be today?
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Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 11:18 am
"Erm...hello." Cal responded a bit awkwardly to the child, fingers slipping from the doorknob as he turned to peer at the desk against the far wall. "Ghosts of the Past?" He hadn't seen the sign. "I'm sorry, I think I'm in the wrong store. I'm looking for paint for my boat..."
His low smoker's voice, quiet though it was, still sounded crisp and precise in the drowsy atmosphere. His hair, bleached almost white by the sun, contrasted sharply with his deeply tanned skin and shockingly bright blue eyes.
He fixed the intense gaze on the woman behind the desk, and then on the strange, white-haired child who sat beside her. An odd pair indeed.
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Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 11:20 am
"It's down the street, but while you're here, could you take a look at something for me? I'd really appriciate it..." Her voice was soft as she reached for the leather bound and gold-edged book which she ended up pushing to the edge of the desk.
Coailiann held out her hands, "Up?" she asked innocently, white hair falling over her sweet little face. She liked to be picked up, be it by strangers or not. The attention was wonderful.
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Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 11:28 am
There was a slight pause before Cal answered. "Certainly."
Inwardly, he sighed. He didn't much feel like helping someone else out today; he longed to finish the repairs on his Lady before sundown, else then he'd have to wait another day. What was it, a stuck toilet, a cantankerous lock?
Cal did possess that sort of quiet confidence that led strangers, in turn, to look to him for aid. He appeared capable, no mistake there. That's why his eyebrows rose slightly when he saw it was a book this woman thrust towards him.
"Up?" the little girl asked him, her intention clear. Cal's eyes flew to the woman at the desk; no, she'd clearly heard the child as well. Rather than be rude, he took the little girl in his arms, though if he were honest, he rather disliked most children. Too many were so poorly behaved.
Nevertheless shifting the child to one hip, he reached one browned hand out, fingers brushing the leather as he prepared to ask a question.
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Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 11:31 am
The minute Cal touched the book, the cover would fly open, an invisible wind winding through the pages and blowing them rapidly open until it landed, quite suddenly, on a well-worn page. On the page was a very life-like sketch of one of the wands on her Desk. The blue one, with the spear head and the shells and pearls adorning it. Ah, it seemed that he would have the Siren! Lovely!
Under the picture read:
"Siren. Wand ID 00026. A Soul has been trapped within the confines of the wand. Congratulations, you have become the next guardian to take on the task of raising it from infancy to greatness. We, Ianna and I, have the upmost faith in you to complete your task dutifully. Best of luck,
Matilda."
Ianna smiled brightly as Coailiann quietly snuggled into the man, her thumb going to her mouth, "Congratulations, Cal, You're a father."
Coailiann simply giggled and nuzzled into the man, closing her eyes. She was well behaved!
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Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 11:44 am
The question stuck in his throat as the heavy cover flew open of its own accord, pages fluttering and flapping with that dry-leaf sound. Cal gritted his teeth against crying out and instinctively took a step backward, holding the toddler even further away in a protective gesture - though truth be told, for a moment he'd nearly dropped her in his surprise.
The pages came to rest of their own accord, displaying a picture in colour. The words beneath it were even stranger. "What the hell?" he murmured softly, approaching the desk again in spite of himself. His odd gaze flickered to the woman behind the desk for a moment, but he couldn't long tear his gaze from the book.
He'd already absently set the little girl back on the desk before it struck him.
He'd been had.
This was going to be one of those slight-of-hand shows where afterward they asked you for a "donation," when only a complete cheapskate wouldn't pay at least something after having seen the show.
When he met the woman's eyes this time, there was no more surprise in his face. His gaze was actually rather withdrawn. Cal hated feeling as though he'd been forced into something. Salesman comes on too strong? Cal walks away even if he'd already intended to buy it.
"That's an interesting...show. How did you do it?" He wasn't even going to deem the "father" comment worthy of a response. And if she was going to charge him, he was at least going to know how she did it.
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Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 11:47 am
Ianna raised a brow, "Show? The book's alive, Cal," she murmured, opening her arms as the toddler scooted herself back into them and nuzzled at her mother. She sensed the other's agitation.
"Shh, Kay, It's okay," she murmured, nuzzling lovingly into her, "The wand on my desk is yours," she indicated to the blue spear-like wand, "The spirit inside of it is your daughter. A Siren. She chose you. Why? I can't say."
Fitting that both a Siren AND A Succubus chose male guardians. Eh, who was she to judge, though, right?
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Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 11:52 am
Cal laughed, but there was no real humor in it. So she'd correctly guessed he was a sailor. The siren bit was an especially nice touch.
And now she was urging him to take this sea relic. This, then, was the money-making venture.
"I'm sorry, I have no children," he said, glancing at the spear. It really was quite beautiful. "And I really haven't much cash on me. So if we can just go ahead and get this over with..."
He pulled out his wallet and watched the woman in cold-eyed resignation. Then something else struck him. "How did you know my name?" Now there was a hint of hostility in his voice. Racketeering was one thing; spying was entirely something else.
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Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 11:56 am
Ianna looked slightly insulted, "I don't want any of your money," she huffed, cradling her toddler close to her to keep from going and smacking him upside the head. She didn't NEED money.
Sure, she looked like she did, but she didn't.
"The spirit inside of that wand, which is now yours, is your child. Or, will be when it finally emerges. This little girl here? She came from one. She's my daughter. A Sidhe. Her name is Coailiann."
Coailiann's green eyes looked to the man and she smiled charmingly, "Hi!" she said again before suckling on her thumb. Ianna couldn't help but smile.
A soft sigh was given then, "I know your name because my daughter, Matilda, told me. She knows things. She's the one who trapped the soul in the wand there. If you don't believe me, touch the wand."
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Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 12:07 pm
Cal's face mirrored surprise once more. He was unaccustomed this roller-coaster of emotions... and he didn't much like it.
But the woman had seemed genuiely insulted at his offer of money. He'd never known anyone pulling this racket to refuse pay so angrily and adamantly. And he'd seen in happen quite often, in some ports, anyway.
He really wasn't at all sure how to respond to that.
"So a kid will just pop out of this thing?" He tried to keep the incredulity from his voice, but failed. It was just too fantastic to be believed. He glanced at Coailiann. He wasn't sure he was familiar with the sidhe...though he thought he'd heard the word before.
"Hullo Coailiann," he said, waving his fingers slightly before continuing to speak to the woman. "I thought you said your daughter's name was Matilda?"
Cal's mind was a lock-box of facts.
"Besides, I don't really have time for a child..." The sarcasm was back. God help him, he couldn't refrain.
He did at least pick the wand up then; he wanted to examine the pearls more closely; from this distance, they actually looked real...
He was blinded by a sudden flash from the crystalline tip of the spear. Instantaneously, pulsating heat flew up the shaft, disappearing as quickly as the light had, but not before Cal dropped it onto the desk once more with a clatter.
This time his eyes were utterly accusing.
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Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 12:14 pm
"You were acknowledged," Ianna explained when the wand acted up, and visablly winced at the clatter, "Be careful with it. If you break it, the spirit will die. You see, this is their second chance...They were killed or died horribly in a past life and..." she trailed off and sighed. At least he wasn't calling her insane and trying to threaten her like Danny had.
"I have Four daughters. Matilda and Coailiann...Del and Kishi. Kishi, Coailiann and Matilda are all from wands like those. Del is...Different." she paused, "Say hello, Matilda."
There was a thick silence before a voice filled the room, "Hello, Cal. Happy, mother? I was busy."
Ianna rolled her eyes, "YOU are busy? What are YOU doing other than laying in your bed and waiting for another wand to unearth and send me on another dangerous mission?"
"I'd tell you, but I REALLY doubt you'd want to know."
Ianna looked sick, "Uh. Yeah. You go back to doing that...." she coughed, "Anyway...She's in another realm. She built it herself..." a small shrug, "She's my eldest. And to answer your other question...No, they don't just pop out. They go through two state changes before solidifying into a baby. A wisp, their spirit emerging, and they solidify into a misty baby-substance. Then they solidify completely into an infant."
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Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 12:27 pm
When his name came echoing through the room in a strange woman's voice, Cal looked uncertain for the first time that day. The expression sat oddly on his lean face.
He fumbled for a cigarette. "Do you mind?" He waited for her answer, but he desperately hoped she didn't. He spoke again, feeling almost compelled to do so, prefacing it with a strange laugh. "I'm...sorry, I really don't know what to say. This is all..." "Preposterous," he'd wanted to say. Instead he let his voice trail off.
And even if this were somehow possible, as he'd said before, wasn't really thrilled at the idea of taking on a baby on his own.
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Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 12:30 pm
"Go ahead..." she made a face. Ianna despised the smell of the things, and Coailiann didn't like them much either but...Eh, to each their own, "Just keep in mind there's a toddler here, eh?"
Coailiann yawned softly and curled close to her mother, tired.
"And yes, I understand. I almost had a heart attack when I found Matilda..." she shook her head and took a deep breath, "But if you walk away, you're killing a little girl."
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