Journal
Night Angel
She slowly sat up, her head throbbing. The simple motion was instantly regretted as a livid pain shot through her shoulders and back. A dull yellow candle flickered. The woolen blanket gave little protection from the piercing cold. The old bed gave a shuddering groan as the wood bent with her weight. It was a barren room. there was a table with two candles on it. The room was made of stone and had one wooden door and what looked like a dresser. She looked at her own clothing: a simple white gown. Something cool touched her skin. A locket shaped like a heart, had one word inscribed on it: Kaiya. A name? Her name? She couldn’t remember. She closed her eyes. The sound of beating wings, flapping frantically, a sudden tumult of pain and confusion. What had happened? She stood up and pulled the blanket around her. Hushed voices came from the other room. "Kaiya?" She asked herself. Was it her name? Maybe, it felt different and new on her tongue. She leaned back on the bed. "She’s in here doctor." A woman said. Her accent revealed that she was a commoner. "I see. I presume you are the only medical expert in this town?" another voice said, a man’s. The simple statement was given unwanted authority. "I am not but, I’m probably the best, sir." Wait for me, Kaiya. The words touched her mind as if it were a memory. Maybe it was? The door opened, and she sucked in breath. A woman with short blonde hair that was held up in a ponytail. She had brown-yellow eyes which were warm and inviting. She wore a leather vest over a tattered white smock with black boots to finish off the ensemble. Behind her was a bent old man with a white coat over more casual black clothes. He had a black bag. Even as they entered the room, another man hovered in the doorway. He was most likely in his early thirties and wore finer clothing. "You’re up." The woman said calmly. "Ah." The doctor gasped as he looked at her. "That’s a nasty bruise." He hobbled over. She vainly tried to locate the location of focus. She touched the side of her head, it throbbed but, the pain redoubled with the light contact. "Where am I?" "In my bar." The woman said. The man in the doorway cleared his throat. " Hold on, sir. All questions will have to be withheld until my examination is done." The doctor scolded. "Now, deary, what exactly happened to give you such a bruise?" She struggled to find her voice. " I-I’m not sure, there was wings beating furiously then, pain and then, darkness. I don’t remember it well." "Hm... Anything else?" "Well, not really except. . ." she chewed her lip not knowing if she should mention the voice."Except?" he prompted her. " I remember someone saying: Wait for me, Kaiya." "Hmm. . .. Well. It looks to be swelling but, not very much. Do you have any other injuries?" "Not that I know of ." A few minutes past, he asked a few questions and prodded the around the bruise. Finally he turned to the woman and began to give instructions. She glanced from them over to the man. He had a square chin and stony eyes, He had thick brown hair and dark eyes that betrayed no emotion. He seemed to tower over the woman. He was stiller than a statue and analyzed her occasionally when he thought she wasn’t looking. "Well, I’ll come back the day after tomorrow to see how she’s getting along." "Alright, doctor." The woman replied. "If I may have a word with you two outside." The man gave a gruff confirmation and the woman nodded. "Just wait here sweetie." Did she know the woman? Was she related? Her whole mind was blank on the subject. She considered everything that had been said. There had been some degree of excitement but, not one of concern as one would feel for a family member. The man was definitely puzzling. They all talked in hushed voices in the other room. Silently, she slid over to the door. She wondered if this childish eavesdropping was part of her personality. Shrugging away the thought she pressed her ear to the door. "She seemed a bit disoriented but, do you think?" The woman said quietly. "I can’t be sure. She might just be confused. See if you can get a name or the like." "Or why she was trespassing." The man put in. "This is not an interrogation!" The woman said in a hushed but, indignant voice. "I trust she’ll be staying with you?" "Yes. Unless Baron Archine would offer her a place to stay." This last was apparently directed at the man. They moved further away and the remainder of the conversation was lost. She slipped back to the small bed. She sat on the edge the blanket over her knees and took the chain off from around her neck. It looked like a locket of some sort. Uncertainly, she slid a fingernail around the edges. She attempted to pry it open but, it did not yield. Sighing in frustration, she curled up on the bed and contented herself with tracing the script letters. Kaiya . She was interrupted from her thoughts as the barking of a dog broke through the silence. The man, Baron Archine spoke in an audible voice. "I have left my niece waiting out side. Please excuse me. It has been a pleasure meeting you." "It was very nice to meet you, too." The woman said. The door opened and closed a girl’s voice was added to the others. "Uncle, I was wondering what was keeping you. You said it wouldn’t take long." "I’m sorry. I was just leaving." His voice had a kinder inflection to it. The girl laughed. "It was Chris who was getting impatient." "Good-bye, madam and sir." Again farewells were exchanged. Then the door opened and closed. "It makes you wonder. An old veteran stiff as stone until a laughing teenage girl comes along."The woman said incredulously." The doctor shared her chuckle and gave his own goodbye. Moments later, the woman returned. Almost involuntarily, she asked, "Who was that?" "Well, which one?" "The girl and the younger man." "The man was the Baron Archine of the North Woods. The girl was his niece, Jinna." "His niece?" "Her mother died when she was but a child. He was her only family, her father was unknown. The one thing about that man was that he defended his little sister until he went to war and when he came back his sister, father and brother were dead. His mother was fatally ill and all her had a was a little three year old." "How’d they die?" "His father and brother both fell on the battle field. He had to take his father’s place as baron. His sister was never very strong. She fell dreadfully ill and was living on the streets unwilling to take charity from her family. Her daughter looks just like her. Rest her soul." "Hm." "Sad story. Truly. But, you know you’re a bit of mystery yourself. I need to clear up some things." "Like what?" "For instance, your name? Mine’s Rufa." "I don’t know but, I think it’s Kaiya." "You don’t know?" "I told the doctor, I couldn’t remember much." "And why do you guess it’s Kaiya?" "This locket."She said, holding it up for inspection. Rufa looked at it and asked, "What’s in it?" "I don’t know. It won’t open." "Well, I guess Kaiya will have to do. We can’t just call you girl, now can we?" Rufa smiled. Kaiya returned the smile. But secretly she wondered if her own past was the same as Jinna’s. Rufa seemed to read her thoughts. "The doctor said something about amnesia. That bruise had to have some side effects. Archine will have to wait for answers. You’ll get your memory back, I’m sure." "Why is Archine worried about me?" "You were found unconscious on his estate. He wonders why you were there. So do I but, as I said we’ll just have to wait. For now, since you’re going to stay here for awhile, you can give me some help. First, though, let’s eat something." Kaiya gave her agreement.
Rufa nearly smothered her in food. She had just finished when a loud crash made her jump. Two drunk men wobbled out as Kaiya quietly slipped in to see what had happened. Rufa casually swept up shards of broken bottle. "You better go to bed. This is the busiest time of night!" She yelled to her over the already growing noise. She nodded and went into the back room. She snuggled under the extra blankets Rufa had brought for her. The noise in the next room seemed distant and in moments she closed her eyes a drifted off to sleep.
Fight or run? It was too late. A sword blade is arcing down toward her. She braces herself and suddenly a flash of pain shoots through her head. She rolls through the sky. Someone dives down after her, the glint of a sword. She is doomed. It brushes against her forehead. Then comes plummeting down toward her heart. "Death is Eternal . . ."
Kaiya sat straight up. The words even now faded from her mind. She grasped at them trying to hold on to them, to hold on to something. Darkness still shrouded her. How long had she been asleep? She curled back up but, did not fall asleep. Quietly, she whispered the words, "Death is Eternal . . ."
........
Comments
Viewing 7 of 7 comments.