A Shadowlander's Dream: Book Two - Policy of Love
By Kathryn K Williams
Part Six - A New Home, A New Life
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Amber washed Kim's hair as Kim stared dismally at the bathroom wall. Kim finally managed to stop crying, but her mind no longer felt the same. A sense of loss and despair set into her heart and mind. She kept feeling like there was something she was forgetting but could not figure out what it was.
"Ready to rinse?" Amber inquired lightly.
Kim lowered her head into the water without answering. She was in a stunned daze and blinked at the ceiling as Amber rinsed the shampoo from her hair then helped her back into a seated position.
"You alright Kim?" Amber cautiously inquired.
Kim slowly shook her head, "I don't know." She rubbed her face with a handful of water then leaned over the edge of the tub, "Everything feels so murky and I can barely remember much of anything before I got here... I'm sorry about crying...." She apologized, crossing her arms beneath her head.
Amber gave the girl a small smile, "Don't worry about it." She stated warmly, "We all need a good cry every now and then." She glanced at the washroom door, "I only wish Sarah would cry. She is getting so angry with the world and I fear that she may explode if she don't let it out soon."
Kim looked at Amber, "Do you like her?" She timidly inquired.
Amber flushed and shook her head, "Not Sarah... someone else..." She let out a sigh.
"AHA!!" Sarah's voice resounded triumphantly. She came running to the washroom door carrying pair of overalls in her hands, "Don't these look so cute?" She inquired holding the pants up to herself, "Amber, you should see her clothes they are so adorable."
Kim flushed lightly at the girl's ecstatic reaction to her clothes and sunk into the tub, "Thanks." She mumbled softly.
"Welcome." Sarah set the pants on the edge of the sink, "I found you a shirt as well and with go get it."
"Could you grab some underwear too?" Amber requested.
"Sure thing." Sarah replied with a smile, "She has the cutest panties with little kitty prints one them." She exclaimed as she disappeared around the corner again.
Kim flushed even brighter and sunk into the water up to her nose.
Amber gave the girl a curious smile, "Kitty prints hmmmm...?"
Kim popped her head out of the water, "My mother bought them for me." She frantically explained, "They were a birthday present when I turned ten. She knew I liked cats and will..." She flushed again as she realized she was talking too much.
Amber leaned close to Kim, "I like puppies myself." She admitted with a smile then stood up, "You ready to get out?" Amber inquired, offering the girl a hand.
Kim slowly nodded, "Thank you for staying with me." She took Amber by the hand and allowed herself to be pulled out of the water.
Amber moved across the room to grab a towel from a small closet near the door, "Anytime." She unfolded the towel and held it out before Kim who searching for the tub stopper, "You are my little sister after all."
Kim plucked it free it then stood, "You really think of me as your sister? You've only known me one day." She inquired curiously.
Amber dropped the towel around the girl's head and helped her dry off, "Of course." She pulled the towel off of Kim's head and smiled at her, "I already know I like you and I see us being good friends. So of course you are my sister."
Kim hugged Amber, "Thank you."
Sarah entered the room again with a black shirt and underwear, "Here you are." She offered Amber, who took the clothes.
"Thanks." Amber glanced over Sarah's shoulder to see Penny curled up on her bunk, "How is Penny doing?" She inquired as she handed to clothes to Kim.
"Alright I guess." Sarah shrugged, "She asked for Kim a moment ago."
"She did?" Kim exclaimed in surprise, nearly falling over in the tub as she tried to get her legs through the panties. She managed to catch her balance before hitting her head on the wall, "Did she really ask for me?" She inquired excitedly.
Amber gave the girl a sly grin, "Seems someone likes Penny." She remarked with a giggle.
Kim blushed as she pulled the shirt over her head, "It's not like that." She protested as she struggled to find the neck hole and her head popped out, "I just want to be her friend." She explained.
Amber picked up the overalls and handed them to Kim, "Well I hope you become good friends." She remarked with a smile, "She is going to need one now that Jessie is gone." She smile quickly faded at the thought of Jessica.
Kim got out of the tub and took the pants, "Doesn't she have friends at school?" She inquired pulling the pants on.
Sarah shook her head, "We are not allowed to go to school.
"Not allowed?" Kim blinked in disbelief as she fumbled with the shoulder straps, "Why not?"
"Ma'am says that we do not deserve to go to school." Amber explained as the three of them left the washroom to join the others, "So she tutors us in the afternoon after we eat dinner."
"Ma'am?" Kim did not like the sound of that name for some reason. Maybe it was the way Amber said it. Almost as if it hurt to utter the words.
"She runs the house." Sarah replied dismally, "She demands that we call her ‘Ma'am'" She explained distastefully, "She is a witch and plans to cooks us."
Amber frowned at the girl's words, "Then we would be lucky." She stated with a sigh, "Anyway, Ma'am is not the one to worry about." She explained as she climbed up into the window sill, "She get angry a lot but she is not what I'm afraid of."
"The bad men..." Caitlin muttered from the corner with April curled up next to her.
"Bad men?" Kim turned to face Caitlin, "Who are they?"
"You will find out soon." Amber remarked, "Just hope you get one good night of sleep here." She said with a sad face, "Because you will not be sleeping much after they come visiting."
****
Kris slowly dragged her feet up the Western Dorm stairs and pushed through it's doors. The moment she entered the lobby she could feel the heavy tension that hung in the air. Natalie was the first to approach her.
"Kris? What happened?" Natalie urgently inquired.
Kris's eye set upon Jessica curled up against the wall and she shook her head dismally, "I don't want to talk about it."
"Did you and Jessica really...?" Natalie began to ask when she saw the hurt look in Kris's eyes, "Oh geez..." She ran a hand through her hair.
"Where's Jenn?" Kris asked, glancing around the lobby.
"She went to her room with Tanya and Cherilyn." Natalie explained, "They look rather miffed at you."
Kris dropped into a nearby couch and covered her face with her hands, "She hates me for sure now." She remarked hopelessly
Amy stepped out of the office with a broom in hand and spotted Kris, "Kris!" She leaned the broom against the wall and rushed over to the girl, "Are you alright?" She inquired, "I hear things did not go too well."
"You could say that." Kris replied with a nervous laugh, "I feel like someone just shot me through the heart."
"Give her some time." Natalie stated, "She might turn around."
"Or she will hate me forever." Kris remarked placing her hand upon her forehead, "And I would not blame her. God if only Carey had not stuck her nose in things. I want to strangle that girl." She stated through her teeth.
"Who is Carey anyways?" Natalie inquired sitting next to Kris.
"She is one of the Sisters of Death." Amy said, letting out a deep sigh.
"A Death Sister?" Natalie exclaimed, "What kind of sister would attack an innocent girl?"
"There are nine Sisters of Death living in the Hall of Candles." Amy began to explain, "Each is responsible for guiding a certain type of soul back to Death's Corridor. The oldest being Julie, followed by Morrigan, then Brenna, Grania, Gwen, Angelina, Kris, Keelia and the youngest of them all is Carey. Their father, The Meanderer, determines their paths based upon the first ten years of their lives." She sat down upon a couch and noticing she had everyone's attention continued her explanation, "For instance Morrigan is in charge of those that have died during wars, while Angelina deals with those who have commit suicide."
"Geez." Natalie muttered, "That doesn't sound like a fun job." She turned to Kris, "What souls were you in charge of." She inquired curiously.
"Children..." Kris stated dismally.
Natalie winced, "Hell, how could you handle something like that?"
"I didn't..." Kris replied sadly, "You just hope that they understand before having to take them to their last resting place."
Sensing Kris's distress Amy continued her tale, "Carey was in charge of those who died by murderous intent. She dealt with some of the more stubborn souls. The ones who are not even aware of their death and would fight to stay on earth. Being the youngest Carey understood her role as little as the souls she recovered understood that they were dead. After a time she started to see death as simply a game and souls were points. She started to manipulate people and cause them to commit murders for her so she could gain more souls then her sisters and did so with delight."
"A death angel killing people." Alyson breathed, "Now there is a nightmare I would not like to face."
"Jenn just did." Kris remarked flatly, leaning back against the sofa and staring at the ceiling, "I should have known she would come after me in some manner. I just never thought she would go after Jenn."
"Why would you want to hurt you?" Natalie inquired, growing increasingly more interested in this tale.
Kris set her eyes upon Natalie, "Because I was the one who tore off her wings and banished her from the Hall of Candles." She stated coldly.
Something about the look in Kris's eyes sent a shiver through the girl, "Y... you did that to your own sister?"
"She is no sister of mine." Kris snarled.
"Isn't that the same way your family is treated you?" Natalie asked cynically, "You treat family like they are disposable."
Kris jumped to her feet and towered over Natalie, "She killed people for fun. She even tried to kill Jenn, when all I did was fall in love." She growled at the girl, "We are not the same. Never suggest such a thing ever again."
Amy leapt to her feet and pulled Kris back, "Kris, you need to calm down a little." She ordered.
"Calm down!!" Kris shouted, "How am I supposed to calm down? Jenn is nearly murdered and Natalie is accessing me of being the same as her. I am nothing like Carey. What about Alyson then?" She pointed at the girl angrily, "Her brother helped Carey does that make her an insane murder too?"
Alyson cringed at the assault and Natalie came to her aid, "Don't shout at her. What is wrong with you lately?" She asked coldly, "First you treat Jenn badly then you start attacking everyone around you. If this is how you treat your friends then I don't want to be one."
"Fine!" Kris pushed Amy off and stormed out of the room, "I don't need any of you anyway." She pushed the door opened with enough force to cause it to bang against the wall before slamming shut.
"Well that didn't go well." Amy said, shaking her head.
"Kris!!" Jessica started after the girl only to have Amy stop her.
"No leave her. She needs to cool off first before she can think rationally." Amy rubbed her forehead in distress, "I wish the Sophia was here..."
****
Amber watched the world pass by from her perch in the window, "Do you think Jessie really escaped?" She inquired hopefully.
"They probably already killed her." Sarah stated cynically.
"She is alive." Kim remarked as she crossed the room to where Penny sat, "Hey, there. How are you doing?" She inquired, "Can I join you?"
Penny nodded and gave Kim a weak smile which Kim returned warmly. Penny cocked her head at this, "Why do you smile?" She inquired curiously as the redhead crawled onto the bunk bed.
Kim gave the girl a peculiar look, "Why shouldn't I?" She asked as she sat next to Penny.
"Because she doesn't understand." Sarah stated coldly as she climbed the ladder to the top bunk and rolled onto the mattress.
"Sarah, would you leave her alone." Amber snapped, "Give the girl a break will you?"
"Why should she not worry?" Sarah asked crankily.
"Just give her one day would you?" Amber requested then glanced out the window again, "She should be allowed at least that."
"Sorry..." Sarah said dismally.
Penny snuggled into Kim and Kim wrapped her arm around the girl, "Are you going to leave too?" Penny inquired in a weak voice.
Kim softly pet the girl's head, "This is my home now." She assured the girl, "I'm staying right here with you." She promised.
Penny lifted her head to look Kim in the eyes, "You promise."
Kim could not take her eyes off Penny's, eyes filled with such anguish and fear, "I promise." She replied, a strange felling build up inside of Kim's chest as the urge to kiss Penny arose inside of her. The longer she stared into Penny's eyes the stronger the feeling got until it boiled up inside of her heart. Cautiously she reached out a hand to touch Penny's cheek. Penny pulled back a little, but did not make a move to run away, "I will not hurt you." Kim assured and to prove it she lightly touched the girl's cheek and caressed it.
Penny took Kim's hand and held it to her face. She gazed into Kim's eyes and gave a small smile, "Thank you." She layed down on her back with her head upon Kim's legs and closed her eyes.
"Your welcome." Kim ran her hand through Penny's hair as the girl rested in her lap. She fought with the desire kiss the girl, finding it hard to take her eyes off Penny's lips as she struggled with her feelings. Slowly she was losing the battle and leaned closer, licking her lips and quivering as the thought of a kiss filled her mind. She could almost taste Penny's lips and was only an inch away from the girl when Amber suddenly called out.
"Ma'am is back!" Amber exclaimed uneasily, causing Kim to quickly pull back from Penny nearly hitting her head against the wall. Amber jumped off the window sill and flopped upon the mattress with Kim and Penny and smiled up at Kim, "Just stay quiet and don't talk back and you will be alright." She explained, patting the girl upon the leg, "That is if she is in a good mood..." She fell silent as she listened to the sound of the front door opening and closing again.
"Here we go with that music again." Sarah remarked resentfully. Slowly the sound of a waltz began to drift through the house, "I wish she would choose another record." She pleaded in disgust.
"Shhh..." Amber hushed the girl.
Penny closed her eyes and began to softly hum to the melody. Her head slowly swayed to the music and Kim was almost certain that Penny must have been dreaming of a dance. A ballroom dance with elegantly dressed dancers gliding across a large marble floor. She too closed her eyes and could see the ballroom before her. She could feel herself decked over in a red tux with a ruby masquerade mask upon her face, it felt snug on her body and made her feel princely. She could visualize Penny too, dressed in a golden gown that shimmered in the candlelight. She wished that she could be part of that ball and far away from there. She would whisk Penny away like a prince and ride away into the night upon a beautiful black horse. Kim smiled at the thought when someone slapped her leg, startling her out of her daydream.
"Get up!!" An angry voice commanded.
Kim's eyes snapped open to see the face of a very angry, very wrinkly woman with greying hair pulled up in a bun at the back of her head. She instantly understood why Sarah thought this woman to be a witch and found it hard to take her eyes off the hag when the woman shook Kim's leg again.
"I said ‘Get up'" She ordered yet again, "Or you will not get any supper." Amber was already to her feet and Penny was rolling out of the bed. Kim quickly scrambled out of the bed and the woman grabbed her by the arm, eyeing the redhead closely, "So you are the new girl. What is your name?" She asked sternly.
Kim stared at the woman, unsure of how she was to answer the question.
"What is wrong with you?" The woman shouted startling Kim, "Don't you know how to speak?"
"Y... yes..." Kim stammered. Something about this woman scared Kim. Only one other person ever emitted this kind of feeling in her and that was her father.
"Well then, your name?" The woman demanded.
"Ki..." Kim was finding it hard to speak. Her voice felt as if it were freezing in place making it nearly impossible to speak more then a single word. Could a person hold such a power? Maybe this woman did hold a bit of witchcraft in her. That would explain the shadowy beasts that caught her earlier and towed her here. The fear of those creatures made Kim force herself to speak, "Kim... Kimberly..."
"Kimberly?" The woman smiled at the girl, "What a sweet name. A very English sounding name." She remarked, "Well Kimberly you can call me Ma'am. Supper is waiting for you down in the dining room. If you don't hurry the others will eat it all before you get there." She ushered the girl out of the room to find Penny waiting in the hall, "What are you still doing here, Penny?" The woman inquired suspiciously.
Penny took Kim's hand and hid behind the girl, "I... I was just waiting for Kim." She replied shyly, "I wanted to show her the dinning room." She explained, uncertain that the woman would believe her.
"Good girl." The woman grinned in satisfaction, "You keep that up and you won't spend another day in the basement."
Penny bowed her head, "T.. Thank you, Ma'am." She tugged on Kim's arm and lead her down the stairs.
Kim leaned close to Penny's ear, "What did you do to be sent down there?" She inquired curiously.
Penny shook her head, "I was a bad girl." She simply stated and turned silent.
Kim considered asking more but decided against it. Penny lead Kim through the house to the dining room. One of the doors was badly damaged as if an animal had torn through it. Kim again recalled the creatures and shuddered. She glanced around the room to see that the windows we no longer boarded up and instead their were long dark window coverings hanging over them. Kim could not see any boards on the windows what so ever and blinked in disbelief at this change, "Wasn't there?"
Penny quickly shook her head and pulled Kim around the table.
"Kim, Penny, I saved you two a seat." Amber patted the chair to her right.
"Thanks." Kim sat down next to Amber with Penny to her other side.
Ma'am entered the room through a door in the back of the room. She was carrying a large pot and set it on the table, "Sarah, Caitlin, would you get the plates and silverware?" She inquired of the girl.
"Yes, Ma'am." Sarah was to her feet in a flash and took Caitlin by the hand, "Come on." They both rushed through the door the woman had just came through and within moments Sarah returned with a stack of white plates while Caitlin carried a cup full of utensils. Sarah quickly set a plate in front of each girl and one at the head of the table then sat back down. Caitlin however stared at the silverware as if she were confused as to what she should do.
"We only need forks today dear." Ma'am said to the girl.
As if released of a huge pressure the girl took out some forks and handed them to each of the girls and placed one by the plate at the head of the table. When she was sure everyone had a fork she returned the cup to the kitchen and quickly returned to her seat.
"Good girl." The woman patted Caitlin on the head, "We have Kraft Dinner for you all today."
"Yay! KD!" Amber exclaimed excitedly as she kicked her feet.
Ma'am frowned at Amber, "Stop kicking your feet." She demanded, "You are thirteen now so set a good example."
Amber abruptly stopped moving and bowed her head in shame, "I'm sorry, Ma'am."
The woman served a heaping spoon full of Kraft Dinner upon each plate then sat down at the head of the table. Kim hungrily grabbed her fork and was about to dig in when she heard the woman clear her throat. She glanced around to see everyone had they hands together in preparation for prayer.
Kim dropped her fork and place her hands upon her lap, "I... I'm sorry." Kim apologized feeling ashamed of herself.
"Prayer before food, Kim." The woman remarked, "Remember that for tomorrow."
"Yes, Ma'am." Kim replied in embarrassment, she felt Penny's hand rub her leg and glanced over at the girl to see her give a small smile, then place her hands together again. Kim smiled back and placed her hands together as well.
"Amber, would you say grace?" Ma'am requested.
Amber shifted in her chair to get closer to the table and closed her eyes, "Lord, Thank you for this food we are about to eat and for watching over us. Thank you Ma'am for letting us stay at your home and giving us clothes to keep us warm at night and thank you Kraft for creating KD for it is my favourite thing to eat." She opened one eye to peek at Ma'am who gave her a small frown.
"It will do." Ma'am stated, "Everyone?"
"Amen." They all said in unison.
"Okay let's eat." Ma'am stated.
As if someone had released the hounds from their leashes the girl's grabbed their forks and dug into their food. Penny dropped her hand upon Kim's leg. Kim glanced at the girl unsure of how she should respond. Slowly she placed her own hand upon Penny's hand and squeezed it. The two let out a small giggle that caused Ma'am to look their way.
"Penny dear?" Ma'am called for the girl's attention which made Penny to freeze up. Kim gently squeezed her hand again to reassure her, "Since Kim is new and you two seem to be getting along so well. I would like you to share your books during our lesson today."
Penny let out her breath, not even aware that she was holding it, "O... okay, Ma'am." She replied trying to catch her breath.
"We will start our studies as soon as you finish your chores." Ma'am remarked, "Amber and Sarah I want you to do dishes today. The others can help clean the rest of the kitchen."
"Alright." Amber replied.
"Kay." Sarah added.
"No dilly-dallying." Ma'am glanced at her watch, "It is already one in the afternoon and I want to finish your studies before six.
"Yes, Ma'am" The girls said in together. They ate as quickly as they dared without causing themselves to throw up, then Sarah started gathering the dishes while Amber headed to the kitchen to fill the sink. Penny took Kim by the hand and lead her to the kitchen. Kim was prepared to find teddy bear guts all over the room only to discover not a speck of green anywhere. She blinked in disbelief when Penny handed her a broom and placed a finger to her lips signalling for her to keep quiet. She grabbed another broom and pulled Kim to the front door where she began to swept the hall.
"Penny?" Kim glanced back at the kitchen, "What is going on? Where is that monster?"
Penny shook her head, "They show up mostly at night." She remarked as she swept.
"But I killed one in the sink... didn't I?" Kim was starting to question her own memories, "How did I get into the basement in the first place?"
Penny shrugged, "You should clean or we'll get into trouble." She stated concentrating on her sweeping.
"Sorry." Kim helped Penny swept the floor until they gathered enough dirt in the middle. They busily swept one room after another chasing the dust bunnies out from behind doors and furniture. Before long they were exhausted and Kim was wishing that they could sit down when Ma'am cam looking for them.
"Good work girls." She said proudly, "Put your brooms away and join us in the living room."
"Finally." Kim muttered soft enough that Ma'am would not hear, however Penny did and let out a slight giggle.
The two of them hung up their brooms and ran into the living room to find the others already there. April and Amber sat upon the couch on the left while Sarah lay across the one of the right. Ma'am glanced up from her place upon the couch in the middle. She had several book stacked up to either side of her and she smiled at the girls, "You two can sit on the right in the centre." She gestured to the rug in middle of all the couches.
Penny grinned as she noticed a fire was blazed in the fireplace at the foot of the rug. Excitedly she pulled Kim around the couches and layed on her stomach in the middle of the rug, then patted the ground beside her. Kim sat down next to Penny with her feet crossed.
Ma'am handed out books to each girl, "Let's begin with math." She remarked, "Alright?"
Everyone nodded in agreement as they took their books and opened them.
*****
To be Continued . . .
*****
Note: The world of the shadowlands, Its stories, Characters and ideas are a copyright of Kathryn K Williams.
This story is based upon my manga of the same name. If you wish visit my site and see some of the art based on this series at http://www.KatAndNekoManga.ca
Also if you spot any typos or other errors please contact me at Kathryn@KatAndNekoManga.ca
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