Post by Charissma Starr on May 18, 2005 1:06:50 GMT -8
Thursday, May 12th, 2005. 10:35 PM
Lake View Cemetery
Seattle, Washington
The sky stood like a sheet of gray over the city, an ever present blanket which alternated between cold steel and light fluff. The grass had a light dew covering as Charissma made her way through the cemetery. Headstones acted like markers, some of them tall like sentries guarding the sleep of the dead, others casting long shadows that played tricks on the mind and she truly didn’t feel comfortable knowing that Amadeo couldn’t be far behind, at least not with all the shadows that stretched out before her. Jean-Lionel’s orders hadn’t made her any more comfortable, knowing that the shadow crafter was to be her Keeper for at least the week.
She made the long march up the hill to where the headstones sat. How many people had she known in her short life, and even shorter unlife, that had come to rest here? Friends, loved ones, relatives, all of them now lay beneath the earthen blanket of grass and soil, decomposing in rotting wooden boxes. The destination was the final resting place of her parents, William and Rebecca Petersen. Few if any really knew that. Unless they had been fans of Charissma or her husband, who any longer was on Business in San Francisco.
In the wind, her auburn hair fluttered lightly, as the element swirled around her. It was as if the spirits of the dead were trying to speak to her, and as much as she missed her parents, she didn’t want to hear the voices of those wraiths. Her hiking boots were covered in dew and the bottoms held the blades of freshly cut grass left on the lawn. In the distance, roughly twenty feet away, she could see the gravestone and she stopped. She hadn’t been to this place since she was eight years old. At least not to this hill, and she had never wanted to remember that pain.
Friday, May 12th, 1984. 12:41 PM
The Residence of Alexander and Annette Cross
Magnolia District, Seattle, Washington
The sky was a gentle blue, with rolling white fluffs of cumulus, accented with the sounds of chirping birds as the Lincoln rounded the corner and came to a stop in the driveway of the massive town house. The style mimicked the time it had been built, roughly a century ago and few if any knew that the current residents of the house had been there the entire time. Most often the excuse given was that Alexander was busy during the day with meetings, appointments and deals, as the Northwest District representative for the Sanger Corporation.
“Annette, thanks for watching Charissma. Rebecca and I should only be gone for a few days, Back by Monday night at the latest.” William greeted his “sister-in-law” with a hug and all the warmth and gentility of family.
“Oh Will, it’s not a problem at all. Alexander and I love having the Nieces and Nephews over and Charissma is always such a good girl.”<br>
“Alright, well we’re going to hit the road.” William turned to his daughter, “Charissma, you behave yourself for your aunt and uncle and we’ll be back no later than Monday evening, ok sweetheart?”<br>
“I will, dad. You and mom have a good trip, ok?” Charissma had wanted to go, but even at her young age she understood her parents needed some time to themselves. Most times she figured it was because even though she was an only child, she in her demanding schedule, could be a handful. The hugs had been exchanged, good-byes had been said and after about fifteen minutes, William and Rebecca were pulling out of the driveway.
Back in the Here and Now
The memories of that day had come back to Charissma like the tidal waves of the great deluge. Things she had never wanted to remember or feel again rushed vividly, playing out in a pageant of tradgedy as she stood there, staring at her parents graves. She couldn’t hear Amadeo walking up behind her, the shadows beneath his feet providing the very ground upon which he walked. Even if she had heard him chances were she wouldn’t be able to control the sobs that now came with crimson tears. She was only 27, damned to an eternity in which her darkest fears were ultimate truths.
The young Primogen fell to the ground, sobbing as she clutched the tombstone of her mother. Over and over she repeated the words “I’m sorry, mommy. I’m so sorry.” But no matter how much she wanted it to end, the memories continued to assault her as she sat there.
Then, slumped against and clutching to the grave, she lost everything around her to the memories, the dew that soaked through her jeans, the wind that swirled about her and the presence of her Keeper, all were little more than unnoticeable objects as the dark reverie of her past continued.
Lake View Cemetery
Seattle, Washington
The sky stood like a sheet of gray over the city, an ever present blanket which alternated between cold steel and light fluff. The grass had a light dew covering as Charissma made her way through the cemetery. Headstones acted like markers, some of them tall like sentries guarding the sleep of the dead, others casting long shadows that played tricks on the mind and she truly didn’t feel comfortable knowing that Amadeo couldn’t be far behind, at least not with all the shadows that stretched out before her. Jean-Lionel’s orders hadn’t made her any more comfortable, knowing that the shadow crafter was to be her Keeper for at least the week.
She made the long march up the hill to where the headstones sat. How many people had she known in her short life, and even shorter unlife, that had come to rest here? Friends, loved ones, relatives, all of them now lay beneath the earthen blanket of grass and soil, decomposing in rotting wooden boxes. The destination was the final resting place of her parents, William and Rebecca Petersen. Few if any really knew that. Unless they had been fans of Charissma or her husband, who any longer was on Business in San Francisco.
In the wind, her auburn hair fluttered lightly, as the element swirled around her. It was as if the spirits of the dead were trying to speak to her, and as much as she missed her parents, she didn’t want to hear the voices of those wraiths. Her hiking boots were covered in dew and the bottoms held the blades of freshly cut grass left on the lawn. In the distance, roughly twenty feet away, she could see the gravestone and she stopped. She hadn’t been to this place since she was eight years old. At least not to this hill, and she had never wanted to remember that pain.
Friday, May 12th, 1984. 12:41 PM
The Residence of Alexander and Annette Cross
Magnolia District, Seattle, Washington
The sky was a gentle blue, with rolling white fluffs of cumulus, accented with the sounds of chirping birds as the Lincoln rounded the corner and came to a stop in the driveway of the massive town house. The style mimicked the time it had been built, roughly a century ago and few if any knew that the current residents of the house had been there the entire time. Most often the excuse given was that Alexander was busy during the day with meetings, appointments and deals, as the Northwest District representative for the Sanger Corporation.
“Annette, thanks for watching Charissma. Rebecca and I should only be gone for a few days, Back by Monday night at the latest.” William greeted his “sister-in-law” with a hug and all the warmth and gentility of family.
“Oh Will, it’s not a problem at all. Alexander and I love having the Nieces and Nephews over and Charissma is always such a good girl.”<br>
“Alright, well we’re going to hit the road.” William turned to his daughter, “Charissma, you behave yourself for your aunt and uncle and we’ll be back no later than Monday evening, ok sweetheart?”<br>
“I will, dad. You and mom have a good trip, ok?” Charissma had wanted to go, but even at her young age she understood her parents needed some time to themselves. Most times she figured it was because even though she was an only child, she in her demanding schedule, could be a handful. The hugs had been exchanged, good-byes had been said and after about fifteen minutes, William and Rebecca were pulling out of the driveway.
Back in the Here and Now
The memories of that day had come back to Charissma like the tidal waves of the great deluge. Things she had never wanted to remember or feel again rushed vividly, playing out in a pageant of tradgedy as she stood there, staring at her parents graves. She couldn’t hear Amadeo walking up behind her, the shadows beneath his feet providing the very ground upon which he walked. Even if she had heard him chances were she wouldn’t be able to control the sobs that now came with crimson tears. She was only 27, damned to an eternity in which her darkest fears were ultimate truths.
The young Primogen fell to the ground, sobbing as she clutched the tombstone of her mother. Over and over she repeated the words “I’m sorry, mommy. I’m so sorry.” But no matter how much she wanted it to end, the memories continued to assault her as she sat there.
Then, slumped against and clutching to the grave, she lost everything around her to the memories, the dew that soaked through her jeans, the wind that swirled about her and the presence of her Keeper, all were little more than unnoticeable objects as the dark reverie of her past continued.
