 |
Monday, December 17, 2007Chapter 54The emails were flooding the moment I logged in the day I could make the computer work. I opened up the earliest one from Quinn: Hey gal, You’re ok? It must be lonely there. Our anniversary was a disaster. I was dazzled and confused by so many people. I failed to make a mind shield and almost fainted. So much input into my head. Mona still wanted to drag me around to talk to more people! I must have mumbled some nonsense. My relatives on the Mayfairs’ side think I am a dumb person. They think I’m brilliant, that’s why I am a lousy talker. The truth is… I’m so miserable. Complete misunderstanding! I was overwhelmed, gal. They didn’t blame me, but my gal was pissed. She wouldn’t accept my sorries. She’s not ans my calls or visits. I’m not something to be shown off to people, I’m her fiancé. Miss you online! How’s everything?I like chatting with Louis, coz boss doesn’t come onl. My phone number is 6500-98435. u guys can call me. hope Boss will! Yours truly: Quinn B. I replied him on how sorry I was. I felt my skill growing in strength, meditating. I didn’t have to truly say ‘ohm’ like a Buddhist, lotus position. I just had to find the quietness in my heart and work on that. Music swelled to a crescendo. Lestat’d heard this music! No wonder, it was the trill of larks, the victory dance, the canticle of freedom…. Yellow, mauve, green, red, orange. Each of us had our heart song. Next 2 messages from Stat and Louis. Cherie-pie, I’ve taken to calling u all: a walking pie, strawberry, chocolate, all things nice. Smiley. Oh yea thinx is the cool sp. Rite? Today I was off from finding fledglings. Instead of journal writing, this one will be it. We got 3 of them at one seeking. This is a process where we telepathize on a mass scale. They were lost and like me unwilling vamps. Don’t want to adopt one since my present kids are bad engh, so I let Melinda n jerry take over. U wld be interested to know them, abt When will u reply? I’m taking care of myself. R u? Won’t try to go to the place. Describe the house u r in… assuming u r in one. Pls not in the forest!!! -Bratprince with love Hello Krys, I’m making u a present. Don’t worry, it won’t be boring. U will see when u come home. Are u eating well? I saw a bit of Lestat’s letter, same. Wanna know how’s the environment like. Have u got stronger? I bought u new curtains n a blouse, green with sequins in the middle. Looking fw to I drummed out replies to Stat and Louis right away. It was a week ago. They must be worried. There were more forwards, contacts from Hi guys, (cc. to louis) Ok! I just got hookedup to net this wkend. Sorry. Hahah I’m a big walking pie. Yay! thx Stat for the journal. Haven’t seen the other entries yet… will later. How u feeling? It must be v. tired to do a Seeking. I’m glad they are ok. What r their gifts? Aww, yea u guys can’t Shift. 5%? I wanna know which of u r Shapers so can esc if danger. Aaah! Description-- living in an elder’s house. Little furniture, but not bad. Nice view of mountains which I like hehe. No tv, this small laptop that can’t be used4 gaming. I can sleep well on a soft cushion bed, many books. N the fridge has some food. Btw, it’s 3 hours ahead here so u will see this soon. I miss u a lot! U had better not come here, Stat. Not a threat. Yea it is a forest but not that deserted. Some pple to talk to. Sometimes my owner comes home n we have a dinner. Food is more vegetarian. I like them, n there’s buns too. That’s comforting. Ok, see u later. Don’t worry, time flies. Hows my bro? he giving u probs? ---- Bianca Outside it was sunny once more. I flew downwards, excited by the rush of adrenaline against my face. A fisherman tossed a fish into the air. I grabbed it and tore the flesh from the food. Yum! First meat I had in ages. In the wild, hunting is extremely difficult. I didn’t tell the others this, as they would not hesitate to try and come if they knew. I needed this time to mature. My time here was a necessity. It was not about proving myself. A message on the screen! Cool! Hey there, u just replied. Is it too diff to do msn? Really? But tats worrying, no tv. Is it hard? Stat is sleeping in today. He had a lot of work to do. I’m glad he din take in more fledglings, or I’d be jealous. I don’t like vying for attn. haha, wicked laughter. But not too bad, seems like with this work, all of them have better telepathy. Except me, still got headache when I Send. Ur bro is fine, if not gaming, with frenz. Sometimes he’ll go out with me. we went shell picking n racing small cars. Whee. Didn’t think wld b that fun but I did. Theres race track just for us. There’s new drama on at ten. It’s a comedy abt husbands n wives. We luv to watch together. As they say, I’m alw rerunning same old shows, got new one now. lots of love! -- Louis Hihi Louis-chan, Bwahahaha. Connection here too slow for msn. Let’s just write… Not like another fledge? Ah but marquis still loves u v. much. No matter what. Don’t be so jealous. i miss my piano lessons, tell him!! Want him to coach me again, willing to do more lessons this time. Feel like I’m growing so fast. I read abt the danger of not embracing my youth. Shit! Don’t want to be deprived. Is it too late to worry about this now? Wow drama sounds nice. Update me. u r racing? Omg! That is So cute. Send my love n hugs to monsieur de lionc. Dearest cherie pie, Hmm, nope I’m not tired after scanning or Seeking. They are almost the same. We do this tog which is easier. Hehe, really? U won’t be able to esc I assure u. I’ll hold u tight so u can’t! That is a threat to me! I wanna find u now. But aimless, can’t scan for u at all. I’m relieved u have pple to talk to… if I were in same situation I’d go nuts! I’ve been in isolation before but can’t take it. why r u not going mental? Have u eaten? I’m about to go for my cuisine. It’s a short pudgy male who’s robbed old ladies all his life. Just came here n I’m gonna make him pay. Evil laughter. Do u cook Jaceline can become a wolf at will, tho she’s smaller than a real one. I enjoy seeing the process! I’ve met also other elders, one with weather as a Gift. Don’t want to have that though, I’m outta control with fire already. The play we’re making is at standstill! Coz we’re so busy helping other pple. I hope can do it by next month. Shall be romance x comedy, which all of u like! Lols. What does lols stand for? Dun laf at me now. -------- TVL I laughed aloud. His message was so cute. I felt teary too, why did I come here by myself? I was going mental, kind of. I loved my family. They’d been so nice to me. Was I ready to go home yet? My heart shouted Yes! I dove down from the short cliff and whoosh went my hair. At midway, I willed my wings to sprout. The warmth of it filled me. I floated. Now I was in semi-human form. Curled myself up and became totally hawk. Stunning! I swooped and rose, did a few turns and somersaults. Looked at myself in the reflection of the water. Golden eyes, sharp with black pupils that were wild and so unlike myself… People have always thought of me as wild when I am in my Shape. I circled about this area, before I beat my wings and met the sky. I would take three days to get back. Now, you must be curious how I set the map positioning? It’s quite simple. I portray it in my mind, hold it still as a photo and just let my instincts guide me. It’s similar to the Blood drinkers’ way of tracking victims and navigating. On the way, people waved goodbye to me. The sun was just setting and men were congregating to discuss about their day. Children pointed up at me, guffawing. A little girl with red hair like me whistled. I caught her thought—bringer of good luck! You will always be welcome here! Thanks a lot! I’m going home now! – I answered. A wild flower. I plucked it and dove low enough to give it to her. She touched my feathers as I went on my way. Outside the barrier to telepathy I Sent my friends that I was coming home. Sunset was 3 hours ahead… hmm, I’d tell Chels and Ron and mum and bro first then. They responded gaily with mauve and gold. I took some rest along the journey, roosting in human habitats where possible. Crevices with some straw was good enough, I also rested at an abandoned swifts’ nest. Being small I could fit in very easily. ********* The moment I got back to my own home, I Changed back. My muscles ached from the strain of being in the air for that much time. I had tanned, my eyes slightly greener than usual, red hair with feathers. That was new, my red looking feathers rustling along the nape of my neck. My phone rang. I picked it up and played with my cushion. “Heeelllo,” I drawled. Cunning laughter. “Bonsoir.” “Lestat. Is it you?” “No, it’s Armand.” I frowned. Hmm, Armand’s voice so high pitched? Oh yea they can disguise their voices. “I don’t believe ya. You’re the bratp.” “Haha yea. How did you know?” I said because I was a brainy. Stomach giggling. I smiled. “Bianca, are you tired? We made some nice dinner. Let’s see, all your favorites: chicken grilled, with wings, drizzle of olive oil, ice cream, little prawns. Please come and try them,” Lestat told me in one breath sounding seductive. I’d almost forgotten how seductive his tone can get. It can be vulnerable too, as I know. If you reject his request, he will force his way in anyway. “Lemme think.” In the background, someone yelped ‘hot hot help help’ . Lestat asked me to hold and left. He picked up again. “Don’t think anymore k? Do come. Wanna see you. You can be late, like 8.30? we’re doing some finalization.” “Yea ok.” I went to sleep. ****** I landed softly in my room at the Rue Royale 2. A sketchbook with calligraphy was on my desk. I flipped it open. Had they bought this for me? many portraits so well done they were flawless. Louis with a ferocity, lifted canines for inspection. David and Armand posing together, both in waistcoats. David held an old fashioned pipe to his lips. One of the theatre, the present one here. It was the only one in color, and looked just like you could step into it. A sketch of me clad in white striped blouse, Vneck, my hair loose. Wow! I think Armand and Lestat must have done them. Why leave it here, for me? I cast around my room. Yep the curtains were changed. Blue flowers on yellow cloth. My bed was matching and had those draperies. I had casually remarked how nice it would be to sleep like the 18th century. Done!
Louis’ writing on a box that was tied with satin ribbons. I decided to open it later. “You’re back,” Chels remarked drily. I jumped. She’d been so quiet. She squeezed me tight. I laughed and hugged her back. Gosh how I missed her! I walked down the winding stairs, concealing the bumping sound of my shoes. But my friend already rushed ahead to call out that I was home. Louis first, his dark shiny locks loose and clad in a long sleeved yellow striped tailored shirt. His solemn face became bright. “Good to see you!” he said and shook my offered hand. Then Louis asked what happened to me. Running out, my bro preceded, monkey face. He laid the utensils quickly on the table. Lestat brought out some plates. His face gleamed with some sweat and he was soaked with that too. They said hi and bade me sit down. All the food was delicious! I spooned some prawns to taste. Louis explained, “I’ve just changed. You can eat first, hungry right?” Lestat had changed into a deep green waist coat, sequins and gold buttons. He took the chair beside mine and tipped a bottle labeled A- blood into a wine glass. Then he drank, smiling widely. “Phew! Tuck in guys! Cherie, welcome back.” I ate a lot more than I had during the past few days. Everything rocked. Chelsea and Marc talked about what they had done. The rest of us listened. I guess it was later that I would have to tell my story. Lestat felt my hair a little. But he blocked his mind with other images when I tried to probe. What did he think? Of my shocking feathers, and tanned skin. “Um, who did the sketches? The book of it was inside my room,” I asked, finishing my second helping of vermicelli. It’s chock full of golden brown gravy. “Yea he did. With some friends. I can’t draw,” Louis replied. He stared at his maker quizzically. Lestat took his time savoring the ‘wine’. My bro asked, “Why’s your hair like that? you went to a salon?” “No. I Evolved. My fire is stronger. You should be careful if you hold me too long. I can’t really control it.” Lestat sulked, but acknowledged it. He appraised me with the violet iris. “I shall. How’s the standard for our sketches? Fair?” “Nice! Thanks so much for the cooking.” I wanted a refill for the corn soup. It was just as thick as I liked it. yay! “No problem! Sis play a game with me. You can be the red one.” “She needs rest. Do it tomorrow.” “Just awhile. 1 hour.” Lestat glared at him. “No tonight is family night. We’ll be discussing stuff. (happier note) Enough room for ice cream? I got Haagen-daaz.” Dishes clinking in the sink as Louis washed. The three of us ate from glassware. What was up? Lestat looked stern. I thought he was in a good mood tonight. “I got your report card. Plenty of Cs. The teacher wrote that you need to put in more effort.” My bro moaned. Finished. Mentally he got the message. “But just one week? I can’t stand it if I can’t play for a month!” I pleaded on his behalf, if I played he would want as well. “No way. Louis and I agreed together. We haven’t told your father yet. Do you want him to hit the roof?” Oooh. Next up was the roster. Lestat declared that he had done plenty this month, cooking and washing. Chels was ecstatic she didn’t have to share in this. She oogled at the blond guy dreamily. Till he asked her if she could take out the trash. “Bianca, are you tired? I want to spend time with you.” He told me quietly when the rest had trooped upstairs for a game of Monopoly. Sounded more fun. “Not really. Why don’t we join the others? Stat?” He suddenly hugged me close. When we drew apart, he rubbed his eyes. “I missed you so much! Don’t think I’m cold. Did you like my drawings?” We looked over them together. He explained how he created the texture. A few were done by Armand too. Excitedly he brought me to his balcony. “Come and see. I just lined it up two nights ago.” He turned off everything. Blue, yellow and red. Wow! Like xmas, only it wasn’t here yet. They ran up the tall tree which grows over to our house. The glow played on his special skin. The blue made Stat look wan. I realized that he might have been rushing to prepare things just for me and not enough time for himself. My heart throbbed. “Very lovely. You ok?” “Yep. I’m ok. Really.” I went to lie down on my bed, Stat sitting at the foot of my bed. He waved a stuffed hawk at me. Haha, a card dangled “for u, my real life birdie! Krystal best wishes always.” “So cute. I appreciate your effort. Oh ya Louis made me something. What is it?” I opened the box and pushed aside the tissues. An artistic stick figure on a bottle of wishing stars. Lestat lay down beside me and whispered sweet French to me. his breath tickled me. “No wonder he wouldn’t budge some nights. I used some new recipes and Chels helped me. One more thing, your mom’s letters are in the first drawer. Mind if I stay here?” “No stay. Thank you.” He closed his eyes, humming a tune. I read my letters.
|
