laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

Darkness soon found a small pinprick of light penetrate it’s center and widen until Kailee found herself standing in a lush garden centered by a marble gazebo whose colums were grappled by ivy. Purple flowers exploded from the surrounding foliage that reached for the rounded roof which the eight tall spires held. Bees and tiny birds danced and flitted among roses, lilacs, tulips and many other beautiful plants and flowers surrounding her, all broken up by spruce or tall, manicured hedges.

“Hello,” the young girl’s voice called from the gazebo and she turned to see the blue velvet dress covering her apparent host, bordered in silvery cuffs and hem. She sat in a high-backed, wooden chair whose arms and cushion sported red cloth and was tacked down by brass nails. “I was sent to speak with you,” she motioned to a marble bench beside her.

Kailee smiled at the girl who appeared to be no more than eight or nine. “Am I dead,” she asked.

Giggling, the girl smiled, her long brown, silky hair dancing in the bright sunlight. “No, silly.”

Nodding, she walked towards the high rooved building which centered the garden bordered by a distant forest as mountains peeked between their pointy tops. “Where am I then?”

“You’re here,” she stated, arms wide, then returned to the large, leather bound tome in her lap.

Kailee smiled, knowing that would only prompt an uneeded argument and let the issue lie as she entered the stone floored room whose walls were only imagined, and sat down. Her tan woolen dress vaguely covered the brassy skin and amazingly wasn’t consumed by her fiery hair which spilled down to the small of her back.

“How do you feel,” she asked, blue eyes gleaming as the girl smiled.

“Fine. What happened? Are my friends alright?”

She nodded and leaned forward, her feet unable to touch the floor. “They’re resting as we speak. I was sent to ask you what your plans for the future are.”

Glowing eyes studied the young girl and she realized that nothing about this host made her feel as if she was talking to a child. “I thought about rebuilding Warwick. Are they going to allow me a future?”

“Of course. Your actions have allowed a new plan for his realm and they feel it’s for the best for all involved.” She sat back and eyed Kailee for a moment. “You realize you’ll never be fully accepted there. People will always fear you.”

“I’m used to that,” she shrugged. “I just don’t want to end up somewhere I couldn’t see my friends any longer.”

“Understandable. You also know that you’ll outlive them all. Soon, you’ll be just a legend. Your friend’s story will go on in myth and someday replaced by other stories of bravery. Just like those of the past, lost to time.”

Kailee leaned on her thighs, hands clasped together. “I believe I can speak for all of us in that no one ever wished to be a hero. They deserve to live their lives in peace, free from war and death. If I could give my life to see that end for them, I would.”

Nodding sympathetically, blue eyes smiled at her. “You’re only proving why they wished you to take his place. Kailee would never have abused her position and tried to conquer the world. Neither would your friends stand beside you and allow you to do that. But,” she eyed the book in her lap. “This story turned out the way it was supposed to.”

White hot eyes stared at the thick tome, hundreds of pages within and wondered. “That’s our story?”

She gazed upward again to the half-vampire before her. “Yes. Now, get your rest and rejoin your friends. See you later, Kailee.”

Before she could articulate another question, she fell asleep.

* * *

Comfortable, the soft, mossy grass underneath her reminded Kailee of her bed in Stolberg as her eyes remained closed. Cool, the air around her was so inviting and she didn’t want to wake up as birdsong echoed high in the boughs. She could feel the pulse of her surroundings, the peace and calming serenity and it didn’t take her long to realize where they had sent her. Rimnicu was a favored resting place for the group once before. Covered by a thick, leaf-made blanket she sighed and relaxed not wishing for a change right now.
The girl had stated that her friends were resting and suddenly, she feared the worst definition of that term. Concentrating, she reached out mentally for anyone, someone nearby and immediately felt the familiar presence of Tess, Lericanin and Alandria not ten feet from her. She smiled to herself. The rest of the group was missing from the overwatch and her mind raced deeper in their sylvan surroundings to find them. To the north, west and south she scanned passed pixie, sylph, unicorn and other fairy folk to finally reach the group clustered near an ent. Selyria was given the honor of resting near the tree herder that had once watched over her and Gunnar, many years ago. The mage had never forgotten those few days and Kailee had noted those memories when she sang of faraway sanctuaries. This was as fitting a place as any for them to recuperate from the war. Allowing her concentration to return to her surroundings, she opened her eyes to the bordering hedge of shrub and fern that bridged the immense oak and redwood beyond. Time to feed, she thought as her body desired refreshment.
Uncaring about anything else, she soon found the beating heart of an older deer and in a flash, raced to him. Fangs extended in time with her claws as the fiery elemental attacked the victim of her desires and knocked the animal to the ground in a crashing heap. Into it’s jugular the hungry teeth plunged as she drank. Within seconds, the animal’s body disintegrated into ash as she drew in it’s life essence, rejuvenating her hungry body and once done, pushed herself up. Slowly her surroundings turned from darkened greens and browns to varying degrees of heat and darkness as animals raced to escape the demon. After several long moments, she calmed her breathing and relaxed which prompted her fangs and long fingers to retract. She turned back and walked towards her bed site as the sorrow of the forest and its inhabitants filled her heart with regret. Mentally, she apologized to them but, deep down knew that her instincts required the life taken. Apparently, nothing had changed for the better.