Windhill (second try)

Kaitlin stood for a moment looking beyond her transparent image in the floor length window. The sun was in the west descending behind the massive purple mountains that stood in front of the rampart. The peaks of the mountains were dusted with brilliant white snow like a delicate pastry. The emerald green hills cascaded down to the vast lake that lay beyond the barricades of Windhill.1

The fading sun made her copper highlights glint between golden ringlets, catching her eye and drawing her attention away from landscape and to the crowd below. Speckled with gold, her jade eyes regarded the stairs with quiet concentration as she willed herself not to fall, knowing that one wrong step could send her rolling down the stairs. Her plump lips were drawn in a disheartened frown, glanced at the large crowd gathered below. Drawing in a deep breath, she grasped the skirt of her royal blue gown and started her descent.2

One by one the groups of people turned towards her. Glass clinked against bottles as the waitstaff hurried to refill the champagne flutes.3

The v-necked bodice of her satin gown tightly squeezed her ribs together, while angling down towards her slim waist. The sleeves were bluntly cut just under her shoulders reviling ivory skin where goosebumps formed. The tips of her new opened toed blue sandals peeked out from under the edge of her skirt. She paused at the last stone step.4

Standing at the bottom of the staircase stood Forbes Aleksander, her older brother, waiting patiently for her to finish her grand entrance. Forbes slim lips held a smile of amusement as he caught her disapproving frown. His light brown eyes sparkled as he shook his head at her, laughing silently.5

Kaitlin stepped down and linked her hand in the crook of his well-muscled arm. Out of the corner of her mouth she demanded, “Quit laughing at me or I’ll elbow you in the gut.”6

Instantly he stopped, but smirk played on his lips. He patted her arm gently with worn hands as he led her to the middle of the room.7

Palmer Aleksander, the middle child of Pierce and Olivia Aleksander stood waiting patiently for them both. As they approached he turned to the crowd. The thought of their mother and father brought on a twinge of sadness. She wished they could have been here to see her finish moment.8

“May I have your attention please?” Palmer’s deep baritone voice echoed throughout the gathering. He waited for the murmured voices to settle to silence. Then in on swift movement he came to stand beside her. “We, my brother Forbes and I, would like to present to you our youngest family member and most stubborn of sister’s.” Stifled laughter rippled across the room. She gave Palmer a grimace and looked away from him. “Kaitlin Anne Aleksander.”9

Applause exploded from the assembly as everyone wished her a happy birthday. Elated smiles beamed from her brother as they scanned the faces of their guests. She dropped her hand from Forbes’ arm and he put his hand on the small of her back and pushed Kaitlin gently forward through the crowd. Kaitlin nodded and smiled to her guests, taking her brother’s lead.10

“I really hate this,” whispered Kaitlin biting her lower lip.11

“I know sweetheart, but mother and father would have liked it this way.” He said quietly.12

“Would they have really? I mean would they have paraded me out like a show pony?” She asked, rubbing the palm of her hand against her dress.13

“I think they would have, yes.”14

“I don’t believe you, but you do look nice in your tux so I’ll let you get away with this. But next birthday it’s your turn. By the way I like the blue bow tie and flower.”15

As the conversation took place he was leading her towards four young men, the same age and height. Kaitlin recognized three of the four, but the other was unknown.16

“Jensen, Julian,” Forbes nodded at each.17

In a mock whisper Kaitlin asked, “how can you tell them apart? Both have the same hair, same eyes…” she paused a few heartbeats, ‘everything.”18

Everyone laughed politely except for the twins. Their sky blue eyes glared from underneath shaggy blond hair.19

After the laughter died slightly Forbes resumed introductions, “and this unbendable young man is Liam Charles Crede 3rd.”20

Kaitlin held out a slim hand, “yes brother, we’ve met.”21

Liam stiffly took her hand. “You look as lovely as ever Kaitlin.” He gave her hand a slight squeeze then dropped her hand, but held her eyes longer.22

“Hphff-hum,” the man next to Liam cleared his throat.23

Kaitlin slid her eyes away from Liam’s dark pools and gasped softly.24

“Thaddeus Cole may I present my sister Kaitlin.” Said Forbes breaking the silence.25

“Charmed,” he replied while taking her hand just as Liam had. He bent over it and brushed his full lips against the back of her hand. A chill ran up Kaitlin’s lightly freckled arm making the hairs standup.26

Thaddeus Cole lifted his eyes to meet her and continued, “but people just call me Cole. Only my mother calls me Thaddeus anymore.” A deep baritone laugh came from lips as he brushed back his chocolate colored hair from his forehead.
“Well since everyone knows one another I will leave you to greet some new guests.”27

The five young adults watched as Forbes walked into the crowd. Other couples caught Kaitlin’s eyes and waved. She politely waved back but her eyes kept wandering back to Cole.28

“Hey Kaitlin, how much did that dress cost?” Jensen asked looking her up and down.29

“$50.00 off the rack at a thrift shop,” put in Julian as he elbowed Jensen. They both snickered behind thick hands.30

“Nice tux, too bad it looks better on Liam and my brothers then on you two.” Kaitlin sneered in their direction.31

“Nice one. Where did you learn to talk like that?” Asked Cole, turning her away from the others.32

She cocked her head and raised an eyebrow before replying, “Whatever do mean, sir?”33

He laughed again and she decided she liked the sound. Small goose bumps again rose upon her arms.34

“The way you let that slide off you,” he replied.35

“I’ve dealt with them and their kind before.” She flipped her copper ringlets over her right shoulder.36

The night dragged on and Kaitlin greeted her guests, mingling with friends and business associates. All the awhile Cole hovered nearby, always keeping close by. Eyes darted from the subject in front of him to Kaitlin’s bare shoulders and slender neck.
At last the guests started to depart and the three Aleksanders stood at the entrance wishing them a safe journey. As the last couple left Forbes turned to Kaitlin. “And how did it go tonight? Hove a good time?”37

She glanced between reddish lashes and replied, “as long as I stayed away from J and J, it was quite nice.”38

Puzzled Palmer asked, “J and J?”39

“Jenson and Julian, the terrible twosome.” Forbes answered for her.40

“And what about that new man, Thaddeus Cole?”41

“He wants us to just call him Cole, Forbes. And to answer your question he was very attentive. He was never far from my side. But…” she continued when it looked like Palmer was going to interrupt, mustache twitching under his nose. “But he never let anyone feel his attention wasn’t fully on them.”42

“Umm hmm.”43

“Palmer stop!” She swatted his broad shoulders. She bit her lower lip and looked innocently at her two brothers.44

Forbes glanced around at the empty hall, “where is he now?”45

Kaitlin shrugged delicate shoulders, “I’m not sure. He asked if he could call on me tomorrow night. I said fine. Guess we’ll see him then.”46

Palmer and Forbes said goodnight and drifted away as Kaitlin watched the hustle of the cleaning staff efficiently strip the hall.47


***48

Kaitlin struggled against the silk sheets as she thrashed from side to side. As she slept strange imagines crowded her sleeping mind. 49

For most was blood. Splashes spread across the gray stonewalls of the hall two stories below. Wood boards lay scattered here and there. Scrams of terror, moans of pleasure echoed through her sleeping brain. Swirling colors, whirling around an image. A dark figure standing alone, silver glinted in the candlelight. She recognized them as blades. Daggers of high quality, unscratchable.50

Blades whirling in front of the dark figure, coat bellowing out behind him, white teeth catching more firelight.51

Copper, she could smell copper. Hot warm blood oozed and gushed from wounds sustained from guest of the party.52

Unexpectedly her mother appeared, pale and translucent. A long white dress trailed after. Crimson specks dotted the corners of her mouth.53

“Mom!” Cried Kaitlin. Her arms reaching out to her. “Mom, what’s happening?” 54

Olivia Aleksander stroked her daughter’s tearstained cheek and replied, “What fate has forseen. Chaos, destruction. The death of your race.”55

Confused she asked her dream mother, “my race?”56

Olivia’s ice blue eyes pierced Kaitlin’s jade one before replying, “the race of warm blood, of beating hearts, of veins filled with life.”57

“I don’t understand mother.” Kaitlin pleaded. Olivia’s sharp fingernails pinched her soft skin, drawing blood. “What am I to do?”58

Shaking her head from side to side Olivia Aleksanders blond hair fell back from her fragile shoulders. “Two are the key. Same side of a coin yet different as night and day. Remember my child trust only the one whose name comes from underground.”59

“Mother, mother I don’t understand.” Kaitlin called franticly, but the image of the dream and her mother faded.60

Kaitlin sat up and a cold sweat had enveloped her body. Her hair hung in damp strands and the sheets were wrapped around her ankles. Unable to sleep, she threw back the covers and paced the room. The beating of her heart set the rhythm of her pacing. From her bed to the window, once, then twice. At the third pass she paused to stare down into the courtyard. The moon was not yet full but it still shed light on the shrubs and trees that lined the borders. The fountain, with it rearing stone horses, sparkled under the moon’s light.61

Not even the fountain could distract her from her dream. Kaitlin turned from the window and left the deep run that covered most of her floor. The stone floor was cold and hard beneath her bare feet as she padded towards her desk. “I must write this down,” she said out loud to herself. She wasn’t quite sure why it felt so important for her to do so. “It’s only a dream, but something about it felt so real.”62

White paper reflected the candlelight as she lit the single candle on a cast iron stand. Beside the glowing paper sat a stoppered pot with a single peacock feather quill lying next to it. A birthday gift from Palmer before the guests arrived for the party last night. It’s brilliant electric blues mingled with the vivid purples and sunshine yellows of the eye.63

Fleeting imagines passed before her as she closed her eyes, remembering her dream. People running towards the doors and smoke choking, making the air unbearable. The sound of their screams so filled with terror. A shiver crept up Kaitlin’s back; settling on her neck and making the small hairs stand up. Her mothers sweet jasmine perfume lingered in the air as the words played across the blank sheets before her.64

She wrote hastily, ‘Two are the key. Same side of the same coin, yet different as day and night. One leads and the other follows.’ Where had that come from? She thought to herself. ‘Trust only the one whose name comes from underground.’65

She put the flowing quill down and looked at the words she had written. She still didn’t understand what they meant. The last part was what puzzled her the most. “Underground name?” She said aloud, shaking her head.66

Finally unable to hold her eyelids open she dragged herself back to bed all the while her arms and legs felt like lead. Her thoughts turned towards Cole as she drifted towards sleep. His arresting eyes sparkling while he laughed and his thick dark hair reflecting the many lights of the candles, as they danced. A soft smile played across plump lips as she reflected on his behavior that night. His watchful eyes, his warm hand on the small of her back and he was never far from her. 67

Keeping the smile, she coasted off to where the dreams were pleasant. Where blood and the screams of horror were kept restrained behind invisible barriers of sanity.68

***69


“Kaitlin, you look like death warmed over, to use the old clique.”70

“Thanks Palmer, you look like your girly self as always.” Kaitlin retorted.71

“Point one to Kait. Palmer zero.” Scored Forbes.72

“Oh shut up, Forbes.” Kaitlin spat.73

“My, my, what’s put you in such a bad mood little sister?” Asked Forbes.74

She came up behind him, wrapped her arms around his thick shoulders and planted a kiss on his right cheek.75

“I’m sorry. I just had a terrible night last night. I didn’t sleep well.”76

Moving past Palmer she flopped down on the chair at the end of the polished table and started pushing her eggs around the plate. The dining hall was a small cozy room that held an oval table in the center surrounded by elegantly scrolled chairs. On the walls hung colorfully weaved tapestries depicting hunts of ancestors long since gone. The table had been set for the three of them; delicate china plates and gleaming silverware were set in their proper places.77

Today she woke feeling tired and sluggish. Almost like she had too much to drink the night before, but she hadn’t. Pulling on a worn pair of jeans, she had fallen over and landed on the floor bruising her backside. That had made her angry. Angry enough to have pulled her forest green sweater on harder then she needed too, causing it to stretch out. Then bare-footed she padded down to breakfast.78

“Why’s that sis?” Asked Palmer while passing the toast over to her.79

Taking the toast she set it beside her plate then crossed her hands in her lap before speaking. “It was a dream, so it was a jumbled mess. People were screaming, lots of running, smoke, you know, general chaos.”80

“Yea, I get those all the time. Specially right after mom and dad died.” Forbes took a drink of coffee, followed by silence.81

Kaitlin again pushed her eggs around while she thought about the night her patents had died.82

Pierce and Olivia had gone down to the stables late one night. One of her mother’s favorite mares was having a difficult labor and the foal was lodged in the canal. Olivia went down to soothe the mare and her father went to be there for her mother. No one is quite sure what happened, but a very frightened Palmer had awakened Kaitlin. She remembered watching the flames licking at the roof, the firemen running around pulling large hoses, lots of static and Forbes and Palmer standing there beside her as the fire consumed their parents and the stable.83

It had only been six months and the memory still hurt. She could feel her chest tighter and tears prickling behind her eyes. She closed them against the memory of fire and screams. 84

Taking a deep breath she brought up a new topic. “Why are you two dressed in old clothes? Those jeans look like they are held together with only thread.”85

Palmer looked up from his plate as though he had forgotten anyone else was there. He quickly composed himself and replied, “I’m off to help muck the stable. Ted’s out sick, so I volunteered.”86

“And I am riding out with Tom.” Forbes said in between bites of toast.87

“But it’s going to snow any day now. Shouldn’t you be bringing them in?”88

“Couple more days and we will. Don’t worry.”89

“Just don’t wait too long. Remember what happened last year. We almost lost half the herd because of frost.”90

“I won’t let that happen this year, I promise boss.” He said saluting her.91

Silence again followed. Kaitlin shifted in her chair, struggling to find away to finish telling them of her dream. Breakfast was coming to a close and Forbes was folding up his newspaper before she found a way to phrase her dream so she blurted out, “Mom was in my dream.”92

Forbes and Palmer stopped what they were doing and turned to her. “You haven’t dreamed of mom since the accident.” Said Forbes.93

Kaitlin nodded her head slowly, wide eyes staring at her brothers. Tears threatened to fall as she swallowed. “Mom came to me with blood on her face. Said something about two of the same and underground. Oh, I’m not sure. And that’s all I really remember.” Desperation had filled her voice at the end. The tears she had been holding back finally fell. Forbes gathered her into his arms; he murmured soft words of comfort. Palmer stood at her back, squeezing her shoulder, doing his best to comfort her in his way.94

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