Space for Whatchamacallits

[Essie1]

Wakes up to smells of vanilla and cinnamon, sees the half-eaten cinnamon cake and smiles, knowing that means a Starry someone has been through.

Hugging Ted closer, punches the pillow into a more cradling shape and settles back down to sleep again, not quite rested enough.

 

[prettyserpentine]

walks in, astounded to see Ted utilising the hoover

Good Gravy, Ted! I don't think that's going to clean up the space! Good effort though!!

 

[prettyserpentine]

Barbary Hall: Prologue

The End of the Road

Epitome Norris stood at the end of the road looking down at the crumbled ruins of Barbary Hall. The fires had long since died and the huge grey stones that had once been her home lay half submersed in ditchwater. She trudged through the broken stone and mud, through the foundations that used to be dimly lit rooms full of shadows and smoke; the muted whispers and bated laughter of the old survivors; their old stories of a world long dead.

There were two steps of the marble staircase still standing and she remembered the stories of debutante's balls. She imagined the finery and beautiful dresses that would have lingered on the last stair as the music started. She had seen pictures in old books, the corners of the pages burnt and dogeared.

Epitome pulled her woven bag over her shoulder and glanced around. There was little left. She didn't know why she had assumed there would be anything left at all. Barbary Hall had been utterly destroyed and her inhabitants scattered to the four winds and the earth, and there was nothing that Epitome could do now to change that. Her feet led her into the kitchen. The old iron stove still was there, nestled against a half wall. She rested her hand on the top and smiled. Always afraid to touch it as a child, and now it was as cold and dead as everything around it.

The slushing of water pulled Epitome back to the present, jostling her out of her reverie. Her head turned, looking around the cowl that was wrapped tightly around her head, covering her mouth and nose.

"Oh, it's you." She looked back at the stove, pulling her hand back and wiping the dust off on her coat.

"Yes. It's me. Find anything?"

"Not a jot," she said. Her voice was low, almost hoarse. She looked to the clawed feet of the stove, tilting her head and crouching down. The ends of her coat trailed in the muddy water.

"What is it?" Her companion asked.

She extended her gloved hand underneath, her fingers hooking into round holes. She pulled and there was a grating sound. Like stone, or clay. It was caught under the stove and she pulled a little harder. It was a skull. Small, with pointed teeth.

"Is it a baby's?"

Epitome frowned at him. "No. Look at the shape. It's too small, and since when do babies have teeth like this?" Her fingers ran over the fangs. "It's a cat. Well, it was." She slipped it into her woven bag. "I don't fancy rummaging through all this rubble, do you?"

Her companion shook his head.

"Well then," she sighed, resigned. "You know what to do, I suppose." She sat on the stove, lifting her legs out of the water. Something inside her bag moved and she clipped the little button at the top closed.

Her companion got down on his knees, putting his hands into the water. It went up almost to his elbows. There was a faint glow from beneath the murky, dank liquid. A faint, dark green glow. He scrunched his eyes closed as the water rippled across the ruins, like some kind of weird vibration. A few loose stones plopped into the water from the wall behind where Epitome Norris sat. She crossed her legs, holding onto her ankles as the ground shook. Her companion half smiled down at his hands.

Epitome noticed. "Hurry up, Takayuki. This isn't a trip down memory lane. Get what we need and let's go."

His face grew serious again beneath his cowl. "It's going to rain." They both pulled their cowls down, hard. Epitome stuck over-sized goggles down over her eyes. Takayuki didn't. His milky white eyes could not be ruined any more than they were. He seemed to put pressure on his hands, forcing them into the earth. There was a shudder as part of the rubble fell, splashing into the water. He stood up, wiping his hands on a cloth that he stuffed into his pocket. "Come on. We need to find shelter before it really starts to come down." His blank stare lifted heavenward. The sky was as gray as the rubble around them as the pair waded through the miry water. It was cold, and Epitome moved quickly through the ruins, out to what was once the back of the house. A tall, dead tree stood in a widened space. It's branches were lowered to the swamp. She stopped.

Takayuki passed her. "Come on, Eppie. This isn't a trip down memory lane, remember?" His words spurred her on and they walked through the swampy garden and beyond until they felt solid stone underneath their boots. Big, fat drops of rain began to fall. Takayuki took Epitome's elbow and hurried her forward. "Faster. There's a shelter up ahead. Just past the next corner."

He was right. A wall with a slanted tin roof supported by two steel pillars, two half walls at the sides. It must have been to shelter animals at one time or another. They got inside, away from the rain. Epitome pulled up her goggles, careful to keep the water away from her eyes. Takayuki smiled at her. "You weren't expecting it to look like that, were you? Not so ruined, at least."

She shook her head. A muted expression with her cowl so tight around her. Her voice was hoarse and muffled. She pulled down the cowl, revealing her face. "I knew it wouldn't look like it used to. I guess I expected some of it to still be standing." She sighed, looking out at the rain. "It's just completely devastated."

"I know. I was surprised the first time I saw it too. It was home, for a time." He sniffed, looking up at the clouds. "That's on for a while. We'll have to stay here." He lowered his satchel, pulling out a thick, hessian cloak. They huddled under it, together. Epitome was silent, staring out at the grey landscape. She rested her head against Takayuki's shoulder. He turned his head, pressing his cheek against the top of her cowl for a moment. "You're thinking about them, aren't you..." He felt her nod. "Me too."

 

[prettyserpentine]

 

[Fish_Tales]

I agree.

 

[prettyserpentine]

 

[prettyserpentine]

 

[prettyserpentine]

 

[prettyserpentine]

 

[prettyserpentine]

 

[Bert_Fegg]

Very nice....

 

[prettyserpentine]

Very nice....

Why thanks.

 

[prettyserpentine]

 

[Angeleyz]

*knocks softly on the door and peeks in*

Hmmm, here's hoping that your holiday is going well, ps...

 

[prettyserpentine]

I just noticed this, Angel. I had a wonderful trip, so many wonderful memories made and new friends well met. We had a great Thanksgiving and I had a lot to be very thankful for. So now I'm starting my journey home. I'm flying from Alabama to Dallas, then Dallas to London, and finally to Dublin.

Currently sitting in the airport crying my eyes out. Damn my stupid soft heart.

 

[prettyserpentine]

 

[Angeleyz]

Hope you're feeling more positive, ps... But just in case....

*leaves a little basket full of pick-me-ups - scented candles, yummy bath oils and a nice bottle of wine*