Holy Jumpin' Cats!

Snatching bits of time to work on my NaNo story, but it's shaping up to be a pretty hectic month.



Stella wandered about the garden. She pulled dandelions from the ground and blew their fluffy heads into the breeze, giggling when the white fuzz would float back to tickle her nose. Suddenly, she heard a shriek from the house. She ran back to find Mama collapsed upon the floor. Mama raised herself on her hands, shaking, and little Liam was underneath, horribly still. She stared in shock as Stella went over to him, picked him up, and hugged him with all of her might. Stella felt her hands burning, but somehow she knew that all was well. She hugged Liam until he squirmed, pulled her hair and complained loudly. Mama, wide-eyed, rushed over to cover her daughter's face in kisses.

"How did you do that?" Mama demanded, taking and inspecting Liam, who seemed no worse for wear.

"I dunno," Stella shrugged. "I just did. He's okay, isn't he? Did I save him?"

"Yes," Mama looked concerned. "Yes, you did, and I am so proud of you, my darling. But Stella, you must never tell anyone about this."

"Because you fell on Liam?"

"Uh...yes," Mama replied hastily. "Because of that."

"Okay, Mama!" Stella grinned, and skipped back outside to play.

Three days later the white carriage arrived with a priest and three huge men in black armor. As the neighbors peeked out of their doors, Mama shrieked and sobbed and denied any evil at work in her little daughter. Papa, stunned, ushered the confused Stella over to the strange men. When it became apparent that Stella was being taken away, she flew into hysterics.

"But I promise I'll be good! I promise!" she wailed. "Is it because I ate the gingersnaps? I'll never do it again, I'll be good!"

The priest waved a silver staff over Liam, who lay squalling in his crib. "The boy is free from taint. You may take comfort in that."

He motioned for the armored men to depart, dragging Stella by the arm.

"Mama! Papa! Why don't you stop them!?" Stella cried, frantic, pawing at the steel grip of the guard. "Mama!!! I don't want to go! Don't you love me anymore?"

Papa and Mama held each other, miserable, seemingly unable to speak. It was this last image of them that Stella carried with her.

Stella passed the next three days in a numb stupor. It seemed that the journey would not end, and Stella hoped that she would wake up soon in her own bed, calling Mama over to comfort her. Then, the carriage crested a huge hill, and Stella gasped in awe and horror. Stone walls rose from the ground to reach for the sky, encircling...what? It was the biggest place she had ever seen. Stella shrank into her seat.

"What is that?" she asked the priest in a small voice.

"It is the Hold." No change in expression.

"Why are you taking me here?"

"You are Devil-touched. It is where all of your kind go."

She thought she would cry once more, but it seemed that her tears had been all used up. The carriage drew her onward toward that massive place, and she thought that her fear had passed when she saw the skeleton mounted over the gates. Stella gasped.

"Elias the Despised." The priest explained coolly. "A warning to any Tainted who threatens the peace of Aurenos."

The thick doors opened, leading to a courtyard and another wall, another gate, this one festooned with hundreds of skulls. Stella, for the hundredth time, wondered what she had done that was horrible enough for her to end up in this nightmare.

"Traitors, heretics, enemies of Aurenos," the priest continued. "This is their fate. You would be wise to take heed of their folly."

Stella curled up in her seat, tucking her knees under her chin. The doors to the second gate yawned wide, drawing little Stella inside for good.



Hope the week's moving smoothly for everyone!