“Okay Hawk,” said Manira casually. It
must have been 6am; Rowan’s bedroom was lit up. “I think
Kiyor’ll be in bed a while… don’t worry, he’s
being taken care of-properly might I add, since I have to do it.”
She looked at Rowan, who was wrapped very snugly in
her bed of navy duvet and white pillows. She was having a fitful sleep
and groaned a lot. The carpet was a cream colour, the walls had a lilac
medieval design over the white background and the picture rail and
skirting boards were painted in deep purple. The velvet curtains were
also a deep purple. Framed pictures hung on the wall; they were
of a young Rowani in a pretty dress, some kittens, a family portrait of
the Kirilians when Rowani was 3, 5-year-old Rowani playing in the
garden, 6-year-old Rowani at a party with friends. One hook was bare.
Manira was sitting on a windowsill. It was late
sunrise. “Midiro’s sleeping now. He’s still a little
shaken but he’s just glad his little girl is back. A Vampire told
him she actually liked him.”
Hawk whistled over the phone. “Now that’s an honour.”
“I know,” she grinned.
Hawk paused. “Say…Manar? Wanna meet up some time?”
She played with her skin-tight T-shirt and wore a
tight smile. “When did you start thinking that question?”
Her T-shirt matched her mid-length cycling shorts, which were both blue
and matched each other by being designed around the same, sporty
pattern.
“I’ve been thinking it for a while. Tell you what Manira, I’ll tell you my Light Citizen name if you show up at Hoshi at 12:30 tomorrow.”
“The Restaurant? Okay.”
Hawk chuckled. “I can tell we have so much to
talk about. I think I’m gonna like you Manira. I’ll like
you a lot.”
Manira giggled. “Bye.” She hung up the phone.
I can’t get away. The darkness
took Larees! It’s hurting Mum! I can’t get away.
Can’t anyone see what’s happening? The Sun still shines,
people still smile, they can’t see the darkness. I want to get
away. No one hears me shout ‘HELP!’. Rowani runs through the darkness. Rowan is stalking her. She turns around. “Go away! Leave me alone! What have I ever done to you?” Rowan still walks
along. “You chose me,” she told Rowani factually.
“You made me this way. This was your choice.” Rowani cried more. “And what did that choice get me? I just got hurt again.” Rowan stopped in front of her. “Again?” “HELP!” shouted a young girl. Rowan turned back
to Rowani. “I’m the only one who can protect you from that.
You got hurt because you are too weak. Do you honestly know all the
rules of the Dark Kingdom? You rely on others too much.” Rowani shook her
head. “There is someone. A better protector than you are! I
don’t need you!” Rowan did not appear convinced. “Really?” Rowani was
attacked by a Demon. Rowan just stood there and raised her eyebrows.
Rowani was kicking, screaming, begging anyone to rescue her. The Demon
kept pulling. She was thrown into a black pit. Voices were everywhere. “You don’t belong here.” “Larees!” “We’ve got to get out of here!” “I just want to help you be more open with your heart, more open with your mind.” “It’s not safe!” “We cannot ever return!” “Here you are safe.” “Dad!” cried out Rowani. “You are always safe with me,” repeated Midiro’s calm voice. Rowani was then thrust onto a stone altar. She opened her eyes. Rowan stabbed her.
Rowani woke up screaming.
“Rowan! Rowan! You’re awake,” Manira held her.
Midiro rushed in. “My God Rowan, are you
alright?” he rushed to her bed. “Come here, you’re
safe now,” he soothed. Midiro held her close, she was shaking.
“Dad?” Rowan asked quietly. “Please call me Rowani.”
Her father seemed overcome with joy. “Anything Rowani.”
Midiro was holding a small bottle, which looked the size of a perfume bottle. It was broad daylight outside.
“Nisri had delivered this a few minutes
ago,” he explained. “It’s meant to help you heal. He
even promised that sweeteners had been added to make it pleasant.”
“Does Kiyor get a bottle?” asked his daughter timidly. He looked a bit uncomfortable.
“…Unfortunately your mother forbids Kiyor from having any.”
Rowani held out her hand calmly. Wordlessly he gave
it to her and she drank it. She was a little dizzy afterwards.
“Dad?”
“Yes Rowani?” (He still liked saying it.)
“What picture went there?”
Midiro looked at the bare hook. “It was a
photo of you and Larees. You were so overcome by her death you ordered
it disposed of…but I kept it.” He turned back.
“Would you like me to get it?”
Rowani nodded.
Her Dad went to her bedroom door. He opened it and Manira walked through with a tray.
“You do make Miso good Midiro,” she said. “Mind if I have some?”
“Don’t take too much,” he sternly ordered. “It’s for Rowani.”
Manira just smiled as she took the tray to her
Mistress. Midiro promptly made his exit. She laid it on top of the
chest of drawers next to Rowani’s bed, then poured the soup from
the teapot into the bowl. Rowani picked up the spoon, dipped it into
the bowl, brought it to her lips and sipped. Her eyes seemed to sparkle
in childish delight.
The red-haired woman looked at her quizzically. “You really love the stuff, don’t you?”
“It was…is my favourite.”
Manira looked around. “Hm, don’t see how I can try some.”
Rowani put her spoon in the bowl, took off the
teapot lid, laid it on the tray and poured some Miso into it.
“Drink from that,” she said gently, then she put the teapot
down.
The red-haired bodyguard picked up the lid curiously
and sipped from it. “Mmm. You know, using the lid as a bowl is
really clever. Why don’t you do it?”
“I know it’s the proper way of eating
Miso but I prefer the bowl. Afterwards, you take chopsticks and eat the
fish inside.”
Manira became very curious. She peeked inside the
teapot. “Hey I know that white stuff; it’s tofu.”
After taking another sip, Rowani said: “The
orange stuff is crab. Can I have a refill please?” Manira poured
the refill. “You know what happened, don’t you?”
“What d’you mean?”
“What happened to me.”
Manira stared at her for a minute. “…um, when?”
“When I was little, when they took Larees.”
The older woman sighed. “Sorry, I was a
reckless teenager who didn’t pay attention to current events.
Plus murders and rapes came up in court cases all the time, I
didn’t see it as particularly tragic.”
Rowani seemed confused. “And you became a bodyguard?”
Manira laughed nervously. “Yeah, funny how life turns out right?”
The two women sipped their portions of Miso in silence.
A few minutes later, Midiro came back in with a
smile on his face. He also carried a picture. “Here it is. It was
buried deeper than I thought.” He set the picture down, next to a
wall, and brushed more dust off himself. “I can’t believe
the amount of junk that accumulated in that attic.” He hung it on
the bare hook. It was a picture of Larees smiling, with the young
Rowani on her knee.
“That was taken on my 8th Birthday,” told Rowani in wonder.
Her father looked at her enquiringly. “I hope you plan to keep it up there this time.”
She thought for a minute. “I do,” Rowani answered timidly.