Understanding Gregory

Chapter 8

His hand swept across the bark of the tree as though he could comfort it. The mould on it was deep, black and yellow. Even a child could recognise it wouldn't last long, even though it's leaves would say otherwise. Despite covered with the dark blue shade of night, it would not have been impossible to see Gregory climb out of the window of the cottage. Cecil being a spirit needn't turn to know this. Yet, as Gregory stood leaning against the wall of the cottage he said nothing. Was his mind too preoccupied? His eyes were glazed with deep water but Gregory seemed to think he knew. He, after all, was far from human. Gregory walked through the grass, becoming covered in dew. She stood behind Cecil for better view of the state, still one of Cecil's arms were missing.

    "What is it?" Gregory asked.

    "Mould smartarse" Cecil said.

    "Whys your arm gone?"

    "I cut it off with a chainsaw" Cecil said. Gregory shifted from foot to foot.

    "I meant why hasn't it grown back yet, smartarse?" Gregory asked.

    "It takes time you...."

    "But your body isn't even real, is it?"

    "Always with the questions Greggs. It's made from plant material."

    "Holy, are you shitting me? So water spirits?"

    "Made of water, thats how others can tell they're not human. Course they don't know what it is, there minds aren't quiet sure what it is, so to them they read it as just, a gut feeling. But just as dolls, if there is the slightest thing, such as a different breathing pattern, blinking not quiet mastered, we become some form of wrongness in the human mind. Our mirror is thorough, takes years, decades and centuries to master. My form is perfect. Of course I have my visual differences, but it does have it's advantages. People know who I am, and I have told them that I am a spirit. I should not need to hide that fact.  Hide who I am, hide that I eat people, yes. But not that I am a spirit. That is nothing to be ashamed of. Still if a spirit can do more than eight forms they're not just old, they are smart and far too strong. I've got five human forms. I have some other forms but, I payed for them."Gregory sat down on the grass next to Cecil. The wet from the grass covering her arse and sprinkling on her arms.

    "Why don't you cure your trees?" Gregory asked.

    "I can't. It's their disease, and mine."

    "Will you die of it?" Gregory asked.

    "I'm trying not to." Cecil said. Gregory looked at the trees.

    "Where do spirits come from and where do they go when they die?"

    "Why do you want to know? Worried about me?" Cecil asked with a small grin "It wouldn't be a miss to the world If I died. I know that. I'd be doing everyone a favour. I cannot be allowed to live."

    "Humans kill people too sometimes."

    "Nice try Gregory, they hardly eat them."

    "But it happens with cause. Tell me now though, I know you won't another time, where do spirits come from Cecil?" Gregory asked in a clear voice.

    "Really? I don't know. My beginning of existence was just a mind, of trees buzzing. Tree whispers until the very moment, although invisible I began to walk. A spirits first steps, are steps into existence. At leasts that's what they say Gregory."

    "But?" Gregory asked Cecil shook his head.

    "If you seep a word of this to another I'll cut your throat."