The Thorn In Me

Chapter Three.. A New Face.

As I stepped out of the carriage, I felt the hot sun layer my skin. The coachman grabbed my small tan bag, " ma'am, this is all you have?" He had long brown hair and stern fudge colored eyes, they seemed to hide a forlorn past. " Oh, yes." I squeaked. His eyes looked me up and down, " I'm Henri, if you need me just whistle." he whispered lowly.  

His face aged with a few wrinkles, smiled up at me. " I'm Charmaine." I gingerly replied. His eyes were fixed on my worn brown shoes, I grimaced slightly at how unprepared I was to meet anyone. 

" Charmaine, dove, come inside and meet the countless." Emma nodded slowly at the large wrap around porch with bright ivy pillars. " Yes, Miss Emma." I whispered. 

I felt as though my life would improve, if this lady I was to meet was honest to Emma then I suppose it would.  

As I began to trudge near the large manor, the familiar wisp of wind tickled my collar bone again. " Well who is this?" a deep invading voice asked. Emma turned and glared behind me, " this is Charmaine. What do you want Adam?" her green eyes burned in anger.  

" Oh, I just wanted to know who smelled so good." he circled around and towered over me. "No, it isn't. It can't be h-" Emma quickly interrupted him, "Shut up, Adam. She hasn't even met Lilith yet."  

He was easily 6'6 in height, his broad, well toned shoulders looked like they could support a horse. He had bright blue-grey eyes and sandy blonde hair that almost reached his sculpted shoulders. " She's an orphan" Emma whimpered from behind him. The aqua orbs of his eyes seemed to memorize my face. 

"Wh-" he whimpered before Emma cut him off. " Lilith will know how to take care of her, Adam." Emma's eyes flashed to his chest, "You shouldn't worry about her, she's in good hands."  

Emma strutted over to my side and gripped my hand, "Is this better than the orphanage so far?" her voice trembled a little at my smooth skin. "Yes." I spoke, I could feel a drip of sweat trickle down my forehead. I felt a familliar presence surround me as I shakily took my first step towards the manor. I felt.. comfortable. With each step I grew more and more at ease, my started to slow and I could feel the courage inside me.

    I was determined to find who these people were and what they held in store for me. "Charmaine," I heard the tall man whisper in my ear, " don't remember about me." I gasped at his mistake, "You mean dont forget!" I laughed and turned around only to see Adam standing twenty feet away with his face in a confused and bewildered expression. As I glanced at Emma she retained the same expression as Adam, "Who were you talking to?" I shot a look to Adam, "You," I spoke as my finger pointed to his face, "How did you do that?"

His face showed a flash of amusement yet as quickly as it came, it left. "I have no idea what you are speaking of." He flashed his bright white teeth, "I think I shall take my leave now."

I looked shocked at him as he strode past us and climbed into the carriage, "Oh, and Charmaine," He winked "You need to forget."

"What are you talking about?" I stared up at him with intensity. His hand gripped carriage as he walked back towards me, and held his hand out to me. "If I give you something, will you promise that you will never remember?" Encased in his palm was a small multicolored berry, exactly like the ones I used to pick in the woods at the orphanage. "Where did you get that?" I cried, thinking about Drilla was hard to do without missing her. "Promise me, because if you promise to forget the past, I can make you love the future." Emma began to get irritated. "Adam, go home. You are being ridiculous, I mean what could she mean to forget or remember? She starts her new life today, she doesnt even care about remembering." Her emrald eyes grew cold, glassy.The sky above seemed to darken as Adam closed his hand and wrapped his fingers back around the berry.

    Emma grasped my arm and dragged me with her inide the house, I could hardly protest as her grip seemed inpinitrable. "Sit here."She commanded, as she shoved me into a mahogany bench. I could already see a large bruise forming where Emma had held me.

I could hear banging from the next floor above me, and clips of words being tossed from one person to the next. "Too close.." Emma spoke. "Adam... cradle... Luvia..  Needs to know." Another woman replied, I wished that I could hear their entire sentences. "She's so young, Lillith!" Emma yelled. I clambered up on to the mahogany bench for a better listen. "Emma, do you really want to betray me? I gave you life and I can take it away." Lilliths voice was menacing. There was nothing but silence after that, until I could hear heel s clomping down the large marble stairs.

"Charmaine?" The beautiful goddess of a women before me spoke. Her long blonde hair was so long and curly, even with the curls her hair reached the small of her back. She had wo bobby pins pulling up the hair on each side of her face and pinned at the base of her head. She had bright violet eyes that seemed to radiated my soul, her face was angelic and looked as though she was carved from the marble of gods. "Yes, ma'am?" I questioned as I stood. "Oh dear, you are breathtakingly beautiful, my child." Her voice was like music from a harp, lovely."Come here, child." I took a few strides owards this woman and bowed my head, as she was th perfect vision of Aphrodite. "Your beauty far surpasses mine, dove. Do not bow to me." She smiled as I looked up at her cautiously. "I am Lillith, and for the rest of your life you will love me, as I will cherish you." She looked intently into my eyes and made me see.

I could see the willow trees again, and I could see a small boy chasing a red headed girl. The came upon a large wooded area that was as black as night. "I'm frightened." Spoke the little boy. "Oh, dont be scared Rex, I'll protect you." The red head told him sweetly, then soon began to lead him into the woods. "No, Charmaine!" My eyes shot open as I was tackled to the hard wood floors. "Adam!" Lillith screamed. Adam climbed on top of me while I struggled beneath him, as I started to scream I suddenly tasted the sweet fruit he offered me earlier. I started to spit it out but his hand was covering my mouth. I finally gave into the deliscious fruit and swallowed. "Adam!!!!!!!!!!!!" Lillith screamed again.

He clamber off of me and the floor, "I'm sorry Lillith. It had to be done." Adam stared at his feet and frowned. "Adam, don't you understand that I'm giving her a chance to remember her life. She is of age." Lillith stared at him, awaiting an answer. "Lily," She glowered at him, "Lillith," He corrected. "I.."

I couldn't hear their voices anymore, as I had snuck away and broke for the nearest door I could find.

I dashed through what seemed to be the kitchen and ran from the beautiful Lillith in her white dress. I didn't understand what was going on around me, who were the children in my vision? And why did I run from the safety of the orphanage.

I charged through the grassy valley behind the manor, and into the dark woods. I ran until my feet were numb. Slowly I stopped my running and proceeded to fall down and weep. I had become lost in a forrest, that with each moment seemed to become ever more scary.

"Charmaine?" I heard from behind me. I whipped my head around but there was no one there. "Hello?" I whispered into the darkness. "Charmaine, I missed you so much." The voice came from behind me again. I tried to search the darkness for the strangely familiar voice. "I don't know who you are, but I-I've got a knife!" I lied. I back my back against a tree and crouched. The crunching of the leaves grew closer and closer. "Boo!" The voice screamed. I could feel their hands cover my mouth and hold me, carrying me off away from the woods.

     I could see the little boy and girl again, "Rex, it's okay there is nothing to be afraid of." She whispered in his ear. He was shaking softly as he grasped her little hand. "Wow, what are those?" He pointed up into a willow tree, "Are those berries?" She asked him, her little curls bounced around her shoulders. "Yeah, I'll lift you up so you can grab some. We can take them home." The girl climbed upon his shoulders and grabbed the branch with the most berries. Swiftly she tore the branch from the tree and clambered off of his shoulders. "I'm going to eat one." She told him softly. "No, don't we gotta take hem home so the countess can make jam with 'em." He told her sternly, he grasped her hand and drug her away from the woods and into the prairie. While the boy stared at the house the girl swallowed a single berry.