Mortifier - Arthur Curry

I

Her nimble fingers danced diligently, weaving the needle back and forth through the stretched fabric, forming intricate flowers of silk and beads. Her latest creation, a bouquet of Dahlias, Lilies, and white roses, adorned the worn skirt that served as her canvas. The skirt, bearing various holes from its long history, found redemption in the embroidered bouquets that adorned it.

As she worked, she forced her legs to stretch, aware of the danger of succumbing to sleep beneath the weight of her art. Beyond the window, the sky loomed dark and threatening, thunder rumbling as rain steadily pelleted against the glass. In stark contrast, a warm fire crackled in the vast manor library.

The creaking of the library doors interrupted her focus. Cassandra, the second youngest of her adoptive siblings, poked her head in. "Hey Cass, you looking for someone?" she asked, leaning against the back of the couch, her embroiderer hoop in her lap.

Cass entered, shutting the library door behind her, sending her into the shadows while she remained illuminated by the fireplace. Emerging from the darkness, Cass sat on the opposite side of the couch, offering a smile.

'Was looking for you, wanted to check on you,' Cass signed, concern etched on her face.

"Why were you looking for me?" she asked cautiously. Cass gazed at her sympathetically.

'Kida, the funeral.' Kida turned away briefly, attempting to avoid the elephant in the room. "I didn't want to go, Cass. Why would I want to go to the funeral of the man I killed? Won't make him any deader," she said, turning back to Cass, who fought back a smile.

'Deader?' Cass asked, and Kida rolled her eyes at her poor grammar. "Yes, deader. Dead but more dead," she said. Cass smiled and shook her head.

'Will you leave soon?' The question hung uncomfortably between them. "I don't know. I wanna get Mom's blessing before I do anything. It only feels right," she said, picking up her needle once more. She opened her mouth to speak again but couldn't quite find the words.

Simultaneously, the two turned their heads to the library doors as they creaked open. Richard stood wide-eyed in the doorway. "I feel like I walked in on something I shouldn't have; you two look like two owls in the dark," he remarked. Kida rolled her eyes. "Please, Dick, we are a family of Bats, not owls." Cass nodded in agreement, and Dick rolled his eyes dramatically.

"Whatever. Anyway, Mom is looking for you," he said, walking towards them as the two sisters shared a look.

"How much you wanna bet someone opened their mouth and told mom about my plans?" Cass nodded in agreement as Dick sat down in the love seat beside the couch.

"What plans?" he asked, and Kida looked to him, smirking, then back to Cass. "Well, that knocks him off the list of suspects," she said before standing, her embroider hoop still in hand. She exited the library and stopped for a moment in the hallway, leaning against the door.

"Dick, where is Mom?" she asked, and Dick pointed down. "In the kitchen." He responded, and she nodded before shutting the door once more. "To the kitchen, my loyal hound," she said dramatically, pointing to the stairs and racing towards them, Dahlia on her heels, tail wagging.

"Salve, Mater,"(Hello Mama) she said as she entered the kitchen, immediately walking to her mother and pressing a kiss to her mother's cheek as she carved up a cantaloupe. "Salve, stellulamea," (Hello my little star) her mother responded, and Kida sat down at the island across from her, watching intently as her mother carved the rind from the sweet fruit.

"Passerulusmihidetuacogitationedixit," (A little birdy told me of your idea.) her mother said softly, glancing up at her daughter.

Kida's happy posture slumped for a moment. "Ethiccogitabamutaliquis ex senioribusdixissetaliquid," (And here I was thinking one of the older ones had said something) Kida mumbled, and her mother stopped cutting, looking to her with pity.