The Cursed Ones

Prolouge

          Hanako squeezed my hand, her concern clear on her face. I petted her hair as she laid her head on my lap, singing to her softly.
          "Lavender's blue, dilly, dilly, lavender's green,
          When I am king, dilly, dilly, You shall be queen.
          Who told you so, dilly, dilly, who told you so?
          'Twas my own heart, dilly, dilly, that told me so."
          Mother always sang this song to us before bed. Until she became too sick to do so. She made sure I learned the song so I could help Hanako calm down after a nightmare, just like now. They've become more frequent now that mother was becoming gravely sick. Hanako couldn't help but feel it was her fault. She had the gift of healing yet she couldn't heal mother.
          "Call up your men, dilly, dilly, set them to work
          Some to the plough, dilly, dilly, some to the fork,
          Some to make hay, dilly, dilly, some to cut corn,
         While you and I, dilly, dilly, keep ourselves warm."
          "Miyuki, is mother going to be okay?" In answer we heard mother's coughing fit from across the hall. She stiffened but I kept on petting her hair, not answering her questions. Hanako knew me well and knew I wasn't much for talking.
          "Lavender's green, dilly, dilly, Lavender's blue,
          If you love me, dilly, dilly, I will love you.
          Let the birds sing, dilly, dilly, And the lambs play;
          We shall be safe, dilly, dilly, out of harm's way."
          Hanako cried quietly but my own eyes stayed dry. I didn't cry. Mother said I was born silent. Silent like snow falling. I felt her breathing start to slow and I knew she was starting to sleep. I slowly moved her head onto a pillow, careful not to wake her. I hushed my voice a little but kept it clear.
          "I love to dance, dilly, dilly, I love to sing;
          When I am queen, dilly, dilly, You'll be my king.
          Who told me so, dilly, dilly, Who told me so?
          I told myself, dilly, dilly, I told me so."
          She was sound asleep now and I quietly got off the bed, covering her with her blanket. Hanako always looked like an angel when she slept. I moved silently through her room and opened the door. Standing there was Kuma. I held my finger to my lips, warning her not to speak. Closing the door without a sound, I led her a bit down the hall.
          "Miss Miyuki, please forgive me but your mother is asking for you." It bemused me when Kuma apologized to me. After all she was our housekeeper and I was only six. "She wants to see you alone." I nodded and she went into Hanako's room to watch over her. We might have been twins but she was younger.
          Entering my mother's room, I wasn't sure what I was expecting to see. We weren't allowed in at night. Seeing my mother's pale, thin body buried in blankets wasn't it. She looked worse then she had earlier. I tried to ignore the bloody napkins in the waste bin but it proved difficult. I sat on the chair on mother's bedside. The one my father always sat in. Mother looked up at me with a weak smile. I tried to smile back as honestly as I could but I couldn't. Seeing my mother like this made it very, very hard to find a reason to smile. I just couldn't.
          "My darling, snow. I want to thank you so much for helping me with your sister. You're so mature for your age." She coughed harshly and I tried not to flinch. It had to be the worst sound I've ever heard. She cleared her throat before continuing. "You've always been a strong girl which is why I asked to speak to you. Miyuki ...we all die. The goal isn't to live forever. The goal is to create something that will. You and your sister are my creation and I know you will carry my legacy." She coughed again and my heart clenched.
          I held her bony hand in mine. "Mother, I don't understand. I don't know how to do that." I chocked out. "How can I make you legacy last forever?" My mother smiled at me sadly.
          She moved her gaze towards the window where snow was falling. "Have I told you the story of how I chose to name my creations?" I shook my head no. "It was snowing just like it is right now. As you know you were born first. The room was freezing despite the fireplace and blankets. Still when you were born you were so quiet. So beautiful. I had to name you after snow. When your sister followed, the flowers bloomed in the windowsill as soon as she came out. She had to be my flower child. That was the best day of my life." She coughed much harder now and she held a tissue to her lips. The pristine white was stained with dark red.
          "Despite what others claim, I don't believed you're one of the Cursed. I believe the opposite in fact. You haven't been cursed but blessed. Please use your powers to protect your sister. There are those out there that will use your ability to do terrible things. You must keep yourself and Hanako away from them. Keep Hanako playing her piano, and you keep singing. Promise me this. Promise you will both get your eduction and do something good with yourselves. That's how you will keep my legacy."
          Something warm and wet ran down my cheek. Mother reached up and wiped my cheek gently. "I promise. I promise mommy." I was definitely crying now. Sobbing. I hugged my mother tightly. I didn't want her to go. I didn't want to worry about keeping her legacy. I wanted her to stay long enough so she can keep her own legacy. It wasn't fair. But neither was life.
          I felt another hand holding my once empty one and I looked up to see Hanako. He face was streaked in tears, reflecting my own streaked face. My sister and I were the same in every aspect except for our hair and eyes. I had gotten my father's black hair and eyes and Hanako got mother's silver hair and gray eyes.
          "My girls, please don't cry. Just remember what's important and you will be fine." Her hand became really cold, her voice much much weaker. "I love you my girls. Love...is all you need. Please remember... that for me. Take care..of daddy and be good...for Kuma, okay? I love you both so...much."
          She closed her eyes and her hand went lip in mine. Hanako started sobbing loudly as I cried quietly. A bit of blood escaped mother's lip and the last thing I remembered was her getting farther and farther.
          I kept my mother's words to heart and I would never forget them. I would take care of Hanako, keep her away from people who want to use us, we will keep doing good in school and I will let my mother's legacy live forever.

          After my mother's death however, things continued to get worse. Father had loved my mother to no end and within a few months he fell ill and died of a broken heart when we turned seven. We were left with enough money to live comfortably for a while but I knew it wouldn't last forever, so I asked Kuma to sell the house so we could have enough money for everything we needed and extra. Father had been a wealthy merchant and we were able to get a nice house.
          Even so I worried. If money was no long coming in then we would eventually run out. We wouldn't be able to keep Kuma around much longer but she insisted on taking care of us even if it meant working for free. She was our rock and of course she continued to get paid but I could only give her half her usual pay. But mother left me in charge of Hanako and I would make sure she was well taken care of.