The Shadows of Royalty

The Day Of My Death

Hmmmmmmmmm......... I remember the sound clearly. The musical hum that lured you, it was like you were sired by them; attached to your master, seeking acceptance no matter what he asked you to do.

"Ahummmmm..,..." The demon sang, calling for me. When will this son of biscuit leave me alone? It was like he was my little puppy, following me everywhere. Actually, that was a horrible comparison.

"Rachel, my dear, where are you? How about we play hide and seek?" I inwardly groan in frustration as I ducked behind a wall. This demon wanted to kill me at first and now he's begging me to come out and play hide and seek with him. Was he like, 5? Or was he bipolar? Probably both.

Now his taunting voice changed into my father's. The memory rotted in my head as it flashed back.

"Daddy?" My five year old self called out as I twirled my dress. I clutched my teddy bear in one hand as I looked across the rose garden. My heart beat furiously as my 5 year old self trembled. "Papa?" No one answered this time. We were playing hide and seek in the rose garden as my mother was in the house, all before it happened; all before the next day, when she disappeared, all before my sixth birthday.

" Boo!" Two thick hands grabbed me from behind me causing me to shriek. "Papa!" I yelled as I wrapped my arms around his neck. "Yes, baby girl?"

"You scared me!" He chuckled as he put me down onto the ground. "Now it's your turn to hide!" I nod as I scramble my way through the garden. I make my way through the tress as I come by the mini maze we had in the rose garden. Papa's voice was now faint in the distance. I was determined to win. I ran through the high grass walls but suddenly slowed down glancing from side to side. It's been five minutes and Papa hadn't found me. I clutched my bear closer to me as tears streamed down my face. I made the mistake of not staying in place. I wondered and maneuvered through the walls, but suddenly I slipped, slicing my knee. Now my cries increased, as I called for help.

" Momma! Papa!" Suddenly a figure emerged from the wall. It was mamma. She hugged me as she placed her pointer to her lips. I immediately ceased my cries as my eyes widened. She had a passenger bag hauled onto her shoulder as she was dressed in black. "Baby girl, shhhh."

"Mamma, where are you going? "

"Nowhere baby, I just want you to remember something. " I nodded as she continued. "When you go to bed tonight, look under your pillow." I nodded as I snuggled the teddy bear closer to me. "One more thing, babe." I nod. "I love you." Her eyes became glassy as she bit her lip and wrapped her arms around me. "Mommy, I love you too, but where are you going?" I snuggled my face to crook of her neck. "Baby, nowhere. I will always be in your heart, even if I'm not there, and you will always live in my heart, mon ange."

" Mamma, what does mon ange mean? " She laughed lowly. " Mon cher, you will figure it out when you start paying attention in French class." I pouted my lips as a blush crept onto my cheeks. She kissed my forehead. " Mon ange, your papa is going to come and find you any minute. Ok? Don't tell him that I'm playing hide and seek with you two, ok? It's a surprise, mon bebe. " I nodded and got excited, even though, mamma didn't seem thrilled to be playing hide and seek with papa and I. Especially with a bag hauled over her shoulders and she dressed up all in black. When papa's voice neared us, mamma suddenly disappeared and i giggled. Mamma was going to win hide and seek.

" Boo! " Papa said as I giggled some more. "Why are you laughing, mon beau?" He asked calling me beautiful in French. "Nothing!" I said giggling some more. " OK, let's head back to the house. Mommy said that dinner was ready. I nodded as he threw me over his back, and let me piggy back him. Weird, mamma said that she was playing hide and seek with us, but nothing about dinner.