The Vessel Chronicles: Grandmas little girl

An unsteady beginning

My dreams aren't usually this bad, but tonight seemed to be different. "MOM!!! DAD!!! DANNY!!!" I scream sitting bolt right up. Feeling the need for cold on my fevered skin I slowly slip out of bed and onto the floor just as a whole wave of sobbing consumes me.

I sit there crying for what feels like hours, all the while images filling my head.

My parents hiding me and my brother Danny under their bed... Dannys large hand covering my mouth to stop me from screaming... Danny grabing the baseball bat next to him and going to help my parents in their meger fight for survival...

"STOP THIS DIANA!!! YOU'LL JUST GET DEPRESSED!!! DO YOU WANT THAT?! DO YOU WANT YOUR LIFE TO FALL APART?! NO! SO STOP THIS!" I hear Dannys voice scolding me. He might have been nine years older than me but he was my best friend. He kept me safe. He took care of me. He loved me more than most brothers love their little sisters. Danny was popular but he always made time for me. I was his little dragon. I almost died looking into his eyes as he died.

I take in unsteady breaths trying to calm myself down. I look to the clock hoping that will get my mind off the horrible dreams. 6:59am. Damn. I would be getting up in half an hour anyway. So I make my way down stairs to the kitchen where my grandmothers personal chef is cooking our breakfasts.

"Good morning Lotti" I say dismally plonking myself down at one of the kitchen stools. "Good morning little miss. A little early for you isn't it?" Lotti asks me as she puts the finishing touches on grandmothers breakfast. "I had a nightmare again... I've been crying for the last few hours..." I mumble in response. Lotti being the all-hearing-all-seeing psychic she is turns her head to me with a sypathetic look in her eyes placing grandmothers breakfast on the tray, ringing the bell and putting it carefully on the tray in the dumb-waiter and pressing the button to send it up. "Chocolate chip pancakes I'm guessing?" She questions without really questioning it. "Is there any other kind of pancake?" I say gazing at my slippers. "Okie dokie! One batch of cheer-up pancakes comin' right up!" She says in her southern tainted voice.

"Diana? Are you in here?" Sounds a familiar voice from the hallway. Clayton. My 'nanny' or ,as he was actually employed as, my grandmothers personal assistant. "I'm in here Clay!" I call not getting up from my spot on the stool. "Good! I went to your room but you weren't there. Morning Lotti. So! Todays timetable! You have advanced chemistry with Mr Dannersmot, then ancient greek history with Miss Kilopatros, advanced english with Ms Browningson and finally Psychology with Dr Wholowver! I still think that name is fake. But after school you have your eye appointment and then your dentist appointment. Gotta keep those teeth of yours pearly white!" Clayton says smiling to emphasize on the last part of his comment. As soon as he did though his smile fades and is replaced with a look of concern. "What's wrong?" he asks lowering his large body onto the stool next to my small one placing his hand on my shoulder. "Just nightmares. Haven't had them in what?... Six or so months? It was a little weird but now it's just... Depressing..." I say gazing at the stack of pancakes now sitting in front of me.

I pick up my fork and start eating, the wonderful taste of chocolate filling my mouth.

"Ok Diana. I think you should go shower now. You have thirty minutes till out the door." Clayton says taking my empty plate from in front of me. I get up and trudge to my room.