Rhapsody in Hearts

Chapter No.1 Over My Dead Soul

                                                          "Over My Dead Soul"
                                                                       Part 2

Fool.
How could I not notice?
Damn it.

“What are you kids screaming about, at such an ungodly hour?”

A pale wrinkled face appeared from the inner room as both I and James stood in the dark gloomy hallway.
Skin fair as snow and eyes so blue reflecting the hardships of her life.
Her hairs like that of golden threads combed back into a rosette and thin lips glazed with burgundy wine.
An Old woman in her late 60’s with a height that reached my shoulder.
My dad was tall and so was I.
Little did I know that my five to nine inch height will become a valuable asset in my life.
The woman walked gracefully towards the both of us leaving her dim lighted room.

Sueva:"Grandma Klah!"

James:"Grandma…"

Grandma Klah:"Why, what’s wrong child? Did a ghost meet you?"

Sueva:"Grandma Klah…"

Grandma Klah:"You look paler than I do."

She giggled as I looked at her.
It calmed me down a bit for this woman has the art to influence me unlike my dad.
A tear rolled down my cheek as the thought of loving her as a mother crossed my mind.

James:"I’ll go make some hot chocolate."

James left me and Grandma Klah in the hallway alone.

Grandma Klah:"Come child, you seem to be at a lost."

She led me in the living room which connected straight to her own chamber.
Patted my back and sighed me to seat myself.
She pulled the curtains together to hide the drizzling rain outside.
It was five in the morning but seemed as eight of the night.
One thing I never did like here was the weather; it was clearly like a madien who changed her clothes hourly.
Books lined the living room in thousands of where I sat, just like my home.
The only friends I ever had were books, James and Grandma Klah.
My dad never let me play or go outside the house.
Just like Rapunzel in the tower, trapped in my own house.
But my house wasn’t in an ordinary place.
It rocked back and forth like a pendulum.
Living on a cruise ship for sixteen years yes, I learned a lot.

Thunder Roaring.

Grandma Klah:"So, what happened?"

Sueva:"I lost it…"

Grandma Klah:"Lost what child?"

Sueva:"Lucas…"

I burst in to tears as I told her.
To my surprise Grandma Klah who always seemed to be calm, got up from her seat.
Grabbed my arm, leaned in, knitting her brows and whispered.

Grandma Klah:"When boy?"

That’s what it intrigued me.
When?
When did I lose it?
At what time?
I couldn’t answer her.
She gazed at me as James entered the living room with his hot Swiss chocolate.
James placed the hot mugs on the table between us and left.
For he knew not to engage in this matter.

Sueva:"Today between one and half past one."

Grandma Klah:"Where?"

Sueva:"Behind the main market streets of Budapest there’s an alley harrowed by a moor and trees at the end."

Grandma Klah:"And is that where you dropped it?"

Sueva:"No. There’s more."

Sueva:"About a mile from the moor there’s a mansion."

Sueva:"One that I have only seen in pictures of Ottoman times."

Grandma Klah gnawed her thin lips and asked me.

Grandma Klah:"Did it have an emblem on it child?"

Sueva:"Yes, The Turul Bird."

Sueva:"The one Emese dreamed off."

The cup of hot mug slipped through her sharp cold fingers as she gasped.
I called James in to help her.

Grandma Klah:"I better go get changed dear…"

The toppled mug, hot chocolate and I sat quietly in the room.
As rain got heavier by the minute.
I sat there with hands on my knees and listened to the noise of thunder.
Thinking.
What does she know?
The emblem, how did she?
But it never occurred to me at that time.

Grandma Klah:"Come here boy."

She beckoned me to follow her into her room.

Grandma Klah:"This…"

Sueva:"That’s the dairy my dad gave you before he left me here a month ago!"

Grandma Klah:"Yes dear, it’s the same one."

 She looked at it intensely then gave a gentle yet bitter smile as she placed it in my hands.

Grandma Klah:"I want you to have this boy. Take it and never reveal it to anyone. Be it a soul or the dead. No one must know you have this."

Sueva:"Wha…t? Grandma Kl…!"

Grandma Klah:"Hush..."

My words half eaten, dried and lost.
What does this mean?
Why would you entrust to me something like this?

Grandma Klah:"What time is it?"

Sueva:”It’s...half past five.”

I pulled together my trembling voice.
Just then Grandma Klah pulled out a bag put several things in and called James in a tone which spoke of fear.

James:"Yes Grandma?"

Grandma Klah:"Go with him."

She gave the order to  James as she pointed towards me and handed me the bag.
The dairy was in my inner vest before James entered the room.
For I did what she told me.

Grandma Klah:”Go and find the Lucas!”

Sueva:"I will! But..."

She cut me off as I wanted to know what the bag was for as I held it in a question.
And  pushed me towards the hallway up till the wooden door and caressed my forehead.
As I stepped outside James was already waiting for me.

She whispered.

Grandma Klah:"Run my boy! Run before it’s too late and remember…t…h...e…"

THUNDER ROARED.

The thunder struck so loud that I couldn’t hear her.
I tried to ask her but she smiled gently and caressed my right eye with her soft hands.
I almost lost it when the bars of the cruise ship fell on me due to the weather same as this.
Ever since then I hid it with my hairs, a scar burned deep into my life when I was only four.
The memories flooded back as she shoved me away and ensured James.

Grandma Klah:"You must never leave his side! Now go."

I repelled back James hand to know what she said.
The words that I couldn’t hear.
Words I knew not back then.
That would change my life forever.
But James strength pulled me away from her.

James:"We must leave."

Sueva:"But James I…"

My words were cut off when I meet James eyes glimmering as platinum gold in the storm.
His eyes silenced me and both of us started running towards the detour.
Leaving the house alone with the old woman.
I felt terrified and lost for this was the second time I had this similar feeling.
The feeling that I will never see her again.

Rain splashes from the window into the dim lighted room.

“You’re very quick with your hands even now.”

Grandma Klah:"I don’t need your hollow wisdom old man."

“Ha-ha, as always. The strict maiden you were and still are.”

“Not as old as you, though.”

Grandma Klah:"Drop the act! If amusement is what you’re here for then I believe I can’t humor you."

“Don’t reprimand me Great Duchess, I am just here for the Gesta Hungarorum*.”

Grandma Klah:"If eyes can see darkness then you’re welcome to search my house."

“Then I presume you hold it?”

Grandma Klah:"Even if you find It, It will never be yours!"

“Klasrisza my love, I will make It mine.”

Grandma Klah:"Over my dead soul!"

End of Part 2
Comments and Useful criticism is heavily required.
Please do Enjoy and leave a comment if YOU liked or disliked it.
Keep an eye out for the Next Part. Till Then Take Care.
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Copyright’s Reserved to the Author.
Akiyama Sk. Chihiro.