Thicker Than Water....

Chapter 11 - Misplaced Trust

I was in the forest once more.  That lush, green beautiful forest. 

And from deep within, I heard it again.  The wail of an infant. The infant that had been me.  I followed the sound.  As I seemed to be nearing it, Kula materialised in front of me.

I pushed her aside and continued searching for my younger self, but she was persistant.  "Stay out of my dreams Kula!!" I warned her.

   "You must listen to me, little sista."

   "No!" I kept pushing forward through the undergrowth.

   "Why you angry wit' me?

I stopped and spun round to face her. "Why?!" I screamed at her.  "You betrayed me! Work it out!"

   "I have not'ing of the kind, Sienna!  I warned you remember?  Vittorio is the one to fear."

   "Fear?  Are you kidding me?  After all he has told me?"

   "Exactly.  It is because of what he has told you."

   "Concern yourself about your husband, Kula.  Damned strange how you so quickly dismissed the man you profess to love.  My best friend, too."

   "Peter is my life, Sienna! He is safe, I swear it."

   "Leave me alone!"

Her eyes widened sharply, and she glanced quickly  from side to side.  "I will go, for now.  Remember what I said..."  Suddenly, she was gone. The wailing infant was quiet, too.  I turned  360 degrees, desperately willing the child to cry again.  Nothing.  Then something moved, just at the corner of my eye.  I stared.  "Peter?"  Two figures, one of which, I was sure was Peter, disappeared into the brush at the north end of the forest.  I ran to try catch them, but tripped over roots, sending me sprawling through the air.....

  

I woke with a jolt and sat up.  No Kula! Had my subconscious just conjured her up? Or had she somehow sped from the room before I regained conciousness?  Whichever it was, I was annoyed.

I showered and dressed, ready for whatever this day presented me with.  I opened my door, stepped into the hall.  No Ugly!  Downstairs, no Vittorio.  Thankfully, no Ian neither.  Sounds from the kitchen however, let me know there was one person at least present, and I had a good idea who it was. 

She had the breakfast table set with one place.  She turned towards me, a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon in her hands.  She studied me for a second.  "Sit," Kula said.  " You must eat."

   "No thanks. I don't trust your ingredients anymore."

Baby Si nodded in agreement.

   "You are being silly.  De tea just had a mild sedative to help you relax, not'ing more."

   "It was still a violation."

She put the plate on the table.  "Perhaps."  She waited for me to take my place.  When it was obvious that I wasn't going accept her offer, she sat down and started to eat the breakfast herself.  Damn, I thought.  She wasn't going to drug herself now, was she!

I snatched a piece of toast from the rack and spread it with butter and marmalade.  "Where are the others?"

   "Well, Vittorio is resting, and Ian is at work."

   "And the ghoul?"

She chuckled.  "He is around.... somewhere."

   "Well, I don't want him scaring the neighbours."  Somehow, I couldn't help but chuckle a little myself.  I gathered that Vittorio's rest actually meant his intolerance to sunlight.  I also just knew, he was still in the house, cellar most likely.  "So, Kula.  How long have you known about my.....origins?"