Midnight Shadow

Chapter 9 - Family

I got downstairs Thanksgiving morning about 6:30 but already the house was alive with soft laughing and the smells of harvest. The sweet aroma of the pie Mrs. Hill had risen at 5 am to make mingled with the phantom pain in my throat from last nights battle. Mrs. Hill and Mia were sitting across the kitchen table from each other in the kitchen eating a light breakfast of bagels, cream cheese and coffee. I smiled slightly at the great lengths Mia was going through to seem normal to her "family". I knew she'd purged the dinner from the night before and I was certain she'd do the same tonight . Still, it made her claim of love for the Hill's easier to believe. These inconveniences were the little things that proved she was truly trying to get to know them personally.

"Good Morning Ash" Mrs. Hill chimed as she noticed me in the doorway. "You're up early... Happy Thanksgiving!" she added simply with a smile as she got to her feet to get me some food.

"I've got that" I said as I realized the food was for me. I wanted to keep moving. My back still ached as if it was me that had gotten slammed in the huge oak tree twice the night before. It was uncomfortable but I was grateful, it could have been much worse.

Good morning Ash  I heard Mia's voice floating in my head. She was looking down at her bagel picking off bite sized pieces one by one. I could make out every feature of her face. It was easy in the glow of her aura, no longer a stormy grey, it now shown a pale silver. The fact that I could hear her at all was strange though. I wasn't focused very hard on her at the moment. I usually had to concentrate on a certain person to build the required connection for this kind of communication. Of course, I was very aware of Mia but I wasn't trying to gain access to her thoughts.

"So, what can I help with?" I asked as I finished my bagel and orange juice.

"Not a thing!" Mrs. Hill said sharply. "I have everything I need for dinner and you do far too much around here already. Honestly, Ash I think you believe you have to work or we'll kick you out!" She called as she stuck her head in the pantry.

I frowned at the table a bit. "Well, if you need anything I will be cleaning my room then... or something"

"Actually, I may need you to go to the grocery store Ash. I'm not sure I have enough cranberries"

"What ever you need " was my only response.

I went upstairs slowly, listening to every sound in the house as I entered the bathroom, started the shower and got in. The water felt amazing as I washed the grime and sweat from the night before away. I'd removed the blood before I went to bed but hadn't bothered with a full shower at 4 am.  After quickly cleaning up I went to my bedroom, got dressed, made my bed and cleaned up a bit like I'd said I was going to. I didn't have many responsibilities here in the house so I wanted to make certain I was honoring their home in any way I could.

Downstairs I could hear Mrs. Hill and Mia talking about cooking turkey, Rebecca still sleeping in her room and Mr. Hill typing on his key board in the office. I wondered idly if something had happened overnight that was news worthy. Mrs. Hill would undoubtedly tell him to go to work if they called but I was sure she would wait for her true loves return before actually serving tonight's Thanksgiving feast.

I sat at my window looking out at the morning. It would be in the low 60's tonight without a cloud in the sky. Perfect weather by all accounts even if it was a little warm for November. I could hear Mia humming to herself in the kitchen as she helped Mrs. Hill begin preparations for dinner that night. It seemed we'd be eating in the formal dining room. She was getting Mrs. Hill's china out of the hutch and wiping it down as she removed each plate.

Ah, I remember this pattern!  She thought to herself and an image of her in a high neck blouse and her hair piled on top of her head flitted through her thoughts. She had eaten off it before in the early 1900's. The image was crystal clear and very heart warming. I sighed at the thought of it all. Of all the people, creatures and beings I'd met in 5000 years I'd never met anything like Mia. Last nights barrage of memories she'd shared with me ran through my head again.