Lost Words

Authors Note :: Let me start by saying thank you to everyone that has provided so much support thus far! I apologize for not being as active as I used to be but hopefully, this helps make up for it. This is one of my many short stories, I published part of it in the beginning of me being here on Vocal and have since finished (I think) the story. I published it on Wattpad first, under my alias there as Demonpup. This story in a way, is complete and yet purposefully left as it is, so as the reader, you can kind of see your own story from it. It's more a beginning than anything but I did want to share what I could because I thought it would be a cute short to share. If you are interested in reading more, let me know in the comments below and I will consider writing a longer story for this one. In the meantime, a lot of my work is focused on a Novel I have been writing and will release here soon, called The Doorway to Thirteen Realms, some of those chapters not yet finalized of course, are available here on Vocal as well as on Wattpad. As usual for both this work and the work of the Doorway to Thirteen Realms, I reserve all rights to these publishings. No one else has any rights to redistribute, copy, publish or sell any of my work without my explicit permission. Anyway, keep an eye out for it!

If you are interested in reading another one of my works, I do have links provided below for another favorite I have published!

Murder/Mystery short based on Edgar Allen Poe,

Vocal Link - Is This Murder or Is This Madness?

Wattpad Link - The Tell-Tale Heart Cover Story

Status: Complete

Lost Words

Heart rate slowed... silk sheets lightly brushing his iced skin. His pale eyes stared up at the ceiling as he drew in his final ragged breath, or so he thought. Closing his eyes, he felt as though he were missing something. Death couldn't quite touch his soul yet. Death couldn't guide him into the uncertainty of the afterlife until... Opening his eyes once more, his hazy vision settled on a plump nurse who seemed so cautious of him, so careful in her movements, he began to feel as if the very air around him had become fragile.

"She's here, as you requested." The nurse whispered. Clearing her throat, she straightened her back and watched the old man. "Are you sure you'd like to have her come by? She's only a child... she shouldn't have to see you like this." The woman spoke in a half soft, half demanding voice. She tried to keep her tone just as cautious as her frail movements, but she had to keep her point across. He must think of how this could impact the child to see him like this. The man only released a dry chuckle and shook his head. Small drops of blood adorned his lips after his laugh.

"If she's ever to see me at all... Now is the time." He stopped and waved his bony hand in a slight and yet short gesture. "Bring her in." He said, his voice hoarse, barely audible. Reluctantly, the woman bowed and approached the door of which a set of green eyes had been hidden behind, diligently watching through the keyhole. Seeing that the woman was returning to the door she entered moments ago, telling the girl to wait... the girl who held those brilliant mossy orbs, counted ten silent steps backward, folded her arms behind her back, and leaned to the side giving that sort of impression of a child bored of waiting rather than the nosey redhead she tended to be. Opening the door, the woman eyed the child and sighed somewhat, shutting the door behind herself and approaching the little girl.

"He's too ill, I'm afraid he is becoming unresponsive, my dear. Let's go..." She ushered, pushing against the girl who seemed to be glued to the spot, despite her small size. The girl stood unwavering against the nurse.

"Do you often lie to children who have death awaiting their dearest of connections?" She inquired curiously, the bite in her voice resembling the bite held in her blank stare as her gaze shifted from the door she had stared at all the while, to the woman who looked angry for only half a second before fear seemed to set in. No, not fear, pain. If anything wavered the girl's anger, it was the sight of that pain. Knowing the woman was probably trying to protect her. But the girl's stubbornness reminded her to hold her ground. Holding her anger and watching the woman, the girl's eyes darkened with the slight spark of humor that crossed her lips. "Jullie?" She asked as the silence drew on from the woman, gathering the name at least from the tag resting on the woman's left breast.

The girl didn't know what it was about saying someone's name when you were upset, but it always struck fear or uneasiness in people. Like it was a threat, and that was a threat the girl would utilize to get to the old man if she had to. After another silence as the woman named Jullie released the girl's shoulders, the girl's eyes rested into a narrow gaze before she simply brushed past Jullie and the door Jullie had just closed.

The old man turned his head slightly and instantly moved to sit up at the sight of the child. "Ah... you... Airta..." He said, a smile crossing his face as he stared down at her fiery red curls and continued... "Please, come, sit with me." She wanted to run to him. She could feel the tears well up in her eyes but she wondered if it was for the old mans life slipping in front of her or the brutally rancid smell of infected blood that filled the room. How had he lived so long in this condition? Was it really just to see her? She took a step forward.

He extended his arm towards her and nodded, "It's safe here, child. No one will see." As if his hoarse assurance was the confirmation she needed, silver and white wings appeared behind her. She looked like a child angel, but in her hand, she held a white dagger with a black vine wrapped around its hilt. He smiled as he saw her, and closed his eyes laying back. His chest lifted and fell in relief as he sighed and opened his eyes. As he did, it was to see the girl now standing over him, tears ran down her face as she upheld the dagger. "You never deserved the pain they put you through..." She whispered, a tear rushing down her pale cheek and landing on his shirt.

He coughed and chuckled softly. "Don't distract yourself with the past, child. Always-" "Look on to the future..." She finished, nodding.

"Aye... I'm ready." He whispered and the girl wiped her tears on her sleeves, nodding and whispering to the dagger, it began to glow as it crashed down into his chest, piercing his heart. She watched as the light faded from his eyes, then she removed the dagger and stared mournfully at his body. Hearing the banging on the door, she shivered and closed her eyes. She couldn't let her emotions be so succumbing that she can't hear her surroundings. Moving towards the window, she climbed out and flew across the night, shedding the skin of the girl she wore.

As soon as she left the room, the nurse fell into the room through the door with armed men behind her and a little girl who looked identical to how Airta appeared. Rushing to the bedside the nurse cried and shook her head. "I am so sorry, Elizabeth! He's gone! I thought she was you! I thought- She looked so..." The nurse sobbed and shook her head while Elizabeth stared at her Grandfathers body.

"It had to have been Airta..." One soldier whispered looking through the window and down the ten-story building. There was a moat at the bottom but the water was undisturbed, not even the wind shook the waters. "Only Airta can escape this, she changes skin."

"She is a skinwalker!?" Another soldier shivered and shook his head.

"What skinwalker do you know, has wings? Anyone who has claimed to have seen her, claims she has great big fluffy wings! Idiot, she's a sorceress." Another soldier mumbled.

"I... I... I saw no wings. She was just a girl. Only- Only- She had to have been the same age as Elizabeth. She looked just like- Elizabeth! I am so sorry!" She started sobbing and hugged the girl.

"She is not a skinwalker or a sorceress. All we can be sure of is how dangerous she is. Escort them back to their families, no one should travel alone tonight." The third soldier ordered, turning away. The second soldier nodded and escorted the nurse and Elizabeth off.

"That means the villagers were speaking the truth..." The first soldier whispered.

"I guess that means you shouldn't have flogged the four who were brave enough to speak of it." The third soldier shrugged and left the room muttering, "Mistakes." As he left, leaving the first soldier to stare out the window in fear and disbelief.