Masquerade of Madness: Birth and forgiveness: Part Two

"Is there any way to turn off the hot water?" Creed asked Gin, fully intent on putting an end to his shower interruptions.

"Yes," Gin replied, "downstairs in the cellar."

Creed stood up and turned toward what he guessed was the cellar door.

Gin quickly spoke up, "Or you could just run water."

Creed did not hesitate, turning the water on full blast. In just a few minutes, he could not hide his devilish delight as Sue yelled out in anguish.

Her yell startled the youngster, who ran for its mother. The creature became annoyed and hit it, causing it to go rolling across the floor.

Crystal took the female Nard's arm, and holding it over her shoulder; she tried to help her to her feet. "I forgive you," Crystal spoke softly to the beast.

The Nard had never heard those words, not even in Nard language. It warmed the heart in her throat. She momentarily discovered feelings that are not part of her world.

Sue jumped out of the shower and stomped up the hall, wearing only a towel. She wanted to give someone a piece of her mind, but Spike broke her outrage, as she suddenly showed up with dried blood on her clothes and not smelling very good.

"Someone needs a bath," Gin called out grudgingly. All these smells were just too much for him.

Creed replied lamely, "Later."

"No, now!" Gin insisted.

Creed stood and lead Spike down the hall to the bathroom. Spike stripped off the bloody clothes, then threw her herself into the shower.

The baby chased Crystal around, laughing and squealing, like a baby piglet.

The Nard picked up her baby, wondering why it wasn't hungry.

"I fed it," Crystal spoke as if reading the mother's mind.

The Nard gratefully bowed her head and gradually backed out of the room. Holding her baby tightly, she took her leave and disappeared, to make their way back to the world of the Nards. When she returned, she reported to the future queen who wasn't so pleased with the failures or the deaths

Crystal missed the Nard baby pouting. "I want a baby!" she announced.

Sue looked at her. "Just yesterday you were willing to let it die."

"A change of heart," Crystal said mindlessly.

This was all Gin could handle. He left the room and slammed his bedroom door behind him.

Creed shrugged his shoulders and went to his room, too. He needed to get the rest he missed last night. And besides, he wanted nothing to do with this conversation.

Sue looked at Crystal. "Are you crazy?"

"Kinda, but . . ." Crystal's words trailed off as she jumped to her feet. "Crap, I forgot to get Ashley!" she yelled as she burst out the door in a hurry.

"Nice," Sue murmured sarcastically and went to bed.

Crystal hurried down the pathway that led to Ashley's school, all the while beating herself up for being so immature and thoughtless. How could she forget her daughter?

Ashley sighed, waiting for Crystal at her school and allowing her thoughts to drift. She was smart, she knew that, but why did she have to be here with that annoying human? And why did she have to change her name? The little girl grew angry as the color of red flashed in her mind.

At least she found him, the one that had betrayed her race. The problem was, he seemed nice and like he was the one betrayed by everything around him. He had even healed her. Life is unfair, she thought. She had so many questions. She missed her mom in Casalynn. She missed her friends. Yin began to cry as she realized that her true mother was not really very motherly. This human that took her in was more of a mother than her own.

Ashley's teacher looked concerned. Sighing in frustration, she gazed around her brightly lit classroom. She wanted to help her students but realized no matter how much she helped them, there would always be problems. It was this place, this city of lost prayers, this city that breeds problems for their young, she thought apathetically.

She studied all of her students' artwork pinned around the wall. Ashley's artwork was by far the most interesting piece. The little girl simply called it "home where her real mother was." The drawing looked like a complex heaven with rain pouring down on it.

Crystal ran into the classroom, interrupting the teacher's thoughts. Taking Ashley by the hand,

Crystal bent over to ask, "How was school?"

"Sad," was Ashley's one-word response, as she looked away, dropping Crystal's hand.

Crystal studied the little girl. "What was so sad about it?"

Ashley flung her arms around Crystal's neck, hugging her tightly. "Someday I will leave this place and miss you instead of my mother." Then she retreated from the hug and stepped away.

"You sound different." Crystal stood up, again offering her hand and thinking, wow, she is acting strange. What should I do?

"No, thanks, human. I do not need it."

"What!" Crystal was stunned. "Please don't say that. I couldn't take it if you suddenly hated me." She turned her head down.

"I am too old to be acting like a baby."

"Who says?" Crystal asked as her eyebrows furrowed.

"I just know it."

"Come here," Crystal said firmly raising her head.

"No!" Ashley screamed. "My mother was never like you. She will not like me if I do not complete my . . ." Acting on reflex, Ashley's body moved forward, step by step. She realized it and just ran to Crystal. "Mommy, I am so scared. I was so scared. Why didn't you find me earlier? Why was I alone?"

Crystal smiled a little for comfort and then frowned. "I'm sorry I never thought of it. If I would have known you existed, I would have come home with you sooner. But I never thought of it." Because I am only a high school student, she thought to herself.

"Do I get in your way? My old mother said I did, that I was useless and that this was the only way I could make myself useful."

"I'm so sorry I didn't realize you were suffering on the inside. Can you forgive me?"

"Yes." The little girl held onto Crystal's hand as they walked home together.