Valkyrie's Page of Wonder

September 04, 2009

Fallen Angel - Maerd, Part 2

As they proceed farther north the damage becomes less and less severe to a point where the buildings become undamaged and it almost seems like they are in a different city. Since nearly everyone had been evacuated the streets were eerily silent.
The Redding house stood at the end of the street. It was two stories tall with a balcony overlooking the front and a porch below that. The front yard was open but a tall white privacy fence matching the trim on the house divided the front yard from the back. The rest of the house was a pale green, setting it apart from the more neutral colors of its neighbors. The front porch only took up two thirds of the font with the rest being taken up by the bay window of the living room.
“That was my room there,” Sarah says pointing to the right window on the second story. “My big sister had the room behind mine, my parents had the room with the balcony and my little brother’s room is the one behind that.”
“Where is your little brother now?” Xannon asks.
“He left for school in Zystral about a year ago. My parents weren’t too happy about that though. They wanted him to join either the Temple of Bast or the Temple of Yehova.”
“And your sister?”
“As far as I know, she is still at the Temple of Bast in Cannid. I hope she hasn’t been caught up in the war yet. She never was much of a fighter. She was always the one that kept me and Ryan from killing each other.”
“Ryan’s your brother?”
“Oh, yes, I forgot to tell you. My sister’s name is Ellen. My parents are James and Elizabeth.”
They reach the front door and Sarah tries the knob, finding it locked. She then walks over to a nearby planter and picks it up retrieving the spare key from the saucer. She unlocks the door and opens the door stepping inside a house she hasn’t seen in years.
“It looks about the same, actually.”
The living room was to the right with the dining room to the left and kitchen behind it. A staircase in the middle of the hallway led upstairs to the bedrooms. The house had hardwood floors throughout with accent rugs in the living and dining rooms.
“You can go rest in the living room for now I’ll see if they have anything to eat,” Sarah says as she heads for the kitchen.
Gatomon, Grey, Aaron, Kris, and Roger take a seat in the living room while Xannon takes a look around. Several pictures hang on the walls of people he has never seen but look very similar to Sarah. He guesses the older looking girl was Ellen and the boy to be Ryan. He finally comes across a family photo.
“Sarah, how far apart are you and Ellen?”
“About four years. Ryan, however, is only fourteen months younger than me. My parents weren’t expecting another baby that soon but it didn’t make them love him any less. In fact sometimes I think they babied him more than they did me. Us being so close in age is probably why we fought so much. I swear we would have driven our parents insane if it wasn’t for Ellen. She has a gift for bringing peace it seems.
“Does anyone want something to drink? They have milk, tea, soda, and, of course, water.”
“Water is fine for me,” Gatomon says.
“I’ll take a soda,” Roger replies.
“Me too,” the other guys reply in unison from the living room.
“Sweet or Unsweet?” Xannon asks.
“Not sure, but I’m pretty sure it’s sweet.”
“Tea then.”
Xannon heads into the kitchen to help Sarah with the drinks. As they return to the living Sarah passes out the drinks and takes a spot on the couch between Roger and Kris.
The door bursts open revealing a middle aged man wearing a dirty jacket that has had the right sleeve torn off. A bandage had been applied to his upper arm to cover a wound of some kind.
“Sarah?” the man calls out.
“Father!” Sarah nearly jumps off the couch and leaps into his arms. “It’s so good to see you again.”
“It’s good to have you home again, I just wish it was under better circumstances. Who are your friends?”
Sarah lets go of her father and introduces everyone.
“This is Gatomon, Roger, Aaron, Kris, and Grey. And this,” she says pointing to Xannon, “is Xannon. He’s the one I’ve been telling you about in my letters.”
“Ah, so you’re the man in her life I’ve been hearing so much about. From what I’ve read, you seem like a pretty good guy.”
“I like to think I am, sir.”
“Call me James,” he replies.
“Is mom on her way?”
“She should be here soon. I see you’ve already gotten something to drink. Is there anything else you need?”
“Just a place to stay,” Gatomon says, standing up from her chair.
“Well we don’t have a lot of room but Sarah can take her old room, you can take Ellen’s, and the guys can fight between Ryan’s room, the couch, and various spots on the floor.”
“Dad,” Sarah says, “Do you mind if Xannon stays in my room?”
“Well…”
“Please?” Sarah begs.
“I suppose. You’re too old for me to be telling you what to do now anyway.”
The door open again, this time revealing Sarah’s mom, Elizabeth.
“Mom!” Sarah says as she nearly throws herself at her mother.
“Hello my little darling. I heard you were heading here and I just had to see you.”
“Hello Mrs. Redding,” Gatomon says. “My name is Gatomon and your daughter has offered us your home to use until they finish inspecting the temple for structural damage.”
“You and your friends can stay as long as you need to. Now who’s hungry? I think I have some pot roast left over from last night.”
Sarah pulls Xannon to the side while everyone else proceeds into the dining room. She holds him close.
“It’s so good to know they are safe. Are you sure this plan of yours will work? Especially with only you and Gatomon being able to cast the spells required?”
“Trust me. It will work. I’ve been practicing with manipulating spells and I think I can make the spells affect more people and larger areas. But we are going to need you and the others to keep a lookout. This will require a lot of concentration and we can’t be interrupted or else there’s no telling what might happen to the spells.”
“Tonight will be my turn to protect you.”
He hugs her tight then follows her into the dining room where the others have already taken up spots around the crowded table.