Subj: Dark Kindred Part 8
Date: 3/14/00 8:45:52 PM Central Standard Time
From: Shadowalker
A soft whisper in Claudias ear stirred her from out of her fitfull slumber. She had fallen asleep from her exhaustive crying after Evan had left. She, still lay in a protective fetal position, trying to forget the horror that had just happened. "Claudia". The ethereal voice whispered to her once more. It seemed to float around her, not remaining in one place, but coming from all around her, surrounding her. "You must now not only help yourself, but Donamarie and Nicholas also. They need you. So you must by trying to use your powers".
Claudia stirred slightly, not wanting to move. The tears once again began to fall gently from her eyes, tiny sobs escaped from her.
"Evan has once more attacked Donamarie, you must help them." Answering the spectral voice, "I have none mother, you know I do not. How can I hope to help others when I cannot even help and protect my self?" Again the voice whispered to her, "you must meet the enemy in order to vanquish the enemy. You must remember that, you must meet the enemy in order........the voice trailed off to leave once again, the quietness of her lonely room.
She lay for what seemed hours and contemplated what her mother had said about vanquishing the enemy. Her friends were in danger, she knew that now, and she had to help. Slowly, she began to rise from her bed, with a great yelp, only to fall back upon it again. The pain was searing. Turning to the bedside light, as she flicked it on, the light exposed ugly teeth marks on her inner thighs and on her breasts. New tears suddenly welled up and with sobs escaped from her shaking body. Quickly she wiped them away with the palms of her hands. Painfully she made her way to the bathroom to shower.
Passing the mirror, she looked up and saw a hideous grinning face in the mirror, it was that of Evan! Her hand went to her mouth to cover the scream that attempted to escape, then he disappeared again. "He's still haunting me!" She said to herself,"God, will I ever be at peace again?" Trembling, she made her way to the shower once more that night. But now it was to wash away the memories of the monster that touched and tormented her. She knew what she had to do, guided by her mothers words. Quickly, she showered and dressed, grabbing her purse and keys, she traveled to the Blairs home..........
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Claudia rounded the bend, she saw at once that Blair House was darkened already, she slowed the car down, wondering if she should just go ahead and not tell Donamarie what she had planned. Something just wasn't right, her intuition told her so. She did have some very limited powers, the ones that for years remained untapped. But the others that she had once used, had become like old childhood toys placed away in a closet. And so were her powers relegated to the back of her mind.
She parked the car in the front, went up to knock on the door. After several repeated knocks, Donamarie opened it . Claudia was stunned at her appearance. The normally beautiful, carefree and sweet person now was visibly shaken, frightened and had it had been evident that she had been crying for hours. "Oh Donamarie! I'm so sorry I couldn't have been here earlier!" Donamarie looked at her friend with tears in her eyes and grabbed Claudia. "Oh God Claudia! It was horrible! He forced himself on me again! But it wasn't bad enough, he had me three times!!" Donamarie began to cry uncontrollably, unable now to stop.
Claudia closed the door behind her and led them both to the couch and sat down with her friend, holding Donamarie's trembling body and letting her head lie upon her shoulders as the tears and sobs continued. Claudia felt her own sorrow start to grow then changing to that of anger and rage.
Claudia thought Evan, a most vile and putrid creature, should not be free without just punishment. It was then, that Claudia had made up her mind to tell Donamarie. Gently lifting her friends face to look straight into her eyes, she softly asked "where is Nicholas?" Then Donamarie took a tissue, wiping her eyes "he went to Evans apartment to confront him." Claudia knew it wouldn't work, "No, it won't make any difference to Evan, he must be dealt with someone even more powerful than Nicholas. I must go to Diabolos myself, Donamarie". Donamarie shot her eyes at Claudia "NO! You cannot!! He'll kill you Claudia, make no mistake about it! Or worse yet, take you and......God, NO!" Claudia told her that Evan had hurt too many people that were close to her. Touching gently Donamaries tear laden cheeks, "my mother had said I must meet the enemy in order to vanquish the enemy, which is Evan and Diabolos, and I was to help protect your family. So I must do this". Donnamarie said, "But are you sure she said, that you must "meet the enemy"? Nodding yes, Claudia said gently, "I shall be fine and come back stronger than ever and Evan shall no longer be a threat to any of us!"
Claudia, however wasn't convinced herself, and quite frankly was scared about what lay ahead for her. She could not show that fear to Donamarie right now. Donamarie already had enough troubles of her own. There was no convincing Claudia not to go. "You must take me with you then! " "No Donamarie, you have to stay here, its not safe for you there!" Rising from the couch, "now, I have to go", Claudia bent over to Donamarie and hugged her friend, possibly for the last time.Then she was gone.
Donamarie knew Claudia couldn't be talked out of her decision. Once she made up her mind, there was no changing it. She heard Claudias car pull away from the house, and slowly, she thought about what Claudias mother had told her, and suddenly, in horror she figured out, it wasn't the enemy being Evan and Diabolos! But her enemy was in her fear of using her powers! She had to go after her before she got to Diabolos!
Running upstairs, she changed and was off to stop this tragedy before it got too late...........
To be Continued.....................