Dark Dreams

Chapter Nine

With a light regal nod of her head, she whispered softly “aye, it always monopoly and clue” she glanced up towards him briefly before glancing back down at the table, and the books that sat there. “Go ahead and have a look at the books I am sure there is one amongst those that is your favorite” he replied in a whisper, “I should know I placed those books there just this morning” he continued. Leaning back against the chair, with its high back rest he watched her closely to see if she would choose the leather-bound book with its gold lettering, Grimm’s Fairy Tales by The Brothers Grimm. He knew it was one that had been pasted down from generation to generation through their family. “Your Mother read one of those books to you and your twin, eventually you girls read it to your younger brother” he simply said. Tamra smiled as she looked through each book until she found her favorite book the one that her mother had said was as close to a mix of truth and fairy tale, lifting it up she ran her fingers over the gold lettering with gentle care, “I can remember when ye read one of the tales to us, and it made dad laugh as ye did all those strange voices” Tamra replied with a light hearted giggle.

“I cannot remember the name of the story, but it was about a little boy with a key” she continued as she searched the through the pages so carefully. It was then that she found the story just as he had spoken “the story is called The Golden Key by the Brothers Grimm” he replied light heartedly, glancing up to him with a smile “would ye be willing to read the story to me like in the old days?” Tamra had asked him, her tender crystal blue eyes sparkling from the sheer memory of it all. “Ah, but of course I will, but only at bedtime, just like we use to do when you were little” he responded with a light laugh. “However, before then we really should see what else is here, after all you want as much information on your parents do you not?” he asked as his smile faded from his chiseled features. He knew that this particular library printed out any and all news articles from around the world concerning the Kelso family line, partly due to the fact that they always had aided them in times of crisis. Then when her parents married, they had printed out all of the information they could find on her mother and of the pair falling in love and even the wedding.

“Tamra have you ever asked your parents about the family tree? Or even the family’s history?” he asked her, his tone slowly going grim, he knew she hadn’t, but he wanted to hear her say it. She looked up at him, her tender blue eyes questioning him as she lightly spoke “well I had asked once but they told both told me that when it was time they would sit us all down and tell us the full history of both sides of the family, and even all about the both of them, and why they were destined to be together” her voice slowly grew sorrowful at the recollection of the bombing of her parents vehicle. With her chin tipped closer to her chest, her light blue eyes ringed with a touch of green, and a sad smile lightly displayed, Tamra rose to her feet and found the room with all the computers, and she once more started the search on her parents. After several hours of searching and printing out a pile of information to read back at her suite at the small B & B that she had rented for the next couple of weeks.

Tamra walked back over to Phelan and glancing out the window noticed that it was nearing dawn, but she decided to sit down and organize out the mounds of paper by date. She knew it would be easier to understand what was in the pages if she could only get them into some kind of order. “Here let me help you with that Tam” he said softly while reaching his hand out towards her. “I am fairly certain you want to organize them out by date” he said softly, “and I was or rather still am terrific when it comes to organizing items” Tamra handed him half of the stack of papers, before she set herself to the task. Once they had finished organizing out the papers and putting them into a binder that he had brought with him, he used libraries computers and other machines and created a lovely card for the front of the binder, it read “Property of Tamra Beth Kelso” with a small family photo above the tag, and her current photo right below it. Grabbing up the clear packing tape from the librarian’s desk, he made sure to fix each item down on the binder.

‘Tam could you please bring the books over here to the counter” Phelan called out to her, just as the library doors bang open and a rather distinctive voice rang through the small library “Tamra, young one it is not safe to be out on your own, come to me now and let us get away from here” he had yelled. Tamra froze in her tracks and looked right at Phelan, “Uncle what do we do” she whispered as she stopped just short of the shelves that would let anyone just entering the library know where she was located. Phelan picked up the binder and walked towards her measured but unhurried steps, he knew exactly how to get out of the library undetected. Tamra was gripping the books to her chest so tightly that her knuckles were turning white. She glanced at Phelan as she had recognized the voice, her confused spoke volumes to him. They both worked their way towards the back of the library where Phelan had pressed a small hidden button on the lower portion of a hanging light, and hearing a slight creaking noise, Tamra turned around to see a small opening in the rear wall where a cool draft was slipping though.

She had hurried over to it, and gently pushing the wall to the right, she could now see the grounds at the back of the library, where she had stepped through and began a light jog towards the Bed and Breakfast. Somehow, she knew her Uncle was right behind her once he had closed the wall backup tight. “Did ye grab what I had missed?” she whispered as they ran. “But of course, I did, what kind of Uncle leaves his little niece out to dry?” he whispered back nearly laughing at her stunned look. They rounded a small turn in the deer trail they had been following back to the Bed and Breakfast, where they paused briefly “which trail did you want to take the quick path or the longest of the four?” Phelan whispered to her, as he glanced at each trail knowing the fastest one meant that they would be leading the imposter back towards the Bed and Breakfast. Which he didn’t want to do as the owner really didn’t need the kind of trouble that the imposter would be bringing. Nor did Phelan want to see anyone hurt back there as the village because they all were very nice people who just wanted to live in peace and harmony with those around them, including the plants and animals of their forest home.

With a soft sigh Tamra pointed down the longest, skinniest of the trails, she somehow knew it would take over four hours before reaching the Bed and Breakfast again if they followed it. However, she felt that by doing so, the people of this small, beautiful village wouldn’t have to suffer any kind of problem from the one following them. Tamra began following the trail, to her it looked like a small animal trail. One that rabbits and other small animals use quite frequently. She was glad that she chose to wear her black jeans as the branches, twigs and thorns tore at her clothing trying to reach her skin. She continued to walk at a slow steady pace for well over an hour in silence. She had been thinking about what she had learned so far and how it might impact her and her future, with a heavy sigh more to herself, she glanced skyward to see the clouds rolling in from the west. The scent of fresh rain hung heavy on the wind, Tamra knew it was going to rain soon, but she didn’t seem to care about herself just what she was carrying in her hands, the books and papers showing her family history. More importantly showing her what her mother and father were trying to keep secret from her, or so she was hoping it was what they didn’t want her to learn about. Even now she thought they were trying to keep her safe, but they didn’t know that she could shape-shift into a lovely panther.

She continued to walk at her own pace “hey Tam can we pick up the pace a bit, I would hate to see all your research go to waste” Phelan said as he tried to hurry her along, but he kept following her though the trail letting her choose each direction. After the sun began to climb higher into the sky, Tamra found a small out of the way stream to sit down at, she watched her uncle as he paced around the tiny clearing “sit down Uncle, ye are wearing me out just watching ye” she stated softly almost laughing at him. “Oh, you just wait young lady I will get even with you” he said gently. Her light giggle was contagious as he joined in with her causing both of them to laugh as he lifted up a bit of water from the tiny spring and tossed it at her. She squealed softly as the water hit her face, laughing softly she retaliated hitting him with the cool water from the stream as she gathered up some of the grass next to it. She spun around with a handful “don’t ye dare hit me with more of that water dear Uncle” she said softly while laughing. He watched her out of the corner of his right eye, while he turned and glanced back down the path they had walked up, wondering if he had heard something or someone on it. With a light shrug, he turned back towards with a wicked grin and tossed more cool water at her. The water splashed right across her face and chest causing both of them to laugh, she of course followed up with the wet grass hitting him right across his waist to his knees.

She nearly fell over laughing as they continued their little romp of play time, she was glad that she had the chance to get reacquainted with her uncle, she was beginning to remember some of the fun they had while she was little. “Ye know Uncle I am glad that we found each other at the library” she said laughing. “Ah my dear niece I wouldn’t have it any other way” he spoke softly to her, his gentle tone told her so much about the man her father use to speak so highly of, and she was grateful for the time she had with her family. Now reuniting with her uncle was the best thing she could have asked for “Ye know Uncle, I thought I was all alone in the world, I thought I had no family left” she said while sitting down on a smooth flat rock near a small pool that the stream led into. “I am glad that ye are here, and that we can go over the research as a team” she continued even though her once joyful noise began to fade from her voice. “I wanted to tell ye all about a man I met, one who seemed at first to be rude, but now that I have had a chance to reflect back on his behavior. A man who lives isolated away from other human beings, one who doesn’t seem to want to be a part of the human world.” She said quietly, in a near whisper afraid that someone might overhear her. Tamra patted the rock in invitation for Phelan to sit down next to her, she glanced down at the books and other paper items that she had printed out “I kind of cannot wait until we get back to where I am located, I would like to learn far more about the family and the lineage I was born into” she said.

Phelan was about to answer when there came a sudden noise from a small trail to the south of them, both Phelan and Tamra spun to see if they could spot the intruder. When they hadn’t spotted one, they both got quietly to their feet and turning to the east, made their way along the tinier trail only to turn to the north onto a slightly wider trail where they could both run. “Shift” Phelan said in a soft whisper knowing that she could hear it, even while running full out through the thick brush of the trail. With a quick nod of her head, she paused long enough to pass off the items she was holding, and began running once more, while she ran down the slim trail, she shifted rapidly into her panther form. Using her telepathy, she let her uncle know that they needed to hurry that the imposter was gaining on them. As the noise from all the different types of bugs at one time were comforting but as they went quiet sensing a predator, Tamra noticed the other animals had also gone just as still and quiet. The birds who once sat chirping happing in the branches now were taking silently into the sky above. She jumped into the lower the branches of the tree while her claws dug deep as she climbed into the higher branches. Once again, she took off running through the arboreal highway, zigging, and zagging, twisting, and turning “I’m heading into the south end of the village” she had informed her uncle telepathically. “From that direction I will make my way back to the bed and breakfast” she continued telepathically; in the hopes he would take a different route in while she chose each branch systematically. When she saw the bridge with the railroad tracks, Tamra turned again following the highway of branches away from the roadway that ran underneath railroad tracks through the narrow bridge it created for the vehicles to drive through. The rain began to fall softly as she finally neared the south end of the village, noticing that no one was following her, Tamra slowly made her way towards the Bed and Breakfast attempting to will the rain to stop and let the sun come out. She knew that no one could control the weather, but she was hopeful that the universe would help her out and bring out the sun in its full glory.

As she rounded the corner portion of a wall that led into the small village, she paused and glancing around the area using all of the panther senses to read the area and its in habitants. Tamra jumped down out of the tree, and slipping behind it, she stood there a moment longer ready to jump back into the tree if needed. Once she had determined that it was safe, she shifted back into her human form, and with a deep breath she slowly walked out from behind the tree. Tamra followed the rocky path back to the Bed and Breakfast hoping that she wouldn’t run into anyone before she could get back into her room. As she stepped onto the path, she heard a familiar voice call out to her, turning around she noticed it was Mrs. Hill “good morning, Miss Kelso, how are you on this fine day?” she said softly while walking up to her. Tamra smiled softly and headed over towards Mrs. Hill “I am glad to see that ye are ok” she said, her light Irish accent shining through. Without warning something moved close to her, she froze and began searching for the object that had made the noise, what she saw shocked her. Tamra turned towards the dark black eyes that were shining through the underbrush of the ferns, there sat a small, short haired dog, though she couldn’t tell exactly what type of dog, she began back peddling towards the forest path once more. Uncertain if the dog was a dog or something else, she took a deep breath and took off running again, shifting to her panther nearly falling down before she completely finished the change. Grateful for the strong muscles of the panther, the claws digging deep into the ground, she turned rapidly with the dog hot on her heels and ran smack dab into her uncle.

With the shake of the panther’s head, she glanced back over her shoulder at the small dog, then bolting around her uncle, Tamra slid under the ferns and into a shallow stream where she padded silently back down towards the village. Cursing silently somehow, she knew, she just knew that blasted dog was hot on her trail. Spotting a tree, she made certain to rub against it a few times before back peddling in her own tracks to jump into a different one that was somewhat close it. She snuggled into the leaves, moss and orchids that were climbing up the side of it, she was watching closely as the dog went in circles around the tree several times. “Uncle did ye see that dog?” she asked telepathically while watching the fury beast as it finally sat at the base of her tree. When she got no reply, she began looking around, and seeing as he was busy trying to get Mrs. Hill to head back into the safety of the village and her Bed and Breakfast, she pressed herself tighter to the tree just watching the dog again.

Tamra had noticed that she recognized the eyes of the dog, just about the same time the dog began to move deeper into forest, right before it turned and ran faster away from her. Tamra thought she saw smoke coming from the dog’s fur, but she knew that she would need to talk things out with her uncle before she told him what she had suspected. Tamra held her breath for a moment as the stench of burning fur and flesh was putrid and she didn’t want to ever smell something so awful again. The rain began falling lending to the already humid state from the moisture that had been in the air making it feel as if it had been raining all along. She tried to sink her claws deep into the tree before she had realized that the tree was mahogany but the marks that her claws did leave told of her passing. With a light stretch she jumped down and began racing back to the Bed and Breakfast, with her heart racing from the adrenaline of being chased. She knew that the one chasing her was the imposter. But how had he located her and why did he want her so badly.

Tamra was confused and scared so as she entered her room, she hadn’t noticed that her window was wide open. The cool night air drifted into the room while Tamra settled into her nightly routine. As she walked into the bathroom, she missed the dark shadow near her bed following her every movement. Had immediately she spun around to face the imposter, yet she still hadn’t noticed how he managed to get inside her room. The only thing that gave him away was the smell of burning flesh, Tamra slowly backed herself up against the wall “how did ye get into my room?” she asked quietly, her fingers searching for some kind of a weapon on the counter. “I want ye to leave” she continued, although something told her that the man wasn’t able to leave without severe consequences to himself. “Tamra, darling come sit and let us talk” he said gently as if he truly knew her intimately.

He motioned towards a nearby chair that he was already sitting next to, a light smile on his face, even though it never reached his dark brooding eyes. “Why would I leave you Tamra?” he asked quietly while he held his out to the chair across from himself. “I would like to discuss things with you, but you are leaving me no choice but to remain here until you hear me out” he continued as the smile faded lips. “I will have to take measures a bit further with you if you do not sit and talk with me” he began to growl each word. Realizing that she wasn’t going to join him in front of the fireplace he rose suddenly to his feet and stood mere inches from her, his hand circling her wrist as he pulled her towards the opened window. “That’s it young one we will be going now” he growled harshly each word coming out quickly as he yanked her in front of himself.

“I said to leave me be and get out of my room” Tamra replied with a menacing low growl of her own, she tried unsuccessfully to pull her hand free. “I am nay going anywhere with ye so just leave” she continued trying to buy a bit of time for her Uncle Phelan to arrive. She knew her Irish accent was coming through very strongly but frankly she didn’t care and she so ready to run back to the mountains where she felt safe. The imposter wicked smile never lit his dark broody eyes “ah little one, you will be mine one way or the other just as your mother should have been” he stated in a cold wicked tone. He knew that they needed to leave he could hear the heavy foot falls of boots coming down the hall at an alarming rate. But he did not want to leave without his prize even if it meant that he had to knock her out just to get away. He was so not having any of her tantrums or feeble attempts at refusing him his due.

“Get it through your little thick head missy you are coming with me whether you like it or not” he growled back, his fingers slowly tightening about her wrist as he dragged her through the suite to the window. “You belong to me, you always have and always will” he continued as he stopped in his tracks just as the door handle began to twist and the door swung open. “I shall take what is mine if you do not come with me willingly right now” he stated while swinging her around directly in front of himself. “I shall never go with ye willingly nor shall I ever belong to ye” Tamra stated through her clenched teeth while trying her best to elbow the imposter in his ribs. “I know ye tried to fake being someone ye are not, as he is my living Uncle and I would suggest that ye leave before he comes in” she yelled through her clenched teeth, while back stepping with her heal slamming into his shin. Just as the door flew open the imposter was soon staring into the eyes of Phelan, briefly before he dissolved into vapor and streamed out the opened into the waning light.

“Are you alright Tam?” Phelan asked gently while he marched over to the opened window and closed it tight. “That man who was in your room was none other than Woody himself” he continued softly trying not to scare her further. Tamra stood there watching her Uncle before she shook her head to indicate yes “I am fine Uncle; I am just glad ye made when ye did” she said while moving over to a chair near the small table. Spreading out the mounds of papers, books, and other items that she had collected that day. Tamra began her research with her Uncle’s help. “What did he want with you any ways?” Phelan asked with a grim tone, already he had an idea of what to expect. “He wanted me and said that I belonged to him, and no one was keeping him from me” Tamra said in a quiet tone, though her eyes were glued to the mounds of items linking her and family back to the Middle Ages and the strange and bizarre things that were rumored to revolve around them.

“Hey Uncle, could ye tell me why so many think our family is evil?” she asked leaning back in her chair while looking through the pages of an old leather-bound book. “Why is it every time someone discovers something new its evil or unclean? I mean just because they don’t understand it doesn’t make it evil or unclean does it” she continued to ask her questions as rapidly as she could. “Tam, sweetheart its simple, when normal folks come across something they don’t understand to them its evil or unclean, its been that way for a very long time. Needless to say, I believe it will always be that way for those to close minded with their own beliefs of the world and how it should be.” He replied simply while glancing through a particular portion of a book that caught his attention. “Tam look here, do you see this passage, it looks to be written by your mother.” He showed her the paragraph “Uncle that paragraph looks out of place, yet it also looks so old, are ye sure that my mother wrote that?” she replied quietly, while studying the words on the page.

Her fingers lightly slid along the edges of the paper, while she read the paragraph out loud “who so ever discovers this passage needs to be wary of the small group of scientists led by a solitary human from the far east. I have never discovered his name, only that he is looking for a way to extend the human life span by any means Including but not limited to experimenting on anyone, any creature or animal in our universe. He feels that our life spans are just to short, please be wary of anyone who seems to good to be true.” Tamra looked up from the page her eyes watering a little bit “Uncle could that be my great grandmother’s handwriting?” her sorrowful tone spoke volumes to him, “My sweet Tam, that is a good possibility however your mother never made mention of anything your great grandmother ever wrote” he replied, his hand resting lightly over the back of hers.