Saints and Sinners

Amelia slid carefully from beneath the warmth of the blanket so as not to disturb the sleeping form of her younger sister Bethany. The cool air that drifted in from the open window in the bedroom goose pimpled her exposed flesh on her arms. Amelia made her way to the other room quietly so as not to disturb the peace of the calm night. She poked at the slightly glowing coals on the hearth to get the fire going again and put a fresh log on to warm the room. She put the kettle over the flames to make some tea. Amelia watched the shadows dance on the walls of the cozy cabin, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. The kettle began to steam, and she jumped to get it before it began to shrill and shatter the tranquility of the night. Her frozen toes warmed as the smell of peppermint permeated the air, seeming to take the chill off. Taking a tentative sip so as to not burn herself, it warmed her to the core. Her hand wrapped around the ceramic mug as she went and peeked in on her sister with a smile at the messy hair that stuck out from under the blanket before reaching just inside the doorway for the worn knitted shawl. As she wrapped it around her shoulders, she slid the chain from the door and slipped into the cool night. The moon was full and bright overhead, the air chilly yet almost completely calm except for an occasional breeze. The grass looked silvery in the moonlight with the dew, it was certainly peaceful out here, Amelia thought as she sat in the wooden rocking chair, the arms having been worn smooth years ago from their mother when she had originally done this nighttime ritual when she couldn't sleep. She had done it from the time Amelia was a young girl up until 5 years ago when she became ill and passed away in her sleep. It was during that time she became guardian to her sibling. Amelia had been grateful despite the circumstances that she had been able to finish school and get her highschool diploma. Their lives after that hadn't been easy even with Amelia working 2 jobs she hadn't been able to afford to keep the house so she had packed up everything that they could and moved into the summer cabin all year round. It was paid for because it was passed down to them from her father’s grandparents who had originally had it built. The only major bill Amelia had to worry about was the yearly property taxes which she saved meticulously through the year. They didn't live glamorously but it was comfortable with what money had been saved away for college had instead gone towards adding some updates to the cabin for yearly habitation, yet not for an actual stove. That would come perhaps in the Spring when she would receive her tax return. The sound of an owl hooting in the distance brought her back to the quiet of the night. She took a sip of her now lukewarm tea and pulled her knees up towards her chest pulling the nightgown down over her cold toes. Amelia had gotten into it again with Bethany's teacher Mrs. Donnahugh about the involvement of Bethany's course work as her performance had been slipping. Amelia had told her the same story she told all of Bethany's teachers when they doubted the lack of any parental figure. Amelia was guardian and that was that. The truth of the matter was however she didn't know who Bethany's father was, she had never met him nor had her mom had any serious men around. She assumed Beth looked like him though because she didn't look like Amelia and their mother Claire. While Amelia had angel white blonde hair that hung straight down her back till just over her waistline, Beth's had been almost black and curled naturally when she kept it short in a pixie cut. Beth’s eyes were rich chocolate brown while Amelia's were a cross between a blue and green which made her stand out. While Beth was still young Amelia had a feeling she would grow up to be tall and thin unlike Amelia's shorter petite curvy self. Amelia closed her eyes and tried clearing her mind letting all of the sounds wash over her the hoo hoo of an owl, the screams and cries from a couple of raccoons as they fought over something, a howl of a wild dog in the distance, and the scared cries of a young girl. Amelia's eyes opened as she recognized the voice as Beth’s. The tea gone cold. Amelia dumped it in a hurry and went inside. She stuck the cup on the small bedside table that also held a smiling family picture and a lamp. She clicked the lamp on and it spread a soft glow over the room. Amelia sat on the bed calling to Bethany in a soft tone, “Hey sweetheart. It's okay, I'm here. I won't let anything get you, I'll protect you.” Beth’s eyes opened in a panic still glazed with the remnants of sleep. She reached her arm out to touch Amelia. Amelia lifted the long thin girl into her lap and began to stroke the stray hairs away from Bethany's face, her voice was soft with embarrassment, “It was the same dream again Amelia.” Amelia just nodded with understanding she knew the one that Bethany was talking about because it was the one that occurred on a weekly basis for the girl since her mother died. She had hoped it would have gone away by now but it hadn’t. Amelia spoke, “You sit up and I will be right back. We can talk about it.” Beth sat up slowly listening to her sister and Amelia got up and went to the fridge and poured a glass of chocolate milk heading back into the bedroom and handed the glass to Beth. She took a big drink before starting, “It was that man again. The one whose eyes were as dark as midnight when there aren't any stars. His hair is the blackest I've ever seen. But Amelia,” Beth said looking at her. Amelia nodded her head for her to go on. “He looked sad this time when he hurt all those people. I don't think he wants to anymore.” Amelia sat up straighter at these words, perhaps Beth was growing out of this nightmare phase, “He still killed you though, I thought he wasn't going to because he was putting you down.” Beth’s eyes filled with tears and Amelia’s heart broke for her sister. Amelia smiled putting on a brave front, “It's only a dream, I'm not going to die. I'll always be here for you. I promise.” she said, encouraging Beth to finish the milk and go back to sleep. One of them should be well rested. Amelia left the light on as she left the room. Feeling the kettle that was barely warm but she knew she wouldn't be falling asleep any time soon and stuck it back on to heat up. It unsettled her that her sister's dream was slightly different yet it ended the same way Amelia had died and left Bethany to survive on her own. Had Amelia done something that Bethany had this deep seated anger at her? Amelia shook her head clearing the negative thoughts from her mind. Once again that night she pulled the kettle and prepared a cup of peppermint tea taking it out to the chair. A deep sensual voice tickled the recesses of her mind, “You can't hide yourself forever. He has already begun to feel the power within his child.” Amelia's eyes snapped open her teeth chattering as if she had fallen through ice on the lake. She pulled the shawl tighter round her and rubbed her arms to put some warmth back into them. Her neck was kinked and her body as a whole was aching. Realizing she had fallen asleep again in the old rocking chair. She didn't remember doing so. She stood up slowly as her muscles stretched and pulled after sitting in the chair all night cursing under her breath as she did so. Amelia made her way inside the cabin checking on Bethany. The girl was still asleep, her dark hair sticking in every direction, “Hey sleepyhead. Time to get up for school.” A muffled voice of Beth touched Amelia's ears and she smiled. “I don't feel good.” “ Bethany, you need to try and go to school. You can't keep missing because you had a bad night.” Amelia spoke and then added, “You get ready and I'll go make some breakfast. Maybe some food will help.” She left Bethany to get ready and placed a pan over the warm coals, they were just the right temperature to make some eggs without burning them. Beth came out of the room and sat at the table putting her head down on her arms. Amelia placed a plate of scrambled eggs and toast in front of her. Bethany grabbed a triangle of toast and nibbled at it. Amelia watched her as she ate her own eggs and finally said,” If you don't start feeling better in a few hours, go see the nurse and have her call me to come get you.” Beth just nodded her head and finished the piece of toast. Amelia went and rinsed her plate and when it was clean and was clear Beth wasn't having any more, she took care of her plate as well. Amelia banked the fire before going and getting dressed herself. She had picked up a few hours of work this morning at the grocery store while Beth was at school. It worked for her because while Beth was at school she worked at the store and then after dinner Beth would stay by herself with the door locked while Amelia took shifts at the local watering pool. This was the first year she let Beth stay alone for those few nights a week. She had pleaded she didn't need a sitter but that didn't stop Amelia from calling and checking on her until it was bedtime. Amelia had dressed in a comfortable pair of denim Capris with the cuffs rolled giving them a stylish flare and a baby blue and white striped polo. Her blonde hair pulled up into a ponytail with a white bow added a friendly touch. “Are you ready to go?” Amelia asked as she came out of the room. Bethany stood up grabbing her black backpack and headed out the door with a final plea of not feeling well. Once again Amelia said no to staying home as she slid her feet into a pair of white canvas shoes with silver glitter laces and grabbed her keys. She locked the door and headed towards the silver pickup truck.