holding on for the morning dawn

Parker Sadira · 01-31-2011, 06:22 PM

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The night had long fallen over Nova Scotia when Parker was roused from her bed by the sound of shuffling feet.

Her ears caught the sound before her mind registered the noise as something familiar. She blinked open tired eyes, and rolled over in her bed to peer drowsily at the door. The wooden floors were creaking, and the footsteps retreated down the stairs until the sound became nothing more than a muted echo. It wasn't unusual for someone to be up so late in the Mansion, and with Artemis still in a coma, the halls were much more active at all hours of the night with the changing of shifts. Shifts, what a generalized word for something so raw; so real.

Whatever it was, she was awake now and would not fall back asleep easily with thoughts of her ailing sister fresh in her mind. So she shrugged out of the covers and sat at the edge, eyes cast out the dusky window to the clear skies beyond. It was here she sat for a long time, wondering and praying for the morning to bring Artemis back to their worried family. Nerves were frayed, and smiles were rare. Darkness was creeping into the corners of the Mansion, heralding a slow death for those that were once so alive.

Parker pushed herself off the creaky bed, and swept out of her room and into the hallway. She was greeted with a rush of warm air, and the warm golden hue of firelight painted on the walls. Below, the hearth was burning strong. Someone had put a log on to keep it alive. Her mother, perhaps. Or maybe Silvano. The purpose wasn't clear, but she wondered if maybe whoever had done it intended it to be something of a symbol of hope. She followed the balustrade down to the marble floor and padded over to the fireplace. Parker sat down in front of it, hands trailing over the chipped workmanship of the old stone.

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