Hedgesville, West Virginia
Caspian Residence
Monday, August 26, 1996
3:21 AM

“Always oblivious to what was going on within the family." Jennie heard the deep voice of a man, but could only see the dark image of a figure. "The child was always kept in the dark from the secrets that occurred."

“I remember her fifth birthday,” said another shadowy person from within the shadows, "when her mother didn't show up for her party. She cried and cried, but no one could explain to her what happened. But then again, none of us knew."

“How could you tell a child that you're family is cursed? And it's because of her?”

Jennie stood in the middle of a group of shadowy persons she finally recognized as members of her deceased family. Her eyes scanned the crowd, seeing her aunts and uncles, cousins, and grandparents. All who she hadn't seen in a long time.

“Wouldn't it just be better for her to come with us now? That way they can't hurt her like they hurt us?” One of her younger cousins spoke. He appeared to step up to her, holding out his hand, but she could only look away.

“Or are you disgusted by what happened to us?” said one of her other cousins. "Were we too weak? So you don't wish to be with us? Do you prefer to be with those demons who took our lives? Murdered us to get to you..."

“No!” Jennie shouted, rushing toward her cousin. "They're not like that!"

"Don't be fooled by their charms," her aunt said from behind her.

"Too late," one of her uncles declared. "Remember who her father is. Because of him..."

"Stop it!" Jennie screamed. Whipping around, she viewed her various family members. "I want to go with you. I do, but..."

“You miss us?”

“You shouldn’t.”

“We’re unimportant.”

“Pointless.”

“No!” Jennie said loudly again. “I need you. I need my family.”

“You have a father.”

“A father who loves you.”

“A father who cares.”

“NO!” Jennie shouted even louder than before. “He hates me. He doesn’t want me. He gave me up.”

She shook her head and dropped to her knees, covering her eyes before the tears could escape. Her teeth ground together.

“He doesn’t understand yet.”

“He will.”

“With time.”

“No,” Jennie whispered into her hands.

“Coriander was just a child when he fathered you. And he still hasn't found it in his heart to give up his foolish pride to look at what he created. Give him some time. Let him mature.”

The voice of the last one who spoke caught her attention as she looked up to find a young woman kneeling down in front of her. Her eyes were a dark blue and she had dark, wavy brown hair that hung in a face that resembled her own.

“Jennifer, your dad will fall in love with you. All fathers fall in love with their daughters. And he will want to protect you from everything. Just give him time.”

“Mom?” Jennie questioned as she squinted her eyes, taking in the sight of the woman in front of her. The older female only smiled and reached out a hand, touching her face lightly.

“And you'll fall in love with him,” Aysel whispered sweetly. "Just like I had."

“Then you’ll hate him,” one of Jennie's aunt responded.

“And kill him," said her cousin.

Jennie stood up as she looked down at the woman who had become unearthly quiet. The older woman seemed uncertain by the others' words.

“Why should I care?" Jennie questioned in a dark voice, "When he obviously...”

“He cares,” Aysel whispered. “He just doesn't know...”

“I don’t want to hear it,” Jennie cursed.

“Just like him,” said her grandmother with a cruel laugh.

“It’s the blood,” laughed her uncle.

“Stubborn,” her cousin said in a callous voice.

“Leave me alone!” Jennie cried loudly as she bolted upright to find herself lying in her bed.

Shaking and shivering from where she sat, she gripped the edge of her blanket tightly in her hands. Her eyes were widen and filled with fear as she stared across her bedroom to the door. What was all that about?

All Jennie could really visualize was her biological mother's lips moving, telling her to love the man who had abandoned her. A cold chill rushed through her as she breathed heavily. She raised a hand to her chest, feeling her heart beat wildly within.

“Stubborn?” she questioned, remembering the last thing she had heard.

“Am I really?” she asked.

Fighting the urge to tear up, she swallowed a lump in her throat and pushed herself out of her bed. Her head felt woozy as she wobbled toward to the door, flopping up against it for a moment.

“I’m just like him,” she said quietly as she winced and closed her eyes tightly.

Clutching her hand over the doorknob, she opened the door and stepped outside. Pain ached in her shoulder blades as she moved down the hallway to the stairs where she stopped, staring down to the first floor. Her legs felt weak and didn’t want to move anymore as she trembled in the spot she stood.

With no warning, her body tilted forward as she went head first down the stairs, tumbling until she hit the bottom and became a pile of beaten flesh. She laid there for a moment, ignoring the pain that was eating at her. Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see someone rushing toward her as a smile came to her lips.

“What the fuck!”

With the sound of the familiar shout, Jennie peered up at a green head as her vision was beginning to fade. Again a white haze was forming in front of her eyes.

“Jennie! Jenn! Hang on!”

She could feel hands on her shoulders, lifting her off the ground. Everything inside her burned.

“My body hurts,” she whispered as she felt arms wrap around her protectively. “It hurts…”

“Of course it’s going to hurt, dumbass,” said a snide retort as Jennie smiled.

“Rem,” she whispered, pressing her face into his chest.

“Your body is fragile,” he said in a rough voice. “You can’t keep tossing yourself down stairs.”

“Am I stubborn?” she asked as she breathed in his scent. “Am I like my father?”

“I don’t know,” Rem said confused as he looked down at the girl in his arms. “Look, let’s get you back in bed and you can ask Dad later.”

“I don’t want to sleep anymore,” she said in a very honest voice. “They’ll come back. And tell me lies.”