The Marradith Ryder Series Part 20
Nora Ryder stared out the window into the rain, and wondered where her daughter was.
Her husband, Paul, had done everything he could to try to calm her fears, but she knew he was just as worried as she was.
Once Paul was asleep, and Danny was quiet in his room, she went downstairs to sit by the window. The house was beautiful. It was huge, and filled with every amenity.
There were fresh flowers in vases and baskets of fruit brought daily. The kitchen was stocked with anything they asked for. The house was surrounded by woods. At the gate, there were Sojourner guards with guns. They kept out of sight, but she felt them, an army of beings crossing back and fourth in the darkness.
She was guessing that they were far north. Perhaps even in Canada.
Instinctively, she knew that once Marradith’s powers were known she’d never get her daughter back. She’d tried to keep it a secret from the Sojourners, from the Circle, and from anyone else that might have had an interest.
She thought of the first time she’d seen Justin Granthem after several years. Marradith was only five years old. She had brought her to the neighborhood park. She was playing on the swings with a small crowd of other children when Nora spotted him. He was standing beneath a tree, narrowing his eyes in the shade.
He had a distant, thoughtful look, staring at Marradith. The kind of stare a scientist would give a new species of virus under a microscope. She’d never forget that expression.
“Why are you here?” she demanded, confronting him.
“Nice to see you again too, Nora. How are you these days?”
He smiled a lopsided, sarcastic grin. His eyes glowed green.
The playground darkened a little, a faint breeze rustling through the leaves. A flock of clouds gathered in the humid air. Nora’s hands were gripped into fists.
“I came to enjoy the fresh air,” Justin said. “And to see you and the little ones. She is getting big,” he nodded towards Marradith.
Nora shivered, her bare arms chilled by the tepid breeze. She was seven months pregnant, and already on the brink of emotional overload. The baby stirred inside her, stretching his limbs beneath her skin.
“What more could your people want with me?” she asked. “Haven’t I given you enough?”
Justin crossed his arms over his chest. “You’ve never heard the saying: ‘to whom much is given, much is required?’”
“I gave what was required already!”
“You do realize that what you did was punishable by death? I don’t think there is such a thing as an expiration date on that kind of favor.”
The sky overhead darkened a fraction more. A seagull crowed angrily.
“You know, we have given you anonymity. Protection. You’re living your life,” he paused, with a glance at her pregnant belly, “abundantly.”
“It’s my right,” Nora snapped.
“We know that your children, with their heritage, will be special. It’s not too much to ask for their talents to be put to the use of he greater good.”
“There is no greater good,” Nora spat. “You want to exploit people for your own good.”
Justin bared his teeth, a low growl escaped from his throat. “You have no right to judge with all the blood you’ve got on your hands.”
He walked away.
Nora relaxed her fists.
The clouds seemed to fade in an instant.
“Mommy, Mommy!” Marradith cried gleefully, running towards her. “Come play with me.”
***
Nora breathed in, fighting back the tears that wanted to come.
“Sweetheart,” she whispered, her breath fogging the glass. “Where are you?”
***
She shoved her hands into her pockets.
The lights of the station seemed bright and overly harsh after coming in from the darkness. She walked up to the desk and spoke to a police officer who eyed her through a smeared window of bulletproof glass.
“My name is Marradith Ryder,” she said, straightening her back. “ I heard that you’re looking for me.”
—
© 2009 Lori Titus
Lori Titus’s The Marradith Ryder Series appears each Wednesday on Flashes in the Dark. She is the short story editor for Sonar4 ezine. Many of her stories have appeared on MicroHorror and Shadeworks, and her first anthology of horror stories is scheduled for release in 2010.
For more information see her at: http://www.myspace.com/talesforthedark
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June 17th, 2009 at 6:27 am
Nice to meet the family. Sounds like Nora’s got some remarkable powers of her own - and an interesting past. Looking forward to more!
June 17th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Ooh! The plot thickens….Justin maybe not what he seems. Can’t wait for next weeks
June 17th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Secrets abound…..
June 16th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Some people just want to live, others want to fight secret wars. Looks like Justin is a fighter, but just how deap does he want to pull Marradith in.