Ch. 1

Walking down the small, narrow dirt, path the soft aroma of the sweet cherry blossom petals and salty sea water seemed to fuse together and linger in the air. After walking alongside the edge of the cherry blossom grove that was marked by a steep cliff dropping into the sea I realized it was time for me to leave. After 3 years of endless traveling I was surprised that I was so reluctant to leave the protective groove that I had been accustomed to go to when I simply just wanted to relax and think for the past two weeks. It was the first time I had been separated from Rapha, my “guardian” 0r at least that was what he had everyone else thinking. In reality to him I was his Kaylin or “slave “which would be the informal way to call a Kaylin. After 3 years of his constant beatings and sadistic ways I had become what he wanted me to be and the one thing that I hoped to never become. Now I was like a lifeless doll feeling nothing but what Rapha said was essential. I had been beaten into the perfect Kaylin who took all their masters orders without an ounce of complaint. All Rapha had to do was order me in his cruel, cold voice and I would always comply. I had become a monster only feeling the hate I felt towards Rapha, but most of all the hate and loathe I felt towards myself. It’s thoughts and feelings like these that I was able to ponder in the secluded rundown groove. And it was thoughts like these that made me hate myself more and more. I had committed so many sins and I had no hope that I would ever be saved.

After taking one more look at the vast ocean that seemed to go on for miles, i turned around and went back towards town. Noticing a puddle I stared down at my reflection. What I saw was like a hollow version of my past self. Even though it’s true that I hadn’t looked a day over 15, that was about the only thing that seemed to have stayed the same. My once hazel eyes now were a dark burgundy red mixture which seemed to have little or no life in them. Where I once had small little wrinkles on the corners of my mouth from laughing so much were now smooth. My hair which was medium length is now past my hip. It remains a chestnut color, but it’s now tinged with red. I was still short, only standing at 4’11” but now I was on the border between being skinny and being emaciated. More than once I had been asked if I was okay and it seemed no matter how much I ate I could never gain a pound. I frequently would ask

Rapha why being his Kaylin had shifted my appearance over the years, yet he had always just responded,

“Why does it matter? You look better that way, anyway.” And it was about the only compliment I had received from him since he took me in after the “accident”. After going to the front desk at the hotel and receiving a note from Rapha I grabbed a taxi and headed for the airport. I was surprised by the contents of the note in his elegant cursive writing he had written:

Aine,

 

After a sleepless airplane ride to Frankfurt, Germany and then another sleepless ride to The ‘States, I had finally arrived by 2 in the afternoon. After going through the arrival door, I quickly scanned the room for Rapha. It was something that I had gotten very good at (along with killing, but that’s beside the point). All I had to do was look in dark corners and he was always bound to pop up. Today was no exception; in a dark corner, away from all humanity, was the king sadist himself. After silently going to his side I witnessed another unusual site. To most it would seem insignificant, but instead of having his icy silky hair down, it was tied up in a ponytail.

“Sporting a new look I see,” I said flatly, while walking alongside him towards the parking lot.

“That’s right normally I wouldn’t tie up my gorgeous locks of hair but today was hot. I really do hate this dreadful weather

“So why the sudden change of mind?” he then stopped in front of his car, a black Ferrari, then again I expected no less from him. He then turned around and an amused grin was on his face but his eyes remained cold ,sharp, and distant.

“ Oh, you mean about bringing you here and taking you back to where you used to live? It’s simple really. I’m curious to see how you will act returning to the people that were once like family to you. I could tell I wouldn’t be able to get anymore information out of him so I simply stared off into the distance when a sudden drowsiness came over me . before drifting off I caught a glimpse of Rapha peering at me. Huh that’s strange for a moment he looked sad I thought to myself as I was then engulfed by a dream that seemed more like a nightmare than anything else.

As I launched off of a ski slope and then landing swiftly I had managed to come to a halt next to my brother Jil.

“ Show off.” He said grinning his light hazel eyes seemed to sparkle with excitement when he peered off into the distance towards the end of the slope.

“ Your just jealous of my skills.” I countered back by then we were already laughing to the point of tears.

“ You wish Aine. You and I both know that we’re about the same in skill considering we both just learned how to snowboard a couple of days ago.”

“ Are you sure about that Jil?” I said taunting him. It was on. We both looked at each other and then nodded. Both of us stormed off in an instant. There was no way I would lose to Jill so I quickly started to glide and weave through trees. In the distance I could hear Jil’s loud outbursts of laughter. Everything seemed to be going perfect on this trip to a ski resort in Canada or at least that’s what was going through my head until everything suddenly went wrong. A large black figure seemed to jump in front of me. I quickly swerved but it was too late the creature had dashed away and I had crashed. The last thing I could remember was how cold the snow was when it came in contact with my face and the sudden darkness that seemed to engulf me.

“ Where exactly did you find her again?” my father asked concerned

“Dad I told you I found her near a tree it seems she crashed. She was almost completely buried in snow but it seemed she was okay .when I go her out.” Jil responded he seemed annoyed. No doubt dad had asked the question several times already. I decided now was a good time to wake up.

“ Urgh where am i?” I managed to croak out “ God I sound awful.” I said trying to smile. Both looked at me incredulously and shouted my name as they ran towards my bed. It felt as though the room was spinning and an intense pain seemed to spread throughout my body as I attempted to get up. With a tremendous amount of effort finally managed to get up and hide my pain. Above all else I hated showing that I was in pain.

“ Are you alright?” Jil asked with a concern look. Something had obviously gone wrong.

“ Yeah but can someone explain why it feels like my head is splitting in two?”

“ It must be the medicine the doctor gave you. Jil you mind watching your sister while I go get your mother?”, dad asked.

“ Yeah no prob dad.” Jil responded. After dad had left I immediately asked Jil what had happened.

“ It seems somehow you managed to crash into a tree sis. When you didn’t come to the finish line I got a little worried since I thought you were going to beat me at the speed you were going at. I waited for two hours but you never came so I started to look for you. Honestly I don’t know how I was able to find you. It was snowing really hard and if it weren’t for that florescent orange scarf you always wear I probably wouldn’t have found you.” The mere thought of not being found and freezing to death ironically made me shiver.

‘Heh and you always would say that the only purpose for such an ugly bright scarf was to look awful.” I said imitating his voice and smiling. He then seemed to break out of his grim expression.

“ In this case I agree that the scarf served a purpose but in my opinion it will always be ugly.”

“ Fair enough I suppose.” I then got up and the floor felt like it wouldn’t stop moving. god what is wrong with me could this really be due to the doctor’s medicine? My brother than seemed to become alarmed he then rushed over to my side.

“ Are you sure you should be walking Aine isn’t it a little to soon.?” Even though he asked it calmly I could tell there was fear in his eyes but why? Is there something I’m not being told. Even dad who is always so carefree and easy going seemed uneasy for some reason.

“ I’m fine Jil. Don’t worry all I have is a small headache and there’s no way that I’m going to let that ruin my vacation.” I decided it would be best to lie I didn’t want anyone to worry especially not Jil who seemed to jump and inch towards me every time I moved to make sure I was okay. It’s true that I could barely focus and my head was hurting pretty bad but just because I would be suffering silently for awhile didn’t mean that I was about to ruin Jil’s or anyone else’s vacation for that matter. I decided to head towards the doorway and on my way out I turned to Jil to say, “ I’ll be off then if you need to reach me ,you can call me on my cell. I’m just going to wander around the lodge be back in an hour or two and remember have fun!”

“Aine wait!” he shouted but I had already ran down the hallway awkwardly tilting and bumping into people. Sorry Jil but I don’t want to get in your way of having a good time. After thirty minutes or so I was finally able to not crash into plants, walls, benches, ski equipment you name it . I felt like in that period of time I truly looked like a drunk which made me laugh, but I guess laughing in a dark corner by myself didn’t improve my image to the couple that had just passed me by. it seems suddenly that from behind I could hear a faint laugh, but instead of being jolly and merry it seemed cold , frigid and it made me shiver I turned around only to find no one was there .After turning I caught a glimpses of the couple in the elevator and that was the only possible way to get off the floor. Great now I’m hallucinating. Now I do feel like a drunk what the hell did that doctor give me! I looked down at my watch to see it was barely working so I checked my phone and there ten new messages , I went through them quickly and realized that I was supposed to meet my family for dinner at the lodge’s restaurant so I started over there.on my way my head started to ach as I thought about the laughter I felt like I was missing something that I should have knonw. That laughter had really shaken me up it seems ,but at the same time it felt very familiar I just couldn’t pin point from where I remembered it. Definitely not from the scary movies me and my friend Dahlia watched nor was it my creepy science teacher’s laugh which made everyone want to cringe and cover their ears. Still pondering where I could have heard it before I greeted my family making sure that I appeared completely fine. My mother didn’t even bother waiting at the table she simply ran up and gave me a kiss and a hug. My brother and dad seemed more calm , but when I saw Jil it seemed ,me being there made him relax into his chair. I guess mom and dad had made sure to tell him that if I didn’t pick up the phone or if I was even five minutes late that he would go looking for me. In that sense my parents were very overprotective.

‘Hey so what have you been up to?”, Jil asked casually.

“Hey, nothing much really I was just exploring the lodge. Did you know they have a game room on the third floor? It’s pretty cool we should go after dinner.”

“Awesome yeah lets go afterwards.”, it seemed that finally that glimmer that he always had in his eyes finally returned, but I wish that it was the same for my parents. It felt like their gazes were glued onto me every time I would turn in my seat or ask the waiter a question. My father who’s always laughing and cracking jokes did in fact laugh but it was forced. My mother even though she was good at lying and faking I could tell that there was fear embedded into her eyes, but what was there to be afraid about? Both were on edge what was it they weren’t telling us? Halfway through dinner I took my napkin off my lap and decided to stand up. Everyone including Jil shot a nervous glance my way. Well I guess I’m the only one that doesn’t know what’s going on then.

“Bathroom.” I stammered even though Jil seemed to ease up my parents simply nodded and went back to eating. After turning my back though I could feel all three of their gazes on my back. What the hell is going on? Now I was starting to worry. While cleaning my hands. from the corner of my eye I swore that I caught a glimpse of a dark figure. The temperature just didn’t feel right it was as if it was dropping at a very fast rate and just like that cold, icy laughter it made me shiver. I quickly turned around but before I could move something hit me hard like an electric shock. I let out a cry of pain that was more like a whimper than anything else. I quickly curled into a ball on the floor until the pain subsided, but it wouldn’t no matter how much I tried. The familiar dizzy feeling seemed to have then swept over me and the room felt like it was spinning ,I just couldn’t focus. After what seemed like hours I heard the door open.

“Oh my god!”, I heard a woman with a British accent exclaim.” Are you alright miss.” I could feel her cold hand on my forehead and that seemed to help me snap back out of the dizzy spell I was in.

“ Yeah I feel much better.” I managed to croak out. It sounded like a lie but it was the truth.

“Oh you poor dear I’ll go get you some help right away.” She said trying to get up, but I quickly snatched her head and started to shake my head violently. I didn’t care how stubborn I was acting I wasn’t going to make my family turn into a nervous wreck and ruin their vacation.

“Please don’t.” I pleaded no matter how pitiful I looked I didn’t care.

“ Alright.” , she then went and sat down next to me,” Are you sure you’ll be alright Dea- “but she didn’t finish her sentenced. Right after the woman had put her hand on my for head her eyes widened and the whites started to become more and more visible along with her face turning an ashen blue. She let out a shocked cry and then collapsed on the floor. I quickly went to shake her but the woman would not respond. It a few minutes another woman came through the door. When she saw the terror struck look on my face and then the lady that had collapsed on the floor she then yelled,” Claudia!”, It seemed that they had both know each other. The woman didn’t asked any questions she only turned Claudia around. I was shocked at what we had seen when the woman had brought Claudia’s face into the light. The woman immediately dropped the body and ran to the stall. I could hear her vomit while I just sat on the floor dumbstruck. The once beautiful Claudia now looked like a corpse that had been drowned in the arctic. Where her once beautiful kind green eyes were, now just displayed the whites. Her porcelain skin was no doubt a frost bitten blue, but how was it possible? It was then that I did something that I don’t think any sane person would do. I reached over and touched her instantly I heard a sound just like that of ice cracking on a lake and before I knew it Claudia’s body cracked and shattered into many ice crystals. I then got up scared, and ran out of the bathroom. Rushing past me were paramedics it seemed the woman had called for help somehow and from then on out the restaurant was in utter chaos.

After calming myself down as much as possible I ran towards my table. To my dismay none of my family was there and no matter where I looked in the lodge I couldn’t find them so I decided to go to the cabin that we were staying at. When I opened the door a gust of cold needle like air slapped me in the face it. What surprised me was that I enjoyed the cold air along with the below zero temperature. Which surprised me since I had always preferred being in a hot, warm, room since I always hated the cold. What’s happening to me I thought aloud. As I ran through the knee deep snow that I constantly sunk into. I realized that it just didn’t feel right in the camp ground. As the full moon illuminated the way I noticed that even late at night you would always be able to hear the sound of children’s laughter from the cabins or smell the wood burning in the fireplace, and even at 1:00 A.M in the morning almost everyone’s lights were still on. But not tonight it was dark and unwelcoming there was no lights on and if it wasn’t for the moon I would most likely get lost and it was barely ten. As I got closer to our cabin what started out as a rushed walk now become a sprint something did not feel right and the closer I got to our cabin the more uneasy I felt . as I entered the cabin at a strange pungent smell greeted me. I barely had to touch the door for it to open which was strange since my parents were always careful about closing the door when entering and leaving the cabin. As I walked through the door a metallic taste started to form in my mouth I don’t think anything was getting better only worse. As I entered the room I noticed that I had stepped in a puddle formed of by a dark liquid. I decided to lean down and put my finger in it , to my horror I realized that it was blood I immediately called out towards my parents,

“ Mom! Dad!.....Jil?” , but I got no answer and now a pit of dread and fear started to form, and my mind started to run wild of possible scenarios that could have took place in our cabin which didn’t help at all. I had to calm myself before I had a nervous breakdown . I decided to go into the kitchen to get something to eat. Food had always helped me cope with things and calm me down and even though the site and thought of the blood that seemed to be splattered on the walls and floor would most likely make me gag later on I needed something to calm me. Surprisingly as I walked cautiously into the kitchen my mother seemed to appear out of nowhere and started to run at me.

“Oh my god Aine your alright! Where have you been?” , we met at the middle of the room and she hugged me but something did not feel right. Instead of the normally warm gentle hug my mom would always give me when she’d comfort me this one was more suffocating and painful.

“ Mom are you ok? Where’s Dad and Jil? Are they ok?”, she then started to grip me harder and started to cry and sob and then I realized that my shirt was wet, and that no matter how many tears she cried or even if she cried harder than she was right now there was no way she could have made my shirt that soaked.” Mom?”, she then suddenly stopped.

“ You know Aine I’m somewhat hungry how about we get a snack?” what the hell was she talking about? Now I was getting worried. She then gripped onto me so tightly that her nails went into my shoulders and they started to bleed. I let out a short gasp of pain.” Aine you just look so tasty and smell so good I just love the smell of a newly born Kaylin.” She said laughing.

“ Mom what are you talking about?!”, I winced as she dug her nails into me more I tried to escape but no matter how hard I tried to pull away she was too strong. I started to sob.” Mom what’s wrong you’re hurting me!” I screamed and with my hand I tried to push her away from me. But as I touched her face something felt wrong. She was laughing at me and her face was wet and sticky. Not to mention her teeth felt jagged . as she laughed it was more like a screech this was not my mother. I was in danger that was now apparent and I immediately started to punch and claw at her face. She screeched in annoyment no matter what I did I barely did any damage and I was running out of energy quick. Without realizing it she had me cornered to a wall not being able to see her since it was now pitch black in the corner we were in she launched herself at me. I was terrified but I somehow managed to grab her face. She immediately started to claw at me again and now I was just getting pissed.” B***h stop clawing at me already!” I screamed. Suddenly the palm of my hand started to feel ice cold and a sudden ripple of burning pain seemed to shoot up on the left side of my back. My mother then let out a shriek that made me cringe and want to cover my ears. The burning sensation then seemed to vanish as quickly as it came and my mother’s body crashed on the floor. It sounded more like a sack of potatoes falling then a grown woman and that worried me. I simply stared at the body for a moment in shock and then I quickly went to touch the palm of my hand it was bloody and scratched up but that wasn’t what shocked me. When I touched my hand I immediately remembered when I kissed my dead grandpa goodbye at his wake. My hand felt the same as his cold lifeless body. The thought made me shiver I then went down next to my mother’s body. If there was a time when I would be ready to stomach what I was about to see it was now. As I turned her over I l simply couldn’t believe what I saw. Fear quickly rose up I had thought about the dreadful possibility but it was something I hoped wouldn’t be right. The moon illuminated the area making it clear that I had blood all over my shirt. My mother was in fact dead. Anyone would be able to tell because there was no way that you would be able to say she was alive. My mother was like Claudia a frozen corpse, Ice blue and no doubt cracking. I managed to keep the tears from falling but the realization that it was in fact me who had killed them made it impossible not to cry.” It was me I’m the one who killed them.” I said aloud. I looked at my shaking hands remembering how cold they were to the touch just a moment ago.” But Why?” I said angrily I then stood up and shouted.” Why Me?!” I then heard laughter.

“Hahaha.”, I then whirled around to find an all too familiar shadow.” Hmmm well I guess you took care of your possessed, nuisance of a mother for me, who would have thought you’d be so useful right from the start.”, the voice who spoke felt as cold as my hands and it made me shiver in fear.

“Who are you and what are you talking ab-“ I then stared at the man wide eyed. Jil, Dad he couldn’t have.” What did you do to my brother and father?”

“ Oh don’t worry about them they are already taken care of my dear little Kaylin.”

“No!” I screamed.” This can’t be happening I can’t be living this nightmare.” I started to sob I didn’t care if he killed me next nor if I looked like a fool. All of a sudden though I felt a presence behind me but when I turned around a cold hand covered my mouth and the icy voice then appeared next to my ear and he softly whispered as I stood there crying,

“ Oh but my dear from now on your whole life will just be one whole big nightmare don’t worry I can guarantee that this is all real.” I could tell he was smiling and that he was in fact chuckling.” Trust me soon you will wish you were dead. My dear little Kaylin Aine welcome to hell.” He then chuckled some more and everything went black.

I woke up gasping and in a cold sweat. I looked around to find myself in a hotel room and that I was already in my pajamas. I got out of bed sucking in big gulps of air. I was too shaken and I knew I wouldn’t be able to get sleep for at least a few days to come. One of the few perks to being a Kaylin was that no matter how many sleepless nights I spent i never got bags under my eyes. I decided to explore my room a little to keep my mind off the dread. It seemed that we were all the way at the top therefore the pent house suite. Typical of Rapha I decided to simply sit on the ledge of the balcony. We were in Newark no doubt. The fishy smell that drifted from the harbor made me remember an old memory of how I used to love eating fish when I was on vacation. Pity I become a vegetarian something that Rapha could never understand and now I can’t even stomached half the foods I used to eat.

No wonder Rapha avoided bringing me back it seems with the simplest of things I would remember my family one that I no longer had. For becoming Rapha’s Kaylin was that was the consequence for selfishly making a contract with him to save my life when I crashed racing Jil. Even now the memory of that day still haunts me through my dreams. To think, I thought that I had finally stopped dreaming about that day but it seemed me being back in the states also made things I didn’t want to remember , resurface. I ended up spending the rest of the night simply staring of into the distance. Tomorrow I would start living with my family friends who agreed to take in an exchange student not knowing it was me. Another surprise which Rapha had hidden along with the fact that I would be staying with them for a couple of months. Normally I would have moved after staying for a maximum amount of time being two week so it felt strange hearing the news but at the same time deep down I was surprised to realize that I was happy. An emotion I had barely ever felt let alone in front of Rapha. Truthfully I was interested and excited about what the future will bring. I had no hope of being saved from the black abyss that I had been sucked into and lost in for the past 3 years but I did plan on trying to be able to just relax and try to enjoy the time I would be able to spend with the only friends I would probably ever see in my life. Even if I had to lie to myself and pretend to be happy I didn’t care. And with that said I met up with Rapha and for the rest of the way to Rhodes, my Hometown, I was stuck feeling jittery and nervous for the first time in three years.

After reading the note I was somewhat shocked at the location of where I would be meeting Rapha. It seemed that the country where I was originally from was the one place that Rapha had always avoided during our travels. ‘So why the sudden change of heart?’ I wondered. That is if you could actually say that the sadistic demon had a heart. After pondering the thought a little longer, I decided I’d ask him once I met up with him at the airport. .” Of course. How could I forget he’s an egotistical a*****e as well. Well I might as well ask him my question.

As much as I know you’d love to stay on your wonderful vacation away from me in Japan, I’ll be meeting you in the John F. Kennedy Airport in New York. I’ll give you the details when you arrive. Until then don’t do anything that’ll make me want to punish you, my little Kaylin.