Clover Hill

How far will one woman go for revenge? The first chapter of the novella version. Originally written as a screenplay.

 

(This is the first chapter of the novella version. It was originally written as a screenplay.)

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CLOVER HILL
by Angel Shadow™

Chapter One

Connecticut, October 24, 1685

Marie St. James stood at the edge of the cliff located at the back of her Connecticut cottage. The ocean was calling to her, as it always did and closing her eyes, she became one with it, allowing it to take over her senses.
The whipping of her long, curly auburn hair brought her back to the cliff’s edge. A storm was brewing, she could feel it.
“This is no regular storm,” she mentioned to the cat who came to wrap itself around her leg. “This storm is different. This storm will bring change.” She tilted her head toward the night sky and closed her eyes. “Yes, this storm will change the lives of many.”
Marie was no stranger to paranormal activity and messages from other realms, including the elements of air, fire, water and earth. They spoke to her on deep levels and she trusted them, but she was also stubborn. She was a third generation healer and her family had experienced the joys and tribulations of what this type of gift brought them. Both her grandmother and mother were born, lived their life and passed away in the very cottage she now lived. She was in her element here and nothing would move her from it. She would not hide her face or who she was and she would fight for what was right. Marie became aware of her powers at a very young age. Her mother and grandmother taught her the old ways and she took to it naturally. She performed her first healing at five years old, when she mended the broken leg of a neighboring cat. Her own cat, Saint, was one of the offspring that came along years later. Her powers grew quickly and her grandmother beamed with pride at the natural abilities she witnessed in her only granddaughter.
“You will do great things,” her grandmother always told her. “Your abilities already surpass my own, but you will have to stay strong. Never sacrifice who you are.” Marie was seven when her grandmother quietly passed away in her sleep.
At the age of twelve, Marie lost her mother to an act of violence that took place on the cliff at the back of the cottage. Cecil Brown, the town priest at the time, had always carried a flame for Marie’s mother, but his secret advances were always met with bitter disappointment. One night, his lust got the best of him and he confronted her at the cottage. A struggle led them to the cliffs behind the cottage and Marie’s mother had fallen over the edge. Marie watched the horror take place from the kitchen window and ever since, had a strong dislike for the men of the church. In her mind, they needed to practice what they preached. Cecil abandoned his family and quickly left town to avoid the speculation that Marie’s mother’s death brought to him. Edward, Cecil’s youngest son, only five at the time, became bitter and angry and quite a handful for his mother.
Marie continued living in the cottage after her mother’s death. Many of the townspeople were concerned of her living alone at such a young age, but Marie was more than capable of handling herself. Supplies and food were available in abundance, as this was how her mother and grandmother received payment for their services. Marie knew she had to continue the legacy of her family if she were to survive.
She never knew her father, as he left before she was born. Her mother said he couldn’t handle the pressure of being in such strong company and she wasn’t willing to kneel before him like a king.
“Men usually don’t take well to our kind,“ her mother once told her. “It’s better to live without them, then sacrifice who you are.” Marie wasn’t about to be left behind like her mother and she certainly wasn’t willing to bow before any man. This did not sit well with most, therefore, Marie spent most of her time alone.
By the time she was twenty, Marie was known throughout the small Connecticut town as the one to go to if you had an ill to cure or a baby on the way. Marie was twenty-four when Edward took over as the town priest and her powerful reputation did not sit well with him. He made Marie’s life a living hell and once again she saw the powerful ego of the Brown men at work.
Marie shook her head and brought her awareness back to the cliff's edge. She was twenty-eight now and secure with who she was. The wind picked up as she walked back to the cottage, wrapping her hair tightly around her face, as if it were warning her to hide. She brushed it aside, glanced up to the brewing sky and entered the cottage with her feline companion close behind.
Inside the cottage, Marie put on a pot of water for tea and went to change while it came to a boil. She couldn’t help but think of the warning the wind had given her a few moments ago.
“What do I have to hide from?” She wondered. She looked to the window of her bedroom and saw a shadow move past it. “Just the wind moving the trees,” she thought. The whistling teapot startled her and she returned to the kitchen.
With tea in hand, she moved into the living room. It was small and box shaped with a fireplace taking up most of one wall. Two comfortable chairs were positioned in front of the fireplace with a stylish table between them. She sat and placed her tea on the table. With a flick of her wrist, the fire jumped up a notch. She took a deep breath and leaned back, allowing her cat to jump into her lap. She gave it a few strokes as she picked up her tea, almost spilling it as a loud series of knocks invaded the peaceful room. Setting her tea aside, she moved the cat and slowly rose to answer the door. Upon opening it, Bridgette, a local neighbor and friend rushed in. She was breathless and her small African-American frame was shaking violently.
“Please! Marie, you must come at once! The baby.....” was all Marie would let her get out.
“Let me get my things.” Marie rushed into her bedroom and grabbed her bag. Within a few moments, her and Bridgette were running along the forest path that lead between the two cottages.
Inside the second cottage, Cordelia lay on her bed, her breathing fast and labored. She cried out in pain as another contraction ripped through her body. Marie hurried into the bedroom and knelt beside the woman. She placed her hands on the woman’s stomach, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “The baby is sideways. Try to relax and I’ll see what I can do.” Marie removed the green clover pendent that hung around her neck and held it in her hand. She then placed it over Cordelia’s stomach, closed her eyes and took another deep breath. “Child spin, child turn, enter life to live and learn.” Marie put the pendent in the laboring woman’s hand, then placed her own hands over the contracting stomach and repeated the chant. After a short period of time, Cordelia’s breathing began to slow and she relaxed.
Marie moved between the woman’s trembling legs. “It is time....you must deliver now.” She called out to Bridgette to bring her some supplies and to another woman standing nearby to hold Cordelia’s hand.
Cordelia greeted the next contraction with a scream that Marie was sure was heard for miles.
“Breath, Cordelia! Breath!” Marie worked on keeping the baby in the correct position while Cordelia pushed the child through the birth canal. “The head is close...I can see it! Keep pushing!” Marie shifted her weight so she could angle her arm to keep the baby in position. Cordelia pushed again and slowly the head began to emerge. Marie instructed her to stop pushing for a moment while the head eased out. “Now...a few more good pushes and you’ll be holding your child.” Marie turned the child as it slowly emerged from the mother’s body and laid it carefully on Cordelia’s stomach, while she cut the cord that connected mother to child for the past nine months. The child’s newborn tears were mixed with Cordelia’s as the freshly wrapped infant was placed in her arms. Marie knelt beside the new mother and kissed the baby on the forehead. “May you always be blessed!”
Cordelia’s tear filled eyes met Marie’s. “Thank you for being here!” She handed Marie the clover pendent that was still clutched tightly in her hand. Marie smiled and placed it back around her neck.
“I’ll check on you both tomorrow. Try to get some rest.” Marie gathered her things, said her goodbyes to Bridgette and the others and walked out into the cold, foggy night.

Not surprised in the sudden change of weather, she drew her coat in tight around her as she walked the trail leading back to her cottage. A whispering voice in the trees caused her to stop and listen. A twig snapped behind her and she turned to see William O’Sullivan, the town doctor, standing close by. When he spoke, there was concern in his voice.
“Marie...it doesn’t have to be this way.”
A group of men suddenly appeared from the forest and stood beside William as if waiting for his approval before approaching her. Without hesitating, Marie raced through the dark forest with the group of men following close behind.
Marie was breathless when she reached her cottage. The fog became thick and heavy, leaving her pursuing group in a state of wandering confusion. She closed the door and leaned against it, frantically rubbing the clover pendent that hung around her neck.
Edward Brown, the local priest, peered through the side window by the front door. “We’ve got you now!” Marie rushed to the window and closed the curtain. Pounding was heard from the front and back doors as the group of men tried to enter the cottage. From outside the front door, Marie could hear William’s voice...
“You’ve nowhere to run! Please, Marie!”
The pounding continued and the front door broke in, allowing a few men to enter the cottage. Marie escaped to her bedroom as the back door broke in. She barricaded her door and pushed herself against the wall, trying to become one with it. The door began to give way as the men pushed against it. Marie frantically searched her room and her eyes rested on the window. She rushed to it, forced it open and climbed through. Once outside, she rushed around the corner of the cottage and ran directly into William. He grabbed her by the shoulders and pleaded with her. “Please! You’ve nowhere to run!” Marie struggled with him, trying to free herself, but he pulled her close so they were face to face. Her chest was heaving from anger and fear. “It won’t be so bad, Marie. Join with me and all will be over.” He ran a finger over her check and kissed her. She began to struggle again and scratched her fingers down his face. William lets go in pain.
Marie ran around the corner of her cottage and saw the group of men coming toward her. She turned to find William, once again, standing in front of her. She looked to the side and noticed her only path of escape lead to the cliffs behind her cottage. With spiteful determination, she took it and laughter came from the group as she raced toward the cliff. Marie reached the edge and looked over to the jagged rocks below. She spun to face the group of men.
“I’ll jump before I’ll let you take me!”
Her threat was met with more laughter and the group moved toward her. Marie turned toward the cliff and prepared to jump, but William rushed her from behind and grabbed her.
“You don’t think I’m letting you go that easy do you?” He whispered and pulled her away from the cliffs edge.
Edward stood in front of the group of men, while William pulled Marie forward. Edward slapped her across the face, knocking her to the ground.
“You’re a fool! Soon, we’ll all be spitting on your grave.”
William pulled her up and nuzzled his face against the back of her neck. “I’m going to miss you. Please reconsider.”
Edward waved his hand in disgust at Marie. “Take her away.” Marie struggled as William pulled her along side her cottage and entered the forest. One of the men stomped his feet at the hissing cat that sat on the front porch as they went by. “What about that? Should we take it as well?”
“You going to try and pick it up?” Another man asked as the cat hissed and scratched at them.
“Not me!”
Edward gave them both a shove. “Let it starve. It doesn’t concern us.”

Later that night, Marie sat huddled in a cold, dark jail cell. Her clothes were ripped and dirty from her previous struggle. As she sat with her back against the wall, she drew her knees up to her chest and began rocking back and forth, deep in thought. She remembered the warning the wind had tried to give her. It told her to hide...hide her face...her soul from humanity. What she was, wasn’t accepted by the individuals in power, but she didn’t accept the warning. How could she? She couldn’t allow them to control and manipulate who and what she was. She would have to stand with her head held high, accepting the situation. It was better than becoming something she wasn’t and she wasn’t willing to live her life based on a lie.
She now realized her relationship with William was everything her mother said a relationship with a man would be. She tried to keep her distance from him, but his charms soon won her over. William was very secretive about how they saw each other and she should have seen this. He didn’t love her for who she was and he obviously only cared about his own reputation. She was angry at herself for allowing her feelings for William to blossom. The last few months had been perfect, but it was now blowing up in her face and the very one she finally felt safe with, the one she’d finally given her heart to, was the one responsible.
In the distance, she heard the opening and closing of doors. She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall. William startled her when he spoke.
“Hello, Marie.”
She glanced up momentarily, then closed her eyes again.
William spoke to the guard. “Let me in and leave us.” The guard opened Marie’s cell, allowing William to enter. He then locked the cell and left the two alone. Marie sat forward and began to rock again as William came and stood over her. He reached down and stroked her hair.
“It didn’t have to be this way.” He lifted her face so she was looking up at him. Marie’s eyes became defiant and the quiet anger came though in her voice when she spoke.
“I refuse to change who I am, for you or anyone else”
William knelt down in front of her. “So instead, you choose the noose?”
“It’s better than living a lie.”
“I could have loved you.”
Marie laughed at his words. “You do love me.”
William’s look softened as he recalled the previous months they shared together. But what was he to do? He was at the mercy of the individuals in power and if he wanted to continue practicing medicine, he had to play his part. He could no longer risk a secret relationship with Marie. Thomas and the others were already becoming suspicious and he had to prove himself by putting Marie in her place. His heart was full of love for her, but it was his mind that controlled his current actions. He couldn’t risk his reputation as a doctor. Besides, they would hang him as well and that was not acceptable to him.
William looked into Marie’s still defiant eyes. “I’m bound by the laws of.....”
Marie cut him off. “You’re bound by your own ego! How dare you speak to me of laws and principle, when you haven’t the guts to stand behind what you know is the truth!”
William stood and began pacing in her cell. “We could work together, Marie. You could work as a doctor...a real doctor.”
Marie’s eyes widened as she slowly stood and walked to face him. “A real doctor? Just what do you mean by that?”
“You know what I mean!” William became inpatient and began pacing again. “You know I have faith in your abilities, but......”
“But what?”
“You’re putting me in a difficult position, Marie. How can I choose?”
“How can you choose? How can you ask me a question of this kind? Your choice is made from your heart, so that tells me where your heart truly lies.”
“But it doesn’t have to be this way! You can change it.”
“I will not change who I am and I will not live by your rules! Under the control of your ego!”
William shook his head and looked to the floor of her cell. “Then tomorrow you will die and be lost to me forever.”
Marie stood and walked to him until they were face to face. “So be it!”
William grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her to the floor of her cell. “Not until I have you one last time!”
“You may be able to force me by body, but you will never have my heart, nor will you house my soul for your own selfish purposes.”
William’s anger overtook him and he forced himself on Marie with bitter vengeance. His own power rising with each painful thrust he inflicts upon her. Marie took the assault quietly, remaining limp in body, not allowing William the satisfaction of the emotional and physical pain he was causing her. She knew he would soon regret his actions.
After the assault, William stood over her and adjusted his clothing. His breathing rushed. He looked down at Marie. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was slow and controlled. Her legs lifeless on the cold floor. She made no attempt to straighten her dress. Her body still exposed from the attack that had taken place. She simply moved her arm and placed it across her forehead.
William shook his head again, feeling very defeated. “It didn’t have to be this way.”
“Of course it did,” Marie said quietly.
“But you will be lost to me forever.”
Marie opened her eyes and looked at William. “Forever-more.” She turned her head and looked to the ceiling, closing her eyes once again. William called to the guard to release him.
Marie laid quietly in her cell, keeping her breathing slow and controlled. She evaluated her life and the decisions she had made that brought her to the point she was now. Did she make the right choices? Was all truly the way it was suppose to be? Should she finally give in? Once again, she decided to stand her ground. No matter what the outcome, she would not live a lie. She turned to face the door of her cell that William exited earlier that night.
“Forever-more....”

The following morning, Frances Villandry rushed about her house trying to find her shoes and coat. It was still early and the new day’s light was barely making itself known.
“How could he do this to her?” She wondered. Grabbing her small handbag off the counter, she rushed out the door.
Frances and Marie were childhood friends and had been through everything together. Frances watched Marie’s powers grow over their earlier years and she always knew she was special. Marie’s mother had said her and Marie share a special bond that ran deep. She even insisted they shared many a past life together. Whatever it was that bound them together, it was strong and even to this day they were inseparable. Frances knew that Marie had shared everything about her relationship with William to her and her alone. She tried to warn Marie that something was not right when William insisted they keep their relationship under wraps. “If he truly loved you,” she told Marie, “he would want everyone to know his feelings for you.” But Marie wouldn’t listen. She did the exact opposite of what she swore she would never do...allow a man to control her emotions. Her heart, the one thing she’d always said belonged only to her, now belonged to someone who had betrayed her.

The morning was unusually cold and the fog that set in the night before was still thick in the air. Almost as if it had been hung like sheets from the trees that you had to work your way through. The dense air catching in your throat, making it difficult to breath. Even the wind that picked up, wasn’t moving the thick, white mass that clung to the air itself. Frances finally made her way to the jail and rushed inside. She was lead to Marie’s cell and saw her best friend laying, almost lifeless, on the cold floor. The guard opened the door and allowed her to enter.
“Marie?” Frances whispered.
Marie sat up quickly. “Frances! How did you know I was here?”
“The whole town’s talking. Someone came knocking on my door before dawn, wanting to know if I’d heard. I can’t believe he’s allowing this to happen!”
“It’s because he has a coward's heart and I won’t live by his rules.”
“But he loves you.”
“I know.”
Marie rose and walked to the bars of her cell. Frances came to stand beside her.
“Does he know you carry his child?”
Marie shot her a look. “He is not to find out about that now!”
“But Marie, they are coming for you soon. There has to be a way to stop this. Maybe if he knew about the child, he would change his mind.”
Marie turned from the bars. “Frances, you are my closest friend, like a sister. You know I can’t live a lie and him changing his mind only because of the child is not good enough. He has to choose where his heart lies. If not with me, than it cannot be with this child either.”
“So you’re willing to risk the life of your child?”
“And what kind of life would this child have? A life that from the start was based on a lie? I can’t live with that, Frances. My child goes with me.”
Voices were heard approaching the cell. Marie and Frances became silent as Edward walks to the bars.
“I’ll be back for you, Marie. The noose awaits.” He laughed and walked away.
Frances put a supportive hand on Marie’s shoulder. “He’ll get his in the end.”
Marie looked off in the direction Edward went. “That I can promise you.”
The guard informed Frances she had to leave. Before doing so, she turned back to Marie. “I’m going to see if I can talk some sense into William.”
“No, Frances...he has made his choice. Now he must live with it.”
Frances reluctantly shakes her head as tears roll down her cheeks. “My life will not be the same without you. As many others.”
“I am always with you, Frances. Always!”
Frances shook her head and walked away. “I’ll never forgive him for this!”

Later that night, Marie sat quietly looking at the full moon that hung outside the small window of her cell. She placed her hand over her stomach and offered a silent prayer to herself and her unborn child. A child whose eyes would never see this world or lungs that would never breathe the thick air that now accompanied it. “We are better off this way little one. Please forgive me.”
Marie gave one last look to the moon. “Full moon comes, full moon goes. The heart of man, as he has chose.” She closed her eyes and welcomed her last night of sleep.

© Copyright 2004 Angel Shadow™ All rights reserved.