Prologue - Memories

             Maeve Illione pushed the winters chill far from her thoughts as she stood gazing down at the warn etchings of the name of her father. “John Illione " a builder of hearts. May his immortal soul rest in peace.”

 

             Pulling her thick woolen coat tight around her neck, Maeve crouched down and placed the single white rose upon the grave stone. “I still miss you father.” She whispered, pausing for a moment before letting go of the rose. Standing, she let her gaze drift out across the rolling hill and down towards the Great Lake’s shore and the small town that made its home there. Snow had blown in the day before and all the stone cottages and town buildings sat quietly in their winter blankets. The docks, white with frozen spray.

 

            A gust of wind spun up the hill side, shifting her collar. Cold tingled against her chest as the air chilled the crystal pendant that hung safely on its chain of silver. Maeve closed her eyes, her right hand slipping inside her coat and closing around the one gift that her father had ever given her. She remembered the day as if it was a moment ago. She had been eighteen, the youngest of all of her father’s children.

 

            “Take this little one.” He had spoken with his warm smile. His sparkling blue eyes bright, “It will keep you safe as it has me.”

 

             Maeve let out a sigh.  A lone tear slowly dripping down her cheek, “So long ago…”

 

            Opening her eyes, Maeve glanced back at the endless waves of the lake and saw that fog was soon to roll in. Willing her feet to move, she made her way back towards town along the aging cemetery road.

 

            The middle aged woman passed the front of her home, the one that her father had built, one she’d always known. She paused glancing towards the front of the garage. The parking spot was empty, covered in several inches of fresh snow. Just a year ago a car would have been parked there, her son’s car. Maeve told herself she would have to call him soon; it had been a week since she had spoken to Sven. She hoped he was getting along okay at the college.

 

            She took the last few steps to the front door and slipped her key in the lock. It clicked smoothly, even after years of use. Pushing to door inward, she was rewarded with the warmth from inside. The house had been built well and had kept the heat from the morning’s fire.

 

            Maeve’s cold skin tingled as it began to warm. Turning she closed the door, relocking it. She smiled seeing all of her cats sleeping soundly upon her plush couch. She slipped out of her rubber boots and quietly moved to give each one a light pet upon their heads. Her cats were her saviors. Without their love and attention, she wouldn’t have known what to do after her mother had passed a few years back.

 

            The woman turned to walk towards the closet, beginning to pull herself out of the large wool coat. Her eyes caught upon a photograph hanging upon the wall. Maeve smiled. It was her father and her mother holding each other. She had taken the photo just a few weeks before her eighteenth birthday. She let herself take a step closer and remember the moment. It had been summer time. The sun had been bright upon the pier. It had been during the regatta. She could see one of the tall ships in the background of the photo.

 

            Maeve chuckled with a grin. She loved the photo. She had always thought that the young pirate captain, in the back ground, had been looking right at her with her piercing blue eyes.

 

            The woman let the memory fade and took a step back towards the coat closet. Her attention pulsed to the crystal around her neck, it felt so warm. Reaching in, she placed her hand around it. “What?” Maeve whispered in confusion. It was indeed warm to the touch. “That’s just odd.”

 

            Taking another step, she saw the coat closet become blurry.

 

            A bright flash of light glinted off the slick fur of one of the woman’s cats and then faded. The cat’s eyes came open, it’s head lifted. It looked around the room, seeing nothing out of place, it laid its head back down and fell back into its dreamland slumber.

Reviews

[Shy Girl]

She has such a strength within her right from the start. Her love of a familiar and placing such deep emotional attachment to her crystal brought the jewelery to life. That picture becoming a beacon and the closet the portal point...blurry window?? Blue eyes always hold such expressions...hooded or open bright...wonder what's next?? Love the ocean theme and a pirate captain...Oooo tell us more :)

[Admiral Kirk]

This is a great start to a story. The end adds quite a bit of suspense, and the character seems pretty well developed. I swear I was standing right next to her that whole time. Great job! The plot is fantastic.

[Wolfwind]

Thanks for reading it. One of these day's i'll get back around to working on the story again. I hope. =)

[Admiral Kirk]

I hope so too. :D

[David Kwaku]

This is a great story, the description brings the senses alive, puts the reader in the story. Very well written

[wyrd]

It's not often one finds middled women as the strong main charactor (outside of english mystery novels) nicely done. Definatly looking forward to more.

[Lily Mae]

I think I want to know more ;) xo

[Two Hearted Wolf]

There's so much in this that captivates me and holds my heart hostage. Your description alone embraces my senses. The the story line the familiar aspects that relate to my own life.. The home the Father built.. her son, the cats, and the loss of her Mother.
I feel her deeply here as she stares into the picture. It's like I know or feel her dream, maybe past memories or encoded pieces of her in what's yet to be. All of it together has warmed a heart, and yet a bit of a cold rush through my soul..x A wonderful start..

[PandaRain]

Very interesting. Please write more, I'd love to read another chapter

[LunarSong]

Nice, sure leaves me curious!