Alloulae Alexianne

MOTHER OF LOST SOULS

Chapter 6

When Alloulae got home, all thoughts of Hymnat and the apprenticeship were driven clean out of her mind. She just stood there, in the doorway, gaping. There was her dad, standing there like always. But beside him-

"Karlene?" Alloulae asked in disbelief. "What are you doing here?"

After so long, it was wonderful to see her older sister again. How long had it been? Two years? Three? However long it was, Alloulae didn't really care. She was just so happy to see her again.

It took Alloulae a couple moments to notice the sadness in Karlene's eyes, and even longer to see the tears running out of them. Alloulae's smile was slowly wiped off her face.

"Karlene, what's wrong?" Alloulae asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

"Alloulae, it's Jarivi," Karlene whispered, almost afraid to speak loudly. She was speaking of her husband. Only then did Alloulae notice the clothes she was wearing: blue, black and red, to wish luck to departed spirits.

They were what one wore when someone really close to them died.

"Karlene… oh Karlene. I'm so sorry," Alloulae told her sister, she too now whispering.

"He killed himself," Karlene told her, taking a deep breath, her voice getting stronger. "He, he killed himself. I don't know why he'd do that, 'Loulae, I just… we were happy. Why him?"

"I don't know," Alloulae said, at a loss. The very same questions were tumbling around in her mind. Why him? Why now?

They stood there, just drawing comfort out of one another, for a long time. Finally, their dad left.

Karlene waited awhile after that before speaking.

"Well, I do know one thing," she said. "I had to wait for father to leave before I could show this to you, because it had something to do with… well, I guess I should let you read it, too."

She took a small piece of paper out of her pocket, one covered with tiny little drops of blood. Almost afraid to read it, Alloulae took it out of her sister's hands, and lowered her eyes.

But before she could read it, an ear-splitting shriek filled the air. Alloulae jumped, completely forgetting about the paper, just knowing she wanted it to stop. It was the most horrible sound she'd ever heard!

The paper fell out of her hand, forgotten, where it drifted down onto the dirty floor.

A/N- Well, what can I say… I'm sorry for taking so long? I'll try to update sooner this time. I was concentrating on my other stories for awhile- namely When the Sun Stops Shining.

Islandbreeze- You're advice, as always, is priceless. And as too what Alloulae's gonna choose… you'll see. cackles mysteriously

Lady Sakaki- Ummm… thanks? I've never gotten that kinda compliment before! I hope you like Jarivi, too. It's pronounced kinda like Jeremy, but with an I like "in" sound in the middle.

Other pronounciations- these ones are a bit simpler.

Karlene- car-lean

Hymnat- Him-mat but with an n replacing the second m

Filanna- fee-L-anna

Angelitte- like Angela but with an -eat at the end

Dorran-Door-an

Dhara- Dare-a

Ghanne-like can but with a g and complicated spelling. :)