Heritage
The Spirit Woman

I woke up sharply at about fifteenminutes before the sun was due to rise. I got out of bed and decided to put on my pink kimono to meditatein. It took a while but I soon found myway to the attic and climbed out of one of the windows to climb onto theroof. I sat upon the slanted rooftopthat was decorated with dark blue tiles and faced the direction of the sunrise,closing my eyes in meditation. I frownedin displeasure as I heard the vulgar noises of engines and people going to workearly in the day but blocked them out. Then the repulsive smell of car fumes and sewage drains filled my noseand I could only take a deep breath with my mouth and snort firmly to expel thesmell. Oh how I loathed the city. I know it is a cruel wish but I do wish thatthe disaster would hurry up and hit Zack so I could return to the orphanage.

My meditation session was cut short whenI heard Zack calling my name. Quicklyand quietly, I slid down the roof to reach the attic. But as soon as I entered the attic, a gush ofice cold wind blew past me and I looked up to see the spirit woman from lastnight. I froze with fear as she foldedher arms sternly.

“Wheredo you think you’re going?” sheasked in a scolding tone. I opened mymouth but closed it again. She pointed afinger back outside. “Go back and finish your meditation session. Zack can wait until you’re finished.” I didn’t dare argue so I scrambled backout rather clumsily and took my place on the roof again to finish my session.

I came back down when my time was up andwas relieved when I saw the spirit woman was gone. Zack’s calls for me were becoming ratherfrantic and I jogged back downstairs to replace Zack going around thecorridors. I approached him and hehugged me rather tightly, too tight for my comfort, and began blabbing abouthow he was afraid that I had run away. He made me a breakfast of pancakes and lots of syrup poured on top ofit. I absolutely hated it that I couldonly managed two pancakes. They were toosweet, it tasted so sickly. I wasn’t toofond on sweet things really but I didn’t complain to Zack. When I was finished, I went up to my room andgot into my school uniform. I had ahabit to brush my hair into pigtails since my tenth adoption when I actuallymanaged to get into school for a week until my foster parents died in a carcrash.

I sat on the marble staircase patiently,waiting for Zack to come and take me to school. So I waited patiently, staring at the large oak doors that led to thefront drive of the mansion. I narrowedmy eyes slightly at the gross use of such beautiful wood. Why should people build such grand houses andchop down half of the forest nearby to fill them with furniture? Thousands of habitats must have been destroyedduring the construction of this building. It made me angry to think of all the baby animals that must havesuffered. From squirrels to Floronies,it made me feel so disgusted at humans and how little they cared for nature.

I love Floronies, I replace them sograceful and beautiful. When I was sixyears old, I remember seeing a baby Florony trying to replace its mother in theforest. I had gone out on a walk so Iwas rather far from the orphanage and from other children. For some strange reason, I knew exactly whata Florony was. It’s rumoured thatFloronies are the only horses that are untameable. They are very stubborn in nature and aremostly found in large forests and open meadows. They’re also rumoured to be the fastest breed of horse in Ethylias too. When they jumped, it looked like they wereflying without wings.

This baby one looked injured and itwasn’t as stubborn as I had thought it to be. Yes, it did refuse to come anywhere near me but I knew I had to bepatient to gain its trust. When I wasable to come close to it, I saw that it had a stone stuck in its hoof and gotit out in no time. I stroked the emeraldhalf grown mane to soothe the pain as it whinnied in discomfort. It had pink flowers woven into its hair, thetraditional colour for Floronies. Itupsets me that humans don’t think other creatures have cultures and religionstoo because they don’t look like humans. I know that Floronies wove flowers into their manes and pink was thetraditional and most common colour. Butof course, some Floronies liked to have different colours in their mane,depending on their personality that is.

It took all day but eventually, wereached the edge of the forest and found the herd the baby Florony had beenseparated from. I remember the happinessflooding through me as I saw the baby Florony gallop to its mother. The herd crowded around the new baby andthat’s when I saw him. There stood atall dark figure against the sunset, watching the reunion silently. I could tell that it was a man because of hismuscular build but he wasn’t very tall so I figured he was quite young. He had wild waist length hair blowing in thewind which made me comb my own hair to check if it was knot-free. I think his head turned to my direction but Icouldn’t be sure. Four other figuresjoined him and they began moving with the herd away from the forest. I stayed in the shelter of the trees,meditating with my eyes open and went back to the orphanage when the sun wasgone.

I was brought out of my thoughts when Iheard Zack’s footsteps from the kitchen. He arrived at the foot of the staircase and smiled up at me.

“Hello, Zelda,” he greeted me “What areyou doing up there?”

“School.” He laughed.

“You’re not going to school,” he smiled“I’m going to tutor you personally. Soget dressed, I’ll get the living room ready.” I stood up obediently and went to my room to get into my light greenkimono. I brushed my pigtails out andpinned my hair up into buns, sticking in matching needles with decorative greenchains hanging on them. I fastened mybelt around my kimono tightly then went downstairs to the living room which wascarpeted for my poor cold feet. I sat onthe large cream sofa, nearly sinking into the plush cushions whilst Zack set upa board to write on.

I was rather bewildered with the firsttopic Zack began talking about. Fashion. Why didn’t I wear shortslike other girls? Why didn’t I have anyminiskirts? Why didn’t I wear any makeup or jewellery? Haven’t I consideredcurling my hair for a new look? I saidno to every question and said no to every suggestion that Zack made to make melook more fashionable. I didn’t caremuch for fashion and I wasn’t entirely comfortable with wearing shorts andminiskirts. I shivered just by thinkingabout them. I would be so cold if I woresuch clothing! Elves originally grew upin warm climates so we don’t grow body hair like humans so we don’t get goosebumps when we get cold. Autumn wascoming soon so I’ll be wearing shirts and tights underneath my kimonos duringthe cold months in Aurallion.

Zack spent three hours teaching mehistory, music and other subjects regarding to being a housewife. I frowned upon the fact I couldn’t learnmaths, literature and science, subjects that I personally loved. Zack said that girls shouldn’t think so muchand claimed that I shouldn’t need to learn such complicated subjects because Iwouldn’t need them in the future. I wasrather upset and angry but didn’t complain to avoid conflict.

When Zack let me go, I rushed up to theattic to go for my meditating session at midday. I jumped with a rather high pitched yelp whenI saw the spirit woman again, towering over me. She looked me up and down, folded her arms and tutted whilst shaking herhead.

“Youcannot wear green for your midday sessions,” shesaid “Don’t you have a yellowkimono?” I nodded and she sent medown to my bedroom to get changed into it. Soon I was in the yellow kimono and sitting upon the rooftopmeditating. When the hour was up, Iturned my head to see the spirit woman was outside with me. She graced me with a smile, despite the factthat I was rather spooked by her sudden appearance. Eventually I plucked up the courage to speak.

“Who…are you?” I croaked out.

“Afriend, a guardian or a stranger, you decide,” she replied whilst folding her hands and leaning herchin against them. I stared at the cityline to think for a while then turned my head towards her.

“What do you want?”

“Well,what do you want?” The question caught me off guard and I stared backat the city line to think.

“I don’t really want anything apart fromto go back to the orphanage,” I replied after some thought.

“Youknow you can only remain at the orphanage for eight more years and then you’llhave to leave,” she said.

“I’ll go live in the forest,” I saidwith a shrug “I just can’t stand living in the city.”

“Iagree,” the spirit woman noddedthen smiled “But some things can beobtained if you endure living here.”

“May I ask what?” I glanced at her.

“You’llsee in time,” the woman said with ashrug.

“But I don’t belong here,” I said “Ican’t stand it. The pollution from thecars, the awful stenches from the sewer, Zack insisting that I should weardenim shorts and tank tops…”

“Iforbid you to wear any clothing that humans wear,” the spirit woman said frostily.

I jumped at her tone and noddedquickly. She unlaced her fingers thenfolded her arms.

“Thereare many vulgar habits that humans have which I don’t want you to pick up,” she said “Thesehabits will taint your elven heritage and you’ll be lost to us.”

“Who…?”

“Noquestions. You will do what is asked ofyou.”

If I knew how to scowl on purpose, Iwould have done so to this woman. Shewas so snappy and frosty, I felt like she’ll scold me if I breathe in theincorrect fashion for her.

“Theseare the habits I want you to avoid,” shekept talking “Humans have taken a likingto purchasing tobacco in rolls of thin paper then setting them alight tobreathe in the smoke.”

“It’s called smoking, I know,” I saidremembering that one of my foster parents had been a heavy smoker.

It was a horrible memory actually. It was my fourth adoption, another fiery doomfor the poor unfortunate souls who decided to take me in and raise me as theirown child. To be honest, it was theirfault, I never actually blamed myself for their deaths. Though I did blame myself for being smartenough to grab the nine-month-old baby first and climbing out of my bedroomwindow. The house was on the outskirtsof town and the parents of the baby were still inside. I remember trying to keep a firm hold of thewailing infant as I ran next door and told the neighbours to call the firemento douse the flames. It was too latewhen they came, both parents were charred corpses when the fire was tamed. The cause was most likely from the litcigarettes my foster father had left on the kitchen table was what the firemensaid. I was separated from the baby andtaken back to the orphanage. I believehe was sent to his grandparents who didn’t want to look after me.

“Doyou know what elves use tobacco for?” thespirit woman asked.

“I wasn’t aware elves use tobacco,” Ifelt surprised at the fact.

“Elvesmix tobacco into poison potions to dip arrows in and use in battle,” was her answer “Youmust never inhale tobacco for it will intoxicate then kill you.”

Tell that to my fourth foster fatherbefore he died.

“Itappears to me that humans enjoy taking drugs at a young age too,” the spirit woman continued talking “Heroin, cannabis, cocaine, morphine, opiumand other poisons that makes them feel happy.”

I had heard about the taking drugs thingtoo. It was up on most of the newspaperswhen I was settling in amongst the foster families. Mostly the fathers would read them and Iwould see the headlines of various drugs being stolen or people, mainly thefamous actors or models, being arrested because they have been caught takingdrugs. If it was so bad then why didthese humans repeatedly drug themselves with the poisonous substances that willeventually lead them to their untimely deaths?

“Weuse such drugs against our enemies,”the spirit woman explained “You shouldnever take in the drugs that you intend to use against your enemy. One sniff and you’ll be intoxicated, tainted,never to recover. A tainted elf is nobetter than a human.”

I nodded to confirm that Iunderstood.

“Alcoholis only used for ointment on wounds,” thespirit woman continued speaking “Neverconsume it, you will damage your common sense and intelligence.”

I nodded again. I was very aware of the consequences ofconsuming too much alcohol. The spiritwoman seemed happy and rested a cold ghostly hand on my shoulder. I didn’t flinch, I can’t remember the lasttime I have ever flinched.

“Ican see you will grow up to be a very fine elf, Zelda,” she said “Don’tforget that you’re an elf. Don’t letZack bring you down from your purity.”

I turned to ask what she meant but shewas gone. I climbed down to the atticand went to my room. Zack said he wouldbe away for the afternoon so I was alone in the house. I decided to go out to the garden. I was disappointed to see the lack ofcolourful flowers, which was what I liked most about gardens. Zack only had grass and pine treessurrounding the concrete and bricks. There was a lack of colour, no tulips, no roses, the grass didn’t evenhave any signs of little daisies. I keptwandering around the outside of the mansion. I felt drained, I wanted to see pink blossoms, red roses and yellowtulips. Green was a nice colour butthere was too much of it. Disappointedand saddened, I returned into the mansion to wander around.

Everything seemed so white and clean. It was a big change from the old brownorphanage and the colourful homes I had once lived in. I felt like a drawing on paper as I walkedaround the ground floor, from the porcelain kitchen to the fuzzy livingroom. There were doors that were locked,indicating that they were the rooms I weren’t allowed in. Or maybe Zack was hiding something fromme? I wasn’t sure what to think. I wasn’t sure who to listen to. Zack or the spirit woman whose name I do noteven know?

I sat down on the marble staircase andstared at the large mahogany doors. Whatkind of forest did they come from? Didthey grow in the north where the Silai Faeries live inside them? Did they come from the south where Croft’sRavens would make their nests in? Ioften thought about things like this. The nuns call it daydreaming, I agree with them. I can picture the forests where Silai Faerieswould linger in bushes and trees, waiting for suitable prey to come along. I can picture the large Croft’s Ravens takingup a whole tree for their nest where they could hold up to eight eggs. I smiled and sighed wistfully.

What would it be like to live in aforest by yourself? With no adults totell you not to run too far or don’t touch any of the animals in case theycarried a disease? I closed my eyes andtook myself to a forest, one where Floronies and other breeds of horse wouldlive in. I would have a treehouse, quitelittle and modest. I have no desire tolive in a big palace that wasted space. I could go out on top of the treehouse and meditate without anyonedisturbing me or pollution to upset my senses. I could have my own pet. A petFlorony would be nice but a bit farfetched. Something small, something cute…perhaps a feline pet so they could havetheir own independence but keep me company. Maybe a Nekarose. Cute littleblack wildcats that populate mainly in the forests with a small pack. My Nekarose would be a female so she wouldcome back with her litter of kittens. Iwould help look after them, they could sleep in a small leaf bed with Miditeand Bay leafs and I’ll feed them milk that I could collect from tame cowsnearby.

A Nekarose…I have dreamed of having onebut no-one considers them as a pet but more of a pest. They do get into the house easily by thescent of meat and they steal. It is onlya survival tactic so I’m not against their choice of living. I haven’t seen one, only seen pictures frombooks and in my dreams.

I was brought out of my thoughts whenthe door opened and I realised I had been daydreaming for about fourhours. Time does fly when your mind isoccupied. I stood up when Zack enteredand he beamed up at me.

“Hey there, you rascal,” he grinned andheld up a shopping bag “Guess what I got for you!”

“I don’t guess,” I said and he laughed.

“Come on, guess!” he chuckled.

“A Nekarose?” I shrugged. Zack snorted and shook his head.

“Of course not. If you’d like a pet cat, I’ll get you a tabbycat to keep you company.” I feltsaddened, even though it was rather implausible that Zack would actually havesomething that I had been thinking about for the past few hours. I grimaced as he pulled out a pair of jeanshorts and insisted that I wear them. Irefused and he just gave me the bag, muttering about something to make fordinner.

I took out the jean shorts and stared atthem. They seemed designed to go nofurther down than the middle of my thighs. It might not even reach the middle of my thighs actually. The thought of having to expose that muchskin without my kimono made me shiver. Actually, perhaps I could wear them underneath my kimono? That felt like a better idea and I nodded,deciding that would be a good decision. So I stepped into them and slid them on underneath my kimono and blushedwhen they fell. I picked them up andplaced them in my bag. They were too bigfor me.

When I told Zack this, he took out atape measure and took my measurements, raising his eyebrows.

“You need to eat more, Zelda,” he saidand ruffled my hair “People will think you’re malnourished if they saw you.”

I didn’t respond. Elves didn’t take in much fat from food. Our bodies use it to repair parts of our bodymore than humans so we didn’t gain weight as much as humans did.

After a fatty dinner with fish coveredin horrid batter and deep fried chips, I contemplated my figure whilst standingin the mirror in just my underwear. Iwas skinny, maybe I should eat a bit more? I poked one of my ribs that pushed out of my skin. I hadn’t noticed how little I ate, I guess Ilook a bit fatter with my kimono on. Ishrugged on my dark blue kimono as my instincts told me and went to the roof tomeditate my sunset session. Everythingwent routinely without any disturbance so I guess I had chosen the right kimonoto meditate in. I didn’t see the spiritwoman when I finished and left either, so she’s probably pleased with me orotherwise occupied.

But as I went to bed and closed my eyes,the nightmares came again. Vivid imagesof flames lapping at my skin and leaving burns. But then the burns would fade away quickly and the flames would engulfme and try to burn me alive. I wouldopen my mouth to scream but the roar of the flames drowned out any sound Itried to make. I want to wake up butsomeone’s telling me it isn’t time yet. I don’t like it. I don’t want tosee fire ever again. I don’t want torepeatedly see the very element that has haunted me for as long as I remember.