I guess I could. If anybody can pm me recommendations of a free wenbsite maker...I'd be grateful.

(part 8 )

It was all a blur of grimy black. Nothing before that night seemed to dawn upon her, unfortunately. So, she was as much in the dark as the shadowy figure that had been pursuing her.
Shivering slightly, Tabitha pushed back the tray, not wishing to eat anything else. She was not up for it. Of course, she felt grateful for her mysterious host or hostess whomever that was that owned the house. But her stay was graciously overdrawn and she needed to get back out into the streets.
Standing up, Tabitha turned away from the sunlit window and walked towards the wooden door. Turning the Copper handle she opened the door slightly, hearing a small creak from the hinges as she partially opened the door and peered out. What struck Tabitha's eye mostly was the red velvet rug that seemed to go past her door. There was a finely crafted banister that curved downwards to what Tabitha reckoned was a stairwell that led to the lower area of the abode.
Opening her door fully but gently, Tabitha stepped out into the hallway and glanced to her left. There were a few more doors past hers and at the end there was a wall that had a vase of flowers on a small table against it. From what Tabitha could tell, they were bright tulips.

(to be continued...)

(part 9)

Glancing to her right, Tabitha saw some more doors and another wall at the end with flowers on the table. These flowers were also tulips. Finding it a bit odd that the flowers were identical in every way as the other ones, Tabitha felt another slight shiver of uncertainty about the house she was in.
Stepping out of her room, Tabitha walked across to the banister and crouched down. She looked down and saw the main hall, the front door was closed but Tabitha knew it was the front door because of the muffled noise of the busy streets of London.
Suddenly, Tabitha saw the front door open and the noise of the street entering. A man stood in the doorway. He looked about twenty years of age, ten years older then Tabitha. He was what one would call a handsome man. A man with a dark blue jacket with tails and a cream coloured silken shirt. His jacket pocket had a blue carnation pinned upon it. He sported a black top hat and had a dark brown cane. His grey trousers were wrinkle-free and looked hardly worn. To complete his ensemble he wore spiffed-up black shoes that also looked hardly worn.

(to be continued...)

(part 10)

Taking off his top hat, Tabitha noticed he had rich dark brown hair slicked back and neat upon his head. His blue eyes were almost like sapphires, gleaming brightly as he gazed around. He was about five feet and nine inches in height, his frame was hard to judge because of his clothes, but he looked about average weight.
The man walked out of Tabitha's view, possibly going down a corridor beneath the stairwell. Tabitha heard his footsteps continue along until she heard a door opening and shutting. The man had obviously gone into a room. Tabitha glanced at the front doorway the man had left open, that led out into the streets of London.


(to be continued...)

(part 11)

Tabitha was hesitant at first but ultimately decided it was her best chance to leave the house. Hurriedly going down the carpeted stairwell, Tabitha found herself at the foot of the stairwell with the surroundings looking more different then from above. An old-looking grandfather clock in one corner ticked as the seconds went by. Tabitha saw a cloak stand and upon it was a fur coat, obviously a woman's. Tabitha helped herself to it, knowing it was foolish to just go into the streets wearing only a nightgown. Putting the coat on, Tabitha went up to the doorway. Glancing back slightly, Tabitha wondered if it was the right thing to do. Brushing away these thoughts Tabitha knew it would not be safe. The shadow would find her, no matter where she went. She had to keep running. Stepping out into the cold street, Tabitha closed the front door of the place she almost felt was like Home...


(to be continued...)

(part 12, chapter 2)


Chapter 2: Blood Strangers...

Ben was waiting. He did not know what he was waiting for. All he knew was that he was waiting. The twelve-year-old beggar boy mostly waited. He begged for a living, standing on the street and looking pitiful, which he was. Despite his age, he had yet to have his growth spurt, so was below the average height of regular twelve-year-old boys.
Within his desolate street, many people passed him by, not taking any notice of him. There was no money within his cap that was at his feet, there wouldn't be. Most of the upper class men sneered and said he was best to serve in the workhouse instead of begging for money.
The ladies were slightly kinder, but did not offer him anything, not even a speck of food. As for his own class, well, Ben knew there was no use in that. Most of them were as poor as he, maybe poorer.
But, Ben patiently waited. Normally, on a good day, he might get a shilling or two, but those days were few and high-between.
Ben was cold. He had stood out in the street for most of the night. Ben was near nigh of giving up when he spotted an odd thing.

(to be continued...)

(part 13)

He saw a girl, probably two years younger then he, wearing a silken-looking nightgown and a fine fur coat come running down the street. As he saw her run by down a nearby alley, he had seen she wore no footwear. And if that wasn't as odd enough, Ben saw a Coppa was chasing after the girl. Ben continued waiting and then saw the Coppa had given up his chase of the young girl and the Coppa sauntered off down the busy road.

After leaving the house, Tabitha had run off down the street. She had caught the attention of a nearby policeman. He apparently thought she had stolen something and was chasing after her. Tabitha had ducked into an alleyway and had lost the policeman by hiding behind a nearby wall. She peeked out and saw the policeman had gone. Sighing in relief, Tabitha turned round and smacked into somebody.
The person was a toothless old crone and she cackled insanely. Her grotesque facial features jumped out at Tabitha, her grip tightening on Tabitha's arm.
"That's a nice coat you are wearing, dear.... Let Granny have it now, good girl," muttered the old woman threateningly.

(to be continued...)

(part 14)

Tabitha tried to squirm away, but that seemed to only anger the old woman and she wrenched the coat off of Tabitha, leaving Tabitha only wearing the nightgown and threw Tabitha aside.
Tabitha landed against the wall, she slid down it and was starting to cry.
The old woman paid no attention to Tabitha, for she had hobbled away with her new coat and left Tabitha shivering in a corner of the alley.
Tabitha continued to cry to herself. She had almost forgotten how cruel and unkind the outside life was, to be a beggar meant you had to watch yourself, lest you become mugged in the alleyway. Much like Tabitha had been done. Bringing her knees up to her chest and feeling the harsh dampness and bitter cold Tabitha continued to cry. Her eyes starting to Puff up with a reddish hue.
Suddenly, Tabitha heard footsteps approaching her. She shivered in dread. The shadow, had it come back for her?
Closing her eyes tightly, Tabitha heard the footsteps drawing nearer. Sobbing in fear, Tabitha did not notice the shadow pass over her pitiful frame. Tabitha did not dare to open her eyes as she felt a hand touch her shoulder. Then, she had heard a voice.


(to be continued...)

(part 15)

"Hey, are you okay?" asked the voice. It was young, like hers. But, it was a boy's voice. Confusion over sweeping her tears, Tabitha opened her eyes. She saw a smallish boy crouching beside her, his hand re-assuring as he was touching her shoulder. His cap sat slightly askew upon his red-haired head. His brown eyes radiated concern. He wore woollen rags, nothing fancy, just brown shirt and pants.
Tabitha said nothing, she was still getting over the shock and surprise. She really thought the shadow had come for her. But instead, it was this boy, a common boy. Most like her, despite being a girl and slightly younger and taller then him.
As she continued to stare at him, Ben started to feel uneasy and removed his hand from her shoulder.
Without saying another word, Ben started walking back up the alleyway.
"Thank you," he had heard a soft voice say.
Without looking back or stopping, Ben wandered out of the alleyway, leaving the girl in the nightgown behind.
Tabitha had quietly called out as the boy was leaving. Wether he heard her or not, she did not quite know.
Getting to her feet, Tabitha wandered through the dark corridors, the back alleyways of London.
With the smoke and clouds above her, Tabitha knew any moment it was going to rain. There was only one safe place for her when it rained, Madame Claudia's.


(to be continued...)

(part 16, chapter 3)


Chapter 3: Madame Claudia.

The rain was pelting down. Most of the other people scurried indoors or had their umbrellas out. Tabitha was drenched, her flimsy nightgown clutching at her skin. Shivering, her teeth slightly chattering, Tabitha tried to hug herself as she ran within the rain. Her hair was very wet, slicked back by the rain. As she stopped, Tabitha glanced up at a building in a back alleyway. It had a green door and a solitary lamp underneath the overhanging roof. This was the best place for Tabitha, the only place during the wet weather.
Her feet made small splashing noises as she ran in inch high water of the cobblestone back alley. Getting under the safety of the overhanging roof, Tabitha knocked feebly on the door, her wet form still shivering miserably.

"Don' bother me now, Bill, there be someone at the door," Tabitha heard a woman's cockney accent drawl before the green door opened inwards.
A woman of 30 stood in the doorway. She wore a red-laced dress, a bit shabby looking, but most likely the best dress she could afford. Despite her age, the woman looked around mid-twenties, with her cheerful expression and red hair in curls reaching her shoulders. Her dress cut off in a triangle, nearly showing the cleavage of her person. Upon her head was a red boa feather and she wore high-heeled shoes.
As she saw Tabitha, the woman seemed to pity the poor child.

(to be continued...)