They made breakfast and after eating in comfortable silence, Hannah thought it not too hasty to go back to the cliff and wait. She wanted to hold on to something . . . anything that will give her hope that something might change for the better, against the gloomy feeling settling in the pit of her stomach. She stood uo to wash her hands in the wide basin on top of the wooden table, she dipped in a tablecloth and wrung it lightly to squeeze the warm water out of the cloth. She padded barefeet on the ground, deciding on who should she give the clothe to first. She figured Salem was an adult male, mean at times but he had been hospitable to them who were just strangers seeking asylum and he had done so without prying on them or taking advantage of them so she handed him the warm clothe to see him pull up his signature cocky grin and she wiggled her brows in question.
"Having another person as company is nice but having a female companion is simply incomparable" which earned him a giggle from the excitable Kayla.
"Hannah is like mama . . . but not like mama" she said trying to reason with her sister's caring nature but her mind failed her.
"I know right? Wouldn't I want to see your beautiful mama?" Salem teased the little Kayla who seemed pleased by Salem's quick understanding of her almost incoherent phrase.
Hannah hurumphed to conceal the blush creeping up on her beneath the scowling face she made. It's no surprise that she wasn't used to having anyone other than her mama and papa coment on her physical appearance so Salem saying it aloud infront of Kayla made her stutter. She was sure her mama would've been sealing a marriage deal by now.
'Sigh'
"Uhm . . . Salem" she prodded his attention which was given swiftly "I was thinking of going to the cliff . . . I know its dangerous and im grateful for all you have done to shelter us until this far and we will never forget it for all eternity" she was genuine but he could sense the unbidden flow of emotion beneath her cool demeanor.
"You do not plan on dying today little female, or do you?" he couldn't deal with an emotional female so it was better to tease her lightly so she may know he got the message.
"Death is but a rite of passage Salem which is set for all under the sun" she smiled to bait him, on que he replied.
"Another one of your grandpa's wise words?" he asked to see her nod and he smirked.
They all thought the same . . . the old man always had an answer for all that came at him. He was always prepared.
"Are you coming with us today?" Kayla voiced her anticipation which caught the hulky male offguard.
"Mhhm . . . Do you want me to come with you sunshine?" he asked in an animated voice that stretched both the female's lips to as far as they could.
'Really now'
That's the look he saw on Hannah's face as she hid her smile behind her hand so he averted his eyes to look at the child who seemed perplexed before regaining her toothy grin.
"I wouldn't be asking if I didn't want you to come with us now, would I?"
"Children are not supposed to be sarcastic to adults" he said petulantly
"But I thought it was fun . . . I mean you answered all my questions with a tag question" she argued and Salem couldn't hide his astonishment at the child's intelligence.
He pursed his lips lightly and wondered how the two females could've been in contrast. Maybe it wasn't absolute but the child remained outspoken and almost as shameless as him and she was only just a child! It seemed she was a necessary distraction and might he add, a welcome one at that.
"Okay little one, I will come with you but only for a little while because I have somewhere to be at noon"
That seemed to be more than enough for the child who jumped to him and flung her tiny arms around his legs in glee. She was as fluent as the air in her moves and her spirit seemed to be free from earthly bonds. Salem watched her in fascination and wondered if he was ever a child like that.
She showed her emotions through her actions which in his opinion could be her greatest weapon as well as her fatal weakness.
She was to be protected and sheltered but Salem knew that went against all the fibres of his being.
They set out to the Shadow cliff where they hoped to find their parents awaiting their presence but Hannah felt that it was turning to a goose chase. What was she to do? She could look for a job in a human household and become a maid there . . . even a nanny. She had been around her mother the entire time when Kayla was born and taking care of her had come naturally to her but Adela had insisted that she must be the one taking care of the new born child but Hannah always knew how to get around her mother's words to serve her wishes and Adela eventually gave in to Hannah helping her take care of the child.
"Do not even say a vowel in my name when elders ask you whose child you are taking care of since you're not married, you hear me Hannah?" Adela had said to warn her not to stray from the house in her absence, even in her presence.
"You know I won't my beautiful mama" and just like that, she had got her wish to care for her sibling. She was ecstatic.
Memories . . .
Hannah felt as if she hadn't done enough, as if the last memory of her unuted family was going to be just that, her last memory. She felt it with every step she took towards the cliff until her eyes came upon the bare existence of nature with no people in sight. Her heart dropped a little further . . . pushing to the pit of her stomach and she glanced at her sibling who remained optimistic, contrary to their male companion who remained stoic.
"Aren't you tired from all the walking Kayla . . . let's sit down" Salem said, coaxing the child to sit with him.
"Maybe you're not so bad after all" Kayla muttered under her breath but she was sure her words got carried by the wind to their designated destination.
He quirked an eyebrow and mused at the child's words.
He had a summoning to attend but he could wait with them just a little longer until they see the truth of the matter.
Hannah watch Kayla drift to sleep and marveled at how quick she adapted to this hulking male. Did it mean she had accepted that their parents are gone? Was it her subconscious that drove her to attach herself to the enstranged male to avoid the inevitable grief that hunts them in shadows? Hannah couldn't tell which one is the truth of the matter but she knew the truth was going to be too bitter, especially for her.