Heather's eyes shot open and she looked at the girl standing in front of her. She sat up and rested her head on her palms with her elbows resting on her knees. "Hello? Is there something I can do for you? Or, am I in your way?" Heather asked as she scooted to the side to allow the girl access to the Octagon House entrance.
"No, no. You weren't in the way. Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you." Erin looked over the nightmare and she didn't seem to look worse for the wear, she actually looked much better than normal almost even happy if she dare say it. "Are you feeling better? I missed you at dinner. We missed you at dinner!"
Heather's smile slowly faded from her face falling to her normal resting and uninterested expression. "Yes, much better thank you." She spoke in her monotone voice.
Erin blinked expecting her to say more, but the nightmare didn't. Erin shook her head, of course Heather didn't elaborate, it was Heather after all...enough said. "Do you have time now?" Erin asked. She was on her 'mission' to ask all the women their stories as expected by Hattie prior to her joining the coven, prior to her ceremony that was quickly approaching. As she thought of the ceremony her heart began to beat faster with the increasing nervousness she felt.
"Yes." Heather provided her one word answer.
If it would be anyone else this would be so much easier thought Erin. Somehow Erin expected pulling teeth would be easier than trying to extract information from the woman sitting in front of her.
"Do you like the coven? Are you glad to have joined?"
Heather straightened her back and stared up at Erin. "Yes, of course."
Again Erin was disappointed in her short explanation, Erin really needed to provide more open ended questions. Because yes or no questions were getting her nowhere; because Heather herself would never elaborate as most other people would with little to no effort.
So Erin once again asked a question hoping this time it would get her speaking. "Will you tell me your story and how you joined the coven?"
"Yes." Heather answered simply.
Erin just stood and waited for her to begin and when she didn't Erin wanted to roll her eyes exaggeratedly. This should be this hard to engage with someone!!!
Heather once again made eye contact with Erin. Heather observed the girl moving impatiently. "You mean now?"
"Yes." Erin replied, her turn to answer in a one word answer. Erin took a step closer, "mind if I sit next to you on the steps?"
"No, of course not." Heather patted the wooden step next to her inviting the girl to sit next to her.
Erin took her seat and leaned against the wooden post to get a better look at Heather and to provide her undivided attention to Heather's story.
"I wasn't really born as much as I was created. I do not have a family. I do not have a mother or father or siblings per se. I have siblings in the sense they are also nightmares, but we are not related, so not by blood or anything. I became aware at the beginning of the dark ages and that is where my story begins."
***
-Germany during the dark ages (around the 6th century)-
As the night began to ascend on the small Germanic village a newly created mare moved aimlessly around the town. The people could not see her and she couldn't interact or call out to them.
Without realizing it she had began to follow one human in particular, a completely average one a that. She followed the young male into his home, she watched him strip into his shift and then slide into his bed. The mare watch him intently moving closer to get a better look. When the young male's eyes closed she moved even closer and noticed his chest rising and falling in a rhythmic pattern.
The newly formed mare was deeply interested and before long she climbed upon his chest. Underneath her she could feel his chest moving up and down and it was a delightful feeling for the young mare. However, after a short period of time, his calm rising and falling of his chest began to move erratically. The man's eyelids flickered. His limbs began to flail. This sensation was thoroughly enjoyable to the young mare and the longer she sat upon his chest the more he flailed about. She was almost giddy with excitement! She was interacting with one of the humans and the silly movements he was making was so lovely.
With all of his flailing the young human male did not wake up. His face began to contort in horror and he started to call out meekly. His voice was quiet and laced with overwhelming despair. The mare noticed his voice was different than when he was talking with his fellow humans.
She tilted her head and with the sun coming through she let out a yawn getting off the young mans chest.