Remember Me

Kerryann flicked ash from her cigarette as she leaned casually against a wall that connected the Mage District to the other sections of Stormwind. She'd been there for some time now, long enough for her unnatural body to cool almost to the same temperature of the cold winter day; she tended to reach near freezing levels during the winter months if she lingered outside without moving too much. This fact about her, amongst many others, was something she was long since used to and she gave it little thought as her scourge-touched eyes watched the house across the way.

Her patience was rewarded a few minutes later as the door to the house she was watching opened and a night elf emerged, her pigtails bouncing as she turned to close and lock the door. Kerryann's ears picked up the faint sound of a song and the entire front of the house glimmered as the elf placed wards on the structure. To kerryann's eyes, the entire edifice glittered with magic, and she could tell the elf had warded the building many times before this.

Shaking her head, she blew out a trail of smoke and dropped her cigarette, pressing it into the stone beneath her boots as she began to walk after the elf. The target of her attention was much taller than she was, and Kerryann found herself having to step quickly in order to keep those twin pigtails in sight as the mage pressed into the crowds; she seemed to be heading for the Cathedral District.

To Kerryann's critical eye, the elf known as Malandrae was not taking enough precautions as she walked through the busy streets. Either she was unaware of how closely the Twilight's Hammer was observing her or she believed that she could protect herself; Kerryann didn't know and didn't care, what mattered was that the death knight had no intention of allowing the Twilight's Hammer to do whatever it is they planned to do, and without better leads following the elf was the best course until she could puzzle out the mystery.

Her her part, Malandrae seemed to be completely at ease, walking through the crowds and often giving what appeared to be random strangers warm greetings. If many turned to give her an odd look after she'd passed, the Highborne didn't appear to notice. It made Kerryann shake her head and frown; it was becoming clear that the elf was simply oblivious rather than prepared to deal with any threat.

The elf's course took her through the Cathedral District, stopping first at a place that Kerryann came to recognize was owned by the Argent Dawn. She stayed far back from the structure's entrance as Malandrae entered, seeming to be looking for someone. After a few moments the elf exited the building, obviously not finding whoever was there. Kerryann kept her gaze lowered and away so that the elf wouldn't see her unnatural eyes, although she sensed the Highborne giving her a critical look before she continued on her way.

Her next stop was a house on the outskirts of the Cathedral district. She walked up to the door with a bright smile on her face, knocking loudly. Kerryann hung back against the corner of another building as she watched the elf wait patiently for someone to answer the door. After a moment with no answer, Malandrae knocked again, harder this time. She called out as she did so, "Miss Flo? Are you home Starlight? Is anyone there?"

Getting no answer, the Highborne frowned and brushed some hair from her face. She shrugged and turned, walking towards the cemetery behind the Cathedral, clearly intending to use it as a shortcut to the Dwarven district. Kerryann sighed and emerged from her hiding place, realizing that keeping tabs on the elf was going to be more work than she'd planned. She stopped suddenly as the elf did something strange.

As Kerryann watched, Malandrae began to stare at a rosebush that framed a lattice that was around one of the benches behind the cathedral. The elf shuddered a few times, her eyes dialating and her face growing pale. Concerned that she was under attack, Kerryann moved closer, studying the other intently. She didn't appear to be under the effects of magic, but it was difficult to tell without examining her directly.

After a few moments of watching the elf shake where she stood, Kerryann had decided to do just that, especially after Malandrae's nose began to bleed. Before she could react though the elf yelled something unintelligible and ran into the cemetery, her arms flailing. Kerryann could swear she heard the elf say something like, "They're killing everyone!"

Puzzled, she dashed after the fleeing Highborne, her unnatural state allowing her to overtake Malandrae in a matter of moments. She found the elf standing amidst the gravestones, yelling at nothing and clearly not seeing anything around her. Kerryann reached forward and grabbed Malandrae with both hands, holding her steady. It was clear now that she was having some sort of fit or delusional episode, as she seemed to be unaware that she was being restrained.

After a minute or two of having the elf yell random words and phrases in her face, kerryann found her patience wearing thin. She wracked her brain to think of what she could do, while the elf's condition seemed to worsen by the moment. Without any way of knowing what was afflicting the elf, Kerryann had little recourse. She scowled at Malandrae.

"Would you get ahold of yourself? What the fel is wrong with you?" she demanded.  Receiving no answer from the babbling elf, the death knight rolled her eyes and sighed. "Fine. I'm not a healer, but I know when someone needs to be snapped back to reality."

She reached up and slapped the elf, hoping that the sudden sting would bring her back to her senses. Dilated silver eyes met the gaze of Kerryann's glowing blue orbs as they finally focused on her surroundings. As Kerryann had hoped, Malandrae became aware of where she was again. What the death knight had not anticipated was her reaction to being held.

Malandrae's face took on a look of utter horror and disgust and she reflexively shoved Kerryann away before she realized what she was doing. The human, not expecting the movement, stumbled backwards, her plate armor hindering her as she struggled to retain her balance. Arms windmilling, she slammed into one of the monuments in the graveyard, her armor shrieking as it slide along the stone. The death knight fell to her hands and knees, her fall ending in a pile of dried flowers that had been left some time ago by the monument, likely on the Day of the Dead. Kerryann's eyes looked up and then she froze in place, staring.

Behind the death knight, Malandrae came fully to her senses, hurrying over towards the human. "Oh my heavens! I'm SO sorry! I didn't mean to push you! Are you alright?"

Malandrae's voice trailed off as she saw the woman's gaze, which was directed at the monument that she was on the ground in front of. The Highborne carefully leaned over the prone woman, looking at the monument there. It was a very nice little stone pillar with a wrought iron chamber on top for a flame to be lit in the evening hours or when one was visiting the gravesite. It looked to be made of marble and had been lovingly carved with an inscription. Malandrae read it as she studied the object.

Kerryann Westdale

"Our beloved daughter, our blessed angel. Taken from us before your time. May your Light shine down on us, and guide us always. Our love for you shall never fade."

"Was she a friend of yours? Or a relative maybe?" Malandrae asked innocently.

Kerryann just stared at the inscription, her mind refusing to believe it. Obviously there was no body buried beneath the marker. It was decorative only. She still couldn't believe what she was seeing. Her parents, it was they who must have had the marker commissioned. She'd thought about what they must have believed happened to her, but the reality of it was like a punch in the gut.

"Miss? Are you alright? Was she your friend?" Malandrae asked again, placing a hand on Kerryann's unnaturally cold shoulder.

The death knight snapped. She shook the other's hand off her violently and rose to her feet, "Get the fel away from me! It's none of your business!"

Malandrae blinked her her, eyes wide, "I-I'm s-sorry. I didn't mean to...that is...if s-she was your friend..."

Kerryann glared at the elf. "The girl is dead. I killed her. Now leave me the fuck alone. I came out here to make sure you weren't being attacked by cultists, not to chat. You want to make sure you don't end up like her? Pay more attention to your surroundings then. Stay away from the Twilight's Hammer. Now beat it."

Malandrae frowned, "I-I'm sorry. I-I'm just going t-to go see if M-miss Kelliana is home since M-miss Florinai wasn't at her house... I-if you w-want to talk y-you can come visit me M-miss...? W-what is your name? I've seen you twice now and you n-never said..."

Kerryann just turned and stared at the monument again. The monument bearing her name. The marker noting the end of her life. She spoke quietly, not looking at the elf, "You don't need to know my name. Names are for the living. Just leave me alone."

The elf nodded slowly, peeking at the monument again before sighing and slowly turning to walk way, "If you change your mind, I think you know where I live. I'm sorry again for the trouble..."

Kerryann ignored Malandrae until she had walked away. She sighed deeply, her eyes still locked on the inscription. She leaned forward, touching it gently with her fingertips before stepping back, unable to make sense of the feelings that were raging through her. She sighed again, taking out another cigarette and lighting it with shaking hands. For the first time in a long time, she could actually FEEL her blood flowing, feel her heart beating. It made her feel sick to her stomach.

After a few moments she calmed down and shook her head; there was nothing she could do about it. She wasn't going to go find her parents, there was no point in it. There was no point in anything except making sure that evil like Kerryann herself wasn't allowed to spread. She flicked her cigarette away and walked quietly from the graveyard, not looking back.

Kerryann Westdale was dead after all, there was nothing to see at her grave.