Flash Fiction Friday (5)

Dottie over at Tink's Place have come up with the idea for a Monday Morning Flash Fiction challenge. Each Monday a new picture prompt will be posted and if you choose to participate you post your story on Friday - 350 words, give or take.

I have to thank Blodeuedd at Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell for introducing me to this fun meme. I don't know if I'll be able to keep up with every week, but I'll give it a try from time to time.

The Image this week:

By: Melissa

The house appeared from the trees, out of nowhere.  Mandy stopped and stared.  This house looked to be from before time, of old build with stone and age marks decorating it.  One light glowed in the up stairs.  It flickered then became a solid glow of yellow-blue.

Mandy had not known of any houses this far in the depths of the forest.  There had been stories from centuries ago of a house that only appeared to a man once every thirty years or so. But no one had really talked about it anymore.  It was just a story told to scare the brave wandering little boys into staying home.

Attracted to this ancient piece of history Mandy walked up the steps, thinking if the stories had any truth to them the house wouldn't want her as she's a girl.  Mandy was amazed with the magnificent handy-work done and how well it was holding up.  The door was cracked open so she slowly leaned into the house looking around, whispered, "Hello."  She remembered the glowing light in the upstairs window, so someone had to live here.

There where footsteps slowly walking across the floor to the stairs.  Mandy looked up to see a beautiful woman standing there gaping at her.  This woman could have been Mandy's twin if not for the age lines running from her eyes to her sliver streaked black hair, the woman must have notice it too as her thick voice filled the house when she spoke, "Ooo House, what have you done now."

Mandy looked around wondering why this lovely woman was talking to the house.  The woman came down the stairs quickly and waved her hands inviting Mandy in.  "Come, come.  You are here now.  You might as well come in and have tea."

As Mandy walked in the door shut and the house vibrated slightly.  Then she noticed the woman nodding her head.  "Come child.  I think we need to talk.  The house has called you to me and I know why."

Mandy took a step back to the door, not liking what this strange woman was saying.  "Um, no thank you, ma'am.  I need to get to my Uncles house in town past here."

The woman turned to face Mandy, "Dear, can I ask if you knew your mother?"

Mandy creased her eyebrows and tilted her head to the side, "My mother died in child birth, with me."

The woman got a soft look to her face as she looked at Mandy's forehead down to her chin whispering to herself, "It's like looking in a mirror of the past, to when I was fifteen..." She turned her attention back to Mandy's eyes as she caught herself, "Sweetie, your mother did die in child birth.  That one open moment along with the godly blood flowing through his veins is what released your father from his time here, with you.  I'm your mothers twin."

Mandy had her hand on the door handle trying to push the lever to open it, but it wouldn't open.  She started to panic and wanting to leave.  Mandy turning to the door and using both hands to open the door, but it wouldn't budge.

The woman was now beside her.  "Please, House has brought you back to where you belong.  We are destine to be here for all time.  It's the curse on our family we can not break.  House will supply us with our man when we are of age.  That is why we have stunning looks, so any man will want to be with us when House picks him."

Mandy turned to look at the woman and tears filled her eyes.  She whispered, "No. No.  I have to get back to my father and friends."

The woman went to put her arm around Mandy's shoulders, "Oh, Dear.  It will be okay."

Mandy pulled away, running for the window in the living room.  It wouldn't open, or even crack when she banged on it.  Mandy slips to the floor crying, hugging herself.

The woman came walked gently to Mandy and sat on the floor beside her.  Pulling Mandy to her in a tight motherly embrace.  "Oh, sweetie.  It's not so bad.  We will have each other and I'll train you in the craft until your man comes to you."