At Water's Edge

To whom it may concern, if it concerns anyone at all, 

It came from the depths of night, 

Spreading its blackened wings of darkness, 

Its eyes an abyss of memories, of life 

Its thoughts blend with mine 

Clouding my mind, my fears 

And as I wake, its blackened wings are lifted 

As it retreats to the depths, of night and space. 

Character Index

Declyn Wakefield - Duke of Crescentferd 

Vanessa Wakefield -Duchess of Crescentferd 

Tristan Wakefield- Son of the Duke (10yr. Old) 

Josephine Wakefield- Daughter of the Duke (6yr. Old) 

Stephen Wakefield - Earl of Glenmore 

Robert Hastings - Friend of Declyn's 

Nicholas Devereux - Friend of Vanessa 

Viviane Wakefield- Dowager Duchess of Crescentferd 

Dr. Nathaniel Whittleton - Private Doctor of the Duke's Family

Prologue

If you are reading this, my children were kind enough to humor an old woman's final wishes. I was never one to keep a diary, not that I was ever a lack for words, as my mother would say. But rather I did not trust that the women in my home, would have ever been able to contain themselves and not read my deepest and darkest secrets. So it is funny to me now, that I am writing this in hope that the story of my life will be read and shared, with my descendants and one day reach those who it was truly meant for.  

In the beginning I started this diary so that I would not forget, as a keepsake in case this was all a dream. Though I do not know how I would have been able to take this with me if it was. Later I continued writing because it helped me remember, kept me focused on returning back to my own time, as I believed that I was not meant to be here. Keeping this diary helped me hold on to who I was, before I took that walk through the mist into the past, into my future.  

As time went on I realized that this was my destiny, this was all meant to be. When you read this you will understand that time is a never ending circle with no beginning and no end. It is fluid and constantly in motion, you cannot change the future no more that you can change the past. The future has been cast in stone, our story has already been written, all that is left is for us to live it, enjoy it and love those who it brings us in contact with. A long time ago I relinquished all control to the fates, for they wield the destiny of all.  

Lady I hope that reading this brings you comfort and peace, though I know that you are hesitant to believe any of it. When you read this I hope that you find that my life turned out more beautiful than I imagined it could be. It is all that you ever wished for me. I found a man to love me and make me happy. He has given me the most beautiful children, who bring me such joy and happiness. My only regret was not being able to share them with you. I missed you terribly, especially through those milestones in my life where a daughter truly needs her mother, and her guidance. But you were always there in spirit and in my heart.  

So I write this now to comfort you when you feel all is lost. In the beginning I was scared, I did not know nor did I understand fates master plan. Looking back now it all fits and makes sense. Though perhaps at my age of ninety five yes, ninety five mother, I have lived long enough I can see the grand scheme of life.  

As you read this my life has far surpassed its zenith, yet in your reality it has only begun. Read this as the days go by, read it as I live it and that way you will be there with me, as you were always meant to be. Please know that I am well, that I am loved, and I have loved more than I thought was possible. My life is joyous so please be happy for me and know that you are always in my thoughts.

I love you now and always your,  

Nina

Chapter 1.

April 12th, 2009

It is Easter Sunday and at the ungodly hour of 7am I am rudely awakened by my mother, who is having a panic attack about all things that need to get done before the guests arrive. Since then I have not stopped. After all the scrubbing and washing, cooking and setting up all are finally fed and satisfied. I set the dishwasher to wash and decide to escape the chaos. My dinner guest is nestled asleep in my room, so I can take a few minutes to myself, without a worry of having to entertain her. I decided to take a long walk in the park, to get away from the pandemonium which has descended upon my house.  

Walking up the steps to the park I notice it is an unusually humid day, which explains the thin layer of fog which is slowly approaching from the sea.  

"Great!! My hair is going to be a frizz ball, why did I even bother straightening it." 

I stick it in a low pony tail in hopes of bridling the unruly mess it's about to turn into. Making my way through the park I pull my camera out of my bag and start taking pictures, hoping to catch a shot great enough to grace my wall. As of late I have chosen photography as my creative outlet and if I say so myself I do believe I have gotten quite good.  

Snapping away I realize that the fog is getting quite thick but, I don't care it looks great in my pictures it adds a certain 'je ne sais quoi'. As I continue to walk deeper into the park, it is getting rather difficult to see even a few feet in front of me. Though I have veered off the path a long time ago I'm not bothered, I know this place like the back of my hand; I'll find my way out eventually, I convince myself. Not too far ahead I see a gorgeous patch of violets; I decide to make them my next subject. I am completely swept away with portraying them in the right light, to bring out their true beauty. Not paying attention to the overgrowth, my foot gets caught in the roots of a nearby maple. I scream out in surprise as I trip and my head hits a tree, but my voice barely carries. For the first time I notice the fog is like a white blanket, I can barely see even my own feet.  

Pulling myself up into a sitting position and touching the spot where I hit my head, I feel quite a bump beginning to form. I lift my hand from my forehead and feel a trickle of warm blood.  

"Great now I'm bleeding good going Nina, you can't even walk without attempting suicide."  

Scrambling to my feet and dusting myself off, I notice my camera is missing. I scurry around looking for it; out in the distance I see a glint of silver. Certain it is my camera I take a few steps, closer to it. Walking forward I bend to pick it up, straightening I check if it's ok, paying little attention to where I'm walking I take another step but my foot comes into contact with nothing but air. I tumble down the hill; thankfully I don't hit anything along the way. Angry with myself I get up, brush myself off and cursing my carelessness under my breath, I take a look at my surroundings.  

In the fog everything looks so different, I honestly have no idea which side of the park I'm on or where I am at all. The fog really has me disoriented and now I feel a headache coming on from my previous encounter with the maple. I decide to give up and go home before I knock myself unconscious smacking into yet another tree. Walking up the hill I notice out of the corner of my eye a sunlit patch through the fog. Figuring the sun must be burning up the moisture, I turn to my right and walk towards it. I am hoping I'll find my bearings if I can see something other than the fog. The closer I get, the brighter the light it is like a beacon; calling to me and guiding me, as I step into it, it is blinding. Turning back I see nothing but pallid air so I continue walking deeper into the light. Not being able to see anything in the brightness, I wait for my eyes to adjust, but my head is splitting and my ears are ringing. I start to see spots before my eyes, my vision gets darker and darker, I break into a cold sweat and I know what is coming on. I faint.

I am so tired I can't open my eyes I don't want to. I am so warm and cozy, but I should, its Monday and it's time to start getting ready for work. Oh.. how I wish I could take the day off. Even though I had an extra day to relax it just wasn't very relaxing, all that cleaning and entertaining. Grrr... It is really bright it must be 7am already, to make sure I roll to my right and take a peek. I look at my alarm clock, it takes my eyes too long to adjust but when they do, all I see is tree bark.  

"Tree bark what the, ...??"  

She swiftly sits up and looks frantically around, fear and confusion carving delicate lines on her face. Instinctively she brings her hand up to her forehead, wincing she feels the bump formed from the incident with the maple.  

"The maple, the fog, the fall... Oh my God!"  

Surveying her surrounding she realizes none of this looks familiar. There was no meadow in the park. She is in the middle of a valley beneath an old cherry tree just beginning to bloom. The air is crisp and clean, she can smell the fresh spring buds just beginning to open and release their heavenly scent. A bumble bee is buzzing above her head, "I should not be able to hear that" she thinks to herself, "its just too quiet here, the air is too clean something is wrong, very wrong".  

"Where is the roar of cars speeding down the highway on the other side of the park?" Petrified and confused she is too scared to move, rooted to the spot she just stares trying to understand. None of this makes any sense. All she did was go for a walk, how did she end up here? She thinks to herself "Where is here?" How long was she out for? Gathering all the strength she can muster, she decides to wander down into the valley in hope she can find someone to help her, to tell her where she is.  

The sun is bright, she is getting hot so she removes her coat and tosses it over her bag. A bird sings a lovely melody in a nearby tree, as a soft spring wind blows through her hair. She turns her face up to the sun letting it wash over her, the warmth sending chills down her spine. Oh how she missed this, she has not taken so much joy in a walk through a meadow since being back in Croatia. She takes a deep breath the scents are amazing. The warm breeze is carrying the soft scent of the cherry blossoms, mixing it with the scent of the earth warmed by the sun. All of this is a feast for the senses she thinks to herself, as she walks through the waist high grass. With her eyes closed and her face upturned to the sky she walks blindly, letting her palms graze and caress the tall blades of grass. On her left she hears the sound of a bubbling brook and she heads toward it. Surrounded by the effortless beauty of the valley she almost forgets her troubles.  

Lost in her own world she is abruptly brought back, as she nears the brook and realizes it is not a brook but rather voices. Children's voices, children laughing, a dog barking. Frantically she breaks into a run to catch-up to them before they leave. As she approaches them she sees a little girl playing with her dog and an older girl watching over them while reading in the shade of a weeping willow. She stops in her tracks something is not right; as she nears she notices their clothes are billowy dresses like something out of a Jane Austen book. Memorized and confused by the sight before her she does not hear someone approaching her from the rear. Suddenly she feels something nuzzle her neck, she turns, jumps back and screams out of shock as a horse muzzle is inches from her face. Sensing her fear and startled by her scream the horse neighs and rears on its hind legs. At that moment she notices the rider is a young boy holding on for dear life as the horse rears from the ground. She screams again but nothing comes out, she runs in an attempt to catch the little boy as he looses his grip and slips from the saddle. Nikolina reaches him just in time, but fails to catch him properly instead he lands on top of her. Her head slams into the ground from the force of the impact. Hearing her screams the child and the young girl come running.  

Nikolina hears the young girl scream out "Tristan!!!" as she dashes to his side. The over stimulation and yet another blow to the head prove to be too much for Nikolina as she slowly begins to looses consciousness. But not before the young girl reaches her and the boy.  

As her vision tunnels into darkness she hears the little boy whimper "Mommy".  

Her body goes limp and she releases the child to the girl.  

"Miss,.. Miss are you alright, are you hurt Miss.." were the last words she heard as she slipped into total darkness.

Chapter 2.

April 13, 2009

Coming to Nikolina I fully aware of her surroundings as well as the preceding incident which caused her to end up here. Here being the home of the young girl who she saw sitting under the weeping willow. Though she has yet to open her eyes she can tell that she is in a bedroom on a rather comfy bed. For the fear of being questioned Nikolina has kept her eyes shut and her ears open in hopes of finding more about her hosts. So far she has discover that the young girl whose name she has yet to learn, is the mother of the little boy and girl, Tristan and Josephine. They all speak with an old English accent like something out of Pride and Prejudice. A thousand scenarios run through her head, as she tries to piece together a likely story that they will believe. The truth is too farfetched even for her to accept and she is the one living it. A light weight shifts on the bed, startled Nicky tenses up.  

The slight movement is noted by her bed fellow and a soft musical voice whispers "Are we playing a game? I wager I can keep more still than you." 

As much as this startles Nikolina it amuses her and a slow smile creeps on to her lips. Her cover blown she opens her eyes and sees the most enchanting little girl sitting on the corner of the enormous bed. Josephine is about four years old with the most delicate porcelain features framed by cascading chestnut curls. A picture of perfection in a sweet yellow dress of gauzy muslin, printed with white squares and tiny flowers which end just below her knee. With her hands neatly folded upon her lap she stares at Nikolina with the most curios expression.  

Her eyes a deep emerald green Nikolina has never seen before, she smiles as Josephine says  

"I win". "Yes you do" Nikolina replies.  

"Josephine where are you?" a voice calls out of the hall. Vanessa appears in the doorway her hands on her hips looking rater sternly at Josephine "I told you to leave our guest be, how will she ever get the rest she needs with you doting on her like a mother hen."  

As Josephine turns to look at her mother Vanessa has a better view of the bed and sees that Nina  is awake.  

"Oh pardon me Miss I did not know that you were awake."  

She walks into the room I observe she is not as young as I initially thought. I would say she is about my age, 25 or perhaps older but no more than 30; with auburn hair flowing freely in gentle curls well past her waist. She is much shorter than I; about five foot two with a slight frame. It is obvious to me now where Josephine gets her startling green eyes from.  

She walks toward the bed with a pleasant smile and says "My name is Vanessa Wakefield Duchess of Crescentferd, after that unfortunate incident we brought you to my home. I see that you have met my littlest one Josephine".

Taking a seat at the edge of the bed, she raps her arms around Josephine and stares intently waiting for me to introduce myself.

"It is a pleasure to meet you your Grace, my name is Nicolette Martin. You have been very kind to bring me to your home but, if you would enlighten me as to where my belongings are I will gladly take my leave. I do not wish to impose on you anymore than I already have." 

"Miss Martin it is a pleasure to finally learn the name of the woman who saved my son. Unfortunately as per doctors orders I cannot let you leave just yet. Dr. Whittleton has prescribed bed rest for you, after such a head injury. Furthermore, my son Tristan has yet to thank you, as well as apologize for the incident by the lake. Tristan is off to his grandmothers for the day and will be returning soon. So, I am afraid that you will be staying with us for a wee bit longer."  

As Nikolina begins to object Vanessa gets up off the bed, walks over to the desk in the corner of the room and rings a bell. Looking at Josephine she says "Darling I do believe it is time for your lessons."  

Josephine looks longingly at Nina  and Vanessa says to her "Do not worry my Dear; Miss Martin will be here when you return from your lessons."  

Looking to me for reassurance I respond "I must follow doctor's orders." Satisfied with my answer Josephine gets up off the bed and walks to the door, as she is about to take her governesses hand she turns back looks at me and runs to my side.  

Scrambling up the bed she gives me a hug and a kiss, looking up at me through her thick lashes she says "You will not leave will you?" I say "No, no I will not I promise." With a shy smile upon her face, she takes her leave.

Closing the door behind her Vanessa returns to my side, but this time she sits on the chair beside the bed. With a stern and extremely serious expression upon her face she asks "Who are you, and how did you come to be on our property?" Shocked and confused I do not know what to say. Seeing my surprise at her question she asks me "Is your name really Nicolette Martin?"  

"Yes that is my name or rather what most people know me as. Some have a rather difficult time saying my real name properly." 

"What is your real name?"  

"It is Nikolina Martinovic." 

"Oh that is a mouth full" she giggles.  

In regard to your second question, I do not know, and if I told you how I think I got here you would think I was mad." 

"Well why do you not give it a try?" Vanessa says with an encouraging smile upon her face. 

Contemplating whether she should, Nikolina looks at Vanessa's eyes and she realizes she could never lie to Vanessa. Unable to understand why she feels so compelled to tell Vanessa the truth her voice falters, in order to calm herself down she takes a deep breath. "Alright but first you have to tell me what today's date is?" 

Vanessa smiles and says "April 13, th 1814 you have been asleep for well over a day". Taken back by the shock of the date, Nikolina mind is reeling, 1814 almost two hundred years in the past.

Regaining her composure she begins her story, fascinated yet not appearing dismissive Vanessa listens intently. As the story of Nikolina's adventure comes to a close Vanessa rises from her chair and walks over to the window. A wave of panic flows through Nikolina as she realizes what a foolish choice she has made telling the Duchess such a ludicrous story. She doesn't know how she got there, why could she just not fake amnesia or laryngitis, buying herself some time. No she had to bare her soul to a perfect stranger, one who now holds her life in her hands. Turning her head away from the Duchess she chastises herself for being so stupid, stupid, stupid.

Vanessa stares out the window trying to process the story Nicolette just recounted, and what a story it is. Either this girl is completely mad or she is telling the truth. No one in their right mind would ever attempt to concoct such a farfetched tale, especially not one they would not be able to support with some form of proof. Vanessa reaches into her pocket and pulls out the three items that she found in Nicolette's bag. No one she has trusted enough to consult has been unable to