A Family Affair. V. J. Banis
A FAMILY AFFAIR
V.J. BANIS
BORGO PRESS BOOKS BY VICTOR J. BANIS
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COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
Copyright © 1973, 2012 by V. J. Banis
Originally published under the pen name, Lynn Benedict
Published by Wildside Press LLC
www.wildsidebooks.com
DEDICATION
I am deeply indebted to my friend, Heather, for all the help she has given me in getting these early works of mine reissued.
And I am grateful as well to Rob Reginald, for all his assistance and support.
CHAPTER ONE
Her mother was dead. Panting with the exertion of what she had done, Jennifer Rand felt a perverse excitement. Slowly, with infinite caution, she removed the pillow that she had held so tightly against her mother’s face and stared wide-eyed at the figure sprawled ungraciously over the bed.
Yes, she was dead, there could be no doubt of it. Jennifer’s eyes filled with tears, her mouth worked wordlessly. She stood as though transfixed, the awesome warmth of the pillow clutched to her breast. Then, dropping it all at once, she turned full around and half-ran, half-danced from the room. She pirouetted through the living room, bursting through the kitchen and out into the moonlight that flooded the backyard. Her mother was dead. Dead. Dead.
“Jennifer?”
As a balloon bursts when punctured, so Jennifer’s spirits burst, the exhilaration that had filled her spilled from her in one horrible rush.
“Jennifer?”
Sleep was rushing away from her, carrying with it the dream. Jennifer reached for them, tried to hold them to her, but the voice was too strong, instinct was more powerful than desire. She lay huddled and wearied in her small bed, and accepted waking with grim resignation.
“I’m here, Mother.” She held her eyes closed, trying to recall the dream. It had been something pleasant, of that she was certain, although she could not remember what; but not altogether pleasant, for lingering with the sense of freedom and exhilaration was an eerie feeling of guilt. She concluded that she had been dreaming of something wicked, and wondered what on earth it might have been.
“I’ve been calling you.” Her mother’s voice was heavy with reproach and self-pity.
“I didn’t hear you,” Jennifer offered meekly. Then, as though to substantiate the claim, she added, “I was asleep.”
“I called and called. I thought you had gone somewhere. You know I want you close by me.”
The dream, where had it gone? If she closed her eyes and surrendered to her sleepiness, would it come back to her?
“Did you want something, Mother?” It was useless. She would have to begin all over the maddening ritual of begging sleep, coaxing her body and her mind into the realm of non-consciousness, gradually drifting and waiting for the dream to come for her again, in its own way and its own time. It would come. It had come before and gone, and although she could remember nothing about it, she knew that it was the same. Someday, she promised herself, I’ll remember.
Her mother had not answered. Jennifer focused her attention in that direction, listening carefully. Yes, her mother was asleep again. She had wanted nothing after all, only to determine that Jennifer was here.
She’ll want me to die with her, Jennifer thought bitterly, and at once flushed with guilt at the thought. What a dreadful thing to think, she scolded herself, and turned on her side, tugging the blanket up close about her chin.
She thought of her mother’s medicine, sitting on the nightstand. She should have given it to her while they were both awake; it might have meant an opportunity for both of them to sleep comfortably past the time for it. But it was too late now. She would only have to awaken her mother, which would certainly provoke a quarrel, and in the end neither of them would get the advantage of the additional sleep.
“If only I weren’t so tired,” Jennifer thought wearily. “If only I could sleep.”
But much sooner than she had expected, she fell asleep again.
“Jennifer?”
The voice was little more than a whisper as it penetrated the depth of Jennifer’s slumber. A part of her, the wary sentry self, heard, and sounded its warning.
“Jennifer?”
From far, far away, Jennifer heard the warning. I should wake up now, she told herself, but the thought went