Tuesday morning found me seated on the corner booth of an old quint restaurant downtown, my seat direct to the window displaying a scenery I very much appreciated at the moment.

The hustling and bustling city streets strangely reassured me. It eased away the restlessness that always tingled in the shadows of my thoughts.

It also helped me write.

Watching people, how they smiled, how they talked, their dressing style, it helped give definition to so many characters in my mind. It gave me insight into different personalities.

"Teriyaki prawns, chicken stir-fry, and orange juice. Like always," the waiter smiled as he moved towards my booth and placed my breakfast on the table before me.

I grinned at the boy, "Thank you, Michael. Not going to school today?"

The only just a second ago smiling Michael's expression hardened at my question and I watched silently as he looked back at the main counter, hesitating.

Still conflicted, he looked back. "What's the use? They all tease me. I'm a loser"

Loser?

Michael was one of the first people I had actually acquainted with coming here from London. Ever since my first eat at the restaurant. Being new in Berlin I was still shy about approaching people — and his English had been commendable.

That had been a year ago. It was startling how another year was nearly at an end. Michael, a high school senior now, had been and still was a good guy, studying and working at the same time. I knew how hard that was to handle considering I had worked through my last school years too.

The little tumble of outrage and disbelief settled down after I noticed the slightly embarrassed Michael still standing at the edge of my table.

I eased back into my seat, and motioned towards the seat opposite mine, "Care to talk? I have a lot of breakfast to share!"

Michael's blush brightened as he shook one hand in front of him, the other still holding his serving tray.

"I can't. I-I'm on duty. Mrs. Friztburg would get wild," he stammered aloud, a characteristic of his I had noticed that showed when he was nervous or embarrassed.

"Now that I can't believe. Mrs. Friztburg would never go wild, she's so delightful —" insisting cheerfully, I edged to the corner to have a look around the cafe before turning back to Michael. "—Besides, the cafe is almost empty today morning! Come on!"

My lips thinned as I watched Michael. I didn't want to add this tiny bit of information, but the boy actually looked starved. The dark hollows under his eyes, his pale sickly complexion, the translucent skin on his face. Even his whole form looked quite lanky.

The indecision in Michael's eyes was quite obvious as he took a few of his couple minutes to actually ponder about my offer, his eyes darting discreetly between the seat opposite mine and the plates filled with food.

Well maybe not so discreetly, after all.

Finally, removing his waiter's apron, he took a seat and I smiled.

"Good choice. Now, dig in and tell me what all this 'loser' deal is about," I spoke, taking ample amounts of prawn and chicken into each of the two plates, and then pushing one towards him.

A discreet smile shadowed my lips when hesitantly but surely Michael picked at a fork. He hadn't even noticed how his plate held far more than mine did.

My smile widened when he looked at me and smiled, "Well—you start!"

"Alright," I grinned, picking up my fork before slowly stabbing a prawn and then biting it off.

Michael's eyes slowly blazed before he burst out, "I'm a loser."

The simple, short muttered sentence shocked me more than anything had in my whole entire life. My mind turned back to burning golden eyes, but I quickly pushed them aside.

There was no thinking about him when I was fixing my friend's problem.

I took another bite before looking up at Michael again, "Why do you say that?"

"I'm a bag of bones," Michael muttered bitterly as if repeating someone else's insult. I cringed as I realized he was right, in a way he did seem very thin. Now that I was clearly noticing more, his face did look thinner and ... Michael looked sickly.

Michael munched on the prawns slowly as I thought about how to go about this issue.

"How often do you eat, Michael?"

Michael stopped, the fork just on his lips. He put the fork down and looked up at me, "I have dinners, here,"

"And the pay check? You can't tell me you don't buy—"

"—Everything from my pay check goes into my tuition fee for college, Olive."

I blinked. "—b-but I thought that most colleges here, didn't charge tuition fees,"

"I don't want to study here, Olive. I want to move, see the world, I want to study in Cambridge or Stanford in the U.S!"

"Oh," I mumbled lamely. There was nothing with which I could judge him upon. After all, even I despite getting into Cambridge — couldn't care less for home after my parents' death, had come here.

Michael was completely right if he wanted to move abroad and study, see the world.

And I'll motivate him.

Quickly smiling I put another bite into my mouth, this time the stir-fried chicken. It tasted delicious.

"What does your mum have to say about this?"

To my question, Michael shrugged, "She's too busy paying mortgage for the house and the loan for the car, and managing the salon is also a task heavy on her shoulders,"

Feeling for Michael's mum, I nodded sympathetically. "How about this, apply for international scholarships, you're smart, I know, and you could always model to earn extra cash while at college. You have the looks."

"You're kidding me," Michael muttered as he chewed on his chicken stir fry, his other hand moving up in an exaggerated gesture.

"No, besides, I know a friend at a great agency that can hook you up, if you decide on studying in Britain and if you want, that is. "

Michael stilled, his gaze shot up to meet mine and I smiled earnestly.

"You're joking, aren't you?"

I shrugged, "It's always a possibility, and with my friend, Rochelle's agency, you'll be in good hands, but this is while you're in college by the way, no modelling for you right now."

Michael's shoulders slumped slightly as he reached for my glass of orange juice and took a sip. I couldn't help but grin at his actions, he was a good kid.

"And what do I do now?" He mumbled and this time, I leaned back and brought a finger up, another server quickly moved towards us.

Giving Michael a curious eye she turned to me and smiled brightly, "Good morning! What can I do for you, madam?"

"Yes, I'd like a serve of steak and egg, with that special gravy that the chef makes. Takeaway please."

Writing down everything on a small note pad, the server looked up again and asked, "And for the sides, madam?"

"Chips. Oh and... A bottle of cola too, please."

"Sure, madam!" The girl smiled brightly before giving another curious look at a now busily eating Michael before she quickly rushed towards the main counter.

"You seem very hungry today," he chucked as soon as I moved back to stabbing a prawn and veggies and bringing it to my mouth.

Aiming for the last prawn and chicken together, I smiled, and then dabbed the tissue to my mouth. "Oh no, that's not for me, that's for you. Make sure you finish it okay."

"Wait... what? Olive, I can't—wait, where are you going?" Michael quickly blurted out, looking slightly embarrassed and panicking.

"I have class in twenty, so I have to go." I chirped up happily, ignoring his panicked look, fishing for my car keys I put it on the table before I stopped, my eyes looked up at Michael and I smiled,

"And I can, because we're friends and you're like a younger brother. Now take this and buy yourself some food for the week. I'll see you, probably tomorrow!" Reaching forward I pushed a hundred and a fifty towards him.

"I won't accept this! You can't just—" Michael snapped back, his eyes foggy and his face red.

I smiled and pushed the notes further into his hand, "—Michael, take it. I want you to. You're not a loser and you're so smart. Only a couple of months and you'll be able to go to any college you want in the world, but until then, you'll have to keep yourself healthy and that won't be happening until you start eating and taking care of yourself. Besides, I have a lot of these, what good is it when I can't do good with it. "

"Here's your — is everything okay, Michael what are you doing here?" Another male server suddenly spoke up beside us as he paced the takeaway bags on the table, a tiny damp area showing where the cold cola was placed,"

"Everything is fine, thank you so much, just taking my cousin here home, been a bit of a sick bird since last night." I quickly chirped, getting up as I motioned Michael to do the same with my head.

Grudgingly he fisted the notes into his hands before getting up and giving the other guy his server's apron. "Sorry Drew, looks like I'm going to the doctor now. Stubborn cousin sisters and all,"

To my relief the fellow Drew seemed to buy our sham because he smiled and nodded, understandingly. "It's all right, man. See you when you get better,"

"Goodbye, Drew," I smiled cheerfully as I picked up my bag, slung it over my shoulder and began moving towards the door, the takeaway bags tightly gripped in both hands.

Moving out of the restaurant door I turned to a silent Michael beside me,

"Now let's get you home,"

~^~

"When does your class start?" Michael mumbled, breaking the silence that had settled in the car ever since we had gotten in.

"In ten," I replied slowly, turning to smile at him.

"I'm going to stay at Oakenfield Castle for an assignment," I spoke up again, realising he had not responded.

Immediately Michael's head snapped towards me and he grasped at my hand making me let out a startled gasp, "Michael—"

"Don't go! Don't go to that castle!"

"But why not? Look Michael, all the stories, they are just stories. Okay?" I whispered back urgently, watching a freaked-out Michael with wide eyes.

Closing his eye shut, a pained look on his face, Michael shook his head in response, "They aren't just stories, Olive. They aren't just stories—"

He stopped, and then his eyes met mine. "—Each and every one of the stories, are real! Because lady Edika is still there. My Gran used to work there, so does my sister. And now that Julius Naightuitem's great grandson is back, the curse is awake, —"

Michael's voice slipped into a whisper and his eyes met mine again, "—she is awake."

The number of minutes it took my raging heart to settle I had no idea off, the only thing that stuck around was the curiosity of how Michael could be so sure.

"But how can you be so sure, Michael?"

Michael blinked, his jaws tightening into an angle that could cut soaps,

"I can be sure because my sister saw her. Lady Edika. And then she lost her voice."

***

"Are you gonna miss Aunty Olli?" I cooed at the starry-eyed infant in my arms.

Lolette let out a tiny burp before a dreamy toothless smile graced her face and I lost another piece of my heart to her.

She was born a charmer. I could tell.

Her tiny fingers found my blue blazer and twitched as it touched the matching buttons, circling the circular edges slowly before she let out a loud laugh.

I let out a laugh of my own, holding her I brought the tiny bundle to my chest, pressing a small kiss on her forehead. "I love you Letty,"

"All love for Letty, no love for Prue?"

Looking up I grinned as my eyes settled upon a cheekily looking Prue as she made her way towards us on the sofa. It felt odd calling Prue, Aunt Prue, she was after all only ten years older than me.

"You know I love you—" I giggled as Prue settled down beside me and began playing with Letty.

Letty let out another loud shriek of laughter and this time Prue joined in with my laugh.

"You know I appreciate you looking after her when I'll be gone, juggling work and a baby is—"

Prue waved her hands in front of my face in dismissal, cutting me off and I watched as she scooted closer, a warm smile that reminded me so much of mum bloomed on her face, I felt a pang of pain burst up in my chest.

"Just stop, she's my grandchild, as odd as that does sound, she is. And I'll take care of her, don't you worry at all. Besides, Grandma Liz is coming over for a couple of months, too."

My eyes widened in surprise, Grandma Liz, was coming to Berlin? At her own free will?

"Are you sure that's grandma Liz we're talking about?"

Prue grinned as she picked Lolette from my arms and nestled the angel against her chest. "Oh yes, even I was shocked when she suddenly called me up while I was at work yesterday and told me that she was visiting,"

I was shocked too. It was no secret in our family that Grandma Liz was scared of our family home in Berlin. Her mother, my great grandmother, Diana, was initially from Berlin. My grandmother had spent most of her childhood and teenage years here in Berlin, but then one night, when she had been eighteen, something had happened and the very next day, Grandma had been up and leaving for York, to her father's parents' home. She'd never been to Berlin, after.

"Well, it's a good thing anyway, her coming back, maybe now she'll be able to tell us what happened that night." I mumbled thoughtfully as I stole a glance towards my wrist watch.

Prue seemed to catch that, "Excited?"

I grinned. "So much,"

Michael's scared face floated in my mind, but I shook it off. Although he had been very agitated at the beginning of knowing, by the time he had gotten out of the car, the kid had been better and had actually admitted his sister still worked there. Surely no one would stay there after seeing a murderous ghost and losing her voice? I couldn't be sure.

"When are the guys going to be here?" Prue asked as she checked the baby's milk bottle's temperature and slowly waited for Letty to bring the rubber into her mouth.

Both Prue and I smiled when she did, quickly gulping down milk, her eyes already starting to close.

"They said they'll be here by—" A loud car's horn sounded outside, and I rolled my eyes before I continued, "Three"

"Looks like they are on time! We better go, the drive's an hour and a half, isn't it?"

Scooping down to Hug Prue and place a kiss on Lolette's forehead I nodded, already moving towards the door.

"They except me there at sharp four thirty, the man I had talked to, the manager, Mr. Swish told me that the 'Lord of the house' would welcome me personally." I rolled my eyes as I made an air bubble with my fingers at 'Lord of the house'.

Behind me Prue let out a bark of laughter, only to stop abruptly when Letty began to wail, scared by the sudden laughter.

"Oh crud," she whispered.

Meanwhile grinning myself, I opened the door wide open and a frantic looking Jaydin rushed into the house, almost sprinting towards Letty before quickly snatching her softly from Prue's arms and cradling her lovingly, cooing and singing words off of a nursery rhyme.

Everyone let out a breath of relief when Letty giggled and began playing with Jaydin's nose.

"Think I'll fall in love with the idiot if I keep seeing him with Letty" Abigail whispered under her breath beside me.

Turning towards her I smirked, "What did you say?"

Eyes wide, looking like deer caught in the headlights, she quickly turned around, hiding her face behind her hair,

"I didn't say anything!"

My smirk widened, and I was sure I was smirking like a moron now.

Ummhmmm Abigail Ummmhmm.

***

"Oh, hell no, let's just turn around while we can, guys!"

A round or two of "Shut up Jaydin" sounded around the car but I stayed silent.

The drive to the castle had been a short one, an hour and a half had seemed to pass by seamlessly. It had taken me by surprise when I had discovered how close to the village the castle was, nestled between the highest points of the mountains just on the edge of the town.

Despite a century and more since the castle was made it still stood proud, in all glory of the original form of itself. Each tower almost dazzling in the setting sun, flowering vines entwined around the windows each brick shining golden. I watched entranced at the trees that seemed to surround the castle, as if protecting it from the outside word, their trunks large and strong.

I couldn't help but wonder how something that looked so beautiful, could hold such a dark history?

"It's absolutely beautiful," Abigail breathed out as she drove through the long brick lined drive way.

"It's a bummer we cannot get a tour," Prue mumbled from the back of the car, Letty fast asleep in her arms.

"Oh, they do let in tour troops, every Friday and Saturday. Nine to Twelve and Four to Seven. Strangely, although each tour troop are accounted for in the books, none of them are charged, it's completely free." I spoke up, pressing my seat belt free as my car came to a stop.

A tall, broad shouldered man stood at a distance, his white shirt glowing yellow under the setting sun, his white hair creating a halo over his head.

Getting out of the car, I frowned when I noticed, as he made his way towards me, that despite his white hair, the man seemed to be quite young.

Was this Mr. Naight?

"I see you are well guarded, quite a crowd has come to drop you off." The man smiled, before extending his hand, "I'm sorry, introductions are needed I suppose, I am Orik Michinghon, the eyes and ears of Oakfield Castle, I do apologise on behalf of Mr. Naight for his absence, it seems an emergency has come up in America and he had to fly off as soon as possible,"

"Wait, I thought the Lord of the castle's name was Naightuitem?" River suddenly spoke up from behind me and I frowned, a change in the surname, that was a bit of information even I had not been able to acquire.

"A change brought about by Mr. Naight's great grandfather... In hopes of peace. Rather unfortunate. Anyways, should I assume you will bid your family goodbye, now?" Mr. Orik quickly inquired, and at my soft yes in reply, nodded,
"I shall wait by the door then!"

"Even the butler's weird," Jaydin grumbled as he moved forward to pull me in for a hug. Smacking his bicep, I shook my head and hugged him back.

"It's not like I'm not going to see you all, I will, whenever I want to, too." I chuckled when it came to Prue's turn.

"But the castle is still going to be home for the next three months." Prue whispered back, an amused tone underlying her response.

My eyes moved along the long tall brown bricks before it landed on a dark, eerie looking window.

Suddenly, my breath hitched in my throat and I felt my heart fasten to a crazy pace when I noticed something move behind the window, very very fast.

My heart still hammering in my chest I gulped down the fear as my arm's tightened around Prue and I hugged her close, "I guess you're right. I guess it will be home now. Well, for three months anyway."

***

"So, Mr. Naight seems to be a busy man," I spoke up lamely as the doors closed behind us, beside me Orik chuckled before pulling two of my luggage bags with each of his hands.

"There was an emergency, Mr. Naight's best friend called, and off he went!"

I smiled, "He must really care for him"

I stopped on my path when I realised Orik was not moving anymore, turning around he gave me a large grin, "Not He, Miss Olivia, She. His best friend is a She,"

Chuckling, he continued "Let's move on now,"

Mortified with embarrassment I quickly let my head drop with a slow nod before continuing to follow Orik to my room.

"And here we are miss," Orik declared proudly as he dragged my luggage to the centre of the room and turned around in an exaggeration sweep of his hand.

I couldn't help but gape at the simplicity of the room, the modern architectural improvements showed clearly with proof of all the renovations that had been made in the interior of the castle as well as the exterior.

The walk towards reaching this destination however had been a ten minute one. And with all the stairs I had climbed in these ten minutes, with my luggage, I couldn't stop myself as my feet carried me towards the bed.

A loud sigh left my lips as I sunk down on the bed as soon as I reached it. My arse felt like it had just touched heaven.

"I'll let you to rest then, Olivia," Mr. Orik spoke up again, his tone blatantly amused.

The sound of the large carved and golden plated oak door open echoed around the room.

"Oh, and Olivia, dinner will be ready in twenty,"

And then the door shut close.