Despite all the yelling he'd heard from his parents and all the punishments they'd inflected on him, what had really saddened Theo was when his Step father had announced that the strand of hair belonged to Iris.
It meant that it had been Iris's body that had been lying on the floor, because if she'd only been injured, she would've gone home and the principal or Elizabeth would've informed the class about her absence.

But they hadn't, instead Elizabeth had lied to them, claiming Iris had been present and that she saw her that morning. Except that only a few teachers had been allowed in that office around Iris, and ELizabeth had been trying so hard to stop him from entering.

He concluded that it only meant one terrifying truth, Iris had been murdered by Elizabeth and the other teachers were trying to cover her.
Sure it could be a simple theory, she could still be alive and just wounded. But that theory had stopped him from sleeping that night or eating anything the next morning.

But he began to hope that he'd still see her at school and would prove his theory was wrong. Thing was, Theo was rarely wrong, and most of the time whatever he feared always came true...it was his curse.

At the moment, Theo stood in a line out on the porch singing the National Anthem with the rest of the school teachers and students. He looked around for Iris but couldn't see her, his heart sank deeper and deeper as he imagined the worst.

Soon came the Principal, looking quite pale and Theo already felt his stomach churn, something was hurting him inside and he knew it was his intincts warning him that he wouldn't like what was coming.

"Dear students of Phantium H.S, welcome. I will be brief and...and I ask each of you to remain calm as the news I am about to give you is quite...a shock. Yesterday we were informed that Iris Love was killed on the road, run over by a drunk driver near her household."

Immediately there came gasps from all around as well as sounds of horror, from students and teachers alike. Theo felt his blood go cold, his only reaction was a disbelieving, "No."

He had been right, Iris was dead but unlike what the principal claimed, he knew who the real killer was and he eyed her with loathing. He watched threw narrowed eyes how Elizabeth twirled her hair while looking around uncomfortably. She was the real killer and he was certain about it.

The principal raised his arms to quite everyone down and went on to say, "Settle down now, let us remain calm. She has been currently buried near her parents' Graves and I believe she is at peace now. I know we shall never forget her and forever keep her in our hearts. I would like to use this incident to remind all of you to be careful, not just on the road, but everywhere even in your homes, so that we may never receive news like this again. Thank you for your time, and I wish you all as great of a day as any of you could have, on such a sad one." He then left the podium while the students clapped for him, but still continued to whisper to each other about the Principal's dreadful announcement.

While the students marched to class, the principal called Elizabeth to follow him and it disturbed Theo deeply, who knew if they weren't plotting for their next murder!
They had killed Iris, he knew that she hadn't been loved at school but he had always felt fascinated by her, so much so that you could say he'd grown a soft spot for her. But now she was dead, just like that, killed by her own classmate.

While walking in the school building he didn't take his eyes off the principal and Elizabeth, and he felt his loathing grow. They had killed a student and had lied perfectly about it without any remorse, "These are not people, no they're monsters." Thought Theo seething with anger

🕸️

The principal walked up the staircase leading to the second floor with Elizabeth next to him. He wanted to talk to her and see how she was, after yesterday's shocking revelation.

"You need not worry about me GreatHill, really. It's true that I was...(sighs) more like, still am shaken, but I've realized that it won't stop me from being the best Hunter in the Assembly. I promised it to my father and I really want to stick to it no matter what my limits are. I'll just keep pushing myself harder until I can reach a level my father can be proud of." She vowed looking like she meant every word

GreatHill was pleased to hear that, he who had thought she would've been crushed and fearful of her future, instead she looked radiant and determined. He admired such character, he squeezed her hand and said with a proud smile, "I am glad you haven't taken this discovery so harshly, because I believe we still need your many talents my dear."

Elizabeth smiled gratefully at him, she said, "Thank you GreatHill. While we're at it, I realized the gate was opened last night when I went out. I only remembered it this morning, were you the one who opened it again, because I came in using the key you gave me and closed it as soon as I got inside?"

GreatHill frowned and shook his head, he replied, "I had kept it locked and neither I nor the others had gone out after you entered the school. Are you really certain it was opened?" He asked her carefully

"Absolutely, I hadn't used my key to go out, I simply pushed the door opened and I was so upset that I hadn't found it weird at the moment, but now I'm thinking that perhaps we weren't alone GreatHill." She thought, saying the last part of her sentence in a hushed tone

They continued to climb the stairs in silence and GreatHill remembered the rusting sound of the door and the zipping of a grappling hook he thought he had imagined last night. But now that Elizabeth spoke of the door being left opened, he was beginning to think he hadn't imagined it. "Now that is quite intriguing..." He thought aloud, while rubbing his long beard

Elizabeth saw how thoughtful he looked and heard him murmur so she asked curiously, "What is intriguing GreatHill, I mean Principal GreatHill." She quickly corrected herself
She chuckled uneasily and looked around to see if anyone was looking at her strangely for calling the principal by his name, but the everyone continued walking up and down the stairs minding their own affairs.

GreatHill didn't hear her chuckle, he just seemed farther away when he explained, "Last night before the summoning began, even before you entered the Secret Base I heard a rusting sound, as if coming from..."

"...The outside gate." Continued Elizabeth as she looked at GreatHill's surprised eyes, "Yes I heard it too, I actually wanted to have a look, but then Mr. Reymond and Mrs. Harding took me in the base and I forgot all about it."

"I had also heard a zipping sort of sound but thought I had imagined it, especially after Harding and I looked around the school but saw one was there. But now I believe you're right, there was certainly someone here last night."

Elizabeth looked around thoughtfully and wondered, "But who would venture here at night, and how did they get in, the gate was locked? Not to mention that the school door was also locked with your finger print scanner and there is no other way to get in the building."

Principal GreatHill put the clues together and answered, "Perhaps with a thin metal pole to open the gate and a grappling hook for the balcony. It could be possible to get in with enough will power, and perhaps with the aid of our tall tree. It would be difficult and dangerous but not impossible." Suggested GreatHill, and already a name echoed in his mind

Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders and said, "Okay so maybe they'd be able to get in, but who would be desperate enough, persistent enough to climb the balcony and witty enough to do it with a grappling hook and a tree? They'd have to be organized and prepared for anything to bring such tools along. I know not if there's...(gasp)!" Elizabeth abruptly turned to GreatHill and he nodded

She could only thing of one person so desperate for news that he'd go back to school late at night, and could be prepared for any situation. He was an annoying little reporter who's name started with a T for Tenaciously Tiring!

Elizabeth's eyes filled with anger and she tightened her fist as she hissed, "That boy will have to be taken to the council or else, he might really discover something one day; assuming he hasn't already!" She exclaimed with a throw of her hands

GreatHill disagreed, "The council doesn't need to be informed of Theo just yet Elizabeth. Besides if he had found anything, he would've already confronted you about it, or put it on the school's blog for all of Phantium to see. Since he has not done it, it's safe to say his search was unfruitful.."

"...Yet GreatHill, he hasn't discovered anything yet, but I'm certain he will if we don't find a way to keep him at Bay." She insisted

"It has already been done. Today's announcement of Iris's death will now get him to stop looking, since there is nothing more to discover." Assured GreatHill with a shrug

Elizabeth still shook her head and whispered, "But GreatHill, what if he found something in your office but doesn't want the whole school to know? If we don't take care of him GreatHill, he could become a really big problem for us." She stopped in her tracks and looked sternly at him, they were in front of the ninth grade's classroom now

GreatHill too stopped to face her, he thought over her words for a while and gave his opinion, "We will not hand him over to the council, not yet. Just keep an eye on him and watch out for any sign of possession. We are certain that the school is haunted and that the mortals are in danger, so stay alert." He warned

Elizabeth wanted to argue over the fact that Theo had to be dealt with but GreatHill slightly frowned, showing that he wouldn't change his mind. She sighed exasperatedly, and nodded, "As you wish, I'll watch him and the possession. But how's Henry doing by the way?" She said remembering what the little boy went threw yesterday

GreatHill sighed sadly, "Not very well I'm afraid, his parents called in this morning. Apparently he has a high fever and terrible migraines of the worst sort, so he will not be able to come to school for a few days."

Elizabeth felt sorry for him, "So he was really possessed, he's even suffering from it, poor thing." She said sympathetically

"Indeed, but sadly the ghost wasn't inside him and we do not know when he shall strike again." Said GreatHill looking really bothered

"Sadly Mrs. Harding said that it could travel, so now we have to figure out in which body out of more than 50 he could be in." She said wearily

"I have also been thinking of that run away spirit, Mrs. Harding said she would look in her library for any information related to the Spirit's reaction yesterday. I will go ask her about it, as soon as I inform Henry's class of his absence. While you Elizabeth must head to class and remember to keep a close eye on Theo." He instructed

Elizabeth wasn't happy about going to class, she would've preferred remaining with him. She too wanted to know why that spirit hadn't wanted her, even if she wasn't a Vessel Carrier, she thought she could still force the spirit to accept her. Perhaps it sounded desperate but they needed a Vessel Carrier and she could be one with the right spirit.

But she just smiled at GreatHill before turning to go to class. He entered the ninth grade's classroom and Elizabeth went up the stairs which would lead to her floor.

🕸️

Principal GreatHill went straight to the library after announcing Henry's absence. He found the Spell Caster sitting in a chair with 30 or so thick books on her desk. These books were all opened, she looked quite tired and a little sleepy so Principal GreatHill guessed she hadn't slept at all.
He took a chair next to her and waited for her to notice him before asking, "Did you manage to find anything on our loose problem?" He choose his words carefully when he saw two teachers chatting while walking past the library

Mrs. Harding closed the book she had in hand and wearily leaned back in her chair. She put the book down and rubbed her worn out eyes while answering," I searched in this library, I searched at home, I even contacted a few Spell Casters to ask of their opinion. Yet the only thing I found out, is that a spirit leaves his mirror in search of another Vessel if he cannot find one during the Summoning."

"Then it means our hope is not yet lost. Could there be another Vessel Carrier around Mrs. Harding, someone we have not noticed but who is in our Assembly?" Asked Principal GreatHill looking very pleased of what he heard

Mrs. Harding sat straighter and thought, "It could be possible, we didn't know Iris was a Tracker, perhaps there is another student here who is a Vessel Carrier but doesn't know of it."

Now Principal GreatHill got off his chair and began to prance around. While Mrs. Harding's eyes followed his movements, he said, "If there is a Vessel Carrier in our School then we must him him and prepare another Summoning, it'll take time but better late than never. I shall inform the other members..."

"...And Elizabeth, will you also tell her?" Asked Mrs. Harding thinking of how miserable she'd feel again if she knew there could be another Vessel Carrier in the school

GreatHill understand what she meant so he shook his head and answered, "No, I shall inform the teachers for the moment, that way Elizabeth can catch up on the lessons she missed yesterday." With a nod to the Spell Caster he headed out the library, too eager to sit and wait. He just had to find the person who had the key to their deliverance.

The Spell Caster watched the principal go and wondered if there could really be another Vessel Carrier they hadn't known about. One thing was certain, if there was than Elizabeth wouldn't be pleased, in fact the Spell Caster knew she could be jealous at times. She sensed it when she'd said Iris was a Tracker and that Trackers were better than Vessel Carriers, Elizabeth's face had hardened and turned cold. Her dark aura had hit the Spell Caster like an Electric shock.

Especially after what happened to her yesterday, Elizabeth was sure to hate that Vessel Carrier for life.

🕸️

Elizabeth had been in class for basically two hours and nothing had happened with Theo. He had focused on his work and hadn't made any remarks when the teacher had read the attendance list, and had mistakingly called out Iris's name.
She had quickly excused herself for that but neither Theo nor anyone in class had said anything. They were deep in their thoughts and by the looks of their long faces, Elizabeth guessed they were thinking of Iris.

She had thought no one would have cared if she died since no one really acknowledged her. Yet the Members of Assembly missed her for her 'gifts', and the classroom missed her for...what? What did she have that all of them missed about her anyways?

Okay, so it was horrible that she was dead but what did it change, when she had sat in the chair behind Theo, no one even noticed her but now that she wasn't, they all noticed her absence.

As Elizabeth answered the question on her paper, she realized the way she thought about Iris want very respectful but she couldn't help it. Iris would've gotten all the glory and fame once she captured a single ghost, just because she was a precious tracker. While she would've had to let a Spirit dwell in her, a spirit that would need her life force for her to capture one ghost. She would've had to do it many times if she wished to be recognized and work real hard.

But Iris, she would have been destined to be great and that by nature and that's what frustrated Elizabeth. She hadn't ever thought of Iris when she'd been alive, but now that she was dead, she felt haunted by her, and on top of that she found out she wasn't even a Vessel Carrier, so her chances of being recognized had just flown away.

Elizabeth had said that she would achieve her goal but how could she do that when she didn't have any exception gift; what she could do was what all Hunters could do, it was common.  How could she keep the promise she made to her father now and what was her purpose?

Suddenly, the pen she held snapped in two. She had been so frustrated and caught in her thoughts that she'd broken her pen while writing on her paper. Now her class mates all looked at her weirdly. She gave them a weak smile and sighed, "Pens, no one seems to make them properly anymore, right...yeah." she cleared her throat while taking another pen from her bag

They all went back to their work, except for Theo. From the corner of her eyes she could see Theo watching her suspiciously, his gaze could put holes in her with the way he stared so hard.
But she only turned to her paper and ignored him. She really wished they'd just send him to rhe council already, he was just so irritating she wanted to use him as a punching bag.

She felt her hands shack and noticed she had actually balled them, so with a breath she released them, while praying that soon the council would take Theo off her shoulders. And she smiled wickedly as she imagined what they'd do to him... she certainly had a few suggestions.