Selene stifled a yawn the next morning. She hadn't been able to sleep a wink after she'd left Benjamin's room the previous day. Thinking about the journey ahead made her woozy and sick. She'd thrown up thrice the previous night and hadn't been able to bear the thought of eating anything.

She glanced at her companion to see if her unease was contagious.

Edith looked calm and unruffled in her silk black robes.

"Where did you get your makeup from?" Selene asked, admiring Edith's mascara which made her eyes look fierce and feline.

"That's a secret." Edith adjusted her black robes. She looked like a porcupine with her spiky black hair.

Selene jumped when she felt something furry brush her ankles. When she looked down, she realized it was Edith's cat. The cat gently rubbed her body against Selene's feet.

"Dusk!" Selene bent to stroke the black cat. Dusk didn't seem ruffled by her prolonged separation from her mistress. After enjoying the feel of Selene's fingers on her fur, the cat began to carefully wash her right paw.

Selene glanced at Edith, wondering if she could voice her questions without upsetting the animal.

"It's fine. I spoke to Dusk. She agreed to accompany us on our journey." Edith explained.

"Oh, great." Selene nodded. She checked her backpack to be sure she'd packed everything they'd need. When she felt a tingly sensation on her neck, she knew Benjamin was close.

She turned and watched him slipped out of the shadows. At first, Selene didn't recognize him since his eyes were dark chocolate brown. He wore robes that were the same colour as his strange eyes.

"What?" Benjamin asked defensively when she kept staring at him.

"Nothing. You just look so different with your eyes. I almost couldn't tell who you were." Selene cleared her throat.

Benjamin raised his eyebrows at that. He turned to look at Edith. The girl ran her fingers through her spiky black hair, suddenly feeling self-conscious and nervous.

"I'm going to speak to Dusk about our journey. Gimme a few minutes." Edith said wisely. She stepped away to give them some privacy.

Once Edith was out of earshot, Benjamin stepped closer to Selene. She reached out to touch his cheek but stopped halfway because she was worried he wouldn't want her to touch him.

Benjamin smiled as he linked his fingers with hers. His hands were warm and comforting.

"How are you?" Selene asked. It sounded like such an insignificant question to ask considering what they were about to do.

"I should be asking you that. You look pale." He said. Her fingers were so cold. Her lips were blue from the cold.

"I do?" She winced.

"The last time you looked this pale was after Larry used his powers on you," Benjamin said.

"Yikes. That was a disaster. I'm sure I look like a mess." Selene chuckled.

"You're beautiful. You always look beautiful."

"I...thanks. I wasn't fishing for compliments though." Selene blushed.

Benjamin hugged her tightly, not willing to let go just yet. He smiled when he heard her sigh as she wrapped her arms around him.

"Be careful." He whispered.

"You too." She muttered, swallowing the lump in her throat.

"Ugh! This is insane. I want to go with you." Benjamin sighed.

"I wish you could come along. I wish none of us had to leave. If...if I don't come back....Herbert said you should wait by the oak tree. He'd let you in." Selene said.

"I won't have to. You'll come back." Benjamin said firmly.

He kissed her firmly, then pulled away to hold her face. He wanted her image ingrained in his head.

"I'll see you in six hours." He looked behind her.

Selene turned to glance at who he'd spoken to. She saw Edith waiting patiently. Before Selene turned around, Benjamin was gone.

"As slippery as an eel. Come on, lover girl. If anyone should be worried, it shouldn't be you." Edith squeezed Selene's shoulder.

"Sadly, we can't teleport there. We have to pass through the caves." Selene sighed.

It would be unnecessary to describe the journey they endured to get to Tabitha's School. It took them over an hour to maneuver the caves and rocky paths but eventually, they stood in front of the impossibly grand school.

Selene and Edith had to stop to admire the building. It was larger than a castle and more beautiful than a corrupt politician's home.

There were four towers at the top of the school each marked with glittering letters: 'W', 'E', 'S' and 'N'.

"We're lucky school isn't in session," Edith said, looking up at the towers.

"We'd better get inside. We don't want to be seen." Selene said, looking around furtively.

They slipped through the gate without being seen. Once they were within the school's grounds, they walked to the large front door. The sound of dried grass crinkling underneath their feet sounded louder than a gunshot.

"Can you see any security we need to bypass?" Selene asked Edith who was scanning the area with caution.

Dusk didn't hesitate. The cat slipped in through the burglary then looked back at Selene and Edith as if to say: "let's get going".

When Selene opened the door of the school, she hadn't been expecting to see such an average-looking school. She'd thought the hallways would be filled with weird stuff like flying pigs or strange witch hats.

"I'm a bit disappointed. I excepted more." Selene grumbled.

"During the holidays, things are pretty bleak. There are no Magis with their amulets or Elementals grooming flowers in their lockers." Edith explained.

Selene wanted to drink up every inch of the school. She couldn't really picture her mother as a student in this school. She wondered where the incident that led to Black Day had started.

"I can't feel any strong magical energy here. Even if there is, it's been far too long since the incident." Edith brought her back from her daydream.

"I wasn't expecting there to be any. The plan never included getting magical energy in the hallway." Selene led the way with the map she held in her hands.

"I'm not comfortable with this. Not at all. I still think this is a bad idea." Edith shivered.

"I understand your fear..." Selene started to say.

"No, Selene. You don't. I can feel traces of his anger and resentment. This is reckless and simply stupid." Edith said.

"Well, what do you suggest we do?" Selene raised an eyebrow.

When Edith didn't reply, Selene sighed impatiently.

"I know what we're doing is reckless. Herbert said so himself. However, he also mentioned it was probably the only thing we could do." Selene said.

"What if he was just trying to get rid of you? Who knows?" Edith asked sharply.

"Then it's better to get eliminated now than wait till she finds me. I'm willing to take the risk if I can get the answers I need." Selene shrugged.

Edith sighed.

"I'm not asking you to understand. I'm asking you to trust me. I believe this is the only thing we can do. It's been so many years since the incident happened and those involved are either dead or beyond our reach." Selene said.

"We could try using your mother's necklace again." Edith pointed out.

"It would only tell us the story from my mother's perspective. That's only a quarter of what happened. We need to know it all. I need to know what the Prophecy says." Selene said.

Edith didn't speak. Selene sighed and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm not going to ask you to follow me further than this. You've already done enough for me. You can turn around now and I wouldn't hold it against you." Selene said.

Edith rolled her eyes and smiled.
"Like I'd miss the chance of a lifetime to connect with the spirit world again. Besides, if anything happens to you, Benjamin will kill me." She scoffed.

"I don't think he'll kill you....." Selene started to say.

"He will. He was very clear. 'Bring her back to me alive or I'll be forced to know what it means to murder a Necromancer'." Edith mimicked Benjamin's dangerous tone.

"He said that?" Selene gasped.

"Benjamin is a dangerous person to make as an enemy. I'm already on his bad side after making you remember your mother's death. I'd rather not have to explain to him why I let you go in alone." Edith said wincing.

Dusk yawned and sneezed twice. She licked Selene's exposed ankle as if to encourage her. Selene decided there was no point dwelling on that fact.

"If we take the staircase here, we'll be able to reach the tower in the shortest time possible." Selene pointed at a spot on the map.

They walked together, each troubled by the thoughts on their mind. The closer they got to their destination, the more uneasy they felt.

They could both tell the staircases hadn't been used for years due to the creaking sounds it made with every step they took.

Once, Selene ran into a cobweb and had to stifle a scream. Edith had to stop to get the cobweb off her friend. Another time, Edith stepped in a crack in the staircase and would have gotten mortally wounded had Selene not been there to pull her out immediately.

It would be futile explaining the gory details of their journey to their destination. It would be simpler to say it was tough but they eventually reached the Eastern Tower.

"If my estimation is correct, we're going to that room." Selene pointed.

She glanced at Edith who was frozen with fear. Selene wondered if her decision hadn't been completely foolish and reckless. Even Dusk seemed to be at alert with her black tail standing high.

"I'll go first," Selene said bravely.

"No. Don't be silly. You're not accustomed to these things. It's better if I go with Dusk." Edith said.

Selene opened her mouth to argue but she saw the sharp look Edith gave her. It was obvious Edith feared Benjamin's threat more than the angry spirit behind the door. She sighed and allowed her friend to go ahead of her. She never realized how scary Benjamin could be.

She watched Edith slip into the Eastern Tower deciding she'd join her friend in five minutes.

Edith closed the door after Dusk slipped into the room with her. The black cat seemed as uneasy as she felt. The spiritual energy from the room was so strong that it felt like a dam had burst open.

Edith had never felt such power before. She'd seen spirits for years but she'd never sensed one with as much anger as the ghost of the Eastern Tower.

The room was covered with dust and mothballs. It smelt odd like a space that hadn't been properly aerated for many years. The cobwebs in the room accentuated the eccentric aura she felt.

Edith heard the ticking sound of a clock in the room. She wondered what kind of batteries had kept the clock ticking for years.

Other than that, the room was absolutely silent and dull. Edith had been expecting to see traces of the spirit that haunted the room from the moment she'd entered.

She didn't drop her guard. She looked around cautiously as she made her way deeper into the room. As she walked around, trying to draw out the spirit, she removed some cobwebs to the indignation of several spiders.

Just when she had given up, a very strong wind knocked her off her feet. Dusk hissed as she dug her claws into the floor to keep her balance.

When the ferociously wind died down, Edith realized she was no longer alone. A boy dressed neatly in a white shirt with grey and blue plaid pants appeared a few feet in front of her. He was wearing glasses and had an overall boring appearance.

If you had seen him, you'd have dismissed him as a schoolboy but Edith knew better.

"When I heard some footsteps coming up here, I suspected that I would have visitors soon. I must say, I'm a bit shocked. I haven't been in the presence of a living being for close to twenty-five years." The boy said in a regal tone.

He scanned Edith's face and glanced at the black cat beside her who was hissing violently.

"Hello, great spirit. I am Edith." Edith said.

The boy waved her off like she was a pesky fly.

"Yes, yes. I know who you are. Edith, the daughter of Marcus and Linda. I didn't ask for an introduction neither do I care about why you're here. I detest Necromancers as a rule." The boy said.

"Why? Necromancers are so close to spirits that they eventually become spirits themselves." Edith said in shock.

"Oh please, spare me! None of you actually care about spirits asides from what you can gain from them. You desire to use our spiritual energy while pretending not to care about worldly pleasures. You are all fools to me. I want nothing to do with you, girl." The boy snapped.

"I am not like that!" Edith protested

"Is that so? What makes you so different from all other Necromancers? Selfish, evil beings who only desire the power of spirits. I detest you, Edith, child of death. You are probably here to chase me away." The boy folded his arms across his chest.

"No!" Edith shook her head.

"Liar! I can see it in your eyes. You believe it is time for me to take my place in the afterlife. You want to drive me away from here like most other Necromancers! I will curse you before you can!" The boy shouted.

He stretched his fingers. Edith had to cover her ears to suppress the sound of agony she could hear.

"You hear that? That is the sound that will kill you! I vowed to kill the next Necromancer who dared come into my presence. Perhaps you shall die and join me to haunt this tower." The boy laughed.

Edith fell to her knees. Her eardrums felt like they would burst. It was as horrible as standing beside a loudspeaker for several hours.

Dusk hissed loudly but the cat knew there was nothing she could do to help her mistress.

Just when Edith thought she would die, the door suddenly opened. Selene stepped into the room. She took one look at Edith who was kneeling on the floor and at Dusk who was hissing in fear.

"Go!" Edith managed to say.

Selene ignored her. Smiling sweetly, Selene looked at the spot where the boy stood, eying her suspiciously.

"You must be the ghost of the Eastern Tower. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Selene said.

#M.M💀🖤