Mavis couldn't sleep all night after hearing what Peter had said, she continuously brushed the silver cross around her neck which the priest had given her in childhood. 

   Paranormal? On a normal circumstances Mavis would have laughed as there were no such things that science can not explain but after confronting Amber's unusual aura and the pitch black eyes that left a permanent scar on Mavis, she would believe even a cow can fly. What if the murders were indeed the work of a devil?

Was Amber possessed by a spirit or something? But why? Why Amber? She was an annoying girl but she was just like the girls around them but then why her of all people? Will she be killed– 

   The thought before it could complete, Mavis shot out of her bed and dashed right towards Amber's chamber, she bursted right inside making Lady Colton who sat in the chair near Amber's bed jump in fright. The metallic dog started barking and Lady Colton quickly hushed it and ordered it to go out of the room. Its tail hung and it created its way out of Amber's chamber.

   "Ah, Mavis. It's you, you startled me." Lady Colton placed her hand against her chest and Mavis walked inside her eyes on Amber's still form on the bed.

   "Aunt, you should go to sleep." Mavis said, "I will stay here."

   "I can't, love. I'll be at ease only when my child wakes up," Lady Colton said with love in her voice, Mavis eyed her frail figure covered by the blanket and then at Amber who looked as if she was in a peaceful slumber.

   "Come here, dear. It seems you were knocked out of your bed by something too." Lady Colton gestured Mavis to herself and Mavis walked over to her. Lady Colton picked up the blanket beside her and covered Mavis with it. 

   "It is cold and you came all the way here bare feet and without a shawl. What happened?" Lady Colton asked in a motherly tone.

   "I–" Mavis couldn't bring herself to tell Lady Colton that her daughter was possessed, "I had a nightmare."

   "It's alright, dear," Lady Colton said and placed a hand on hers and squeezed it, "Everything will be alright." 

   The night passed by with no response from Amber yet, Amber stayed in her slumber and it made Lady Colton to worry more. As the bright morning arose Mavis went out of the room for a little stroll. Her head hurt with everything that was going on. She believed she could not think straight. As she came pass the door of the hall, she paused. She opened the door and entered the large hall where yesterday's ball held and where Amber got a strange trauma.

She didn't know how much time passed by but she needed to go as the doctor was coming. As she turned, she was certain she saw from her peripheral vision, a dark aura had gathered around a corner. She moved her head to the direction immediately and felt the ground beneath her vanished. Her hairs on the skin stood straight and she staggered back.

The corner Amber requested, specifically to decorate with lilies were now turned into withering flowers. A dark substance was coming out of all the flowers and it looked more like a death gate to hell. She cringed at the sight of it and made a hasty run from there until she reached Amber's room.

As she entered, she spotted the doctor and Lady Colton behind him with a worried face. He diagnosed her and told that her vitals were perfectly fine but why she wasn't waking up was a mystery to him as well. Lord Colton was fuming at the doctor now and the situation continuously was going out of control. After what she saw her mind had stopped working logically and now she didn't want the situation to turn into bloodshed.

   "Please stop!" Mavis spoke up and faced Lady Colton who's tear streaked face made her heartache. Mavis was unable to form any words of comfort as she was confused with everything however, she needed to do something.

   "Let me go and have a talk with Amber, alone." Mavis looked right into Lady Cotton's eyes as she spoke with all the power she can muster.

   "Mavis, be quiet! Do you have any–" Lady Garnett tried to admonish her daughter but Lady Colton gripped her hand.

   "Go, Mavis."

Mavis didn't stop for anyone else's permission and went right in Amber's room and closed the door behind her.

   There lied Amber on her bed looking like a Sleeping Beauty waiting for her Prince to come wake her up with a kiss. Amber walked over to the side of the bed and noticed just how pale Amber's skin had gotten and the skin around her eyes had turned darker. Mavis inhaled deeply whispering God's name once and sat down beside Amber.

   "Amber? Amber? Can you hear me?" She spoke close to her ear. There was no response.

   "You..." Mavis's tone changed as she addressed her rest words to the foreign soul housing Amber's body.

   "Whoever you are? Just what do you want with Amber? What wrong has she done to you? Why are you possessing her of all people?" Mavis hissed in her ear. The temperature suddenly dropped and an eerie silence nestled in the room. It felt as if darkness filled each space and organized it in its dark glory. Mavis could feel her warmth fading away with each heartbeat.

"Wh-who are you?" She asked even when her voice betrayed.

   "I know you are the one who has been killing those girls after dressing them in the wedding dresses." Mavis continued, her voice rising in tone and strength, "You must be quite a vile spirit that has gone dark. That's why you are killing the innocent girls!"

   Amber's eyelids flew open and she flew up and tried to grip at Mavis's throat but the silver cross around Mavis's neck repelled the negative energy. Mavis gripped Amber's wrist instead and glared right into the pitch-black eyes that belonged to the evil spirit. All of her life, she never believed into something that science could not decipher but a series of course for the past few days shattered that belief.

   "First, I only had a doubt but this time I am sure that you are really the one who has killed all those innocent girls," Mavis announced and Amber's face twisted darkly expressing wrath.

   "Those wretches were anything but innocent!" Amber screeched and Mavis didn't let her grip or her power waver.

   "Why? Did you know them? Did they do something wrong to you?" Mavis asked.

   "Yes! They were the ones who killed my child and my dream of marrying my love!" She screamed. Mavis frowned.

   "Then, why Amber? What has she done?" Mavis demanded.

   "She is the key to get my answers and you will find him." Amber's voice was completely changed, Mavis felt her throat going dry as she heard her demand.

   "Alright, I will find those answers you are looking for but you have to promise me that you will leave as soon as I complete my work," Mavis said as the door behind her opened and revealed Amber's parents along with Maverick, Peter and Mrs Garnett. At first, they were joyous Amber had woken up but when their gazes fell on Amber's eyes and her mouth that dripped a dark saliva, they went numb.

"Amber?" Mrs Colton asked her voice betrayed the sweet tone and replaced with hesitation and fear.

A sinister smile played on Amber's mouth as her chuckle sounded as if three persons were laughing at once and Miss Elizabeth fainted.

   "I will leave when my work is done," she replied with a malice in her voice. Mavis felt her legs numb but held herself anyway.

   "You at any cost are not allowed to do any harm to Amber. If you do, I'll make sure you'll regret it." Mavis's words held the kind of power which resonated in her words.

   Suddenly, Amber's body started losing its strength.

   "Hey, hey?" Mavis tried to keep her upright.

   "They killed... You find..." Amber's lips barely moved as her eyes lidded over.

   "Hey, tell me your name. Who are you?" Mavis asked trying to shake her awake but she was almost unconscious.

   "My...child..." She whispered and her body slumped against Mavis's.

   "Damn it!" Mavis cursed as she knew whoever it was had no plans to leave her friend. She brushed Amber's soft blonde hair and sighed as there wasn't enough time.

   "I promise you, Amber. I will save you. Whoever you are and whatever your story is I will find it out and help you cross over," Mavis promised as she rested Amber back in the bed and covered her with the sheets.

   Mavis turned around and faced the large audience before her who was looking at her with shocked eyes while Arthur held Miss Elizabeth's unconscious body. She looked once at Lady Colton and inhaled deeply as this was harder than what she had done. She led them all in the parlour and eyed everyone wondering where to start. She took a deep breath and started.

   "I want you all to have discretion and strength before I tell you everything." She said.

   "What has happened to my child? Why did she sound like that?" Lady Colton asked as if she didn't want to acknowledge the truth even if she knew deep inside.

   Lord Colton didn't say anything as his face had turned white and his body became stiff.

   Mavis licked her lips and Peter stated, "Amber is possessed." Everyone looked at Peter who stood near the door frame and looked at Mavis knowingly. Surely he had told Mavis before but she didn't believe it.

   "What?!" Lady Colton and Lady Garnett shrieked.

   "I'm calling for the priest and exorcists now!" Lord Colton started to leave the room.

"Lord Colton stop!" Mavis shouted, "Listen to what I have to say." She spoke and the crowd quietened.

"The soul in Amber's body isn't going to harm her but she won't let go of her unless she finds the answers she's been looking for," Mavis explained.

"What kind of answers?" Arthur asked, "Did–did you just see my sister? She..." Arthur had no words to describe the state her dear sister was in.

"The answers to her death and whatever her story is–" Mavis paused for a moment as she rewind her memories. That soul said him. Who was 'him'?

"Why you? The priests will banish that evil spirit quickly, why are you risking your life?!" Lady Garnett shouted.

Mavis eyed her mother with the determination in her eyes, "Mother, Amber is my childhood friend whom I see as no lesser than a sister. Would you have said the same thing if she was your daughter?"

"Florence is right, Mavis. I cannot let you risk your life to save Amber, we will call the priests and all the help we can get–"

"The soul will keep Amber unharmed and will leave her body only if I bring her the answers she requires." And whoever the 'Him' she mentioned. But she didn't say it out loud and added, "That soul was being wronged too, so she isn't exactly an evil spirit, her child was killed and she had suffered too. She has asked for my help. I need to do this in order to save Amber." Mavis said, "and I won't be alone on this quest. Maverick and Mr Johnson will be there to assist me." She gestured at her brother and the journalist who stood together.

   "It won't only be you three. I shall help you too!" A completely different voice announced and Mavis turned to look at the tall, gaunt man standing in the doorway, he was wearing a long apron and his white hair seemed to have been thunderstruck by the way they were pointing in each and every direction. The familiar creaky sound followed and Mavis noticed Scrab, the metal dog, near the strange man's feet. Dr Carl Edwards. Mavis had all the help she needed, all that left was the mystery to be solved.

Mavis, Peter and Maverick along with Dr Edwards and Arthur gathered in the drawing-room to discuss the plan.

"So, who is that spirit?" Peter asked.

"I don't know, but one thing I'm sure we've found out our killer," Mavis told.

Arthur's brows furrowed, "Wait, what are you talking about? That soul has already killed others? Wait, is it–" 

"Yes, Arthur. This case is of the Dead Brides. That spirit is out for vengeance and if we don't give that to her we'll lose Amber," Mavis said and Arthur looked like he was about to collapse.

"I didn't want the others to know about this that's why I only told them half of what the case is," Mavis said.

"That is alright but how are we going to know who this woman was and what happened with her?" Dr Edwards asked, "and, how can I help you all?"

"I will need Scrab for the investigation, Dr Edwards. Can you modify him so that he will obey my orders and stand for protection if the situation arises?" Mavis asked and Dr Edwards's eyes gleamed behind his circular glasses.

"Alright! I'll do that."

"And also, can I bother you with another request?" Mavis asked Dr Edwards with a glint in her eyes. The curl that formed on his lips ensured he knew what she requested.

"For now I'll take Scrab and modify him, you go and eat your breakfast, you haven't had anything since last night," Dr Edwards said.

"I'll do that, and with all the preparations it'll take at least two hours for me to go out. Will this time be enough for you?" Mavis asked and Dr Edwards smiled proudly.

"It is more than enough, my wonder girl. I'll just go and start working." Just after he'd said this words, Dr Edwards scooped up Scrab and rushed out of the room.

"What do I do?" Arthur asked.

"You must stay here, and look after Lady Colton." Maverick said, "I don't think our parents will be able to handle it since we are working on this and Amber is in that condition." 

"He's right." Mavis agreed.

"But I–"

"You also have to protect Amber here, Arthur. While we will be out we don't know what might happen behind us. You must be here to take care of everyone," Maverick said placing a hand on his friend and Arthur looked at Maverick and then at Mavis.

"Alright. I'll stay back here, but tell me if you need help with anything," Arthur said and left the room as well.

Mavis turned back to Maverick and Peter, "Well, there's a name that came out while I was in town. I want you to look into it."

"Flora Stoner?" Maverick asked.

She nodded.

"The murders started around three weeks ago so, maybe Flora died around a month ago or in the time span of four weeks or more."

Peter mused.

"She lived in this town and her case had been settled as suicide," Mavis said as she bit on her lips, "however, according to Mary, the way she died didn't seem like a suicide."

"Why do you think, she was murdered?" Maverick heaved a frustrated sigh.

"Because she had the same cut on her throat and interesting fact was," Mavis looked at them, "she was in a wedding dress."

"I can look into it." Peter said, "Mr Maverick, are there any old newspapers in this manor, we can go through those dated about a month ago? There must be some news about her in the town Heralds," Peter suggested.

"Excellent thought." 

"There must be some in the library, I'll come and help you find the article. Mavis, you can go and have your breakfast and do the rest preparations to go out in the town," Maverick said and Mavis nodded.

"Let's meet at the main door in two hours," Mavis said as the three left room.

After breakfast and getting dressed in another dress, Mavis walked over to the main door finding Dr Edwards there. 

"There you are! Here, Scrab is ready to go for a walk with you. I even put a collar on his neck," Dr Edwards said and Mavis smiled as the dog came over and circled near her skirts and she crouched down to pet his metalhead.

"Good boy."

"Mavis, we found the news about Flora Stoner!" Mavis turned as she heard Maverick's voice, her brother and Peter came running looking sweaty and dusty. Scrab started barking as they approached her.

"Scrab, quiet," Mavis spoke and he stopped barking instantly and sat back. She smiled and looked at Dr Edwards who had a wicked grin on his lips.

"Wow, it works." Peter looked stunned.

"Here, look at this, Flora was a girl who lived in this town and was an orphan except for her grandmother who lived with her. Flora committed suicide a month ago because her fiance never showed up at the altar," Maverick informed and a frown appeared on Mavis's face. This was the same thing Mary had told her. There must be more to the story.

"You go ahead, we'll just clean ourselves and interrogate the authorities and ask at the church," Maverick said.

"Then I'll go and look for information through the townspeople," Mavis announced and a maid appeared with a brown rug.

"What is that?" Maverick asked looking as Mavis took the rug from the maid and placed it on Scrab's back and tied a brown scarf over his head.

"We can't have the people running for the hills before I have the chance to talk to them, can we?" Mavis smiled at her brother and Peter before standing back up and walking out of the manor with her new pet trailing behind her.

Mavis took the carriage to get to the town early, she reached the tavern where she had met Mary the other day and heard the sounds from inside, if she had to start somewhere a familiar person might have something that might help. As soon as Mavis entered she saw Mary being thrashed by her aunt, Mavis quickly stepped in shielding Mary facing the large woman with a smile on her face.

"Good day ma'am," Mavis said chirply, while the aunt scowled at her.

"Who are ye?" she asked.

"My name is Mavis Garnett and I have some business with this girl." She gestured back at Mary who seemed like she had accepted Mavis as her shield.

"Why would ye 'ave anythin' to talk ta 'er? Dis brat lies all da time–" 

"I believe I'm the one to decide that. Shall we, Mary?" Mavis cut her off taking, Mary's hand in hers.

"Where are ye takin' 'er dere is still a lot of work for 'er?!" The aunt fumed and Mavis turned, giving the rude woman a cold look. If she wasn't involved in a case that needed to be solved immediately, she would have invited the lady in her residence and would have a great conversation with her behind closed doors.

"I'm taking her with me," Mavis spoke with a glint of a devil in her eyes. The woman shut her mouth as Mavis led Mary to the farthest corner of the tavern and took a seat. Mary stood beside her shifting her weight from one foot to another.

"Madam, can we have some sandwiches please?" Mavis called at the woman who grunted in reply and walked in the adjacent room.

"Sit down, please." Mavis gestured Mary to take a seat and dropped her act.

"Tha-Thank ye for savin' me. But, what is it dat ye want ta know from me?" Mary asked meekly.

"Before I could ask you something, I need to tell you that, this is a very important matter to me and if I miss even a single thing it would have really worse consequences," Mavis warned and Mary nodded.

"I want to know about the girl named Flora Stoner. She used to live in this town, she committed suicide around a month ago. Can you tell me anything about her?" Mary's face fell as Mavis mentioned the name.

Mary stated the same things she told her when she was in disguise of John. However, this didn't justify the reason behind her murder. There should be a strong intention and Mavis could not get to it. All the unusual things that happened were messing with her mind.

"Mary, do you think, anyone would murder Flora?" She asked.

"M—murder? But she committed suicide."

"You said when everyone found her body, there was a wound around her neck, wasn't it?"

Mary nodded and her eyes went wide. As Mary's body shook with the realisation Mavis could assume, up until now she hadn't thought it could have been a murder.

"Then... Bethany, Sarah they— they killed her!" She hissed as anger laced her voice and her palms turned to fists.

"No, they didn't."

Mary looked at her questioningly, "Then—" she came to an abrupt stop as her aunt came by with some sandwiches. The older woman scowled at both ladies as she placed the tray down and then walked away wordlessly. Mavis could feel Mary was hiding something as her eyes drifted everywhere for an escape.

"Mary, I want you to be honest while answering."

Mary looked at her but bit her lips but nodded, "I–I am saying everything I know."

"Yet, you are hiding something." Mavis put pressure on her words and Mary's lips quivered.

Mary sat quietly for a moment scratching the wooden surface of the table with her fingernail and Mavis waited for her to continue. Mary kept scratching for a while before Mavis decided to prompt a little.

"What about Flora's child?" Mary's head whipped up, her eyes wide and frantic.

"Ye-Ye know about Flora's child!" She was evidently surprised. Mavis didn't know but she had a hunch Flora's death was related to the whole situation.

"Bu-But she said she only told me and 'er grandma about it! Who are ye? Why do ye know Flora? How do ye know dis?" Mary suddenly grew defensive as she demanded all the answers from Mavis. Mavis was calm for a moment.

"She told me herself. I have no connection with her but..." Mavis contemplated the odds of the situation as she looked at Mary, "Flora is currently possessing my childhood friend and has threatened me that she'll kill her if I don't find the person." 

Mary's body stiffened and slowly Mavis saw the fear settling in her eyes and her hands started shaking. Mavis placed her hand on Mary's.

"Wh-What–" Mavis squeezed her hand gently and leaned ahead.

"Don't be scared Mary, I needed to find answers that's why I'm here. I need your help, tell me everything you can about Flora's child and her lover."

Tears streamed from her eyes and she began, "after the wretches beat her, she went to her house and when I went to her house she said she lost 'er baby. They killed it." Mavis couldn't stop the reaction of shock as she realised that the child was actually unborn and because of Bethany, Christy and other girls' cruelty it died.

"Have you met her lover?"

"I never met 'im but she always talked about 'im. She was happy and she started to brought all sorts of flowers in the shop for him. She said he liked them. But why didn't he come? Wasn't he supposed to marry her and bring her to his palace?" Mary pursed her lips tightly, her eyes squeezing shut as if she was trying to remove a horrible memory from her mind but then again, she had to recall everything in order to explain it to Mavis.

"Palace?"

Mary nodded, "She never told me much about him since she used to say he wanted it to be a secret. But she used to bring lilies for him. I had warned her that her business was going down because she only brought lilies."

Lilies... That word reminded her the withered lilies of the hall and the murder scene. Her body ran cold just by remembering it.

"When did she started to see this person?"

Mary thought for a moment, "around two months ago or maybe more."

"Do you know where did they met?"

She shook her head.

Mavis kept quiet for a moment and slid the tray of sandwiches to Mary asking her to eat a little, the girl obliged and ate a sandwich as Mavis asked her next question.

"This Prince that Flora talked about, had she ever described how he looked?" 

"Aye, she said, 'e 'ad golden 'air and 'is eyes were as blue as da sky. She always insisted dat 'e was a prince." Mary said and Mavis frowned wondering if a prince would really be involved in this or not. If not a prince then some noble or some rich man would be involved for sure. But what was the purpose of killing her?

Mavis paused for a moment, the cogs in her head moving to gather the informations she had acquired then her eyes fell on the girl and her hand which has a lot of bruises.

"Your aunt doesn't treat you good, does she? If I offer you a job in my manor as my personal maid will you do it?" Mavis asked and Mary looked surprised for a moment.

"Ah... dat's–" Mary's words were cut off as the aunt came bustling through the back door and stomped right to the two girls.

"Dat's it! Mary go in da back da dishes will not be washed on dere own and ye Miss, dis is all da time I can give ye ta talk wid 'er anymore and ye'll 'ave ta pay."

"I'll pay you, but I'll take her with me." Mavis said making Mary's jaw slack and her aunt's eyes widen and mouth turn in a tight line of anger.

"What da devil are ye sayin' li'l Missy? Git outta 'ere before I show ye what I do wid da big-mouthed brats." She threatened and Mavis smiled as she stood up.

"Bold of you to call me a brat. Do you even know whom you're talking to? I am taking Mary with me as my personal maid, and I'll ask you only once of the permission." Mavis asked with her smile turning sickly sweet.

"Who are ye? The Queen of England or the Duchess or Baroness?" The aunt demanded, "and I ain't lettin' 'er go anywhere. Ye can git outta 'ere!" She was about to grab Mavis's hand to drag her out of the tavern but a growl and a mechanical bark made her fall back, Scrab pounced on her and she fell back on her butt with Scrab barking vehemently at her.

"What is dis? What da devil is dis thing?" The aunt scrambled back as Scrab stepped towards her, barking.

"I'll ask you again, I'll be taking Mary with me as my personal maid, do you give me the permission?" Mavis asked.

"Over ma dead body!" The woman shouted and Scrab pounded on her taking a hold of her hand in his iron teeth, she shrieked as he chomped on her flesh.

"Take 'er! Take anythin'! Just git dis monster off me!" The woman shouted in pain and Mavis smiled.

"Scrab, back boy." Mavis calmly said and Scrab obediently let go of his prey's hand and stepped back towards his mistress, "So, we'll be taking our leave now. Mary, why don't you pack your belongings?" Mavis said turning to Mary, who looked at Scrab with terrifying eyes.

"Don't be scared, Mary. He'll not do anything, just go and pack up. We don't have a lot of time." Mavis said patting Mary's back gently.

After a few minutes Mary came down with a trunk, she looked once her aunt who sat in a chair in a corner nursing her injured hand. Mavis smiled as she came down and she asked the coachman to keep the luggage in the carriage outside. Mary stopped admiring the carriage and then looked at Mavis.

"Miss, are ye really goin' ta keep me as yer personal maid?" She asked, not believing and Mavis smiled.

"Yes." 

"But... Why me? And, 'ow do ye know me? Did Flora's soul tell ye about me?" Mary asked and Mavis shook her head as she started stepping in the carriage.

"I did promise ye that I'll pay ye back for da bread, didn't I?" She said and Mary was dumbfounded for a moment before the comprehension settled in and she stared at Mavis with wide eyes before being pulled inside in the carriage by Mavis since there was not much time to waste.