Chapter 9

Elvira stared at them blankly before erupting with laughter "boys if your trying to play me for a fool, you know it wont work besides the Evangaline was the last of Regina Mortuis blood line and she has been dead for hundreds of years why would she just pop up now?"

"That's why you're here Elvira we think it has to do with the prophecy and our curse" Sebastien explained leaning back on his heels and crossing his defined arms across his chest.

"And as a descendent of the Seer Omia - only you can train and identify her abilities" Seamus finished off.

"The prophecy is a bunch of bull and you know it" Elvira hissed back at him "The curse on all of us is because of her ancestors and i refuse to help her in her last life or this one!" She shrieked, turning her pointed nose at me with such hatred.

"Look you bumbling wench, you may be able to weasel your way into my brothers bed as his play thing but I do not have the patience right now so either you will help us or nix forbidden I will rip your vile tongue out" Seamus chimed back almost cheerfully.

He's so strange completely opposite from his brother.

Seamus's threat must have done the trick because I watched as Elviras face paled.

"fine I will help your little pet, but don't expect me to be happy about it" she snapped before marching up to me with a purpose.

"wait what? No way!" I stammered before Elvira gripped my head in her black talon like fingers roughly, sending us in a whirling frenzy of memories as she searched through my mind.

Pain started to build up as Elviras chanting psychologically assaulted me, pushing on the locked parts of my mind. Watching things I kept shut and hidden far away from my consciousness. Dreams and memories I kept buried down in the depths of my soul. Finally breaking through its barriers, a tremor rippled through my body as I let out an earth-shattering scream of agony. The table started to vibrate shattering any of the glassware that was left on it. Plaster crumbled from the walls and sparkling beads dropped from the chandelier above.

"you need to stop" Seamus muttered looking at my seizing form.

The pressure kept building as Elvira pressed harder, invading the strongest parts of my mind while her chanting seemed to blur together in a jumble of words.

"Elvira, I command you to stop" Sebastien demanded.

Kill her child

Kill her for invading our mind like this

The smokey voice taunted, pulling me closer to the dark that wisped like smoke in my consciousness.

The same voice that told me to walk through the black door.

Suddenly Elviras talon like hands were ripped from me, hearing the words "she... and prophecy" before i rushed to meet the darkness.

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My eyes fluttered open as I slowly woke from a dreamless sleep; I was alone in my room with a skull splitting migraine. The softer pitter patter of rain on the window panes making the only sound in the quiet room. Groaning softly I rolled over with a huff enjoying the citrusy scent of the freshly washed bedding enveloping me with its warmth. Throwing the blanket aside I sat up slowly enjoying the strange silence that seemed to blanket the land like a first snow fall. Fog crept through the forest from the rocky mountain ranges in the distance, billowing up like puffs of smoke.

what a dreadfully beautiful morning.

"doo you need help miss" a gentle tinkling voice whispered

Jumping with surprise at the sudden sound I glanced around the room for the source of the voice before recalling the discussion of ghost servants with Seamus.

"um yes please, could you perhaps run me a warm bath?" I choked out to the strange invisible voice hesitantly.

"of course miss" the voice tinkled before a cold air passed by me and the wardrobe next to the bed was opened.

The ghost maiden pulled out a dusty blue coloured dress with gold accents embroidered on the bodice and trumpet sleeves that stretched down to my wrists.

"Miss this shall be your dress for the day, Master Seamus is to show you the town after their business is conducted". The voice explained before the gushing sound of water emanated from the washroom.

Standing up I walked into the bathroom awkwardly not knowing if it was okay to disrobe.

"oh um thank you?" I trailed off slowly realizing I did not know the maids name.

"its Rose miss" the ghost responded shyly before a bottle of soap floated through the air and was dumped into the tub creating large mounds of bubbles to form.

"if that's all miss, I shall go fetch your breakfast" the tinkling voice asked from suddenly beside me.

"Jesus!" I yelped jumping slightly to the side in surprise. "Rose could you maybe stop scaring me like that?" I bit back with slight irritation.

"sorry miss, unfortunately due to a curse on this place I am unable to take a form, the only place you can physically see me is in the mirrors around the castle.. the same goes for the other household staff like me"

Suddenly I felt ashamed at my sudden outburst, she probably would love to be able to have her own form and here I was with my ignorance.

"im sorry, that was rude of me" I apologized before coming up with an idea and walking to the old jewelry box left on the vanity. I rummaged through old brooches and antique rings before pulling out a dainty pearl beaded bracelet with a tiny bell charm. I turned to the floor length mirror and stood in front of it.

"Rose could you come here please?" I asked her. A cool breeze brushed up beside me and a shadowy holographic figure of a young woman with ringlets appeared next to my reflection.

"You are quite pretty" i complimented "I want you to put this on" I explained "so i can know where you are in the room instead of always giving me such a fright" I giggled as we turned to watch me slip the bracelet around her dainty hand.

Hopefully this will work, I prayed silently.

I let go of the bracelet and watched with fascination as the female ghost fondled the dainty jewelry secured around her slender wrist.

"There thats much better" I smiled at her encouragingly "until I can figure out how to lift your curse, could you wear this?

Now i just have to get used to a floating bracelet and tinkling bell i thought humorously.

"Oh miss! Its too much really, I couldn't.." she stammered in surprise.

"Nonsense, besides at least if I ever need any help I know where you'll be!" I waved it off, the bracelet had no value to me anyways.

"Well thank you miss, I really do appreciate it. I must be going now but I shall be back" and with that she floated off through the door to attend to her duties.

Turning back I dusted off my hands and treaded back to the tub, stripping out of my nightgown and slipping into the soothing waters.

Mm this is absolutely wonderful.

I revelled in the delightful contrast of the warm water and the slightly chilly air for some time before deciding it was time to get dressed.

My headache had greatly subsided but i needed answers about where i am, why i am here and what exactly happened yesterday.

Pulling myself out of the tub and wringing my hair into a loose chignon before slipping on the dress that Rose had laid out for me.

I twirled daintily fixing my skirts around me properly. The dress was a dusty blue with gold embroidery stitched into the corseted bodice, the billowy sleeves sat below my shoulders and draped past my wrists. The matching gold embroidery covered the small train and blended up into the puffy skirts of the dress. It made me feel like a beautiful rain cloud.

Giving myself a once over i opened the door and peered out into the hallway. Once i felt as though the coast was clear, i slipped barefoot down the worn burgundy carpeted hallways in search of Seamus.

"Anywhere your off to specifically miss?" A tinny voice echoed through the hall lined with old armoured suits.

I turned around looking for the source of the voice. "Are you a ghost?" I asked mystified.

"No I'm a knight you dim witted girl" the voice snapped irritated before the clang of metal caught my attention.

Walking up to one of the suits of armour that looked slightly out of place compared to the others i asked "are you speaking to me?" I whispered more to myself then the suit of armour.

"Of course i am you silly girl!" The helmet hopped up and down as though there was a person in there mechanically moving the helmet around.

"could you possibly show me which way to the kitchen?" I lied, surprised at my lack of reactivity to the new found discovery.

Startlingly enough the armour arm moved slowly to point down the hall. "It is that way" he grumbled before returning to his original position and stilling.

"Thank you very much" i curtseyed before walking off in the direction the tin man had pointed to me.

This is all quite strange isnt it? I thought "tis only a dream but i slowly find myself wishing it would never end."