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Post by Grace Claudia-Jackson on Dec 8, 2009 15:48:24 GMT
Ms Jackson walked down the corridor, goosebumps running all over her arms. She had remembered how she had felt last time, however, and made sure for their first unofficial lesson of Necromancy in practise, she would cover her body in warmth. She wore a thick, long coat, and underneith it a matching pin stripe jacket and trouser set, with a pink shirt underneith. It was practical, formal, and most of all it was one of the warmest suits she had.
The heels of her tall leather boots, hidden under her trousers, clipped across the corridors; the only sound around for miles. She snuck looks into the other classrooms, memories of older times flooding back to her - it was hard to believe that some of these atrosities were only shut down less than twenty years ago.
Finally, she reached the door that she had been waiting for; she looked up at it, taking a deep breath as she approached. Her heart skipped a beat, and her steps suddenly became irregular, struggling to walk on her heels. She almost ran to stand perfectly in front of the door, her breath shaking as her eyes scanned the doors: She didn't know what it meant, but she knew it did not bode well.
The pannelled doors still stood firmly shut, the lock fully in place, the picture the exact same as before, but for one small difference. On one side of the door, the thick black onxy that covered the pannels had a large, deep crack running through, revealing the soft line of wood underneath.
She looked around herself quickly; neither of her students were there yet. She looked at the door, and knew it was foolish but found her curiousity taking over. Her hand was at the lock, opening it quickly with a large clunk. The door flew open, and she looked inside.
Everything looked normal.
Her heart was beating fast as she looked in to her nightmare, swalllowing a breath as she took the first step. And then another. She stood in the center of the room, still finding it hard to breath as she waited for the horror to unfold.
It never did, and in that, a worse horror revealed itself; the room was empty. There were no spirits, no crying souls, nothing. Her eyes widened, and looked at the door, scanning it over with wetting eyes, saying, "What have I done...?"
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Post by Antosha Cobb on Dec 8, 2009 20:55:00 GMT
Antosha had been following Ms Jackson from the moment she had stepped into the library, keeping his footsteps quiet against the cold floor. The familiar torrent of voices were absent from the corridors, the feeling of hopelessness he had felt last time had vanished. Where were the souls, the pain and their suffering? His breath quickened, feeling a dark fear wash over him. They were gone, all of them. Escaped from the room.
He moved faster, trying not to run. As he reached the door he noticed it slightly ajar, open just a fraction. Antosha peered inside, not wanting to make any sound. Ms Jackson was standing in the center, staring at this very door he clung to. His hand brushed against a break in the door. Antosha backed away, looking at the crack in the ancient door, it was oddly bright amongst the dark onyx wood.
He entered the room and stood beside Ms Jackson, taking in the room. Nothing was pulling at him, there were no dark temptations, it was silent. Only traces of the dark aura were detectable, and as he moved his hand through them, they too faded away. "What happened?" he asked, his eyes became glassy and milky.
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Post by Grace Claudia-Jackson on Dec 8, 2009 21:16:11 GMT
She jumped at the voice, not even noticing Antosha was there, though she had been staring blankly at the door for several minutes, probably staring straight at him. Her breathing quickened, and she looked at the boy, barely unable to think of what she was saying, "The souls... they're gone. I-I never even questioned why they were in this room. I should have sensed... I should have felt them leave with us." she said, looking back at the door, her eyes losing focus. "We left so quickly I barely even noticed the door... was it broken then?" she shook her head, her tight bun letting out wild strands of hair, "No, not that it matters..."
She suddenly stared at Antosha, her eyes cold and fixed, a strained desperation in her eyes. She had the look of a leader, suddenly, "Antosha, the majority of the spirits will not have gone far; they are attached to the school, supposedly, and there is much to distract them here. They will be almost indistinguishable from the free roaming spirits, but many of these may be dangerous. They will try at all costs to avoid me, most likely, which is why I need your help...." she needed a confirmation from him, though she knew there wouldn't be much choice. This was very real, and very dangerous, and if he didn't help then children - or even his friends - could be killed, or worse.
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Post by Antosha Cobb on Dec 8, 2009 21:21:42 GMT
Antosha closed his eyes and focused, not knowing what he was doing. "Mayu thought that Diane might be possessed, after they had talked she came to tell me. I'm not sure if Diane has told you yet. How will I be able to find the spirits?" he asked, keeping his voice smooth like glass. Brynn had better get here soon, because now they would have to do this pretty much alone. Unless they just posted a notice in the entrance, which was entirely impossible.
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Post by Grace Claudia-Jackson on Dec 8, 2009 21:29:26 GMT
Grace drew in a sharp intake of breath. So, there was already one that was suffering, and a friend of Antosha's and Brynn's, as well. She nodded thoughtfully, thinking very closely about what she was saying, "Antosha, it is very important you don't let her know that you think that. She hasn't come to me yet, and chances are she - or whoever is possessing her - is avoiding me. If the spirit becomes scared, or thinks they're in danger..." she didn't want to end her sentence, but was pretty sure Antosha knew what she was thinking. If a spirit controlled a body, they controlled everything; including their heart and lungs. "She trusts you, I assume. Take her to a safe room, somewhere where she can't leave, and let me know. I assume Seru has taught you how to project directions and thoughts?"
She nodded to herself, telling him quickly, "We'll have to deal with them one at a time. When you come back, I will cast a spell on you so you can tell if any other students are being followed. Are you alright to do this?"
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Post by Antosha Cobb on Dec 8, 2009 21:44:30 GMT
Antosha winced, quickly pulling himself out of her head. "From what I can tell the spirit isn't doing a full-time possession, her mood only changes under specific circumstances. If I were able to read emotions from the dead, I might be able to tell you more. But because I can't I only have theories about it. I think the spirit, for whatever reason, recognizes Diane as someone else and has made an attachment to her. If it were still alive, it's actions could be considered out of jealousy. Also, for her almost fainting after the first 'spell', I think it's because the spirit possessed her but forgot to make her breath. But please, that's just theory. It could just be a random possession, and the spirit is just weak." he explained, not realizing he had been lecturing. "Of course I'm alright to do this." he laughed, though nothing seemed funny at the moment.
Antosha closed his eyes, planning to quickly send a thought to Brynn as Seru had taught him. 'Old Necro room, come quick.' he let the thought lay at the edges of Brynn's barrier, sending an urgent emotion spreading through his surface thoughts.
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Post by Grace Claudia-Jackson on Dec 8, 2009 21:55:27 GMT
She nodded, listening calmly to each of his ideas. It did not bode well; she only knew of one sort of possession that lasted for such small amount of time, and had the ability to make her 'forget' to breath. "Sounds like a puppeteer possession..." she said slowly, biting her bottom lip. That would make things difficult. "Let's hope its not..." she thought aloud, and then suddenly though; "Diane... she's the girl that broke her arm recently, isn't she?" she asked, suddenly praying that the arm was not a cause of the spirit.
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Post by Antosha Cobb on Dec 8, 2009 22:01:54 GMT
Antosha bit his lip, not wanting to spill on their activities in the garden. "She was threatened, I don't think it was the spirit... Yes, it was a human man. I didn't sense any true evil from her memories, mainly just fear and his greed. Does that help?" everything about the garden was left out, since it had no importance.
"A puppeteer possession? My books didn't contain anything about that, what is it exactly?" he asked, curiosity getting the better of him. Suddenly, he felt his old passion for the subject grab a hold, commanding his total attention to her words.
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Post by Grace Claudia-Jackson on Dec 8, 2009 22:08:50 GMT
She looked down, and then back to Antosha, "I'm very sorry to hear that. Once this is over, if you could let her know that I'd be willing to help in any way possible...?" she bit her lip, realising that she was straying from the point.
"Diane looks a lot like one of my old classmates, and it's likely that this spirit is under the impression that it's her." she let out a low sigh, and said slowly, "If... If it is a puppeteer possession, then it means that the spirit never enters the body, so we can't perform an exorcism. It means that they push out any thoughts of the victim, and have complete control over their body. It can't last long, and if they get distracted... then it's very easy for them to forget to make the body work." she looked at Antosha. "They're rare, and it's possible she doesn't have this. Or any possession. We can only hope."
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Post by Antosha Cobb on Dec 8, 2009 22:16:16 GMT
Antosha nodded, looking away. "Brynn is late." he stated, dramatically changing the subject. It was depressing him, nothing about possessions was good. Why did they meet here anyway? For Necromancy? Somehow it seemed so stupid compared to what was going on. "Do you think if we moved things around in here we might attract the spirits?" he asked, it was a stupid idea but it was the best he could think of.
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Post by Grace Claudia-Jackson on Dec 8, 2009 22:24:43 GMT
She looked around herself, kicking at the dusty floor, her boots tracing the lines which she had put in before. "Spirits only desire life; it is everything they crave and are deprived of." she said with a sigh, "They are usually not dangerous. They are with us all of the time usually and we never notice. Only when they are a higher level, as this room has made them, are they dangerous." she said, looking around. "I think all we can hope to achieve is relinquishing their power, or forcing them to move to the next stage of death, whatever that might be." She could tell that Antosha was feeling uncomfortable, and she too felt the pain. She had intended for him to realise just how foolish meddling with these powers was, but she had never intended something so horrible.
"Antosha..." she said slowly, before changing her mind, turning to another subject, "Only tell Brynn if you know he can lie for you. If this spirit suspects something, then it will all go wrong. And they say no one can lie like the ignorant..."
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Post by Antosha Cobb on Dec 8, 2009 22:31:52 GMT
Antosha looked up at Ms Jackson, debating whether or not to tell Brynn. "I think he can be trusted, but your the better judge. As it is, I've seen him lie to himself, but not to others. Though, I'm not sure he could handle it, and eventually he would find out." he said truthfully, cocking his head to the right. He couldn't answer he question with a yes or no, this was more important then some petty love denial. Part of him trusted Brynn, the other part said trust no one but Ms Jackson. Unless she became possessed, which might be possible. "Ms Jackson. Can you prevent a possession?" he asked seriously, focusing his eyes on hers. A small tendril of his thoughts breached the edge of her mind, though he was unaware of it.
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Post by Grace Claudia-Jackson on Dec 8, 2009 22:42:41 GMT
She stopped, trying to think of what to say, to either of his queries. "I do not know Brynn enough, Antosha. I have no doubt he will find out, and perhaps that moment will be dangerous, but it is up to you..." she told him. She knew it wasn't very useful, but she felt unable to make many decisions at that time.
"As for your other query..." she spoke slowly, walking through the room, trying desperately to try and feel if there were any other spirits... just one... "I actually was, ironically perhaps, going to show you that today." she said, looking back at him with a smile. "It requires finding a spirit guide, who can ward off the evil you cannot even see and be your channel into the world of the dead. Essentially, a spirit will be your wand." she put her hands on her sides, looking around herself, "Unfortunately, you need spirits in order to do that..."
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Post by Antosha Cobb on Dec 8, 2009 22:54:44 GMT
Antosha cocked his head again, staring at her. "You had just located one in this room." he pointed out. He kept up with his reading surface thoughts, though now he would do it on purpose rather then just randomly intruding. She had mentioned a wand, which he had broken ages ago, so what does that leave him to do?
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Post by Grace Claudia-Jackson on Dec 8, 2009 23:03:43 GMT
She looked at him blinking, trying to work out exactly what he was talking about. It took her a moment for her to realise that he had been reading her thoughts, and a moment longer to remember what she had thought, "Oh! You- Oh, no that's not what I meant..." she said, her words falling on top of each other. "No, there are no spirits. Well..." she gave a smile smile, "Except for my spirit guide, that is." she added; she always forgot that one when thinking of the spirits.
She came closer to him, starting to feel now more than ever their lesson was important. "When Brynn gets here we'll go to the Garden and find you two spirit guides to protect you. I felt a large collection of spirits there recently, and it's a good, out of the way place."
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