a new dawn, a new day, a new life {open}

[Grace Claudia-Jackson]

She smiled, looking up at the new shop with sudden pride. It had always been her dream, and now it had finally come true; Grace's Shop of Horrors was finally ready to be opened. She knew that she had completed it in an unnaturally short amount of time and that the neighbouring shops and residents would question how she'd manage, but she already knew the answer; 'I've been preparing for this my whole life, and just waiting for the oppurtunity'.

Proudly, she walked through the door and flipped the sign from 'closed' to 'open'.

She knew that she couldn't handle this alone. She had gathered a friend - a police officer called Mel - to work whenever he could, including the first day, though he admitted that he would not be able to help on most days.

The first thing she did was add a sign to the new window saying 'Help Wanted'. Although she didn't write it, she knew she wanted a student or teacher to take the job, since she would only really need the extra help when school was out.

Nervously, she sat down on the seat infront of her till, waiting for the new customers to appear.

[Brynn Ciel Devereux]

Brynn had heard rumors of why Ms. Jackson had quit almost all of them revolving around the death of Mayu and Melville. Some of them blamed her for the spirits all around and he knew of course that she had let them out but it was an accident. Anyways another rumor he was hearing was that she had opened a shop at her home.

It was the weekend and with not much to do Brynn decided to confirm this rumor. He slowly began walking toward what he thought was Ms. Jackson's house. After a brisk walk he soon found himself face to face with her house and an open sign. SO it was true. Brynn walked inside the shop to see firstly Ms. Jackson for once not in a suit. "Hey Ms. Jackson." He said with a smile. "So I guess it's true you opened a shop." Brynn walked over to a shelf examining the contents of it with curiosity.

[Grace Claudia-Jackson]

She smiled widely, instantly perking up and getting off her seat. Her first customer; even if it was probably more of a curiousity or social visit. "Good to see you, Brynn." she said with a smile, with interest looking over the same things that Brynn was looking at and remembering all of the little trinkets she had worked so hard to collect for her shop. "But please, we're outside of school - call me Grace," she said, still finding it a little strange to convince herself that these were no longer her students.

She smiled absently, looking around herself. Again and again she found more that she had forgotten about. "You like?" she asked, finding herself blushing slightly. It had taken a lot of hard work, and sometimes she just needed someone to convince her she had done a half-decent job.

[Brynn Ciel Devereux]

Brynn smiled placing a gemstone down. He looked at the shop amazed by her work. "It's great...uh Grace." The name felt word in his mouth but regardless the shop really was amazing. "Did you buy all these things?" He said looking at some very beautiful candles and bowls. He walked to some of the scrying tools and divination objects. "This must have taken forever to put together."

[Grace Claudia-Jackson]

She smiled, walking around from the counter and walking up beside Brynn. She had promised herself to not seem too intimidating, but this was only Brynn, right? "It took a long time to get them all..." she said, smiling as she put her hands together, looking around the shelves for what she was looking for. "Most of which I can luckily replace once their sold, so I can sell anything which gets popular again and again..." she said, crouching down and pulling out a drawer out of an ornate cabinate.

She whispered a few words under her breath, as the bottom of the draw disappeared, revealing a new selection of tiny magical trinkets. She smiled, standing up, "I also unofficially sell Necromancy goods - only for protection from necromancy, of course... though I still need to keep a close eye on who looks at them." she told him.

[Brynn Ciel Devereux]

Brynn tore his attention from some very old antique books too the drawer Ms. Jackson just pulled out. "Wow..." He said reaching to pick up a small silver dagger used in rituals. "These must be expensive." He said placing the cold metal down with a light thunk. He looked over at a black book. It was the same one Ms. Jackson had taken from Brynn and Anto at the library so long ago. The book that maybe led to all the trouble happening today. He didn't touch it. "Wow..." He said with a smile.

[Grace Claudia-Jackson]

She gave a half smile, putting down the draw where Brynn could see it clearly but she could let it down. "Wow indeed," she said, moving back over to her seat behind the counter, resting her arms down on the cold wood next to the till. "I really wasn't sure about selling most of them... but it's not like that situation can get much worse." she said with a sigh, resting her chin against her hand. "Right now I just would like to protect the students - or at least those who I know I can trust to not abuse the power those items have."

[Brynn Ciel Devereux]

He nodded slowly looking at a deep blood red ruby about the size of a nickel. It had a shiny glow to it. "Ms. Jackson I couldn't help but notice the help wanted sign." Brynn said with a smile not minding working here. "I'd be interested in working here." He smiled looking up at her. "But I mean it's up to you." He said picking up the jewel feeling a heat coming from it. He placed it down and picked up another jewel exactly like the ruby only blue and cold and slightly clammy. When he placed it down his hands felt wet. Brynn wiped them on his shirt but they were seemingly dry.

[Grace Claudia-Jackson]

She smiled at his attempt at wiping down the stone's affects, knowing that it was perfectly harmless. She leaned closer at the proposal, not quite sure how she was meant to feel, but it was definitely happy; "Really? Are you sure it wouldn't interfere with your studies?" she asked cautiously, worried that he would turn around and find some excuse against it.

[Brynn Ciel Devereux]

Brynn smiled looking at Ms. Jackson. "Of course it won't interrupt with my studies. I'm pretty good in all my subjects anyways." He said with a small grin. "I'd love to work here just give me the ok." He said stepping back from the box looking at Grace. "Oh and I get employee discount." He said jokingly.

[Grace Claudia-Jackson]

She pulled herself up off the desk, giving him a dubious look, but had to admit that she had only heard good things from her teachers. "Alright..." she said slowly. "Fine, I can think of no one better for the job. Just let me know when you can and can't work. And discount... lets say a 10% discount?" she said, accepting that he was joking but realising it would be cruel to refuse even that.

The bell on the door chimed as it opened widely, letting in the cold. "Ah, Mel." she said softly, turning from Brynn to the new person and back again. "Brynn, this is my friend Mel. He will be working here too." she said.

The man nodded. He was a little older than Grace, and looked cold, a dark look on his face as he grunted a hello, before running round to the back of the shop quickly out of sight.

"He... has a lot on at the moment," Grace tried to explain with a shrug.

[Brynn Ciel Devereux]

Brynn smiled. He had a job finally and at a great place too. "Thanks Ms. Jackson, I can call you that since you're my boss now right?" He said smiling. It felt right to call her Ms. Jackson. He walked to another shelf. "I'm really good for most days just tell me when you need me."

Brynn noticed the new figure. Mel. It brought flashbacks but he shook them off watching his go into the back. He walked to Ms. Jackson curious to what was wrong. "Uhm do you mind if I ask what is wrong?" He said looking at her his naturally curiosity getting at him.

[Grace Claudia-Jackson]

She smiled and shrugged, knowing it was a losing battle against her name, but she didn't mind. She understood how odd it must have felt to have lost her as a teacher but still kept in touch. She actually enjoyed the subtle reminder that she was no longer Mrs Mirrora, a fact that she praised every day for.

She sighed, looking past the door that Melville had just gone up, tracing his heavy footprints right up the stairs, each step a slam into the boards. "He's the police Sargent of Henton... I can only assume that he's been on the case of the two student's deaths, since that was when this foul mood began. I don't suppose he's getting many answers, either." she said with a sigh, looking around herself cautiously and leaning forwards, making sure no one else could hear, "From what I heard, they already proved that it was an accident, but Melville - Sargent Melville - is adamant that it wasn't. There were even extra police here to make sure he didn't crash the funeral." she finished, shaking her head grimly. It made her very sad to see her friend going through such pain, but she didn't want to leave Brynn in the dark if he was to be working alongside him.

[Brynn Ciel Devereux]

Brynn smiled winning the battle of her name. "Wow..." He said quietly. It was an accident kind of right? "I hope he finds what he needs." Brynn said quietly. He looked at the clock on the wall. "Oh, I need to go Ms. Jackson." He said walking to the door. He stopped pulling out a piece of paper writing his number down. "Call me when you need me to come in or have some schedule." Brynn handed her the paper waving and heading out the door to the school.

-Ze finite-