Ugh, how do these things keep happening?
A haze of hot mist blurred her reflection, she took the cue and stepped into the box of steam. Standing under the rain of comfort, her body relaxed as she soaked in the peace. She had a feeling this would be the only quiet for a while. Life at the Academy was about to get a whole new meaning.
After a few minutes of bliss, she turned off the water and toweled off. Another aspect of the living she could leave behind, and yet, something kept drawing her in to perform even the most mundane tasks of the life she once knew. When she was ready, she opted for a stroll instead of gliding. It took a few minutes longer, but she enjoyed basking in the sunshine.
Ophelia rounded the corner of the library and slid through the honey oak doors. Her friends were seated at one of the many rectangular tables in the center of the room. Surrounded on all four sides by books dating back to the twelfth century, Ophelia stood for a moment taking in the aroma. It tickled her nostrils and surrounded her mind with exhilaration. She was the sponge to the waterfall of knowledge contained in this room. Its sole purpose to deliver pleasure to her waiting senses.
“Over here. What are you doing?” Amry smiled.
“Just taking it all in.” Ophelia sat down.
“Honestly, you make me laugh. You're here just about every day of the week and it still excites you.”
“Yup. There’s so much to learn. The information is practically endless. Why, don’t you feel like that?”
“Well, sure. I like coming here, but it doesn’t quite affect me the same way. Are you okay today?”
“Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?” Ophelia’s eyes widened.
“You weren’t yourself yesterday. I mean you were, but extra stressed. Sort of mousy. I barely heard you utter a word all day. Was it because we were called into the Headmaster's office?”
“No. It wasn’t the highlight of my day. You know I hate dealing with adults, but that wasn’t it.” Ophelia looked away.
“What then?” Amry reached out and patted Ophelia’s hand.
“It was my anniversary.” Ophelia's voice shook.
“Oh. I’m so sorry. I forgot. No wonder you were a bundle of nerves.”
“It’s okay. It’s over, and time to move on.”
“Hey, what happened to your face?’ Amry reached out but Ophelia quickly retracted.
“Don’t. The damn thing is throbbing. Kyle thought it would be a good idea to throw rocks at my window.” Ophelia’s eyes narrowed.
“Kyle, you’re an idiot.” Amry glared at him.
“What? It was an accident. I told her I was sorry.”
“He did.” Bethany chimed in.
“Can we get on with this? Zachary gets here in twenty minutes.” Ophelia glanced at the antique clock on the wall. "We don't interact, just observe. If any one of us sees Zachary acting strange or doing something he shouldn't, we report it immediately to the Headmaster, right?"
Ophelia trembled as a cool breeze swept across the base of the neck. She shivered. Whipping her head around, a shadow danced across the glass of the large rectangular window toward the back of the room.
"Did you see that?" Ophelia whispered.
"What?" Amry leaned in.
"That shadow? It was right behind us."
"I didn't see anything, but we better get it together. It's almost time." Amry nervously tapped her foot.
“I think he’s here.” Ophelia pointed at the door.
Everyone in the room stopped what they were reading to look up. The air carried a feeling of discontent that wrapped itself around the room squeezing out every drop of pleasure.
Mr. Coal and Mr. Rain wedged the male teen between them, escorting him to the information desk.
Zachary was tall, towering over the khaki twins. Mr. Rain and Mr. Coal didn't seem to notice. They had a firm grip on each of his arms, establishing who was in charge. His tousled brown hair and grey skin were the frame for his bulging blue eyes.
Ophelia tightened the hold on her stomach, leaning forward just enough to sooth the pain. Her anxiety had gone from ten to a hundred in the past twenty seconds.
Zachary scanned the room and stopped when his gaze met Amry. Not the type of girl to back down, she locked his stare with her own. Neither blinked. A maniacal curl of the lip almost led to words vomiting out of his mouth, but Mr. Rain tugged firmly on his arm, knocking Zachary slightly off balance and breaking his link with Amry.
Ophelia let out a long shaky breath. Remaining in solid form took a good portion of their energy. They had agreed to try and remain as opaque as possible, to appear strong. But it took its toll and Ophelia wavered, her celestial fluttered like ripples in the water.
"It’s quite all right, you're dead. Let it go, my dear," A gruff voice scraped her ears.
Ophelia jumped. I guess Mr. Rain's grip wasn't as tight as he thought.
"Miss. The tiny one. Did you hear me?”
Zachary's words disturbed her. Like a knife, they pierced through her ghostly shell and ripped open the cavity where her heart once was. It had been so long since she had seen her family. Her mother and father must have been inconsolable the day she and Haven started their beginning.
It was spring, her favorite season. The trees were growing fat with new, lush green leaves, and flowers bloomed the most brilliant hues of pink, purple and yellow. The air transitioned from an early chill to a mid- morning warmth that was perfect for tea and toast on the sun-drenched porch. Her mother had asked if she would watch Haven for a few hours while both parents did some shopping in town. The following week, her little sister would turn eight and they wanted to surprise her. They were picking up a brand-new dollhouse that her dad had ordered from England.
Ophelia didn’t mind. She liked spending time with her. As siblings go, they were close. Maybe it was the large span of years between them, Ophelia felt more like an aunt than a big sister. Whatever the reason, it was fine with her.
Their parents had been gone for about an hour, and Haven was playing in the front yard. Ophelia had nestled into a rocker on the porch and was reading one of her favorite books, Molly Make-Believe by Eleanor Hallowell Abbott. Rarely did a motor car come down their street, but they had been instructed by their father to stay away when it did. Ophelia set her book on a side table when she heard the honking of a horn in the distance. Standing to see which direction it was coming from, she noticed Haven running out into the road to retrieve a ball that had gotten away.
Ophelia bolted down the five steps and across the lawn in time to see the car coming from the right, and her sister facing the other way. Without a thought, she ran into the middle of the road and wrapped her arms around Haven, before hearing a dissonant thud. When she woke up, her sister was running toward a man standing at the end of the block. She screamed for her to come back, but it was too late. He and Haven were gone.
Through the years she was able to find out the man was a Soul Gatherer. He takes the newly deceased when their spirits are confused and lures them with hope. He especially likes the innocence of children. No one is sure where he keeps them, but a few have been able to escape. Most of them adults. Once they leave, all their knowledge of his location fades away.
Perhaps he can cast a powerful spell, no one is sure. What they can remember, is unending sadness. Ophelia surmised he must be lost himself. Protectors, like Mr. Coal and Mr. Rain, have tried through the years to find his hidden sanctuary, but each time they get close, he manages to cloak his secret once again. The light had come for her several times over the past one hundred years and it will keep coming, until she finds Haven.