Where Spirits Roam

Chapter Twenty-Two Inside Now

Jamie's spirit clings to Eviee in her fear of being left alone. She felt horrible for putting Eviee further into Ellsworth's sights but she was only trying to save herself. Even if she roamed near the garden anything is better than the shallow grave her body was left to rot in. The sound of footsteps approaching sends Jamie into a panic and her spirit flickers out of sight.

“What are you girls doing out here?” The tall broad shouldered guard asks his hand immediately moving to rest menacingly on his gun.

The girls huddle closer together aware of the drugged dart tips.

“We were getting some fresh air in the garden but we were just heading back inside since it looks as if it's about to rain again.” Fauna easily lies her smooth tone and even facial expression making the guard relax a little.

His hand still wavers near his gun but the hardened expression he wore softens.

“The sun is setting you girls need to get back inside now,”

His tone is less cut-throat this time around and the girls maneuver around him giving him a won't berth while heading for the door.

Their bodies press close together, and their feet shuffle against the sidewalk.

Fauna allows her fire to dance on the edge of erupting in case the guard's mood changes and they need to defend themselves. She walks with her back to the others until she hears the sound of the door opening and is able to step over the small ledge into the house and out of the guard's sight.

The girls breathe a sigh of relief as they fall into the false safety of Fauna’s room.

“Ahhh,” Eviee releases a scream jumping and spinning to face the wall behind her.

“What's wrong?” Fauna asks immediately on guard again.

Eviee relaxes although her and still hovers over her heart.

“Jamies here she tapped me on the shoulder,” Eviee says looking at Fauna and the other girl extinguishes her fire. “As for you Jamie you can't scare me like that!” Eviee grumbles turning back to the girl.

“You should've seen your face,” Jamie quips a smile appearing on her face. “I could get used to being invisible.”

“I'm—,” Eviee starts and is cut off by a knock at the door.

“Who is it?” Fauna calls her hand hovering near the handle a flame at the ready.

She had learned to gather her fore quickly with the sudden need to defend herself and her friends.

“It's me,” the voice of the older caretaker grunts from the other side.

“Ugh,” Fauna groans pulling the door open to reveal the round woman.

“Girls, your presence is requested at dinner,” Ms. Magdalen replies a hint of annoyance in her voice at always being the messenger.

Her eyes flash angrily as Fauna slams the door in her face.

“I hate eating with that man, I want to burn him to a crisp,” Fauna growls her face twisting into a sneer.

“Us too,” Nadia agrees for everyone.

“We have to go though or he’ll know we know something happened to Jamie,” Claire adds.

As always she speaks with a wisdom beyond her years.

“I know, I just can't stand his stupid face,” Fauna snarls.

“Imagine it hovering over yours and his putrid breath on your cheek,” Eviee says shivering in disgust.

“Eww, I did not need that image in my mind,” Nadia fake gags poking her tongue out while sticking her finger in her mouth.

“It will be burned in mine forever,” Eviee whispers.

“Mine too,” Jamie agrees placing her see-through hand on Eviee’s shoulder.

The girls share a look that says more than any words. Jamie understands firsthand how evil and vile Ellsworth is. She after all lost her life to the cruel man.

Tears threaten to spill as Eviee’s vision becomes blurry and she blinks rapidly trying to push them away. Now is not the time to let her emotions run free. She would grieve all her losses when she and the rest of her friends were safe.

“Girls, do not make me tell you again. Dinner, NOW!” Ms. Magdalen yells from the hall.

Fauna rolls her eyes swinging the door open. “We heard you the first time,” she growls as she leaves the room.

They follow Fauna from the room passing a pale-stricken Ms. Magdalen in the hall.

The woman hated how these girls behaved she was glad when they were confined to their rooms it gave her time to herself. She never understood why she signed up for the job. She needed the money, yes, however, she didn't like teenagers when she was one and they had only grown worse. This is also not what she had agreed to. She was under the impression she would have one charge, not six, granted it was five at the moment and she was happy for the break. Smiling at these girls even when she wanted to strangle them is becoming trying and Magdalen wants to demand respect. Her fists ball her apron and she purses her fighting the urge to smack the red-haired demon child as she passes. She was by far the most intolerable of them all in Magdalen’s opinion.

“The hell is her problem?” Fauna scoffs when they're out of Ms. Magdalen’s earshot.

“I don't know but she looked pissed,” Nadia answers.

They make their way down to the dining hall and slip through the large grand doors, filling their chairs at the end of the table. Even Jamie takes her seat though a sour expression rests on her face.

“What's wrong?” Eviee whispers starting at Jamie.

“I'll never get to taste food again,” Jamie pouts.

The doors swing open and Ellsworth waltz into the room. Jamie disappears from sight a gust of wind stirring the tablecloth at the end where she was seated the only sign she had been there to begin with.

“Good evening Ladies,” Ellsworth greets. “Did you enjoy your walk in my garden?” He asks enjoying how their faces fall.

He knew everything they did. He knew from the moment they awoke to the moment they fell asleep. This is his domain and he is king.

“We did, thank you,” Claire speaks shocking everyone. “The flowers are lovely.”

Ellsworth quickly covers his look of shock adjusting his cufflinks, the shiny silver catching the light as he does.

“If you enjoyed them now just wait until they're in full bloom with my Constance at their center,” Ellsworth boasts his eyes taking on a glazed look.

“I'm sure it is a sight to behold,” Claire agrees.

Ellsworth is lost in his thoughts remembering the days in which Constance walked amongst his flowers. She was more beautiful than them all in his opinion. The plants were but weeds in her presence and Ellsworth was sure Constance knew it, he told her so many times. He could not wait to tell her again which brings him back to the present and the girls sitting before him.

He is ready to move forward with his plan.

Collecting his thoughts and refocusing on the young ladies at the end of the table he opens his mouth to speak. “Beginning tomorrow each of you will be required to join me in the training room to practice using your gifts in conjunction.”

He pauses watching as they stare at him in bewilderment, fear clearly etched into their features.

Worry settles over Eviee, she has a bad feeling about these training sessions. Whatever Ellsworth is up to it will not benefit them.

“What are we practicing,” Fauna uses her fingers to make air quotes around the word practicing, “using our gifts for?” she asks.

“It is not yet time for you to know, child. All will be revealed in due time. For the time being, I need you all to learn to work as a team and grow together. Your stunt earlier this week proved how far you are from working together to harness the true depth of your powers.”

He is not wrong. Ellsworth continues watching them as he spoke noticing the subtle changes in emotion passing through their eyes. The only one he couldn't read is Eviee. Her mask is up and she could fool the world with her blank expression. However, he knew her mind was already moving a mile a minute.

Eviee replayed Ellsworth’s words over in her mind again and again trying to pinpoint anything that could explain what they were in for but nothing made sense. She thought back to the first conversation and how he claimed to want them to be their best and how he still used that as an excuse. The one constant in all of this is Constance. Ellsworth would do anything to have her beside him. ‘Is she the reason?’ Eviee asks herself meeting the man's unwavering gaze that has settled on her.

“Penny for your thoughts, Eviee?” Ellsworth proposes.

All the pennies in the world could not and would not make her divulge the nugget of truth embedding itself in her.

She plasters a fake smile on her face “Just wondering when dinner will be served, I'm starved,” Eviee announces, and her stomach rumbles, the loud growl offering itself at the appropriate time to aid her in changing the subject.

Ellsworth could push Eviee though he would probably not get a different answer. He let her off the hook. Calling the servants they lay out the dinner rations.

He knew she had been thinking, calculating his moves. Her mother had always been intuitive. The women with her gift always were. He had to be more careful. The only time he had ever managed to be one step ahead of Elena is when he killed her. She had not been expecting death, at least not in the form that he had thrust upon her. The same went for her mother. They had once been great friends she is the reason he met his Constance. She is also the reason his Constance is dead.

“Excuse me,” Ellsworth grunts shocking his chair back and standing with a screech.

He rushes from the dining room escaping into his study.

The memories beat down on him. He should have been smarter. The blame and shame he feels cover him like a thick blanket resting upon his body. Trying to shake the thoughts, Ellsworth falls into his chair shutting his eyes tight.