Where Spirits Roam

Chapter Eleven Forgive Me

Removing herself from the bed Eviee’s feet landed softly on the floor and she padded to the door gripping the handle tightly in her small hand. Much to her dismay, she found the door locked and looked to the nightstand where the alarm clock lay to find the time. The bright red numbers read 3:33 am.

From the dream, she should have expected to find the door locked although she had thought they might only lock the door to the sitting room allowing the girls to use the bathroom at night. That was the wrong assumption.

The idea of having zero freedom inside these grand walls reminded her of her time in the asylum. She had no privacy in the cramped white room. The abysmal bed left her body sore most days and the lack of food weakened her. Those were two things she didn't have to worry about here at least.

Eviee knew trying to sleep for the remainder of the night wouldn't happen so, she went to the vanity and pulled her backpack into her lap. She dug until she found her leather-bound sketchbook and pencil laying at the bottom. The sketchbook had been a gift from her art teacher for her birthday. Since then she had managed to fill almost every page with some farfetched creature from her imagination. Eviee thrived on making her drawings as realistic as possible. Flipping to an empty page she knew she wanted to draw her mother and showcase every tiny detail she could remember.

The moment her pencil touched the paper her hands took over moving in perfect rhythm to sketch, blend, and shade to her heart's desire. The sound of the door unlocking drew her attention and Eviee’s eyes found the clock once again taking in the bright red numbers. It is now 7 am. The early morning sunlight had begun to stream into her room without her noticing. Looking at her drawing Eviee let a single tear escape, the face of her beautiful mother stared back, her lovely smile curling her delicate lips.

Footsteps could be heard in the hall signaling that the other girls were awake and moving about. Eviee closed her book shoving it back to the bottom of her bag and grabbed her only change of clothes.

When she approached the bathroom the energy shifted and the two girls leaning on the counter talking stopped mid-sentence leaving her alone. Eviee tried not to let it bother her and moved inside the space quickly changing and brushing her teeth before going back to her room. She could hear their chatter pick back up once her door shut she hardly knew these girls yet that hurt more than anything Charlotte had ever done.

“Girls, breakfast will be served soon, head to the dining hall.” Ms. Magdalen called out down the hall getting all of their attention.

Eviee plastered her emotionless expression back on her face opening her door and waiting until the last girl joined the tight-knit group. She followed a few feet behind them trying hot to eavesdrop on their hushed conversation but it was hard not to pick up on her name being whispered with disdain and fear.

The dining hall held the same magnificence upon entering though the atmosphere had changed. The group who had welcomed Eviee with open arms now intentionally separated themselves leaving her to her own devices.

“Can I sit with you?” Claire’s voice asked in her mind.

Eviee gives a little nod and the sweet blond pulled out the chair next to her sitting with a smile.

“I'm sorry for last night, that shawl is the only thing I have of my mother, and she's dead,” Eviee whispers to Claire keeping her head down to hide her sadness behind her curly locks.

“Oh my God, we had no idea,” Claire exclaims her shocked gasp drawing the other girls' attention. They had been listening without keeping their eyes on the two.

“No idea about what?” Fauna speaks up moving closer.

“I don't know if I should tell,” Claire whispers.

“It's okay, I owe you all an apology for my outburst. I didn't mean to scare anyone. It's just, that shawl, it's the only thing I have from my mother. I never met her when I was left at the orphanage and I recently found out she's dead so I will never have more from her.” Eviee says loud enough for all the girls to hear.

“I’m so sorry,” Fauna says for the group expressing their sympathy.

With her explanation, the girls seem to be less weary and make their way to where she sits.

“It’s okay,” Eviee squeaks.

“We shouldn’t have excluded you.” Nadia murmurs seeming ashamed of herself.

“I understand why you did,” Eviee says giving an understanding smile to her companions.

“So you forgive us?” Katie asks, her visibility flickering.

“I do.”

“Good,” Fauna says getting back to business. “Since that’s handled let’s get back to what we were discussing.”

“Um, actually.” Eviee starts bringing their attention back to her. “I have something I need to tell you all.”

“Oookay,” Fauna draws out her red brow ticking up as she stares at Eviee.

“I don’t know if I should discuss it here.” She whispers.

“Tell Claire through the telepathic link and she’ll decide whether we can talk here,” Fauna instructs.

“Okay.”

“I had a visitor in my dreams last night. She warned me about Ellsworth. He’s dangerous.” Eviee keeps it short not wanting to say everything at once.

“Not here,” Claire says her eyes going wide.

“Meeting in my room when we get upstairs then,” Fauna tells them.

“What’s your power, Eviee?” Jamie asks changing the subject.

“Uh, I’m not really sure,” Eviee confesses her cheeks tinting a bright shade of pink.

“Oh, have you ever used your powers before last night?” Jamie questions.

“Maybe, I’m not entirely sure. To be honest, the ladies at the orphanage sent me to an asylum for the mentally insane so I’ve been told my whole life none of it was real.” Eviee explains hoping she doesn’t scare them off again.

“Well, it’s definitely real, you should’ve seen how your eyes glowed.” Fauna snickers making light of the situation and causing the other girls to giggle.

“Yeah, the look on Ms. Magdalen’s face was priceless.” Nadia chimes in.

“If you had to guess your power what would you say it is?” Jamie asks becoming serious once more.

“Um, I believe I can communicate with the dead,” Eviee whispers looking at her fingers fidgeting under the table.

“Really?” Fauna questions sounding skeptical.

“Yeah really.”

“I think it’s cool.” The dejected tone of Eviee’s voice gets Katie to speak up.

“What’s your power, Jamie?” Eviee asks finally looking up.

“I’m telekinetic. Here let me show you,” Jamie says looking at the fork sitting on the table near Eviee. It rises into the air doing a somersault and lading prongs down sticking up from the table.

“That’s so, wow,” Eviee exclaims.

“If you think that cool watch this,” Fauna brags holding her hand out as small flames begin to dance around her palm.

“And here I am just talking to the dead,” Eviee jokes getting the group to start giggling again.

“Don’t feel bad,” Nadia says, “all I can do is heal quickly, no sun powers for me.”

A shudder makes its way down Eviee’s spine and she meets Nadia’s eyes “that’s a power I would’ve loved to have.”

Their conversation is interrupted when servants enter the dining room placing stacks of pancakes on the table and scurrying away. Taking that as their cue to continue talking away from prying ears they fill their plates and begin eating.