(Welcome to this story, i've been editing and re-editing what feels like ages now and ams till working on uploading new chapters)
Sharp whispers, dancing shadows, a chance to know the beyond!
When she thought about it Daphne Anne Blake couldn't feel her averagely deemed burden was nothing short of a stout of untapped potential.
The world was constantly seeking out answers it seemed. Too bad that the world didn't seem to believe her. It was too bad that every time she brought it up, she raised walls between herself and the so called didn't matter what she stated, what she saw, or what she didn't matter how true it could checked out to be would always return void.
Her gift was something everyone sought to hinder or make her silent about.
Which in her books was not fair in slight! It wasn't her fault that it was Something others struggled to understand!
Something her own parents acted ashamed over. Something that she would yet again find herself sent to the principal's office over. Something that Daphne wished she could make excuses for. To just instead pretend never occurred. That she was in fact your average Mary Sue rather than a Morticia Addams.
Dreading she had even glanced up the stairwell today, Daphne scuffed the creamy coffee toned walls with the tip of her knee high converse boot in idle frustration that she was in the office, yet again this week.
The dripping slurping gurgles. The way his eyes whirled in waves unknown. The way she watched him again and again meet his end... Daphne had to admit she wasn't trying to top her own episodes day by day, but today she couldn't help the scream.
This time her senses were far more emphatic than she had ever aspired. She had felt the burn of a rope hugging her own throat. The chill of the cove's waters soon drafting over her. The terror and panic of those last moments Gavin's life finished off with.
It came to no shock that she had tumbled down the stairs in result and had half of the school peering out of their rooms at her. So it really shouldn't of been a shocker she was thrown into the office again. Helping others once more feel better that the system would do something about her so often thought crazy ignorance was bliss after all. Daphne wished that just sitting here would fix all that she often felt.
"When the small blinker flared, Daphne sighed. It was her turn to go on to the principal's office.
"Yippie" was all she muttered, shuffling all her things into her bag.
"Mr. Burke should be all ready for you. Do keep in mind he has an important meeting after school and that your little stunts of trying to avoid your academic studies do go on your permanent record." the tired secretary Josie warned as Daphne went from one crumbling seat of vinyl to another
The dusty office door posing as the only shield from all the unwanted stares of her fellow student were skipping class in hopes to see if she would have another freak moment. Daphne felt she had quite the image in that sense.
Throwing her bag down as she reshuffled in her seat, she didn't bother to make eye contact.
"Are you aware of why you're in my office today?" Mr. Burke tiredly questioned not even bothering to read the yellow referral sheet before hand idly brushing the receiver of the phone in temptation to just phone her parents at this nonsense.
He had plenty of years to prepare for it or rather for her.
Plenty of warnings of keeping her from staying in his school district. Many on the board desiring for her to be placed in select home schooling or in a place that could help her better.
Burke had believed he could help her like he had always believed since her birth.
Deciding many ages ago that the poor thing was just thriving to be found he was wrong rather quickly.
Disrupting his job that he was rather proud of in his decade long running made him regret taking her on in the first place.
He could remember the first time he knew something was off about her.
8 Years Ago, October 31st
"Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday dear Daphne... Happy Birthday to you!" sang the costumed guests of the lavish Halloween Birthday fusion.
The Blake's, despite many fearing Bart Blake was leaving his family, didn't short their parties of decor, staff, or even things to do.
Daphne's birth had been honored with a petting zoo, a Ferris wheel, face painters, and every sweet thing under the sun that could be frosted in royal lavender.
The birthday girl herself, beyond what the cameras caught was in quiet mourning.
Just a day prior, Danielle Blake and her boyfriend Jett(son) McGrath were set to take Daphne home from dance class when some mobster goons took the rhythm straight out of Jett's life before her.
knew her parents struggled wither or not to still host the bash, even weighing in his opinions, but none the less here they all were.
When he answered that they should host it, he assumed that the party would distract her from her young misery.
When that finishing chorus became glitter, candy corn, and confetti showering the grounds, he cheered as the 8 year old, costumed mermaid princess blew out her lavender candles.
Seeing that even in her despair, she could spare a split second of it for a brief smile, she closed her eyes and made that sacred birthday wish.
Her courage to bravely press on keeping social fronts at such a young age caused even him to cheer as the candles flicked out.
"Come om Daddy lets go!" whined Burke's golden haired bumblebee at his feet.
The one from the moment they got there was discontented with the idea that not enough eyes had been drawn to her costume.
Yanking and tugging on his sleeves. The longer he tried to just enjoy the company of his beloved friends.
"Now now Ainsley we will go in a bit. Go get some ice cream..." he tried to push. Knowing Barty needed him today. More than he had ever needed him their whole lives.
Between the hushed tension of Bart's tweenage daughters and his wife and the eldest daughter who couldn't they were really hosting such a giant event after yesterday from what he could hear. He could tell Barty was struggling to know if he had made the right choice.
"But its stupid!" Ainsely's shrill cry decreed. "She doesn't even have the brownie delight kind." she pouted thrashing her feet against the manila slabs surrounding the pool and grand patio area.
"Then...how about you go for another pony ride or have your face painted. Mr. Blake and I are busy talking"
"Ugg! Fine but I want money to get cotton candy" she pressed.
Knowing he wouldn't have peace otherwise he fumbled through his pockets for his wallet. With that Ted remembered waving half focused as the pony tied to ribbons went round and round.
While his attention remained focused on Daphne.
It was peculiar at first to see an 8 year old girl in a mermaid costume look so glum. Moments after being so cheery over the eight layered cake.
Then he watched as her little amethyst orbs dilated as if to see the whole world in seconds.
He tried to get Barty as her feet ran off. He tried to get Nan's attention but she was too busy yelling at the catering crew. He tried to get anyone to help him with the child he could not read.
"Daphne!" he had yelled, huffing to keep up with the swishing sequined skirts that faded into the gardens.
"Daphne!"He called out again. Something in hoping to catch her the further she strayed from the party.
Her bare feet however kept going as if the moment they stopped so would her quest to press forward.
When she stopped Ted thought he just might collapse but said nothing. Hoping to just catch his breath.
She was after all a young girl. He couldn't be to upset she didn't stop sooner. Odds were she had seen something like a kitten that had caused her to dash so quickly.
Creeping towards the fountain he watched as her hand eased up towards the rushing waters of the fountain.
Wondering what she was doing he couldn't help but to stare.
Her whispers rippling against that white noise before her lips hushed. He couldn't see what had caused her to halt. Instead he watched her lips part and release the scream he could place even if he were to go deaf.
It at times haunted his nightmares.
Right by those hedges he had kept his mouth shut as her family emerged. He Ted Burke had seen the silhouette of a man.
No! Not a silhouette, but a vision that extended to hug the floppy paper crowned birthday girl. All before it had vanished before his very eyes like a dream.
A ghost would be what she would testify to. Not just any ghost but Jett's.
Professing to Daph to of came with a message for Danielle.
A message that would cause the eldest Blake girl to chew her baby sister raw and begin what Burke could only deem as the downward spiral of the family he had formerly known but would never be the same with again.
He from that moment began to throw himself into a lie.
Burke telling himself, he had seen nothing and from there told himself that a grieving child's narrative had been the culprit to breathing life into his false vision.
It was from there that he deduced that she was tragically mentally ill and that he would not include his family in such a mess.
It was from here, Burke tried his best to help the young mind along from afar.
8 years later, he never imagined that she would still be like that scared child at the fountain.
8 years later, he presumed would of been enough time for her to figure out what was real and what was just her grief.
8 years later, he never thought this would still be affecting him.
"Miss. Blake? I asked are you aware of why you are in my office?" he pressed again. His gray eyes commanding her attention.
Daphne in response quit drumming her manicured nails of soft rose-gold against the vanilla armrest. Truly she hadn't heard if he said anything to her.
He really didn't look happy. Then again he rarely did when it came to these meetings.
Crap maybe he had said something to her.
Knowing nothing would help her cause at this point, Daphne arched her head back down. Awaiting the lecture that always embraced these "meetings".
The lecture as if on que would began to drone on her deaf her sense of wait, she grabbed her notebook from her flipping through the heavily inked sketches, Daphne prepared a fresh canvas for her ideas to waltz upon.
Knowing this visit was going to transpire longer than ever needed. Considering she had just been here Monday.
Knowing Burke saw her more like a broken toaster in need of fixing than a student, she was prepped for the long chat. Which sure she could in return entertain his arrogance about knew wasn't suffering from distortion of didn't suffer from was experiencing unseen truth.
People in this town were certainly frustrating that was for certain..
"Well?...Miss Blake Why are we here?"
Shuffling and praising the fact a cluttered desk was between them. Her lips parted. Going with the first answer that came to mind. "I'm in here because people can't handle the truth! Even if it sprouted a fire breathing head"
Her lily white hand while she answered, fiercely scribbled against the lined confines of her notebook.
Daphne didn't bother to make eye contact for a bit as she knew was likely just glaring hated when he was in a mood like this. Other times he seemed at least understanding of her.
So sensing the tone was different she just etched away her anger towards the one adult willing to hear her.
Daphne dreaded being a disappointment more than she did her own gifts.
It wasn't like she didn't plead out in the middle of the night. For anything or anyone that could hear her to just fix her.
To wake up and not see Jett shuffling her belongings in aid of getting her ready for school.
A day where she didn't find her path littered with ghosts of formerly beloved pets.
A day when she didn't see what looked like a mash up of historical living reenactment filling the streets
A day where she wouldn't end up in the office.
The sun, moon, and star themed charms of her limited edition Hex Girls bracelets jingled a melodious racket as she scribbled on.
Frustrated,tired, and upset with things she knew she could not change again.
Art, allowed her to release what she saw by drafting it into a reality that anyone else could see. Gifted or or not, They could be haunted by what haunted her.
It furthermore allowed her to pretend that perhaps she had just been telling a story as so many others wished of her.
The lie of perhaps she was so good at these stories would be extremely accurate.
Instead of the horrid truth that she had been warned about Gavin and the whole Saphariah's curse.
No one seemed to care that she had a vision of Gavin's very death in the underground cove.
No one cared that she kept running into him. Being the only one knowing Gavin's spirit was like the others. Just looking to her in hope to solve his problems yet again.
Drawing in her notebook made it seem like she answered why she alone could see the swaying of those red high tops over the banister she could still hear his laugh in English Literature or his out cries of wishing someone, anyone to notice him in the halls. Why he was so alive to her alone.
Then their was the non pleasant things she viewed such as; The limp jiving as his limbs danced round and round. The source of the braid of rope ringing tighter around his gurgling slurred speech pleading that they help him. The words he hadn't been able to get out the first time. The admittance of his idiocy and hope his friends would head his warning.
The murky sewage like water drizzling from him before he vanished again.
The same vision that proved yet again, She had answers on a murder investigation long before his parents or the town would likely be blamed on beer or pot or they would falter some suicide to prove Saphariah wasn't a real concern.
She wasn't sure how long she had been reflecting on her own theories until, she felt the rasp of formerly drumming knuckles ever so lightly flick her pen.
Mr. Burke knew her well enough to quickly see that he didn't have the attention of those amethyst orbs. No matter how fixed they seemed upon him at times or no matter how they shifted up at his pause of knew her better!
Daphne was just like many of the students of Crystal Cove High. All had been half pints he had known their whole lives. Through his series of; coaching, town socials, school activities, and his own two children, he proudly knew just about every student. Thus their was no fooling him.
He knew Daphne was smart enough to listen to patterns of his speech. Just go make him feel like he was watched her do so with her own father when was brave enough to call him in.
Desperately he wished like many of the other students, that a simple trip to the counseling center would do for Daphne at this her problems could be fixed by placing her in a youth activity, club or as Freshmen year had shown those efforts to be a failure, he knew better than to trot those paths of suggestions again.
She was beyond just needing a clique sort of fix.
It really wasn't that he even disbelieved all of what she just disbelieved in the reality of the dead lurking around. He had to!
Why did this girl have to be so persistent?She was like her Aunt and Grandmother in so many ways. Ways she couldn't possible know. Hadn't Nancy Blake cut off ties after her marriage to Bart?His dearest pal from the good ole days before that family had couldn't understand Why would Daphne want to throw her reputation away with lies and honor her gifts didn't bare?
He was more than assured Daphne had opened herself to the occult. Thus had welcomed the wrong company in her journey of recovering.
It was the only likely solution of why she was so persistent at this age about it.
With millionaire parents, five elder sisters, a straight clean upbringing right here in the cove, what else could it be?
"Damn that trashy Hex Girls group!' his thoughts often grumbled in conclusion of his time with Daphne. Catching only a brief glimpse of her limited edition charm bracelet.
He would never let his own Ainsley listen to such angry trash.
Certain that Daphne still had a chance to turn a new leaf if she wished. He tried thinking of outstanding reputations he could point her towards. His smile grew ecstatic at the framed picture of his daughter waving her pom poms..
It just seemed rooting Daphne to a positive pool of thoughts was the issue in need of addressing.
Who could be sad or have time to think on death around a group of girls constantly cheering their fellow students on?
"...Miss. Blake, why do you presume the role of dark angst diva? Don't you aspire to be more like your pal ? To be a shining light to your younger peers? Or to perhaps broaden your social circles outside of talking to uhh students that are no longer with us?"
To which Daphne scoffed at all that was being implied.
"If only he knew..." her thoughts echoed on her friend. Fred Jones was in fact a bigger trouble maker than she.
He had unhinged all eighty something lunch tables legs and dismantled the ovens so nothing was up to code last week so they could have pizza.
He often times took their Drama teachers car for joy rides just by hot wiring it, and the list of things that boy was able to manage just because his mayoral father was ridiculous.
None the less Fred Jones was the boy made of gold.
Her slender, lightly speckled arms crossed over the fringed ends of the black "Hex Girls" crop top that hugged her frame in that moment.
Her dark plum lips parting and twitching in high hopes of not laughing nor getting herself in further trouble as so many things came to mind to just say without regret.
But nothing would come as she didn't want to test just how thin the ice she was trotting really was.
"I swear if he recommends cheer one more time!" She huffed in annoyance knowing darn straight that this was where this meeting was going.
It being where it always went.
As lost himself in lamenting their school history, the prideful students her sisters,her mother, and father had been. The whole set up that never motivated her. She presumed on sketching.
"Come now... Daphne! Crystal Cove High offers over sixty extra curricular.s" He proclaimed hoping that since it was early enough in the year that this suggestion would bring forth fruit of triumph. Rather than a collision of his previous attempts "A pretty smile like your own deserves to be seen among our growing student body. My Ainsley as you know, is hosting cheer-leading tryouts the next two nights.. maybe you should consider it. " He prompted.
"There it is!" Her thoughts roared making her want to throw her rose gold manicured nails up to the sky in questioning why was it that all the grown ups in her life shared the pea-pod concept that cheer-leading would fix her?
Since when were cheerleaders on top of the mental help scene?
The last she recalled the cheerleaders at her school were lacking in compassion and were suffering from their own glitterized problems.
What was this concept that something so trivial and idiotic as shaking her romp and sparkly pompoms was to fix her?
Fix her how?
By using what little bit of energy she had at the end on sporting events and parties?
And Ainsley...
Oh boy! Just the way that girl breathed annoyed Daphne.
Last year they had Life Skills together. Which essentially was suppose to be a modern take of Home Ec but really was a joke as the boys weren't ever expected to do anything.
In regards to Ainsley. Daphne was soo certain that Ainsley ate a bar of soap a day if not per meal. Her smiles, hair and everything about her reeked of fresh sea side linens.
The idea of increasing her time around the girl who threw her Pomeranian a sweet sixteen and was as smart as a sack of shredded phone books did not strike out well with Daphne at all.
Especially since she didn't need Fred thinking she wanted to be friends with his girlfriend.
After five months of having nothing but the opposite to say in the most teasing of manners. She would not begin spouting compliments and lyrics of kumbaya themed harmony towards Ainsley.
Daphne, couldn't pretend to be an ounce of shocked nor surprised that cheer had yet again came up for her. Wither or not she hated Ainsley was beyond anyone's cares.
The whole town of Crystal Cove, Coolsville was pigheaded or as she joked pig skinned headed.
If football could be a religion, it's personification and idea model was thriving in the small town in which she had been born and raised.
On Friday nights everything shut down for it and wouldn't dare let a light bulb hum again until the games were over.
Saturday mornings we're over ridden with both college and high school lads trotting the roads, parks and fields for the sake of practice. Sunday afternoon picnics were interrupted by family matches.
All in hopes they would pay off and get them on the next ticket out of this town.
Even her own parents had met in high school at a Football game for romantic measure.
Everything and anything could be found if one attended or played such a sport.
Forcing herself to keep her mindful smile towards , she gave a nod.
Sure she wasn't considering it in the slightest but it couldn't hurt to ease the old man's burden.
Especially since the freshmen Lifeskills class had practically attempted to burn down the east wing less than a hour ago. Nuking bubble wrap in a experimental matter in the microwave until it caught a flame.
It was without question she didn't have a single bone of school spirit towards the peers that mocked her but for , she would be easy.
She would spare him on her opinions of how she'd rather be abducted by aliens than sit through another football game.
Bless Fred's soul for carrying the school spirit torch of his family line and playing on the team as his father, cousins, and uncles did before hand. As for herself she would avoid the mere fantasy of it.
"Thanks!... Maybe if I have a lil school spirit I'll stop talking to real ones!"
This remark was meant to be pleasant. If not funny, but Instead though her venomous fangs of sarcasm had snared before she could refrain.
"Uhhh sorry I should really go to class. Thanks for the chat ! I promise I'll do my best to find something this year." She called scurrying out of the office.
Mr. Burke just dismissively waving knowing she wouldn't be gone long enough to be missed.
"I mean it's possible... A new year, a new me!" She declared with a pearly smile as she tucked some of her wavering auburn cascades behind her left ear.