Ok, I didn't exactly post on the day that I wanted but still it's better than before! Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who reviewed!!
Jwhaler82: Thanks for your idea for the story! I'm definitely giving it some thought and hopefully I'll be able to come up with something.
Well, enough from me. Enjoy the chapter!
Once she finally realized that she was no longer dreaming and clamed down, she sat up and tried to figure out exactly what was going on.
"Ok, I know I was shown that girl's death for a reason," she thought aloud, "but why?" She placed her hand on her forehead and attempted to recall any important details from the dream.
"Well, she was a sorceress for one, and looks just like me…" She gasped, "Maybe…maybe she's the Armonia that came before me!" She rested her chin in the palm of her hand in thought, "But how can I know for sure?" She didn't have a clue how and wasn't even certain that was the real reason for the vision from the past.
"Well, it's pretty obvious she died from being bitten by a vampire…maybe it's just my nerves getting the better of me again." She figured. "That would make sense…" she drifted and let out a yawn. "But then why did I dream of that mirror ghost instead of myself?"
Unable to keep her eyes open any longer, she lied back down to try and get some much-needed sleep, hoping that the answer would come to her. Unfortunately, she had a dreamless night so when she woke in the morning, her questions remained unanswered.
With a sigh, she got out of bed and stretched her arms above her head to fully wake up. She walked over to her large bedroom window and pulled on the black cord that opened up the thick, crimson drapes. Light from the morning sun poured into her room and glistened off a crystal vase on her nightstand. It held a breath-taking red rose that was perfectly flawless in every aspect. She stared at the gorgeous flower for a moment and let out a sudden gasp.
"Yesterday really happened!?" She started to panic and paced around in a circle. "I accepted Alucard as my boyfriend!? No, no, no, no. This isn't good at all! I've never had a boyfriend! And it's really bad to start off a relationship with a lie! He thinks I'm a sorceress when I'm really just a human!"
She continued her hurried footsteps in hysteria and scolded herself over and over again about the whole thing being a bad idea.
"Not to mention the fact I've never been kissed." She suddenly ceased her movement and practically stood frozen in her spot.
"Oh no…" the memory of when they first met flashed through her mind. He had took her hand in his and kissed it even though she was practically a complete stranger. "How will he greet his girlfriend!?" She blushed as crimson as the drapes and began to panic again.
"My first kiss is supposed to be special." She paced in a circle like before, "With someone special!" She stopped and glared at her reflection in the mirror. "Shame on you Amelia! How can you be so rude? Who knows? Maybe Alucard is that someone special…" she held her upper arm with the opposite hand as stared out the window. She was still very nervous about the whole thing.
After a few moments had passed, she got dressed in her normal sorceress garb and put her elbow-length hair up in its usual ponytail. She walked over to her nightstand where the rose was and picked up her circlet that was set next to it. She placed it on her head and the blue gem that hung down from the grown glimmered brilliantly in the sunlight. She looked at her reflection in the mirror with a rather confused look on her face. She felt as though she had hit a mental crossroads and didn't know which way to go. With a sigh, she decided that she shouldn't put off the ghost issue any longer and confront Jack about it.
Determined to find some answers, she made her way through the house and up the winding staircase to the tower.
"Jack?" she asked before she walked the rest of the way up.
"Yes, come in Ami." He spoke from his chair at his desk.
She approached him, not really sure how to start. "Um, could I talk to you about something?" she scratched the back of her head.
"Certainly!" he looked up and beamed at her, "What's on your mind?"
"Well, I'm not exactly sure how to put this so I'm just going to say it." She stated.
"Ok…" he could tell something was bothering her.
"I think a ghost has been haunting me." She half-expected him to laugh and tell her that was preposterous, but then again he is the King of Halloween.
"Really now? Care to go more in depth?" Her statement had peaked his interest.
"Well, I guess it all started when my mother gave me this old hand mirror that's apparently been in my family for generations." She explained, "I saw someone in the reflection that looked exactly like me, only it wasn't me! She had darker hair and pale, practically white, skin. I thought that she wouldn't follow me here, but I heard someone tell me to leave when I was in the cemetery outside of town. They said that I was no longer safe and I had to leave. And just last night, I had a dream about her!"
"What happened in your dream?" he inquired.
"She died! She was mourning her dead mother when this strange man appeared. I couldn't see what he looked like, but when she hugged him, he bit her!" her words had surprised the undead skeleton. "She then shouted out a curse and white light swallowed the man, so I know she's a sorceress. When the light died down, the man was shorter and he seemed younger. He took off and right before she died. She said some sort of spell and I think it was her soul that flew out of her. It was like a bright, white orb and it shot off into the distance. After that, I woke up."
"My, my. Quite the dilemma." He thought for a moment. "I'd say it's probably an ancestor of yours, which would explain why she resembles you. Is there any sorcerers in your family that you know of?" when she shook her head no, he continued. "Then she's probably where you got your powers from. As for the vampire, I'm not really sure. Do you have an idea of what time period it was?"
"All of the tombstones in the cemetery were from the 1700s to the early 1800s and they all looked relatively new, none were worn." She replied.
"Hmm…well, there were more vampires in the mortal realm then than there are now. It could mean a number of things really." He concluded.
"One more thing," her expression turned very grim, "When the man appeared, he called her his beloved."
"That's something vampires are known for, tricking young women into thinking that they're in love," his demeanor changed somewhat, almost angry, "and then draining away their life without warning."
"But that still doesn't explain why she's haunting me." She quickly changed the subject for she sensed that he was becoming protective again.
"It might be that she wants her death to be avenged and her soul won't rest until her killer has been brought to justice." He crossed his arms. "Who knows, maybe the vampire is still alive and she wants you to do something about it."
"But why me? Why now?" she asked for she still didn't understand the ghost's motive. "Why didn't she bug someone else about it during her own century?"
"I'm not for certain, but it might be because of the fact you're a sorceress like her and know about the existence of vampires, that they're not just legends." He stated.
"Well, I can't go around hunting down a vampire that killed someone hundreds of years ago. I have my own problems to deal with." She crossed her arms, "Not to mention I'm dating one…" she said under her breath.
Jack apparently didn't hear her last comment. He walked over to her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry too much about it. If it gets worse, tell me and I'll take care of it." He smiled warmly at her.
A light blush splashed across her cheeks and her heart skipped a beat, which seemed to happen a lot lately.
"W-well," she cleared her throat, "I've got to get back to helping out with the Halloween decorations." She made her way toward the stairwell. "Still have a lot to do you know!" she laughed nervously and hastily made her descent. Her heart was racing so fast it felt as though it would burst. Once she had reached the bottom, she stopped heaved a great sigh of relief.
'Well, at least I know of one good thing that will come out of having a boyfriend,' she thought, 'I'll go back to thinking of Jack as my friend and nothing more.'
Determined to get her mind off of things, she set out what she had said she would do and made her way outside to the town square. Amelia worked vigorously like all of the citizens around her and a couple hours flew by. During that time, Alucard had shown up and, much to her appreciation, helped her out with the preparations in any way he could. She was very grateful to him and even though there was a bunch of people around, she had a great time with him. She was even a little reluctant when he told her that she ought to take a break. However, she took his advice and made her way back to her Halloween residence. There was even a skip in her step as she walked and even hummed to herself. Her thoughts circled around her unbelievably perfect boyfriend, who just so happened to be a vampire. Still humming to herself, she entered the house and casually made her way up the steps to the living room. She was a little surprised to find Doctor Finklestein next to the Pumpkin King. They sat down at a small table crouched over plans of some sort. It seemed to be blueprints for something. She waltzed over to the two of them but before she could get a good look, Jack suddenly stood and rolled up the sheets of paper.
"Well, I believe that's all Doctor." He stated as he gave his signature grin.
Said man in the automatic wheelchair spotted the teenaged sorceress nearby. "Oh yes, I do think so my boy."
"Oh! Hello Ami, how is everything going?" Jack pretended as though he just noticed her.
"Um, fine. I'm just taking a break…what are you guys doing?" she arched an eyebrow and crossed her arms.
"Oh nothing you need to worry about my dear child." The bald, and slightly mad, scientist replied with a smile.
"Ok…" she was a little suspicious of their strange behavior. She then glanced at the old grandfather clock in the corner of the room. "Well, I'll be in my room for a little while until it's time for me to go back to the town square."
She began to make her way to her quarters and glanced over her shoulder at them one last time before disappearing down the hallway. When they heard the click of her door being shut, Jack let out a held breath.
"That was close." He said to his companion.
"Maybe the next time you come up with another plan of yours, we should discuss it at my laboratory instead." The doctor stated.
The Pumpkin King laughed and scratched his head sheepishly for he knew that he was probably right.
"It's barely been a day and she's already acting different…" The skeleton said suddenly, and totally off subject.
Doctor Finklestein gave him a questioning look for the random statement.
"Erm, well you see…Amelia and Alucard, the new vampire, apparently are together now and well, I've already noticed a change in her usual behavior." He explained rather awkwardly.
"Ah I see." He adjusted his small glasses, "Well it's rather obvious what the cause of it is." He crossed his arms and then stated simply, "She's falling in love."
Jack nearly choked at his words and found himself unable to respond.
"From what I can gather what I know about humans—" the scientist was cut off.
"Humans!? Who said anything about Amelia being a human!?" the Pumpkin King hastily denied any assumptions that his good friend might have about the young princess.
"I'm not saying she is." The doctor raised an eyebrow. "I'm saying that because she spent the last couple of years among humans, the way they act probably has rubbed off on her. Right now, she is acting how a normal human girl would act when she begins to fall in love." He explained.
"Oh…of course!" Jack tried to hide his nervousness.
"Then again, it is only a theory." He adjusted his glasses again and his expression turned very serious. "But the fact that she is in a relationship with a vampire is very dangerous. If Alucard ever has an unquenchable thirst for blood, her very life will end right then and there. If she trusts him too much, then she might end up letting her guard down and won't be able to stop him until it's too late. You realize this yes?"
"Yes I am aware of the risks." The sorceress's guardian stated. "I had nothing to do with them getting together and actually I'd feel better if they were separated." He crossed his arms.
"Really now?" Doctor Finklestein was rather surprised by his leader's words for he had always known the skeleton to completely trust a total stranger without hesitation. "Honestly I thought you would have more faith in her than that." He chuckled, "Really taking on the parental figure are we?"
"I'm only looking out for her." Jack looked down at the ground.
"I understand that you two are particularly close and you just want what's best for her," the scientist consoled, "But Amelia does need to learn how to fend for herself. Isn't that kind of the point of why you put her in charge of Halloween this year?"
The skeleton in the pinstripe suit gave a curt nod as his answer.
"Besides, if she does get into trouble, you and I both know that you'll be at her side in an instant." Doctor Finklestein adjusted his chair so that it was facing toward the staircase to the front door. "I had just wanted to make sure you knew what the dangers were. Who knows, maybe this Alucard fellow is actually the right young man for her." And with that, made his way across the living room and to the stairs. He pressed a button on the wall and the steps to the door as well as the steps outside folded into a ramp. He took his leave and descended downward.
"I still don't think so." Jack said once he was sure the doctor was gone and glared at the wall. After a moment, he called for his ever-loyal companion and a ghostly canine zoomed into the room. "Zero, you're job is about to start."
Ooohh, what could Jack and Doctor Finklestein be planning? What on earth is Zero's job!? Will we ever find out the mysterious ghost's identity? Reviews make me type faster! :)