I don't own Darkest Powers.

The next morning Derek and I went back outside while Simon and Tori went back to their studies. Yesterday, Emma had watched them practice, but today she curled up outside with a book.

"I have a theory." Derek said.

I laughed. "Don't you always?"

He frowned. "If you don't want to hear it, that's fine…"

"No no, please."

"Well… Remember your necklace had turned Blue?" I nodded. "Well, do you know when exactly it started happening?"

I shook my head. "I tucked it away at the Lyle House and never really paid attention. I only noticed it turned Blue when you pointed it out."

He nodded. "Can I see it now?"

I pulled it out of my shirt and handed it over to him. It was still blue. "Was it always red? Before you came to Lyle House? Before you started seeing ghosts?"

I nodded. "What if it's fuelling your increasing powers, to help get rid of them. The ghosts I mean, not your powers."

I thought. "Like you said, we'd have to pull it out when we see Thomas next. Do you think it was red when I hadn't developed my powers yet?"

"It's possible."

"So… you think that my necklace… was made by the Edison Group? To help increase my powers?"

"Like I said, maybe."

I looked at Emma, curled up reading. "Do you think Emma would know?"

He shrugged. "Maybe."

I laughed. "Lots of maybes today, let's go ask."

I hopped up and went over to Emma. Derek followed reluctantly. "Emma?"

She folded the corner of her book and closed it. "How can I help you, dear?"

"I was wondering if you knew when the Edison Group wanted to accomplish when changing my powers?"

She looked up to the sky, thinking. "I believe they wanted to take away the glow that warns ghosts that there's a Necromancer around. And make it easier for them to summon ghosts. It takes all sorts of stuff and I believe they wanted to eliminate that."

I looked back at Derek who was frowning. "So… increasing their powers?"

She nodded. "Thanks Emma." I told her.

She waved away my thanks. "Anytime dear, anytime."

Derek and I retreated to our previous spot before speaking. "It makes sense, your theory."

He nodded. "Try summoning Thomas."

He handed me my necklace. "Just hold it so you can see what happens."

I closed my eyes and pictured Thomas suck in sand. I grabbed and pulled, lightly, trying to pull him up. I heard Derek take a sharp intake of air. I opened my eyes. My necklace was turning a soft shade of purple. As soon as I stopped, it faded back to blue. I frowned. I placed my necklace on the grass and tried summoning Thomas again. After a minute, I saw it had stayed blue. I looked up to see Derek looking as puzzled as I felt.

"Hi Chloe." I heard a voice behind me say.

I yelped and spun around to see Thomas. "Thank god, come sit down Thomas." I told him smiling, and patted the spot next to me.

He bounded over and plopped down next to me.

"Can I ask you a question?" I said.

He nodded. "You said I was blue. When do I turn Blue?"

"Your blue now."

"I'm blue?"

He nodded.

I looked down at my necklace. It was starting to glow purple. Derek was looking at it too. "Pick it up." He said.

I did. Thomas frowned. "You're Purple now."

I looked at Derek. "Purple."

He frowned. "So it's sending you energy. Somehow, it is."

I nodded. "But the energy doesn't leave completely. It builds up and stays. That's why I'm still a blue when I'm not holding it."

I turned back to Thomas. "When am I blue?"

"Umm… When I'm not near you. When I'm coming to see you, then you turn purple."

I relayed it to Derek. "Is that a good thing? Or a bad thing?"

He was still frowning. "I'm not sure, but it sure is the problem here."

I nodded. "Should I stop wearing it?"

He paused. "Put it in your pocket, we'll talk to Andrew at lunch."

I nodded and slipped it into my pocket.

"Chloe…" Thomas said.

"Yes?" I said.

"Can we… go look for frogs?" he said smiling.

I looked up at the forming clouds. "I think we can look for frogs."

Derek stood up. "You two have fun. I'm going for a nap."

Thomas frowned. "He can come too. Please?"

When I told Derek her just shook his head. "Stay close." He said, then he walked back to the house.

"Is he ok Chloe?" Thomas said as we walked towards the forest.

"Yeah, just worried." I told him.

He frowned. "About you?"

I nodded. "Why?"

"Because blue is a bad thing. So is purple."

"Oh…" his face dropped.

"It's ok, now we know what the problem is." I told him, my smile weak.

He nodded. We had entered the forest. "I'm quiet, so I'll go first. Follow me, ok?"

I nodded. "So how do you pick them up?"

He smiled. "Well, you have to scoop them up! But they jump everywhere so you have to be careful."

I laughed. "Will it pee on me?"

He giggled. "I hope so!"

He stopped. "Did you see that?" he whispered.

I took a slow look around. "No." I whispered back.

"I thought I saw something." He said.

I took another look around and crouched down. "I don't see anyone."

"I'll go look, ok Chloe?"

I nodded and he disappeared. I looked around slowly. Still no one.

"No one!" Thomas screamed, appearing in front of me. I yelped and fell back onto my butt. He howled with laughter, then his face became serious. "I see a frog." He said crouching, all business.

I laughed. He was so cute. He followed it, still crouching. I was going to remind him that the frog couldn't hear him, but I decided to let him have his fun. He paused and waved me over. I got up and followed him quietly.

He turned and gave me an exasperated SHH! I smiled and pantomimed sealing my lips and throwing away the key. He giggled and waved us forwards.

I could see the frog in front of us. He motioned for me to pick it up. I walked over to it, stooped down. When I looked back at him uncertainly, he waved his hands around, urging me to pick up the frog.

I scooped it up and shrieked as it jumped around. I caught it mid jump and cupped it in my hands, boxing it in. Thomas was on the floor, rolling around laughing. I laughed with him. When he had calmed down, he came over to look at the frog.

"Is it slimy?" he said, laughing again.

"Not as slimy as I thought." I told him smiling.

"TOLD YOU!" he said, full out laughing again.

I laughed with him. "Thanks Thomas, that was fun."

He smiled. "We can do it again-"

"THOMAS!" a shrill voice cut into the silence. I flinched. The only person who could see him was another ghost, or a Necromancer. Neither one someone I wanted to meet right now.

A tall woman appeared. Tall, wiry with dark hair.

"Mom, I'm sorry, this is Chloe, she's nic-" Thomas stammered.

"I told you not to talk to them!" she yelled.

I watched this exchange in silence. Thomas shot me a panicked look but I still didn't say anything. "Mom, she's nice! She found frogs with me, and we talked, and-"

His mother cut him off. "I don't care! We will talk about this later." Her glare swung to me. "And you! What gives you the right to talk to my son?"

"Mam' he came to me." I said, barely holding my composure.

She took a step towards me, showing me her full height. "My son is too young to understand. I don't need you taking advantage of him like that!" she screeched.

Thomas stepped in. "Mom, she wasn't!"

She turned back on him. "Leave."

"But mom-" he started but she stopped him. "LEAVE!"

Tears weld up in his eyes. He turned to me. "Bye Chloe. I'm glad we could look for frogs together."

I needed and kneeled. "I'll miss you Thomas."

He gave me a hug and I swear, I could almost feel it. I returned the gesture. His mother watched with disapproving eyes. When he finally left she glare turned back on me.

"Child," she started, "I can't believe you would take advantage of him like that."

I shook my head. "I didn't take advantage of him. He was lonely so he came to talk to me."

If looks could kill… "He wasn't lonely, he had me."

I returned her glare. "He didn't have you. He was all sad when I first saw him. Said he didn't know where his mom was."

Her eyes narrowed. "I keep us moving. I was looking for somewhere else for us to go."

"He said you were nice. I see no traces of that now."

She raised her chin. "I defend my child, no matter what. I've heard things about you. While I was gone."

I swallowed. "You can't be sure it's me."

She shook her head. "It was. You raised more then one, haven't you?" she sneered at me.

This took me off guard. I had no clue ghosts could communicate like that. "I-it was an accident."

She could see she was getting to me. "Accident?" she laughed. "Why didn't you solve the problem when it happened the first time? Don't you know your powers aren't right?"

"W-what do you mean, solve the problem?" I stammered.

She laughed. "Off yourself, suicide, whatever they call it these days."

I took a step back and stumbled, falling onto my butt. She laughed. "Do you know how awful it is? To be shoved back into your rotting corpse? Terrified and alone, under control of a stranger, unable to do anything but what they are told?"

"Stop it." I gasped. I had to get me to leave. I tried to banish her. Nothing happened. She laughed. "You think you can just get rid of me?"

I tried again, but she just laughed, advancing on me. I took my necklace on and it immediately turned purple. Her eyes widened. "That's not natural-" but she never got to finish because she was gone.

I took it back off with shaking hands and slipped it back into my pocket. I pulled my legs up to my chest and raised my head on it, shivering. She was right. All I did was ruin that. Every night going to bed, wondering if I'd raised another corpse, ruined another soul's peace.

I stayed there and let my thoughts take over, not moving for my spot. It was a while before I heard my name called off in the distance. I didn't respond. I just sat there. My name again, this time closer. Derek. I wanted to respond, I should have but I didn't. Derek came threw the bushes and looked down at me disapprovingly. "Chloe, didn't you hear me calling?"

I nodded, not meeting his gaze. I was being weak but I didn't care.

He crouched down. "Chloe? What happened?"

"I met Thomas' mom." I tried to smile, but didn't quiet manage. "Not a nice woman."

He sighed. "Lets get you out of here." He said, holding out his hands. He pulled me up and I stumbled.

He steadied me and I stood up properly. "What did she say?" he said.

"That suicide is a good option for someone like me." I said, my voice flat and emotionless. I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and sighed. "You know that isn't true, right?"

"Yes." I shrugged. "Maybe"

I heard him growl and start to pull back, but I held on. "Yes." I said.

His body was still tense. "We have to get back."

I nodded. He sighed. "Your not going to let go are you?"

I shook my head. He grabbed the back of my thighs and lifted me up, so my knees were resting on either side of his body. His forearm rested under my butt to keep me from slipping. It amazed me how he was so sure to respect my space, while helping me at the same time. His other hand rested gently on my back

"You'll tell me if anything happens right?" he asked quietly.

"Yeah." I whispered.

"Good." I felt his head turn and his lips gently pressed against my temple. I sighed and relaxed, my eyes closing. The temptation to turn my head and meet him halfway was overwhelming but I pushed it back. Part of me said he was just playing the part of big brother, but a stronger part disagreed. I had pushed it back for days, but I could no longer deny it.

I like him. Not kindergarten like, but actual feelings for Derek. He had made an effort to watch over me, sticking with me and encouraging me, something I think was not an everyday affair for him. Even if his overall mood had gotten kinder, I still felt like he was nicer with me.

I could feel him walking now. Our silence wasn't awkward, but instead pleasant. I leaned my head down on his shoulder and closed my eyes.

I hadn't realised how far we had gone in. At the time Thomas and I were having fun, now the walk seemed endless. Just as we reached the end of the forest, he put me down, walking the rest of the way up close, but not touching.

I expected yelling when I walked in, but Andrew only looked up from his lunch. "Chloe, nice of you to join us. Everything alright?"

I nodded.

He motioned for us to sit down.

I chose my spot by Tori, Derek sitting next to me. We all filled our plates in silence and began eating. No one spoke.

Derek leaned down to my ear. "You start, I'll add anything you missed."

I looked up at him, uncertain. How much could we tell them?

He nodded and I turned to Andrew. "Andrew, there's something you should know…" all eyes turned to me. I glance at Simon, who had his eyes wide in disbelief.