Author's Note:
Hey, all! Thanks for reading!
Special Announcement! I have started a Scor-Rose Fanfiction! The first four chapters are up! Please go check it out! It's titled, "Rivals and Romance." Chapter Five is coming soon!
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Thank you for your support!
In this chapter, we are picking up where we left off. Yes, that's right, the strange ghost that doesn't seem to be making sense! This chapter continues the conversation James and Azzura have with the odd ghost… He seems to strike up this unsettling feeling – scaring Azzura. James thinks there must be a connection. They start questioning the seers from the party. Let the investigation begin!
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xoxo
Ravenclaw_Illusions
…
RECAP:
We turned a corner, and wandered into a wide hallway. Three ghosts were in a deep debate as we approached.
"Excuse me," I interrupted them. "Have any of you seen a young man with green, or blue, hair?"
The ghosts all stared for a silent and awkward moment. One of them floated closer. He squinted, scrutinizing my face.
"Alright, Azzura, how did you replicate Flammel's anti-aging tonic?"
I jerked my head back, confused.
"How do you know her name?" James squeezed my hand.
"Know her name," The ghost scoffed. "I know her. Meanwhile, she hasn't aged a day, and I'm dead."
"I'm sorry; Sir, but I do not know you."
"Lina, I'm crushed." The ghostly gentleman feigned offense. "We were friends, we grew up together."
I flashed a glance between James and the ghost. "Lina? You just called me Azzura, a minute ago."
"Yes, that is your surname," He replied. "You might not have physically aged, Lina, but your mind sure has."
"What are you talking about?" James demanded.
"Years ago, I knew her as Lina, it was a nickname of sorts. There were many other Azzura's …. It was a family name."
…
"Family name," I questioned. "What family?"
"Oh Lina, you shouldn't need someone to remind you of your own name," The ghost tisked.
"Then, who, by chance, are you?" I stared him down – losing patience.
The ghost chuckled, "In the afterlife, you may call me Sir Emil Damien of house Aurelia, Grande Cesar of the seventeenth district." He coasted closer, circling us. "You knew me as the Moon, but others know me as the Hangman." He lifted his chin, revealing laceration marks on his neck – marks that could only be made by a hanging man's noose.
I tugged on the corner of James' leather jacket, that uneven feeling bubbling in my stomach. "James, let's go."
As much as I wanted to turn around, track Teddy down, and figure out who passed me that prophecy; James stood frozen. He stared at the ghost as if he were hypnotized…
This was a perfect display of the traits that I admire in him. He has a great mind, and often finds insight into situations that others would miss. He's also daring and brave. James has the boldness to tackle a situation that others (sometimes, even I) would run from. However, this was also an example of his stubbornness. Stubbornness, combined with such wonderful qualities, which kept us from moving forward…
The ghostly gentleman continued to circle us, snickering and tisking every time he floated by.
"James," I squeezed his hand with all my strength. "Let's go, now."
He remained still.
I let go of his hand and pushed him with as much force as I could muster.
James shook his head, ran a hand through his hair, and blinked a couple of times at me. "What was that for?" He frowned, as he stepped closer to where I was standing.
"For being in your own little world," I gripped his arm tightly. "Now, let's get out of here," I growled, under my breath, as if by some miracle the 'Hanging Man' couldn't hear me.
We made eye contact – sharing a glance of understanding. Finding some comfort in his piercing hazel gaze, I bit my lower lip, took a deep breath, and dragged him back down the hallway in which we came from.
…
Teddy had given us a list of seven seers known to be in attendance of the New Year's bash. Most of them were friends of a friend of one of his band-mates. Two were colleagues, from an outsourced "top secret" ministry department.
James had told his parents what had happened. This forced me to share the words that were handed to me that night. Mr. Potter agreed to bring the two of us to question the seven seers.
The stars shined for millennia,
Only to grow dim for generations.
A dark and baron era,
For kin of royal exoneration,
Announced never to shine bright,
Until darkness fades with the gift of sight.
A. P. S.
I stared down at the words that have haunted me for that last few days. I knew that they had to mean something. Yet, what that something was remained beyond my reach.
…
I stood in the corner of the café. Unable to sit, unable to breathe – I held onto the wall, hoping for answers I knew that I'd have to wait for.
"Love," The sound of his voice steadied me.
"Yes," I inhaled deeply, grabbing hold of his hand.
"You okay?" His hazel eyes caught the warm light of the late afternoon: the green and gold flecks were more prominent in the sun.
"I'm alright," I lied.
A smirk spread across his face, "After everything we've been through." He pushed a hand through his hair, "I would've thought you'd be honest about your fears."
I shook my head, "I guess I'm in too deep for lying about my feelings."
"I'm glad you've come to that realization," He tucked a stray wave behind my ear – away from my face. "For all we know, one of the seers on the list, had a vision and passed on the prophecy." He tilted his head, and brushed his lips against my cheek.
I smiled, "If only things were that easy."
He squeezed my hand. "That run in with the 'Hanging Man' still has me a little rattled too," He stated plainly.
"What are you…"
"You don't think it's strange, that the same night you're passed a prophecy in a crowded room, we ran into a disturbed ghost that thinks he knows you?"
"You're right, it is, but… I don't see… I don't want to talk about it." I pushed all thoughts of the ghost from the party aside.
I turned around at the sound of the door chime. A woman walked into the café – she was familiar looking. That déjà vu feeling I sometimes get with people's faces suddenly washed over me.
"Azzura, right?" She walked up to me.
"Yes," I offered to shake her hand.
She nodded awkwardly.
I dropped my hand back down to my side. "What is your name?"
"Beth," She stated. "You don't remember me?" She frowned.
My eyes suddenly flashed over to James. He seemed equally on edge by her words.
"I'm sorry, Beth," I gulped. "Remind me, where have we met?"
"We were schoolmates, many years ago." She shrugged, "Seems almost like a lifetime ago."
"Rome?" I squinted at her. Why don't I remember her?
"Yes," She smiled. "You were in the same divination classes as me, although I graduated before… it … happened."
I took in her olive skin, and blonde hair. "I remember," I reached out and touched her hair. "You had darker hair then," I stated.
Her smile broadened. "I did," She replied. "They also insisted on calling me Betta, despite the fact that I'm from here, and that I am not Italian."
"Yes," It all started to make sense now. I remembered my old divination classroom, and her sitting with the other upperclassmen in the back of the room.
"Teddy said you wanted to talk with me," She prompted her reasoning for meeting with me.
"Yes, you see, I was given a note at the New Year's Eve party. I think it's a prophecy, and I'm trying to figure out why it was passed on to me."
She narrowed her eyes, looking uncertain. "Why didn't you just ask the person when they gave it to you?"
"I didn't see the person, the room was crowded and the note was placed in my hand as I was walking."
"Oh," She moved her head from side to side. "That's peculiar – don't you think so?"
I looked over to James who was restraining himself from bursting into a fit of laughter.
I know, I thought. She's not the brightest star in the sky.
"Yes, it is, Beth." I started to walk her over to the door. "It was nice seeing you again."
Once I had forced her out of the café, I turned around to see James trying to maintain his composure.
"Next," I announced.
He lost it. I watched as he folded in half, laughing loudly.
...
Author's Note:
A friend told me, that the author of a fanfic she reads, gives hints or sneak peeks of the next chapter in progress, to reviewers.
I love getting to read your reactions, so as an incentive for more reviews, I will be answering any and all questions, giving hints, or provide sneak previews to my not yet posted chapters, to all who review, or pm me. So long as I have a way to contact you back, i.e. you have a fanfiction account, or leave an email address, or something.
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Xoxo Ravenclaw_Illusions
