We finally found her sitting with Harris in the courtyard. She was laughing with his arm around her. They looked happy. To bad that happiness was about to be ruined.
Calynn cleared her throat. "Vanessa may we have a word? In private please." Vanessa looked at us with hatred.
"Whatever you have to say you can say it in front of my boyfriend." She squared her shoulders.
"Boyfriend?" I gasped. "You've only known each other for a day."
Calynn leaned and whispered in my ear, "Not much of a boyfriend."
I laughed. Then I remembered what we were here for. "Vanessa I'm afraid you'll want to here this in private."
"No!" She yelled. She looked around hesitantly as she had already gained quite a few specters. "I-I mean no thank you. I would like to stay here."
"Vanessa it would be in your best interest to come with us. Now," Calynn stepped in.
"Are you threading me?" She was appalled. Apparently that got a rise out of her.
"No but I'm about," I said and lunged forward and just as I expected Calynn held me back.
"Fine!" Vanessa yelled silencing the whispers around us. "I'll go. Just don't harm me."
Calynn let go of me. "Next time, listen," I told her then we went to find an empty classroom.
"So you're telling me that my sister is dead?" Vanessa said.
"We're so sorry for your loss," Calynn looked down. "If there's anything we can do. Anything at all-"
"Get out." Vanessa said. "That's what you can do. Get out. Get out of this castle of this school and most of all get out of my life," she said with pure hatred and certainty.
"Vanessa, I think you are acting irrationally. Just give us a chance," I intervened.
Quickly I led Calynn away from Vanessa. "She just needs time," I told her, "to process her loss."
"Yes, I suppose. Perhaps you would like to go play wizards' chess with me," she asked.
"It would be my pleasure." So we left Vanessa to compose herself.