Chapter 18
Monday, May 14th
Case one: Day 1
Atman Academy for Gentleman and Ladies
Our destination is two-and-a-half hours away from the Davis Manor. Away from any major civilization, the nearest town is two mountains over…or just a mere three hours. Perfect place for tourist and a boarding school for young men and women…or in our case a perfect place for paranormal activity...Maybe. The estate or Atman Academy for Gentlemen and Ladies is in the countryside surrounded by mountains and hills; covered in heavy dense woods. A river ran through it that had a small stone bridge built over it for crossing. The bridge connected with a dirt road that leads to the academy. The narrow road just barely cut through the dense quarter of a mile wooded area. Coming off of the dirt road our car pulled up to the crescent driveway made of small rocks and pebbles; stopping behind the van that came before us and the Black Cadillac Escalade that held the five other members of our team.
I looked at the academy looming over us. Fog and clouds created an ominous atmosphere over the land. "Mai, you have to get out," Naru told her. It was was just us two in the third vehicle. Apparently, the Lord is transported in style. A black Cadillac Limo, cause why not. He just wanted it to be us two, so the others were driven up in the Escalade. But Naru didn't speak a word to her on the way up. Not even a touch or a look. It irritated her to no end. She sent him a nude photo and she gets nothing in return. She rolled her eyes as the door to the limo opened for her to step out
Monk and the others walked over "Naru, we have to get these for us back in Japan. That was the most comfortable two-hour ride of my life" He slapped Naru on the back, gaining a cold scowl from the teen.
I marveled at the estate before me. We stood in the main courtyard, in front of the main doors. Large and wooded with black bindings. Behind us and the vehicles that dropped us off was a fountain made from various stones. The small tree's lined the half circle driveway. Students walked about, some staring at the new visitors. To say this beautiful Victorian building is huge is an understatement. The five-stories Victorian academy rested on six acres of land, it was made of old brick in various shades of red and browns, wet from the morning rain. Around the front four steps that lead to the front grand double doors flowers from all around the world bloomed. Stunning green ivy climbed its way up the estate walls, untouched for years. The building was positioned in an upside down U. Driving through the walls of the estate Mai had seen three circular towers, hidden from view from how close they were to the front doors.
"I know, the trees here are so alive and active," Ayako said
"So does that mean you would actually do work on this case and not leave it to John and I" Monk's voice came from around the van. Ayako sighed angrily and curled her fist.
"This place is beautiful" Mai whispered. Ignoring the bickering pair "I would love to live in a place like this – well without the possible murderous ghost" Mai said to the blonde priest. John just laughed at her statement.
"I don't think anyone would like to live with a murderous ghost," A soft voice said. I shrieked, my heart pounded against my chest. Turning around I saw a young girl and a tall boy beside her. She looked to be around my height -short- she was slightly tan with deep brown eyes shaped like almonds. A small button nose rests perfectly in the middle of her face, lips pink and perfectly plumb. Her dark brown hair was pulled back into two low pigtails held by a navy blue ribbon that fell just below her rib cage. She wore an outfit similar to a maid; white tights, black Mary Jane shoes, A black dress that came four inches above her knee with sleeves that came to her elbow. A white apron with ruffles along the edges, and tied into a perfect bow in the back. The apron held a name tag that read 'Lizzy'.
The tall boy beside her looked to be around Monks height. He had shaggy brown hair and the same eye color and shape like Lizzy. His nose and lips were also thin with a tint of red. The young man wore black dress pants, black loafer shoes, a white dress shirt with a navy blue tie and a black vest that also held a name tag- it read 'Michel'.
"Sorry if we scared you. I'm Lizzy and this is my older brother-" she smiled and looked to her brother
"Michel," He said in a whisper
"Yes, My brother Michel. He's the quiet type. Are you from Cinder-Valor Paranormal Research?"
"We are." Naru came around the van, "Oliver Davis, I'll be overseeing the case" The young brunette curtsied while her brother bowed.
"Welcome to Atman Academy for Gentleman and Ladies. During your stay here my bother and I will be at your services after class hours" Lizzy said
"Really! That's so cool!" Monk threw a fist in the air, Ayako slapped his arm. Lizzy laughed
"Please, follow me. The headmaster would like to speak with you" Lizzy said, she and her brother turned and opened wooden doors of the academy. John took the first few steps.
An uneasy feeling washed over me as soon as they opened the doors. I could feel my breakfast make its back up. Goosebumps rose from the back of my neck down to my toes. Naru placed a hand on her lower back, giving her a slight push to follow Monk and Ayako who was right behind John. Holding down her earlier meal she took a hesitant step forward
"Wait!" Mai and Naru turned at the same time. Yasu was holding up a paler than normal Masako "She just tipped over"
"Ms. Hara" Naru spoke. Leaving Mai's side he walked to the medium. Mai wasn't going to lie to herself, she was a little jealous of his action.
"I feel so lightheaded. It just overcame me when they had opened the doors" So Masako feels the same distorted presence that I do as well. She left Yasu to lean against Naru "There is something here...I just can't put my finger on it"
Mai wanted to scream out in fury. Just her touching him made her blood boil. She knew she was feeling and acting like a child on the playground. It wasn't like Naru was officially his. Masako always did this to gain his sympathy, but this time all she wanted to do was chop her hand off. Then the words pilled out her mouth
"I do" she crossed her arms and glared at the girl "Its called desperation" Mai flashed a bitchy grin and turned away from the trio. Yasu was smirking, trying not to laugh. Mai just made it to the base of the stairs. Motioning to the others waiting at the top to continue ahead. Naru had joined her.
"Care to explain your outburst," he said under his breath at her side, just for her to hear. Mai rolled her eyes. Knowing all to well she acted out of pure jealousy. But she couldn't tell him that.
"No" was all she said, ascending the stone stairs
"She sensed something Mai" The finally reached the top when Mai pun on her heels to look at the man a step below her
"I did as well. But you didn't take notice. Why? Because I put my big girl pants on and moved passed the dramatics." she hissed. Taking notice that Masako sat in the passenger seat of the Van with Yasu holding out a bottled water for her. Mai rolled her eyes and continued in the building
"Why didn't you say anything"
"Because all I felt was something very creepy. It was like I was standing alone in the middle of a road at night, looking down a tunnel. Knowing something is there...but not seeing it. And then all of a sudden ran –" Mai collapsed in the entryway. It was like in an instant all her energy was stolen from her. Causing the fall, her breathing was a little shallow.
"Mai!" Naru knelt over her. Heels clicked rapidly down the hallway towards her. She pushed up on her arms. Slowly feeling her energy come back
"What happened?" Ayako said, helping the girl to stand on weak legs
"I-I don't know." Mai placed a hand on her pounding headache "I feel really weak all of a sudden" She leaned against the entryway wall.
"Is she okay?" Lizzy came from behind
"I'll be fine. If you could just give me a minute" Mai replied.
"I can always take you to the cafe? Maybe get some food in you?" Lizzy suggested
"Thank you but I'm Fi-"
"That's actually a good idea," Ayako said
"Ayako I just need a moment" Mai pleaded
"Please take her to the cafe," Naru said to Lizzy. She nodded
"Michel will take you to Headmaster." Mai sighed knowing those were Naru's final words and to not argue
"So you are here to investigate the missing boys? I Heard that it could be the ghost of Dracula's Servant, who fell in love with him or the idea of him. You know its rumored that Dracula himself lived in this very building"
Lizzy and I sat at a table in the cafe, it wasn't too big or small. The walls were the same brick as the outside exterior. Baskets hung from the corners with plants dangling over. One wall was an entire bookshelf with a sofa and end chairs made of a plush brown material, a fireplace was lit in the corner with a TV above announcing today's news in the local area. A red line moved across the bottom with school announcements. Giant black metal round chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their old candlelit base was converted over to use electricity. Small table and chairs throughout the cafe matched the metal. The smell of freshly baked bread and underlying scent of sweetness filled Mai's nose. Some students came in before class to sit and eat, others hunched over schoolwork. Then there were some people who looked to be tourists.
"Yeah," Mai answered her question. A little annoyed that Naru forced her to sit here
"Everything alright?" Lizzy asked, purring some tea into her and Mai's cups
"Yeah, just boy problems" Mai chuckled, adding sugar to her drink
"That handsome lad that you were with? Oliver right?" Mai nodded her head. "Are the both of you dating?"
"Nope. Sadly not" Lizzy raised an eyebrow
"He's also my boss" that made Lizzy spill her tea a little
"So some forbidden love. That's sexy" she gave a wink
"I guess forbidden on his end. I don't know. All week his been this – this sex god?" Mai threw her hands up in desperation. Lizzy leaned in. Not knowing why was spilling all this to a girl she had just met, but it has been bugging her the last two hours
"Go on" Lizzy waved her hand for Mai to continue
"But on the way up here he wouldn't talk to me, wouldn't even look my way...he wouldn't even touch me. The as soon as Masako goes all dainty like she usually does. My insides burned with rage. And it's like he doesn't even care" Mai huffed
"Sounds like you love him"
"That's the problem, I know I love him. I have for the past year and a half, But I never felt this feeling"
"Did he admit that he loves you too?"
"No. He cares for me is all he told me – "
"Well that's a stepping stone" she tried to cheer the girl up
"I know. But then he starts to get all – whats the word – uh-"
"Hot and heavy? Touchy? Teasing? Bow Chicka wow wow - " Lizzy started to list off
"Yes! All of those" Mai sighed "He's showed me another side of him. One I didn't even know could exist in a robot. But then because of it, I've changed suddenly. Things I never thought of are the only thoughts clouding my mind. And when I saw Masako touch him – Ugh – I wanted to rip her hand off him" Mai was raging and Lizzy just giggled
"You're falling in love with him." Mai gave the girl a puzzled look "When I started to fall in love with my boyfriend I felt the same way. I didn't want him talking to other girls, and I too started to change, noticed myself wanted to be closer to him, intimate. I would go crazy if he didn't text me all day or just over basic little things that I didn't care for. It's completely natural and normal. Especially for kids our age in our first real relationships...our first loves." Mai was shaking her head
"No, no. that couldn't be. I loved him for more than a year. But the minute he started to be flirtatious and sensual with me I start feeling this way?" Lizzy kept nodding her head yes
"Physical intimacy is really important in a relationship. Its the act of showing their partner all the ways they love them. When you're with him you feel safe and secure?" she asked, Mai, nodded "It feels like everything wrong in the world just disappears for those few moments. He awakens this goddess in you. You're coming together mind, body, and soul. It's a deep level to be on. Some can just do it casually. But it takes serious to trust to let someone you care for in and to see a private side of you. This is all new territory for you isn't?"
"Yeah" Mai sheepishly said "All I can think of is him, all the things I want to do with him...I'm such a perv" Lizzy laughed hard
"It's not being perverted. You're a human...an animal. Sex is a major part of our species. Plus, what you're my age? Seventeen?" Mai nodded again "Hello girly! It's prime time. You're only acting this way cause one: you are falling in love with. And two: the both of you are being intimate with each other. Your female animalistic dominance in coming out. Also completely normal...till you go insane and crazy." she laughed
"All women are crazy in their own unique way," Mai said in giggles
"Completely true. But for the ignoring you part, you said he's your boss, correct?"
"Yeah. You'd be surprised. He's actually eight-teen. And he is even the head of the Japanese branch"
"Nothing to worry about then. He sounds very successful if he operates another branch. He's probably just in work mode." Mai sighed knowing the girl is right
"Your right. I'm overthinking everything" Taking another sip of her tea
"Glad I could help." Lizzy got up "I'll get some food for us to share."
Lizzy came back within a few minutes with a plate full of muffins, toast and jam, danishes and some fruit. Plus another kettle of tea
"So do all students work here?" Mai asked
"No. Just those who want to make extra money from tips, if they don't get it from their parents. Plus its school credit as well"
"And you work in the school?"
"Yeah, mostly in the library and close to the Headmaster. But I work here in the cafe from time to time. Today actually. I was asked to give retrieve you when you came. My brother just tagged along, his shift is supposed to start soon."
"I'm sorry. I told them I was alright"
"It's no big deal. I'm here so I can just take his tables till he comes in"
"Do classes not all start at the same time?"
"No, since students work in the school, classes run all the way up till eight at night. Allows students to get some shifts in during the day."
"That's pretty cool. I heard the school is a tourist hot spot"
"Yeah. Like I said earlier, its rumored that Dracula himself lived here...that he actually built it."
"Do you believe the rumors?" Lizzy sat and thought for a second
"Yeah...I think I do. I've always had an interest in the supernatural so I guess I like the idea of it all" Lizzy said, picking at the fruit "What do you think?"
Well, I think that there could be a possibility. I don't have all the facts but when I felt that sudden rush of fear run through me when you opened the academy doors I knew something had to have happened here. Could be paranormal, but it also could not be. Then there's the fact that academy is also surrounded by densely wooded areas in the middle of nowhere… So it has to be a hunting. Right? I mean what boy would runway from the Academy and head into the deep woods? There he would certainly die." Mai trailed off, looking out the window
"You are right. Majority of the kids that go here are spoiled rich brats. They'd freak if a bug lands on them. I wouldn't believe they ran into the woods either" Mai narrowed her eyes, there was a boy standing by a tree. Looking in...looking right at her
"Hey Lizzy, do you know who that is?" Mai pointed so Lizzy could see "The one by the true, with the three apples on the ground. Closest to us" Lizzy looked and shook her head
"No one is the -" her eyes widened "Your eyes" Mai looked at her in confusion. Lizzy pointed to the side of her eyes "It looks like white veins...and your actual eyes...they seem to have a white halo around the iris" Mai panicking, picked up her phone and opened the camera. Sure enough, Lizzy was right. Faint white lines that resembled her veins poked out, elevated at the touch. They started at the outer corners of her eyes and faded back into her temples. And a white halo started to cover her chocolate eyes. But what scared her the most was the whites of her eyes started to turn black
"Oh my god" Lizzy jumped from her chair "What's going on!?" she was shaken and scared at the transforming girl in front of her. A few people looked up and towards the girls
"Please, don't be alarmed" Mai stood, backing away from the girl. Also very scared at her changing appearance "I'm sorry, I have to go" Mai ducked her head so the others in the cafe wouldn't see her
She exited and looked for the boy. He had to be a spirit, Lizzy couldn't see him. For some reason, sitting in the cafe made her feel exactly like she did in the entrance of the school. But out in the open, she was full of her normal energy. She'd have to ask Kat about it later. It could just be her imagination or the atmosphere here. She looked to the tree again, he wasn't there. Damn, she probably missed her chance. She walked around the open courtyard keeping an eye out if he showed himself again. Probably wasn't her best head to wear heels, she kept sinking into the damp grass. She cursed Naru, cause she honestly did it show off her legs. She rolled her eyes at herself for being a complete idiot. A movement caught her eye. At the entrance of the school the boy she had seen earlier stood. She made way towards him, quickening her pace.
The boy went through the doors "Well that'd rude" she broke into a jog. Really regretting the heel decision. How on earth does Ayako do this? She ran past Yasu and Masako still at the Van
"Mai!" Yasu called out, ignoring him she pushed open the doors, instantaneously weakening. She fell to her knees. But saw the boy walking away. Forcing herself to stand. She got used to it in the cafe, she could get used to it here.
She couldn't lose him this time. Yasu came up to her "Mai, are you alright?" he looked at her and took a step back "Y-your eyes"
"I'm fine, and I know." Mai took her phone and handed Yasu her purse "Hold this" she picked up her feet and took the heels off "And definitely these" Yasu was very confused as she placed her items in his hands
"I see someone," she said, regaining her shallow breath
"Should I get the boss?"
"That's your call. I can't wait around for him." Mai saw the boy get farther and farther away. Compelling her body to break into a run, Mai ran after the boy. Bare feet patting away at the stone floor.
"Mai!" Yasu yelled after her. She certainly knows she was making a mistake not waiting for someone. But something about this boy was drawing her in. He wanted her to follow him. Mai passed students and teachers on their way to morning classes. Some yelled at her to stop running in the halls. The spirit turned down a hallway, Mai did too and almost ran into someone. They grabbed her arm and spun her towards them. Scared she looked up and gave a sigh of relief
"Naru"
"What on bloody earth do you think you are doing" Mai couldn't help but blush when he spoke English to her. They've been doing it all week, but something about him yelling at her in the accent did something to her core. "Your eyes"
"Let go, I have to go after him" Mai was trying to pry his hand off her arm, looking behind her at the boy who turned another corner. Not having the time to explain something she didn't even understand
"There isn't anyone"
"Are you dense? I see I spirit" Mai focused on her flow, warming the part of her arm that Naru touched. He let go from the sudden heat and looked at her in disbelief "Or do you only take Masako's word for it" Mai turned and ran back after the boy she lost sight of.
"Mai!" She heard Naru yell her name and shortly after she heard his footsteps behind her. She turned down the same hall he did. A set of stairs came, going down. She took them. Another turn came she took it down a hallway and saw the spirit. At the end of that hallway, she had to turn again, she ran passed an open door and ran down another two flights of stairs. Mai was met at another door. An old wooden door, she pushed it opened and found more stairs.
"How many damn stairs are in this place?" she panted while she went down them. The spirit was at the bottom. Naru still hasn't caught up. At the bottom of the stairs was a single door leading into an old room. The room was cold and damp. A desk was at the far end with some old tables that had books and maps on them. The spirit was at another door to the right, he went through it and so did she. Stepping into it Mai left it open for Naru…where ever he is.
The door led into an all stone hallway that held no windows. Once Mai took a step in torches lit one by one along the walls "Cool and creepy all at the same time"Even with the light of the flaming torches, the hallway was still dark and damp. She caught sight of the spirit boy and walked towards him. He continued to walk, looking back once in a while to make sure Mai was still there. Then stairs came, they looked like they were carved into the earth itself. They finished one flight, then another long hallway came, old doors lined it all the way down till the darkness absorbed any last remaining light.
"Well looks like I'm still an idiot" Mai looked at her phone. Zero services. She sighed, should have waited for Naru. She started to walk, following the boy again. Trying each door to see if they open. None did. Then abruptly the torches went out, leaving Mai in the dark. Panic devoured her. She could feel her heart beat hard. The floor beneath her was cold to her bare feet, but it was also sticky. Mai shakily turned her phone's flashlight on.
A cold hand grab hold of my upper right arm. She let out an ear piercing scream screamed "Mai!" Naru's voice came to her. He moved the light to show her it was just him
"What the hell were you thinking! Oh, that's right you weren't thinking when you ran off!" He yelled at her
"Naru, there was a spirit-"
"Mai have you ever thought that this spirit you saw wants to kill you!" His grip tightened around my arm. I looked down. I didn't think about that and now look, I most likely put myself in danger but mostly Naru.
"No. I didn't think of that. I'm sorry"
"Of course you didn't. Start using your brain, Mai."
"I said I was sorry Naru" Mai tried to pull away. He held tighter
"What would have happened if something had happened to you?" he was furious at her, and she couldn't blame him
"You'd always find me in the end" she whispered, tears streaming down her face. The grip he held on her loosened. He cupped her cheeks and made her look at him, the flashlight giving off a cool light reflecting in his blue eyes
"And what happens if I don't next time?" he wiped her tears. Mai smiled, she stood on her toes and gave him a quick kiss
"That would be the day hell froze over" he chuckled and kissed her once more. She melted into him
Then she smelled the hint of blood. Lot and lots of blood. She pulled away
"Blood. I can smell it." The sound of dripping water came to her ears… and she knew it wasn't water that was dripping close to them. "Naru" Mai looked down at her feet, remembering the sticky feeling she had at the bottom of her feet. She was standing in a pool of it
"I'm standing in blood" she felt him tighten his hold on me. The passageway became cold. Her body began to rapidly shake in his arms
"Mai?" her eyes rolled into the back of her head, knees buckling. A single scream escaped her lips as her head exploded in pure agonizing pain. She went limp.