Hey guys! Just a note before starting: Please review when you read so that your opinions can help the story flow better. It's advantageous for you as to read what you like and to me as well as I will try to get better when knowing my errors. It's a win win thing, no loses only win.

Enough talking, chapter 3:

Brian was waiting for Pamela impatiently. It was only a week since she had arrived in the Castle and he was longing to see her. He didn't know the reason since every time that Pamela came to work in the library they would talk less than five sentences. He looked up at the door and saw her limping to the Manuscriptorium.

Not a few minutes later she came in with dragging her leg heavily. The weights now reached her knees and made it hard for her to move. Brian got up to bring her a chair but she shoved her hand in the air to stop him.

"Hi." She exclaimed curtly and put her both hands on his desk in order to take a breath for going down the stairs.

"Hey, want lunch?" Asked Brian with a smile but she just shook her head in exhaustion and opened the door to the library. The sight of the stairs was torturing for her so Brian ran to stand on the step in front of her and extended his hand which she rejected.

Her stumbling made him worry enough of her falling that he lifted her up. She was extremely heavy due to having so much weight on her. "I was capable of walking since one. Put me down." Pamela snapped but her complains were in vain for Brian had already finished going down the steps. He placed her gently on the ground.

Brian then went back up to fetch her lunch and handed it to her which was a small sandwich. "Oh come on, eat." He insisted but much to his surprise she didn't reject it but pulled it harshly out of his hands.

"Will save it for later." Pamela placed the sandwich beside her and slapped her face to wake up. "Go now, I have work to do." She added but Brian sat beside her.

"A simple thank you wouldn't hurt." He mocked and waited for her usual cranky answers. Pamela stood up heavily and picked up the sandwich. She had experienced a difficult day even with being on good terms with the soldiers since they had accepted her as one of them. The acceptance had come in a form of a big ice bucket being poured on her and telling her to teach them the fighting skills of that night.

Pamela saluted with respect and held the sandwich with both hands. "I will eat this with pleasure. Please accept my words of gratitude." She sounded serious enough for Brian to think that she was mocking or didn't know what thanking someone really meant.

"Really?" He asked but she rapidly sat back down.

"Of course not, now go." She stopped herself from cursing him for taking her time like this. "Do you thank your boss every month for giving you a salary? Well this is my salary. Small, yes, but a salary nonetheless." Pamela went and started to clean the dust until she heard the door close shut and checked to see if Brian was gone.

Quietly she went to the last row of books, magyk for non magykal. She knew that it was stupid but she opened it again to consider using the spell she had accidentally came across few days ago. Checking again to see if the library was empty, she made her choice and started to chant.

"Emoc ot em eht tsohg fo eht lufrewop." She chanted hardly since the spell needed to be used backwards. The instant the last word escaped her mouth, the book rose up in the air and its pages started to shuffle rapidly. Pamela became frightened by the sudden chaos but there was no going back now.

The curtains were abruptly pulled as if a hand was closing them and the room became dark. The only light existing was the book. She glanced back at the book and saw a ghost standing in front of it holding a spear in hand, pale blue coat with golden stars on it, long beard and haunted eyes. The sight of him made Pamela to take a step back, she had encountered ghosts since her arrival to the Castle but this one gave her a negative vibe.

"Who...?" her voice trembled so she took a deep breath, restraining herself. "Who are you?" Pamela asked briskly.

The ghost came closer in a manner that made her want to bolt out of the room but she stood her grounds. He was supposed to be powerful and she had to gain power at any cost. He opened his mouth but had to go through few attempts in order to have his voice heard. "For what reason a wench dares to disturb my rest?" He inquired with an irritated gesture.

"Wench?" Pamela was offended by his way of calling her. "Who are you to call me that?" She bolted with a sarcastic laugh. "No matter what you think of me, you're a ghost. A dead." She emphasized each word carefully.

Him turning a bit red was visible even with his paleness. "You dare to mock the great Tertius Fume?" He bolted angrily and went on about his greatness but Pamela wasn't listening. Her mind went back to all the books she had read over the past few days of working in the Manusriptorium library and recognized him. He was the first Chief Hermetic scribe but something wasn't right.

"Why are you here then and not guarding the vaults?" She intentionally cut through his words. Being called a wench was too much for her too tolerant.

"Can't a ghost have some respite? Well, I don't expect someone of your specie to understand my_" His words were cut again when the door to the library opened. Pamela looked at the door with a start, no one should see her there. She saw Brian appear and call her name. The first thought was hiding but something better came to her.

She went to him, leaving Tertius Fume to try to get back into the book. "I'm here." She answered his call.

"It's so dark in here. How can you work in this place?" Brian asked and went to open the curtains. Pamela ran to him and took his hand to stop him, he couldn't see Tertius Fume. He looked at her hand holding his and felt like he never did before.

Seeing him blush, Pamela let go and glanced to see whether Tertius managed to get into the book or not. "It's fine. I can handle it." She was distracted and Brian could sense that something was odd but it was obvious she wouldn't tell him anyhow. He nod his head and went up the stairs but only pretended to close the door. He saw Pamela go to the back of the library but it was too dark for him to see anything. Brian tried to see more but it was useless so he gave up but was determined to find out.

Unaware of Brian's suspicion, Pamela went to see Tertius Fume waiting for her with crossed arms. "What? You so wanted to leave." Pamela snapped at him but his thoughtful expression didn't change.

"Tell me, why were you looking for a powerful ghost?" He asked in a commanding manner.

Pamela shrugged. "I need power, knowledge and experience. A powerful ghost has them all since I cannot waste time to gain experience but can surely use yours." She confessed for there was nonreason to hide her true intentions from him.

Tertius Fume ran his hand through his long beard. "Only if you weren't a female_"

"I am in the army. Don't think of me as a female. Just give me power and I'll help you in any way possible." Pamela retorted though feeling as if she was betraying all of her beliefs by disregarding her gender. "Deal?"

"You'd do anything I say?" Asked Tertius with growing interest in her. Seeing him reconsidering the offer Pamela felt excited.

"If possible, yes."

A ring appeared in the air, black but not too dark. The ring was shaped like a tree in winter. "Take this and meet me later tonight." Tertius waited for her to take the ring before continuing. "The forest, nine o'clock sharp. Got it?" He demanded but disappeared swiftly with the sound of footsteps coming to the door.

Pamela was in daze at first but with the clicking sound of the door, she ran and opened the curtains and went to sit in between the books. The door opened to reveal Brian yet again who gazed at her with suspicion as she was trying to fit between the books with her fist held behind her back.

"What now?" Pamela knew that he was only helping her and didn't know how awful his timing was but still felt annoyed.

For the first since her arrival she saw him frown. "We're closing early so I thought to tell you." he sounded offended by her annoyed expression so he left without letting her to answer.

Him leaving like that made Pamela feel something sticking in her throat. He was the only one to count her as a human since her arrival and the one to give her a job and a place to stay. She felt guilty for treating him so rashly. She got up and went up the stairs. When she opened the library's door to leave she saw him waiting in the empty office for her.

"Don't look at me like that." said Brian to stop Pamela from staring at him.

"I'm sorry if I was rude earlier." Pamela managed to say. She was surprised to see him waiting for her in spite of her behavior. "I'll try to be nicer."

Brian wore his coat and took Pamela's from the rack. "Don't." he almost commanded. "I like the way you talk even if may be a little... sarcastic at times." finding the right word for Pamela's attitude wasn't easy for him since he had rough time figuring her out. Pamela nodded and held out her hand to take her coat.

He instead helped her in wearing it. Pamela couldn't understand his reason for acting like that as she wasn't to his advantage. When she wore the coat he went to the door with her following. All the way to the inn they didn't say anything to each other. Each lost in their own thoughts. As they reached the inn Pamela was staying in she turned to bid him farewell.

"What's that?" Brian pointed at a glow in between Pamela's fingers. She tried to hide it but it would be too suspicious. "Never mind. See you tomorrow." He shoved his hand in the air in an indifferent manner.

Pamela was set back by his changing modes. He couldn't suspect a thing. "It's nothing, really." She said uncertainly. She felt him wanting to say something but instead he nod his head and stood back.

"Okay, go in. I'll go after you go in." Brian looked anywhere but her. When he finally turned to look at her she was gone.

Pamela looked at the time piece on the rustic brown desk. It was quater to nine. Feeling that she had something to do made her ignore the stuffiness of the inn's room with a small bed and wooden walls. She looked out the small window to check if anyone was around but the streets were all empty.

Quietly she walked down the stairs and started to go to where she supposed the forest was. Pamela walked briskly as to not be late for her meeting. The cold breeze made her cheeks freeze.

"Pamela." A girl's voice calling her name made her stop dead in her place and turn to see who it was. A figure with heavy red coat walked up to her. "I was coming to see you." She whispered.

Recognizing the figure, Pamela began to relax. "Cerys, what brings you here?" She couldn't understand the reason behind Cerys whispering but she had to get to the forest fast.

Cerys however had no intention to leave. "The army's commander was sending you a message by one of the maids but I told him that I'd deliver it myself." She gave Pamela a letter. "Where are you headed to?" Her question made Pamela uneasy as she folded the letter and put it in her pocket.

"Just wanted to see the forest, that's all." She answered with using all of her effort in sounding indifferent.

This made Cerys jump from excitement. "Wow! I've never been there. Let's go." with enthusiasm she began to head to the forest but Pamela took her hand.

"Let's go some other time." She demanded unconsciously but when she saw hurt in Cerys's eyes she softened her voice. "I'm just going to take a peak tonight. There's this guy in the Manusriptorium who knows everything about everything, we can ask him to guide us later." she didn't want to hurt Cerys but knew that there was no way that she would take the Castle Princess with her to such a meeting.

Crestfallen Cerys agreed. "Fine, I have get back anyway." She went back to her normal carefree character. They bid farewell. Pamela was a bit sad to push away anyone who ever tried to get close to her but she was out of option.

After seeing Cerys off, she ran to the forest. She was late. When she reached the tall trees that led to the forest a shiver ran through her body. Feeling suffocated by fear made her stop. Pamela was ready to turn back and return the ring to Tertius Fume and living her life happily but the minute she thought about it, her family's image would appear in front of her eyes.

The image of seeing their last minute. Their shouts for her to run and hide, to leave. And then it would clear, the face of the man leading those troupes to kill her entire village of. Remembering the smirk on his face gave her power to move on. The vengeance and anger she felt for that man was strong enough to overcome any fear.

She was almost blind by the darkness that she recalled the ring Tertius Fume had given her. Pamela took it out and saw it still glowing, she knew that it was her choice. Closing her eyes, in an instant she wore the ring on her index finger. The sudden pain on her hand forced her into opening her eyes and see a light. There was a smoke and a small light behind the tall trees.

With great determination she ran to the fire and saw them. A group of ten sitting around a crackling fire with Tertius Fume hovering over them. They all turned to look at her, clearly been told about her proposal. Pamela couldn't make any face since they all wore black mask with a huge green cloak over them.

"Welcome to our group." Tertius Fume opened his hands in a welcoming manner. Pamela felt her body become cold from fear but she moved forward. There was no point in going back now.

Thank you all for reading and hoping you enjoyed it. Sorry about my late update, I had a lot of things to do but well I'll try to update really soon and thanks. Bye.