I am very happy with each of the reviews I received in the last chapter and once again I want you to feel free to ask any questions you may have. I will try to answer your questions without spoiling the outcome. If you have any suggestions then I would be happy to try and work them in as well. Since I received six reviews for that last chapter ten or more would be really nice for this one. I don't like to beg for reviews, but I will gratefully receive as many as you think this chapter is worth. No song for this chapter at this time. Thanks.
On the third morning of staying at my Aunt's I am rudely woken by a frantic knocking at my bedroom door. When I answer it, a weary looking maid is standing there, "Forgive me for waking you so early, but you have received a urgent call from Ms. Felch, on behalf of a Mrs. Cullen. You are needed back at your school as soon as possible. The limo will be outside in ten minutes", then she nods her head and scurries away. I don't bother trying to hide my grin as she tells me; since my Aunt does not like to be woken up before nine, I have two hours before that and probably a few more before she realizes I am even gone. By then I will be safely back at the school and when she finds out where I am she can't possibly ask me to come all the way back.
After Finn and I talked yesterday he seemed to suddenly remember that he had work to do and left me to ponder what he told me. I admit to myself that after learning the reason behind why my Aunt is probably the way she is I can almost feel sorry for her. Whatever happened must have been really traumatic for her, because she may have moved on with her life, but she hasn't really moved on from what happened. I decide that if Finn knew this about my Aunt and the warning about the Baltimore's, then he probably knows a lot more, and if I talk to him again he may reveal more useful information.
I run down the servant's staircase and out the back door. After peeking inside the garden house and around the grounds it occurs to me that he may not even be working today, a gardener is not needed everyday, like a servant, and he probably lives somewhere else. As I go back inside the house I try to hide the disappointment that I will likely not have the chance to talk to him for many months, and by then it will be probably be too late to help the Baltimore's; I find that even with the warnings from Hayden and Finn, and the evidence of how violent Hayden can get, with my broken arm, I still want to help them more than I have ever wanted anything. It's like I am tied to them with an un-breakable cord and I know I couldn't desert them to their immortal fates if I wanted to, because deep down I know that a piece of me will go with them as well.
A servent scurries past me and I suddenly make up my mind to ask about Finn anyway, "Excuse me?".
She stops and turns to face me, "Yes?".
"Do you know if Finn will be working this morning?".
She looks at me like I have lost my mind, which isn't new, "You must mean Finn Grenier?".
I nod my head impatiently because really can there be more than one old man named Finn in one residence?, "Yes, I spoke to him only yesterday".
Her eyes widen, "You are mistaken. Finn doesn't work here anymore. He died two years ago", her eyes soften at the stricken expression that must be on my face, "I'm sorry, he is missed by many of us that remember him. He was good man, may he rest in peace".
I am unable to find the words for a proper response and after a moment she guiltily bows her head and leaves. I numbly walk out to the waiting limo, overcome with something I rarely ever feel: Fear. Since when have I mistaken a man for a ghost? Even if stage three's look alive in appearance, there is no reason why I shouldn't have just known what he was. Is it possible to lose the ability to help lost souls to the other side, or even know a well meant ghost when I see one?
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Alice is waiting near the front doors when I walk through a few hours later, I can tell she notices my still stunned expression but she tactfully pretends she doesn't notice, and for that I am grateful; I will tell her what is on my mind when I grasp what happened myself.
I smile at her, knowing it must look fake, "What member of the faculty did you impersonate ?", I tease lightly.
She bursts out laughing, "Ms. Felch's own secretary of course".
"But she doesn't have one".
"Exactly. Whoever answered the phone sounded like the type of person who could be fooled by a professional tone", she grins wryly.
"Thank you, but I am not supposed to be here", my stay at my Aunt's was partially insistence on her part for my health and partially a hidden suspension.
"Don't worry about Ms. Felch, I can be very persuasive when I need to be", she looks at me mysteriously, "She will see that being back will not harm your health or the well-being of the school".
I shake my head in wonder, Alice has some major explaining to do and soon, but first she needs a proper thank-you, "I don't think I have been giving you enough credit, I admit I had a hard time trusting you at first but I can't see how I can't any longer, you saved my life the other night and you continue to be a really good friend, so thank you".
She shrugs her shoulders and smiles over at me, "What type of best friend would I be if I didn't?".
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Hours later Alice and I are still talking, camped out on my four poster bed. Before now we only talked about ourselves and our lives, but I can tell the conversation is starting to take on a serious tone. I make up my mind to tell Alice about Finn soon, because perhaps she will have a different theory, and a less terrifying one.
"You know I have been to four boarding school's before this", I nod and she continues, "Well three were my fault and the last wasn't".
"What happened?".
She shakes her head, "I won't tell you that today. It's better if you don't know for as long as possible", she smiles but it isn't a happy one, "It's kind of a need to know thing".
I nod, "I understand, and I know you wouldn't keep it from me on purpose".
Her smile is genuine this time, "Thanks Bella. Anyway the reason I brought that up is because the headmistress of my last one was one of us. A Medium".
"Really?".
She nods, "Her name is Nicola Alaway and she taught me everything I know, I guess you could say she is there to guide all of us, a leader, but she's more like a mom to everyone than anything", she looks teary at some memory and it suddenly occurs to me that she never mentioned her real mother when she talked about her family earlier.
"I had no idea, that there was anything official to what we did, I just did what my instincts told me to do".
"That's how most of us go through life, and that's okay, but when things get...complicated then Nicola steps in. Of course she can't be everywhere at once but she really tries. Her cover is a step-in headmistress but she is qualified for a lot of other things too".
"So she seeks people like us out?".
"Pretty much. As you already know we can do a lot of things that the average person cannot. When we pass the rite of passage we are given something special, an ability that sets you apart from other mediums. Nicola's is the most rare, she had the calling to lead all of us, and to protect us".
"The rite of passage? You mean anyone can become a medium?".
She shakes her head, "If you are meant to be a medium you are born one, but something has to happen...something tragic. Some people wait most of their lives to realize that they are mediums and others learn very young. There are rules, instincts and...invisible ties to teach us what is right and wrong, so if a child becomes a medium and Nicola can't find them then they will be alright without guidance. You saw your first ghost soon after your accident right?".
I gasp in realization, "It was Chris. I became a Medium because my parent's died?".
She nods sadly, "We can't help those caught in between by tragedy unless we have experienced it ourselves. It's a little sick but it guess it makes sense".
"But my accident was an accident right? It didn't happen because of me?", my heart twists painfully and my eyes are starting to overflow with tears.
She looks at me in horror, "No Bella, no! Don't think of it like that... think of is as...fate. There was no way to change what was going to happen".
I nod but I know she can tell I am unconvinced. If I was never born a medium then fate would have never had to intervene and my parent's would still be alive. It was all me, I am convinced of it.
"Tell me about the stay at your Aunt's", she grins sadly, quickly changing the subject but somehow knowing that this conversation will be just as serious.
"I talked to someone named Finn, he warned me about the Baltimore's and he told me that my Aunt was the girl that had the accident in the school nearly 50 years ago", her hand covers her mouth in shock but I continue before she can say anything, "The thing is...he was dead and I didn't know it. Is it possible to lose what makes someone a Medium?".
She thinks about it thoughtfully for a moment, "I can see why you would think you are, but it is impossible to lose the gift. You say he seemed alive? Did he give off any hints about what he was?", she quizzes me.
I think back, "He seemed to be alive and I had no doubt about it at the time, but when I talked to him he seemed to know so much, and his eyes were full of secrets".
"Oh my god Bella! I think he was a Paragon!", some of her naturally bubbly attitude returns.
"A what?".
"A Paragon. They are the most revered on the other side, and come back only for special purposes. He came back for you Bella! He's like a guardian".
"But I didn't even know him, when he was alive, doesn't this sort of thing usually happen with a loved one or a close friend?".
"He was perfect for what he had to do, if you think about it, someone who wasn't there before would raise suspicion. You didn't sense he was a ghost because he wasn't. He was alive for a short time".
"Was that it? Was warning me that important, you'd think literally coming back from the dead would need a better reason".
"The Paragon may reappear but for the time being he must have thought those were the most important things for you to know. He also must have told you about your Aunt for a reason".
"But that could mean anything. 'Dont trust her like the Baltimores', or 'Don't be too hard on her'".
She shakes her head in wonder, "I think there is something really special planned for you Bella. Paragon's don't come to aid just anyone, and they can come back again and again in any form they want, with anyone's memories they want. You will have to watch out for friendly souls like his from now on".
I don't know what to say for a moment, "But why me?", I manage to whisper.
"I think you should meet Nicola, she will know", she smiles even brighter at the thought and I start to look forward to meeting the woman that obviously means so much to Alice.
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