CHAPTER 12: SINCE I AM DEAD
Jill and Grim walked down the stone steps, past the large pumpkin garden, and through the metal gates. Ace and Deuce were waiting for them, since the four students walked together to their homeroom every day.
"Morning, you guys!" Ace said cheerfully.
"Did you get all your rest?" Deuce asked. "I know throwing a big party like that takes a lot of energy."
"Myaha! It'll take more than a party to get me tired!" Grim crowed. "Mornin', minions!"
"…Good morning, you two," Jill greeted quietly.
As the group walked through Main Street, Jill tried to listen to their banter about yesterday's party and the schoolwork for today… but their voices were all drowned out by her anxious thoughts. She took the magestone pen out of her pocket and looked at it. That black spot was still there… Jill was afraid of looking away, as if it would grow larger with neglect.
Blot was created by two things: magic and stress. Every mage had some blot when they casted spells, and the magestones acted as sponges that kept the blot away from the mage's heart. Jill's blot was usually in the form of little black flecks, and they always faded away after some rest. That was the norm for mages like Jill, who were just learning how to use and control magic.
But if blot built up too much, the magestone would turn black, and the blot would infect the mage directly. An overblot. Jill had several encounters with overblotted mages, and she was always worried that it might happen to her if she wasn't careful enough… and yet, how could that be?
Grim received blot by eating those black crystals. And all the others were upperclassmen with large chips on their shoulders. Jill might be suffering from heartache, but surely it wouldn't be enough to turn her magestone from orange to black? She couldn't generate enough magic to do that, either. And if she somehow transformed into a monster… what would she even do? Go insane and start attacking people, like the overblots before her? Even if she became angry, Jill couldn't dream of doing something like that…
So how could a big black drip appear on her magestone? And it didn't look like it was fading away anytime soon. Was it the nightmare that caused it? The stress of hosting a party? Or… that weird dripping noise she heard last night? Wait… maybe it was…!
"JILL!" Ace snapped his fingers in front of her face.
"Gah!" Jill flinched. "What?!"
"We were trying to talk to you," Ace huffed. "What're you staring at your pen for?"
Jill sighed and showed everyone the spot. "Guys, be honest. Does this look bad?"
Ace and Deuce examined the black mark, and Grim stood on his hind legs to see it better.
"I dunno, that doesn't seem too bad," Ace said. "I've had blot spots bigger than that, they just take a little longer to go away."
"You're not worried about overblot, are you?" Deuce asked quietly.
"I mean, maybe… can you blame me?" Jill asked.
At this point, the four friends were walking past the statues of the Great Seven. Jill always felt like the infamous figures were looming over her, judging her…
"Jill had a scary dream last night," Grim said. "About being trapped in a coffin."
"Another bad dream? At least it's not Riddle ripping your head off," Ace joked quietly.
Jill stared at the black spot, sighed heavily, then finally pocketed her magestone. "Guys," she said, "I know what made this blot appear. After the party, I was looking over sketches I made of home, and I was feeling down. Then I heard a dripping noise… then I had that nightmare where I was buried alive and everyone was mourning me. I've been distracted by so many things, but the truth is, I'm still homesick deep down."
Grim looked as if he wanted to say something, but uncharacteristically kept his mouth shut. He continued to be quiet as the group went into Night Raven's castle.
"Isn't Headmage Crowley the one trying to find you a way home?" Deuce asked. "Why don't you ask him about his progress? I mean, it's been… what? Six months since you got here? Maybe he's found something by now."
"Believe me, I've tried," Jill said. "But every time I try to ask the headmage, I get the same response." Her voice pushed into a snobby, higher-pitched tone. "Miss Bones, I am terribly busy! When I receive news on how to access Earth, I will inform you at once. You don't have to keep reminding me!"
"Ha, yeah, that sounds like him," Grim grunted. "I don't think that guy cares about you at all."
"That's not true, he does make sure I have what I need to survive," Jill said. "But running a school is a lot of work that keeps him occupied. And I have no clue how to access other worlds, even if my grandpa did it… I wish there was a way I could help Mr. Crowley with his research."
Finally, the group made it to their homeroom class. They were unusually early, as Professor Trein hadn't arrived yet, and neither had many of the freshman students. Jill sat down and continued to speak her worries.
"It's just… look, I'm glad I met you guys," she confessed. "I've learned a lot about myself, and I got to do things I only dreamed of… and if I stayed here, I know I could get a good home and job once I graduate. But… it won't be too long until presumption of death kicks in."
"Presumption of death?" Ace asked. "Like… your family thinks you're dead?"
Jill nodded. "In my world, if someone goes missing and their body isn't found in a certain amount of time, that person is declared legally dead. The exact time varies from area to area, and I don't remember what Kentucky's limit is… but it's still not looking good for me."
"We're sorry, Jill," Deuce said quietly. "Maybe the headmage will pull through for you…"
"…Nuts to that guy," Ace decided. "Why don't we look into this ourselves?"
"Huh?" Jill blinked.
"Even without your grandpa's research, we still have stories of other worlds," Ace went on. "Like Alice, the girl who fell into the Queendom of Roses. The Queen of Hearts took her under her wing and helped Alice go back home. Sure, I dunno how, but we could look into it for you."
"Yeah, and maybe other dorms have stories like that too!" Deuce agreed. "And you know, it wouldn't hurt to go through the library for any clues."
"Guys…" Jill gave a huge skeleton grin and leaned across the table to hug both Heartslabyuls. "Thank you so much!" she gushed. "You're the best friends I could ask for!"
"Hey, don't make this weird!" Ace said, blushing. "Are you tryin' to annoy us so we want you gone faster?"
"Maybe," Jill giggled as she pulled away. "I'll ask everyone I can, too. Like the housewardens, the teachers… oh, and Mr. Sam could know something. He has a lot of friends from different corners of the world!"
"Just so you know, if we don't get any results, please don't mope around," Ace said. "You're no fun when you're like that."
"I'll try," Jill said, and her smile melted down into something smaller and warmer.
"Grim, what do you think? You've been quiet," Deuce noted.
"H-Huh?" Grim blinked and jumped a little. "Hey, I'm thinkin'! Don't interrupt me!"
"Thinking of a way to get me home?" Jill guessed.
"I mean… not really," Grim admitted. "I was thinkin', I can't really go to your world with ya, can I?"
"Afraid not," Jill said. "We don't have animals who talk or use magic. You'd stick out, and not in a good way."
"So it would be goodbye, huh…" Grim stared at the wooden table surface.
"Grim, I'm sorry. But this could be good for you," Jill told him. "If I leave, you'll be housewarden—a big shot like you always wanted. And you won't have me bossing you around anymore. That's something to look forward to, right?"
Grim didn't answer. Jill started to worry about his mood. When they were first paired together, Grim did nothing but complain that he wanted to be the big cheese, and that Jill was an annoying eyesore that needed to go away. But now that they've been a team for so long, Grim's original wish would be bittersweet once it was finally granted. And despite everything, Jill had to admit that she would miss the little hairball.
She put her hand over his paw. "You'll be okay, boss," she said quietly. "You're strong. And one day, you'll have lots of hench-humans working for you when you become the best mage ever. Okay?"
Grim sighed and composed himself. "…Yeah. Thanks, minion."
Finally, the bell rang, and Professor Trein started to take attendance. Jill mentally noted all the people she'd have to contact today, and all the books she would have to read… Today would be a long day indeed.
Legally speaking, she might already be a dead woman. Time wasn't on her side. And if she didn't find a way to stifle the grief inside her… the blot might render her double-dead.