CHAPTER 30: HEART OF GLASS

TOWER 3

"Do you need us to help you?" Rook asked curiously.

"No, I've got it!" Jill insisted.

As the elevator started to move, Vil had decided to summon his dorm weapon—a book based on the spellbooks of the Fairest Queen. There was even a holster along the spine where Vil placed his pen, so that he could channel his magic through the book. According to him, all dorm weapons had such an attachment for pens, to increase the power of the housewardens. And of course, when Jill learned this, she all but demanded that Vil summon her dorm weapon so she could do the same thing. And Vil had indulged her.

Unlike the other dorm weapons, which were passed on from generations of housewardens, this one was made by Jill and her Arts and Crafts Club. It was a staff with a green sculpture of the gooey Soul Robber winding around it, and at the top was a metallic jack-o-lantern. The lantern had an open mouth with a plexiglass lid to safely keep a flame inside, and it was flanked with small bat wings, making the whole piece look formidable. Once Vil summoned the Hallowgrim dorm staff, Jill quickly removed the lid and squeezed her pen in the container until it was secure.

"There, hopefully it won't fall out," she said, pocketing the lid.

Vil eyed the staff carefully. "Better use a sticking charm just in case," he said. He cast a quick spell that flashed white inside of the little pumpkin.

"This is the first time you're using that as a weapon, right?" Epel said. "It's gonna look so cool!"

"I know! Vil, thank you for helping me get this!" Jill squeed, hugging her staff.

"It's no trouble. I'll admit, I'm a little curious to see it in battle too," Vil said.

"We'll need all the strength we can muster," Rook agreed. "…Especially if Monsieur Bette will be one of our opponents."

"Grim? You think he'll go cuckoo for cocoa puffs and attack again?" Jill asked worriedly.

"Well, he was driven crazy by blot, right? If we're fighting Phantoms, then this place will be filled with the stuff," Epel said. "I hate to say it, Jill, but… you might have to fight Grim again if he's in the Underworld."

Jill stared at the elevator wall. She remembered how the vent in Grim's room had been torn off, and how high he'd have to jump to escape—he seemed much stronger and more agile than before. Like he was back when he had mauled Jill, driven mad with negative energies…

"We can take care of him," she decided. It wouldn't be like the last time she'd fought with Grim.

The elevator finally dropped, though the group still had aways to go to reach the midway hangar. The four wasted no time in rushing down the endless flight of stone steps. Jill knew that some progress had been made, yet it still felt as if she was still at the very top of the tower, going down the first set of stairs…

Is there an end? she thought dizzily.

Just then, something hissed from the dark corners of the stairs. Jill stopped, nearly falling over, and then stepped back against the Pomefiores.

"Those shadows are unnaturally dark…" Rook noted. "And that burning smell… yes, that's blot."

"It doesn't seem like Grim, though," Jill said.

Several small Phantoms slithered out to greet the four. They resembled jars, glasses, even chalices, all made from glittering glass. Instead of limbs, they had tendrils of blot which pulled their containers along. Some even wore jewelry, which had lost their shine long ago.

"PrEtTy… BeAuTiFuL…" one of them crooned.

"MaGiC… PoWeR…" another hissed.

"iiiiiii WaaaAAAnT…" the smallest whined.

"Disgusting creatures," Vil scoffed. "Let's take them out posthaste."

"Right!" Epel made the first move, shooting flora spells at the Phantoms. The little monsters dodged, and from there, it became targeting practice of sorts. Vil, Rook, and Epel were all skilled marksmen, and they were able to pick off most of the Phantoms from afar. But where these Phantoms lacked strength, they made up for it in numbers.

Jill did her best to help out with her own magic. But as this was the first time using her staff in combat, she had difficulty aiming and shooting in time. She had always seen her dorm weapon as little more than an art project and symbol of authority, and now she was kicking herself for not training with it before.

"Augh, I almost had it!" she cried as a Phantom evaded her fireball.

"Breathe, Jill. You're no good if you're riled up," Vil chided.

"I know, I just…" Jill took a deep breath. "These things are so annoying!"

But unbeknownst to the goth girl, one of the Phantoms was a bit smarter than its brethren. Instead of mindlessly fleeing or lashing out, this crowned chalice slithered into Jill's shadow and waited for her to be distracted.

Then it pounced, wounding Jill with its blot-covered claws and fangs. Jill screamed in pain and fell to the ground, falling down a couple of stairs and landing on her face.

"NO!" Rook cried, shooting light at the Phantom to vanquish it.

"Jill!" Vil yelled. "Are you alright?!"

"I-I…!" Jill winced. Blood and blot oozed from her wounds. "Th-That was a… cheap shot!"

"Jill, I…! Wait!" Epel froze in place, and then he began to glow. His voice lowered to a whisper, his tone hurried and urgent.

Your eyes will close, your breath will still…

Crimson Slumber…

Everything dissolved in a rush of light. Jill found herself falling into her dreams, a mixture of shadows and colors and emotions, none of it making sense… another door…

…

…...

…...

"Mademousielle!"

"Jill, wake up!"

"C'mon, Jill, up and at 'em!"

"Mmmm… huhhhh?" Jill opened her eyes at last. She was still on the stairway—the three Pomefiores were surrounding her, and the Phantoms were defeated. But it seemed as if everything was on the other side of a thick wall of glass. Jill's ears rang, and her body felt oddly warm and numb. In another flash of light, the glass dissolved, and she landed hard on her feet.

"Ow!" Jill winced. She leaned on her Hallowgrim staff for support. "Wh-What happened? Did I fall asleep?"

"Only for a few minutes," Vil explained. "It seems that Epel has awoken his signature spell."

"And what a wonderful spell it is—'Crimson Slumber', he called it!" Rook said, grinning at the younger boy.

"Eheh… honestly, I've had odd words going through my head all day," Epel said quickly. "Anytime I felt protective, I would think of that exact phrase. So I decided to finally say it, and it's my signature spell!"

Jill looked at her bare arm. "My wound… it's gone!" she said happily. "So you can heal wounds, Epel?"

"Sort of. My 'Crimson Slumber' encased you in a glass coffin—it was a lot more durable than it looked," Epel replied. "Some other Phantoms tried attacking you, and they couldn't penetrate the glass at all! The coffin put you to sleep, and it healed your injuries."

"Alright, Epel!" Jill cried. She grabbed the short boy and hugged him, giving him a noogie. "What a cool spell! You pretty much saved my life! Thank you!"

Epel chuckled, hugging her back. "Well, I had to help my Southern buddy," he said.

"That is a very effective spell," Vil praised warmly. "We're proud of you." He frowned. "And Jill, be on your toes next time! If it weren't for Epel's ability, you would be in much worse shape."

Jill lowered her head and let go of Epel. "Right," she acknowledged. "I'm sorry for letting that Phantom get the better of me. I'll be more alert next time."

"There, see? We're all okay!" Rook said happily. "Are we ready to descend further?"

"Yep!" Jill said. She stepped down, no longer needing to lean on her staff, as the Pomefiores flanked her.

Another door was coming up. Despite her recent misfortune, Jill was feeling as if luck would soon be on her side.