Chapter 55: Shifting / Part 2
Apr. 22nd, 2018 03:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
simtopi
The Tri-Var Mansion
Scott: I'm Scott.
Jasmine: Good for you.
Scott: So... are you Tri Var?
Jasmine: Hell no.
Scott: I didn't think so. You don't look as dumb as these girls.
Jasmine: You're not impressing me, dude. Your turn.
The music was loud and the room was filling up with people Cecilia didn't know. The couple next to her were going at it hard, and people were blowing bubbles in another room.
Cecilia was okay though. Nora was funny and easy to talk to. It was easy to ignore everything else going on right now.
Nora: So who is she?
Cecilia: Who?
Nora: The blond girl you were looking at. Someone special?
Cecilia: Someone special... oh.. you mean my sister?
Nora: Of course. Your sister. Well, that's.. um... nice that she's here, right?
Cecilia: I guess. I'm never sure about her, to be honest.
Nora: I kind of know what you mean. I have two of them. Sisters. They're kind of a pain in the ass sometimes. But I love 'em.
Cecilia: Sometimes I think I'm a pain in her ass. Which is why she avoids me.
Nora: I wouldn't think about it like that. I'm sure she cares about you...
Cecilia: Sure, in her own Jasmine way.
Nora: So. Um... are you here with anyone else?
Cecilia: Well, I live here.
Nora: I meant... well, you know what I mean.
Cecilia: I know what you mean. And no, I'm not. Why do you ask?
Nora: Just curious.
Raj: Broooooo!!!!
Eddie: Adrian my dude! Nice to see you've made it! You doin' alright?
Adrian: Yeah, I'm good. Where's Jasmine?
Eddie: She's here? I didn't see her. But whatevs, there's lots of fine ladies here tonight.
Raj: I think she's at the pool table. With Scott.
Adrian: Who's Scott?
Eddie: Nobody, man. Just chill, it's a good night.
Eddie: There's plenty of pizza and someone brought in a plate of Lobster Thermidor. Yo Kev, don't inhale all the booze man!
Lee: No worries, there's plenty, we're not running out. Adrian, here ya go.
Raj: Nah, Adrian doesn't drink.
Lee: Oh shit, really?
Adrian: No... no it's okay. I could use a drink.
It was turning out to be a good night.
Cecilia ran to use the upstairs bathroom. The bass from the music downstairs pounded through the floors and walls. She was flushed from the wine that she was drinking, but she was surprisingly having a better night. She really felt like she was making a new friend with Nora. The conversation was natural and she didn't feel like she had to fake anything around her. She had almost forgotten about Wesley...
"Cecilia!"
Cecilia looked up quickly and gasped in surprise. In the mirror behind her was Marion's ghostly reflection.
Cecilia: Shit .... Don't scare me like that!
Marion: I apologize, my dear. But I need your help.
Cecilia: What... right now???
Marion: It must be tonight. Please Cecilia...
Cecilia: Okay. I mean... I don't know. Let me talk to my friend first, ok
Marion seemed desperate. But there was something more in the way the ghost behaved which sent chills through her spine. Something wasn't right.
Nora was waiting at the foot of the stairs.
Cecilia: What, you're going already?
Nora: Yeah, I'm really sorry to have to run. I have a shift to cover at the Warehouse.
Cecilia: I'll walk you out.
Nora: Thanks for the invite anyway. Cool place you got here.
Cecilia: Thank you for the company. I don't really get to meet a lot of people outside of the sorority.
Nora: Well good. Maybe we can hang out again...?
Unexpectedly, Nora took her hand. Cecilia tensed, but she didn't pull away.
Nora: I mean... is that okay? I didn't want to assume...
Cecilia: It's okay. I think I just wasn't expecting it, that's all.
Cecilia: But yeah. I'd like that.
Nora: Awesome. I'll text.
Everything about this night was unexpected, but this, most of all. She had always dated guys before, but she had never felt this comfortable with any of them. Especially not with Malcolm.
Her thoughts went to Malcolm. Technically they weren't a couple. Malcolm had no claim on her. There was just that one strange night after the club. He definitely has not been in the picture for weeks now. Cecilia always thought she'd end up with someone like him... Older. Rich. But maybe he wasn't her type at all.
Maybe it was time to move on from him. But was she ready to do that or was Nora just something new.
Marion: She's a lovely girl. I can see why you're so distracted.
Cecilia: Ohmygod... Mrs. Landgraab, I'm sorry, you scared me. Again!
Marion: I'm sorry to have interrupted your evening.
Cecilia: Well, no biggie, for once I'm having a good night that's all.
Marion ignored the sarcasm.
Marion: Malcolm was never right for you. I'm his grandmother, and I'm a Landgraab. I helped raise him when his parents died. He's done well for the family... but what he's done to acquire his fortunes... It's probably best you didn't pursue a relationship with him.
Cecilia: What are you talking about? What has he done?
Marion: He's besmirched the family name. I'm afraid our reputation can never recover if he's allowed to continue what he's doing. Do you recall what happened to poor Brittany Upsnott?
Cecilia: Um. Yeah. It's not something I can really forget.*
Marion: I watched it all happen. I know what he did to her.
This was getting more disturbing. The memories of what happened to Brittany all came back to her.
Cecilia: Malcolm was involved? How?!
Marion: In his quest for power, he had unlocked evil things. The veil between the living world and the world of darkness has never been more thin. And I know what waits on the other side. Ghosts. Undead. Demons.
Cecilia thought about Wesley all over again.
Cecilia: What do you need me to do?
Marion: You must come with me. Tonight, the moon is full, I'm afraid we can not wait too long.
Cecilia: I can get help... maybe my sister will...
Marion: You must tell no one or you will risk putting them in danger. But please don't worry. I will keep you safe.
Cecilia ran upstairs to her room to find something warmer to wear. A voice in her head kept yelling at her about how crazy all of this was. It was true that she trusted Marion than any other ghost she's encountered, but this was completely out there.
She heard voices and giggling from the hallway. She was hoping no one would see her leave.
Cecilia: Gabe?!
Gabriel: Oh hey! Cecilia! Sooo... that's your room, huh?
Cecilia: What are you doing?
Cecilia scowled. She knew exactly what he was doing.
Gabriel: Uhhh... nothing. Just going for a tour... what are you doing?
Tashia: Coming Gabe?
Gabriel: *coughs* Uh... yeah. Sure, I think.
Cecilia: Gross.
Last thing she needed to see was her cousin with Tashia. Of all people.
Marion: Please hurry, Cecilia.
Cecilia felt bad about taking Jasmine's truck, but now Marion's sense of urgency was getting to her. She couldn't find Jasmine anywhere, and even if Marion had given her the time to look, what would she tell her anyway?
At least she knew where the spare keys were. Jasmine wasn't the
only Baird sister who learned to drive in this junkheap.
Jasmine found herself on the patio. It was a cool night, so there weren't too many other people out here which suited her fine. She spent all night playing pool because there was pretty much nothing else she wanted to do. She wasn't in the mood to socialize.
Scott: Hey there you are.
Jasmine: And there you are.
Not this guy again.
Scott: I was looking for you. This bottle has your name on it.
Jasmine: No thanks. I'm driving home tonight.
Scott: Take a cab. I already saw you drink a couple.
Jasmine: No you didn't, you saw me nursing one plastic cup of whatever swill that came out of that keg. I'm good.
Scott: Cool I get it. You like to play the edgy girl at parties. It's kind of like an attitude test, right?
Jasmine: What?
Scott: You want the right guy to see through that tough girl exterior of yours. Am I right?
Jasmine: ...
Scott: You wouldn't have been hanging around with me all night if you didn't expect me to hit on you.
Jasmine: For one, I was playing pool, not "hanging around with you". For another, this is hitting on me?
Scott: Come on, it's nice and cold. Maybe another will loosen you up.
Jasmine grabbed the bottle. She had no time or inclination to deal with this.
Jasmine: On second thought, thanks. And you have a good one. I'm going to find my friend.
It cinched it. She definitely wanted to go now, with or without Gabe.
As she passed through the kitchen, she left Scott's beer on the counter.
It sounded like every sports team in SSU were in the dining room by the keg. She wasn't looking forward to walking through.
She didn't expect to see Adrian among them.
Jasmine: Adrian...?!?
He was .... drinking? Adrian doesn't drink.
Adrian: Jasmine. Hey.
Scott: Maybe instead of trying to be nice and getting you a beer, I should have just treated you like the rude bitch you are.
Jasmine: ... Excuse me?!
Scott: Yeah I called you a bitch. Bet you're not used to that, are you princess?
Adrian: You want to apologize to her?
Scott: Who the fuck are you?
Adrian: Jasmine's my girl. And you're going to apologize to her now because you're a nice guy. Right?
Jasmine: Wait a minute...
Scott: Figures. Yeah well "your" girl was with me all night and didn't mention you. Typical slu....
He didn't finish that sentence.
Jasmine: ADRIAN!!!
Adrian: I'm going to give you one more chance to apologize and walk away from here. Understand?
Scott: Fuck you...!!!
Jasmine was stunned. This was happening way too fast for her to process.
Jasmine: Stop it!!!
Everyone had hurried onto the patio to watch the fight. Adrian already had Scott on the floor, pummeling him relentlessly.
Finally Jasmine and one of his friends managed to pull him off.
Jasmine: Stop it Adrian! Let's just go, okay?
She'd never seen him this angry before. She had never even expected this side of him at all. This wasn't Adrian.
Marion brought her to Bluewater Village. In the hills was Malcolm's mansion, now fully renovated. It still looked cold and intimidating, more so at night.
She drove further ahead until Marion told her to stop.
Marion was waiting for her by an old stone wall past the mansion grounds.
Marion: Watch your step. You're no good to anyone with a broken neck.
Cecilia: Where are we going?
Marion: Not far. We're almost there.
Over a low hill, they came to where they needed to be.
Cecilia: Are you serious? This is a graveyard!
Marion: Yes. The resting place of Marion Landgraab. And the others.
The first headstones she could see were those of Malcolm the III and Margaret... Malcolm's parents. Judging from the dead weeds, it didn't look like anyone has visited here in a long time.
Marion: Don't dawdle. Hurry, girl.
That voice in her head was getting louder. She really shouldn't be here, it practically screamed. This whole thing was creepy enough, she had to end up in a graveyard too?
There was an eerie silence to this place. All she could hear was the wind through the pines and nothing else.
She walked towards the back of the cemetary where the family crypt stood. It was overgrown with weeds and dead vines.
Cecilia: You can't seriously expect me to go in there...?
Marion: It's where you are needed, my child.
Cecilia: What am I supposed to do?
Nothing further. You are here, and now I'll take care of the rest.
Cecilia: What are you talking about...?
You should know by now not to trust the dead, my dear.
And yet it was so easy to deceive you. Pathetically easy.
Marion's ghostly form disappeared and in it's place was the ghost of Abigail... The ghost that terrorized her in Jasmine's dorm*.
Clara's mother.
Cecilia tried to cry out but the ghost was quick. Before she realized what was happening, she found her consciousness being locked away, the same as it had when Brittany possessed her.
But Brittany was hurt and full of sadness. Abigail was different... her thoughts were clear, and there was so much hate in them. She tried her hardest to force the ghost out, but she couldn't.
She tried to scream out, but her body was betraying her. She could still feel everything, but the movements weren't hers.
Abigail knew where she needed to go. And what had to be done.
She learned much in the afterlife. But she could do nothing without a corporeal form. Cecilia... this grandchild of Brandon Markelly who also happened to be a medium... she was a godsend.
Breaking open the locked door hurt. This body was physically weak, but the ghost didn't care. She could push it further, without care if it tore her muscles or bruised her flesh.
Before long, the chamber was open.
As she had expected, the Construct was waiting there.
The Construct: You are forbidden to be here. These gifts are not for you.
Abigail: I know what you are. I know your purpose here.
The Construct: If you know this, then you must leave before you harm the girl that you possess.
Abigail: I've waited too long. Too long. Clara will have what's rightfully hers.
The Construct: These gifts aren't meant for you or her...
The Construct was just a fragile copper doll, strung together with flimsy magic. It had a singular purpose, but tonight, it will have failed. It would try to use magic to defend the chamber...
Abigail wouldn't give it the chance.
In one swift motion, the axe was swung with all the strength she could muster from the girl.
The force of it decapitated the Construct.
The headless construct lay still in the empty chamber. The magical candles began to slowly dim, one by one.
Abigail: It is done!!!! Clara it is done!!!!
Abigail's ghost swiftly left Cecilia's body, cackling as it escaped into the night.
Cecilia stood in the chamber alone. She barely understood what was happening.... what Abigail had done. All she knew was that she was here and there was a headless copper mannequin sprawled on the floor in front of her.
Then she looked up and caught her reflection in the dark mirror.
It only took a glance.
Next ยป [ Chapter 56 coming soon ]
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Love the update!
Date: 2018-04-24 02:11 am (UTC)I couldn't believe Willow's behavior last chapter to be honest. I have always been a fan of the Willow + Gabriel pair and I was disappointed that she went for Adrian. This doesn't look like it is purely a romantic pursued thought, given Adrian's behavior this chapter! I was also very sad Willow didn't listen to Wesley when he was trying to talk to her :( . BTW, I considered naming my girl Willow (not because of Simtopi, but this is one of the few Willows I know) so I really hope that she becomes the good protagonist in the story again.
Finally... Poor Cecilia! She just can't get a break! I guess we need to wait to find out if she survived looking in the mirror!
Thank you for the lovely update and as always, waiting impatiently for the next chapter!
Kalina
Re: Love the update!
Date: 2018-04-24 03:32 pm (UTC)You have good instincts about Otto. All I will say for now is that he's not related to Meadow or Sage. He's just a guy who's looking to make up for some of the bad things he couldn't help in the past.
I won't say much about Willow, and what's happening with Adrian, but you're right that it may not be purely romantic.
Also, I love the name "Willow", I think it's a beautiful name and you can't go wrong naming someone that. ( fun-fact, if I were to start this story again, I wouldn't have named her "Willow". When I started the story, it was a legacy, and I just stuck with the tree/nature theme of naming the Marlens. However Willow the witch is already an awesome character in the Buffy universe.)
Thank you again for reading, I appreciate this comment! :)
no subject
Date: 2019-01-17 08:11 pm (UTC)Also I just noticed that this is the only chapter Marion Landgraab is 'coincidently' not wearing her glasses. Gotta love the details.