I might have accidentally killed a maid once, but who's counting, right ? I mean, it won't happen twice. The odds of that happening are very low. Surely they are. Of course they're low, it's not because I'm cursed since birth that my powers are unstable. I was evidently over-reacting and being way too careful all these years... I slam a hand against my stomach and gasp, struggling to keep my breathing in check. My teeth start chattering and I'm feeling cold sweat run down my back. Why am I so stupidly scared ? I'm older now, I have much more experience, I have no reason to fear using my abilities for once. The Sugar Plum Fairy's voice echoes inside my head : as if you weren't gonna become an evil enchantress in a few years. Lucifer gently pokes at my denim-covered thigh with his rounded plushy left-side paw. I'm the daughter of two of the Other World's most renowned villains and my best friend died. What am I playing at here ?! Jackie is miles away form here, safe and sound...

I jump on my feet, take a deep breath and march out from behind the plant, followed by my teddy bear. I smile at his unsteady walking style and channel my anger with each step. Lord Robert and Narbeth aren't in front of the door anymore, luckily for us. I read inside the Happy Ending Archives' room and perceive two minds. Two seemingly humans one, at that. I swallow and simultaneously delve deeper into them. I try pushing away the waves of memories and information, my curiosity nearly taking over a few times, until I find my way again. I haven't done this in so long... It's like if someone was injured in an accident, then were pushed into a bottom-less pool when they had just gotten the use of their legs back a day before. I'm closing in, but something catches my attention and I can't retain from peeking... Their phobias. Somehow, they're both utterly afraid of spiders. That's one thing I never understood about humans and I'm not sure I ever will. I grew up with polar bears and giant ice scorpions roaming around the palace, hence why I'd never feel threatened by those miniature creatures. Needless to say, at least three-quarters of the inhabitants of the Other World feel the same. These two appear to be a part of the cowardly quarter... I've discovered they're actually not humans, but skeletons. At last, I find what I was looking for : the instructions to open the door. The simplicity of the task feels like some sort of trap. However, skeletons rarely possess telepathy, their main ability is being able to control their bones even when they're pulled apart. Also, immortality. I whisper, glancing around to confirm no one will sneak up on us :

     " Lucifer, the second this door opens, you get inside, okay ? I'll follow you in. "

     " Y o u r  w i s h  i s  m y  c o m m a n d ! "

I wonder for a brief instant, while delicately exiting the two skeletons' brains, if he realizes he's acting as a guinea pig. Still, how smart can an enchanted toy be..? I knock on the wooden panel four times to pull on the handle afterwards. A soft clicking sound indicates I successfully deactivated the enchanted lock. I push and the door opens with a low swooshing sound. My teddy bear and I enter, I carefully leave a slot between the doorway and the edge of the door. We wouldn't want to get stuck inside, even with my Teleportation Sceptre. It might not function if there are additional spells protecting this room. Let's not forget, I'm not especially keen of having the two guards notice us. I'm pretty sure that, unless they have enhanced hearing abilities, they will not. Walnut bookcases fill at least three-quarters of the walnut flooring and reach the ceiling, which seems to, unsurprisingly, also be made of walnut wood. The countless books loading up the shelves make it almost impossible to see through to the other ends of the archives room. Blinking pendant lamps, each with a different colored lampshade, are lined between the rows of documents. I hastily pick up Lucifer and mutter in his ear :

     " This is your time to shine, little buddy. Can you find Winnie's file ? " 

The two shards of diamond that stand for his eyes turn blue and glow. He hops out of my arms and I follow his lead. The bear finally stops walking after a few minutes of wandering throughout these alleys. As the shimmering light of his eyes fades away, he points at a file folder on the second shelf from the bottom. Scrutinizing our surroundings for the umpteenth time, I pull the dark beige folder out of between many more pieces of paperwork. I heedfully open it.

On the top, in a bold font, is written out : Winnifred Vesh Aridbite. Underneath are many pictures of her. In the first is a very young child, Winnie was probably only one or two years old when it was taken. Unlike in the other ones, she's not wearing clean clothes and smiling in front of the white background screen, but rather has streams of tears running down her cheeks and a torn piece of red cloth tied around her frail body. Most likely, it was taken when she was admitted into the orphanage. On the second page is a detailed form, dated from about eighteen years ago. A battered letter, covered in thin plastic to protect it, I suppose, is stapled to the back of it. Out of curiosity, I try to understand the excessively slanted calligraphy, with its runny ink, to decipher its message. " To whomever it may concern, we leave Winnifred Vesh Aridbite at the Happy Ending Orphanage's doorstep with much regret, but also faith that she will be taken care of appropriately. We are more than aware of your benevolent ways, but are still offering this cheque of thirteen thousand euros to ensure proper care for our dear Winnifred. Cordially, (...) " The signature is unintelligible, of course, that would have made things too simple... My only clue is the use of the plural pronouns, which suggests both of Winnie's parents abandoned her. Or, at least, more than one person was tending to her at the time the letter was written and left with her at the orphanage. The remaining stack of the file is a collection of medical documents, either psychological evaluations or boring routine check-ups. I can't find anything strange or worrying at first glance. I whisper to Lucifer :

     " Is anyone coming..? "

     " I  d o n' t  t h i n k  s o,  D i a m o n d. "

I flip through the plethora of informative sheets once again, more meticulously this time. Suddenly, I catch the words " Disruptive behavior ", written down shakily with a blue pen on top of one of the first health reports. My eyes glide down the paper and I realize that what I had mistaken to be drops from a leaky brown pen must be... No way... Blood ?! Then again, who uses brown ink ? The square space designated for the doctor to take notes is halfway filled. I read the sentences : " Fast, short breaths. Heartbeat over 150, 166 bpm more exactly. Patient has very abnormal shimmer in her eyes, to be inspected. Throat doesn't appear swollen. Tongue (...) " The comments stop after the word " tongue ". Logically, that's when said-"disruptive behavior" occurred. Then, it strikes me. A rich family and a thirst for blood... I go back to the first page and mutter her name, again. Winnifred Vesh Aridbite. Vesh Aridbite. Aridbite. Her name ends with "bite", therefore, she's either a werewolf or a vampire. Maybe. No, not maybe... The pages fly between my thumb and index. Here it is..! The signature at the bottom of the letter, that I found so hard to make sense out of. It's not terribly scribbled English... It's Demon Language ! " King Aridbite and Countess Vesh " A loud crashing sound startles me and I hear :

     " Darn it, James ! This is the fifth time this week, you..! " I quickly grab Lucifer's arm, after sliding the file back into place, and sprint for the door.

     " Wilhelm... I think there's someone in here. "

My right hand almost takes hold of the handle when a sharp piece of bone lodges itself a centimetre over it, grazing the space between my middle knuckles. The clean cut makes me wince and I spot a splatter of sprinkled blood over the golden handle. The skeletal forearm pulls itself out of the wood and attempts to strike again. Thankfully, I'm prepared and especially provoked by the multiple setbacks I went through in the past 24 hours. A blast of ice from my slightly injured hand nails the piece of bone to the door and we escape, leaving behind a thin trail of blue sparkles.