I finally finished up the journal. The information asserted with the answers I forced out of Pratham last night. Everything about the Midnight Mistress and her intentions were correct. At least now I know he wasn't lying.

I checked on the necromancer chapter of the other two books. It stated that necromancers are witches engaged in a special form of dark magic called blood magic. They gain the ability to control the undead throughout many dark rituals.

Some research states that this ability of controlling the undead is born with the person, passed on to him or her genetically. But there has been no concrete evidence of that theory yet.

Necromancers specialise in creating and controlling zombies, ghouls and many such undead creatures who's bodies have no souls.

They also specialise in controlling vampires. Though it's easy during the primary years of a newborn vampire to be controlled. As a newborn vampire ages, he gains the ability to resist external influence. Hence, it's hard for a necromancer to control a chronologically old vampire (the chronological count starts from the day a person becomes vampire).

But necromancers can't control ghosts. Blood magic only works on those having blood in their veins.

In the last section of the journal I found my much awaited answer. The author had found that there is a Blessed Blade somewhere around the mansion, kept hidden by a former apprentice of Midnight Mistress who had placed the curse on the necromancer to be bound to the mansion forever. If the the Midnight Mistress is stabbed with the said blade, she would be stripped off of all her magical abilities, becoming a normal human being.

The last page had some dotted lines inside a cube like a scatter plot. First I was confused as to what that was supposed to mean. Then I looked closely and compared with the internal map of the mansion from the archives section of the library.

The scatter plot was actually a map of the mansion leading to the location of the Blessed Blade. Now I understand as to why Midnight Mistress killed the Author. He was about to showcase her only weakness to public eyes.

I copied the map in my notepad as well as took a picture of it. I immediately sent the picture to my parents and Jiya. For now, these were the only people I could trust with such crucially confidential information.

I looked into some other books regarding vampires and ghosts and necromancers and witches. All of them asserted the dead author's findings along with some additional information.

Finally satisfied with my research knowledge, I kept the books inside their shelf, locked it and put the key in its secret hiding place.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" The familiar voice of the dead author's ghost came from behind me.

"Yes, and a lot of other stuff. Thanks for your cooperation. I promise I'll take down the evil necromancer once and for all. By the end of this new moon, she would be behind the bars as a weak human." I promised enthusiastically. A part of me wanted to avenge all the deaths she's caused.

"You're welcome. But I suppose you should wait. It's still early for you to go on such dangerous missions. You might not understand what killed you." He warned.

"Whose side are you on? Besides I can't wait. She's planned to kill my friend as her sacrificial lamb for the upcoming new moon ritual." I countered.

"Of course, I am on your side. I am just worried for your wellbeing, little one. Don't get me wrong, but I have a feeling you are yet to figure out your true nature, your complete potential. I was suggesting you should wait until that day, until you realise your true self. But alas, we don't have that much time I think. I might help to evade the judgement day for a while." He proposed.

"As I have written in my journal, the vampires and zombies are harmed by anything sacred and pure. Zombies burn in contact of Avimantrit Gangajal (spellbound holy water) whereas vampires sting. There's news around that your group escaped chanting Hanuman chalisa all the way out. That's a good weapon when you wanna keep the bad souls, zombies, ghosts or demons away. The mere mention of those sacred words burns their ears, making it painful for them to think or do anything at all except for breathing." He described the information I already knew.

"Yeah, I have read that chapter. But what are trying to imply?" I questioned him.

"What I mean is that you and your friend can evade being captured if you stay around and keep around all the holy and sacred stuff. That would work even against the compulsion of vampires. What do you say?" He explained.

"Hmm, not bad for Jiya. I'll warn her and every other person in the town. Just because they want Jiya doesn't mean they won't go after other targets. Once Jiya is unreachable, the Mistress will try everything in her power to complete the ritual." I affirmed with the idea.

"What about you? You are as vulnerable as any other person." He said.

The question was there, something I've been avoiding for a long time, even from myself. But considering his expertise, it might be fruitful to tell him about my situation.

"Actually, I don't believe in God. I am a nastik (non-believer). Been since a long time now. Hence, the sacred stuff doesn't work the same for me as it does for others." I hesitated to form the next sentence.

"I still don't understand. All sacred stuff works the same for everyone. God treats everyone with equality, be it an Astik (believer) or a Nastik (non-believer)." He prompted for me to explain further.

"Actually, I feel uncomfortable around the sacred places and things. Spiritual institutions, prayers make me irritable. I can't even speak a few lines from the Hanuman chalisa without frequent pauses. The words make me frustrated. My ears can't take them in for long. In fact, last time in the mansion, I snapped at Jiya because her constant high pitched prayers were hurting my ears. My mind was blank for a second there. I mean I don't even understand how this is possible. I have every single word and line memorized from all the sacred prayers I have ever heard or read. I can recall all of it but I fail to reproduce them properly. Actually, it's all so messed up. I am exhausted. I never cared about it. But with all that had happened in the past two months had thrown me into the middle of a chaos. I don't know what to believe anymore. I mean even my parents are hiding something from me." I poured my heart out.

I didn't pay any heed to what I said. The only thing I felt as if a burden had been lifted off me.

"Dear, sometimes it's difficult to believe somethings. But they exist anyway. You are one of the most flexible minded girls I have ever encountered. Now, go out, warn others against the upcoming threat and prepare yourself to face the enemy you grew up around. Which includes perfecting your prayer reproduction skills and reducing resistance to all the holy and sacred stuff. Including the God himself. I won't ask your reasons for not believing in the existence or kindness of the great power. But believe me when I tell you, he never let's his creations down. Especially the heroic one's like you, Tanuja. You have a nice name. Hold up to it." With that he vanished, carrying on his knowing smirk.

I saw the ding of an incoming message on my phone. Jiya responded. She invited me to her house to talk. I immediately left to her place.

The dead author's words were ringing in my ears. In my brain. His words left an incomprehensible impression.

He was right though. I must work on my sacred resistance ability. I will for Jiya, for my family, for all the people of the town, for the author who died trying to help everyone.

"Welcome back. Come upstairs, it's noisy in the living room."

Jiya said scrunching up her nose like a foul smell hit her. She was in her pajamas at 7 in the evening which meant only one thing. There were unwanted guests.

As I followed Jiya upstairs, I noticed the group of females gathered around the living room, smiling like someone just threw around a very bad joke. Thank goodness they didn't notice me. Jiya hates kitty parties thrown by her mother every month. As we entered her room, she closed the door behind us.

"So what rubbish drug are you taking these days, Tanu? Don't hide from me." Jiya asked, showing me the message I had sent her last night.

"Even if you don't believe it, every word in the message was true. Sit down and let me explain." I said and explained all the incidents from the few weeks.

As I spoke each word, her expression took a turn from bored to curious to surprised to shocked to scared to relaxed.

"I promise I'll stay in the house, won't go outside, won't let others in without spraying Gangajal on them. And I'll keep chanting Hanuman chalisa all day long. Would that be enough or should I add something else in the to do list?" She asked.

"It's fine for now, I guess. Anyways, you must know better than me. You're the expert on spiritual stuff." I commented.

"What about you? I didn't understand what that library ghost meant by taking time to find out your true self, hold up to your name etc. Did you?" She asked.

"I don't know yet. But I'll figure it out soon. Till then, just be safe. They are after you." I warned her again.

"I will. But I prefer you stay safe too. Keep practicing your spiritual skills." She said.

Smiling wildly, we both hugged.

I hope our friendship lasts forever. I won't let any harm come to Jiya. I'll make sure this new moon would be the last one the Midnight Mistress ever gets to see.