Holding myself with both of my arms, I gradually felt the pain subside. Also, the surprise on Jiya's face didn't go unnoticed by me, nor by her captor.

"Pretty shocking for you isn't it?" The Midnight Mistress commented.

Then her gaze followed mine, falling on my friend who's seized all her protests to get out of her ties, solely looking at me with a curiosity for answers.

"Oh, I tend to forget we have company. Hmm. It's not like you'll be able to see the light of tomorrow, so here goes nothing. I should fulfill your last wish. So the thing is, your so called friend, Tanuja Awasthi, is a necromancer just like me and her late mother. Her mother was a half witch who had a hunger for power that went even deeper than mine. So she joined me to gain expertise in blood magic while still pretending to be a human outside this mansion. And I don't think I need to repeat the story about how Apekshya helped me settle down here. But then, I noticed something was off with my apprentice. Apekshya was hard to read, but our blood bond, formed in the beginning of her apprenticeship, gave me an advantage over her."

Shut up.

"I found out her daughter had inherited necromancy abilities from her mother. I thought it would be better for me to take the burden of those powers from the little girl's shoulder. But Apekshya was greedier than me. She tried to kill me. But failing to do so, she locked me in the mansion, killing herself in the process."

Then she turned to me and began,"Nevermind though. Now that you are here, we can still get on with the prior plan of action. You just need to forget avenging your greedy mother and your human life. Be my student. I'll teach you everything. You'll be the greatest necromancer in the history. We can rule over all the necromancers, even better, all the witchlings on Earth." She again tried to tempt me with her good for nothing offer.

"Be practical. What is there left for you among the humans, enlighten me? Your mother's no more. Your parents are scared of their own daughter as much as to hide her own identity from her. And this friend of yours for whom you are going against would leave you here next month to never come back. No one cares for you Tanu. They are afraid of you, of your worth. Look at how scared this human is of her long term best friend. You can't escape your powers even if you want along with its pros and cons. You are born with them unlike any other necromancer. So better just embrace your fate. You are destined to be above all." She huffed.

For a second there, I truly considered her sentences. I mean not that she was completely wrong. It was true to an extent that I never belonged among normal humans. Especially now.

Of course others would fear me if they knew what I was. Even such an experienced necromancer as the Midnight Mistress was scared of me. But the thing which bothered me was that, would I really become like her someday, or my mother?

I have experienced the power. I know it calls upon my deepest darkness, which is best left buried. How can I expect to be good when I am born from the evil?

"Shut up that filthy, manipulative, dirty, stinky mouth of yours you witch. She's a human not some pawn of yours. Stop feeding her white lies." My best friend finally let words out of her mouth for which I was so glad.

Then she turned to look at me and opened her sweet voice, "Don't listen to her Tanu. You know she's playing mind games with you. Don't let her win. She's already afraid of your potential. Don't believe a single line of hers. We love all you; your family, your dead mother, my family, Tia and her friends, and most importantly me. I agree at first it was hard to stomach,  but I am not afraid of you. No one is. Don't misunderstand my surprise for fear. No matter where we are we'll always be together. And you're nothing like her. You are way better than this murderer would ever be. Don't succumb to the darkness. Not all blood's bad. Prove it."

That was enough to re-energize my lost strength. With a new found hope and power drilling into me, I regained my composure. I collected all my strength, reviving some of the zombies to do my bidding. As expected, they slowly woke up, walking towards their previous Mistress.

Shocked at my attack, she tried to take over my control on the zombies, only to lose her strength further. Blood coated her eyes completely indicating that she was using all her strength, but not quite enough to override my control over the creatures.

"Is that all you got, Midnight Mistress?" I asked fervently, grinning wide, an evil grin I mind you.

"None. I was just testing your limits." She countered.

To my utter shock, her contorted expression changed to a smirking one full of arrogance. Her blood red eyes were mocking at me. That's when I realized a pair of arms on my throat from behind. Their grip on my vocal cords tightened, making it hard for me to breathe. I started inhaling deeply to compensate for the sudden lack of oxygen in my lungs.

"Look before you leaf. Overconfidence is a great vice. I had so many amazing plans for you. But you chose to die earlier. Anyways, happy journey to the spirit realm." She huffed.

Waving me goodbye, she went ahead to where Jiya was trying to crawl across the circle, where she was put.

Anger shot up in me, reaching to the level where my vision went all red, though I could still see clearly. Now one of the vampire's hands were keeping my own two hands trapped while the other one kept tightening it's grip further on my throat choking me.

I settled each of my legs beside his and stretched them. I was successful in dragging his legs apart with mine and stretched further until our legs were connected with the ground beneath in a 180 degree formation.

Thanks to the long forced gymnastics lessons with Jiya, I bounced up, turning around, getting out of the grip on my neck.

This time, I used my powers to force Pratham to attack his Sire. Within seconds, the two lay unconscious on the floor, beaten by each other.

Before I could do a victory dance (just kidding), the Mistress pushed me down. She held my throat, taking me upwards with her hand. Her elongated nails digging into my flesh caused scratches. I felt helpless. She was always a step ahead.

It was getting closer to Midnight.

I must do something or else she'll kill Jiya. It can't end like this. Please God, help me. Do something. This is the perfect time for a miracle. I beg you. I may not be your favourite, but Jiya has been your devotee since ages. If not for me, for her sake, help us. Save her life. I am ready to give up mine instead.

I prayed in my mind, eyes closed, limbs relaxed, waiting for a chance to turn the tables. That's when a chilling breeze hit my skin, making me Shiver all over as well as the bad necromancer.

I felt a lingering sensation on my back. It felt as if someone was touching me. By the looks of it, the necromancer in front of me was super confused.

That's when I heard a very familiar voice speaking in a whispered tone, "Ask for help. They're all here."

I needed no further cue. What I was supposed to do, came like an innate tendency. Concentrating on the unrested spirits in the room, I opened my eyes, still blood red, to be visited by two white, round shaped lights floating above the Midnight Mistress's head.

I moved my eyes to notice more human shaped white lights, men and women alike hovering over the Midnight Mistress.

"Attack her." I commanded the group of souls.

Instantly, they all zeroed on her and started attacking her each and every limb. This made her lose her grip on me.

I took few deep breaths and concentrated back on the souls. I could now see their facial features clearly. Most were injured the same as their respective zombie bodies.

I recognized one of the 5 little girls as Tina. I looked for Anika and her boyfriend but they weren't their. That's when my eyes met a very tiny ball of light resembling a very tiny baby.

My brother.

I recognized the spirit as my unborn brother's. He was there, kicking his killer frantically with his ever so tiny, pink legs. A lump built up in my throat at the thought of him.

What could he have been like if he had never died? Unfortunately, I'd never find out.

That's when my eyes met with another ghost, the one who had whispered to me. Unable to contain my tears, I wished for her to come to me.

"See what you have done. Your daughter is fighting for her life today just because you wanted more power." I asked my mother's spirit.

I can't believe all this while she's been in the mansion while I wished to meet her somewhere else.

"I regret everything I have done so far, except for bringing you into this world. I don't ask for your forgiveness my dear, just don't hate me. I'll help you defeat her." She clasped her transparent hands together in an apologetic gesture.

"Inside room number 13, on ground floor, lies a safe. The dagger's in it. The key will unlock the safe. But only a human can take it out of the safe. Anyone else who tries would burn to ashes. A necromancer will lose their powers once stabbed by the dagger. Once human, the ritual can't ever be completed by her." She explained.

"What about you and the other spirits? And those zombies?" I asked.

"Once she's stripped off of her powers, all her spells till date would vanish, including the damage done by the ritual so far. The spirits would be free to crossover. Their bodies would be lifeless, ready to burn. The vampires won't meddle either. Just trust yourself. I'll get your friend out. Instruct her to find the Blessed Blade She must bring it to you. But remember, you must be the one to stab her, or the consequences might not be as expected." She cautioned.

"Fine. Get Jiya out of her ties. She knows the mansion better than me. She'll get the blade out for me. Meanwhile, help me keep her distracted. And Maa.........I don't hate you, I never will." I replied.

She smiled and went away. I concentrated on the souls and their bodies to keep tackling the Midnight Mistress.

"Are you okay?" Jiya asked me.

"Yes. You must help me." I said.

"I know. Your mother told me. Hand me the key." She asked extending her palms towards me.

I took out the key from my bag pack and handed her. The key felt hot to my hands but she felt no such thing.

"Listen, our parents are outside along with the rescue team. Help them burn this jinxed house and the creatures inside after handing me the blade. I'll keep them distracted from you all while you're at it." I explained the other part of my plan to her.

"You're not staying inside while the mansion burns." She stated firmly.

"After killing her, I'll come out as soon as possible. Plus the rescue team is there in case I am held back, they will come take me out. Now go. They are waiting for you to show up. Until then they won't get on with the plan." I did my best to assure her.

Not that I was planning on dying today or something. But you never know.

My eyes darted towards my mother who seemed gloomy looking at the retreating form of Jiya.

"I think you should accompany her. She might need your help." I exclaimed.

"Order me if you want your words to take effect. Requests are not always reciprocated, Tanu." She stated.

I understood she was trying to teach me a lesson on necromancy.

"Sure. Go and Help Jiya." I ordered.

Pleased at my understanding, she nodded and went after my friend, not before placing a light kiss on my forehead. If not for the given circumstances, I would have melted on the spot.

I turned back to the task at hand. The vampires were lying on the floor like dead bodies. Meanwhile the undead bodies were out of order. They can't attack without with their limbs scattered over the place, disorganised.

The necromancer was moving her body here and there in the air, unable to get rid of the dozen souls strangling her from all directions.

"What sort of black magic are you doing on me?" She cried out in frustration.

"No magic. Just a miracle." I grinned wide, thanking the Gods above for their help.