I'm no stranger to death but that doesn't mean I wanna talk about it. Once a year for rememberance day were asked to write letters to our lost loved ones. We sign our names, we fold them up, and scatter them throughout the cemetery. I usually don't see the point in it. Why write to the dead. I'd rather not think about it all, except lately... Death keeps knocking on my door.

  I was walking with Hope and Rafael when Raf held his hand out in front of us making us stop then look at each other confused. "Cassie?" the girl who just walked in the school turned to him "Raf?" I looked at Hope and her eyes were practically bugging out of her head from shock. "Cassie? Isn't that your..." Hope paused "My girlfriend ," he dropped his bag on the ground pulled her into a hug causing her to gasp. I could hear him crying and I watched shocked and a little sad. Hope turned to me 'We need to tell Dr. Saltzman'  i nodded and we walked down to the basement where the werewolf transition cells were located. He held a burner (I don't know what there called) over the thing that called itself the Necromancer's head. "Dr. Saltzman," Hope called out and turned the burner off.  "Oh there you are lovely girls," I shivered this thing/man gave me the creeps. "I was wondering if you'd come visit me again. How's your friend the one I saw you two with earlier, trying to steal an illicit peek at me?" I sighed knowing he was talking about Rafael.

"As we speak, he's having an emotional reunion with his dead girlfriend," Hope told the man telling Dr. Saltzman at the same time. "I assume we have you to thank," her eyes flickered to me then back to the Necromancer. "Poor dear, her spirit was clinging to him like a vine in winter. It took barely any effort just a little wrinkle of the nose, and poof Young love reborn. But she doesn't seem to happy about that," he pointed to me and I rolled my eyes. "You're lucky that's all I did," Dr. Saltzman stepped out of the cell and pulled the gate closed "The way you've treated a man of my stature you should be ashamed," I sighed. "Literally nobody knows who you are," Dr. Saltzman practically yelled exasperatedly. He scoffed "That's impossible," the thing whispered. Dr. Saltzman walked over to us "I'll check on Raf," he walked away. "If you want an end to this misery simply bring me the knife and I'll be on my way."

"GIRLS!"

I turned around and looked back at Hope who was staring at him I grabbed her hand and she turned to me following me. She glanced back one last time at the nasty man of death. "I take it things aren't going very well," I asked speed walking on Dr. Saltzman's right while Hope walked on his left. "He's a diva," I rolled my eyes at his sarcasm. "So what's the plan," Hope questioned. "I know you don't wanna give over the knife but we can't have him raising the lives of the lost loved ones of every person in this school," she finished. "I will handle it. I have questions that need answers," the older man told us. "Okay well we're not sure your methods are the most effective," I told him. "Girls. I said I will handle it ," he stoped turning to us. "Now just stay away from him, and quit tag-teaming on me," he walked over to Rafael and the girl who's name was Cassie.

"Find anything yet?" I asked Dorian. "Necromancy is everywhere in occult literature it's a form of sorcery that dates back to Ancient Greece. It involves the abilities to communicate with and raise the dead. But there's nothing about a specific Necromancer," he stepped down the ladder "So whoever this dude is, he's been erased from history like every other monster that comes looking for the knife," he told me and Hope who were standing next to each other. "Is there anyway to him from bringing back dead people?" Hope questioned as we followed him through the library. "Because is this week is any indication, it's kind of becoming a thing," I finished and Hope nodded. "I'll look into it but tomorrow's my day off, so it might take a minute," I nodded smiling. "Evil never takes a holiday Dorian," Hope replied. "Well every year on Remembrance Day I do," he shot back "It's the only day he does, okay!" I whispered to Hope. "I write my letters pack my lunch, and I head to the cemetery and ring that bell in honor of my dead family. So for the next 24 hours ask Dr. Saltzman," we both nodded "Fair, but we're worried about him, do you think he's okay?" Hope asked. "I think after the week he's had, he needs a nap," I chuckled softly.

"And a therapist. Maybe even a vacation of his own," he finished. "Take these to him for me would ya," he handed Hope some books that he pulled off the shelf earlier. "Thanks." "Thank you," as we were about turn around someone grabbed my wrist. "Can we talk Kely," I sighed nodding. Hope waited "It's fine ," I whispered to her and she nodded walking away. "I heard about everything that happened with that Rafael boy and Jed," I practically chuckled at his obvious statement. "Yea," he looked down at me. "I know what your gonna say... be careful with boys especially with everything that's happened," he sighed "Kely I care about you and I don't boys getting in the way of everything," I nodded "Look his dead girlfriend just dame back to life dating me is probably the farthest thing from his mind and you know I care about you too," he nodded with a grin printed on his face.

"Okay," he said "I miss our sessions," I laughed nodding "Me too... how about the day after tomorrow," he nodded with a small smile. "You got it dude," I walked out of the library and looked around. 'Where you at?' I opened my eyes and suddenly I was staring at "The almighty Necromancer" himself. 'I'm on my way' I had a bad feeling set in my stomach as I headed for the werewolf transition cells. And who knows, maybe it's because of the weird substitute chef we had cook us breakfast this morning because our usual one got sick. I didn't care I just don't like it. I got the to the basement door and walked in. "Oo... you have a powerful stench of death on you as well," his voice rung through the corridor and I could feel goosebumps erupt on my skin.

"Yea and you have an awful stench of dirty feet but no one's saying anything," I walked in and he was chuckling"She's funny," he told Hope pointing at me and she nodded. "Yep definitely now can we talk about the me helping you and you helping me part," she questioned seriously. "I'm all ears," he told her sitting back down. "If you wanna get to the bottom of this we need to know who communicating with you," Hope told him while I stood behind her watching. "No ones communicating with me. My mind is a steel trap," he shot back. "But you knew to resurrect Dr. Saltzman's dead fiancée right after he mentioned her to the dryad," I spoke up. "That's why he had questions. It can't be a coincidence you're all coming after the same thing, communicating in some way. Who's pulling the strings?"Hope asked and he threw his chair back angrily "I am no puppet," he exhaled staring at Hope and walked behind his chair and rubbed his hand over the back. "It's less of a voice more of an instinct. I smoky know things," he told us. "Like you know your here to retrieve a knife and return it to a place called Malivore," Hope told him.

"If I return the knife to Malivore, I'll be free," I sighed. "Of what?" I whispered "Of the blackness. The void, the empty oblivion," hope stood up "Do you ever just say things once," I nodded from the back. "And more importantly do you know to get there?" she stepped closer and I grabbed her wrist pulling her back. She glanced back at me and I smiled softly. "Only that the knife will lead me," she opened a book but I couldn't see since she held up to him. "I'm assuming you know this symbol," Hope told him. "It is the sign of the worst existential nightmare,the ultimate hell the..." "Your doing it again," Hope cut off. "Focus. What does it mean?" "That symbol represents what you say has happened to me," he paused to take a breath. "It means no one remembers you, no celebrates you, no one mourns you," he paused again.

"Loosely translated it means 'permanent death'."

I walked up to the chair and stood next to it while Hope sat back down. "Do you remember how oh died?" the bad feeling came back again in my stomach and I got the feeling I knew where it was coming from Hope. Hope was gonna do something. "I was wandering the beach of Normandy in need of a pick-me-up so I thought, I'd resurrect a few G.I.'s to toy with some Nazis," I scoffed "I'm glad to hear even evil creatures don't like Nazis," I muttered to myself "Nobody likes Nazis," he shot back. "I'm dancing with the dead on the sand, and then next there was just blackness," I rolled my eyes. "But you don't remember who killed you?" Hope questioned. "No, although that's not uncommon. The subconscious has a way of protecting the mind against the trauma of death. I see it all the time in my line of work ," Hope stood up and I stepped forward "But theoretically that memory still exists,right? What if there's a way to access it?" Hope asked stepping closer to him. "You wanna take a walk through my subconscious?" He stopped to laugh "Oh.oh.oh. Well, at your own peril my dear. Cause I'm not sure your quite tall enough,to ride the scary rides, huh" he stood right behind the bars now and I gulped knowing this was gonna end badly.

"I assume you've got a powerful vampire handy?"

"Absolutely."

We walked to the gym where all the exercise stuff would be out now. Once inside Kaleb passed by us "What's up Laya," I smiled softly "Hey Kaleb," he kept walking and we pushed forward to M.G. "M.G. do you know how to head dive?" He was sitting up on the bench press. "Is that thing?" M.G. answered with another question. "It is it just takes a little um..." she paused "Precision," I finished for her and she nodded at him with a fake smile. "I don't know I mean you might wanna get Kaleb," he pointed to where Kaleb just walked away. "Kaleb isn't apart our avengers squad, now is he?" I questioned patting his shoulder gently. "Here. But not a word of this to Dr. Saltzman," Hope shoved a book into his lap.

'I'm gonna go check on Raf okay' I didn't want to be apart of this. 'Okay' i walked to Rafael's sure that's where he took Cassie and when I got there I heard him talking to Dr. Saltzman. "When someone is taken from us to soon, it can haunt us forever. Use this time well. Make your piece with her, I couldn't imagine anyone else at this school going through what you've been though, especially not the girl hiding behind the wall," I exhaled sharply and stepped in the room chasing Rafael to laugh. "Hey guys," he smiled and patted the spot next to where he was sitting. I walked over and pulled him in a side hug. "Trust me Raf I said ill be here for anything but she'll be here for everything," I smiled at the older blonde man.

After a while of me and Rafael talking the girl from earlier walked in with her hair up in a pink shirt and jeans. "Who is this," she asked Raf in a jealous tone pointing to me. "I'm Laya, just a friend," I told her and she nodded still glaring at me. "Hey I'm gonna go get some lunch," I whispered in his ears and he nodded. I walked out of the room but didn't walk away I sat down in the hallway focusing on what they were saying. "Cassie, I'm so sorry. Look i know it downs mean much, but I am sorry for my part of the accident," he told her. "It wasn't an accident Raf. And you know it," I could feel my eyebrows furrow wanting to know what's going on. "Why would you say that?" Rafael questioned "Earlier I couldn't remember anything, but when I was in the shower, pieces started coming back," I waited for more anting to know what Rafael wasn't telling everyone. "I have an excuse to not remember what's yours?"

"I do remember it was -  - it was storming and - and it was raining an - and the road was slick ," he shot back "And?" I waisted for what felt like an eternity but probably only seconds. "And I took the turn to fast," I could hear him saying those words through gritted teeth. "The one you always yelling at me about," I could hear him sniffle but I don't think he was crying. "But that's not why I'm dead Raf and you know it," she sounded angry and this time I could tell for sure Rafael was crying. I wanted to run inside and give him a hug but I held myself back "Cassie, no," he whispered to her. "I love you," I could feel my heart drop. Of course he loved her that's why their dating it would be dumb for them to  be. "I would never hurt you. "

"I know that. But if I'm gonna sit here in your fancy new school with that nice headmaster who cares about you and helps you be your best werewolf self, then you're gonna admit what you did." Rafael inhaled "I didn't do anything," he replied. "Why'd you take that turn to fast?" she asked him ignoring his statement completely. "I don't know," he replied. " Yes you do Raf tell me," he huffed "I didn't mean too."

"Yes you did."

"You blamed it on the storm, but think about what you did. Think about why," I could practically feel a mix of anger and grief radiating off  of Raf now. " I don't know," the boy replied softly. " yes you do Raf you're lying," I sighed waiting. "I don't know," he roared and I knew it, he changed. I waited needing to know that she was actually in trouble before I walked in. He stormed over to the door and I stood up quickly "I was just walking back from lunch... you okay," tears started to fall down his cheeks in lines. "Aw Raf come here," he rushed over and I wrapped my arms around his torso feeling him crying into my shoulder. He pulled away slowly "It was my fault. I got pissed because I didn't medal. And then I thought my girlfriend was flirting with the guy that beat me. I got jealous and picked a fight with her. And then all that - that anger stuff started building up. The stuff that I control Laya , and then I started yelling at her. And then I took that turn to fast. And she's always telling me to not take the turn fast , and she was right. It wasn't the storm," he paused.

"It was me."

"I killed her... I killed her Laya," he whispered the last words and started to cry I pulled him into a hug. He pulled away again and was staring behind me, I turned around and there stood Dr. Saltzman. Alaric walked over and wrapped him a hug too and I smiled. I blinked for what must've been to long because I was suddenly sitting in the dark black "Hope?" I questioned looking at her. "Oh thank god," she ran over to me with a worried expression. "Tell M.G. I need out okay," I nodded opening my eyes back to Raf and Dr. Saltzman. "Hope's in trouble," I whispered to myself. "What?" Dr. Saltzman questioned. I could feel my eyes widen as I must've said that louder than I meant to. Before I could explain M.G. ran up to Dr. Saltzman and tapped him on the shoulder. Dr. Saltzman turned to him. "Dr. Saltzman. I screwed up, Hopes in trouble and I can't help her," Dr. Saltzman looked at me with anger evident in his eyes.

We were standing outside of the cell and Hope gasped opening her eyes as did The Necromancer but without the gasp. "Oops," he whispered staring at Dr. Saltzman. "Daddy's home," Hope stared at him scared while he glared back.

"How could you be so reckless," Dr.Saltzman questioned as we followed him. "You weren't getting anywhere," Hope replied. "And So you took it upon yourself?" I stayed quiet hating being in trouble. "And how did that go?" He continued. "Not well." "Yea well I have it under control Hope," I watched silently "Oh, really?" She walked over to his desk and picked up an empty bottle. "Then you want to explain this? Or this?" She pulled out a full bottle and placed it on his desk. "Or anything else that would help prove your utter lack of progress?" Hope yelled. "I am grieving Hope," I gulped. "And maybe you should try that sometime instead of pushing everyone away," she laughed "Look, I am trying to protect you. That thing is a master manipulator is resurrected my fiancée, it raised a cemetery of zombies, and it brought back Rafael's dead girlfriend, so let's just talk about the ways it could torment you, starting with your dead mother and ending with your dead father. Or maybe Laya with her dead father and mother and brother. I can't believe you'd do this," he whispered the last words and I sighed. He doesn't know. He doesn't know how my mom really died or he fact that I have two brothers. He doesn't know.

"Don't do that. You don't like that we broke your rules as a headmaster? Fine. Punish me. But don't you dare play disappointed dad because you are not my father," she was seething now but I knew to stay quiet. "Oh I know that. And where are you going," he asked hope as she walked over to the door and I followed "To finish what we started," Hope replied "Like hell you are," I turned around "Cloditay," I twisted my wrist while saying the word and the doors slammed shut "Girls," I could hear him try to open the door. "Girls!" He yelled again. We walked back to the basement with Hope in the lead "Back for more?" He asked in a mocking tone. "Tell me where my father is," he clicked his tongue. "What about her. Didn't you think she'd like to know where her younger brother and mother are?" I pursed my lips as Hope turned to me. "I will tell you everything you want to know but wouldn't you like to hear about what I've just learned of Malivore first?"

"After I left you I returned to the scene of my death. I saw a shadow I felt a searing pain. And when I looked down there was a knife in my heart and my emptiness all around me," "A knife?" I whispered. He stood up pointing at us "Knife. Interestingly enough that which I seek is that which did me in. You've got to understand, to be killed by such a trifle of an object - - I was curious as to its power. So, I jumped out of my subconscious and summoned the spirit of the man who forged the knife in the first place," he paused waiting for hope to answer. "You left me in there on purpose?" She questioned.

"Oh I had work to do and you had lessons to learn. From this man, I heard the remarkable story of Malivore, created to wipe the scourge of the supernatural off the face of this earth. Malivore consumes us, erased us, it was permanent death. And it was Malivore that we were left to perish. Until recently, when the knife started beckoning us to bring it home," I sighed a thought cane to mind but Hope said it before I could. "But why a knife?"

"Decades ago, Malivore was contained. Three locks created to seal Malivore shut. The knife is one of those locks. When all three locks return home, Malivore is free to open its jaws of death once again." "What does that even mean?" Hope whispered. "Oh, my dear... let's just hope your not still alive to find out." I could feel goosebumps collecting on my arms and legs. "So let me get this straight, you left me inside your freaky twisted mindscape so you could... what? Stall me?" I waited for the answer, but I had a feeling it wasn't gonna be good "My apologies for the melodrama but I needed to buy me some time," oh no. "To talk to some dead knife maker," she obviously didn't get it. "That, and to retrieve the knife your friend Dorian had hidden behind the stacks in the library," I gulped "What?" Hope questioned in shock.

"Because while you were trapped in just a small semblance of the blackness I suffered, experiencing just an ounce of my agony,I was busy doing what I do best,controlling the dead."  "I don't  understand." "The answer my darling is yes, I was stalling you. Just ask I'm stalling you now ," he stood up "Did you know, that there a lot of Bennet witches buried in the local cemetery that excel in the art of mystical transportation? I summoned a little help to ensure the knife returned to Malivore quickly and without incident," he chuckled evilly. "Oh my god," Hope whispered. "Come on, look on the bright side. You can get back to the daily grind of your young life. And I moments, when the knife is returned to Malivore,I will be free to find peace. As for your father, he watches over you every day. He did die with love in his heart,and he doesn't regret his choice. But he won't find peace... until you do. Eh, good luck with that," he  chuckled again. The ceiling started to rumble and pieces were falling down "The knife is destroyed," he pointed to me and waved for me to step forwards. I did so and he smiled "Your mom did not die with love in her heart but your more worried about your brothers aren't you?" he didn't wait for me to answer.

"The younger one, Metias? He knows what you did was a mistake and he watches you everyday day as does your older brother Marcellus? Although he was very good for the business but I can't help with the nightmares I barely understand them myself," he backed and I glanced at Hope who obviously couldn't hear him. "One lock is released," he paused to bow "And with it so am I," he whispered something and disappeared I just noticed the tears in my eyes as I quickly wiped them away and walked over to Hope (who was also crying) and hugged her. 'We should probably tell Dr. Saltzman' she nodded and we walked to arms entwined.

  We pulled the door open with tears brimming the both of our eyes from what we've discovered.

  Dear Metias and Marcel,
I'm no stranger to death, but that doesn't mean I wanna talk about it. Once a year, for Remembrance Day we're asked to write letters to our lost loved ones. We sign our names, fold them up,  and scatter them throughout the cemetery. I usually don't see the point it, so I sit next to Hope staying away from the activity. Why write to the dead? I'd rather not think about it all. Except lately, death keeps knocking on my door. Today me and Hope messed up, bad. We messed up in ways that if you were here, you'd both be disappointed in me. I'm not sure I know how to fix it, I don't think Hope knows either. My best friend was told today that her father would never find peace, until she found it herself. I pray it happens, and I pray he didn't lie to me about you both finding peace in death. But if it's true and your really watching me, I'm gonna do better. Today I saw a glimpse of what true loneliness feels like. Of what lies in store for Hope if she doesn't find peace. So I'm gonna get to work on that, I'm gonna be a better friend I promise. I'm glad to know you're with me, but I looked forward to the day when you're not.
Love you,
Kely

Hope and I looked at each other and smiled before folding up our papers. I folded min into a heart and Hope folded her's into a flower. We walked out to the cemetery and placed them on the burning tree trunk. I walked over to Hope as she turned around watching Dr. Saltzman who was crying staring at tombstone that I assume was his fiancée's. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and she smiled softly at me. We watched for a little longer when Rafael walked up. "Hey," he greeted "Hey," Hope relied "Sup," I threw my head up in a greeting gesture. "I'm sorry I didn't have your back today Raf," Hope whispered and I nodded "Me too," I added. "Apparently we were to busy launching phase one of Mali-Apocalypse," I stated sarcastically with my arm still sling over Hopes shoulder. "It's okay, Dr. Saltzman, he... he had my back and so did you," he hit my shoulder gently. Hope looked over to him surprised and Rafael followed her gaze. "Oh... he still mad at you two, huh?" "He's probably gonna be mad at us for a while," Hope stated anger laced in her words. I turned and pulled her in a different direction while Rafael followed. "Yea well, at least with the knife gone maybe we can finally get some quit around here," me and Hope laughed in unison.

"I wonder if that's even possible," Hope stated "If you wanted a quiet school then you shouldn't have to Hogwarts Raf. I mean did Harry Potter ever get rest," I questioned sarcastically. Hope's bracelet started to glow blue and she pulled  herself away from my arm "What's wrong," Raf and I asked at the same time.

"Landon's in trouble."