I was thinking of the Mazan Abbadon.

I was thinking of him as I walked through the Ebid, I was thinking of him as I walked past the Arbor Mala , I was thinking of him when I walked past the Ebid Tormentor and I was thinking of him as I greeted the Decaying Brothers as I entered the School of Unfortunate Delinquents.

Night Crawlers.

He had poisoned my dreams with Night Crawlers.

Slamming my book bag unto my table, I released a sight of irritation and settled into my seat. Isolated from the Mazan incident, I was also thinking of the letter and the key. It wouldn't take long until the stench of dead witch would begin to permeate. I could ,of course, return to Pilsbury and open it there, but then what excuse could I make for another late night?

Even then! Given that the Bealtaine, was drawing nearer and Witches and Warlocks of the coven would be sure to travel to PIlsbury in search of a sacrifice.

Then, Satan forbid, I had to concern myself with the celebration of Bealtaine. To endure the pawing and grabbing of my flesh by Warlocks with blue balls, I rolled my eyes until my lashes fluttered at the strain. I wondered, fleetingly, what it would take to exclude myself from participating. I could poison myself, like the Warlock and the Witch Romeo and Juliet, and induce a sleep upon my body.

I thought of the Warlocks who attend the Satanic Academy for Young Fellows, and Satan even if I had induced myself they would surely use my body to their means.

By the end of classes, I wanted nothing more than to strip and lie in a warm bath of goats blood. But upon arriving to my home, I had found that it was void of life. Aunti Gradi, Auntie Aleeza and Uncle Ermont were nowhere to be found.

Tentatively, I stepped into the kitchen, I peered my head around. "Hello? Nothing was disturbed, and certainly there was nothing to be suspicious about but the emptiness of the household was odd and certainly unexpected. I did the same in Aunti Gradis garden, peering my head in. I found it empty and untouched. Then to Auntie Aleeza's office, then finally in Uncle Ermont's rooms. All had been vacated, certainly I didn't expect that they should remain at home, but certainly I had expected someone to be home.

Accepting the solitude and silence I had been awarded, I fell slowly into the goats blood bath I had prepared. And thought of what to do with the letter and the key, of course my only option were to open the belongings far from Despair. But I had traveled so little past the town that I was unsure of where to go and how far to go. Then I thought of how to explain it to the others.

Over come with another bout of stress, I slid slowly into the bath until I was completely covered in goats blood.

By the weekend, early in the morning, I had decided with little to no words to go to Pilsbury with the letter and key tucked into my pocket. 'I'll be going now." I said to the trio who were seated at the kitchen table. In unison, the trio turned to me halting their conversation, Auntie Aleeza dropping her parchment, spoke first.

"Going? Where?" She snuffed out her cigarette, and crossed her arms. I put my feet together and put my hand before me.

"I'll be going to Pilsbury." There was a slight tension in the room, Uncle Ermonts Hell Hound stood on its old paws and trudged out the room as if he could sense the tension it and wanted none of it.

"For what purpose?" Auntie Aleeza, questioned. Hypocrisy of it all, they were free to tread in and out of the house as if nothing but I was made to report my activities and whereabouts.

"I'll be visiting the Pilsbury Library." Uncle Ermont coughed a little, the coffee spilling from his lips unto the table. Aunti Gradi, passed a cloth to him. Auntie Aleeza, immune to the chaos about her, lit another cigarette and took a deep huff.

"Well-" She said in a surprising twist. "We shan't keep you."

"Go on dear-" Aunti Gradi, stood then waddling toward me. " Have a lovely time, be sure to be back for super." She pulled at my skirt as she said this. Uncle Ermont from his seat, gave a small wink.

I had caught the earliest bus I could, sitting far into the back corner. I didn't know how to get in contact with Daniel, and I didn't know if he would appreciate my appearance, I doubted that he would interested in taking any type of trip outside of the city with him. The bus finally halted at Pilsbury Station, I stepped off to meet the curious eyes of the towns people.

I held the scoff in , Mundanes were so unremarkable.

Daniel wasn't at the library.

"Where is he?" The mundane woman lifted her eyes from the book she was reading to meet my question. I had placed both my palms on the desk and leant on it putting my weight into it.

"Young lady, I would ask you to lower your voice and – " She tapped my hand with her pencil. "don't lean on the desk its old. He's most likely with those boys by the ravine."

I pulled away form the desk, smiling brightly. "And where would the ravine be?" Quietly, this time.

Exasperated she stood from her seat and directed me to the door, she pointed down the street. "Follow the road until you come to a rusted gate, you'll have climb over it-" She took a look at my skirt and shoes. " Follow the path way straight. You'll hear them before you'll see them."

Following her instruction, I took the path least desired. The soil was still wet from the rain , the grass slipped under my feet, meaning I had to clutch at passing branches. There were deeper tire tracks which sunk deep into the mud, I smiled to myself thinking the God Awful noise Daniels truck must've mad along this path. The trailer would've been bouncing uncontrollably.

I could feel the early morning heat push through the tree tops, my hair began to stick to my forehead first, then my neck. I pulled my jacket off , pulling it tight around my waist. I found studier earth, somewhere where my shoes wouldn't sink into the mud. I suppressed my annoyance, these would be the second pair of shoes taken by Pilsbury.

The mundane librarian was correct.

I could hear them before I could see them. Four? Maybe five? And a there was a girl with them. They were certainly loud and boisterous, they squeals of joy and laughter bounced around like electricity. Someone had jumped into a large body of water then another followed. I saw the truck first, I peaked into the trailer. Book bags and towels, a few snacks and empty cans of beer littered the trailer.

I moved past the car, then the brush until finally I stood just stop of a hill that was directly under a ravine. Three men and a woman sat one behind the other and slid down the slope of the ravine until dropping with a loud splash into the pool of water that awaited for them.

I met them on the other side , they had taken some time to reach the bank. Daniel was the first to greet me; the crowd of strangers watched me curiously standing a little further away. Daniel, took his time to speak, first he began to dry himself off, then rummage through a bag for a shirt.

"Not wearing the blue heels this time?" He pointed to my muddy feet.

"They were baby blue mules , and these are teal pointed toe sling backs." He shrugged, the ease and relaxation he had when talking to me comforted the strangers, who came upon us.

The short boy with the glasses, spoke first to me. " You walked all the way here in those?"

"I didn't realize I was walking to my own inquisition. I'll remember to find something more suitable for Pilsbury next time I come to visit. " Daniel balked, but otherwise came to stand by my side. From the corner of my eye I could see the girl shift awkwardly, as in discomfort.

"You're the girl from Despair? I thought you were a myth." Glasses questioned. Ignoring his question, I turned to Daniel.

"You told them?" He shrugged as if to say, 'Who wouldn't?'.

"Yeah I did. Guys this is Bobbie, Bobbie , this Steven –" Glasses perked up giving my hand a firm shake. " Thomas and Alexandria." The other two stayed behind Steven , Thomas opted for a short wave and smile whilst Alexandria lifted her mouth slightly before looking away.

I clearly wasn't that much of a welcomed guest. Certainly not to Alexandria.

Daniel turned to, placing his hands unto his hips, broadening his shoulders. There was a self righteousness that ebbed from his pores when he stood like this. In retaliation , I crossed my arms in front of my chest and leant back on my right leg, lifting my head to face him.

"I thought it was 'bold of me to assume that you'd ever go on a date with me'?" Hearing my own words spat back at me was certainly not was I was expecting when I planned to see Daniel.

Relaxing my stance I responded. " Who said I was here for a date?"

"Ohhh," He responded. "So you're not here for me?" I smacked my lips together in aggravation.

"I need your help." He crossed his arms this time, spreading legs a little further as if to meet my height without actually bending his knees.

"Will I end up passed out in a cemetery like last time?" I could feel my cheeks tint red with embarrassment. I had been called out, fairly so. I could no longer look at him, so I turn away. Only to be met with a set of three inquisitive eyes. Daniel who caught on to our audience, cleared his throat. "Is there anything you three could be doing?"

They moved away at his word, and started 'busying' themselves. I turned to him when the audience had dissipated. " I can't promise anything, but I can promise that there won't be any cemeteries…for now at least."

"Ohh! For now at least? Oh okay, let me think about it then." He stood with a mock finger to his chin. I knew his answer before he answered and I was already annoyed. "No, I don't think so princess." I held back the urge to stomp my feet on the ground.

"Fine, no cemeteries, I can promise that much." I lifted my right hand as a sign of an oath.

"Oh? Do you cross your heart and hope to die as well?" I rolled my eyes, I wasn't going anywhere with this. And I was sure that at any point in time Warlocks and Witches would begin to swarm in search of the sacrifice.

"I Just need to find somewhere far from Pilsbury and Despair for a couple of minutes, hours maybe. A secluded area , preferably where there a lots of wild flowers." Flowers could often mask the scent of death even if for a short while.

"Trying to hide a body?" I clutched tightly at my jacket my patience was slipping. When I didn't respond Daniel nodded. "Fine, Fine. But I can't …not now anyway. I'm busy." He directed my attention towards the group of strangers who although were back in the ravine , they were attempting to overhear what we were discussing.

"Well…. When will you stop playing?" Daniel snorted under his breath.

"Playing? We're not ten Bobbie, were just hanging out you know? People do that from time to time. You know like when they want more from a person than a favour?" I bit my lip at that criticism.

"Funny- "I said, trying to lighten the mood. "I haven't heard of it before, what did you say it was again?" It worked the lines at the corner of his eyes lifted, he wasn't happy but at least he was amused.

"It's called hanging out."

"Oh really? Sounds fascinating." He nodded, running a hand through his hair.

"You should try it, We could pull a few clothes together…something that could get wet." He eyed my outfit slowly from top to bottom. "Wouldn't want to mess up you little outfit.

I shook my head at that. " Oh I don't swim. In that I can't swim. I'll just –" look about to find a seat. I settled by a log, using my jacket a place mat. "I'll just sit here and wait." He bent his knees to be level with me.

"That's absolutely not what 'hanging out' is, but your efforts are admirable. But you can't just sit and watch us the whole time." He stood, going to rummage through his bag. He pulled out a book. "Here."

"Charles Bukowski…is he any good?" Daniel, crouched next to me again, then as if debating with him self. He pulled a log to mine, then sat on it.

"You've never heard of Bukowski? " I shook my head, Witches weren't often too familiar with Mundane text. He took the book from me, and opened it to a page which was worn. A sign that he often turned to this page in particular , screamed across this text was pencil some fading some new. "Here listen to this:

"The are dividing the brain and the soul

Is affected in many ways by

Experience-

Some lose all mind and become soul:

Insane

Some lose all soul and become mind:

Intellectual

Some lose both and become:

Accepted"

"What'd you think of that?" He asked. I nodded mutely, I wasn't sure what to say. There poem was of sentiment to him , I didn't think it would much sense to ruin it with an opinion. He gave me the book. " Here read it."

I took the book , as he stood lifting his shirt before joining the others. I could see that Alexandria had been anxious of the time we had been talking. She ran a hand from his shoulder her his back where it sat peacefully , they all stood in a circle. I wondered idly, if they were talking about me. I could of course conjure them into revealing this information. But to abuse my powers and to then force someone against their will was immoral.

I released them from my gaze. I played with the ear of the book, flicking it back and forth. I slipped my finger between a few pages, and with nothing left to do but wait. I read.

At some point I had slipped into lull. I laid out my jacket and lay on it, I used Daniels shirt as a pillow, I was on my side now facing away from the constant rush of water from the ravine. I could feel my eyes heavy with sleep lifting up and down, then fluttering once more, before lifting up and down, this pattern continued. It only broke when I felt the soft drip of water across my brow, I spun onto back to see Daniel standing just above me. "What time is it?"

"It's been about forty minutes. Come on, we're heading back." I sat up brushing my skirts. I peered over to the other three who had begun packing belonging they had. Alexandria, shifted back on forth on her feet as if debating whether or not to come towards us.

When she finally made her decision, her lips pulled back into an uncomfortable smile. She evidently felt that I was a burden. "Hiya!" He preppy enthusiasm was jarring to the quiet that was established between the group. Regardless I decided to be on terms with her. I took her hand and shook it. "I'm Alexandria…Daniel's friend. We were thinking of going to the diner? " She peered at Daniel. "I don't know if Daniel told you about that?"

"No he hadn't."

"The four of us –" She was sure to exclude me. " Usually go …after swimming."

Daniel, who had remained silent up until this point, had decided to intervene. " I won't be coming tonight guys. I'll drop you off at the diner yeah?" The boys nodded in agreement. Alexandria said nothing, pulled her top on and huffed away to the car.

The car ride was tense. It was unanimously decided that I would take the only other seat in the cat whilst the rest sat in the trailer. I certainly didn't want to experience the violent jump, and Daniel thought I was to 'prissy'. The truck rumbled to life, then Daniel lit a cigarette.

I could almost forget my existence in Despair, almost. I felt the key and the letter in my pocket and quickly reminded myself of the task at hand.

Daniel dropped of the trio before roaring the truck back to life. The rumble of the motor was such that, we could barely keep a conversation. So at every stop we were given a brief for second of chat.

"Where are we going?" We came to a stop light , Daniel eyeing the traffic light attempted to fish another cigarette from his pocket. Once it was in his lips, he passed the lighter to me, as he on automatically I lit the end.

"Well, you need somewhere secluded and covered in wild flowers yeah?" I nodded my head, in response. " The only place I can think of is my house"

Skeptical I raised my eyebrows. "Your house? Don't you live with your grandmother?"

"You don't think she has things to do during the day?"