FILE 22: THE LARGE MANSION OF DUNMORE PARK PART 4

"Hey Dad. I want to ask you something. No, I haven't gotten in trouble. No, I'm not stopping jotting down my personal thoughts when writing the accounts. No, I didn't mess anything up. Can you shut up for a second and let me merely talk?"

As usual, my dad berated me the moment I called him. Such an understanding father. "Listen Dad, here's the thing." I quickly recounted the precarious situation of the dead husband.

"No confusion about it. Cast the Limbo spell," he said tartly. I gaped at my iPhone in shock. 

"But Dad, he doesn't seem to be a Fallen Kind. What makes you so certain?" I inquired. He huffed. "Have you forgotten your teachings? Just think about it." He hung up

I bitterly muttered some obscenities and headed for my dormitory. Jonathan was nowhere to be spotted when I entered, which was fine by me. I took a shower and stretched out on my bed, aiming to recall my young schooldays from my dad.

"As you know, there are five kinds of ghosts. Can you name them?" Dad asked me intently.

"Yeah. First is Normal, then the Aggressive, third is the Wicked, Devourer is fourth and lastly the Fallen Kind," I answered dully.

"Correct," Dad agreed. "So he is listening," he murmured. I felt offended at his doubt. Dad went on;

"As you know, each is more aggressive than the other. However, when it comes to the Fallen, they are completely lost. There is nothing we can do for them except expel them from this world to prevent them from hurting the living."

"And that is where the Limbo spell comes in?" I questioned unenthusiastically. This was all so very boring to me. He nodded. "Yes. It will send them straight to wherever they belong. Limbo, or hell."

"So I can even use the Spell of Release on the Devourer?"

"Yes and no. It depends on the soul. Are they still human? Or have they dehumanised? Always take this into consideration when you exorcise."

"When do I use my powers?" My eyes shone as I asked. My dad looked exasperated. "Only when you have no other choice. But this you will learn later, after you have—"

"Oh. Okay." I lost all interest in my lessons after that. 

My adult self shifted through my memory. Because of my lack of interest, I don't really recall some of my lessons after that.

However, I do remember the times I revised for my tests. Mars was like a drill sergeant and made sure I achieved a high score on my exams.

"Tell me why we call the dead souls, the Fallen Kind?" he asked bluntly. We sat in my dimly lit room, practising the answers the night before my test.

"Because…they…no longer have any hope of saving?" I winged it. Mars sighed exasperatedly. "That would get you barely one point. The Fallen are named that because they themselves are lost. They no longer experience any emotions, no memory of being human. 

They aren't human, nor are they demons yet are hostile towards everything. They are nothing. That is why we call them The Fallen Kind." I shrugged. I didn't genuinely care about that. I glanced at my book as he continued soberly.

"There are rare cases, though." I peeked over the cover. "When they have a passionate attachment to someone in their lives, they will do anything to stay with them. Even if it causes misery to others. Possession is the most common, but hauntings as well."

"And how do I know if it's a Fallen causing it?" I grumbled.

"It's easy to tell since they also tend to turn those they possess into an image of themselves."

My eyes snapped open. Oh, so that's what dad meant. I got up and undressed. If there's going to be a fight, a butler's uniform won't be suitable. 

I pulled on my original black clothes and red jacket and recovered my bag I lugged filled with exorcism goodies. Time to go to work.

The moment I opened the door, Jonathan confronted me. He gazed emotionlessly at me which made me uncomfortable. "Hi Jonathan. Where were you? Are you sick or something?" Despite my discomfort, I smiled graciously.

"Did you quit?" he asked accusingly. I ran my hand through my hair. How to respond. "I'm just tasked with something else. I'm not leaving yet," I replied evasively. His eyes sparked with anger.

"Uh, is there something else?" I added questioningly. Please no, please no. He snatched my arm painfully. I winced.

"You can't leave. I didn't grant you permission to leave," he threatened. 

"Since when are you my employer? I don't need your permission," I snapped as I tried wrestling my arm free.

"Because I was here first! You must do what I say, and I say you can't go!" he snarled. Dammit. I actually prefer the original optimistic Jonathan right now. 

As I couldn't free myself, I punched him hard enough to knock him out.

Irritated, I stepped over his unconscious body and left for Vanora's room. What of the odds that I met Lea half way? 

"I want to come with you. You don't mind, do you?" she simpered. I hesitated. "Well, ordinary citizens aren't supposed to be involved." She fluttered her eyes pleadingly. 

She looked so cute, and Mars isn't here so I gave in. "As long as you don't do anything stupid." She smirked while we strode to the study. I tapped on the wooden door and entered.

Vanora Alpin was waiting anxiously on her chair. "Much appreciated, Mr. Nathan. Oh dear, who's this?" she noticed Lea.

"My assistant. Mind if we dirty this place a bit?" 

"Pardon? If it can be cleaned up afterwards then, I don't mind."

With her permission, I began. Lea helped me clean up the room and hold the paint bucket while I drew the spell circle. Vanora's eyes kept twitching as I painted lengthy lines on her smooth floor.

"It washes out easily, I promise," I positively assured her. A few minutes later we sat on the chairs, anticipating passively for Baird to appear. It was midnight.

"Does this work?" Lea inquired doubtfully. "Definitely," I replied irritably.

There was a thump against the door just as she opened her mouth. Lea's eyes opened in shock.

"Stay in your seats," I ordered the women as the thrashing continued. Ultimately the door crashed open and once again Jonathan staggered inside. "You again?" I demanded in exasperation.

"Vanora, Vanora. I'm here," he rasped. Vanora's eyes teared and her hands shook. Lea looked completely baffled.

I darted behind the shuffling Jonathan/Baird. I chanted the Limbo spell the moment he stepped on the spell circle. The room lit up. The women gasped as the tendrils appeared and entwined around the Fallen ghost.

My eyes were closed in concentration, but I heard the screams from two men in pain. 

"Vanora, Vanora," he cried in despair as he fell on the floor. 

"Oh, my dear!" she responded, sadly.

"This is horrific," Lea muttered bitterly. I disregarded them and continued regardless. My concentration broke however, when my arm was frantically grabbed. "The curtains caught fire!" Lea yelled. I stopped chanting when my eyes snapped open.

Ghostly aura caused it to catch fire. Baird was squirming on the floor, even though the spell was no longer working. "Fetch water, extinguish the fire!" I sternly ordered.

"It's no use. We have yet to install the sprinklers and the study isn't near water, and the fire spreads too rapidly. We must evacuate everyone," Vanora refuted urgently.

"Then we'll do that," I quickly agreed. 

"What about this guy?" Lea pointed to the writhing Jonathan/Baird.

I merely shrugged. Truthfully, I didn't genuinely care about him. "Take him with us." Just as I finished talking, Jonathan's body went limp, and an odd shape stood up from his body.

"Baird!" Vanora cried in surprise. Well, I didn't expect this. I stared at the tall, hollow-eyed being. 

His mouth gaped, and his crooked arms reached for Vanora as he kept calling her name. 

"Lea, ring the emergency bell. Nathan, help everyone evacuate," she commanded as she gazed at her dead husband.

"What about you?" Lea asked fearfully. Vanora smiled despondently. "I'm staying with my husband."

"You have to be kidding me!" I burst out. 

"I am not. He still loves me, so how can I abandon him?" she answered softly. I was about to retort when Lea plucked at my sleeves. "She made her choice. Time is running out, Nathan. Let's save Jonathan and everyone else."

My money! I sighed resignedly, and slumped Jonathan over my back. I produced a last look over my shoulder at the elderly couple. Vanora was holding out her arms lovingly as Baird shuffled towards her. 

The flames surrounded them as books and the desk caught fire. "Let's go," I said curtly while Lea and I ran to the emergency alarm. Lea pulled hard on the metal lever and the alarm went off, making us flinch at the screeching noise.

A few minutes later, all the employees and guests were outside, watching in shock as the firemen desperately tried their best to contain the flames. However, the mansion was enormous and the blaze was stubborn.

Jonathan was taken to the hospital with several others. But there was no sign of Vanora. In the end, after the fire died down, only Lea and I were left.

"Did you find the body of a woman in the study?" Lea implored a passing fireman. He shook his head. "If there was someone, I'm afraid they'd be ash by now, miss. It'd take days for us to locate a corpse after those flames."

Looking saddened, Lea trudged off to her car. I was depressed as well since not only was I not paid anything, but I had to inform my mom that her acquaintance had died. What a great day.