“The heart of the library was built with two elemental orbs which are the summoning orb and the destruction orb. The summoning orb lies in the keep of Doom the destroyer in Astra 12 while the destruction orb hasn’t been seen in over a millennium,” Mrs. Crow said.

  “What is the summoning orb and who is Doom? Is he someone we should be worried about?” Annabelle asked Mrs. Crow.

  “Just let me talk, I will explain everything to you including what Astra 12 is and I will also tell you my age,” Mrs. Crow replied with a wink.

  “The summoning orb is an element which was once owned by my family, the Crow family. It was given to Doom by my father before he died in the battle with my brother who is still at large.”.

  “Great! There’s even someone stronger than you?” Joanna asked, ruffling her hair.

  “Yes, he is way stronger than I am. I could never defeat him if we fought,” Mrs. Crow said, looking down.

  “What of your mom?” Annabelle asked.

  “My mom is dead too, the only reason I’m alive is because I wasn’t there when my brother attacked. I got there late and my father, with his dying breath, told me he had summoned Doom and given him the orb so that my brother wouldn’t get it. He begged Doom to fight my brother off in exchange for the orb.”

  “Why didn’t your father tell Doom to kill him?” Annabelle asked.

  “I don’t know; I guess my father always had a soft spot for him.”

  “The summoning orb is the most powerful and dangerous thing on the planet because of what is caged inside. It is what is used to summon the one and only abomination of the underworld, the Wraith of Haggrid Hallows.” Mrs. Crow trembled on mentioning the word ‘Wraith’.

  “Haggrid hallows is a forbidden land that houses demonic creatures and the Wraith was trapped in the orb many years ago by my ancestors. It was then passed down from generation to generation until it reached ours. Doom is a very powerful demon who is currently locked up in Astra 12 and can only get out if released with the help of both orbs or by a powerful witch or wizard like my brother and I,” Mrs. Crow said.

  “Whoa, I feel so safe right now,” Joanna said, smiling. She had become completely comfortable around Mrs. Crow and she took a seat in one of the wooden chairs.

  “Doom is stronger than any sorcerer that walks this earth and if he is released, it will be the end of this planet. Summoning him is different from releasing him. If he is summoned, he will have or to do your will or something like that, I’m not entirely sure,” Mrs. Crow said after which she paused for a moment and stared at Annabelle.

  “Astra 12 is one of the many infinitesimal realms of all magic and it is the only magical realm that houses the worst of the worst including Doom. I have been alive for over five hundred years and I don’t plan on dying anytime soon.”

  “Now to you Annabelle,” Mrs. Crow said as she slowly walked towards Annabelle.

  “Would you let me check your memory please so I can ascertain what’s wrong with you?” She asked, cracking her knuckles.

  “Ummmm sure I guess,” Annabelle said, giving Joanna an awkward gaze.

  “Don’t look at me, I’m not the one with dreams,” Joanna said.

  Mrs. Crow gently cupped Anna’s head, placing a finger on each temple. She breathed in and told Anna to close her eyes, which she did.

  “Ok this will sting a bit,” She said as her eyes lit up a bright white.

  “Wait wha…..” Anna was about to speak just when she screamed. “Aaaaaaah!!!” Annabelle screamed for a while and then stopped. She and Mrs. Crow just stood there like statues, with Crow’s hands still on her head.

  Annabelle found herself in her room and she saw herself getting out of bed.

  “Am I dead?” She asked as she watched herself like a movie.

  “No, we are in the first memory you had of being attacked. We are in your head,” Mrs. Crow replied.

  “Now watch,” she insisted, pointing at Annabelle who was already out of bed.

  “I don’t really remember much of this,” Annabelle said as she watched.

  She watched herself get out of bed and grab on to a baseball bat as the loud banging sounds on the door persisted. At that moment, the memories began to rush back into her head and she was beginning to remember everything that happened in that dream. Her lips trembled and she breathed heavily as she watched herself head downstairs with the baseball bat.

  “No, turn around. Don’t go there,” Annabelle said as tears filled her eyes.

  “How can I cry if we are in a memory?” She asked Mrs. Crow as she wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

  “The mind is a powerful tool,” Mrs. Crow replied as she pointed at Annabelle who was already downstairs.

  Anna watched the lights go off and she watched herself see the blood on the glass door. The Wraith appeared suddenly in front of the glass door and Anna watched herself run back upstairs. It was like she was re-living that memory all over again.

  “Can we please go?” She asked Mrs. Crow as a teardrop trickled down her face.

  “No, I have to see what kind of Wraith attacked you that night,” Mrs. Crow insisted.

  They both watched Annabelle run under her bed and they waited in the room for the creature to enter. The Wraith slowly pushed the door open, and when Mrs. Crow had seen what it looked like, she began to pant.

  “Impossible…” she said as her voice trembled and her jaw dropped in terror. She just stood there and watched the Wraith pick Annabelle up and stab her.

  “What’s wrong?” Annabelle asked, looking at Mrs. Crow who stood there looking like she had just seen something worse than a ghost.

  “We have to go now,” Mrs. Crow whispered as the wraith turned to the side and slowly walked towards them.

  “It shouldn’t be able to see us right?” Annabelle asked Mrs. Crow as she took a step back.

  “No, but I think it can,” Mrs. Crow said, stepping backwards.

  The Wraith lunged towards them at an impossible speed and grabbed Mrs. Crow by the arm. Mrs. Crow then snapped her fingers and got out of Annabelle’s head.

  “What’s wrong? What happened?” Joanna said, looking confused.

  “You guys were like this for thirty minutes. What did you see?” Joanna asked Mrs. Crow who was sitting on the floor panting.

  “Yeah, you completely froze when you saw the wraith. What’s up with that?” Annabelle asked.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  “That wasn’t just any wraith,” Mrs. Crow said, as she stood up and comported herself.

  “That is the Wraith of Haggrid Hallows, the perfect killing machine. It is the only wraith that can speak,” she added.

  “It wasn’t supposed to be able to see us, that was a memory right?” Annabelle asked, confused.

  “That wasn’t a memory,” Mrs. Crow said, still in shock.

  “What do you mean?” Joanna asked, as she walked closer to them.

  “It was a vision which was planted in your head. It’s something that’s going to happen to you soon,” Mrs. Crow replied.

  “Annabelle Peterson, you are going to die soon,” she added.

  “What? But I have you so I won’t die right?” Annabelle said stammering.

  “For the sorcerer to be able to control the Wraith, it means he or she is stronger than I am and that we are all going to die.”

  “How can you even say that with a straight face?!” Annabelle screamed at Mrs. Crow like she was the one who put her in a life threatening situation.

  “Did you offend anyone or have your ancestors ever offended anyone before to cause this? Or did your parents or grandparents ever tell you any tale that involved someone swearing to take revenge?” Mrs. Crow asked Annabelle. Annabelle could see the fear in Crow’s eyes and that made her even more scared.

  If this all powerful magician is scared, then we are truly doomed, Annabelle thought to herself.

  “No, I’ve never been told any tale before,” Anna replied, clearing her throat in an attempt to hide her fear.

  “We have to find out who this sorcerer is and bring him or her down,” Joanna said, pumping her fists in the air.

  “Joanna, this isn’t a joke!” Annabelle snapped at Joanna. That was the first time in their friendship that Anna had ever snapped.

  “Sorry, sorry,” Joanna softly said, slowly lowering her arm.

  “Like your friend said, we have to try to beat the sorcerer,” Mrs. Crow said, rubbing her fingers against her temples.

  “The three of us aren’t enough for this team. I need you to gather a group of the most trusted people in your life. People you can tell secrets to and people that are willing to fight,” Mrs. Crow said to Annabelle.

  “I know just the people to call,” Annabelle said with a smile on her face.

  “Oh, and one more thing, stay away from Duncan,” Mrs. Crow instructed.

  “What do you mean?” Joanna asked.

  “There’s a possibility that that man is a messenger,” Mrs. Crow replied.

  “Messenger? What is a messenger?” Anna asked with a confused look on her face.

  “Looks like I have a lot of explaining to do. A messenger is an abominable creature that is formed by magically fusing the blood of a magician and a non-magician. They are very cunning and violent creatures especially in their transformed state.”

  “Transformed state?” Anna asked Mrs. Crow.

  “Yes, they have the ability of taking the bodies of the humans they possess and when they are summoned by their masters or they are threatened, they transform and kill anything in their path,” Mrs. Crow said, looking back and forth at Anna and her friend.

  “How strong are they? Should we be worried about them?” Joanna asked, speaking slowly.

  “Yes, you should when you are alone with them, but if I’m there, you shouldn’t worry. I can take on at most five at once but the average human can barely survive one.”

  Crow then looked at her palms and continued talking “Magic has kept me alive for over four hundred years and I have encountered many beasts in my lifetime. I don’t know how many magicians exist today or how many are in your school, but what I know is that you should be very careful around Duncan.”

  “There is a possibility that my brother is in this town but I’m not sure yet. I’ll get back to you in a couple of days. In the meantime, take this,” Mrs. Crow said as she put her hands in the air and conjured two amulets out of nothing.

  Annabelle and Joanna stood there, watching as the glistening amulets gently rested on Mrs. Crow’s hand. She handed the Amulets to Annabelle and Joanna.

  “You are to wear these on your necks at all times. They will protect you from any kind of magic and also, if you are in danger, I will be able to sense it,” Mrs. Crow said to the girls.

  “Attach it to a chain or rope or whatever but just make sure you are wearing it. And also, when you wear it, it will give you a slight sting. It means that it’s yours and you also belong to it.” She added.

  “Are you sure this thing will really protect me from magic?” Annabelle doubtfully asked, looking at the amulet which was in her hand.

  “Take a few steps back. I’m going to blast you with Magic,” Mrs. Crow replied.

  Anna boldly took some steps back and smirked at Mrs. Crow.

  Crow summoned some strength and levitated off the floor. Her eyes glowed a bright white, and her hair flung violently, seeming to act on its own accord. Two balls of energy were formed on each hand and she screamed loudly, in an attempt to increase the size of the energy balls.

  Anna trembled.

  “Don’t worry, if it kills you, I’ll bring you back,” Mrs. Crow said, knowing fully well she couldn’t bring back the dead, as she hurled the energy balls at Annabelle. As they were about to hit Anna, the amulet in her hand reacted to the magic, forming an invisible protective shield around her. The energy balls hit the shield, causing a shockwave which destroyed a part of the library’s heart but not all of it.

  “Umm, I guess it works,” Annabelle said, trembling.

  “Why did you attack her like that?!” Did you want to kill her?!” Joanna asked infuriated.

  “You can see that I have given her an amulet for protection. If I wanted to kill her, I would have done it long ago!” Mrs. Crow snapped back at Joanna.

  “Also, with these amulets, your dreams and visions should stop,” Mrs. Crow said to Annabelle, giving her a reassuring smile.

  “What are we going to do about the library’s heart?” Joanna asked, looking at the damage the shockwave had caused.

  Mrs. Crow ignored her question and snapped her fingers, putting everything back in order.

  “I wouldn't have been able to fix it if I had hit Anna with a greater blast force,” she added.

  “Well, I guess we are done here for now,” Mrs. Crow said as she walked towards the doors, her thick dark hair slightly bobbing up and down.

  “You might want to shield your eyes, it’s going to be bright and cold as I re-open these doors,” she said as she placed her hand on each door and began to mutter some words.

  Annabelle and Joanna hugged each other for warmth and closed their eyes. The doors began to vibrate and the mouths of the statues opened, emanating a bright cold beam of light. Goosebumps filled Annabelle’s skin as the light beam hit her. A moment later, the quaking stopped and the doors gave a loud clanking sound and slowly opened.

  “Why don’t the doors open completely?” Anna said to herself as they walked out of the heart of the library. The doors closed behind them, leaving them in complete darkness.

  “Ok guess it’s time for you to use your palm flame,” Joanna said.

  “Hold up your amulets,” Mrs. Crow instructed. The girls held up their amulets which levitated off their hands and emanated bright beams of light, as they hovered above their heads.

  “Whoaa that’s soooo cooooool,” Joanna said as she looked at the amulets, her eyes glistening. The light that was being emanated from the amulets did not hurt her eyes in any way and still provided enough light to see.

  They all walked through the passageway and ended up in front of a wall. Mrs. Crow snapped her fingers, the wall shifted, and the girls walked through and found themselves back in the library.

  “Now all you need to do is live your lives like normal ladies who do not know that magic exists,” Mrs. Crow said.

  “Make sure you wear your amulets like necklaces when you get home,” Mrs. Crow instructed as she turned around to walk away.

  “But can’t you just make ropes or chains for us with your magic?” Joanna asked as she looked at the amulet in her hand.

  “If I do that, the amulet will be rendered useless. It has to be something you create yourself,” Mrs. Crow replied as she walked around a corner and disappeared.

  It was break time and the girls had missed the morning classes for that day and Annabelle hadn’t spoken with Jackson or even seen her brother.

  “Well, I guess we will have to eat. We need to find a way to handle this thing and attend classes at the same time,” Joanna said to Anna as she slipped the amulet into her bag.

  The girls went ahead to have lunch and on getting to the cafeteria, it was crowded as usual. Annabelle and Joanna sat among other students and ate their meals in silence. During the course of the meal, James Bludovitch sheepishly walked over to Annabelle, holding a small piece of paper in his hand.

  “Umm Anna, I need to ask you something,” He stuttered, looking at the ground.

  What does this creep want again? Annabelle thought, looking at James as though willing him away with her eyes.