Hand in hand, they ran for a good 10 minutes before Ian declared that it was safe to stop. "They won't come after you out here, we're in public." He explained. "That didn't keep them from coming into my bedroom." Veda countered. "And your room isn't public. Were you alone when they came into your bedroom?" He asked. "Yes". She scowled. "Okay then." He pulled her into a hotel. "Where-?" She asked, but was cut off. "Hello, yes I'm doing well. How's Jenessa? That's wonderful, can we get a room?" Alrighty thank you." Ian finished, walking to the elevator. Veda followed. "What is happening?" She asked. "We're not done talking and it's not like we can talk in public." He pressed number 5 on the elevator. "And you act like they won't come in a hotel room, that's not public." Veda countered.
"They won't come to the 5th floor Veda, it's difficult to explain." He answered. The elevator dinged, and they walked to a small room with one bed. "Ooh, look a pretty mirror." Ian admired it. "Ha ha ha, very funny. What am I supposed to understand?" Veda asked.
"Alright", he sat on the further side of the bed, patting the side opposite him. Veda sat down and gave him a look of confusion. "So they haven't talked to you yet?" He asked. "Who is they.¨ Veda asked, as more of a statement. "The coven hasn't tried to reach you. Odd, then why would they let the spirit-you know that is odd. Not like them at all. Maybe they're trying to throw us off." He concluded.
"The coven. I really don't think that I'm the one going crazy." She remarked sarcastically. "Okay, let me try to explain like this. Do you believe in the supernatural?" Ian asked. "I guess? Like, ghosts and phantoms?" Veda asked. "Yes and no. So in the first realm" Veda cut him off, "first realm? I'm sorry, are we watching Danny Ghost?" She asked. "Let me finish. The first realm is humans, animals, the things you've known all of your life. The second realm-" He was cut off again.
"The second realm." Veda pondered. "How many are there?" She asked. "4, would you please let me finish."
She answered, "yeah" with a small sigh. "In the second realm lies, ghosts, vengeful spirits, and familiars." He explained. "Familiars, like witch's pets?" She asked, her head tilting to the side. "Exactly. Then the third realm, it houses the ghosts and spirits that are at peace. They have no place with humans, because they've found where they need to be. No strong emotions holding them in our realm. Then we get to the fourth realm. You know how the gods are, 'in the sky'?" He asked.
"Yeah." Veda agreed. "Well, there weren't always. The gods used to have their own plane of oblivion. That didn't work out too well, as they were always traveling between their real and the others. So, this is really difficult to explain. Traveling between realms takes up a lot of spiritual energy, and it's not always easy to come by once you expel your own. It's an energy that everyone has, and when you use too much you collapse. It doesn't take too long, but when you're switching realms you have to use it all at once and the only other way to get energy is to drain it from something else or, someone else." Ian took a long breath.
"Long story short the gods found that dishonorable and so they fled their realm to stay in ours. Now that they can't get to realms 2-4, those realms have gone into despair. So started the tale of heaven and hell. Now you're almost caught up. I know this is confusing, but are you understanding?" Ian asked. "I think I'm getting there. So if the shadows are from the 2nd realm, why are they here?" Veda asked.
"Oh, so anyone can travel between realms. There are no aging disadvantages in the other realms, and no dying until you're killed by another being. They spend the majority of their lives seeking power, and once they get it they come here for unresolved business. Some shadows never go to the 2nd realm, if their emotions are strongly enough connected to ours." He answered. "Oh, I guess that makes sense." Veda felt a lump in her throat. "Oliver." She whispered, she could feel the tears swelling between her eyes. He hadn't died too long ago, so surely he was here trying to figure out what was going on, right?
"Oliver?" Ian asked. Veda tensed, "I really don't want to talk about it." She said, in a low tone. "Okay, that's...okay." He squinted. "Have you been hearing voices?" He asked. "Not on a regular basis, but...in my dreams, or I guess I should call them nightmares shouldn't I?" She asked rhetorically. "Nightmares, hah. That's familiar. What does the voice sound like? Can you describe it?" Ian asked, reaching his hand out to her. She tensed and he pulled it back.
"Sorry, I-uh, it's raspy, like one you would hear from an elderly person but it has no gender. It doesn't sound like a guy or girl." Veda explained. "Got you, well, we can go now I guess." She could tell he had something on his mind. Ian tried to stand, but Veda grabbed his arm and pulled him back down. "Why do you know this? Why did you have to tell me? Why am I seeing these things? Why can't we talk about this, I don't know, not in a creepy hotel?" Veda asked, pulling on his forearm.
"I-I don't know that I'm allowed to tell you honestly." He responded. "Then why should I believe anything you just said? Because to a normal person, I should be signing you into a mental institution right now Ian!" He shushed her. "No loud voices, we may be alone in the room but this is a huge hotel with hundreds of rooms. Quiet." He scolded.
"Right, so explain." She added. "If I must. So, uh- I- um, I am a part of an organization." He paused briefly. "We hunt the-the covens because they, they deserve it?" He seemed to be having an internal debate. "You know what, I might as well just tell you. I am a part of a group that hunts witches because they hurt people and need to be put down. I had to tell you because it's prophesied that you are going to become one of them because of-well I don't really know why. I was just told to convince you to come with me, to warn you, explain it to you, and to convince you to join us I think. You didn't start seeing the shadows until after your brother right? Don't answer that, it's rhetorical. That was the weak spot, it's the weakest you've been emotionally in your life Veda. They took advantage of that, and helped the shadows seep into your sight. Now you can never unsee them." He finished.
"Who is they, you keep saying they?" She asked. "The coven in our town, there's about 30 of them by estimate. They want you, and apparently they want to make us nervous in the meantime. To answer your last question, we can't talk about this in public because people will freak out and to use your words, attempt to sign us into a mental institute. It's just the natural reaction." Ian concluded. "Well that's great and all, but what am I supposed to do now?" Veda asked.
"Come with me." Ian stood up, and entered the corridor. "Where are we going?" Veda asked. "Home." He answered. "My home? Your home?" She asked. "Your home is our home, your mom offered to let me stay over tonight, you know, she thinks that we'd make great friends." He sent her a wink. "Ugh, you know you're not too bad my dude." She lightly punched him in the arm. "Nice friendzone Veda." They both began laughing.
"I also need to instruct you how to deflect the spirits, I assume you don't want them frequenting your room." Veda agreed, and soon enough they had made it to Veda's house. Their mothers were sitting on the porch, watching them walk to the porch. "Oh, looks like you too were already together. That makes me feel better about you being gone for so long Veda." Her mom gave her a stern look.
Veda smiled, "oh yeah, we ran into each other after school so we went walking." Veda lied. "Well then I assume you already know the arrangements. Monique has to go on a trip for work, so Ian is going to stay with us for a week or so." Her mother explained. "What about the twins?" Veda asked, glancing at Monique. "They wanted to stay at their friend's, and your mother had already offered your house, and I figured Ian wouldn't want to stay with the little girls and their friends. That's okay with you, Veda?" Monique asked.
"Yeah, of course." Veda gritted her teeth and thought, this'll be an interesting one. "Why don't we go start dinner? I'm sure you're tired after work Miss Penolope." Ian made a polite smile. "Oh, that's so nice of you! We'll be out here a little longer, there should be something to make in the fridge though." She answered. "That sounds lovely." Ian added, walking into the house. Veda followed and sighed, "you are terrible." "Yeah, I know." Ian just laughed.