Amanda restlessly resides in bed. She opens her eyes again. It is early, Thursday morning. She rolls over, hoping to fall back asleep again. But it didn't occur. A little less than half an hour later, she quietly relocates to the living room. She sits down on the couch in the dark room. She stares at the top of the coffee table, which is covered with recently released copies of the Spell Caster's Gazette and a couple of half opened textbooks. While her mind spins with questions about the skull token. At some point, she did somehow manage to fall asleep.

"Late study evening" Avelle assumes, exiting her bedroom later on.

"Just a restless night" Amanda replies.

"A lot on your mind still. I know you aren't happy with the relationship development with Ansel. He is an idiot. I don't understand why he is behaving the way he is. You're the nicest person. That I've meant at this school in the last few months" Avelle explains. "Besides, you don't oddly disappear for days at a time, like Emma".

"Disappear. What do you mean disappear?" Amanda half asks.

"So, you know how we believed she was an early bird to classes. Yesterday, I was approached by Mr. Hunt inquiring why Emma had missed the last few classes" Avelle explains.

"Strange, and Emma has seemed to be absent lately" Amanda replies.

  Meanwhile, an old alumni decides to make an appearance on campus. A classroom door is pulled open.

"Hello auntie" greets the alumni.

Ms. Blackwell turns around, shocked to see her visitor. "Oh, I-".

"You what? Didn't know I was still alive?" The alumni asks. "Believed I was still locked inside the ancestral realm".

"As a matter of fact I believed that, yes" Ms. Blackwell answers. "So, you've returned to Evermore".

"Yes. I've returned to resume where I left off" The alumni informs.

"You know the ancestral realm has been locked away, since the last time you were here" Ms. Blackwell informs.

"Lucky for me, I know where the ancestral realm is. If I don't know how to unlock it, I'll locate someone who does" The alumni replies. "Have you been keeping up with the Spell Caster's Gazette?".

"That there are a lot of rumors, circulating about activity with the dark arts shop" Ms. Blackwell recalls.

"The society must enjoy that" The alumni comments.

"Why return to Evermore now?" Ms. Blackwell asks, curious and concerned.

"The last three years were stolen from me. I'd like a redo" The alumni answers.

"I don't think a redo can be offered" Ms. Blackwell believes.

"So, I sacrifice myself and gain no reward". The alumni pauses. "Where's Ansel? I'm sure he'd desire to know I've returned".

"I'm sure Ansel is in class right now," Ms. Blackwell supposes.

"Well, I'm sure he won't mind an old friend popping in". The alumni smiles.

"Please, don't cause trouble. While you're here" Ms. Blackwell advises.

The alumni cross their arms. "How would seeing an old friend be troublesome?".

"You know what I mean" Ms. Blackwell turns around to face the visitor. "Are you here to meddle with the prophecy?".

The alumni shrugs. "Depends. Though I did warn the prophecy's soon to be victim".

"Amanda Davenport" Ms. Blackwell informs.
"Is that her name? A Davenport, huh. Does Ansel know what bloodline she resides from?" The alumni asks.

"They're friends," Ms. Blackwell informs.

"Friends. A Blackwell and Davenport can only have their relationship fall into two categories. Enemies or lovers" The alumni states.

      It is late in the day; Amanda sits at a table in the library. She turns to another page in the potion's textbook and continues writing notes. A door falls closed; Ansel enters the library. Then they each catch each other's eye. Amanda sighs and straightens her composure. Then she distracts herself with the textbook on the table. He settles by a bookshelf on the other end of the library. For a short moment, she observes him. A few minutes later, Amanda decides to depart the library.

    She slowly ventures down a red carpeted hallway, in the direction of her dorm. When she reaches her dorm, she appears to be the only one in the dorm. There is a note left on the coffee table.

I know this is asking you and Avelle a lot. But I need you two to cover for me for a few days. I'll be back Saturday night. I promise

Emma

Amanda turns away from the fridge with an unnerving feeling.

"What do you think she is doing?" Avelle asks, entering and closing the door behind herself.

"I don't know," Amanda answers.

"Do you believe her secretive disappearances have anything to do with that skull token? That item, that was stolen from the dark arts shop" Avelle half asks.

"I'm not sure. Why would she require a dark artifact?" Amanda half asks, curious.

Avelle shrugs. "I'm sure whatever her reasons are. The reasons are valid to her".

"Do you think it would be wrong to question her about her activities?" Amanda asks.

"No. But are you carnet she'd be truthful with us?" Avelle asks.

"We'd have to see," Amanda answers. "We haven't given her a reason to not be truthful with us".

"True," Avelle agrees.

   During the Saturday evening, Avelle and Amanda nervously wait for Emma to return. The door is unlocked and opened.

"So, we covered for you". Avelle keeps her arms crossed as she sits on the arm of the couch.

"Thank you. I appreciate that" Emma replies, walking over to them.

"So, what were you up to? I feel since we both covered for you because you asked. It's only right we know the reason to why we covered your disappearance" Avelle half asks.

"Well, I've been assisting someone. Who'd like me to continue classifying them as nameless" Emma answers.

"Are you breaking any school rules?" Avelle asks, curiously.

"I try not to," Emma answers.

"Em, you might as well explain your secret actives" Avelle advises.

"Or we could all retire to bed" Amanda decides, after catching sight of the time on the antique wall clock.

"Seriously? We are-" Avelle begins to ask.

"We have classes tomorrow. We might as well be rested for them. Are your disappearances connected to a life and death matter?" Amanda interjects.

"Not particularly," Emma replies.

"What? Wait, Amanda. Emma shouldn't be given a free pass". Avelle watches Amanda head to her room. She looks at Emma. "You shouldn't get a free pass".

"Just get to bed, Avelle" Emma says, before retiring to her own room.

        Avelle remains in the living room, surprised by the transition of recent events. Just before the first period class is intended to begin, Emmalyn leads an Evermore academy newcomer to Ansel. Emmalyn informs Ansel, he has a visitor.

"Well Em, I should've known you'd bring Amanda around sooner or later" Ansel comments, before looking up from the book he was reading.

"It seems you have a new girl in your life," Emmalyn states, glancing at Ansel and then to the newcomer. "Have fun,". Emmalyn walks away.

"Uh, hello. I'm Ansel". He straightens up in his chair and proceeds to place the book on the nearby glass top coffee table.

"Hello,". She sits down on the gray couch in front of him.

"Well, I don't know why you're looking for me. But I hope I can assist in whatever you need" Ansel explains.

"I figured you could use a family reunion,". She pauses. "I'm Kiara Blackwell. I'm your cousin and I've been stuck in the ancestral realm for the last three years".

Ansel stares at her, slowly digesting the explanation.

"So,...long lost relative" Ansel understands.

"Yes. So, this Amanda girl" Kiara replies.

"So, Emmalyn was quick to inform you on my supposed love interest" Ansel presumes.

"If history has informed us on anything, you and Amanda are meant to fall for each other" Kiara hints.

"There has been a bit of distance between us lately" Ansel informs.

"To keep her safe, I suppose" Kiara answers, while Ansel stays quiet. "Isn't it safer to have Amanda with you, than away from you?".

"Maybe. But...honestly, how do I know anything she has spoken is truthful?" Ansel half asks.

"What has she informed you?" Kiara asks, curious.

"Well, I guess she was kept away from this world by her mom" Ansel answers.

"Seems like an odd topic to lie about. She is a founder, isn't she?" Kiara half asks, considering the comment. "From what I witnessed, founders and generations of founders are usually very invested in Evermore and the world it resides in".

"Think about recently, though. The alumni founders have halted their active role in investing in Evermore" Ansel points out.

"So, what do we do about the situation?" Kiara asks.

"I think it might be time again to arrange a founder's circle meeting" Ansel suggests, seriously.

"Might be so,". Kiara glances at the library entrance. "Isn't that Amanda?".

"Yeah" Ansel answers, following Kiara's gaze.

         As soon as Amanda catches his eye, she proceeds to turn around and retreat from the library. She returns to her dorm, heads into her room, and closes the door and she collects the skull token from underneath a layer of clothes in her dresser drawer. She leaves her room.

"Hey Amanda" Emma greets, depositing her bag on the couch.

"Hi" Amanda replies, quickly. She continues to walk past Emma.

"Is that-" Emma begins to ask, catching sight of the skull token in Amanda's hand. "Why do you-. How do you have that?".

"Yes, it is the skull token, and it was sent to me anonymously to me" Amanda answers, turning around to face Emma. "I was going to do some research in the library".

"Weren't you just in the library? I could've sworn I just saw you there" Emma half asks.

"I was and I returned to collect this" Amanda answers.

"Any idea who Ansel was conversing with?" Emma asks.

"His latest flame, probably" Amanda answers, while she leaves the dorm.

      Amanda decides on a slow return route to the library. She happens to be displeased that Ansel has appeared to move on from her. She rounds a corner and ventures down a couple of steps. As she nears the library, she watches Ansel's new friend exit. She ventures around, into the library and settles at an empty table.

"School assignment," Ansel presumes, appearing at the table.

"Personal, actually. Your involvement isn't required or desired". Amanda flips another page of the hardcover book.

"I didn't know that you had an interest in rituals" Ansel comments.

"Recall, when I said it was personal" Amanda reminds, annoyed.

"Okay. Got it. Please know, I hate the distance between us" Ansel tells her.

"Really, you dislike the distance between. There is distance between us because of your behavior". Amanda begins to collect the couple of textbooks in her arms. "Please, do me a favor and leave me alone".