The Realm of Truth (Book 1) [In the process of editing]

Chapter 25: Malevolent Energy

(Odette's POV)~

Damien hasn't said a word since we left the hotel. We decided to walk to the Salem Ghosts tour around 8pm without the truck. I guess Damien didn't feel like driving after our argument, and honestly, I'm more furious than mad. In my mind, I felt like I was helping Ambrosius with the supplies. He didn't explain anything else to me afterwards, so I figured if I'm going to stay here a long time, I might as well pull my own weight. If Damien doesn't like my decision, then he's free to do whatever. I don't own him, and he doesn't own me.

Unfortunately, a tiny pang of guilt hit me. We've always been together, and I knew he didn't have anyone else, but me to look after or take care of. He's been taking care of me the past two years when I didn't trust anyone else.

He walked ahead of me. I knew he had his phone out just to make sure we were heading in the right direction. My cousins - Hazel and Claire were with us too, but they also stayed behind me. I was sandwiched, and strolling by myself. Hazel and Claire weren't really speaking to me, and I felt kind of out of the loop when they had their own conversations. I tried to talk to them, get to know them, but every time I did, they would act like they didn't have much to say, so I spared them the awkwardness.

I sighed. Why did Ambrosius make me do this? I mean, I can't really remember much except from what he told me. He hasn't said very much about my family either, except for him being on my mom's side of the family.

I didn't think too much about it. It all seemed very hazy to me.

It took us about another couple minutes or so to arrive at the tour, and we purchased the tickets as soon as we arrive. There was already a group waiting to be departed and we checked in with the tour guide. The man had a microphone attached to the ear piece and a little speaker box attached to his belt so we could hear him if we weren't near. He was dressed in all black and to set the mood, he wore a top hat.

"You guys are all here for the ghost tour in Salem, Massachusetts, correct?" he announced with an upbeat attitude. The crowd agreed and I looked at Damien who gave a small grin, but then I watched it falter. "Here, malevolent energy is around us, and I will be the one to guide you where it's most abundant. Let's get started, shall we? It'll become more intense as we walk through downtown and visit some of the most historical areas here in Salem." The tour guide named Jack, who teased himself as the Ripper, started guiding us to the Salem Witch memorial. There, he began the introduction of those who were involved.

Jack started telling the story about what happened back in 1692, where a group of young women were claiming they were possessed by devils, and accused of witchcraft. "As a wave of hysteria spread, the court in Salem gathered to hear the trials." he said. "The first witch to be accused was Bridget Bishop - hanged."

"Damien..." I whispered. "Will you please stop being so quiet?"

"And tell you what?" he asked, bitterly. I frowned at him. "What else can I say? I'm trying to not ruin our friendship here."

"You aren't." I said, then pleaded. "Please? Talk to me?"

He sighed, and then turned to look over his shoulder. "Hey, where are Hazel and Claire?"

I looked at him confused and then turned as well. They were no where to be seen. We backed a little bit away from our group together and I called out to them."Maybe they went back to the hotel?"

"Maybe...We shouldn't worry about them." Damien said, and then gave in. "I'm here to spend the tour with you, aren't I? Esme isn't here with us anyways, so no strange magic tonight."

He held out his arm to me and I perked up a little more. I placed my hand around it and he guided me back over to the group.

The tour lasted about an hour or so, and I was surprised that Damien didn't complain about the walking. We went to the Old Burying Point again as well as the Hawthorne hotel to hear all the spooky stories and strange phenomenons.

Jack mentioned that there would be someone standing at the window by the Old Burying Point cemetery and we knew that he was talking about Esme. That she would be walking past the window as a silhouette with the candle lights on. He'd mention that sometimes even at night he'd feel some strange energy going off near the building. He chalked it up to a seance inside.

That made some of the audience spooked a little.

When the tour was done, we went back to the hotel. There was still no signs of Hazel and Claire.

Damien passed out on the bed straight away and I snuck out to go downstairs to the kitchen to sneak a blood bag from the fridge. I heard a few whispers down the hallway before heading to the stairway and I stopped to listen. The whisperings disappeared and I shrugged it off. I figured I was just hearing voices from my super senses.

When I turned on the lights, I tried to hold in a shriek. Hazel and Claire were both sitting down on chairs in the kitchen. "Everyone just loves to give me jump scares, don't they?" I mumbled, I turned to the fridge. "Don't mind me, I'm just grabbing a bag from the fridge."

I propped open the tube and started to inhale the contents from the bag. I drained it in one go, and I sighed happily. I started to walk away from the fridge to go upstairs and stopped in my tracks again.

I looked over in confusion and noticed that my two cousins were sitting still in their seats. "Guys?" I called out to them. "Are you okay?"

They didn't move or say anything. However, what I didn't notice until now underneath the fluorescent lights was that there was blood all over them.

"Dear god...Ambrosius?!" I shouted. "Esme? I need help...!" Hazel and Claire started moving from their seats as if they were possessed.

Needless to say, I sprinted the heck out of there.