Ghaunt

Introduction

~;*;~ LONDON POV ~;*;~

I hear my shoes patter on the cobblestone walk as I go up to Grams door. She is an excentric woman, always smelling like apple pie and grass. The house was old, the outside layer of paint peeling, turning the once baby blue house to a sultry gray. Crystals lined the garden, dream catchers hung from the porch overhead with the occasional group of bay leaves or lavendar bunched and drying. An old tattered rocking chair sat below them, teasing me with the memories of when Grams used to read me fairytales. Telling me that if I looked hard enough at the buttercups, I might find a fairy. Or maybe if I was quiet next to the old pear tree, I might spot a sprite flying away. Of course those things are real. They are always around us, the spirits of nature, just not in the way we may expect them.

I knock on the old red door softly, hearing a chair squeal as it is pushed across old lanoleum. I hear Grams bussle to the door. She is a larger woman, always wearing bright clothes. Her graying brown hair is pulled up under a towel, making her look like a genie... not that she might not be one. I hear the short lady that raised me up until now walk to the red door.

At the age of 16 I would say I am doing alright. I live by myself in a condo across town. It sadly has gotten too dangerous for me to live wiith Grams anymore, but I need to talk to her...more than ever now.

I heard the lock to the red door click and I sneezed as Grams opened her door, the dust unsettling off the old books scattered around everywhere, causing a visible dust cloud in the light that was peaking through her thick red drapes in the dank front room. A stair case was to the imediate right, heading up to the top floor. A sign marked as 'private' was tied to the stairs. Her room and my old bedroom were up there, and then the house went further on to the attic. Granny was wearing a long dress, her white hair spilling out of her towel. She's a pleasnt, plump old woman, her fierce blue eyes are just like mine. She smiled wide at me and her voice filled the comfortable silence between us.

"Oh, London, my dear, please come in. Come come. Good girl. What are you doing here?" She was clearly puzzled, but overjoyed to see me, hopefully just as much as I was to see her again. It has been a bit over two weeks since the last time we had talked and I missed her.

I smiled at her, sadly I didn't have time to really talk about life. I was here only for my current job. I sigh and look at her.

"Grams, did you hear? The Gh-"

"No, shush child. We do not speak that name in this house." He words made me feel like I was hiding from Voldemort. Well, I almost was.

"Sorry. So, did you hear about Rebecca Greene? I would say the way she died was pretty weird."

"Yes, I would say that a heart attack at 19 is highly unlikley." She bustles down back to her big chair in the kitchen. Picking up her reading glasses, she shuffles her tarot cards and puts them away. I sit down across from her, as she continues to speak with her higher voice, mixed with a New York accent.

"That dear old poor girl. The reapies are getting handsy, might I say?"

~;*;~ Pheobe's POV ~;*;~

I slightly stumble down the stairs in my new high heels. I try to keep my freshly curled hair from spilling out of the waterfall braid I have it in, while trying not to trip and break my face...or flash Chase.

Chase, my boyfriend, waited for me at the bottom of the stairs. His blue eyes were observing me, and I could swear he's an angel.

"You look really pretty, Pheobe." He smiled at me. I smiled back.

"Thanks!"

I finally managed to get to the bottom of the stairs without a concusion and looped my arm in Chase's. I have no idea why I do this to myself everyday, but I end up doing it anyway. I'm not even a morning person and I manage to get up at 5:30. Oh well, it's worth it. It helps boost my self esteem.

I yell goodbye to my Dad and climb into Chase's Ford truck. I love his truck. It's a really pretty blue, and it's so home-y and worn. I may not seem like it, but I love cars.

Chase is oddly quiet the whole ride, almost like he's waiting for something. When we pull into the parking lot, he sighs heavily.

"Look, Pheobe. I think we should talk."

My heart starts to pound. Could I really be losing the love of my life?

~;*;~ London's POV ~;*;~

Grams poured some hot water into a coffee cup as I pulled a lavendar teabag out of the box on the dining table. She set two hot cups down on the table, and hobbled over to her worn armchair. I lowered the teabag into the water as she settled down.

"Now London," she said with her head lowered, her voice hushed, "What are we talking about here?"

"I think I need to meet Pheobe."

"That will not happen as long as I am alive. I am strictly against it."

"Well, Dimitri and I looked it over and it really looks like this is our only option."

"Well then step out of this house and never come back. Anyone I know would not do this."

I sighed looking at her. "Look, Grams. I have to, or the Ghaunt will take over!"

"DO NOT UTTER THAT NAME IN THIS HOUSE. GET OUT AND NEVER COME BACK. I MEAN IT LONDON."

I took a shaky breath and bit my lip. "Okay." I got up and did the hardest thing I have ever had to do.

I walked out of the home I had been raised in. I walked out on the only person that could ever replace my mom and dad.

I shut the red door, tears threatening to spill over my eyes. I quickly dial Dimitri, my best friend and the guy I'm in love with...secretly.

"D, I need you to pick me up."

"What happened with Grams? Are you okay? Where are you?" He sounded very concerned as I walked to the park.

I started to speak but my voice cracked, causing me to stutter over my words.

"S-she kick-ked me out. I ne-*crack* need you to come and get me. I'm a-at the park down the road." I gasped for air as my vision went blurry.

"Alright I'll be there soon, Love."

At that moment it didn't quite register that he had called me Love, but give me a break I was crying my eyes out.

I sat down on a swing, calming myself effectively, wiping away the occasional tear. I had been waiting for Dimitri for about 10 minutes when I felt arm, strong arms wrap around my waist. The arms picked me up, turning me around to stare into Dimitri's angry red brown eyes.

"What happened?" He sounded pissed.

"She kicked me out because I told her I needed to find Pheobe." I gasped again for breath as my eyes flooded again. I buried my face into his chest.

Absolute rejection from my own Grandmother sent racks of pain and sobs over my 5'8" frame. I snuggled deeper into the chest of my 6'4" best friend as he stroked my hair, soothing me until my eyes were out of tears and my throat stopped burning. This took about 20 minutes, but after a while he broke the silence as my breathing returned to normal.

"You gonna be okay Lolo?" He said, rubbing my back in circles. I didn't speak, fearing my voice would crack again, so I just nodded and he picked me up bridal-style, carrying me to the car.