necromancer• enoch o'connor

7

———

marlene and millard sat two feet apart on the ground waiting for emma and jake to join them, millard with a robe-esque cloth draped over his body, "so what is your peculiarity then? are you like me, obviously with better control."

"not quite. i like to call it ghost. it's far too complicated for me to explain it all now. perhaps though, i could help you learn to be invisible, with your clothes on." marlene laughed, "saves me from the inevitable fright."

the younger boys eyes went wide, "you think i could?"

"of course. it took me years but i got the hang of it." the blonde smiled.

before the conversation could go any further emma and jake flew into the alley, millard addressing them, "there you are." marlene then noticed the smoke and flames arising from the building they'd left, "oh wow, what a show sparky."

millard rolled his eyes, "cant resist a spectacle, can you?"

"i don't know what you're talking about." emma denied, but marlene could see the hint of a smile on the blondes face.

the dark haired, invisible boy led the group to a carriage. marlene disappeared making herself visible to the group only, floating crisscrossed in the air, "i sorely prefer air travel to bumpy carriages."

emma glared, looking around paranoid, "get down, we've already caused enough trouble, no need to be caught with a floating girl."

"you're the only ones who can see me, look" the ghost whispered, pointing at the carriage head, who simply focused on his horses. the three others hid themselves away quickly.

marlene just chuckled, loving the freedom she had to use her abilities here.

——

the blonde girl couldn't resist going slightly ahead after they left the wagon, choosing to run toward the house.

the house, to marlene's excitement, was in peak condition again. it was a beautiful structure and she wondered why she waited so long to return to a loop.

"hello."

marlene jumped, laughing at herself for letting the little girl startle her, "hello, i suppose you live here?"

the girl thought for a moment before deciding to nod, "i'm claire, who are you?" the older girl smiled softly, "my names marlene, i love your dress."

claire grinned widely, "thank you! you're very pretty. are you here to see the bird?"

"i suppose i am, although i don't know my way to her. could you-" before marlene could finish her question the little blonde nodded, excitedly taking her hand and dragging her to the house.

they passed a few different children but what really caught the attention of the ghost was the mouth on the back of the little girls head.

"fascinating." she mumbled still being dragged along by the little girl.

briefly, marlene caught sight of the basement, where jars that lined the shelves still caught the sun. "claire darling, what's in the basement?"

the little girl looked back, toward the same skinny window, "dunno. that's enoch's room. seems boring, really, just a bunch of creepy jars. he doesn't like to let people in there." claire finally made it to the door and marlene looked down at her boots, kicking them off and following the girl inside.

"miss peregrine! we have a guest!" claire raised her voice, looking around for her headmistress.

a tall, pretty, woman with slight crows feet and dark hair, matching her attire, "yes claire he's in the- oh dear. who are you?"

"marlene pickering. i came here with jacob. abe asked me to accompany him here." the blonde bowed her head slightly, treating this ymbryne with the same respect her old one demanded.

"raise your head dear. there's tea in the parlor, join us."

marlene stood still for a second, turning to claire and whispering her thanks, turning back to walk into the parlor. there she saw jacob kneeling down and snickering, "shame you got all mucked up in the bog jake."

his head perked up and he almost tackled her, "marley, you've got to stop disappearing."

awkwardly, the blonde patted his back as miss peregrine chuckled, "settle down children, it's time we talk."

——

while jake and miss peregrine talked, marlene stared absentmindedly out the window, her body beginning to float, unaware to herself. she watched as the sky turned cloudy, looking like all the present days they'd spent there.

the children began to file inside and she waved a little to claire as the girl passed the window.

"ms pickering?"

the blonde looked over, "yes, miss peregrine?"

the older woman gestured for jacob to leave and after receiving a nod from marlene he did.

"i suspect you have other motives in coming to my home." the ymbryne tilted her head. the girl sighed, "i'm afraid i do. i love jake but his need for answers was not enough for me to leave my other life behind."

"so why are you here then?"

the ghost took a deep breath, "i've been alive for quite sometime miss peregrine. lived in five different loops. my last loop was attacked and i was forced to flee to the present before the loop collapsed."

"so you joined jacob quickly then? so you wouldn't grow old?" the bird questioned.

the blonde shook her head, "that's not quite it. you see miss, when i fled to the present my body was 14. i am 17 now. when i went into the present i was terrified i would turn to dust. but i didn't, my body just continued to age."

alma's eyes went wide for a moment, "you lived there for years yet did not pass. that is unheard of. it shouldnt be possible for you to be loop broken."

"i know. i also know it's a lot to ask, and i hate to leave my life in the present behind, but i was hoping i could stay. not just for possible answers but to be around peculiars again." marlene paused, finally looking the headmistress in the eyes, "the present is awful miss, the world is terrifying and i only wish that you would let me stay. even just until i can find a different loop.

"nonsense dear. as a ymbryne it is my duty to take care of peculiar children like yourself. you may stay as long as you need." the headmistress nodded at her confirming that this loop could be her new home.

———