The Ghost of Sander Jones

Chapter 10: Training

Shortly after I hung up with Mark I heard a knock at the door. "Do you thing that Mark knows about ghosts and witches?" I asked Sander before I left. "Yes." I nodded and ran down the stairs to answer the door. I bounced down the last step skidding to a halt at the door and pulled the locks yanking the door out of the jam. "Hey Mark." I stepped out the way so he could walk in. "Hey. Elizabeth." He stepped though the door. He muttered something to himself before continuing. "So what questions did you have? Hey is Sander here?" I froze. He knew Sander? How? I thought of the conversation we had yesterday, and I knew I hadn't mentioned him at all. "How do you know Sander?" I shut the door. "You mentioned his name yesterday." He rubbed the back of his neck. He was lying.

"No I didn't."

"Yes you did." He argued.

"I'm sure I didn't mention anything about him." I shot back at him.

"Are you sure?"

Yes I'm sure."

"Alright fine. I cast a spell on you." I raised my eyebrow. "You did what?" I did a quick assessment of myself. Everything checked out fine. "What? So you know about spell-casting and all the details about it?" I was skeptical of Mark. I moved past him to the staircase and sat down on the second step. "Sure I do. I found out I was a Wizard when I was twelve." He sounded cheery, a smile forming around his mouth. I narrowed my eyes. "Why'd you cast a spell on me? How old are you?" I folded my arms. My questions blurred together. "I'm seventeen. I wanted to know how much you knew about yourself and then I came across your thoughts of Sander. You know he-"

Sander came though the floor right between me and Mark. His arms were crossed and he looked a little annoyed. I didn't think he liked what Mark was intending to say to me. "Ah there you are." Mark remarked. "Yes." I could still hear his annoyance, and something else. Aggravation? Distaste, maybe? I don't trust him after all. It seems I was wrong about something. Sander thought. Huh. I thought back smugly. No need to rub it in. Sander had turned his head slightly and was gazing at me though the corner of his eyes. I said he was weird. You're the one who told me to call him. I reminded him.

"Uh guys?" Mark interrupted. Sander's and my head snapped up at the sound of his voice. I leaned around Sander and he turned his gaze back to Mark. "Where's your wand?" I asked Mark. I rose from my step smoothing out my pants then I moved about a foot, to stand at Sander's shoulder. "It's in my back pocket." He reached behind him and pulled out a polished stick. It was all black. "So you said you had questions. What were they?"

I thought about what he said for a moment, not really hearing what he said. "Oh, I just wanted to know how much you knew about my family and if you knew what they were planning. Oh are you a full blooded wizard?" Mark's expression changed from questioning, to knowing. "I just know that your family is the head of all of the wizards and wikines, your," -he paused for a quick second- "uncle keeps everything and one in check. That's all I know." He raised his eyebrow. "

"I'm a full-blooded wizard. As pure as you can get them." I nodded taking in this new information, putting it with all the other acquired news. "Of course our species of people don't really like to be called that." He continued. "Though there really is no other name." I nodded and said, "Thank you." Sander took over the conversation then. "So I am sure you understand she needs some training with her powers. Can you help here establish them?" His tone sounded all business-like, very professional.

"I think I can help her learn the basics." Mark replied. "Good you should start the training immediately." Mark nodded. "Sure ok." I felt a surge of excitement pulse though me and it took all I had to keep from shouting out because of it.

Go get the wand. His voice rang in my thoughts. I nodded slightly acknowledging him and shot up the stairs. I fumbled around in my room looking for where I had put the wand. When I found it I yanked it out of the little box keeping it and turned for the door. I stopped. Should I bring the book? I swiveled on my heels, balancing myself between the door and my closet. I decided to go back and get the book out of the chest and bring it with me. I walked down the hallway slowing my pace halfway to the stairs.