The Ghost of Sander Jones

Chapter 13: Despairing News

The next morning I woke rather early, the sky was just beginning to lighten, Sander was no where to be found. I stuck my head out the door looking out. The sounds confirmed everyone was back. I tiptoed to the room my parents were in. Their door was ajar and I could hear them snoring. I turned toward the staircase. There was a noise down there, glass dishes clanking together. There was quiet chatter below. I tip-toed back to my room.

Sander was back and was waiting in the door jam. "Glad you're up." He moved out the way so I could pass. "Yeah." I said sliding back into the bed. Sander shut the door, it closing with a soft clicking sound. "I was reading the Book of En-zar last night and I found a couple of spells that you should try and practice with Mark." He said. "You don't sleep do you?" I said sarcastically. "No, I guess I don't. But I can." He shrugged, a small smile forming. I sighed and sat up. "What kind of spells?"

He ignored my tone and continued what he was saying. "I'll bring the book so we can both have a look." He ducked under the bed for a second and pulled out the book. "They are also basic spells but a little bit better from what you've been learning." Sander plopped down on the bed beside me. I leaned over so I could see the contents of the book. He flipped the pages open looking. "You can do this one," He pointed to the page, "this one, this one and this." I frowned. All of those spells are the ones I wanted to learn when I first learn. But there was one more that I had not seen.

"Invisibility, transparency, levitation, and mind reading? You want me to learn these?" I asked bewildered. He shrugged his shoulders and frowned a little. "Sure. You said yourself that the spells you learned last night were useless." I shook my head. "Yes! I want to learn these as soon as possible. I just thought that Mark said they were too advanced for me to learn right now, and I agreed they were." Sander considered that a moment, his expression thoughtful. "Sure I agreed with him at the time but you're right. You need to learn as much as you can before you turn sixteen."

I nodded and stood up turning toward the bathroom. "Elizabeth, don't get carried away when you're training though. It might end up badly." He turned full gaze to me he had a hint of concern in his eyes. I put my hands on his shoulders. "Don't worry I won't. I'll try to keep a clear head." I felt confident when I said that. He nodded once and I continued to the bathroom.

I felt like Sander had given me permission to learn more, do more. I shrugged and went though the motions of getting ready for the day. When I was done I walked out the bathroom. Sander had put the book up and was sitting on the bed waiting. "The clouds are going to be clearing a little today. I guess it's going to be a little warmer today." I nodded and turned to the closet closing the door behind me. I picked out another pair of pants and a shirt. Then I pulled out the jacket that patch and slid it over my shoulder.

I walked out and slid my hair into a ponytail. "Nice." Sander commented. "Thank you." I said walking over to the window drawing back the curtains. I turned my full attention to Sander. "A ponytail? I thought you didn't like those."

"I don't like them, but I thought I should try them out."

"Huh."

"What's that suppose to mean?" I demanded.

"Nothing. I didn't mean anything by it." He said, though he didn't sound convincing. "Ponytails don't really suit you anyways." He continued. I rolled my eyes and started toward the door. "I'm going to breakfast. I'll be back later." I walked down the hall descending down the stairs. My parents were already seated at the dining table. My father was reading the newspaper and my mother was sipping coffee.

"I thought you guys were sleep." I said. "You're up early." Was all my dad had said to me. "Yeah I couldn't sleep." I took a chair and sat down in it. My mother nodded. "Where did you guys go last night?" I asked trying to make the question sound innocent. "Well we have some news to tell you and it involves your fathers and my absence." My mother began. My dad folded the newspaper and put it aside. I waited patiently for them to continue.