WITHOUT

Control.

I was to heal Ethan. I was to help Exie. Briar saw me as a fellow witch to be "collected" (She likes to have a few of us around, we kept her sane)     Till Madeline and I came, she'd only had the portraits and whatever else within the mansion.    She also had the spirit staff.....But, they weren't witches.

She told me once, we three together - Made up a triangle of : Blood, Death and Life. Back in the beginning, the challenges seemed big, impossible.....But, they were doable! I just had to work them out.    I'd learn some skills, kick-start my magical abilities.    My coming here was to be a "reminder" (Of where I came from, what I was truly capable of....Where I needed to be!)

Madeline turned things in another direction.

(And, now she's paying with her life)

I took a step forward. I am not to fear them. I need to take back control. Hector won't stop me, EB will do whatever Ethan wills of her....So, I need to go straight for the source. Ethan.          (The other two take their leads from him) This felt very much like the test at school. There was this one tutor, who loved to "push" me to my limits with "Phantom" play.

Your given a wand, or just your hands....A ghost would be released. And it was up to you to out-wit the "Phantom!" It doesn't sound much, but trust me - It gets tough, once started. Ghosts are different to spirits. Pin point a "lead/a beginning".    Ghosts are stuck on a loop....They run through their thing, not much really happens (Problems only "present", if you break the loop! Which is easy to do without even trying). A spirit was often more interesting.

But, they were never used with students. Even me.

I didn't do too well on my first few try's....But, I mastered the art of "Stillness"  (In ghost terms, pause, rearrange...Release!) Redirect their loop - Make it more manageable for you (Or to whatever you require of them)     In simple terms.....Learn to stop/make them stand still.    You release them when ready.    You can't do that to a spirit.

I would "Still" the three.

"Ethan? Hi! Can I have a word?.." EB and Hector both looked to Ethan, he nodded to me. I may, have a word. But, I was to choose wisely. I took another step forward (Hands open. I loved this part!) Ethan glanced briefly (I was holding no weapons, if I was he'd have to remove them from me)

"....We should....Eat. No one's had any to eat. Those two have (Small flick of my hand. Ethan watched my fingers) The angel two.."

I whispered a quick word in my head. Ethan didn't quite catch it, I reached for his arm (Ethan missed that "move" too late) My eyes darted to his head - Bang! (Man down. Ethan "stilled") I made a swift move to his other arm, pulled him close.

I wrapped my arms around him, he oddly leaned...And, bent into my hold.

"Oh baby. I've so missed hugging you. You feel so tall....You smell of cinnamon rolls! I like those. And, Clark's little button-chocolate cakes..." I hugged him tight. Ethan was dumbfounded to what I had just done to him!

I pulled back a minute, looked at him (EB and Hector were none the wiser to what I had just done to their great leader/master....Ruler. Stella and Abby had inched closer....Stella had picked up a little to what I had just done to Ethan (She remembered the "moves" from school. And, she'd had to do the test a hundred times till she got it right!)