There is Power in Death

Chapter 20

"Talan, have you contacted Mr. Silvia?"

"Yes. Maddy should be escorting David there as we speak."

"Good."

I unlock my door and let them in.

"You can take a seat anywhere. We'll bring you to your room when we know for sure that David has gone to the Underworld. Are you okay with that?"

"Y-yes."

His head must still be hurting, yet he manages to speak. He's a strong kid, and I can't imagine what he's been through.

"I-I killed s-someone."

"What?" Benji says.

"W-when I was a-alive, I k-killed someone."

"What's he going on about?" Talan says.

I thought that Talan would have known about that. I glance at Al, who seems to be just as surprised as me. How does Oliver remember?

"Guys, can you let me talk to him? Go wait in the game room," I tell them.

"Sure." 

They all walk down the hall to the gaming room as I instructed. I take a seat beside Oliver on the couch.

"Are you able to tell me about it?"

"Y-yes."

"Okay, go ahead."

"I-it was two months before I died. S-somebody was g-getting chased b-by a gang. I-I had a k-knife w-with me. The g-girl that was b-being chased t-tripped so I-I jumped in a-and stabbed one o-of them. I-in the h-heart. I-I didn't m-mean to h-hit him there."

"How long have you remembered this?"

"S-since a few days after I-I died. T-two months a-ago."

I decide to tell Oliver about what Al told me. I also tell him that I'm not sure if anyone else knows. I don't exactly know how to comfort kids, but I hope that this helps. 

"Every body has a memory or part of themselves that they would rather keep hidden. I'm glad you opened up to me about this. That was brave. I promise not to tell anyone about this."

"O-okay."

I call the others back into the room and can tell that they all have questions. I'll tell them later, Benji and Al both know that I've killed someone, but I don't think Benji knows that all Phanters have killed someone. I should tell Talan later too.

Benji ends up making some food for us, and Talan and Al talk quietly to each other. They are definitely getting along way better now. When lunch is ready we all eat it. Oliver seems to enjoy the food a lot and eats quite a bit of it. When we're done eating, Talan gets a message from Mr. Silvia saying that David has been fired. That took longer than it should have. Oliver's room is just down the hall, so it doesn't take long to get there.  We drop him off and say or goodbyes before going back downstairs. Talan goes back to his room, but Benji, Al, and I have to talk to Mr. Silvia about our new living arrangement.

We have to keep Al from knocking down the door and I knock on it. 

"Come in."

We walk in and another Phanter slips out. I guess we were just on time.

"Ah hello. I was about to call for you three, but I guess you got here before I could. What are you here for?"

"We want to talk about our living arrangement. Talan mentioned it to us earlier this morning."

"You will be living in a three story mansion. As long as all three of you are inside the house, your link won't be severed. If one of you plans to go outside, the others must go with. The property is about five acres. You should be able to move in tomorrow. Now, there are other matters to deal with. Have you found anything new about preventing that nightmare from happening?"

"We haven't, but I did have a nightmare last night and found something out that I know Al knows about. Nobody else seems to."

"Which is?"

"The fact that every single Phanter has killed somebody when they were alive. I'm wondering why not even Talan knows."

Benji seems surprised at this. 

"Well, that small fact can ruin people. I know that all too well. If somebody finds out and realizes what they did, they could be driven to insanity. It used to happen all the time, which is why we only tell that to a select few. How did you find out? And tell me about your nightmare."

"Al told me," I start telling him about the events of my dream from the night before.

"I see. So you were the one that killed him."

"What do you mean?"

"Julie is a very special case. He is inside this building right now."

"Bring him here. Now," I unintentionally let out a little  magic and Mr. Silvia stands up.

"As you wish."

I didn't know that I could do that. I try to concentrate and stop him, but it doesn't work. I give up and let him go. Al and Benji just stare at me in awe.

"Dude, how did you do that?"

"I'm not sure, I didn't even know that I could."

"Well it was cool nonetheless."

We wait and Mr. Silvia soon returns, with Julie not far behind him. Just seeing him sends shivers up my spine. Mr. Silvia comes out of whatever trance I accidentally put on him.

"Alex, sweetie! You called for me! Does this mean you still love me?"

"I have never loved you and never will. You slaughtered the only friends I had! And for what? I have a partner, and will never return your feelings. I will kill you again as soon as you try to hurt anyone close to me."

"Oh, you think? You're so brave. You always have been. That's one of the many things that I love about you."

"I am able to kill you, so I will if need be. I'm more powerful than you."

"How can you be more powerful than me? You're a newbie."

"And you're a bastard. Why you were ever recruited for this job is beyond me."

Al and Benji take there stances behind me.

"I love you, Alex. I always will. Your little Benji can never measure up to me. You'll realize after I kill them that you don't need them. You need me. Why can't you see that?"

"That's the last straw."

I've had enough of his nonsense. I get my scythe ready and cast my magic into it.

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