Jarec was the one who was guiding me back to Dragon Tower. At least I hoped that's where we were going. I had no idea where I was anymore and without being able to see the familiar landmarks to our Tower I was more lost than even on that first day.

"We're about to turn right."

"I appreciate you saying something."

"We're almost there. I don't know how you're supposed to get up the stairs to your room like this."

"There's a railing. I'll figure it out."

"I know but…"

We stopped. Jarec's hand tightened around my arm. I heard him sigh.

"Open Sesame."

Oh so we were here.

I heard the familiar creak of Dragon Tower's door.

Jarec led me forwards.

"What the…" Jarec drifted off in a way that made me really nervous.

"What?" I asked.

"Your door is missing."

Really, really wished I could see what he was talking about. "What do mean my door is missing?"

"I'm looking up the stairs and there is only four doors."

"This is just not my day, is it?" I asked.

"Um…Okay. I'm going to help you to a couch and see what I can find out."

Great. Great. This was already a mess.

He pulled me along a few steps and he stopped, "The step is right in front of you."

I gingerly moved my foot forward and managed to not fall flat on my face.

I felt around with my free hand and sat myself down on the nearest couch and laid down. I put my hands over the bandages right above my eyes. They were starting to hurt a little bit.

I could hear Jarec walking around. "What in Hecate's name…okay then."

I don't think I was meant to hear any of that. Was this that thing where my hearing was trying to compensate for my lack of eyesight right now?

"Good news, you won't have to go up the stairs while blind."

"Oh?" I asked.

"Your door has moved to being across from the workroom."

"The Tower can do that?" I asked.

"I guess. That's some good news."

"Magical tower can do whatever it wants I guess."

"Are you okay?"

"Besides the whole, evil curse lashing out and zapping my face thing? I think I'm as okay as I'm going to get for this moment."

"That's fair," Jarec said. I heard more steps and the creak of what sounded like wood from the coffee table.

I sighed and moved my hands to be folded over my stomach. "If I ever see Merripen in person, I'm punching him in the face."

"If you ever see him in person we'd probably all be in danger."

I sighed, "Probably."

"But if that day comes we are going to do everything in our power to make his life as difficult as possible."

"If he tries to pull on us what he did to our parents I'm fighting back as hard as I can."

"Gods I hope he doesn't."

"Me too. But if there's anything I've learned these past six weeks is that anything can happen and we shouldn't rule anything out."

"Holy Hecate it's only been six weeks?"

"I know. Actually a little less."

"You must be the unluckiest person alive."

"I have been feeling like that for a while. Though admittedly it's only been the last month and a half that's been this bad. I swear that my life wasn't like this before stepping foot in this school."

"Do you…want to leave?" Jarec asked. He sounded more vulnerable than I was used to.

I let out another sigh, "No. I don't. Which probably sounds insane but… I spent my whole life thinking I was never going to be able to cast spells but I can. It's physically possible. If I can just get rid of this curse…" I stopped to breathe and gather my thoughts. "Besides, there's nothing for me in my old school system to return to."

"Yikes. Was human school that bad?"

"Ten years. Only made one friend. I haven't spoken to him in like a year and a half."

"No wonder you want to stay here."

"It's something. I don't know what kind of something. But I know I don't want to leave."

Jarec didn't say anything for a while after that.

"What about you?" I asked eventually. "What was your life like before you got here?"

"Uneventful. The Hearth Coven's usually pretty quiet. Vivian's our Grand Matriarch, so she was usually fairly busy. Mom would sometimes take me with her on her research expeditions but that was rare. A lot of time I was with great uncles Hector and Reginald."

"I haven't met Hector. I did meet Reginald. He seems okay."

"Serafina!"

I nearly jumped out of my skin and judging from the amount of noise coming from Jarec's direction he wasn't expecting it either.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Angelina? How did she get-

"A little Pixie found out about what happened and I out of the goodness of my heart decided to help her." That was Celica.

And I'm sure it had nothing at all to do with her massive crush on said Pixie.

"By the gods," Angelina's voice was much closer. She sounded horrified.

"If you're going to touch the girl with bandages over her eyes I demand at least some kind of warning." I announced loudly. If I was going to have visitors, then I was laying ground rules.

There was a moment of quiet before Angelina spoke again. "Can I touch your arm?"

"I appreciate you asking so I'll say yes. I just don't want to be startled while I can't see," I explained.

I felt the hand on my arm and some ruffling of clothing.

"Does it hurt?" Angelina asked. Yeah, that was her next to me.

"A little. But nothing serious. According to Sealie it's nothing that will leave permanent damage. I just need to wear bandages for the next day or so."

"How did this happen?" Angelina asked in a terrified voice.

"My theory, based on what I know about…" I held up my cursed hand. "Once my mana started to leak out into the in-progress Focus the curse lashed out at it but that energy got reflected back to me."

"Speaking of, do you want the Focus?" Celica asked.

"Is that safe?" Angelina asked.

I love having someone else around who can be a voice of reason.

"The curse broke it. It can't channel magic despite it being solid," Celica announced.

"So it's just a very fancy paperweight now?" I asked.

"Vivian Hearth has given her blessing if you want it," Celica said.

"I'm going to say yes for now because I'm curious. I didn't get a chance to see what it looks like before…" I tried and hopefully gestured towards the bandages on my face. I should probably sit up while talking but I was comfortable.

And I was injured.

"You're going to give me grey hairs before we graduate, aren't you?" Angelina accused.

"I'm not trying to," I complained. "The gods hate me."

Though, in this case it would be more like a certain someone hated me.

"Yeah…the gods," I heard Jarec mumble.

"Curses suck," Angelina said.

"And the people who cast them," I commented. "Which I finally know who cast this one."

The hand on my arm was suddenly gone.

"What?!" Angelina gasped.

"Who?" Celica demanded.

"Before I tell you I have to ask, did anyone have a betting pool on what happened?" I liked to think I knew them well enough by now to guess that much.

"Depending on your answer I may or may not owe Fethris a drake." Celica didn't even try to sound sheepish.

My friends were the worst.

I moved my head in the direction I remember Jarec being. Not that I could judge his expression without my eyesight.

"My mother's former name was Lucinda Hearth. Her birth parents are Vivian Hearth and Dearil Merripen. He put the curse on my mother when she was at the oldest two."

There was a horrified gasp from nearby. Probably Angelina.

That's a fair reaction.

"I can't really blame Mom for not telling me much about her family knowing that," I continued.

"Welcome to the Hearth Coven," Jarec said dryly.

There was silence again for a little while.

"Oh!" Angelina suddenly exclaimed.

I know for sure I startled, and if there was any justice in this world the other two did as well.

"Professor Vivian Hearth gave me permission to stay the night with you."

I would have blinked at her. But that was not possible with my eyes being covered. "Umm…Why?"

"Because we live in the spooky Tower that makes strange noises and you can't see and we were worried about you being scared," Celica explained.

"The Echoes aren't that bad," I told her. "Fair warning though, I've never had a sleepover. I don't know how they work."

"Me neither, which is why I invited Angelina," I could hear the smile in Celica's voice.

"Echoes?" Angelina asked.

"You haven't told her yet?" I asked.

"I was getting to that. We've been busy."

"If you girls are having a slumber party what does that mean for us guys?"

"Not much. For all intents and purposes it will be a normal school night for you boys," Celica had turned teasing now.

"Professor Vivian Hearth is strict on bedtimes," Angelina said.

"She was a Kraken," I commented. "That's kind of part of the territory."

"I think she was Kraken Tower Head before Gorgon got the position," Celica added.

"What's she doing heading Dragon Tower?" Angelina asked.

"According to her, she's one of the few staff that can both open the door and has any experience heading a Tower. It's not like they could choose someone chosen by Dragon Tower," I commented.

"I heard about that. This really is the pickiest Tower, isn't it?" Angelina asked.

"In its defense," I started, "there's some pretty weird things in this Tower. Definitely not for the faint of heart."

"Oh boy." Angelina sounded nervous.

"They can't see, touch or hear you." I told her. It was mostly true, but I still didn't want to tell her about Red. No need to worry her more than was absolutely necessary.

"They?"

I wasn't sure how to describe the Echoes to someone who hadn't seen them. "You'll see. It's nothing to worry about."

"You keep saying that, but bad things keep happening around you," she said.

"Celica, can you please back me up on this?" I asked.

"Don't worry," Something in Celica's voice made me want very badly to roll my eyes. "I'll protect you from the big bad Echoes of Dragon Tower."

Just hearing this made me want to puke.

"Girls flirting is my cue to leave. Bye." Jarec said as his voice got further away. Abandoning me to my fate with these two.

Traitor.

Get back here!

But his footsteps got farther and farther away. A familiar creaking of a stone door meant he completely abandoned me here in this Tower to the hands of these two.

"Don't you have like…classes or did I sleep longer than I thought?"

"It's our free study period, so we're good," I could hear the smile in Angelina's voice.

Welp. I tried. Now I'm trapped.

"Do you two really have no experience with this stuff?" Angelina asked.

"You two are the first girl friends I have ever had, okay?" I admitted.

"You've never been to Aisling if you think sleepovers are a thing," Celica added.

"Then I guess it falls to me to teach you both. We shall start with some tea and future seeing!" Angelina exclaimed.

Gods save me.

I started to sit up and then a hand gripped my arm and held me steady and got me to my feet.

"I got you," Angelina said.

"Follow me," Celica said.

It was slow and awkward as we made our way down the stairs. Angelina was on one side keeping me stead while my other hand was on the wall as we walked.

Angelina dumped me into a chair and I heard cupboards open.

"How much of a sweet tooth do you both have?" Angelina asked.

"Like a one out of ten," I told her.

"Easy on the honey, please," Celica added as I heard a chair move. "Also is reading Miss Curse's future safe?"

"Nope," I told her. "You two can have turns."

"She has a point. Last time I tried the curse tried to spark out," Angelina added.

"But you should absolutely read Celica's." I informed them. Because if I have to sit through this mess I demand to be entertained for it.

Angelina squeaked and there was a clatter.

I let out another sigh.

"Serafina!" Angelina cried out.

"You're the one who suggested the future seeing. So you two can have fun with that. I have done enough reckless stuff today."

"Crystal ball divination is perfectly safe though," Celica commented.

"So is making a Focus." I countered.

"Fair point. Well I'm more than happy to volunteer for that. I'd love to see what a Farsee Visionary can do." Celica was back to flirting.

There was stammering over the sound of boiling water.

Gods have mercy on me.

"Please do. I'd love to see what it is you can do without the interference of a curse from a psychopath." I paused after realizing my error. "Well…not actually see but still."

"Okay, okay, I'll do it." Her tone gave me the impression that she'd rather jump out of a window.

So there was justice in this world.

I didn't bother asking if she had a crystal ball. Magical pockets. Also the ability to summon objects from points in space. Stupidly useful.

I heard it hit the table with a gentle thud. Someone put a glass of something warm in front of me.

"Here's some tea while we do this. Let's do this. Give me your hands Celica."

I could hear the blush in her voice. Would Angelina ever talk to me again if I went behind her and shoved her face into Celica's? Just to get it over with for my sanity. Not that I could do that right now.

Then the knocking came.

One, pause, three times, long pause, then two.

"Please tell me that was one of you," Angelina's voice went higher with some panic.

"That was an Echo. See what I meant? Just spooky noises that can't do you any harm." I reassured her. "I've heard that one before. Who knows when it's from."

"Serafina…" Angelina's voice trembled. "Don't move."

"It's really fine Angelina," Celica's voice dropped the teasing flirty tone from earlier.

There was something I wasn't seeing, wasn't there?

"There's an Echo standing behind you knocking on the wall. I'll be right back Angelina," Celica said.

The scrape of a chair moving across the floor.

Steps in the room.

"Wait!" Then a gasp. "What?"

"Meet Serafina's 'ghost'. They have no idea we're here."

"Oh wow. No wonder you got confused by it," Angelina sounded more calm at least.

"Did you see those sleeves though? That was the uniform around four hundred years ago. Welcome to the Tower of Memories Angelina," Celica was smirking again. I could hear it.

"Wait…It's literally a Tower with memories. I thought that was a metaphor."

"I'm fairly convinced the founders didn't believe in metaphors when they built and named this place," I commented.

"By the gods. And you were locked in here with that?" Angelina asked. "No wonder you've been…"

"Moody? Gloomy? I'd hate to disappoint you but moody is kind of my default."

"I'm going to hug you now. That must have been terrifying." Angelina announced.

Arms were around me and I had the urge to roll my eyes underneath the bandages. "The spiders were worse."

"Shush."

I patted her on the back.

"I'm okay now, really. I don't need comforting. I don't mind it. It gives the place personality without giving me vertigo."

"I guess you really are 'tough as Dragonhide'."

I groaned, "No, please. Can you get off me now?"

"Okay. But only because you asked. I'm so glad Pixie was the one that chose me. I don't think I could handle seeing that kind of thing daily."

Yeah, telling her about Red would be a mistake. If a regular Echo is enough to freak her out this much…how badly would she take one that could touch me?

Let's just hope Celica also understood that.

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