AFL 2 Part 2 Chapter 16

Sakrua and Rin were in group 4 and had gone done a long hall that led them both to the library of the mansion. It was very large. Most of the walls were covered with bookshelves from floor to the ceiling that a whole second level was built on one side. On the opposite side of the room was a huge window the rain seemed a little lighter outside. But thunder still rolled in the distance. The storm was not over yet and frankly Rin was growing upset not over just what she almost did half hour ago. But that she was not feeling well again and if she wanted to feel okay she would need to use her powers. Which meant her eyes changing to blood red. It scared her friends or at least bothered them that her eyes could do that. And now they knew including Norrick who was not with her really made her upset.

Sakura was scared to look out the huge window so she mainly just looked at the book titles on the first level of shelves trying to pass the time. It was not really helping her out though. She wished Rin would say something or she sure wish she could say something right now too. Just then a clash of loud thunder made her jump.

"Whoa! That was to loud just then, huh Rin?" She asked her friend.

Rin looked at Sakura her eyes seemed to squint a bit every few seconds. As if she was trying to hold back her powers and keep her eyes from turning red in front of Sakura.

She felt bad that Rin was trying to make her not feel uncomfortable with her eyes changing. Sakura finally gave in and said, "L-look Rin. You don't have to force yourself to keep your powers under control. At least I wont mind if it helps you feel better or something?"

Rin replied back in a soft sad voice. "Thank you, but if I do let my powers go. I don't know if I can keep them in check. At least the way I am feeling sick and all. I-I don't want to hurt you or the others."

Sakura did not know what to say to this. She had never seen her friend in such distress before. Sakura then thought. Maybe she just needed to rest a bit. Since the girls were in a library the least Sakura could do was maybe read a book to Rin to pass the time. Since they did not find anything out of the ordinary or scary for that matter thankfully.

"Maybe if you sit there on that sofa and I read you a book for a little bit to help you rest better." Said Sakura as she went to the bookshelf. She began to read the titles again trying to find a nice fairy tail book. She saw a rather dusty looking book that looked like a good one but she could not read the title on the spine of it. She grabbed it and as she began to pull a humming sound could be heard just to her left. "W-whats going on?" she said as she let go of the book.

Rin was at her side in a split second to protect Sakura. The humming grew louder and finally the bookshelf began to slide to the right. Sakura jumped behind Rin thinking something was going to pop out at them. She glanced at Rin really fast and saw her eyes were red again. Then straight back to the shelf that had moved.

"It looks like a secret passage way you found Sakura." Rin said.

"Yeah but your not suggesting we...go in there are you...?" she asked nervously.

"Yes your read my mind. If we want answers we need to seek them out. Don't worry just hold onto my arm and don't let go. I can see in the dark remember its like looking at daylight. I am sick of it though. So nothing can escape my line of vision in that tunnel."

"O-okay i-if you say s-so." said Sakura. She took Rin's arm holding on for dear life knowing full well what they could be walking into could be a trap. But she trusted Rin would keep them out of harms way.

As the stepped inside The shelf did not close behind them lucky for the girls. Rin could see it was not that long of a tunnel and a greenish glow was coming down from the other end. Sakura could even see it. As they took each step closing in on the green light Sakura and Rin somehow became less and less scared of it. And before they knew it they reached the end of the tunnel into a brightly lit room full of green light that had yellow and green mist in the room as well. In the center of the room was a table and a crystal ball. It had the same yellow and greenish mist and light coming from within it. The girls stared in wonder what it could do?

Just then a humming sound could be heard from within the crystal ball. But the humming itself sounded like a woman humming a tune. The tune in itself sounded rather haunting. And then she appeared in front of them within the crystal ball. A greenish skinned woman with smokey green and yellowish misty hair and big brown eyes. With this lips and pointy cheek bones. She looked up and the girls and stopped her humming and grinned.

"Why hello children from far and wide. You have come to see me the Great Madame Leota who is on your side." she said while rhyming.

"S-s-she can talk?!" Sakura said in almost disbelieve for a moment.

Rin put a hand on Sakura's shoulder inrdicating This Madame Leota was alright.

"If you are on our side. Please Madame Leota tell us who is behind all the sadness and sorrow I feel in this mansion?"

"She's the one, the one you both seek, seeking in the attic for a little peek."

"Who is she talking about Rin?" Sakura asked feeling worried now that they might have to go into an attic.

"Please Madame Leota. We need another hint." Rin asked again. This time with more persistence in her tone of voice.

"Spiders will come along the web. Spiders that are not of the undead. But be worried as worried as you should all be. For it is the hitch hiking ghost who will help lead the way. To the one who holds the hatchet who will lead him astray. When the clock strikes 12 she will drag only one to hell. You now hold the key in your hand, the key you always held that should brake this houses spell." Madame Leota spoke in rhyme once more.

Rin finally said, "Thank you Madame Leota. I think I understand your rhyming riddle."

"You think you know what it means? Rin that's not good enough..." Sakura said. But before she could finish Madame Leota spoke again.

"Hurry up and run children. For fate is set and it could end on a moments whim." she said as she began to fade.

The room began to hum again but this time it was the bookshelf starting to close the girls ran as fast as there feet could go. With in less then inches of snatching Rin's hair they were safe and sound back in the library. Both huffing and buffing trying to breath in normally again.

"What...in the...world does she mean Rin?" asked Sakura still out of breath.

"We have to find the others fast. But I say first we find your big brother hes the one she is after." Rin explained.

"What do you mean by she?" Sakura asked. Looking rather pail now that John was in danger.

"Who else of course but the lady of the house herself. Constance Hatchaway! Shes the bride in the riddle shes going to drag your brother off to hell with her at midnight. We don't have much time now come on lets go!" Said Rin as she took Sakura by the hand.

Chapter End.