Cemetery Lady

Through the wooden doors past you, Crowley, Draconia, and Grim laid a large, open room. It looked quite similar to the room you had woken up in when you first arrived, with floating coffins, columns, and light fixtures furnishing the room ahead. The one thing that stood out most though was the large, grand mirror floating above a green pedestal. Its dark frame, engraved with gold makes it stand out with elegance.

While you were inclined to observe the mirror more, its presence obviously demanding more attention than just a mere glance, your attention was immediately brought to a robed male replying to another voice you didn't quite catch.

”Maybe he had a tummyache?" The aforementioned male spoke with slight concern, his hands landing on his hips as various whispers were heard from the crowd of robed figures. You really couldn't get a good look at him, Crowley and Draconia blocking most of your view, but from what you could see he had white hair, copper skin, and striking red eyes that you found hard to turn away from. He was cute..., but the robe did bring to your attention that everyone, including you and excluding Crowley, Grim, and Draconia, was wearing the same kind of robe.

You hadn't really acknowledged that your garments had changed when you got here, but looking down you could the black robe draped against your skin. The gold and purple detailing, along with the soft material, made it actually a comfortable, yet stylish thing to wear despite it being a robe. However, you do still wonder how it got on you..., even when you were in the carriage that dragged you here, you were still in the St. Cassian uniform...

As you absentmindedly rub your fingers against your robe's sleeve, memorizing its texture, Crowley goes from slowly opening the door to practically kicking it open while shouting, ”I most certainly did not!” He was clearly quite proud of the cinematic moment he's created, him standing in front of two "troublesome" students, holding a "rabid familiar" in his arms, all while everyone stares at him with varying emotions, most commonly confusion at the sudden intrusion.

Crowley's smile is wide and prideful, making you feel a bit uneasy as that smile can only mean one thing..., Crowley was planning something. As much as you want to respect someone like him, which you do to some degree, Crowley doesn't really scream as trustworthy to you... But, as Noel would say, c'est la vie.

As Crowley opens his mouth once more, his protagonist moment having a good enough pause for him, you see a short, red-haired boy mutter, ”Ah, speak of the devil.” His words were soon drowned out by the Headmage. ”If you must know, I was searching for the new student who’d failed to show up for orientation... I also managed to retrieve Mr. Draconia, whose presence should have been here hours ago, but I digress." The last portion of the sentence was muttered under Crowley's breath as if he was trying not to let anyone hear it, but his proximity to you and Draconia made you both able to hear it anyway... In your peripherals, you can see Draconia's eyebrows knit together but he kept his mouth shut, and you followed suit.

One thing you certainly did not expect from Crowley's response would be for the crowd of students beyond you to all freeze in shock before whispering to one another, with only a select few not being affected. 
You could only make out bits and pieces, like,

”Draconia… Like, Malleus Draconia? THAT Draconia?”

”So it’s true? He really does go to school here?”

"Yikes.” 

But that alone was enough to get you questioning as clearly Draconia, or who you now know the full name of as Malleus Draconia, was obviously someone important and not in a good way... Looking over at him, his expression remaining unchanged as he looks to be used to this kind of treatment, you can't help but wonder why these people seemed so afraid of him. He wasn't anything but kind to you and even if wasn't, you speak from experience when you say that looks are deceptive. Having a literal doll head placed onto a human body isn't exactly comforting to look at...

Crowley is quick to clear his throat, obviously trying to reel everyone's attention back to him instead of the anxious whispering they were currently doing. Watching and waiting for each student to grow silent with an authoritative gaze, once silence finally falls among them, Crowley turns to be facing towards you. ”You are the only one who has yet to be assigned to a dorm. Step up to the Dark Mirror, and be quick about it. I’ll watch your weasel.” His grip adjusts to tighten around Grim, who makes a” Grrrrr!” sound. You could only hesitate as Crowley stepped aside, allowing you a clear path to this mysterious mirror he mentioned, the one that you had noticed immediately when you first walked into this building.

You hesitated as you were still unsure if this was the right thing to do, you weren't a student here, you didn't know anything about magic, and you weren't even sure if you were technically still alive... You can barely register your feet starting to walk below you, leading you over to the large and ominous mirror, one you were sure would decide your fate here.

With your footsteps going closer and closer to the mirror, the sound of your new, brown penny loafers echoing throughout the soundless room, the mirror suddenly calls out to you.

”State your name.” Its voice, just like its appearance was commanding, demanding your attention as a mask, a black dragon-like design detailing the rim of its eyes and its radix, surrounded with green flames appears in the mirror. Gathering yourself for a moment, you reply with, ”Jane Doe...” 

This answer though..., was apparently the wrong one. 
”I am inquiring about your real name, the one that belongs to your soul. Restate your name, correctly this time.” The mirror didn't seem amused with what it assumed were your foolish shenanigans, eyes narrowing even further, disapprovingly. Truly, you too wish this was part of some elaborate prank but..., without knowing your actual name, that was the best answer you could give the object. Mustering as polite an apology as you could, you utter, "I apologize but..., I do not know my name."

The Dark Mirror scoffs as if it doesn't believe the words that have just come out of your mouth. "You have no name? Not a first, last, or middle?" It asks its mask twisting into an expression of bewilderment at the premise. The Mirror wholeheartedly believed you were just fooling around, trying to trick the system in some way to get into a dorm of your choosing, yet when you just nodded with such a vacant look upon your features..., it knew something was off about you.

It knew you were not meant to be a part of this world.

A sigh is heard from the nonexistent lips of The Dark Mirror, its voice soon following with, ”Very well, Jane Doe.” Its eyes close as it reflects upon the name and the very culmination of your soul, or well, lack thereof.

There was a small part of you in this moment that hopped, that maybe, just maybe, this mirror would be able to tell you who you are, that it could see what being truly belonged in your vacant body. That would be something wouldn't it? You weren't exactly one for jokes, finding them more confusing than amusing, yet even you could let out a chuckle at something like that.

Would The Dark Mirror really be any different than Karnak in this case? Two magical beings able to see the very fibers of your soul and are able to judge and bend it to their will? You don't have much time to think about that thought before The Dark Mirror speaks up once again.

The mirror itself almost seemed surprised at the revelation it has come to, ”Her soul is..., well, there is none.” The Dark Mirror's words come as a shock to not only Crowley but the room as well. The crowd of students around the room starts to break out into whispers of different conversations, though all have the same topic. That being, about you.
Of course, unlike everyone else, you knew this was going to happen. Of course, you had no soul, of course, the mirror didn't know who you were... Perhaps this was going to be a pain you'd have to deal with forever. A dull pain of never knowing who you were.

Crowley, in all of his years of being headmage and even when he was a student, had never heard The Dark Mirror utter such nonsense before. He is in pure disbelief as he asks, ”What did you just say?” Hoping that by some miracle, he heard completely wrong and that you aren't somehow devoid of a soul.

That hope though was quickly shattered, ”Not only do I sense no magic within this one, but this young lady is absolutely void of a soul. There is quite simply nothing to look at.” The Dark Mirror, its voice leaving no room for questions or reasoning, takes a breath before continuing with, ”Therefore, no dorm would be appropriate.” ...You weren't one to feel shameful of anything, but the way the mirror stated your complete lack of use so bluntly managed to make a feeling of shame tingle throughout you unwantedly.

You were sure your shame though was nothing compared to how Crowley was feeling as even he was rightfully confused with this assessment. ”Are you suggesting that the black carriage went to receive a person who cannot even use magic, much less have a soul!? Also, "young lady???" There is nopossible way you are suggesting that the black carriage brought someone with no magic, no soul, but is also a lady to this academy!?” For what it's worth, you too had been confused about this very scenario since the beginning..., of course, he never listened, but it should have been clear that you were in fact not some powerful sorcerer.

Crowley, unsure of what to even do at this point, still continues to deny this atrocious claim with, ”But that is absurd! The student selection process has not erred once in its century of existence. How could this have happened?” At this moment, your only choice was to really just continue standing by The Dark Mirror awkwardly, waiting for someone to come up with either a solution or a plan to run you off this school... Either or works at this point.

But no one was willing to break the silence, not even Crowley as he pretty much questions his existence from behind you...

No one was willing to break it.

Except for Grim.

Seeing his time to escape Crowley's iron grasp, Grim managed to shake off his earlier exhaustion and break loose of the Headmage's grip. His little fur body scurries up to the mirror, his eyes practically filled with stars as he bargains, ”ME! Let me have this student’s seat!” This, of course, wasn't allowed to slide by Crowley who swiftly set his sights on the raccoon, though he didn't make an attempt to wrangle him back just yet... ”Not so fast, you hyperactive weasel!” His words were stern, but not stern enough you suppose as Grim readily ignored him while pleading to the mirror. ”Unlike that human, I can use magic! So let me be a student here! Look, I’ll show you! My spells’re the cat’s meow!”

Grim takes a step back, getting ready to do exactly what you know he's gonna do. If there's one spell you know he knows, it's the fire one he was trying to use on you not too long ago.

Thinking about it honestly gives you small flashbacks to when you were chasing him around earlier...

You needed to move past that quickly though, a sense of urgency filling you as you try to talk Grim down. "Grim, please refrain from trying to burn anything..."

Surely he'll listen, right? It's clear he likes this place, he can't be stupid enough to start summoning fire in a room full of people-

...

Well..., maybe he is.

The redhead you noticed earlier shouts, ”Everyone, get down!” His body ducked along with others, all caught off guard by Grim's blue flames, which started circling the room as you too ducked. ”Myaaahhh!” Grim growls out, his voice far too cute to be in charge of such a deadly weapon... The crowd of students starts to go haywire as everyone tries to run away from the cat flamethrower, a thick black smoke starting to pollute the air.

Not wanting to get caught in the flames, not only because it would hurt like hell but you also weren't sure how well a doll head would hold up against fire, you move along with the crowd like an ocean wave, your bodies huddling over to the farthest corner in hopes someone will put it out before it spreads any further. Did someone know any water spells that could put it out? With it being a magic school, you sure that had to be a possibility, yet no one was making an effort to move nor was any water being splashed on top of the blue flames...

If that wasn't bad enough either, you soon hear a shout from not too far away from where you stood on your left. ”AHHHHH! HELP! I’m on fire over here!” Peaking up from where you were ducked, your eyes scan the crowd before stopping on the cute white-haired boy from earlier who was currently flailing around, on fire. Looking around to see if any of his fellow classmates would help him, you see multiple pairs of eyes actively avoiding his pleading ones, making a frown spread across your lips. On one hand, you do not want to get caught in the fires yourself, but on the other, were these people really so selfish to just let him suffer like this?

You knew he'd likely be fine, but with the way he was jumping around like a fish out of water, you felt the urge to help him out...

With purpose, you speed-walk over to the male who was so preoccupied he hadn't noticed your presence as he desperately tried patting the fire, to no avail. He groans, “Please get off…” You make your way behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder which makes the boy’s head whip around in surprise. “Ah! Y-You’re gonna help me, right? Please??” He pleaded, his hands moving up to clasp together as he practically begged. You had no clue why someone wouldn’t help him in this situation, but instead of mentioning that you just nod. “Yes, I can help.”

The white-haired male gives a bright, thankful smile at that, which reminds you of Constance in a way… “Thank you! Uhm, what do I do? Usually, I have Jamil here to help me with this kind do stuff, but he isn’t here…” He mumbles the last part, looking off into space as he tries to think of what the aforementioned Jamil would say to do. You honestly wonder how he hasn’t heard of things like, stop, drop, and roll before… But you had more important things to worry about, he was still on fire after all.

As you thought of before, he could just stop, drop, and roll, but with the flames quickly spreading around and hearing people arguing in the distance, you had a feeling that wasn’t the best idea. So, what was the next best option in your humble opinion?
A fire blanket!
Where would you get one?
No clue.

Well…, looking down at yourself, your eyes tracing the gold patterns of your robe…
You suppose you do know where you can get one.

“Here, use this,” Without as much of a second thought, you diligently started to pull the robe that was draped over your body, revealing your St. Cassian uniform that was thankfully underneath it. Before the male got to refuse, his eyes wide like saucers in both shock and admiration, you quickly engulf the flames on his body with the robe, effectively putting out the fire that once plagued him. You were just glad that the flames were small enough to where this would work..., any larger and you're that the robe would've just gone along with him.

You weren't the only one thankful it worked though, as the boy, now flame-free and with a robe carefully draped on his body, is quick to thank you. "Ah, thank you so much Ms...?" His head tilts as he elongates the "s" in the word "Ms." Simply giving a shrug, you fill in the space his words left. "Jane, Jane Doe." And just as simply, the boy nods, "Jane..., a pretty name for a pretty lady!"
You could've sworn this boy had the brightest smile you've ever seen, one that even made the sun jealous, you're sure.

As you are about to thank him for the compliment, it's the polite thing to do after all, the boy starts to speak once more, his voice sounding a little unsure. "So..., what's with your head? Ah- Sorry if it's rude, I'm just really curious." Despite his unsure behavior, his smile never once flattered, being as genuine as always. The question though, despite him not meaning to, did bring your attention back to your doll head. Your cold, porcelain skin, your pitch-black eyes, your synthetic curls...

You can't help but clutch the doll you carry a little tighter against you.

You start to respond with, "It's not mine, it actually belongs to Ms-" Before you were rudely interrupted by the sound of a large crash made by a certain group...

That being to a redhead, a male with glasses, and of course, Grim.

...A feeling of dread starts to pour into your chest, warning you of what you already know, this wasn't going to go well.

...

Though, you never would've expected a fight to break out.

Grim, still not having been detained yet despite it clearly should've been done already, spouts more of his blue, hot flames around while shouting, "Check it! See how strong I am?!" Before he could get too carried away again though, the redhead mentioned earlier is swift to run up and threaten with a few words just out of your earshot, the boy with glasses running up to his side as Grim only grew more and more irritated. Grim wasn't gonna just let these guys push him around, he's meant to be here, and he's gonna be the world's greatest mage!! These guys just can't see real talent when they see it!

With the two males hot on his trail, Grim immediately started sprinting swiftly away from the duo, avoiding all their magic with relative ease thanks to his small, nimble body. As he kept running and spewing more flames, Grim couldn't believe how easy this was. Sure, he got hit once or twice during this discriminatory race..., but that was just because they caught him off guard! He was still in the lead and was gonna let everyone see just how much of a mage he was!! He doesn't need any pesky humans or their stupid wands, he was great just by being him, he was great and he knew it-

Suddenly, Grim stops in his tracks, his heart beating with adrenaline as his attitude flipped incredibly fast, inklings of fear growing in him faster and faster...
"Myah! It's a dead end!"

Footsteps run up behind him, stopping at a close but cautious distance away from him...

They had him cornered.

Fear, pure, unadulterated fear shoots up in Grim, the voices of his soon-to-be captors ringing in his ears. The male with glasses spoke up first, his words coated with honey that didn't match his tone, "Poor soul. Ran yourself straight into a corner, did you?" Grim could've sworn an arrogant chuckle could be heard from him, but the shorter boy beside the other spoke up, pushing away that thought. "I suggest you surrender. Otherwise..." They both get into their positions, aiming their wands at Grim like he is somehow the criminal here!

God these people just don't get it, do they? They couldn't see someone destined for greatness right even if it hit them! Well, not to worry about that, all he had to do was torch them up a bit and everything should be fine and dandy-

"NO! I'm gettin' into the school, and that's FINAL!" Grim could barely register any response he got from that, his attention focused on pulling off his signature move. "MYAAAH!" His mouth heads up, he's in position, his eyes focus on the target, he's-

...

HE'S COLLARED!?!?

With a wave of his wand, the short boy shouted, ”OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!” The words and motion summoning a large half-red and half-black collar, a gold rim really sealing the deal. Grim's eyes go wide in disbelief, his paws desperately shooting up to his neck as he paws at his new, shiny collar. ”MYAH?! What are you doing?!” All that confidence and arrogance the creature once had was now gone, replaced by frustration and hints of anger as heard in his voice. Without a care in the world for Grim's despair, the redhead just states, ”The Queen Of Heart’s Rule 23: One must never bring a cat to a formal affair. Your very presence here is a violation of order. You will vacate these premises immediately.” His tone held lots of authority as he spoke, chin high in a way that spoke volumes for his confidence.

His words meant nothing to Grim, however, as the cat groaned at the repetitive misidentification of his species. ”But I ain’t a cat either!” He shakes his head, growing more irritated, "Don’t you try’n collar me! I’ll burn it right off! Huh…? Wh-What gives? My fire ain’t workin’!” And yet again, that fear he felt earlier was back, mixed with confusion and even more frustration as he tried countless times to summon his fire, his mind working overtime trying to imagine it. The redhead did find the way Grim was freaking out quite amusing, though he does not laugh for fools. Instead, he crosses his arms with a holier-than-thou sort of attitude, "Until I deign to remove that collar, you won’t be using any magic. You’re naught but a pet cat now.” To which Grim just shrieked back, ”M-meoWHAT?! I ain’t nobody’s pet-NOTHING!”

As if Grim made a great offense to the red-haired boy, the male scoffed with a roll of his eyes, ”Oh, you’ve nothing to worry about there. I certainly have no interest in having you as a pet. The collar will disappear once you’re removed from campus.” Which garnered a laugh from his classmate, ”Ha-HA! Good show as always, Riddle. Your signature spell locks down any magic. It’s quite handy.” His words didn't stop there though, instead, they trailed on to include, ”I’ve just GOT to have it- ah, I mean, I’ve just got to have respect for it.” Despite his poor attempt at a coverup, the red-head saw right through his facade and with an unimpressed look, walked away.

The fight hadn't lasted but a few moments, the moment Grim had been collared all the flames surrounding the students had vanished and you could hear the guy you helped before chuckling nervously next to you at the fire disappearing. A good, relieved sigh falls from your cold lips at the now-resolved conflict as it almost had you worried for a moment.
But you know who apparently was worried? Crowley was.

With a huff and a puff, Crowley basically ran up to you with a look of frustration and subtle anger, his brows furrowed to match his pointed gaze. His voice starts to speak in a raised tone, ”Jane! Was I not clear that you are expected to take responsibility for your familiar?” To which you quickly responded with, "Grim doesn't belong to me..., he isn't my responsibility." You didn't like the feeling of being scrutinized for something that wasn't even your fault in the first place, so hopefully he would understand somewhat so you didn't have to deal with his unwarranted wrath...

It appears he wasn't even expecting an answer at all, as Crowley's hand reaches up to pinch the bridge of his nose, his words almost speaking over yours before they came to a realization. ”Now discipline your- What’s that?! It isn’t yours?” As if you hadn't been trying to tell him that from the beginning, Crowley's pointed stare turned into one of shock and a bit of embarrassment. Glad to finally have him listen to your words, you shake your head and say bluntly, ”No, as I told you.”

The crow man makes an awkward, ”Oh…," A pregnant pause falls between you two before he tries to push away his mistake to the backburner. "Well, it appears I’ve made a miscalculation.” Clearing his throat, he starts to go back to his usual sanctimonious facade. ”Then I shall have it expelled from campus. I shall even spare it from being served as Dinner. My, but I AM kind."

...

Crowley blinks at the silence, disappointment running through him at the lack of understanding of his cues. "…Someone take this away, please.”

As a random student goes to grab Grim, the grey cat seeming a lot less terrifying now without his fire magic, Grim scrambles in the said student's grasp while shouting, ”Nooooooo! Let me goooooo! You fools better remember my name! Cause I’m going down in the annals of magic history! Just you wait!” His outburst already becoming old for the crowd around him as you could hear a few mutters of complaints and even one, "Oh my Seven, stop talking...." For you though, watching the doors close behind Grim and the student holding him, you couldn't help but pity the fire-breathing raccoon. Grim was a hazard, but a hazard that was clearly passionate in magic. It was a shame he wouldn't get to practice it, at least not here.

Brushing off your sudden feelings of empathy, Crowley lets out a sigh and speaks up, ”Well, that was quite the unexpected fracas. I hereby declare that orientation has concluded. Housewardens, please escort your students back to the dorms.” Earning a few nods and words of acceptance from the said "Housewardens" as they start directing the students out of the orientation room, some more attentively than others...

Watching the students start filing out, your attention was brought to the white-haired boy you helped earlier as he tapped your shoulder, walking ahead and in the direction the rest of the students were in. "Gotta go, Jane, see you later!" His goodbye was signed off with his award-winning smile before he turned his head to who you assumed were his underclassmen and dormmates, you give your own little wave back. "See you later?" That use of expression made you a bit confused as you wondered if you really would see him later...

Probably not, Crowley seems responsible and powerful enough to get you to where you need to be. Then you can finally start living like how you were meant to, in a body that's actually, wholly yours.

It definitely took a minute with how many students there were, but soon enough, the last few students walked past the doors and into the wide-open campus, ready to start their schooling. Crowley nods, satisfied with the timeliness of his Housewardens, before turning towards you, a fake sort of sympathy in his smile. ”Well, This is a most unfortunate turn of events-" For some reason, mid-sentence, Crowley's words came to a screeching halt as he just stops for a moment..., eyes slightly widened and eyebrows raised. This was the first time he's really gotten a good look at you between all the chaos of today..., he hadn't even registered the way your neck had a prominent line, showing the different colors of your head and the rest of your body. He didn't notice how your eyes were black, even the scleras, or the unchanging, blank expression on your face.

Crowley has seen a lot of things, but you were certainly an odd one.

In fact, the more he looks at you the more he can feel a chill run up his spine...

...

Crowley visibly shakes off his discomfort, not daring to comment on your appearance in the moment as he was just focused on getting you out of here. "Anyway..., I’m afraid that you will not be attending Night Raven College after all. Surely you realize that I cannot very well admit a student with no magical ability to my academy.” You can tell he felt no sadder about this event than you did, which was admittedly very little. It may have been nice to go to a school in such a new, exciting world with so many different things you've never seen before, but you had a home to go back to...

Probably.

...

Surely.

"I understand, can I go home now?" Ignoring your own questioning about your home, you step forward toward Crowley to ask if you were at the very least allowed to go home now. You hoped the process wasn't a long one, but who's to say? Crowley responds with, ”Of course, worry not, the Dark Mirror will see you safely home.” That gave you a little hope that this was all going to go smoothly.

The older male walks over to the mirror, gesturing for you to follow him, which you do. Stepping up to the large, intimidating mirror, Crowley waves his hand towards you as he gestures for you to get closer to the mirror. ”Now, step into a gate, and visualize the place from whence you came.” You can hear your penny loafers clicking on the tile below as you step up to the mirror, its sound starts to mirror your growingly rapid heartbeat which only seems to get louder and louder. Filling your lungs with a deep breath, you close your eyes and start to envision Uranium.

Envisioning it in your head, you can see the almost blue skies, its color being more of a teal than a blue...

You can hear the sound of cars, screams, chatter, and carnival rides making their rounds...

You can smell hotdogs, cotton candy, and all sorts of carnival treats...

You can taste what seems to be the remnants of funnel cake and the distinct taste of metal...

You can feel metal being gripped tightly in your hands, its shape the shape of a rod as it's loosely held against your abdominal, the feel of squishy, uncomfortable seats below you...

The senses of where you were supposedly from were so familiar yet foreign, just thinking about it all gave you a weird sense of Deja Vu that made your head start to pound.
That was your home. Maybe you couldn't remember it, but that is the very place you lived and died.

No matter how wrong it felt to call Uranium, a place you hardly knew, your home, you needed to go back.

If not for you, then for Ocean, Noel, Mischa, Ricky, and Constance.

You needed to honor them in any way you can, they deserved it.

They deserved to be loved, not to have died so young on a rickety roller coaster.

”O Dark Mirror! Return this soul to where it belongs!” Crowley's voice shouts out, commanding the mirror to bring you back to Uranium.

”……”

...

Silence.

Crowley awkwardly clears his throat once more, his face scrunching up at the weird behavior of the mirror. ”L-Let us, er… try this again. O Dark Mirror! Return this soul-” He once again shouts out that command, dread growing in both of you as he waits again for the mirror to respond, to put you back in your rightful place.

...

But it didn't.

”There is no such place.” The Dark Mirror's voice echoes throughout the room, its words making your eyes shoot back open in a slight panic. What does it mean there is no such place? Uranium does exist, doesn't it???

Crowley too seemed shocked, even through all the weird happenings of today, this was the strangest and most frightening. He takes a step forward, voice in denial, ”What?” The Dark Mirror didn't hesitate to reply with, “There is no such place in this world where this soul belongs.“

Its voice rings out,
“None.“