Gothicana

“What’s wrong?” Jade asked, catching her wince.

“Nothing,” Corvina reassured her. “Just spooked myself.” Yeah, there was no way she was going to tell Jade about the incident. 

“This whole castle is fucking spooky,” Jade spat out. “It’s like once you’re here, it changes you.”

“What are you talking about?” Corvina asked her, watching her roommate in the mirror as she quickly dressed.

“I don’t even know,” her friend said, something passing over her face. “Troy was one of the good ones, you know. It’s so unfair.”

Jaw tight, Corvina went to her friend, giving her a tight hug. “I’m so sorry about him, Jade.”

“Me too,” Jade pulled away, and Corvina understood her need for space. She stepped back.

“Did he have any family?” she asked, wondering about what his voice had told her.

Jade nodded. “Yeah. An older brother. The medic lady told me he’ll come to take the body. Good thing too. He’s an investigator. He’ll find out what happened.”

‘Tell my brother,’ Troy’s voice had said, a brother who was an investigator? She hadn’t even known about his brother. And what was she supposed to tell him? From what she’d gleaned, these suspicious incidents at Verenmore had never really been truly investigated for whatever reason. If someone with the resources and personal vested interest could uncover even an iota of secrets hidden in these walls, it could give so many answers to so many people.

Corvina took a healing balm out from one of her drawers, putting it over the minor cuts on her palm.

“You look different,” Jade blinked at Corvina, seeing her head to toe. “Less boho witch and more chic bitch.”

Corvina tugged at her sleeves, slightly conscious. “I need to do laundry.”

Jade gave her a slight smile. “It’s so weird how the mundane things never stop, even when it seems like life does.”

“I think they’ll cancel the classes today,” Corvina mused.

Jade huffed. “Yeah, they did it for Alissa too. For the whole day. Just, go out and do whatever. I want to be alone today.”

“Are you sure? I don’t mind staying with you.”

“No,” Jade waved her with her hand. “I really want to be alone right now.”

Corvina nodded, understanding what she meant, and picked up her bag and books that she needed, pausing on the threshold of the room. “You think the tower is haunted, Jade?”

Jade turned her neck to look at her, her eyes sharpening. “Why do you ask?”

“Just something I heard the other day.”

“First Alissa, now Troy,” her friend shuddered. “I’m scared one day Verenmore will have more ghosts than people. I just hope we don’t end up as one of them.”