The next morning Zilmera woke me up at six in the morning and after breakfast I had to go to the backyard for an hour to practice throwing sharp objects or Aunt Cassandra used to call it Hurling. Five round disks were placed a few yards away. Rings were painted on them in different colors as it moved inwards the center was a red dot. Nearby was a table with everything from knives, axes, ninja throwing stars, screwdrivers, ice picks, swords and so much more sharp and pointy objects strewn across. Everyone stayed by the stairs to watch me. It took a few tries before I managed to hit the center. The screwdriver was a challenge but I managed to throw it. It pierced the wood an inch away from the bullseye. A round of applause and change of scenery later I was given a fencing blade and had to spend an hour practicing with Tiberius. I looked around to see the cemetery was fogging up. There were places where visibility was impossible. But I was training for the uncertainty. People practice when things are perfect. I had to practice in dismal conditions because the situation may change suddenly. He requested a break and I told him that his real form resembled Dracula. He laughed as I explained the old movies I had watched with Aunt Cassandra the last time I was here. His grin illuminated his face giving it a youthful look. I took a five minute break and then we resumed fencing for an hour. Then we went back inside where I answered several letters to rent land and invest in different businesses. Then I spend some time on the phone with auction houses buying artifacts of magical and historical value. Then I was asked to eat a light brunch. A few slices of raw bitter vegetables, a few finger sandwiches but no fingers inside any of them, a bowl of sour and hot beef soup and some bread sliced into soldiers. I was taken upstairs to take a nap. Some had cooled my bed so I fell asleep immediately.
I woke up at one and was taken to learn hand to hand combat for two hours. Then an hour of acrobatics. Aerial ballerina for thirty minutes and linguistics for an hour and a half. I sat in the side car of a motorcycle. The driver was unknown since the helmet covered his face completely. The ride took through the town. I got to see the town's cemetery which was followed by the mortuary. On the other side I saw a park where people were having picnics and barbecues. Squealing children flew kites and played tag. A few used sticks to pretend they were sword fighting. This looked like a sixties or fifties tv show. I averted my gaze and I saw the firehouse, the florist, the ice cream parlor, a barber shop, a used book store, a café, a Chinese restaurant, the kindergarten, high school, middle school and the houses where the locals rest after a hard day's work. The majority looked the same as though being different was deemed a capital punishment. The same paint on the door. The exact garden gnome in the front garden. The exact car and the same bushes. A few blocks of copy and paste later I saw buildings that were modernist. Some looked like cubes placed in odd directions. One house had a wall that was all glass. The next one was a house small enough for one person. He used the extra free space to grow fruits and vegetables. The next few houses followed the same principle. Then I saw a property where they were raising goats. Not enough for meat but enough to sell milk. The next one had chicken, duck and turkey. The last one had a few cows. The driver decided that I had enough so he dropped me off at the diner. The clock that stuck from the wall says seven thirty.
I walked in and mom waved me over. I sat on the counter and she gave me the menu. I looked though and decided that I just wanted a sandwich and chocolate shake. She didn't approve of my choice but she took my order anyway. I looked out to see a woman with flower petal hair. I actually saw rose petals had grown from her scalp. She stomped around with an air of entitlement. No one saw her. Everyone ignored her. She stormed off and her floral dress started to flake away. I was enjoying my sandwich when someone called me out. She had blonde hair. Wore bubblegum pink t-shirt and baby pink pants and high heels. If looks could kill I would be dead. "So the new guardian graces us with her presence." I looked at her, "Do you have a problem?" She shrugged, "I want to know why the responsibility is shouldered by one family. Why can't anyone else volunteer?" I smiled, "You must have a second sight. You only see when they attack. Until then they appear normal." She asked me if I had the second sight before this. I nod my head and she tilted her head. She wanted more information. But I chose to keep my mouth shut. I continued eating. She sat next to me and asked me casually, "Is it scary?" I explained in a matter of fact tone, "If you can see half of what I can see your heart will stop." She asked me to elaborate. I told her to just live her life. She wanted to be the next guardian. I told her that it will never happen since the guardian is chosen. Destiny chooses who gets the baton. If anyone else tries to take their place. It creates unbalance. She isn't chosen because she doesn't have what it takes to be a guardian. If she was the one I would be elsewhere studying to be a doctor or investigator. It depends on my mood. But I was summoned here because I am the only one with the capabilities.
I asked her what she felt like going near Tenebrae mansion. She said she felt a chill run down her spine. She feels happy being as far as possible. I smiled, "If you were chosen as the new guardian the house would feel like second skin. The unwelcome sensation is because you are meant to be just another civilian." She stared at me for a second before asking if a person would be a guardian without living in that place. I grinned ear to ear. The mansion is a gift and reprieve for the guardian. The place is alive and was pulsing with energy. The creatures living there have a temperament. To be a guardian she must make peace with these beings and have a sincere appreciation for the macabre. Her idea of what is normal might be someone else's oddity. The normal for a guardian is something she finds frightening. She can't change everything to please her. She needs to face reality as is. Instead of changing things to normalize or to mediocrity. She needs to accept things with a grain of salt. She stared at me with disbelief. I wanted to say something but Tiberius spoke sadly, "Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality." She turned to see him and asked him why he was amongst the chosen. He smiled, "I am there as a protectee and I have a blood debt with a guardian. So I am allowed to walk the grounds. After my debt is paid in full I will disappear. But before I do I have to find another to take my place. If you can't walk into the hollowed grounds then you are meant to stay ordinary and live a normal life. Accept your position. I know many who would love to trade places." She gave him a look and hopped off the stool. She snarled, "I hate being ordinary." Others ignored her as they continued to watch me.
I paid the bill and picked up the newspaper. I went straight to the obituary. Tiberius took the newspaper and told me it was time for my midnight horseback riding lessons. The headless horseman was going to teach me how to combat my enemies on horseback. He was supposed to wait for me by the hall of bones but he felt the need to switch scenery. He is hoping I have the ability to hide his head until it is time for him to disappear. I found it the last time I stayed with Aunt Cassandra. It was one of the reasons I was chosen. I walked out to see a headless horseman in clothes fitting the American revolution. He was sitting on a partially skeletal horse that kept snoring fire. I waved, "Greetings Mr Crane. How is your evening?" He bowed his head and waved his hands as a form of greetings then swiftly he pulled out his sword and twirled it with flare. Tiberius laughed, "He likes you. Be careful. His obsession is deadly." I sat side saddled but I was told to sit with one leg on either side. If I didn't I would be thrown off Ardian and the pain will be unbearable. So I sat accordingly and we rode around till we were on the road leading us home. He used his hands to say I should stay by the fountain. He rode forward and then he turned around and charged at me. I realized we were going to fight in the form of a joust. I pulled out the sword and deflected his attack. Tiberius explained that I had to charge at Crane and block at the same time. We started sparring and after a few hours Crane decided that I had enough. I went back home. I looked back to see Bubbly Belle watching me from across the street with contempt. I waved at her as I went in. She freaked out as she saw the ghosts. One of them asked if she was their dinner. She ran like she was on fire. Tiberius laughed till he started to cough. He took me indoors and I soaked in the bathtub for half an hour before I had changed into my pyjamas. A black and gray striped two piece. I heard a knock on the door. Tiberius came to tell me dinner was ready. It was roast beef, sour vegetable soup, and a slice of bitter sweet chocolate cake. I complimented the cook. She smiled brightly as the ghosts came in to entertain. One of them was a ghost who was the reason why my family hexed none members out. Someone had disapproved of her service. So they had punished her by trapping her behind a wall. She was happy after the cruel one was replaced by our family. She happily waved as she wiped the tears on her face. The entertainment began. A few ghosts juggled heads. Some sang and others recounted stories as a cautionary tale. After the stroke of midnight I was escorted to my bedroom. I slipped in and was unconscious within mere moments.