I was practicing hurling when I heard shrieking. I walked out to see gargoyles moving. They flapped their wings. Rolled their tongue as they raked their claws on the pedestal. They let out a low sound which was barely audible. But the witch was on the floor spasming violently and screaming as though someone was disemboweling her. The locals watched with satisfaction. I came out with a wavy obsidian dagger. I stabbed her and she turned to ash. The wind blew them away. I walked back into the estate. The gate closed by itself. Tiberius walked out with gardening shears. He asked me what happened. I explained a witch was outside. His expression turned dark as he stormed off to find Mrs. Erebus. I heard him yelling in a language I had never heard in my life. I finally got bored and took the book Lissette gave me. It was written in Draconic. The language of Thaumaturgy. I was taught this the day Aunt Cassandra discovered that I am her successor. She helped me learn the alphabet was called Lokharic. Once I understood the words she started writing letters in Draconic. I was encouraged to respond in Draconic too. The dining table was made from red wood. Also the vases had decayed flowers covered in cobweb. I looked up to see the bone chandelier was dripping red wax.
I got a piping hot mug of hot bitter dark chocolate. Harkness came to inform me that the witch was trying to switch bodies with me. Mrs. Erebus came with a black pearl necklace with an unusual pendant. It was a teardrop shaped ember with a spider encased inside. She promised me that as long as I had this she could switch me back safely. And she is using something called Spirited Incantus to ensure anyone who switches bodies with me can't enter without suffering immensely. She pulled a few of my hairs and ground them to powder before mixing it with some red powder and blowing it on every candle. The flames turned orange before they changed back to green. Harkness went all the way to Carpathian mountain to get special candles to do a spell so if I switch places I would still retain my memories. I told her if she suspects anything to ask me a specific question. I told to ask me what happened the day we were alone. She grinned, "You saved me." Tiberius came with stinging nettle tea. I recalled, "You took me several places. Dark room with a panther, a whirlpool and the asylum. You showed me where they lobotomized you. Bureaucracy is the death of all things appreciated. Mediocrity is the beginning of stupidity." She grinned, "I will ask you why you were there to begin with. I recall telling you that you won't like my answer. As a response you set me free."
I heard a commotion and we went out. Another witch was outside throwing fireballs. I walked out and she hexed me. We switched places and she tried to get inside. The wards set her on fire. She had no choice but to step back. The residents laughed as Mrs. Erebus cast her spell. I switched places and I fell inwards and stayed still. I heard a sound resembling water being forced out of something with great pressure. The gate swung close as the water level rose. I tried to hold my breath but I was burnt medium rare like a steak. I felt a subtle tingling sensation and the water receded. I got up to see my injuries had healed properly. Harkness gave me a hug. The witch was outside screaming in fury. She behaved like a child as she jumped up and down. She let out a wail as she demanded entrance. She explained how she had practiced the craft for five years to gain passage. She wasn't going to let anything get in her way. I had enough so I asked for Blackwell's shotgun. He gave me the gun. It was a Winchester made from black wood with silver filigree on. He happily adjusted it so the blowback wouldn't shatter my bones. He helped me aim before I fired a round and the bullet split into tiny grains of sand. They charged forward with velocity and pierced her body and she fell on the ground coughing blood. She writhed in pain for some time before her heart gave out. Tiberius poured a potion and she was ashes. Mrs. Erebus came with a broom and swept her remains into the sewers.
The town hall had another meeting asking me to open the doors to let them in when the monsters are unleashed. Tiberius explained, "The estate chooses who can enter and who is not allowed." An elderly man retorted that the new residents could enter. I shrugged, "The woman is my mother and the others are my new family. The house will let them in as long as I live. I am not going to break the rules. If you are not allowed in because you have nefarious intentions." The old man yelled at me to open the gates regardless of intentions. I am the so-called guardian. So the law says I can let anyone in. I replied that I am not the one who wrote the rules when the place was under construction. If he or anyone has the undeniable desire to hurt innocent people or have hurt them in the past then the doors to the estate are closed. The list of grievances were mentioned in the town's absolute law that is enforced with the law of surprise. It was invoked after the locals had violated a young girl assuming she was the guardian. One in every seven guardians had suffered traumatic events because the locals felt jealous or a cover up for a crime. So the estate has permanently barred them to trespassing. The mayor placed a decree to stop any and all harm to guardian present and future. The town will issue a formal apology to the residents of Tenebrae mansion. If anyone harms anyone who lives there then the penalty is death. The townsfolk were apprehensive but agreed.
An hour later a young woman walked in through the gate and declared she was a direct descendant of a previous guardian. The thing is she couldn't come up with a name. Once the guardian title is given. Their name is erased from public records and from the memories of the locals. It was done so their actions remain. The only ones allowed to know the name are the relative or the other residents but they prefer addressing the guardian as 'My lady'. Tiberius laughed menacingly, "Being guardian means you have to give up the ability to have children. Because of dire circumstances these women live very short lives. They don't have the opportunity to find true love and have children." She kept insisting so Mrs. Erebus asked her to use her silver dagger to cut her hand and allow her blood to touch the dirt. She did as she was told. At first nothing happened. Then thick vines came out of the rich black Aztec earth and wrapped themselves around her. They spun her like a top and flung her out of the house. The other residents laughed hysterically. I had to admit the security features are impressive. Tiberius announced that she pretended to be a guardian's descendant. The civilians on the street asked her if she had a death wish coming in here making false claims when the house operates on truth magic. She looked back with indifference. She was determined. Who wouldn't want a multi billion dollar estate. Whatever the estate projected outwards for her eyes only made her shriek an apology as she ran away as far as possible. She didn't look back.
The laughter ceased at dinner time. I had black rice, poached fish, stinging nettle salad and a mug of barley tea. I requested everyone to join me but Mrs. Erebus was the only one to join me. The others had a specific diet or no diet all which is why they can't join me. I asked them to sit with me to better understand each other and maybe gain each other's trust. They thought it was a fantastic idea so they complied. After dinner I was soaked in a mystery red solution mixed with sliced Nebraska black apples and sea snake venom. I fell asleep and woke up to the sound of ravens screaming intruder alert. I quickly dressed and ran outside to see a wrecking ball heading our way. The ball hit an invisible wall and smashed to a million pieces. The one operating it was the girl from yesterday. The locals and the residents laughed and she was hauled away. She was charged with a mile long list of crimes. She ran away and I never saw her again. I got an invite to the biannual charity function. I went there wearing a black kimono and a raven feather headdress. The townsfolk donate to fix the streets and help those in need. I gave a nominal amount of a million dollars. Then the mayor asked me to increase by a little since he had a few other projects. I smiled venomously, "I will send another two million dollars with it but the total amount I have donated will go to fix the hospital, to pay off debts of the unfortunate and fix the streets. I am going to send Tiberius to make sure it is used for those purposes. If I feel you are using it for your wife's Botox or butt implants. I will sue you. Tiberius please make the funds are being used properly please." Tiberius smiled politely, "Yes my lady" the mayor stared in disdain before he walked away to talk to someone else. Mom gave me a wink and her husband raised his glass to say 'I am proud of you.'