Rowan and Dante's Dorm

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"No, it won't. And that's why I need you to tell me," he said sincerely, staying perfectly still even when she touched his face. He was serious. And seriously worried. He said it wouldn't change anything, but was that really true?

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Janelle studied him for a moment longer before she gently caressed his face, watching her hand moved against his cheek. “You have no idea how great it is to finally have someone to look at me after all those years of loneliness and anger…” She said instead, because she needed him to know that before she changed everything.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Rowan frowned slightly, starting to get really worried about what she had to tell him. "Janelle..." he started, hoping that she would really tell him instead of just evading the whole thing.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Janelle finally looked back at him, her eyes searching his before she finally brought herself to say the words. “I’m dead, Rowan. And I have been since my brother defeated me in the merge eighteen years ago.” She said, pulling her hand away from his face. “So what I am is… a ghost.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

--End--

[Haaley, ᙏoᑯ oƒ ᙏᥲ⳽tᥱɾɩᥒɠ ᙃᥙᥒɠᥱoᥒ⳽]

((The end post... I'm dying.))

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

((I couldn't help myself haha))

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

((I hadn’t seen the image before lol. That’s what you meant when you said end it with a gasp post?? Lol))

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

((No but it was what I was thinking about lol))

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Getting himself back to his room had been difficult. Rowan didn't want to have to confront this issue. He had told her it wouldn't change anything but clearly that wasn't true. It wasn't because now he knew what she was, but because now he knew what she was doing to him. She probably never would have told him had he not asked. How much would she have taken? He unlocked his dorm and went inside, expecting to see Janelle right inside.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“Hey.” Janelle replied, laying down on his bed as she raised her head to look at him. She was still angry about what happened earlier, but she wasn’t supposed to know about that so.. she wouldn’t show him. It was a perk of being dead- emotions weren’t as obvious. She had that fallen when she was alive too, she supposed.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"Hey," Rowan said in an exhale. He went over and sat on the bed, feeling a weight in his chest. How was he supposed to bring this up. It was obvious something was wrong with him so he almost hoped she would ask. Maybe that concern would help his uncertainty.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Janelle pretended to hesitate before she went to sit besides him. “I know you wanted to step out to think it through, but… there are things I wanted to tell you about me. About my condition. Things… I know you won’t like but I’d feel awful about not telling you.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"More things?" Rowan asked, trying and failing not to seem distressed by the idea. What more could she tell him? He doubted there was anything good in there, but she might only think it undesirable and maybe it wasn't so bad.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“Yes.” She replied, then reached over to touch his hand. Only it went right through him, causing her to sigh. “I’m order for me to feel and look alive, I’ve been… taking some of your life force. I didn’t realize it at first, because you’re the first to ever see me, but I suspected it after we kissed and you passed out. It wasn’t until today, when you felt faint, that I confirmed it.”
She pulled away, wrapping her arms around herself as she stood. “I feel awful, Rowan. I’m really sorry. I should have stopped when I first suspected it but I just… I wanted you so much that I didn’t want to believe it at first. I wanted to feel and kiss you and I hated that I couldn’t do it on my own.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Rowan watched where her hand passed through his And stared for a moment. He'd never realized that she couldn't touch him on her own. Of course he'd not thought about it since he hadn't known she was a ghost until the day before. "I wish...you had told me," he said, rather than being upset or anything. How could he when she said it like that. "I would have given it to you if you asked. I just...don't like that you took it. When were you going to tell me? Ever?"

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“I was.” She replied, turning to look at him. “I would have told you once I figured out how to. I just.. I felt embarrassed. And ashamed for not being the kind of girl you need.” She added, looking down at her hands with a sad expression. “For not being alive.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"That's not really anything you can control," he said, looking up at her. She couldn't help that she was dead, and it wasn't her fault that she was. That wasn't even on his list of problems. Well....sort of but not really. "But you get so...real sometimes. Does it really not work all the way?"

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“Does what not work all the way?” She asked, looking at him with a confused expression. She didn’t know what he meant by that so it did make her pause.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"Like if you took in enough power could you be solid," he asked. It seemed silly when he asked it. She still wouldn't be alive even if she seemed it. He'd been thinking about it, more now that he knew whow different it was when she took from him.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Janelle didn’t say anything for a moment, going over to sit besides him. “I’d have to be taking energy from someone that has a large, constant amount of it.” She said, considering. “But even then, they’d be the only ones to see me.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"It'd be a lot...too much, probably," Rowan said. He couldn't give that to her, he never had enough of it. He'd been out cold for two days just after kissing her.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Janelle nodded, although she had hoped there’d be someone she’d be able to take it from. That really would solve a lot of things, wouldn’t it?

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Rowan sighed and held out his hand for hers, offering the life force to just hold it for a while. He didn't understand how she had managed to go this long completely alone.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Janelle looked at his hand before she smiled a bit, reaching over to take it. This time, rather than it taking a few minutes for her body to use the energy, the reaction was nearly instant- perhaps because of how they’ve been doing it for a while now.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Rowan squeezed her hand gently, looking at them for a moment. "I don't know if there's anything I can actually do that will help you, but I'll still be here for you. Nobody should have to be completely alone," he said quietly.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“Being with you helps.” She told him, reaching her free hand out to place it on his cheek. “I have been like this for years now, Rowan- watching all my friends grow older and move on with their life’s when I couldn’t. I don’t know what I would have done but I’m glad I met you. I know you may think I only like you because you’re the only one that could see me but it isn’t true.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"It does feel like that a little bit," he admitted. It wasn't a good feeling either. But he didn't....really deserve anything better. Raelynn was different but....he couldn't blame her for how mad she'd been at him. He deserved it. Nothing she'd said had been wrong.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“I like you because of how kind you are.” Janelle said, leaning over to kiss him on the lips. As far as she was supposed to know, they were still a couple. “Because you’re so adventurous and funny and smart. I like you because even when I was alive, I had never felt for someone what I feel for you. You make me feel alive in more ways than one.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Rowan looked in her eyes, looking for some distruth there, but he really didn't know her well enough to notice anything different. And maybe it was because he was so starved for that attention but he believed her. He couldn't help clinging to someone finding something good in him. And sure he could get that all from his family but it wasn't as validating because they had to say those things.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“And I know it might be too soon to say these things,” she started, pressing her lips against his again in a slightly deeper kiss. She could feel him caving in, so it was really only a matter of sealing it. “…but I know that what I feel for you is a lot more than a simple crush, Rowan. Because I’m fine with being invisible to everyone else as long as I could do this- feel you, and kiss you.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"But how could you know that's going to last?" Rowan asked and reached up to put his hand over the one she rested on his face. He still could hurt her and he worried that this was all going to fall apart.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“Because fate brought me into your life for a reason- right when you needed me in it.” She replied, kissing him again. “Admit it- I could have gone many more years without ever having to interact with someone but I did- with you. There’s got to be a reason why.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"Fate....it really is true," he said and leaned in to kiss her himself this time. Fate seemed to have it's hand in a lot when it came to the two of them so he could believe that.v

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Janelle didn’t reply anymore, instead kissing him deeply when he leaned in to kiss her. She shifted so that she’d be on his lap instead, unable to help it because she once again proved to be a lot smarter and cunning than someone else- so much that if she found it in herself to care, she’d have felt bad for the other girl. Or girls, she supposed.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Rowan kissed her, but was more conscious now about how weak he was feeling from it. Maybe that was a good thing, but it also kept him from enjoying it that much. And he was thinking about Raelynn too...

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Janelle was honestly glad that Rowan forgave her so easily- because despite whatever others would think, she actually did care for him beyond her need of affection. He really was sweet and charming, something she had never actually experienced when she was alive and much less when she was dead. Which was why she was willing to play dirty when it came to guaranteeing he’d choose her- why she didn’t care that he had other girls pining over him. Why she didn’t mention she was always there, watching him, because he wouldn’t like that.
Why, when the time came, she would do everything in her power to make sure he was hers and hers alone. Even if it meant getting rid of any possible threat to her happy ending.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Janelle sat besides Rowan on the bed, absently playing with his hair as she watched a movie on his laptop. He had been kind enough to let her use it throughout the night as he slept, since he knew she grew bored of just watching him. She was barely half way into the movie- many minutes after the whole watching Raelynn get knocked out thing.

She was in utter peace and tranquility.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Rowan slept deeply whenever he did go to sleep. He wasn't sure how good it was for him to be this drained almost constantly, but...what else was he going to do? Raelynn hadn't been answering him which was really unnerving, but there was nothing he could do about it. Sleep just seemed the best option.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Janelle looked up when she heard a nearly nonexistent knock on the door, pulling away from Rowans side so that she’d go out into the hallway and see who it was. She rolled her eyes when she saw, crossing her arms as she stepped back into the room and to Rowans side.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Vanessa, frustrated, knocked louder. She really hoped Raelynn was in there and they were hiding, and not that Rowan just wasn't in his room. She didn't have anywhere else to go. She didn't know where Raelynn could have gone. All she knew was that she didn't come back. But of course, Rowan was too far gone to even hear that.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Janelle only laid down besides him and rested her head on his shoulder, fully intending to not wake him up because he needed the sleep, after all.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Rowan stirred when he felt Janelle. It was a featherlight touch, barely anything, but even as deep asleep as he was, he felt it. And that small awakening was all it took for him to register the banging. At first he thought it was his own mind, and he winced. "Wha..." he started to say because he wasn't registering much andhis head was heavier than a hangover.

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“It’s probably another door, don’t worry about it.” Janelle told him, kissing his cheek before looking back at the screen because it got to an interesting part.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"Rowan if you don't open up this door, I'm breaking it down!" Vanessa shouted finally, frustrated. She probably wouldn't even have to break the door down. He'd surely open up if he was inside and alive. But maybe she would just in case...

"No, it's mine," Rowan said just above a groan as he dragged himself out of bed, trying not to disturb her before he realized that he couldn't. "I'll get it." He went to the door and opened up, yawning. It didn't register yet why Vanessa would possibly be knocking on his door when they hardly ever spoke to each other outside of Raelynn's presence.

"Is she here?" Vanessa said right away, trying to peek behind him. But if he was that sleepy she had a feeling the answer was no. She looked him straight in the eye, seriously, firmly. "Have you seen Raelynn?"

Rowan's eyebrows drew together as it was sinking in. "Raelynn? No....not since..." He trailed off because it didn't matter. Vanessa's urgency was sinking in and he was wide awake then. "Is she missing?" he asked, alarmed.

"She left my room about an hour ago to pick up some things and never came back," Vanessa answered, looking down the hall on both sides a little more frantically. She'd already checked Raelynn's room, but that didn't mean she hadn't needed to get something from another student. But an hour? That was far too long for an ingredient run. "I don't know where else to look! I haven't tried the classrooms but those are all locked."

"She knows how to get in," Rowan said easily. But still....an hour was way too long. Something must have happened. "I'll grab my coat and help look for her."

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“She’s probably out, drinking somewhere.” Janelle said, appearing by his side. Well, appearing to him because Vanessa couldn’t see him. “Or with her sister.”

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

"Or she's in real trouble," Rowan answered, going to grab his jacket from the chair he'd dropped it on earlier. "I can't take that risk."

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

Janelle opened her mouth, about to tell him why he shouldn’t do that- if she cared for the girl she would have encouraged it but she only cared about him- when she heard some running footsteps leading into the dorm room.

“Vanessa?” Francisco called out, holding onto Fire’s hand as they ran down the hall. He didn’t want to lose her- and since she was on the phone trying to contact her family, he had to do the calling out.

[☣ EMᕈRESS SERΔ ☣, Supreme Mod of Overcomplicated Projects]

Rowan was spared Vanessa asking who he was talking to by her turning to see Francisco and Fire running. "What is it? Have you seen Raelynn?" she asked, hoping against hope that wasn't why they were running this direction. But what other reason could there possibly be?

[Evelin ☪️ Queen of Witches]

“She’s not in her dorm?” Francisco asked, frowning as he stopped running once they reached Vanessa’s side. Then he turned to look at Rowan “Or with you?”