~5~

The trip lasted two days before the three of them reached the edge of the wickerbrick woods.

"What are we doing here?" Ivory asked quietly as she peered out the carriage window at the dark shadowy forest.

"Whatever do you mean child?" Said Josephine.

"I mean...The Wickerbrick woods...It's a terrifying place--"

"Nonsense--"

"Have you not heard?"

"Do not interrupt me--" snapped Josephine. But Ivory had just pretended not to hear.

"--These woods are filled with thieves and slavers and...Witches..."

Ms. Josephine shook her head and clicked her tongue. "Most of those silly rumors are no more than just that; mere rumors."

Ivory had just begun to heave a great sigh of relief when Josephine went on.

"However; the claim of their being witches is mostly correct. Though, our Harbingers are constantly on high alert. The woods also have cabin trolls and a few other nearly harmless creatures."

"'Nearly harmless'?"

Ivory had heard stories of trolls and witches since she was a little child, and in none of those tales did they seem only "nearly harmless'."

As they were pulled deeper and deeper into the woods, the path had finally begun to even out, and the trees seemed to grow more closely together. Ivory could tell that they were getting closer to Atwood Hall.

After a while, the rain had just started to let up a bit, and an old black iron gate came into view. The gate looked to be about twelve feet high, and miles long.

The carriage followed the gate for a few more moments before the manor appeared at the top of a long driveway.

Ivory stared at her new home in amazing, whilst a funny feeling stirred in her gut.

"Put this on," said Jezebel, as she opened Josephine's suitcase and pulled from it, a grey Cloak with white seams.

It was short, unlike the one Ivory had been wearing at the moment. It seemed like it could reach past her chest.

"But...mine is just fine--"

"It's not for warmth silly girl" Josephine interrupted; "it's dress code".

"Dress code?"

Josephine nodded. "As you know, there are only four prominent beings who like in the second world. Do you remember which four those are?"

Ivory nodded. "Gods, Enchanters, and... Two more.."

Josephine sighed, "Possessor and Demons. In order to keep track of who is who, each person received a colored Cloak based on what they are."

"What does white mean?" Ivory asked as she buckled the silver clasp around her neck.

"Nothing. We don't what you are yet... We'll have to run some tests tomorrow afternoon"

"What kind of--"

"Shh, silly girl. We've arrived."

As the three of them drew nearer to the front gate, it began to open slowly.

Once the gate was wide enough, the carriage continued through it, and up towards Atwood Hall. And before long, the three of them had come to a halt in front of a large set of stone stairs leading up to the even larger front doors.

The manor alone looked twice as large as Ivory's father's whole estate.

A rush of icy wind whipped through the carriage, as each door on either side of Ivory burst open. Giving way to a short red-haired girl in a mustard yellow dress and a grey Cloak with dark purple seams. In one hand, she was gripping a wand; and a large black umbrella in the other.

The girl eyed Ivory suspiciously, then turned her full attention to Josephine.

"Good evening Ms. Josephine...Ms. Jezebel."

"Good evening Macaria," said Josephine, as Macaria helped her from the carriage.

"Macaria..." Ivory started, as she helped herself down from the carriage. "what a...Unique name."

The girl smiled but didn't speak a word to Ivory; only to Josephine.

"Is this her Ms. Josephine? The last girl?" Asked Macaria.

"Yes, take her up to bed, will you? She has a big day tomorrow"

Macaria nodded, as she took Ivory's suitcase from Jezebel, then motioned with her hand for ivory to follow her inside.

When the four of them entered the manor, warm air met Ivory's cold, damp, skin at the same moment the scent of pumpkin, warm spices, and Bourbon met her noise.

And the only light flickering through the dark foyer was from five silver torches which were fastened to the old russet-colored walls that surrounded them.

"Our room is upstairs," said Macaria to Ivory. Ivory nodded, then the two of them parted ways from Josephine as they climbed a staircase that had been carpeted in maroon at the end of the hall.

The stairs wound up and up and up until they reached the third floor.

"Sadly, fist years don't get their own dorm rooms; so we're all bunking together." Said Macaria, as she continued to lead the way down another dim-lit corridor.

"What do you mean 'we'? Who is all in there?"

"Just you, me, my sister Melinoe, and another girl....But I just can't seem to remember her name... Ah! Here we are!"

Macaria stopped so suddenly, Ivory had almost walked straight into the back of her.

"Room 729," Macaria continued.

She reached for the handle, and have it a few good shakes before realizing that the door had been locked.

She signed, readied her wand, and just as she was about to speak, the door opened, and a pair of sea-green eyes were staring back at them.