My Ghostly Love Story

"STOP THAT!" I shouted as a funnel of light started sucking everything around me. In the center of the said funnel was a young man, Raphael. "NO! DON'T DO IT! RAPHAEL! PLEASE!"

"Too late girl." said Raphael, but at the same time not Raphael, for the deep voice was not his own. "Raphael is no longer here. There's only… ME!"

The funnel got stronger that even the people at the sides, may they be spirit or not, started to get drawn into it.

"NO! RAPHAEL! COME TO YOUR SENSES!" I begged. Tears started to stream down my face. "Please."

Raphael suddenly stopped and clutched his head.

"No! You cannot! Stop! Don't come out!" said the unearthly voice inside of him.

"You do not own me." said Raphael's voice. "Not now, nor ever."

Raphael suddenly took a knife out of nowhere. With great difficulty, he looked at me and smiled. "I love you. Don't ever forget that okay?"

"No." I muttered as I realized what he was trying to do and ran to his direction.

Like on slow motion, I ran towards Raphael, not minding the funnel's drawing force. Before the blade on Raphael's hand reached his heart, everything froze.

You might be wondering how this happened. So, let's back up a bit.

***

As the title suggests, this story has a supernatural genre in it, but let me clear things first; I was the ghost.

My name is Liese and this is a story from twelve years ago. And back then, I was an amnesiac ghost who was wandering around for no reason.

It all started when I woke up in a stranger's room, well not really a stranger, but let's get to that later.

I opened my eyes and looked up on an unfamiliar ceiling. My head hurt a lot. Like I was run over by a car and was thrown into a wall sort of headache. I looked around and noticed I was in an unfamiliar room. Everything was unfamiliar inside the room. And worse, I didn't know who I was. The only thing I was sure of that time, was that my name was Liese. Just Liese.

"Ow." I groaned as I sat up. I noticed I was lying on the floor just moments ago.

I stood up and noticed a huge teddy bear on the bed, at the center of the room. I tried to touch it. Emphasis on 'tried'. When I was about to touch it, my hand passed through.

I gasped in surprise and clutched my hands.

'What is going on?'

I tried grasping many things afterwards and it was the same, my hands just passed through everything. My heart beat went fast and my breath was getting shallow. My vision tunneled and was slowly going out of focus. I was starting to panic!

A figure suddenly showed up in front of me. It was a woman. She was wearing a black business suit and a three inch heeled shoes. I noticed the blood on her stomach and chest.

"Hello! You must be new!" she greeted with a smile.

"W-w-w-what... W-w-w-w-who –a-are y-y-y-you?" I stammered.

"My name's Elise Numina. I'm a ghost resident of this house. Since you're here, well, you might be here for a reason." she said and offered me her hand. "Welcome, to the Di Angelo estate."

I just stared at her and moments later, I blacked out.

When I woke up again, I was in a different room. This room was emptier than the last room I was in.

"Are you calm?" asked someone. I turned around and saw the lady from a while ago.

"What happened?"

"You fainted. Probably because of shock." she touched my pulse, but then she immediately let go of it. "Right. You're already dead. You don't have a pulse."

I just stared at her.

"Sorry. I was a doctor when I was still alive. It's a working habit." I just nodded.

"By the way, what did you mean by, 'a resident ghost'?"

"Just as it means. So, what's your name?"

"It's Liese. Wait, does that mean, I can see you?"

"No Liese, you're one of us."

I was about to faint the second time, but she held me and shook my shoulders. "Don't go fainting on me now."

I took a deep breath and faced her. "Are you serious?"

"Yes. I was watching you when you woke up. Your hands went through the things you tried to touch right? Why do you think that is?"

The question made me stop. I gulped the non-existent lump on my throat. "I guess you're right."

"Now that we've settled that, it's time for you to meet the rest."

"The rest?" I questioned.

Elise (yes I remembered her name), brought me to what seemed to be a living room and introduced me to the other ghosts that lived in the house with us.

"I'm Margery," said a lady elderly. "I'm probably the oldest looking, but I'm not the oldest here."

"She's right. It's me." an eight year old kid came into view. "My name is Anna. Nice to meet you."

I shook her hand. "Hi!"

Everyone started to leave and only a few were left in the living room, which included me.

"By the way," everyone looked my way. "Isn't there an afterlife?"

They were silent. Then all heads turned to Elise. She seemed to be the leader among the ghosts in the house.

"Very well. Let's head outside."

Margery and Anna went with the two of us. We went to the backyard and headed to a pavilion.

"This place is the Di Angelo Estate. It's sort of a place where ghosts like us are bound to be trapped for eternity." Elise said.

"This place is a physical place right?" I asked.

"Of course."

"Explain."

Elise sighed and looked at me. "Your smart, I like that. This will be a long talk."

And she started narrating...

It looked like more than a hundred years ago, probably during the Spanish Colonization here in the Philippines, a wealthy family bought the land we were on and built a manor. They were a happy family, but it turned out, the mother of the family was a witch. The townspeople found out about it and tried to execute her, but she retaliated which made everyone afraid. Five people stood up against her and killed everyone in her family. She was devastated. And when those people tried to kill her, she resorted to black magic and cursed them.

"'An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. Blood for blood. I bind this land to your bloodline and mine. Your descendants will never find the road to the afterlife. They will forever be bound in this land, not being able to move on. And the only way to free them is by my blood!' That's what she said." Anna said as she imitated the witch which she said laughed like a maniac. "'The five of you will regret this! You will rot in hell!'"

It was said that the flames started by the five people consumed her and she died.

"We didn't believe it at first," said Anna, "until the first casualty. Me."

"You?" I gasped as I pointed at her.

"Yes. One of those five people was my father. I was shot in the head," she showed the bullet wound on her head, "and when I woke up, I was already here. Well, it was a desolated piece of land before until the Di Angelos bought it and built another house for their family to live in."

"You see Liese, we cannot get out of here. We can't even cross the gates without being bounced back and hurt." Elise said. "Tried it a few times myself. Wasn't a good experience. And there was no other way of getting free from this curse too, since all the witch's daughters died that night."

"So, that means, every ghost in this house is related to those five people?" they nodded. "Me too?"

"Obviously." retorted Anna.

"Are you sure you're eight?" she nodded with a childish smile.

"You seem to be so calm about this." asked Margery.

"I don't know. I have a feeling like I've been through worse before."

I inspected myself for any wounds which may have caused my death, but I found nothing.

"I wonder why and how I died." I muttered.

"What do you mean Liese?"

"Well, this might be a bit embarrassing to admit but, I don't have any memories when I was still alive. When I woke up in that room, I don't remember anything, just my name, Liese. And that's about it."

A shiver ran up my spine and I hugged myself. Tears started to fall from my eyes. "I'm forever stuck here and I don't even know who I am. What the hell happened to me?"

I cried my heart out and Anna comforted me. Elise patted my shoulder and Margery patted my head.

"Well, don't worry about it. We have an eternity to find out about your real identity. And who knows, maybe you'll regain your memories on your stay here. Wait it out for a few years give or take." Margery said.

"You're not the first one who turned up with amnesia, so don't worry." assured Elise.

I dried my tears and turned to them. "You sure?"

"Trust us." Elise said with a smile.

***

A Week Later

I was taking a stroll in the garden one early Saturday evening. Jess, one of the few ghosts who was my age (I just guessed what my age was), met me by the pool.

"Hey Jess." I greeted.

"Hey!" she said and motioned for me to sit down. "How's your first week in here?"

"It was fine. Everyone's friendly." I said.

"Of course! Despite the witch's curse, everyone here lived a decent life when they were still alive. So, you don't have to worry."

She continued rambling about the rest of the resident ghosts (she even said about one of them carrying his head since he was decapitated), but her voice sounded muffled and far away when I saw someone.

It was a guy, with light brown hair and a 'very' well-toned body. I couldn't help but stare as he dived into the pool and came out with all those water drops running through his body. I felt someone shaking me, but I couldn't get my eyes off those six pack abs, proportionate legs and arms, and handsome face.

The next thing I knew, I was in the water. I glared at Jess when I came back up.

"Why did you do that?" I asked angrily.

"Well, you were...distracted." she shrugged.

I went back up to the pool and willed myself to be dry (ghosts can do that, since we don't have a physical body).

"Who is that?" I pointed at the guy who was swimming in the pool.

"Oh, that's Raphael. He owns this place. He also lives alone in this very big manor. At least for him, he's alone." she answered nonchalantly.

"Raphael?" I noticed his name was familiar, but it immediately slipped my mind with another question. "Can he not see us? Being out in the open like this."

"Hmm... I don't think so. Ever since I came here, which was just last year, he has been oblivious about our existence."

I just stared at Raphael. He really had good looks. And he seemed really familiar. I just couldn't put my finger on it.

"He wasn't here the entire week." I said once again.

"Oh that. He went back to his real home, Italy, to attend some family business. Their family is really influential you know."

"Hmm... Is he a corporate heir or something?"

"Not really. A mafia boss successor actually."

I choked on that. "Seriously?'

"Yeah! He might not look like it, especially with his dorky disguise, but he's actually the heir of the boss of the strongest and most influential mafia organization in the world." she seemed proud about that fact.

"Wah. You sure know a lot about him huh."

"Of course, this estate is their Filipino base. You just have to look at the right places and you'll find their HQ."

"So this place has a lot of secrets huh."

"More than you think."

"By the way Jess," I called. "What do you mean by disguise?"

"You'll see it in Monday."

On Monday, at six in the morning, Jess woke me up and dragged me to the living room. I saw a guy who was wearing a familiar but oversized uniform, neatly made hair resembling that of Jose Rizal’s and black rimmed eyeglasses which covered almost half his face.

"This is his so called disguise? He's a nerd!"

"Exactly! It's the usual cliché where he pretends to be a weak nerd but is actually a really strong guy." she smiled. "And I love those kinds of scenarios."

"Wattpad much?" I commented.

"I'm going!" I heard him yell. "Not that there's anyone else here."

He went out of the house.

Raphael di Angelo is a half-Italian half-Filipino teenager who was living in the Philippines to manage their organization's Headquarters in the country. He lived alone in the manor. He cooked for himself and he washed his clothes himself. Although, a maid comes once a week (Saturdays) to clean the house. I always thought he was lonely thinking he was alone in the house.

I looked at his retreating form. Then I realized something...

"Jess, he's wearing the same uniform as me."

She just looked at me, and gasped. "You're right!"

I ran to him. But he was already outside the gates and I was bounced back by an invisible force. I hit the pavement and black spots swam my vision.

'A clue. About who I am.' were my last thoughts and I blacked out.

***

I watched as Raphael did his homework in the dining room. I tried getting his attention and asked him over and over again if he knew me since it looked like we went to the same school, but it had no effect. Jess was right. He really couldn't see me, us in particular.

"Come on, at least a clue for me to know who I am. Do you know me? Are we classmates?" I asked and waved my hand in front of him. I even let my hand pass through his face, but the only reaction he had was shivering and he went back to his assignment. "Oh come on!" I smashed my hands out of anger in the table and the lights suddenly flickered. I also felt a small earthquake. "Whoa! What was that?"

I heard him ask the same question. "A low magnitude earthquake? I should check the news later."

A sudden pain flared in my chest. It was getting hard to breathe. At the same time, Raphael's phone rang.

"What?! Okay, I'm coming!" and he left.

I continued writhing in pain and I collapsed on the floor. After a few seconds of feeling nothing but pain in my chest, it seized and I was back to normal.

"What's happening to me?"

An image suddenly popped into my head; a road and a pair of headlights, and the sound of a gun continuously going off.

"What was that?" I asked no one in particular. 'A memory?'

I shook my head and looked at Raphael's homework. It was calculus, chemistry and literature. 'How the hell do I know that?'

"Hello Liese." said a voice.

I turned around and saw the headless priest, Father Nestor.

"Good evening Father." I looked at his head, in which his hands were carrying. Blood was still pouring out from his headless neck and continued streaming down on his black priest clothes.

Father Nestor was a missionary priest and was sent to a very harsh land. He was abducted by rebels and was executed to make an example to the government and the church. He woke up in the estate, his head separated from his body.

For some reason, I didn't find the blood and him being headless disgusting. I guessed I was used to blood and death when I was still alive.

"Are you still trying to pester him? He can't see you, you know." he said and sat at the chair across mine.

"Just trying. Oh yeah, Father, I got mad a while ago and caused a disturbance in the surroundings."

"Ah, so it was you who caused the mild tremor. Well, it's perfectly normal. Even if we're dead, we can still influence the realm of the living in little ways." he explained. "But of course, most ghosts are as harmless as a hamster, but some are spiritually abundant that they can be more powerful than average ghosts. I guess you're one of those. God has given you a great abundance in spirit."

I just nodded and continued staring at the assignment. I could somehow understand them and found it easy to answer. 'Was I smart when I was still alive?' I asked myself.

The next three weeks consisted of me training what I could do. First, I tried to make things float, which surprised the heck out of Jess. Then, caused the lights to flicker every now and then (I usually do this to scare Raphael, but he's unaffected. What is this guy made of?). And whenever I'm angry, I could cause a mild earthquake to a pretty strong one.

I was still trying to find out about myself through Raphael, but I could never get a response.

One night, while Jess and I were waiting for Raphael, a black SUV suddenly screeched to a halt in front of the manor. A wounded Raphael was brought out and they headed inside the manor.

But instead of following them, I stood frozen on my spot. A memory suddenly popped in my head. I was driving and black SUVs were chasing me, its passengers were shooting at me nonstop. I was brought back to reality when Anna dragged me to the basement.

'Another memory?'

For the past three weeks, bits and pieces of my memories had been surfacing, but they were so scattered that I could never tell when it happened. I couldn't even connect them. There was this one memory where I was in front of a big mirror. I was wearing my school uniform and I seemed so happy that day. I was what they would call blooming, but I couldn't remember the reason why I was blooming that day.

Another memory was quite different. I had red hair and I was wearing a pair of red high-heels, red skinny jeans, red spaghetti blouse that showed off my bellybutton, red leather jacket and a red half-mask that covered my upper face.

'Maybe I liked red so much? Or was a cosplayer?' were my thoughts until another memory showed. It showed me fighting a bunch of guys in colorful costumes, still with masks. I was fighting with seven other people. 'Maybe I'm a part of some gang or something?'

I was brought back to reality when we reached the secret facility under the Di Angelo manor. Raphael was the heir of the mafia organization La Casa Nera or The Black House. The Di Angelo manor was sitting on top of the organization's Filipino HQ.

"What happened to him?" I asked Anna who was still clutching my sleeves.

"His men said he was shot by a member of a group called the 'Red Society' or something."

I found the name familiar, but I immediately dismissed it because of my worry.

"Where the hell is Doctor Canceller!" shouted the young woman he was with.

The young woman was called Diana. I wasn't sure if it was her real name or was it just a codename (Raphael's was Hermes), but this woman served as his right hand. She was nineteen and probably in college. I don't know why but I feel jealous whenever the two were together.

'Maybe you have a crush on him.' said one part of me.

'What? No way! I don't even know him! I think.' would be my retort.

'Love does not choose who it strikes.'

Gah! Even I thought I was crazy with all those thoughts in my head.

"We already called her Diana! She'll be here in ten minutes." replied one of their men.

"He might not have ten minutes damn it!"

"D-d-d-Diana, calm down." said Raphael weakly. "I've been through worse, remember?"

"I don't care! You're still wounded! And I can't let you get hurt. It's my duty."

Raphael smirked weakly. Then his eyes rolled up and he lost consciousness.

I called Raphael's name desperately. Diana suddenly let go of the wound and went towards the medicine rack; "Damn it! I'll operate on him myself."

Raphael's wound was still bleeding, so I took over Diana's job a while ago and tried to stop the bleeding. Thankfully, my hands didn't pass through and I could feel the warmth of Raphael's blood on it. When Diana came back, she performed first aid on the wound.

A few minutes later Doctor Regina Canceller, a woman on her early thirties, arrived. She performed surgery on Raphael, while I just watched.

Two hours later, Raphael's unconscious body was wheeled out of the operating room and was brought to his room in the manor. Diana stayed when everyone else went out.

"Raphael, why can't you just let us finish off that upstart group? Now that their leader is out of commission, we can easily do that." she said softly with a worried expression on her face. "But I guess we can't really do that since we need their allegiance. To have control in Gehenna, we need their help."

She sighed. "Get some well-deserved rest Seventh. I'll temporarily handle the famiglia."

She went out of the room. I just looked at the sleeping form of Raphael, then at my hands that was still stained with his blood. Somehow, it didn't vanish. I wiped it off with my uniform and went next to his bed. I caressed his face.

"Why are you always so reckless?" I asked.

It wasn't the first time he went home wounded, but every time, I was always worried. I thought that there might come a time where he'd come home as a corpse.

'Don't think about stuff like that Liese!' I scolded myself. 'That's bad.'

I felt a presence behind me and found Elise. She went to the IV bag and inspected it.

"Oh yeah, you're a doctor." I pointed out.

"Yes. Well, it looks like Regina did a good job. He'll live." she said then sighed. "He's really reckless, and he reminds me a lot of my son. If I'm right, he'll be the same age as him."

"You have a son?"

She nodded. "Neil Ralph Numina. My baby boy, but maybe not a baby anymore."

She faced me and smiled. "I see you've fallen deep for him."

I felt my face getting hot and blurted; "What?! What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about your little crush on Raphael, although, it might not be so little anymore."

"W-w-w-what made you say that?" I stammered.

"Well Liese," I found Jess emerging from the shadows.

'How long had she been there?'

"It's really obvious. I think every ghost in this manor knows about it but you and him." Jess giggled and patted my shoulder. "Crushes are alright but remember that you're dead and he can't see you. Okay?"

"You think I don't know that?" I grumbled. I shook off her hands and sat in the chair at the balcony. "I know that damn it."

The next morning, while guarding Raphael, he suddenly woke up. I watched him as he tried sitting up only to flinch in pain.

"Damn it! That hurts! That Pierce will definitely regret shooting me." he mumbled and sat up again. He used the IV bag pole as support and walked towards the door.

He walked, albeit unsteady, but he held a firm grip on the pole. When he was near the door, he suddenly slipped. His head would've hit the floor if I didn't run and catch him.

"W-w-w-w-what..."

I suddenly realized what I did. Since he couldn't see me, it would only seem like he was floating a few centimeters from the floor. On impulse, I let go of him and he fell to the floor, but the impact was probably smaller because his fall wasn't that high.

"Ow!" he exclaimed and clutched his side, his gunshot wound. "Did I just float? Maybe I was still hallucinating from the anesthetics. Yeah, maybe that's why."

As he tried to calm and convince himself that, I just watched him and scolded myself of why I did that.

"Gah! I'm sorry Raphael! But if I didn't do that, it would've been worse. You could've gotten a concussion!"

I noticed him freeze and suddenly looked around. I wondered about his actions.

"Hey, you okay?" I asked, but I realized he couldn't hear me.

"Who's there? Who's speaking?!" he said in a slightly higher octave voice.

"Can you... hear me?" I asked again.

"Damn it! Show yourself!"

"But you can really hear me?!" I asked again.

"Yes damn it! Now show yourself!"

"I'm right beside you!"

"What? What's going on? Who are you? And why is your voice familiar? Is this a dream?"

"It's not a dream." I touched his shoulders, but he jerked away.

"Was that you?"

"Yes."

"Are you...a ghost?"

"Yes."

His eyes widened and what he did next shocked me. He screamed and ran out of the room, without the IV drip.

"Hey! You're still wounded and you need to rest!" I yelled and ran after him.

I could hear his scream downstairs and followed it. When I got there, he was stopped by Diana.

"Whoa, Seventh! You should rest. Your wound might open up."

"T-t-t-t-there's a ghost in the house!" he exclaimed and shook her.

"What?!"

"There's a ghost! And she just talked to me! I could hear her!"

"Seventh, get a grip of yourself!" Diana yelled and tried to stop him from shaking her.

"I'm telling you! There's a-" he suddenly fainted.

"SEVENTH!" yelled Diana.

"Raphael!" yelled me.

"Somebody get Doctor Canceller, now!"

***

Doctor Canceller, Diana and I were in Raphael's bedroom. He was back to his bed with a new IV drip attached to him.

"He was probably hallucinating due to the anesthetic’s effects. That could happen to patients who underwent surgery. Don't worry, he'll be back to normal. To his rational self that is." Doctor Canceller said and left the room.

Diana just gazed at Raphael...

"Stop looking at him." I said.

Her phone suddenly rang. "Lord Sixth...Yes Boss...He's fine now, he's just resting...Yes Boss, I'll update you about his condition every hour."

She left the room as well. I sat on the seat beside the bed. I noticed Raphael's phone on the bedside table. I concentrated and took it. I touched the power button and was shocked with what I saw. His wallpaper was a photo of the two of us.

I gasped and looked at him; "Who am I to you? Who are you to me?"

***

Three Days Later...

I roamed around the estate with only one thought in mind; the photo of me and Raphael, on Raphael's phone.

'Does that mean he knows who I am? We seem close. Were we some sort of an item?'

I continued thinking stuff like that, until I reached the gates of the estate. I looked at the high metal gate and wondered what the outside world looked like. I had been stuck in the estate for a month and I had no idea what was going on outside (I wasn't fond of watching news). I went back to the manor and headed to the library. Whenever I didn't feel like roaming around, I stayed in the library and read books.

When I got there, I saw Raphael on my usual spot. 'He's already awake?' I thought. He was reading the book I hadn't finished reading.

"What is he doing here?" I asked no one in particular.

I headed to his direction and sat across him. "Maybe that time was just a fluke. Maybe he couldn't really hear me. It was just the effects of the anesthesia."

"I don't think so." I heard him reply.

I looked at him with a scrunched eyebrow. "You can hear me?"

"Yes. And yes, I'm calmer than last time. So I won't panic this time, okay?" he brought down the book and faced his left. "When I heard you again this time, I thought rationally and decided not to panic."

"Where are you facing?"

He looked around. "Where are you then?"

"In front of you."

"I can hear you but I can't see you. Why?"

"Dunno." I shrugged. "I'm as clueless as you on that part."

"But your voice is really familiar. It almost seemed identical to someone I know." he was silent for a few seconds but he sighed. "Anyway, what's your name oh Miss Ghost?"

"Liese."

He froze. "What did you just say?"

"My name's Liese. I have a feeling it's just a nickname though. Don't bother knowing my full name. I don't remember it."

"What do you mean?"

"When I woke up in your room a month ago, I don't remember anything. Well, bits and pieces have been surfacing, but that still wouldn't tell me who I am."

"Since you're a ghost that would mean you're dead right?"

"Yep." I answered, popping the 'p'.

"Okay." he seemed relieved. "I mean, it's impossible. She's still alive after all."

"Who is?" I asked.

"My...friend." I noticed his hesitation. "My close friend."

"Okay, by the way-"

The door suddenly opened and Diana entered. 'Damn it! Such wrong timing!'

"Hey, the boss is on Skype. He wants to talk to you."

"I'll be there."

I watched as the two of them left the library. I clicked my tongue in distaste. I was not able to ask Raphael about the picture.

Later that afternoon, I heard Raphael was going to leave for an important meeting.

"But you need rest!" I said as I faced the balcony. Well, he was changing.

"Well, yes, but this is an important deal." I suddenly heard him grunt. "A little help, please? I mean you can touch things right?"

"Why don't you call Diana, she's your right hand man, or woman?"

"No. I don't like showing my men weakness. It makes me feel unworthy being their next boss."

I rolled my eyes. 'Men and their pride.'

I slowly turned around and saw him struggling with his pants and shirt. I could basically see his boxers and abs. Did I mention his left wrist was in a cast? No? Then now I did. I gulped. "Uhm..."

"Stop staring damn it! I know you are! If I could only bend I'd pull those pants myself, then button them too if my hand wasn't only on a cast." he grumbled but he was blushing.

'Well somebody's embarrassed.' I thought.

"And you can't button the shirt yourself because of the cast." he nodded shyly. "Fine. Stand still."

I concentrated and started buttoning his polo shirt. Then I pulled up his pants, tucked in the shirt, zipped the zippers, buttoned the buttons and locked the belt. I also helped him put on his top suit and tied his neck tie.

"You know, it's weird watching those stuff being done by themselves." he commented.

"Well they're not doing it by themselves. I am."

"But I can't see you."

I slapped his arm. "Shut up. There, all done. How could you make a girl do such stuffs?"

"Well, it'll be more awkward if it's done by a guy you know."

I paused and thought. "You're right. But it's still embarrassing."

The door suddenly opened and Diana came in. "Oh, you're done already? I thought you'd need help."

"He obviously didn't." I said and gave her a tongue.

I heard Raphael chuckle.

"What?!" I exclaimed.

"I can fully manage myself Diana. Now come on. We have a meeting to attend to."

"Yes Seventh."

I watched the two of them walk out the door the second time that day. I felt another twinge of – what's the word? – yeah, jealousy.

I went to the living room and saw Elise, Margery and Anna just hanging out.

"Hey!" I greeted.

"Hi!" was Anna's response.

"Hello Liese." was Margery and Elise's response.

"Hey Elise, can you explain to me why I can touch Raphael and he could hear my voice too."

"I don't know. This has never happened before." Elise looked at Anna. "Anna?"

"I don't know too. Elise was right, this has never happened before. There were cases where some ghosts faded over time, but there has never been a case of a ghost being able to touch much less can be heard by someone." she explained and twirled the hair by her ear. "You must be special. And so is Raphael."

"But you know," Margery said. "Raphael can only hear you. He can't hear the rest of us, can he?"

Elise agreed. "There must be some sort of connection between the two of you. I know a good and genuine psychic, but I have no way of contacting her. Such misfortune."

I just stayed silent. The landline suddenly rang but we couldn't really answer so we just let it ring.

“Hi! This is Raphael. I'm currently not at home, so just leave a message.”

There was a beep and, “Seventh! Boss Hermes! The meeting with Amakin is a trap! There's no business deal! He and his men want to kill you to take over our territories!”

There was a bang and the line went dead. I abruptly stood up and dialed the number. After a few rings, a man answered the phone.

"Whoever you are, Hermes of La Casa Nera will die tonight." I slammed the phone.

The lights started to flicker and a small earthquake started to shake the house.

"Liese, calm down!" Anna and Elise called, but I couldn't.

Thoughts of Raphael dying in his enemy's hands plagued my mind. I balled my hands to a fist and I could feel the earthquake growing stronger.

"Stop it!" I felt a sting. "Stop it Liese."

I looked up and saw Tony. A young Fil-Am who died because of a car accident in America. He said we were the same age, but he was an introvert and rarely showed up.

"Get yourself together. Don't let your anger consume you and destroy this house." he said in a deep voice.

"But they're going to kill Raphael!" I exclaimed.

"If he's destined to die, he'll die. But if he's not fated to die yet, he'll come back here. Alive."

I looked at him in the eye. The flickering stopped and so did the earthquake. I dashed out if the house and headed to the gate.

"Liese! What are you doing?" Jess called. "You're going to get yourself killed! Wait, you’re already dead- That’s not the point! Liese!"

"Are you nuts? You're going to risk getting hurt with that damn barrier just for a guy?" questioned Tony who followed suit.

"I'm already dead! It makes no difference! I have to find a way to warn Raphael!"

I started to head to the gates. I braced myself for the familiar sensation of being zapped, ripped and thrown. I could hear my friends' yells but I moved forward. I felt something stopping me but I pushed it and I was suddenly free from that feeling. I opened my eyes and I saw myself outside the estate.

I could see everyone's shocked expressions.

"What happened?" I asked.

"We don't know, but it seems like you are able to pass through!" answered Elise.

"How about you guys?"

A ghost named Ivan tried to pass but like I did at first, he just bounced back and was thrown away.

"How am I outside?"

"Who cares? Get to Raphael! Now!" was Jess' comment.

I nodded and ran. I followed my intuition and ran. I took a few turns. After I ran a few minutes and passed about twenty blocks away from the estate, I reached an abandoned building. I saw the vehicle Raphael and Diana took a while ago.

"What's with bad guys and abandoned buildings?" I commented and headed inside.

I searched every floor. When I reached the ninth one, in the open space was Raphael and Diana who were fighting the bad guys.

A guy snuck behind Raphael and was about to hit him with a bat when I yelled; "Raphael! Behind you!"

He was stunned at first, but as quick as lightning; he turned around and gave the guy a round house kick. I then found someone who looked strong and did what every ghost could do in the movies; possess someone.

Okay, if you hadn't tried possessing someone, don't even think about it. It feels weird, especially when the body's from the opposite gender.

I found myself in control of the guy's body. "Okay then!"

I fought my way towards Raphael and Diana by knocking out a few enemies. Some were shocked because their comrade just betrayed them, but I took their stupor as a chance to take them down. I suddenly felt a hit on my face and saw Diana's foot on it.

"That hurt damn it!" I said, in a very manly voice and in British accent too, and took her foot off. "Raphael, call her off!"

"What?"

"It's me! Liese! I'm possessing this guy's body!" I said. I received weird looks from the people who heard it but I just gave them a kick.

"Are you serious?"

"Of course I am! And why are you fighting with an injured wrist and a gunshot wound? You couldn't even pull your pants and button your shirt! And damn! This guy's accent sounds really good!"

Diana gave us a weird look. "Long story." I said.

"Okay stop! Got it! You're Liese. So please don't say anything about that anymore!"

I just shrugged then he asked; "Do you know who is that you’re possessing?"

"No. Should I?" I replied and took down about three enemies consecutively.

"He's Amakin's hound dog! Codename; Mordred! He's supposed to be a really strong guy!" he explained and evaded a kick then punched the guy who tried to kick him.

"Of course he is! He's number 1 in MI6 and Interpol's wanted list!" exclaimed Diana as she used her legs to choke her enemy, Black Widow style.

"Is that why he's such a really good fighter?" I questioned, but a memory flashed in my mind, it was me, in the same red get up, fighting a lot of men in black.

'I must've been a good fighter as well.'

A few minutes later, we managed to take down every enemy, except for the leader, Amakin.

"Traitor!" he yelled in my direction as we walked his way. "Mordred you traitor!"

"First of all, I don't know you. Second, the name's Red Queen. And lastly, this is for trying to kill Raphael." I socked him in the balls and punched him in the face, successfully knocking him out.

Yes. Red Queen. My alias in Gehenna, the gangster underworld, where my gang, Red Society, is the strongest and I, its leader. I just remembered it during the fight. I remembered all my gangster activities, but my memories of being Liese were still quite unreachable.

I turned to Raphael and Diana, but I felt an impact behind my head (well, Mordred's head) and the next thing I know, I was standing over Mordred's unconscious body.

"Okay, who did that?" I asked angrily. "I felt that one."

"Hermes-nii! You're okay!" said a childish voice.

"Rin." Raphael said.

A blue haired kid passed through me and hugged Raphael. He seemed to be a thirteen-year-old kid, a very hyper and dangerous thirteen-year-old. He just clubbed MI6 and Interpol's most wanted!

"Why did you do that Rin?"

"That guy was Mordred! He's dangerous! He was going to hurt you!"

I saw a smile on Raphael's face. He looked really cute with it. 'No! Snap out of it me!'

"Okay, thank you for saving me, Rin."

"Doitashimashte, Hermes-nii!" [You're welcome Big Brother Hermes!]

"Who's the kid?" I asked.

He gave me a look that said, 'Let's talk later.'

"Fine."

The rest of Raphael's men came. "Where were you guys?!" I complained, but only Raphael could hear me anyway.

"Take care of them. And call Interpol. Tell them their most wanted was clubbed by a thirteen-year old." ordered Raphael.

"Yes Boss!" said his men in unison.

"Let's go?"

I knew that phrase was not only meant for Diana and Rin, but also for me. So, I followed them outside the building.

***

"Damn it Hermes! Even for a tough kid like you, you shouldn't go around fighting people with a broken wrist and a gunshot wound!" nagged Doctor Canceller as she stitched Raphael's wound again.

"Ehehehe... Sorry Doctor."

"And you young lady!" she looked at Diana. "You're a girl! Don't go and do extreme stuffs like these guys here!"

"Ow!" yelped Raphael as Dr. Canceller slapped his wrist.

"Yes Doc."

"And Rin," said child perked up. "You're still a kid! Don't go to a dangerous place that is obviously not for kids!"

"But, Hermes-nii needed my help! If I wasn't there, he would've been hurt by that big bad guy!" was his explanation.

"Pfft. 'Big bad guy' he said, Nice!" I stifled a laugh.

After a few minutes of Doctor Canceller's seminar, Raphael was back in his room.

"How are you?" I asked.

"Well, my ears are ringing from Doctor Canceller's seminar workshop, but other than that, I'm fine." he tried to look at me, but I had to direct him where I was again. "It's hard to talk to someone you don't see. Anyway how about you? Does your head still hurt?"

"No. I don't have a physical body. I can't get hurt by physical stuffs."

"Hmm..."

I sat next to him.

"Why are you sitting next to me?"

"Why? I can't?"

"Not really."

"You should sleep Raphael. You had a long day."

The moment I said that, he yawned. "Well, it looks like the medicine's kicking in. Good night Liese."

That night, I just sat next to him and watched him sleep like a baby with a smile on my face. Creepy? Not really.

***

The days after the incident was one big roller coaster ride. And it was the reason why I hadn't asked Raphael about the picture of us together. Well that and he was busy with school and the mafia.

First, I was interrogated by Elise and the rest, they kept asking why and how I could step out of the estate without being thrown a few meters. Of course, I told them the truth; I didn't know. I didn't know how that happened and why it happened. But I was thankful for it because I was able to save Raphael from danger, until I was clubbed by the kid, Rin.

Speaking of that kid, I was told his full name was Rin Nishizawa. He's Japanese, but he was related to Raphael in his mother's side. Rin is very hyper, and I wasn't surprised when Raphael said he had ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. That kid just couldn't be still!

One time, he and Raphael went to the mall to buy clothes for him, he apparently ran from home because of his evil stepmother. He brought nothing but small money, his passport and visa, and the clothes he was wearing, straight from Japan.

The most surprising thing was… he could see me.

***

"I'll order our food, you guys stay here for a moment." said Raphael. He was wearing his nerdy disguise again.

I couldn't help but sigh. He had such great looks but he was hiding it.

"Onii-chan, there's only me you know." Rin replied childishly.

"Ah, right, my bad Rin. I'll be back okay?" Rin just nodded.

I watched as he walked away. I decided to stay to keep an eye out on Rin. He could wander and get lost. He did that on the last store, it scared the hell out of me and Raphael.

"Ne, Yuurei-san." [Hey, Miss Ghost.] Rin suddenly said. I looked around and saw nobody else, so I didn't mind it. But he said those words again and; "I'm talking about you Miss Ghost who has been following us since we left the house."

I pointed to myself and asked; "Me?"

He nodded. "Hai!" [Yes!]

"Wait, you can see me?" I asked again.

"Clear as day Yuurei-san." he pointed out. "By the way, who are you? You seem familiar too."

"My name's Liese. Just Liese."

"Hmm." he nodded. "Your name seems familiar too. Where have I heard it before..."

"That's not important right now! You can see ghosts?" he nodded. "That would mean, you could see everyone in the house!"

"Yes! And it was quite packed too, but we can just pass through you guys, so I don't mind. That would also mean many are keeping an eye on Raphael-onii-chan!" he smiled and it was the cutest smile ever!

"You must really like Raphael then?"

"Of course! He's my Big brother!"

"Does Raphael know?" I inquired.

"Nope. I try not to tell anyone from outside the family about that ability. People would just think I'm weird."

"By the way Rin-chan, how come you can see us?" I questioned.

"Well, my third eye's open!"

"Not just that."

"Hmm... My father's family is a family of exorcists. All members of that family can see ghosts. Although I have more ability and aptitude for it than most members, that's why they keep pestering me to be his successor instead of my real older brother." his expression suddenly turned grim. "But that woman,"

"Your stepmother."

"Yeah, she doesn't want me to be the next head, because I was the child of my father's mistress."

"Oh."

"Yeah. She kept trying to kill me or send me off, so I ran away!"

"But you're thirteen. You can't board a plane alone."

"I may be a kid Liese-nee-chan, but I'm still part of La Casa Nera as one of their reapers-in-training."

"A reaper? Isn't that another term for assassin?"

"Well yeah." I gulped.

Then a word from his previous sentence made me confused; "Wait, nee-chan?"

"Uhn! Big Sister!" I just nodded. "By the way, Onee-chan, do you perhaps like Raphael-nii?"

I choked on my own saliva at that question. 'Is this really a kid?' I thought.

"Oh yeah! I just remembered!" he said suddenly. "I just remembered why you seem familiar! You-"

I waited for his next words, but it was cut off when Raphael suddenly showed up with a tray of food.

I didn't get the chance to ask Rin about it again because Diana took him to Italy to continue his training as a reaper. He just seemed too young to be a killer in my opinion.

Later that afternoon, a guest came to the house. Raphael said he was his classmate at Constantine Academy, Seijuro Tsuchimikado, another Japanese. Raphael knew a lot of Japanese.

Seijuro seemed really familiar to me. I couldn't remember, but my guts told me I knew the guy.

They were at the living room. They were discussing the assignments and activities Raphael had missed for the past few days.

"Wah, thank you Sei. You're such a life saver. So what did our teachers say about my absence?"

"They said to take your time in recovering. The teachers believed that the bullying got extreme and you were extremely injured. The students who pushed you off the roof are now undergoing disciplinary actions and are suspended." he said.

I just watched them at a distance in this.

Raphael just sighed. "Well, it's not like I'm not glad those guys are being punished. It's also for those other students they kept bullying."

"Well those guys are only doing those things because she's not around."

The atmosphere of the room suddenly got gloomy.

"If she was only around, those guys wouldn't even dare touching you or any other students for that matter." the guy, Seijuro, suddenly balled his hands to a fist. "Once I find those guys that did that to her, I'll punish them. I'll punish them so hard that they'll wish they were dead themselves."

"Is that how the heir of the Tsuchimikado Clan should act?"

"Remember that my clan is also a yakuza clan, dumb ass. Not just some weird traditional exorcist clan. Don't pretend like you don't understand. You're a future mafia boss."

"Touché."

So he was dangerous as well. Raphael's friends were dangerous, yet he kept pretending being a nerd. Also, I kept wondering who they were talking about.

To hear more clearly, I headed to where they were and sat at the empty sofa across the two of them. Seijuro stiffened when I came, but it went unnoticed by me.

"Can I get you anything?"

"Tea please. Japanese Tea if there's any."

"Hmm… I think I do. Since you like coming over I actually prepared some." Raphael joked and left.

I just took a look at their assignments when suddenly...

"So this is where you are,"Seijuro suddenly blurted out. "Hime-chan." [Princess]

As if on déjà vu, I turned to him and pointed at myself. "Me?"

"Yeah. You, Liese. So this is the reason why you're in a coma? Your spirit's not in your body? You're seriously experiencing an out of body experience? That’s redundant right?"

"You can see me?"

"Of course! Even if the Tsuchimikado Family is a yakuza clan these days, we're still an exorcist clan with deep roots in spirit magic."

"Do you...know me?"

"Of course! I'm your fiancé!" I was silent and just stared at him. "Don't tell me...you don't remember?"

"I don't."

A memory suddenly popped out.

It was of me and Seijuro in a garden. We were sitting on a swing.

"Look, I don't like this too, but our families are too close to each other that we can't just break this off." he said to me.

"But I'm already dating someone else!"

"Then make me a deal."

"A deal?"

"Yeah. Find me a girlfriend. Someone my mom would like, then, we can tell them to stop this bullshit."

I remembered I looked at him skeptically, but I agreed with his proposal anyway.

"Call me Sei. And I'll call you Hime!"

The memory faded and I looked Seijuro, no, Sei in the eyes.

"I remember. I remember our first meeting. I remember our deal. I remember our girl hunting! Sei!"

I hugged him. Surprisingly, I didn't pass through.

"Hime-chan."

A clatter was suddenly heard and I saw Raphael staring at our direction.

"L-l-l-l-Liese." he stammered.

I dried my tears and stood up. "You can...finally...see me?"

"Liese!" he suddenly hugged me. "I knew it! The voice, it was you! I was just not sure because I couldn't see you! But now that I suddenly can, I am sure."

"Raphael. Do you... Do you know me?"

He suddenly looked at Seijuro.

"I'm no expert in medicine, but it seems like the trauma she experienced when she was ambushed caused her to lose her memories." Sei explained.

"Trauma? Ambush? What are you guys talking about? Can somebody please tell me what's going on and who I am?!"

"Calm down Liese. " said Raphael. "You're Lieselotte Cross, my girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes. A month ago, you were ambushed. And since then, you've been in a coma."

"Ambushed? Coma?"

"Yes. And I promise you that I'll get those people who did that to you."

I calmed myself and sighed.

"But first, you're my boyfriend and he's my fiancé?" I pointed at Sei.

"Well Hime-chan, our circumstance is purely familial don't worry. The person you truly love is Raphael Di Angelo."

I looked at Raphael once again. I could feel my skin tingling with his touch. I suddenly had the urge to kiss him and I did.

The moment I immersed myself with the kiss, memories flowed into my head; my parents, my life, my relationship with him, almost everything.

When we broke the kiss, I looked at Raphael in the eye. "I remember everything."

"Then about your accident..."

"Except that. I can't remember anything about that day or the day before that."

"Well, at least you remember who you are now."

"Yeah. I'm Lieselotte Cross, Constantine Academy's Student Council President. I'm also Red Queen, leader of Red Society, the strongest gang in Gehenna. And also your girlfriend."

He smiled, but I pinched his ear.

"Ow! Ow! Ow! What are you doing?"

"You're a future Mafia Boss? La Casa Nera? You're Hermes? When were you planning on telling me, huh?"

"Ah, Mi Amore I was going to tell you on the day of your accident since we were supposed to have a date, but you got into... well... an accident." he said. "I promise! Ow! Now could you please let go?!"

I let go of his ear. He kept touching it.

"Damn it Liese, I thought my ears were going to be ripped off. You didn't even hold back with your strength."

We heard a scoff and I remembered we had somebody else in the house. "Are you done with your lover's quarrel? Tch. Are you trying to make me, who is single, jealous or something? You guys are a sore in the eyes. I'm going."

"Where do you think you're going?" I appeared in front of him. I learned this trick from Anna. "Mister Exorcist slash future yakuza leader?"

I saw him gulp. "Yakuza? Seriously? And you didn't even bother telling me since you already know I'm a gangster? You two are starting to get on my nerves!"

"Ah! Sorry already! Ow! Hey! That hurts!"

I kept hitting him in the shoulder. The day ended with me trying to chase the two around the house, like we usually did at our school's rooftop.

***

We decided to visit my body in the hospital.

When we got there, we saw my parents, Elizabeth Cross and Timoteo Cross.

Mom is an English noble and is a well-known doctor. Dad is a half-Filipino, half-Italian noble and businessman. And well, let's just say we don't really get along. Mom kept on pushing things unto me, like friends and a fiancé. She's a total control freak that the only remaining thing is a remote control to control everyone and everything she likes. Meanwhile, dad's not really home all the time. He was busy with his business and all that. He had no time for me and mom.

"Mom." I said.

"Seijuro, Raphael, you visited again." said dad.

"Good evening Aunt El, Uncle Tim." greeted Sei.

"Good evening Mr. and Mrs. Cross." Raphael greeted.

"I thought I already told you Mister Di Angelo to stop visiting my daughter." said Mom in her usual authoritative voice.

"Aunt El."

"With all you'd respect Mrs. Cross, Liese is my girlfriend. I have every right to visit her." Raphael replied as he steeled himself.

"Well, Seijuro is her fiancé, so it would be better if you volunteer and just get away from her."

"Elizabeth!" dad scolded.

"Mom!" I yelled, not that they could hear me anyway. But the lights flickered in the room.

"Let's go Elizabeth. We have a dinner to attend to." Dad practically dragged mom out of the room.

"Remember my words Mister Di Angelo. You're not fit to be my daughter's boyfriend."

And with that, both mom and dad left the room.

I sat on the nearby chair and started to weep. She was too much!

"Ssh. It's alright. You don't have to be affected by it." Raphael said in an attempt to comfort me. "I mean, I'm not affected by her words."

"Yeah right." I sniffed. "I saw your fist, and your expression seemed like you were ready to murder someone." I replied.

"Well, can't argue with that, but if you continue being affected by her words, that would mean she won. Now come on. We have to get you back to your body so that you could tell your mother to back off and let you do what you want." his statement made me smile and I kissed him again.

"Ugh! Guys! Someone who's single is here! I'd appreciate it if there's no PDA while I'm around." Sei said with his voice full of sarcasm. "Now come on Liese, try and lay down on where your body is."

I did what he told me. "Now concentrate and imagine yourself one with your body. Okay. Now, open your eyes and try moving."

I opened my eyes and tried to move my limbs, but it didn't work. I was still separated from my body.

I tried it again and again, but it had the same result.

"Why is it not working?"

"There must be a reason why you're out of your body. We have to find and solve that reason." Sei sighed. "Now, I have to do research. This will be a long night."

***

Since I couldn't go back to my body, I kept hanging around in Raphael's house. Sometimes, I would go to school, or go to my house, or visit my best friend, Sharry.

Sharesca Montecarlo is my best friend since grade school. She's also my right hand in Red Society. Her alias was Mono.

It seemed like Sharry was the one who kept the Red Society together despite my absence. She was doing a really good job at leading Red Society and running Gehenna.

While she was doing her assignments, hee phone suddenly rang. "Yes Thunder? Athena has? Okay, I'm coming to the hideout."

She immediately changed to her gangster costume. Her name Mono was short for Monochrome. Her costume consisted of black and white, and it was her favorite colors.

I followed her to the hideout. It was an abandoned building that belonged to me, but I had it refurnished to make it comfortable. All members were already there; Thunder, Pierce, Athena, Artemis, A1 and A2.

Athena and Artemis were twins. And so were A1 and A2.

"So, what is it that Athena wants to say?" asked Mono.

"We found out who Hermes of La Casa Nera is." Athena said. I froze at the name. 'Why were they investigating him?'

"Who is it?"

"We'll just show you. Come on."

I followed them in the basement and gasped at what was there.

Raphael was chained to one of the pillars and he was unconscious.

"Raphael!" I called. "What did you guys do?"

But I know it was futile. They couldn't hear me. I was nothing but a ghost.

"Why is Red's boyfriend chained in our basement?" asked Mono with a serious tone.

"Well, this guy is Hermes of La Casa Nera. I doubt even Red knows." A1 commented.

"I know! I know damn it!"

"I think Red knows about Raphael being Hermes." voiced out Thunder or Lance Bautista in real life. "But how did you guys know it was him?"

"During our last encounter, we tagged him with a tracker." Athena said. "And we have been keeping an eye on him ever since he started dating Red."

I couldn't believe them. How could they do such a thing!

"How did you even get him? If he's Hermes, he might not be easy to catch." asked Pierce.

"Oh, it wasn't. We had to fight him, but we managed to inject him with a sedative."

I wanted to slap Athena for what she did, but what A2 said made me stop.

"Now, we have the prime suspect of Red's ambush."

"What?" I stiffened.

"Come on." called Artemis. "It'll take a while before he wakes up."

"I'll stay here and watch him." said Thunder. Mono just nodded and the rest of Red Society left the basement.

I watched Raphael's unconscious form. "What did they mean by that Raphael? Wake up and tell me damn it!"

"It'll take a while before he wakes up. You know Athena with her chemical formulas, they're very potent." said Thunder.

"Thunder?"

"Yes, I can see you. I'm a psychic remember? I can see and feel the supernatural much better than most people."

Now that he said that, I remembered him saying a long time ago that he was a psychic.

"Thunder, answer me. Is Raphael really the reason why I'm in this situation?"

"By 'I'm in this situation' you mean why your spirit is out of your still alive body, then the answer is both yes and no."

"Elaborate."

He sighed. "I can read minds remember? It wasn't him who ordered the ambush on you, but it was his men who ambushed you."

"What?"

"I believe a girl named Diana is the root of all this."

"That woman?!"

"Yes."

"Then tell Mono and the others, and have them release Raphael! He's innocent!" I said to him.

"Err... He has to be able to defend himself in front of the gang. I cannot meddle with this. You know I have limitations in the physical realm."

I also remembered what Thunder told me a long time ago. How he was not supposed to interfere with human lives. And that he was nothing but a spectator. He had limitations.

"At least defend him and agree with his answers."

"I'll do my best."

He opened a book and started reading in the leather couch nearby. An idea suddenly popped in my head.

"Hey, you're good at identifying and breaking curses right?"

"Uh, yeah?"

"What do you know about the curse in the Di Angelo Estate?" I asked.

Since Thunder knew a lot about curses and how to break them, I was hoping he would know how to break the curse in Raphael's land and free Elise and the others.

"Uh, am I right to assume that it's Raphael's land?" I nodded. "I don't think I've heard anything about the Di Angelo Estate curse."

"But maybe you'll know its other name. What was it again?" I tried to remember Elise's story. "Ah! The Ravendale Estate Curse!"

He was so surprised that he jumped out of his seat. "The what?! Did you just say the Ravendale Estate Curse?"

"I did. But it's the Di Angelo Estate now."

"Okay. The Ravendale Estate Curse is famous among the supernatural! It's a complicated curse and seemed to have no way to break it." Thunder sighed again. "But I love puzzles. So maybe I can take a look. Although nobody knows the nature of the curse."

"It binds the descendants of the people who killed the witch, Matilda Ravendale, and her family. So basically, some ghosts are trapped there, unable to get to the afterlife or the underworld or to heaven, take your pick."

"Hmm... I'll try it out. It'll need lots and lots of research though."

We suddenly heard a groan. I turned around and saw Raphael waking up. I immediately ran to him.

"Raphael, are you okay?"

"Liese? Where are we?"

"Wait wait wait!" Thunder called. "He can see you?"

"For some reason, yeah."

"Thunder of Red Society?" he noticed he was chained to the pillar and tried breaking free. "What's going on here?"

"Well, Mono and the others found out that it was your men that caused Red's accident. They're furious and they want to know the truth."

"But you know the truth."

"Sorry dude, I have limits. I can't directly involve myself in major physical events. But, don't worry, I'll support you. I'll call them then."

Thunder left.

"Raphael. You have to tell them the truth. Prove your innocence. It wasn't you who ordered to ambush me. It was Diana."

"What? Her? But she's my loyal right hand and friend!"

"People can change with influence." I said. "I mean, it was your men that ambushed me, supposedly, I still can't remember that day. And who else can mobilize your men except you? And her?"

Realization dawned unto him. "They wouldn't believe me. And I don't have any evidence."

"They will. I believe in you. And believe in me and Thunder."

Mono and the others went inside.

"Raphael, no, Hermes." said Mono. "I can't believe you dated Red just to destroy her."

"I didn't. I dated her because I love her."

"Liar!" Artemis punched him.

I could only watch as they interrogated them.

"I'm telling the truth. I love Red, no Liese. Now, why the hell would I want to kill her?" Raphael's voice was serious.

"But it was your men that ambushed her!"

"That is true. But I never ordered them to. It seems like," he paused, "I have to clean my ranks in La Casa Nera."

"Why should we believe you?" questioned both A1 and A2.

"Because if Liese was here she'd believe me." he eyed me. Good thing I was between Mono and Thunder. "She trusts me with everything she has, and I trust her with everything I have. After all, love conquers all."

"He's such a romantic." I said and elbowed Thunder.

"Ugh. Too cheesy." he muttered under his breath, but I heard him anyway. "I believe him. Red is good at discerning people. I trust her judgement. And besides, I know who really ordered the hit on Red."

"You know?" questioned Artemis.

"And you didn't bother telling us?"

"Geez, I only found out last night okay. Don't ask how I knew, but I do know. Okay?"

"Who?!" asked everyone.

"Diana." stated Raphael and the chains that bound him to the pillar came off. He was free. "Diana's the only one who has authority to mobilize my men except me."

Thunder whistled while everyone else was agape.

"How did you get free?" asked Pierce.

"I do live up to my alias, Hermes, the Greek god of mischief and thieves. I have skills. I am a future mafia boss, aren't I?" Raphael's aura was different. He was more confident and held more authority, like you couldn't help but fear and respect him at the same time. "Anyway, I have a mouse to catch."

I looked at Thunder with a gleeful expression and followed Raphael out of the hideout.

"Cool." I muttered.

***

Raphael and I were at the office, waiting for Diana whom he summoned. The door opened and Diana walked in.

"You called for me Seventh?" she asked.

"Stand in attention." Raphael ordered.

"Pardon?"

"Have you become a deaf?"

"No sir."

Raphael stood up and went to her. "I trusted you. I named you my second in command because I trusted you and your skills, but how could you betray me?"

"What are you talking about Seventh?" I could see and feel her nervousness.

"You were the one who ordered the hit on Liese. You're the reason why she's in a coma right now!"

I was surprised when he raised his voice.

"How could you hurt the love of my life?" Diana was only silent. "ANSWER ME!"

"Because she doesn't deserve to be by your side!" Diana spat angrily.

"What gives you the right to say that?!"

"I watched you grow, to be what you are now! You are the perfect person to replace your father as the boss of La Casa Nera! But as I watched you interact with that glorified queen bee, you've become soft! I cannot take that!" she started waving her hands. "Only the most ruthless and the strongest can take over La Casa Nera! That girl was corrupting you! She became your weakness! So, I got rid of her."

"You... How is she my weakness?!" I could see that Raphael was stopping himself from doing something dangerous.

"Love is dangerous. It was just unfortunate that she still lives, but our men will finish the job."

"What? Diana! Don't you dare!"

"Oh I do. With her death, you will close yourself from others, and you will become more ruthless. This is for the sake of La Casa Nera."

"AAAAAHHHH!" he was going to punch her, but I stopped him by stepping in between them. "What are you doing? It was her fault why you're in this situation!"

"Diana's probably wondering why you stopped mid-air and why you're talking to yourself, but let me tell you this." I took a deep breath. "I hate her, a lot. And she probably did all this because of you. She's in love with you. I've seen the looks she had been giving you all these time and it’s the same look I held when I was only admiring you. Now, I know you want to hurt her in any way possible, but don't stoop so low. If you get provoked now, things could get more complicated."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Give her mercy, but make sure she will never commit such a thing ever again."

He seemed doubtful at first but he nodded. "Fine."

I stepped out of his was and he stood in front of Diana. "Diana, do you know who Liese really is?"

"I do not need to know who that wench is."

"She's Red Queen. The Queen of Gehenna, you bloody dimwit!"

Diana gasped and took a step back. "The strongest gangster in Gehenna, the one who kicked your ass was that girl?"

I grinned at his direction.

"As much as I hate to admit that she kicked my ass, yes. Liese is that very same person. And you know how much we need Red Society's allegiance and assistance in establishing La Casa Nera in Gehenna! You ruined that!"

"Seventh, I'm sorry! I didn't know! I'm so sorry!"

"Too late. Get out of my face Diana, and make sure that I will never see you or your shadow ever again. Don't even think about going near Liese and to everyone we cherish, you will surely regret it. If I ever see you again, you'll never receive the mercy you're receiving now. Got it?"

She frantically nodded.

"Run Diana. And never look back." Raphael was scary and his voice was full of authority.

Diana left screaming.

"So you do have a scary side." I said. "You should use that at school sometimes."

"But first, we have to figure out how to get you back to your body first."

I kissed him. "Yes sir."

***

Five Months Later...

I was bored out of my mind, and I was watching the television in the living room when both Thunder and Seijuro entered.

"Guys! You almost gave me a heart attack! Do I get heart attacks? Nevermind" I yelled. "Does Raphael even know you're here?"

"I do." Raphael entered the room. "The moment I opened the door, the two came rushing in, without even greeting."

"So, what is it you two?" I asked.

The two spoke at the same time and I had no idea what they were saying.

"Speak one at a time, or I'll punch both your lights out."

The two gulped and Seijuro stepped forward.

"I have a way to get you back to your body."

"Okay."

"That's it?" Seijuro questioned. "No jumping for happiness or something?"

"It only took you five months. But let's get to that later, let's help Elise and the others first."

He was speechless.

"Okay, Thunder."

"Okay, so I found how to reverse the curse and free everyone so that they can get to the afterlife." Elise, Margery and Anna came to the living room and sat next to me. Since Thunder and Seijuro could see them, they greeted them, but since Raphael couldn't, he just did nothing.

"What would it be?"

"Okay, so we have to get to the exact place where she casted the curse and set up a few signs, which Seijuro can help me with. There's a ritual we need to do. The only person who can reverse the curse is a descendant of the caster. And the main ingredient is the blood of the caster. Someone form the bloodline can do." Thunder explained.

"But there's a problem." Elise voiced out.

"All her children died that day." said Anna. "Matilda Ravendale does not have any living descendants left."

"That's where you're wrong." Thunder grinned. "I pulled a few strings, called a few people and contacted a few hackers, and found the remaining descendants of Matilda."

"Explain." we all asked.

"Okay, so Matilda Ravendale had an illegitimate son who was sent for adoption before she and her family migrated here in the Philippines all those years ago." I was surprised with this revelation. "All her daughters were killed, but that kid was abroad, and was kept a secret."

"Okay, so her son is the source of descendants, where are they now?" I asked.

"Most of them are in Europe, but there is a family here in the Philippines which descended from him; consisted of a father, mother and a daughter. For sure we can't ask the parents, but we can definitely ask the daughter."

"Where is she now?"

"You." he pointed at me.

"Huh?"

"Your father's grandfather is Matilda's son, Arthur Ravenwood. He married into the Cross family all those years ago."

"Grandpa Arthur..." I muttered.

I remembered dad's stories about Grandpa Arthur. He said he was the funniest grandpa ever and was a really nice guy too. I couldn't believe his mother was Matilda Ravendale. But I then remembered something.

"I'm not the person that you need."

"What?" was everyone's reaction.

"What are you talking about Hime-chan? You are Aunt El and Uncle Tim's only child. Who else is there?"

"I'm not their daughter. I'm nothing but a replacement for their son."

Two months ago, I found out about my origins. I was visiting my body in the hospital when a man in his middle forties came inside. My mother, who was visiting me too that time was immediately enraged.

"What are you doing here, Giovanni?" my mom asked in gritted teeth.

"I heard what happened to her. I'm just here to see her condition." answered the man.

"She's still in a coma. Now that you know, get out of here."

"You cannot stop me from worrying about her Elizabeth. She is my flesh and blood. She is still my daughter."

I gasped and my eyes went wide.

"Your flesh and blood? Your daughter? The fact that you took our son and gave her to us sixteen years ago, made you lose your right as her father. She is mine and Timoteo's child now. Not yours. So get out of here Giovanni."

The man, Giovanni was silent.

"I'll let you meet your son. But you cannot tell him the truth."

"Still the same selfish Giovanni. Since you and your wife couldn't conceive a son, you took my son to groom him to be your heir and casted Liese aside. We are already fine as a family you don't have to stick your nose to it. Get out Giovanni. And don't let me see you again."

"Very well Elizabeth."

The man left and I saw mom breakdown. I had never seen mom breakdown before. She was a strong and regal woman who could control everyone in the palm of her hands. That was how people think of her, but seeing her cry, it somehow broke my heart.

"I'm sorry Liese, for keeping the truth from you." she said in between sobs. "You're better without him or his organization. You are my child, got it? Not his or anyone else's. Mine."

She held my hand. And somehow, I could feel her hand unto mine.

"You're still my mom too."

Going back to the present, the people and ghosts in the living room was silent and was shocked.

"Don't even think about feeling sorry for me. I already got over it."

"If what you're saying is true, then we have to do the research again!" exclaimed Thunder. "I can't possibly ask your father to do the ritual. I might get sent into an asylum!"

"You don't have to start from scratch actually. We know the one we're looking for very well."

"Who?" Raphael asked.

"You Raphael."

"Pardon?"

I gave them a sad smile.

"Remember that day when your father visited? The man who claimed to be my father, and the man you call your father, is the same guy." I looked at him. "You are Mom and Dad's real son. That means, you are the one needed for the ritual. And your blood too."

Everyone paused.

"Now that I think about it, the reason why I could probably get out of the house whenever I want was because I got some of Raphael's blood on my hands. If it's true that his blood is the key, then that explains my situation."

"Liese, I..."

"Let's talk about this more later. And let's confront our parents about it when I wake up from my coma. Right now, we have to help Elise and the others."

"Okay."

***

We were standing in the middle of the dried pool. Raphael said that the witch casted the curse at that place. He didn't know why, but he said he trusted his instincts. And well, he was the witch's descendant, so he probably had a point.

Thunder and Seijuro started to prepare for the ritual. Once everything was prepared...

"Remember to just follow what's written on the book." instructed Thunder.

"Okay."

Raphael stood in the middle of the pool, in front of the makeshift altar which had many carvings of stars and unfamiliar symbols. He started to chant.

"The curse of this land which had spanned for more than a hundred years I now break you. As a descendant of Matilda the Witch, a bloodline of the Ravendale Coven, I deem you spirits of the descendants of my ancestor's enemies, unbound form this land." he cut his hand and let it drop on a pentagram in the center of the altar. "With my blood as a catalyst, you are free to go."

There was the sound of glass breaking and I felt like the barrier surrounding the house was suddenly gone, broken. Suddenly, all the ghosts in the estate surrounded the pool. They were all glowing.

"I can see them." I heard Raphael mutter.

"Thank you." said their unified voices.

All of a sudden, their glowing vanished and a dark cloud covered the sky. From the depths of the pool, a black shadow emerged and entered Raphael. And then...

"No one is going to leave this land. These spirits will be consumed by me, and I will extract my revenge to the world!" said an unearthly voice that was coming out of Raphael's mouth.

"Raphael!" I called.

A funnel suddenly formed and started sucking everything around us. I tried to get Raphael back to his senses.

"STOP THAT!" I shouted as a funnel of light started sucking everything around me. In the center of the said funnel was the figure of the boy I love. "NO! DON'T DO IT! RAPHAEL! PLEASE!"

"Too late girl." said Raphael, but at the same time not Raphael, for the deep voice was not his own. "Raphael is no longer here. There's only… ME!"

The funnel got stronger that even the people at the sides, may they be spirit or not, started to get drawn into it.

"NO! RAPHAEL! COME TO YOUR SENSES!" I begged. Tears started to stream down my face. "Please."

Raphael suddenly stopped and clutched his head.

"No! You cannot! Stop! Don't come out!" said the unearthly voice inside of him.

"You do not own me." said Raphael's voice. "Not now, nor ever."

Raphael suddenly took a knife out of nowhere. With great difficulty, he looked at me and smiled. "I love you. Don't ever forget that okay?"

"No." I muttered as I realized what he was trying to do and ran to his direction. "NO!"

I ran as fast as I could to his direction, but, it was unfortunate. The blade plunged in his heart.

"NO! RAPHAEL!"

The black shadow came out of his body, but was suspended in mid-air when five papers with pentagrams in them surrounded her. She was screaming and writhing in pain. But my focus was on Raphael.

"Raphael." I said.

Blood was gushing out of his wound and some were gushing out from his mouth.

"No. Raphael. Don't do this to me."

"She'll die. She cannot possess somebody else unless it's her bloodline. She can only choose two things now. Either fade or go to hell." he said while smiling. "Liese, I love you so much. That I'm prepared to give up my position as La Casa Nera's heir just to be with you."

He kissed me. Memories of our time together rushed into my mind.

'No, this is not the end.'

I broke from our kiss and faced Matilda.

"Tell me how to save him." I said, no demanded, from the spirit of the witch.

"You can't. He's going to die." she said and laughed like a maniac.

"That's not possible. He's not destined to die yet." said Thunder.

"Ah, a mortal blessed by the Fates to peer unto somebody's life. How distasteful. I suppose you're here to make sure I go to hell."

"No, you're not going to any afterlife." Thunder said in a dangerous voice. "Seijuro."

Seijuro started chanting in Japanese.

"No! No! No!"

"The Fates has decided that your punishment is for you to cease to exist. Your spirit will be destroyed, and you will never have the chance to be purified and reborn. It is the decree of the heavens."

"NO! NO! NO!"

Her spirit started to vanish until nothing remained.

"Thunder, tell me how to save Raphael." I demanded.

"It's a very big price to pay Liese."

"But he will live right?"

"He will."

"How?"

"To save him. You both have to exchange something of the same value and importance."

"Like what?"

"Well, it could be blood, life force or memories. I'm not certain."

"Let's give it a try."

I went to Raphael's limp form and pressed my lips unto his. I could feel myself vanish. I looked at Raphael one last time then everything went black.

***

Twelve years later...

I sat comfortably in my chair as my patient went out of my office.

It had been twelve years since all those happened; now I am a successful psychiatrist with her own clinic.

Twelve years ago, I woke up from my coma, but I still remembered everything from my ghostly experience. And the price I had to pay for saving Raphael was my relationship of him. I had no other choice but to be separated from him. As for him, were his memories of me and our time together. Thunder said he could never regain those ever.

I sighed as I thought about it.

"Good afternoon doc." said a voice.

'It must be my next patient.'

I collected myself and faced the patient. But when I saw him, I froze. My patient was no other than Raphael di Angelo himself.

"Hello." I greeted as I composed myself. "What can I do for you?"

"Well, I've been having weird dreams lately. I think it's because of stress so my friends recommended me to you."

"Okay. Anything else?"

"I have some things and know some people, but I don't remember how I acquired them in the first place."

I nodded.

"Also, in my dreams, I keep seeing this one girl wearing my high school's uniform, but I don't remember her at all."

I smiled. I just remembered what Thunder said to me a few days after I woke up.

"Don't be sad. The Fates like twists in the story. If you two are really meant to be together, you'll see each other again. So keep your hopes up, okay?"

I chuckled.

"Is there something wrong doc?" asked Raphael.

"Nothing. Just thinking how the Fates like their twists."

-The End-