It didn't help that the ghost girl was not actually a ghost, and now she had to be a damsel in distress. Kasey and Destery had to finish the Charcoal Volucres off before their official orders came in. If they were so much as suspected once of rebelling or acting out of line, then they would be severely punished.

Destery would rather be in an official relationship with Ophelia than receive that.

"Ignis Volucres," a deep voice hissed as a shadowy figure stepped before the doorframe of the abandoned apartment.

Destery was somewhat disappointed that the enemy did not come barreling into the building like Kasey had, but supposed old men were not able to do stunts.

He pulled out his gem, squeezing it into the shape of his beloved Inferno; a long, gold rapier, and whipped it to his side.

"Come on in."

Destery could tell the Charcoal Volucres was sniffing out for Kasey, wondering where he was hiding, but knew by hovering outside none of his questions would be answered.

"Where is Lydiana?" he asked.

Ghost girl.

"I am sorry, who?" Destery played dumb.

Patience was not in the man's tone. "The girl you ran off with."

"Oh, her. Well, we did run off together at first, but then we separated. I have no idea where she is now." Destery eyed him fully, confidently telling him what was the truth.

The Charcoal Volucres jumped inside, and Destery blocked him from the stairs.

"Sorry, this place is quite dangerous. If you happen to fall walking on those stairs and die, you take your memories with you, and I cannot have that."

"You think you are so wise, young Volucres, but let me warn you," the enemy sneered, "I have lived much longer and I know many things you do not. So if I say I do not remember you, be glad, and walk away."

Suddenly, a red dagger flew through the air and pierced the shoulder of the Charcoal Volucres.

"Walk away?" Kasey exclaimed from behind. "I have never walked away from a challenge. Have you, Des?"

Destery shrugged. "I honestly cannot remember."

"Ah, you see? Now, how can we walk away if we do not even remember how to?" The enemy groaned as it yanked Kasey's dagger out of his flesh. "You might just need to remind us."

The Charcoal chucked Kasey's small knife at Destery, which he blocked with the side of his sword, and the Volucres growled, "No problem."

Kasey and Destery ducked just as the old man created a massive fireball and began shooting them sporadically around.

"He is not even aiming!" Kasey cried.

"He does not have to," Destery said, pointing around. "Look."

The walls, the staircase, even the floor, instantly caught fire because of the Charcoal Volucres and they were circled by a ring of flames.

"Looks like the only way to go is up," he smiled knowingly.

Kasey and his partner glanced at each other in hesitation. If they fought down there, they would quickly burn to death. But if they fought on the upper levels, the girl might be discovered.

Kasey knew where she was hiding. He would be able to keep the man's attention off that area. He was good with distractions.

As if reading Destery's mind, Kasey smirked and said, "Fine with us, old man."

All three of the Volucres' rocketed in the air, through the hole between the square spiral staircase, and continued upwards until they reached the highest floor.

The Charcoal Volucres landed first and threw more of his hand flames at the boys.

Destery dragged the tip of his sword across the banister rail, creating a small lick of flames, and swiped his rapier in the Charcoal's direction, sending the trail of flames off of the banister and to him. The flames sliced his left palm and he hissed in agony.

Kasey appeared behind man, kicking his back inwards. The enemy swerved around furiously, snatching Destery's partner's ankle and swung him into the wall, sending Kasey crashing through.

Now that it was just Destery and the Charcoal, Destery gave him no time for recovery. As Destery raced forward, the Charcoal Volucres held up his uninjured hand, glowing right at Destery's chest.

Destery dodged by swinging off the rail and landing onto the stairs one level lower. He knew, even with him and Kasey gone, the Charcoal would not abandon the fight. Not now.

Kasey flew past Destery. Or rather, fell right past him, down the hole of the staircase, to the depths of the fire pit.

Destery wanted to close his eyes, to turn away, but that would leave him with his guard down. His body instinctively turned around to see the Charcoal Volucres and a miniature sun glaring at him.

"You never get tired of those ball things, do you?" Destery sighed, leaping into the air. He managed to dodge it but oddly enough, it turned around in an attempt to hit him again.

"Run all you want, but it will just keep following you until you are hit," the Charcoal cackled. "Now I am off to find that girl."

"She is not here!" Destery reminded him as he flattened himself on the ground.

"Yes, yes, of course," the enemy agreed, turning one hand back at him and throwing yet another mimicking fireball.

...

It was dark, cramped, dusty, and unbearable. But what was most unbearable wasn't Lydia's body scrunched up inside an ancient wardrobe in a ghostly bedroom but the sounds she could hear. Lydia could hear explosions, people shouting, walls collapsing.

It sounded like Mr. Fisherman and the boys were planning on renovating this building themselves.

Lydia's face softened in the wardrobe's darkness as she recalled how nice Kasey was and, in a way, Destery. She remembered how Ty wanted her to steal from Destery, but she refused because she considered him one of them-poor, just trying to scrape his way through life. And maybe he really was. In his own, really peculiar, out-of-the-ordinary way.

But wasn't Lydia out-of-the-ordinary? She could walk out of her body!

Lydia thought Destery would go mad when he discovered that but he had, in fact, acted pretty casual about it; almost as if it was a daily occurrence to him.

And perhaps it was. Maybe this is something they go through on normal occasions. Fight people like Mr. Fisherman for what Lydia assumed to be justifiable reasons, see ghostly people like her, and work as valet.

Was she really going to hide in this cupboard and wait out the fight, let Destery and Kasey die, just because she was afraid of Mr. Fisherman? Because he gave her a chowder feeling?

Lydia inhaled the dusty inside of the wardrobe and calmed herself down. She was not a scared girl. And she was unusual, too. If Lydiana could help, she should.

Lydia felt herself sink out of her body, which slumped heavily against the doors of the wardrobe. When Lydia stepped out of the wooden closet, she closed the doors tight, making sure that her body would remain inside.

She slunk out of her hidden room into the battle zone where she saw nothing but fire. And then she saw Kasey, falling through the air, plummeting fast into a bonfire below.

Lydia was a ghost. She could not fly, nor could she do anything to catch Kasey at the moment. If she screamed his name, Mr. Fishman might hear her.

Lydiana looked around and saw a few heavy chunks of crumbled cement cluttered down the hallway. Quickly, she picked up the largest pieces she could find and threw them down at the fainted Kasey.

Lydia hoped that if she did manage to hit him, the stone would not kill him.

One finally managed to hit the left side of his head, twisting his body awkwardly, and he jolted awake.

Only inches from the fire he leaped to the wobbly staircase, rubbing his sore cheek. When his blue eyes locked onto hers, Lydia waved meekly, although she can't say he really understood the situation enough to wave back.

Lydia was supposed to be in the wardrobe but there she was, transparent before him.

She did not have the time to run down the staircase to him and explain, though. He needed to defeat Mr. Fisherman. He needed to fight with-

Thunk!-Destery.

Lydia's eyes widened and she raced down the hall to the nearest stairs, taking little time to notice how the slightest step out of place could sent her spiraling down to her doom.

If she fell into the fire, would she feel something? The horse tried to kill her and nothing happened. But that did not mean she was any less terrified.

When Lydia reached the second to highest level she found Destery, flattened on the floor, vulnerable to two spheres made of flames, ready to attack him from the front and behind.

But if she jumped in now, Mr. Fisherman would clearly see her. Or maybe he would not. She did not know. Destery saw her as did Kasey.

As if he sensed her presence, Destery's eyes flicked to where Lydia lay flat, and she pointed slightly to the ball vibrating off of Mr. Fisherman's hands towards Destery's face.

"Dodge that ball," Lydiana mouthed. A grimace on Destery's face said that he understood, but wondered if she had anything less obvious to say.

Mr. Fisherman jumped off of the level, preparing to distance himself from the explosion about to happen. But, just as he left, Lydia arrived.

"Destery, jump!" the orphan screamed before she leapt before the other sphere that raced towards his back.

Lydia honestly was not sure it would work. But if she could take objects such as wallets, close doors, and throw rocks, then she certainly should be able to take the hit from a fireball. It seemed only natural.

Lydia knew she should have felt heat. An overwhelming, unbearable heat. Instead, she felt a chilled wind crush against her body and attempt to devour it whole.

Lydiana was thrown backwards, the ball diminishing begrudgingly within her.

Lydia lay flat, waiting for Destery to say something, when she realized he was still having issues dodging the last ball. He, after all, could not take a hit. He would die instantly.

Destery ran towards the end of the hallway wall and just as he was cornered, flipped backwards and over the ball, watching it ram through the wall and disappear.

"We need to hurry," he said as he rushed to Lydia's side. "You should be hiding, not out here risking your life."

"I am a ghost-how can I risk my life?"

"But you have a body. How can you be a ghost?"

"It is," Lydia opened her mouth then sighed in exasperation. "It is hard to explain. I do not even really know the answers."

Destery hesitated. "Lydiana, right?"

"How did you-"

"This man wants you. Do you know why?"

Lydia glanced down at her transparent hands. Most likely...

Destery grabbed her elbow and pulled her forward. "Come on. We have to find your body and get you out of here."

"What about Mr. Fisherman?"

"Who?"

"The bad guy. And your friend?"

"Kasey will be fine," Destery answered, certain beyond belief. "You on the other hand, you are not one of us."

"One of what?" Lydiana was glowing with curiosity.

There was a crash as the stairs began to collapse, and a hand clawed desperately onto the floor level that they stood on.

"Augh! Des! I know you are there! Do not leave me hanging!"

"Kasey!" Destery raced to the hand and yanked up his partner, who looked beyond exhausted.

Kasey looked around with glazed eyes before they fixated onto Lydia.

She expected a bombard of questions but instead he said, "You! You are supposed to be hiding!"

"I-I am. My body is where we left it, at least. I am here to help."

Kasey appeared genuinely confused, but he pieced together the information as quickly and as best as he could.

"You have to get back to your body."

"What? Why?"

"Mr. Fisherman, he, uh," Kasey pointed, "cut off the stairs. He is very close to the room where you hid. He will find your body."

Lydia blinked, unable to understand the issue. "But, I am here so I should be fine, right?"

Kasey glanced at Destery like Lydia was insane.

"If your body is destroyed, how will you return to it?" Kelsey demanded.

"Kasey," Destery warned, "lower your voice. The Volucris could return at any minute. We have to remain calm and come up with a plan."

"Ahm." Lydia held up her bubbling right hand. "I-I am beginning to burn."

"What?" the two boys asked in unison.

Lydia's eyes widened and she held her hand to them, showing it cloaked in flames.

"I am on fire!"