"Haunted house? Yeah, if that's the case, I know exactly what I'm digging up." Tecna answered and took the book from the librarian's hand.

"Be careful. And don't let them in." The librarian warned before turning away.

"Wait, what did you just say?" Tecna hollered.

The old woman twisted her head back slightly. "I said. Don't let them in."

Tecna glanced at her name tag; Muriel Waychester.
The name was familiar. By the time she had placed it, the woman was gone.

"I found the book." Tecna announced, upon getting back to the table.

"Great, stop wasting my time and start reading." Icy muttered.

Tecna pulled out a pen and a notebook and began jotting down some notes;

Salem 1692

In early 1692 manor 1903 was owned by the government. The manor was used as courthouse as well has home to judge McHawwon. The man had held several executions and celebrations on that property. On the 15th of November McHawwon sold the house to the Blackthorn family for a large sum of money.

"Tell me something I don't know." Tecna grumbled and flipped through the pages.

The Blacktorn Family

The Blackthrons were a family most known for playing a key role in the Trial Nocte Demum. Francis Blackthorn (37)--a industrialist and former-slave master--married Vernilla Bretton (29) in 1687. They had five children--names lost in translation--four teenage girls and one younger boy. Francis Blackthorn aided in the creation of many farming tools, this bought the family the wealth they used to purchase Lamenta manor in late 1692. Even later that year the man's wife was accused of witchcraft and executed on her own land. See page 187, Trial Nocte Demum.

The Trial Nocte Demum

On December 18th Vernilla Blackthorn was caught making herbal remedies (now a much used antibiotic) to aid her youngest daughter's fight against pneumonia. The woman was accused of practicing potion making and other witchcraft. The woman was to be burned at the stake that night. Francis Blackthorn was quick to defend the woman and for that was hung by her side. The house was then set aflame, it burned to the ground taking all five children with it. Later autopsies revealed that the youngest girl had died an hour earlier, the pneumonia had claimed her. The public justified the burning of the children in calming that the second eldest girl was also a witch. Based solely on her 'other-worldly' appearance.

Lamenta in the 1800's

On August 3rd 1844 the Flynnbay renovated the manner and started up a family run hotel. The hotel was initially a huge success About a month later the business was driven out by supposed spirits of the executed witches wandering around both the halls and the forest and land surrounding the hotel. Guests had claimed to have felt eyes fall upon them at the break of dawn or as they slept. Some had claimed to see a young woman helping a child get dressed in front of various mirrors. Even more had claimed to see a little boy staring at them from afar at the edge of the forest. On March 27th Darius Flynnbay was pushed from the top floor in a successful attempt at theft. His wife hung herself in the garden shortly after.

Tecna slammed the book shut. "Congrats, you may have illegally inhabited the most haunted house in Salem."

"No shit." Icy replied. "We done here?"

"I think so. For now." Tecna decided.

"Perhaps we should go to the old census building. Ya know, find out more about the Blackthorns?" Flora suggested.

"Like the names of the children." Layla added.

"We can do that tomorrow. Remember, we have a tight time schedule." Icy pointed out.

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The four women arrived at the house just as the sun met the horizon. Not quite dark but certainly not light. Icy stepped into the house, followed by Flora and Tecna (who was pretty eager to share the news). A chill ran down Layla's spine. She was being watched. She could tell. She folded her arms over her chest and looked into the windows of floor two. Nothing...no one. She looked to the forest. That's where she saw him. A little boy with hair the color of soot and eyes of an unnatural blue. She opened her mouth to shout. The boy lifted his pointer to his lips and faded away. She went shuddered and walked inside.