Ebony McCloud

> "*Are you ready... ...to take a trip to the Other Side?*"
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> ― Ebony asking Mary to help perform a ritual
> The Curse in the Candlelight
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**Ebony McCloud** is a character in the *Scarlet and Ivy* series. She made her debut in the series' fifth book, *The Curse in the Candlelight*.

## Appearance

Ebony has very long black hair and stormy grey eyes. She usually wears black boots with her Rookwood uniform and has painted her nails black before, despite it being against the Rookwood school rules.

## History

### Story

Before attending Rookwood School, Ebony would travel around Scotland with her father, who would perform in plays at different locations. Ebony's father taught her how to read, count numbers, and sell tickets, as well as telling her about acting and magic. After moving to England and purchasing Fairbank Theatre, Mr. McCloud believed that Ebony should receive a proper education.

Ebony forced herself to do her best at her entrance exam, as she wanted to make her father proud and thought she had no choice. After her exam, however, she met Muriel Witherspoon and they started talking. Ebony told Muriel athatshe didn't want to attend Rookwood, to which Muriel explained to Ebony that she had a plan and that it needed someone who could perform well. Muriel stated that if Ebony followed her instructions, Ebony would soon be expelled from Rookwood and she would be able to head home.

### *The Curse in the Candlelight*

Ebony is first seen storming into the hall, and she shocks everyone when she speaks back to Mrs Knight without any consequences. Ebony then proves to be rather mystical, seeming to be able to perform magic and have all the teachers under a spell. When Muriel goes missing without a trace and reappears days later, Ariadne and the twins point to Ebony as the one to blame.

On the night of All Hallows' Eve, Scarlet and Ivy storm into Ebony's room, where they find her reading silently with her cat. Ebony then explains that she isn't really a witch and that Muriel had asked for help with her plan. Ebony also exclaims that Muriel managed to hide in a crypt whilst she vanished and that Ariadne was most likely hidden there.

When Scarlet, Ivy and Ebony get to the crypt, they see Ariadne tied up, being threatened by Muriel. Scarlet leaps out from her hiding place and Muriel manages to escape and lock all four of them inside. After everyone tells Ariadne that she is a good friend, Ebony helps untie the rope from Ariadne's hands ,and Ivy burns down the door, helping them escape.

When they all get back to Rookwood, Mrs Knight is furious with the twins and tells them they are on their final warning. However, Mrs Knight's anger turns its focus onto Muriel after finding out she trapped four students in a crypt and is expelled on the spot. Mr McCloud then scolds his daughter, to which Ebony apologises and says that she was feeling homesick. Mr McCloud's expression softens, and the two embrace before his departure.

The next day, Ebony turns into an outcast as the truth comes out about her not being a witch. She ends up sulking in her bedroom, to which Scarlet and Ivy respond that they would like to be Ebony's friends. When all three of them head to the cafeteria, they notice that Violet has returned to Rookwood. Ebony approaches Violet and asks if she needs help with her luggage, to which she happily agrees.

## Possessions

* Playing Cards
* Tarot Cards
* Midnight - Midnight is the pet cat of Ebony McCloud. She had brought it into the school during her first year at Rookwood, but her father later took it back to the Fairbank Theater. Midnight was sometimes referred to as Ebony's familiar when she had convinced everyone that she was a witch.

## Trivia

* Ebony's mother taught her to speak Gaelic.
	+ Ebony states that she still sometimes thinks in Gaelic.