Within Baker Manor Mandy was preparing to leave. She’d said she wouldn’t see Nate again. Could she just show up like this? It was a foolish question. The information that Renee was revealing could mean the difference between life and death. If the Paladins were going to come in force they had to come up with a plan.

  Part of her considered just falling back on using her father. He might be able to solve this problem. It's what she’d done her whole life. That was when she wasn’t relying on Nate. Only for a brief stint had she been a true rebel. Her rebellion was also admittedly brief since she needed his help by the end. It seems she never really took her fight far enough.

  She adjusted her hat. The weather necessitated a heavy coat. Without thinking she’d dressed up more than normal. Makeup finally in place her eyes were a darker purple to push out from the calmer tone of her hair. Black lipstick and a cute black dress. It was double pleated with a lace design. The heavy jacket was a dark red overcoat. She didn’t often get to dress up in front of Nate. Was it too much?

  In the hall she moved to Teddy’s room. She’d kept him close not wanting him to be far from her. A promise with Nate wasn’t something she could break. Lightly she rasped on the door. A flurry of scuffling happened inside. It wasn’t just one set of feet. Worried, she pushed the door open.

  “Teddy, Are you ok?”

  Inside she found Teddy, as was expected he was in the midst of rushing to get ready. He’d obviously slept in from his bed head and unkempt nature. All the previous days he’d been awake far before her. What was not expected was Renee. A sheepish smile was all she offered to Mandy as she too rushed to get ready.

  “I can explain.”

  Teddy said coming forward his clothes were still disheveled. If they were older she might have thought it something else, no maybe she should be suspicious of anything. Renee was obviously off.

  “Do it quick and don’t you lie. Nate told me how to tell if you were.”

  This was a lie but Teddy didn’t know that. His face went round eyed and slack jawed for a second. He’d not known that Nate could tell when he was lying, not that he did it often. With a bit of nervousness he relayed the events of what had happened. He didn’t go into full detail of the story, nor the fact Renee had paralyzed him.

  That night after she’d offered him her life he’d been confused. It still wasn’t right for him to take her life no matter what. Teddy took a step forward. Grasping the outstretched blade in his hand. He turned it over with a glamorous detailing on the hilt.

  “Why would I kill you? I know you're connected to that story or it's a metaphor for something. If you're the victim you're still ten now. This will just play into the cycle. I don’t think I can do something like that.”

  “Please Dear. This is the only way. I’m a monster. A freak of nature. After what I did controlling you. You should know what is the proper thing to do.”

  She closed her eyes, spreading her arms wide open . The heart was only a push below the skin. Teddy hesitated. He always did everything that was logical. If it can help Nate then he’d befriend a pretty girl and learn her secrets. That was his justification after the fact. In truth he’d been dragged into her rhythm. Could he just let himself continue to be dragged along?

  “You said they were a Necromancer? That controls souls?”

  Wordlessly, she replied with a slight nod. That wild spark that she’d had before seemed so dim. Being caught by Mandy and the revelation of the Paladins seemed to have broken her. Teddy always thought about WWND. What Would Nate Do? He was more confident forthwith, and threw caution to the wind. Why couldn’t he for once?

  “Then you want me to take your life? To stop some form of cycle of life and death?”

  “Yes, Dear now do it.”

  “Then it shall be done.”

  Renee felt a sudden pressure and then toppled backwards onto the ground. Teddy had wrapped her in a hug. She struggled to remove his arms, but it proved useless. That family must be eating something to be so strong.

  “What are you doing?”

  She demanded furiously. This close to everything ending and he’d stopped just short. Was it his belief in her or maybe that she’d not made him hate her enough. She could try better from now on. Push him away and… Her thought was cut off.

  “I won’t kill you till we have a Necromancer on hand. Or I’ll do it myself if we can’t figure it out.”

  “W..wh..What? Are you crazy? I don't want this to happen again. It's written in fate. You think you can defy it?”

  “Isn’t that what you are trying to do? I won’t let you just kill yourself for some stupid reason and without a proper plan. Think a little. If the souls are bound in a cycle all you have to do is prevent it from going to the next step.”

  “Are you saying? You’ll kill me and then take my soul into service?”

  “I would prefer to keep you alive, but if it comes down to it. Yes. Then you won’t be in whatever cycle you're trapped in. You’ll just be trapped with me… Dear.”

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  Renee turned completely red. After all this time finding his soul again and he wasn’t any different. Making her heart flutter and knowing just what to say. He at the same time was completely different. In all those lives that meek form had needed her guiding hand. She’d been the one to take him in, care for him. This time he wasn’t alone, this time he was showing his strength. She felt herself melt as she for the first time was the one being protected.

  “You called me Dear!”

  She nearly shouted right into his ear. If Mandy had been awake she’d have heard her from the other room. Her smile stretched wide. How could she give up if he was going so far for her?

  “Yes, but don’t get used to it. That's a you thing. Here, let me help you up. Now didn’t you say that monsters fall under a Necromancer's command can’t we just do the same?”

  After explaining up to there he told Mandy that they had formed a contract. A magically binding agreement. It was the foundation of Necromancy and magic in general. With their pact formed it should solve her problem. In theory at least. Renee wasn’t all there when it came to her memory of magical matters. She still wasn’t ready to come completely clean on that topic.

  Renee joined them and gave Mandy an apologetic smile. She knew the older girl was not happy with anything that had just been told to her. From her perspective it was obvious that she’d failed Nate. Renee wondered if her love was similar to her own, a feeling of comradery formed in the pit of her stomach.

  “Miss Mandy. I apologize for trying to control you. In my desperation I seem to have grown uncouth. I will do everything that I can to help your lover. Nate will not succumb to the blight in his soul or the ripped piece casting him out of balance.”

  ““WHAT!!””

  Both Teddy and Mandy shouted in shock. Renee was taken aback. Did she not just make it clear that he would be fine? Her help would guarantee it after all.

  “Yes, I am not the greatest in this aspect but, I will do my utmost to help.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us this sooner, you, you, pipsqueak.”

  “I thought I’d be dead by now.”

  The two non-psycos looked at one another. Her words seemed obvious if what had happened was taken into consideration. That didn’t change the fact they needed to head to Nate pronto. A silent agreement was made between Teddy and Mandy to deal with her mental health later.

  Dressed warmly they rushed down the steps just as they reached the front door it swung open. A man in his 40’s with a salt and pepper mustache curled on the ends stepped through the door. His fine suit jacket and matching over coat flapped with the billowing wind. His eyes were hawkish and he was tall. He loomed large over the three of them. It was no wonder where Mandy got her height.

  The Three were stopped in their tracks. He looked at them with a politician's smile. The aura coming off of him made both Renee and Teddy feel something was off about him. He approached Mandy in a stalking long stride. He couldn’t quite peer down at her but he certainly could with the kids.

  “Father, what are you doing here?”

  He arched a single eyebrow at her question. Looking up and down the children with an appraising gaze. He squinted an eye and looked closer. As if to bore into their very souls. He responded in a greasily smooth clear voice, one made for radio, podcasts, or politics.

  “Is this not my home? I did not know I needed your permission to be here.”

  “No, Father of course not.”

  “That is fine enough, my child. You're the last one of my chicks to leave the nest, I can’t deny you your flights of fancy. For that matter where might you be heading?”

  “Ah, father we are…”

  “NO. You boy, answer me.”

  He pointed a twisted finger at Teddy. His hands had been badly injured some years ago. An injury he’d told Mandy was from slamming his hand in the car door. It was from the time her mother was leaving them. In his confusion looking for her he’d damaged them. Teddy assessed the man and he wasn’t an idiot.

  “We are going to the Flick-and-Go with Mandy. She said she needs to pick up her stuff. Since she won’t be working there it’d be best to get them now. I’ve been cooped up here so she said she’d take me.”

  Renee was shocked at how easily he lied. Clearly, a bad influence from Nate. She would need to talk to him about putting her Dear on the right track once more. It was cuter if he couldn’t lie.

  “Is that so? Mandy? And here I thought you were going to go looking for your friend. You know that Kent boy has gone missing. What a shame when someone who is so. Be. Loved. Disappears. I wouldn't want to see the same happen to my own daughter.”

  “Kent is missing?”

  Mandy didn’t keep up with Kent all that much. She still hated his guts even if he was Nate’s best friend. Over the past week she hadn’t really thought of giving him a call. She’d split her schedule between Teddy and preparing for college. She’d need to do some studying to get her back to an acceptable standard before she went. Not to mention where she’d stay while there.

  “Oh, you didn’t know my child. There, there, I am sure the police will do their jobs. Finding citizens that provide value to the town. Of course if you were doing something else. Like visiting that boy, it would also not be good. An accident like that in the morning. No, one even saw how or who did it. Could get you into trouble.”

  Mandy was sweating; she didn’t think they’d be getting out of here. Not until he left and they could go on their way. She nervously laughed.

  “Father, it was a bad accident.”

  “Yes, no doubt due to his affiliations. Delinquents are trash. Be sure not to become like that boy. Now Mandy I have just returned. Don't you think going out now is disrespectful? Shouldn’t you stay? After all, I'm providing for these people.”

  There was an edge in his words and Teddy was ready to fight him. This man had just insulted his brother. Those were fighting words. Renee slipped her hand into his and squeezed tightly. She cast him a small shake of her head. Her hands were trembling, a sense of fear passed between them.

  Mandy couldn’t think of anything to say. He was threatening Nate’s care, not to mention the kids who she was responsible for. Teddy had talked with Nate the other day and there was still much that needed to be done. His body was in no shape to leave yet.

  “Yes, Father. We will go for a walk in the maze and return to visit with you. How long do you think you will stay this time?”

  “I seem to have neglected this place. I think I should stay for a while. With three kids under one roof, who knows what trouble you could get into.”