The top of the stair felt off balanced, the ground shaking and wavering with each step. This was how only Nate felt. The revelation of his brother and Mandy waiting for him. It all made him feel slightly sick. He meant for them to not find out about his recovered condition till after everything was over. Seeing them, would he feel that pull, that responsibility to protect them over killing their enemies.

  Karah formed out of glittering particles steadying Nate's body. Unknown when but he’d braced against the wall, face pale. She knew him not to be one for the dramatics but family was different. In a way those two were the last of his real family. Karah hated to admit that, she wanted him to think of her in the same way. Maybe one day he would.

  “Come on, it's just the skank and the tike. How can you be more nervous about this then fighting a shotgun wielding grandma?”

  “Well, that was simple, just had to kill it. This is. Different. I have to be strong for him, even if my father is within me. I am his parent now.”

  Looking at his face slowly regaining color she relaxed. He was always so serious about things. She loved and hated that about him. Straightening, he dusted his clothes off. Karah took to helping make him look presentable, adjusting him this way and that.

  “Hey, if it makes you feel any better, I won’t curse in front of your brother. Don’t want to make a shit first impression right? I’ll be there with you the whole time. Can’t let Mandy sink her claws in you just yet.”

  “That does make me feel better. Wow, maybe you were the reason I was stressed.” Nate smiled at her.

  “Very funny.”

  “It made me feel better. Thanks. Just promise not to fight anyone, unless I tell you too.”

  “Fine.”

  As they neared he stopped for a moment in front of Allison’s room. Inside she was happily flipping through another guide book. Noticing him she waved with enthusiasm. More so than normal she had a youthful energy about her. Given everything that had happened she was an odd ray of normalcy. Karah waved back smugly.

  “For a weakling she sure has a bunch of energy.”

  “We should work hard to prevent her life from becoming twisted like ours.”

  With a silent agreement they indicated the next room, a wordless promise to visit later. They progressed to the clear glass door. Opacity was maxed blurring everything within. Giving a final breath he opened the door.

  “Head Cannon.”

  Teddy dove out of the room head first slamming straight into his brother's stomach. Unlike before when he could take any damage from his brother without a second thought the wind escaped his body. A small wince left his lips. Reaching down he grabbed the boy by his hair and ruffled it furiously.

  Hoisting the little mischief maker into the air, Nate began to inspect him by making him do car wheels by hand. Cackles escaped his mouth as he did so. Stopping only when he started to pale, he placed him down. Resting a hand on his shoulder.

  “Good it seems you’re in good condition. You stinking punk.”

  “NAT!”

  Tears began to flow down Teddy’s face as the two embraced for the first time in over a week. Those emotions that he’d suppressed, and locked away to act like his brother exploded all at once. He held the kid tight and lifted him up into the air. Still clung together he walked into his hospital room.

  “It seems that I’ve become quite popular.”

  He smiled over to Mandy who seemed to have tension released from her body all at once. Then she spotted Karah just behind Nate. He did not see when Karah gave her a smirk and the finger. Mandy’s eyes went sharp inspecting Nate like a slice of meat.

  Aramnd was confused, this was supposed to be the person to save them? He was big for certain but still clearly a kid. Nate and Karah made way for Dr.White and Wayne to enter. Everyone was gathered.

  “So what have I missed?”

  ***

  “You’ve put that boy through a lot in this short time.”

  Dr.White, Wayne, and Dr.Mei gathered in the hall. Everyone had piled in their debriefings. It was less than a formal operation but they all seemed to have gathered enough of the pieces. They knew that the Mayor was involved but still lacked anything solid on the man who was perpetrating the crimes.

  At Dr.White’s words Wayne glanced into the hospital room. Inside Teddy had fallen asleep with his head in Nate’s lap. Next to him rested Renee. She had clearly held back about her abilities. He suspected she might be a Pseado-Human. How that played into what was happening was still unclear.

  “He’s barely a boy. I’ve led men younger than him to their deaths.”

  “You understand that is a problem. Yes?” Dr.White said.

  Wayne looked over to him, his eyes dismissive. The feeling of unease had not lessened within the hospital. It was an absurd prospect. Within the grounds of a Pseudo-Mancer no one could act if they did not allow it. Would there truly be an attack? Many of his golems were in various states at the mansion.

  Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

  “It’s what he’s asked to do. I don’t see the problem if he wants to jump into the lion's den. After all, the Grandmaster said he was important now.”

  “So that gives you the right to send him to his death?”

  “What a weak man. This is why you could never be a true Necromancer.”

  “Really, bastard I’m only…” Dr.White was cut off.

  “Stop! Allison can hear us.” Dr.Mei said.

  The three paused as the girl looked over sheepishly. In the heat of their discussion they hadn’t noticed her approach the door. Face plastered right up against the glass. Shifting ever so little they all moved further down the hall.

  “You are right, my husband could never be a Necromancer. It takes a truly cold heart, unfeeling, and black as night to be one. So yes Mr. Sauvage, even I, am not a Necromancer.”

  Dr.Mei spoke briskly with narrowed eyes and pursed lips. They stopped a more respectable distance from rooms. Within Mandy, Nate, and Karah were in a slowly heating conversation that pushed Armand straight out of the room. He looked up and down the halls. Seeing the tension in the other group he opted for a seat that was in the hall.

  “No, you are not. Mancers are weak. The Grandmaster had me pull your file. Not a single attack or defence spirit. Your love for life will be the end of you.”

  “And it will be your salvation at some point, no doubt.” Dr.Mei retorted.

  “Lets stop here. Out of respect for the Grandmaster I will let this go. But don’t for an instant think this means we’re in good with one another. If this lunatic was in any other town I would have the two of you kill each other.” Dr. White said.

  “Fine, I admit, I crossed a line there. I let my nerves get the better of me.”

  “Nerves?” Dr. White asked nervously.

  “I feel something is coming, closing down upon us. Consider it my sixth sense after all the time I have spent with the Grandmaster. I have no interest in Fate but it can rub off on anyone.”

  “This isn’t good. If he comes here I don’t know what we’ll do…”

  ***

  “So you made a contract with Karah?”

  Mandy had bounced back from the turmoil within her thoughts, that included the revelation of her mothers attempted escape. She was stronger then many would give her credit for, though she might have been attempting to run away into a fight.

  “It’s not like that. Mandy, she is a monster and I need power.”

  “Oh, yeah. You always needed that, didn't you?”

  “You're the one who called her.”

  “So… so what if I did. Doesn’t mean you can just agree to live the rest of your life with her. What the hell were you thinking?”

  “He was thinking that a bit.. Er cow like you. Didn’t deserve someone like him. I was naturally the correct choice. Afterall you ran me out of town.”

  Karah cut in from where she sat across the room. Up to hear Armand had stayed in case there was more to learn but he decided now was the time to escape. If these people did have magic powers being in a lovers quarrel sounded like the worst place to be.

  “Cow. Really, that's the best you can do now? What cat got your tongue? Can’t lower yourself to be with the plebs?”

  “Rich coming from the girl with generational wealth.”

  “At least my family came about it fairly.”

  “Don’t.. You.. Dare.. Say.. Another.. Word..”

  Karah was holding back a scream whispering loud enough that it would have been the same if she just spoke normally. Mandy smirked, her pent up feelings had found an outlet. One she didn’t care if she ruined or besmirched.

  “Oh, haven’t told your Hubby Wubby? Shall I do it for you, Sister?”

  “You want to go Bitch. Let’s go.”

  Just as Karah took to her feet Nate rubbed at his temples. He didn’t need this right now. They had much more to deal with then some petty squabbles. True, he was curious about Karah's origins but did that matter? No, it matters less than anything else going on.

  “That is enough.”

  Nate was not loud instead he sounded calm. The words brought Karah back into her seat, and Mandy was shocked at that. Even when she was letting Nate call the shots she’d never acted like that for him. Had they really become that close? Reignited there love in such a short time.

  “Nate I didn’t mean to.”

  “It is fine Karah. You shouldn’t have provoked Mandy but that doesn’t mean she should use your family like that. Mandy I don’t care who her family is or was or could be. If they can’t show up and help me kill those, people. I don’t care. Do not raise your voices, we have children here.”

  Teddy’s hair was soft against his hand. Such a familiar feeling after all the hardships and there was still yet more to come. He cast his eyes on the world outside fog flooded down into the parking lot verging on engulfing the hospital. Mandy squirmed in her seat, uncomfortable about the way he’d dismissed her so easily.

  “I’m sorry, I couldn’t help you all this time.”

  Mandy was taken aback at his sudden words. She did expect him to take care of her. He wasn’t a knight in shining armor whisking her away to safety. In her heart that was a lie. That was exactly what she’d wanted him to do this whole time. Did she not deserve a happy ending, a life freed from her father?

  “I had a lot going on even before my father was trying to help you. I should have seen the signs but I can tell you this now. Whether you want me to or not. Your father must die.”

  “I can't ask you to get revenge for me.”

  “My father was killed right when your mother was trying to take you away. I doubt he’s innocent in my fathers death. So he must die. This isn’t for you. Do not think of it as me acting in your name. I do this for my family.”

  “Ah, I see.”

  She grew quite a long moment drug out between those in the room. Karah attempted to hide her smile. Clearly she’d come out on top of the situation and only accidentally cursed once. It was a decent result given everything she really wanted to say to the skank ho, man stealer.

  *WHAM*

  As if to herald an end to their peace the building shook. Concrete cracked and the lights flickered. Nate’s eyes went wide as his enemies had led themselves like a lamb to slaughter. The mist rescinded as several figures stepped out into the open. Large and malformed alongside normal looking men.

  “Nate, it seems we are fighting sooner then planned.”

  Wayne stood in the hallway gazing past his student out at their enemy. Out at the Necro.