It was almost as if all hope was drained out of my body and replaced with anger, rage, hurt. For the past week I find myself looking over and over the same page from the book that was placed with my things the night I left the girls. I must have read the words more than a thousand times, memorizing everything I needed. It was hard to believe this is what I was, that this is what my life had ended up being. I had lost a half sister I knew nothing about up until it was too late, and in one ghastly swish of a blade, she was gone. I had come home to a house full of not only blood, but broken glass and dreams to match the shards that pressed into my feet the second I removed my shoes. I was stuck in this sickening loop of memories while I sat here on the floor of Jason's room, reading, watching, waiting.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door downstairs. I looked up from the spell book and turned to face the door of Jason's room. A sigh left my lips as I stood to my feet and made my way down the hall, stopping at a small mirror to look over myself. My hair was in knots, my clothes hung off my body, the scares in plan view on my face and arms shot a sickening feeling into my belly. I shook off the viewing of myself as I made my way to the door, stepping on broken glass all the way there. Opening the door, once again stood a girl dressed in black with a black bag hanging to her side. Her head remained to the ground.

Teakkin?

Her head looked up at me, a scar stretched from the top of her eye lid down past her eye, it was Teakkin. I stood frozen for a moment, I had never noticed the scare, was the her proof of the war?

Can I come in?

I let a nod come from my head leading in her direction. She smiled slightly before entertain and stepping on broken glass. I turned around after close the door to her leaning down to the ground, she seemed to be looking at the gun powder on the glass.

Why did you come here? How did you find me?

Mandii, did you have a fight when you got back here?

What? Oh...

I looked around. More blood covered the floor, I assumed it was from myself considering I didn't bother wearing shoes and glass was everywhere.

No, not that it would be any of your business if I did happen to have a fight. Now why are you here?

Are you sure? You didn't wake up and someone was here?

No, what, just answer why you are here Teakkin and stop acting like a freak.

She stood to her feet, looking down at her fingers that were covered in the gunpowder. She turned to me, a frown hung on her once smiling face. She crossed her arms and let out a sigh.

I came here to make sure you were ok, I had a feeling something was wrong and I think I was right.

Nothing’s wrong here but you being in my house. Now get the hell out and make sure the door doesn't hit you were the good lord split you.

I started to walk away, glass shards piercing my feet again. However, I didn't make it to the room before Teakkins voice reached my ears, it was faint, but I could hear every word that came from her mouth.

Did you read the book?

I turned, she was facing the door like she had been when I started down the hall, her head hung down to the ground. I looked into Jason's room, looking over the floor where the spell book laid along with a jacket of Jason's and the dagger that pierced Nero's heart.

Why?

You do know you are missing something the book doesn't tell you right? You may think you have everything, or you can find everything, but you don't have one key element for that book to be any use to you.

Unless you came to tell me that key element you can continue walking to the door.

I walked into the room, hearing the glass crack under Teakkins feet. The door slammed and I thought she had left, it wasn't until I looked up to her standing in the doorway that I knew she was still around. She looked down at me, her eyes filling with an emotion I had never seen from her, fear.

I will tell you, if you tell me who's blood is on the walls.

I looked up at her, surprised she didn't draw the conclusion it was my own. I picked up Jasons jacket, it was still warm from my wearing it.

Mine.

Don't lie to me, not after the shit we've been through. I've seen your blood, I saw a lot of it in the war, that isn't your blood. Who's is it? Your missing brothers?

I rolled my eyes as if to say "Well, duh." I looked back at the book, beginning my one thousand and one read of the same old words as before. Teakkin leaned down, grabbing the Jacket from me. I let out a growl as I pinned her to the glass covered floor and place my hand around her neck.

Let go of it.

I want to see something.

You've seen enough, you know enough, now leave!

I pushed myself away from her, pushing her back deeper into the glass. I placed myself back in front of the book. I could at least get another thousand reads in before my match this week, then, then I would be able to bring back Nero and we can go back to the way things should be.

Mandii, has Jason been having any strange dreams?

I turned around, furious that she was still laying on the floor. I went to send her body into the ground, but then, I stopped. Why did she care so much about our dreams? She had asked me before about mine, at least, I think she did.

I wouldn't know, I was too busy being the worlds bitch to find out anything. If you didn't notice, I didn't even know my brother was missing up until a week ago, I also didn't know he broke it off with Alexandra until a few days ago. Why do you care so damn much about our dreams?

She backed away, almost crawling into herself. She was hiding something, she knew something, did she know where Jason was? My mind raced as I shot up from the glass floor and pulled on her shirt.

You know where he is? Do you know who took Jason!

She closed up, her eyes closing as my voice yelled in her face. I felt her tremble slightly.

I'm not sure...I hope not...

I pushed her away. Rage took over my body, heat rushed my veins. I closed my eyes trying to cool off. It was easier to control changing now, in fact, it was easier to do a lot of things. I turned back around to Teakkin.

Then tell me what you do know and we will go from there.

I wish I could, I really do, but if I do it isn't safe for you.

Ok then Doctor Seuss, tell me about the book. What am I missing that I need so bad for anything in that book to work.

Her head shot up, almost happy that I was off the subject of Jason. I couldn't work myself around an answer for him, so, I would start with Nero and then find out what she knew about what happen to Jason.

A Witch, you need a witch for anything in that book to work.

A witch? The green girls with pointed hats that fly on broomsticks? Why can't I just find someone with a wart on their face, thats where they keep all their magic anyways.

Teakkin rolled her eyes slightly. She walked past me, picking the book up, and looking over the page I had been reading like it was my bible.

You are trying to bring someone back from the dead, you also need a puppet master and since I am the only one I know that is alive, you have to deal with me if you want Nerobel back.

Why do I need you and a witch?

Nerobel didn't tell you about puppet masters, did she?

I rolled my eyes and shook my head, Teakkin sighed and sat the book down in front of me again. Her eyes fixed on the ground.

A Puppet Master controls the bodies of the dead, you've seen this, we can also bring people back but not of mystical essence and only if nature allows us to do so. Think of us almost as a demonic necromancers but we have to play by nature's rules. We see what makes up a person's blood, each mystical creatures and human has its own look, that's how I knew the blood wasn't yours. We also can tell you if the person is dead or just in limbo. You need me to tell you if she is lost in limbo or dead.

If she's lost in Limbo?

It will be easier for her to be brought back.

And if she's dead?

I've never dealt with someone who is truly dead before in this case. I don't know what it would take, all I know is I've seen it done.

I stood to my feet, cracking glass and feeling the cuts heal in seconds. I picked up Jasons Jacket, putting it around my shoulders. Teakkin watched my every move as I made my way to the other side of the room, grabbing my shoes and putting them on.

Then lets find a witch.

Mandii...

I started to walk by Teakkin. Her voice was shrill and my name was barely under her breath. I turned to see what she wanted, a pendent was held out in her hand.

Take this and do me a favor, for my state of mine, wear it.

Why?

Just do it.

I rolled my eye, reluctantly taking the pendent and looking down at it. It was a half moon, blood red. Something like a family crest seemed to be on it, I couldn't tell however, it was small and at the bottom corner of the pendent. I put it around my neck and looked up at Teakkin.

Now can we go?

One more thing, this is dark magic Mandii. No normal witch is going to allow you do this.

Then I'll find one who likes to stick her neck out.


To Be Continued...