Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A tower of glossy, dark stone towered over Jack as he got out of a cab. He couldn’t see the top of it, not through the darkness. Eternyx got infinitely dark at night, even with the strongest street-lights. He couldn’t imagine living in such a dark place, even in the summer! The days shifted from dusk to pitch black night, with the mystical powers of Dark Flow keeping the verse alive. He learned that on his first visit, years ago. Jack was surprised he even remembered that little factoid. With the amount of traveling he did, he struggled to keep up with every detail of the different Danceverses. Mama never seemed to have that issue, though.

Speaking of her, she got out of the cab and talked to the driver for a moment. He began unloading all their luggage from the back soon after, Jack grabbing his lone suitcase as soon as he could. Come to think of it, he realized he wouldn’t need it anymore. His days of constant traveling were over, according to Mama. According to her, they needed a real place to live. After all these years on the road, he was finally going to have his own room. One that wouldn’t change with Mama’s constant tours and shows.

Was he excited? Sure, if it made Mama happy. Besides, all things considered, the idea of living in a tower like this sounded cool.

"It's bigger than I thought it would be." Mama said to herself, with a smile. "Don't you like it, treasure?
Jack gave her a nod. "It looks nice."
"I know."

Jack smiled and nodded. That usually kept her happy. Keeping his head down and his voice low kept him out of trouble, most of the time. Although, with Mama being as particular as she was, he was always bound to make a mistake. It had been a while since he’d gotten on her bad side, though. So he had to be doing something right.

The two made their way into the tower. Inside, a lavish entry hall greeted Jack. Golden lamps illuminated a room made of black marble, fine furniture arranged with picturesque perfection. Mama always liked all that fancy stuff. Personally, Jack thought it was alright. He didn’t get why she was so obsessed with everything being super fancy, but he knew better than to question her. Ahead of him, Mama’s heels clicked against the cold floors. They approached an elevator, riding it up to the second floor. The elevator opened up to another hall of black marble, a nondescript door sitting to the left. Jack kept his eyes on the shiny floors the whole time.

“That’s your room.” Mama said, pointing to the door. “I know you like it simple.”
“Should I unpack everything?” Jack asked.
“Don’t get settled. We have to go out for dinner.”

That didn’t answer his question, did it? Mama left as Jack went to his new bedroom. Oh, great, another dinner. He knew exactly who it would be with, too. Stifling a groan, Jack decided to open his suitcase and take a few things out. All things considered, Mama was right. He liked this simpler room. A bed in the corner, a desk and chair, and a closet were all he needed. And best of all, it was his. Maybe he could decorate it!

Thinking of that, Jack pulled a poster out of his suitcase, which had remained rolled up for at least a couple years. Unrolling it, he held it up to the wall above his bed, admiring it. It was a poster of DeerStan and PandaFan, from a show he had desperately wanted to catch a couple years ago. Unfortunately, Mama said no. But he had gotten his hands on a poster, at least. He would have to find a way to pin it up, but that could come later. For now, he knew where he wanted to put it, and rolled the poster back up.

Rummaging through his suitcase again, Jack pulled out a little figurine of a man with a ukulele. He had gotten it from an arcade in Sun Horizon on his tenth birthday. Was that already four years ago? Mama had apologized for throwing such a “lackluster” party for him that year. Since she had a show on his birthday, she sent him to a big arcade and gave him money to spend. It was the best party of his life, so far. He didn’t know why she had to apologize for it, even now.

Setting the figurine aside, he grabbed a set of photos held together by rubber bands, stashing it in his nightstand drawer. After a moment of thought, he decided to stick an old comic in there as well, handling it gingerly. The only thing keeping it together was tape and dreams. But it was about Hairman’s crew, so of course he had to treasure it.

How much longer until dinner? Mama didn’t say. Jack supposed he had time to kill.

He had to wonder what it would be like, living here in Eternyx. The thought scared him at first. Sure, he’d spent some time here before, but living in a place with no sun? He shuddered at the thought. But maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe he’d finally get to go to real school! But, then he remembered something he overheard from Mama a couple days ago. Something about finding him private tutors in the area. But he’d always wanted to go to a real school. Maybe he’d make friends around his age, if he did! There had to be at least one kid that Mama would approve of, right? There had to be at least one person around his age that wasn’t a brat, or a bad influence, or a street rat. Or whatever mean words she could think of. She knew a lot of mean words.

Well, he hadn’t even been here a day. Maybe Mama would change her mind about school. And if she didn’t, Jack was sure he’d meet other kids in the neighborhood. Just then, he heard footsteps in the hall. Oh gods. She was back. Jack quickly stood up just as Mama opened the door again.

“Ready to go?”
Jack nodded, without saying anything. Mama narrowed her eyes.
“...Brush your hair. And make it quick.”

Of course, she couldn’t let him go without pointing something out. She was always so particular. A keen eye for detail, as she put it. Jack fished out a comb and brushed his hair back as he followed Mama back downstairs. He hoped dinner would be quick and easy.

“Are you settling in nicely?”
“We’re doing well enough.”

Dinner had been easy, so far. Unfortunately, it had not been quick. The food was starting to get a bit cold. But there wasn't much left to eat. Shoveling a final mouthful of greens in his mouth, Jack barely paid attention to the two adults in the booth with them. Mama had gone out to another fine restaurant with the company of her good friend, Cygnus. At least that's what she called him, her good friend. Jack could name a few times where she'd insulted him behind his back. He couldn't exactly blame her. Every time he was around Cygnus, he had to resist the urge to roll his eyes. At least the mashed potatoes here were good.

"How was the move?" Cygnus asked. "Must be nice to finally be back home."
"Truly. I've missed Eternyx." Mama agreed. "Did you get my message, by the way?"
“Yes, I sure did! I’ll have staff sent to the tower as soon as I can. Just need to work out the logistics."
"You're too kind."

Cygnus visibly blushed, shaking his head. When did Mama start hanging out with him? Jack couldn’t remember. He only remembered being little, holding onto Mama’s hand, and watching her talk to this monocled man with a hat too big for his body. How many of those hats did he own? That was the first question Jack thought of, when he first met Cygnus. Better question, did he know that Mama once described him as a “clown-faced freak” when he wasn’t in the room? Jack knew. If Cygnus knew, would he have built her a massive tower? Actually… Knowing Cygnus, he probably would.

And then Cygnus glanced at Jack, giving him a smile. Jack immediately looked away, earning a chuckle from him.

"Someone's still shy." He joked.
"We had a long trip here." Mama shook her head. "I'm sure he's tired."
"Ah, right. Poor little guy."

Not knowing how to reply, Jack sheepishly shrugged. He could play up the sleepy-tired act if it meant they wouldn't talk to him. Even having Cygnus look in his direction made Jack cringe. The way he talked, the way he looked at Mama, the way he would drop everything just for her, the way he professed everything he did to her, it rubbed Jack the wrong way. With Cygnus, it was Night Swan this and Leda Nox that. It'd been like that since Jack was a little boy. And he'd always hated it. But why? Jack didn’t know why. Every time he was around Cygnus, he always wanted to leave the room. Simple as that.

What were they talking about now? He didn’t care to listen, waiting patiently as the minutes trickled by. Unfortunately, they wouldn't be leaving until Mama and Cygnus decided enough was enough. To his dismay, when their server checked on them, both of them ordered dessert. And more drinks. Thankfully, Mama told Jack that he could pick a dessert if he wanted to. He settled on chocolate cake, since it came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Admittedly, the food here was actually pretty good. His mother could always afford the best, as she put it.

"Jack? Jack!"
The young boy snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of his mother's voice.
"It's time to go." Mama told him, getting up from her seat and turning back to Cygnus. "You sure you've got the bill?"
Cygnus nodded. "Anything for you, ma'am."

Even now, heading out the door and calling for a cab home, Mama and Cygnus talked. They continued to talk the whole ride home. Jack kept himself occupied by staring out the window, watching the streetlights pass them by. Every so often, they drove past another nice-looking car. Offices and business gave way to a residential area, apartments and penthouses towering above them like monoliths.

No doubt about it, only the wealthy called this part of Eternyx home. No wonder Mama wanted to live here so bad.

The cab ride seemed to stretch on forever. But it eventually ended, pulling up in front of the new tower. Jack stumbled out, following Cygnus and his mother inside. All he wanted to do was sleep. Glancing up at her, he watched Mama continue her chat with Cygnus even as they made their way inside, stopping at the little living room down the hall from Jack's room. She laughed along with a joke Cygnus made, louder than she usually did. He'd learned over the years that she only did that if she'd been drinking.

"Mama?" Jack spoke up, thankfully getting her attention. "Can I go to bed?"

She didn't reply, waving a hand without breaking her conversation with Cygnus. Jack hurried back to his room, thankfully finding it without too much trouble. As he changed into pajamas and settled into bed, he tried to ignore the adults outside. Could they be any louder? He needed to sleep! Knowing his mother, she'd have him back to his studies first thing tomorrow. He covered his head with a pillow, to no avail. What were they even talking about?

'Why does he even like my mom, anyway?' Jack wondered to himself. 'What does she even do for him, anyway? He’s always buying her things. He pays for practically every vacation we go on! And what does she do? …Talk to him, I guess? She must do stuff for him when I’m not around. Ugh, whatever! Just let me sleep!'

Sighing, Jack resolved to go to sleep. Just as he started to nod off, a sharp knock came from the door. Great. Just his luck. Rolling out of bed, he grumbled as he opened the door. There stood his mother, a little unsteady on her feet. Kneeling, she gave him a kiss on the forehead. Her breath stank of wine. Jack resisted the urge to wrinkle his nose as she slipped something over his head.

"I had this made for you."

Glancing down, Jack's eyes widened. He now wore a golden chain around his neck, complete with a pendant of a feather. He looked up at his mother again, meeting her green eyes.

"Th-thank you." He stuttered, looking back at the pendant. "It's beautiful."
"Just like you, treasure." Night Swan cooed, her voice a bit slurred. "Get some sleep. We have a big day tomorrow."

Finally, she left him alone. Jack hurriedly climbed back into bed and fell asleep, still wearing the necklace.

"Try them on."
"Haven't we gotten enough?"
"Just one more pair, treasure."

Biting his tongue, Jack took a pair of new pants from Mama and stepped into a changing room. Just as he thought, they had gotten to work the next day. While he had clothes of his own back home, Mama wanted to buy him a new wardrobe now that they had moved in. Something more fitting for Eternyx, was what she'd said. Jack thought his clothes were good enough. Nevertheless, he stepped into the changing room again and tried out the pants Mama had picked.

…Not bad. Red ones. Ones that matched his hair, with a pair of leather loops on each side. At least these were better than the silly shorts she made him try earlier. But these were at least comfortable to wear. So was the shirt she had picked out, the purple one with long sleeves. He still wore that one, looking over himself in the mirror.  Running a hand through the mop of red hair on his head, he scowled when it refused to flatten. Jack figured he had to be overdue for a haircut by now. He didn't mind the look, but Mama would have him at the hair salon by the end of the week.

Was she always this fussy? No! Jack supposed he was happy that she actually cared about him, these days. But did she have to be so particular?

When he stepped out of the dressing room, Mama beamed. A stack of other clothes she had picked out for him sat to the side, already packaged and boxed for them to take home.

"Are we done?"
“Don't they match your hair so well?" Mama replied, ignoring his question. "We should get you some shoes as well, while you're here."
"We've been here forever," Jack griped, "Can't we get shoes later?"
"That'd be a hassle. You're a size 6, aren't you?"
"Mama..."
"Enough." She suddenly barked, her voice turning cold. "Shoes off."

He resisted a huff of irritation. That would only be interpreted as back-talk. Slipping off his shoes, Jack tried on pair after pair. Some of them rubbed at the back of his heel the wrong way. One pinched his toes together into an uncomfortable position. A few felt comfortable, particularly the pair of sneakers. Thankfully, Mama elected to buy the sneakers and not the shoes that pinched his toes.

Hopefully they would go home soon. He had already practiced today, and as usual, it had left his body a little sore. But he'd only been dancing, at the very least. Dancing wasn't the only thing Mama wanted Jack to learn. Even when they went from Danceverse to Danceverse, she could always afford a private tutor to handle his basic schooling. Jack had been through so many different tutors, coaches, and teachers, they all blurred together at this point. Just another adult, telling him what to do.

"Jack!"

Oh no. He hadn't been listening. Jack got to his feet just in time to see Mama storming towards him. She grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him to the exit. Another cab sat waiting for them.

"Pay attention." She hissed as they got into the cab. "I've been calling your name! Or were you ignoring me?"
"Sorry, Mama—"
"Answer the question!"
"I, I wasn't ignoring you!" Jack pleaded. "I was just daydreaming."
Mama shook her head. "I've told you to cut that out, you know."

He stayed silent the entire ride home. Jack didn't make eye contact with Mama or the driver, who also remained silent. She had been in a bad mood all day, now that he really thought about it. Over what, he had no idea. But he could tell when she started the day by criticizing his every choice.

'You're wearing that? I had laundry done for a reason. And fix your hair, while you're at it. I can't have you leaving the house looking like an absolute slob!'

She only got like that when something else was making her mad, Jack had learned. They had just moved into their new home, after all. Maybe some complication had arisen, one he didn't know about. Maybe that's why she was all snappy and fussy today. Whatever the case was, he held his tongue until they got back to the tower. They got all his new clothes inside just as it began to rain.

"I have something I need to do today." Mama told him, escorting him back to his room. "You can find things to do at home, right?"
"Yes, Mama."

Mama left without another word. Jack wondered what she had going on today. Probably something to do with Cygnus. Stretching, Jack put his new clothes away. At least he had some time to himself. The few hours of waking solitude he got, he cherished like nothing else. She could be fed up somewhere else.

'Wait.' Jack realized. 'Where's the necklace?!'

Oh no. He had worn it out today, at the request of his mother. And he had it with him when he went to the clothing store today. But now he didn't. And he didn't remember having it on in the car, either. Did he leave it at the clothing store? That had to be it! He had taken it off while trying out the vast array of clothes Mama had insisted on picking. And he'd be dead meat if she found out he'd lost it. He could practically feel her nails on his skin.

The worst part was, he couldn't leave to go find it. But wouldn't it be easy to just walk down the street and find the shop? No way! He wasn't supposed to leave on his own! The thought made him sick. He couldn't break the rules, but he couldn't be caught without that necklace. Which rule did he want to break, when it came right down to it?

'Why didn't I pay more attention?! Stupid!' Jack thought to himself. 'I'm going to have to just face the consequences...'

The rain hadn't stopped. Wearing an old sweater with a hood that covered most of his head, Jack quietly stepped outside. He used one of his old shoes to prop open the back door to the tower, leaving it slightly ajar. He didn't have keys, and he certainly didn't want to be locked out. Shivering, he glanced down the street, running as soon as he confirmed that no one else was around.

Jack had given it some more thought. And he couldn't bear the idea of getting into more trouble today, not when she was already in a bad mood. If he could just find his way back to the clothing store before they closed, he could get the necklace and run home. Mama didn't have to know a thing. What she didn't know couldn't make her worry, after all. Right?

'This is a bad idea.' That was all Jack could think about as he ran down the streets of Eternyx. 'I don't even know where this shop could be! Didn't we take a turn here? Or was that later down the road?'

It wasn't long before Jack realized he was lost. All the tall buildings seemed to merge together, looking almost the same. Could he even find his way home from here? Jack doubted it. The falling rain made everything worse, dampening the light of the streetlamps around him. The chilly air made him shake, forcing him to slow his pace.

Off to the side, an awning provided a fair bit of shelter. Without thinking, Jack ducked under it and slid to the ground, hugging his knees to his chest. Before he could stop himself, he began to sob. He should never have taken off that necklace! What was he even thinking, leaving it at the store like that?! And now here he was, breaking an even bigger rule. What would Mama do once she realized he wasn't home, that he'd left the house behind her back to avoid getting in trouble? He didn't know, and that only scared him more. Which only made his sobs even stronger.

'Stupid, stupid, stupid!' He told himself. 'And just my luck, too...'
"Hey, you!"

His heart skipped a beat at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. Looking up, Jack found himself staring into a pair of green eyes. A blonde girl about his age leaned over him, tilting her head.

"You alright there, chief?" She told him. "You don't look so happy."
"I, um..." Jack sniffled, shaking his head and wiping his eyes. "Sorry."
"For what? Not like you did anything wrong."
"I did, actually, uh... It's a long story."
The girl shrugged, sitting next to him on the cold, wet pavement. "I got time."

Jack briefly deliberated about this. His first instinct was to run. But he shivered at the thought of getting caught in the rain again, so he stayed put. The girl looked at him expectantly, and he bit his lip.

 "...I lost something of mine. Was trying to find it."
"Ah, shit. What's it look like?" The girl asked. "I know the area pretty well, maybe I'll find it."
"It's a necklace. I left it at a clothing store somewhere around here, and..."
"You got a name for it?"
Jack shook his head.
"What kind of clothes were they?" The girl asked. "Were they, like, real fancy and shit?"
"Yeah, something like that..."
She seemed to think for a few seconds. "Y'know, there's a shopping district near here. Want me to show you the way?"

Before he could reply, the girl pulled Jack to his feet and ran down the street. His heart raced, and he thought about running away multiple times. But he didn't. He followed her lead until they reached the shopping district she had talked about, and Jack's eyes lit up when he saw a store he recognized. The clothing store! Without hesitation, the girl dragged him inside to the surprise of the employees, and immediately shouted.

"Hey, has anyone seen a necklace around here?"
After a brief pause, one of the employees spoke up, looking at Jack. "Oh, I remember you from earlier. Did you leave that golden necklace in the dressing room?
Jack nodded. "Is it still here?"
The employee produced the golden necklace from behind the cash register, handing it to him. "You're lucky you showed up. We were about to close."
"Uh, thank you." He stuttered as the girl pulled him out the door again. "Please don't tell my mom!"

Back in the rain again, the girl leaned against the wall. She gave Jack a sly grin.

"You're welcome. I'm Ryder, by the way."
"Jack." He answered. "Uh, do you know how to get to the tower?"
"Half the buildings here are towers."
"The, uh... My mom calls it Swan Tower. We just moved in—"
"Oh, that tower!" Ryder exclaimed. "Was wonderin' what that was about! You're telling me you live there now?"
"Yeah, me and my mother. Night Swan."
"What kinda name is Night Swan?"
"It's just what most people know her by." Jack shrugged. "She’s a performer.”
Ryder chuckled. "Ni-ice. Yeah, just follow me."

Once again, Ryder led Jack through the streets of Eternyx. He paid attention to the roads as best as he could, recognizing some of the buildings he passed by. Maybe he'd get better at finding his way around over time. Thankfully, Ryder seemed like she knew her way around. They reached the tower just as the rain began to lessen. He could only hope Mama wasn't home yet. Rushing to the back door, he found it propped open by his old shoe. It looked untouched. Hopefully, that was a good sign.

"Hey, you gonna be going to Fathoms High this year?" Ryder asked. "Maybe we'll see each other there."
"I'm homeschooled." Jack shook his head. "Private tutors."
"Ah, a rich kid. Lucky. Say, you wanna sneak out again later this week? When's your mom out of the house?"
Jack shrugged. "I don't always know."
"Really? Damn." Ryder stomped her foot. "Tell you what. Give me your arm."

Furrowing his brow, Jack pulled up one of his sleeves. His eyes widened when Ryder pulled out a black pen and wrote something on his skin. A phone number.

"Call me." She told him. "I'll show you around! Then you won't get lost without me!"
"But I don't have a phone." Jack pointed out.
"For real?" She shook her head. "Tell you what. Tomorrow, here, at midnight. I got an old spare at my place, I'll bring it."
"But, but why?"
"So we can talk? Duh. Remember, tomorrow at midnight!"

Before he could protest, Ryder ran off. Jack hurried inside, sighing in relief when he found no sign of Mama. He jotted down Ryder's number before washing off his arm, changing into clean clothes and toweling off his hair. Now he had to pretend to be doing something else, right? What if he pretended to be practicing? She wouldn’t suspect a thing! Heading downstairs, he wondered when his mother would be back as he slipped the golden necklace over his head once more.

'Never taking this off again.' He thought to himself as he stepped into the mirrored room. 'Never.'

Around him stood a set of mirrors. A ring of lights on the ceiling provided a fair bit of illumination. Jack figured he needed to make it look like he was practicing, stretching a bit. It was then that he faintly heard a door open from outside the room. That had to be Mama.

Jack pretended not to notice. He did the first thing that popped into his head, spinning around on one foot. Stumbling, he steadied himself and tried again. And again. The door to the practice room opened just as he finished another unsteady spin, and turning, he saw Mama at the threshold. She shook her head, sighing in disappointment.

"That's enough for today." She said, muttering something under her breath that he couldn't quite catch. "I hope you didn't wear yourself out. We're going out again for dinner."
Jack shook his head. "I'm fine."
"Good. Get cleaned up."

She walked away. Jack lingered in the room for a moment longer. She hadn't noticed that it was still a bit damp from the rain, had she? If she did, she certainly didn't say anything. So maybe she hadn't noticed. Jack couldn't resist a little grin, even a quiet chuckle. She had no idea he'd broken the rules!

Chapter Text

"Again."
"Mama."
"I said, again."

Getting to his feet, Jack stretched his tired limbs. He never liked it when Mama supervised him. Why couldn’t she be busy today? Any other expensive dance teacher would just smile and point out what he did wrong. She criticized him at the snap of a finger. Wrong move. Do it from the top. On and on, until he couldn't stand the sound of her voice or the melodies in his mind.

That was always the thing. There were speakers in this mirrored room, but the music always echoed in his mind. He didn't get how it worked. Mama said there was still a lot he had to learn about The Flow. The way it brought people together and pulled them apart, the way it electrified the air as soon as dancing began, the way melodies ebbed in and out with every movement. The minute Jack started dancing again, the hair on his arms stood on end. He could only describe it as a pulse, set to the beat and commanding him to dance. It eagerly lifted his feet where they needed to go, despite how exhausted Jack was.

It didn’t help that he hadn’t slept well the night before. Jack had elected to not tell his mother about his night terrors if he could help it.

If you're a lover, you should know
The lonely moments just get lonelier
The longer you're in love than if you were alone
Memories turn into daydreams, become a taboo

He could do this. He'd done this routine a thousand times. It was one he'd learned from an old tutor back in the Sun Horizon, one his mother adored. Simple yet challenging, as she described it. One she thought would help him learn how to actually use The Flow, something Jack still didn't have a grasp on. Most kids his age didn't, but Night Swan believed he had to be better than that. He wasn’t exactly sure what she wanted to see out of him.

I don't want to be afraid
The deeper that I go
It takes my breath away
Soft hearts, electric souls
Heart to heart and eyes to eyes
Is this taboo?

And then he slipped and stumbled. Jack immediately braced for her voice.

"Pay attention!"

He didn't respond to Mama's spat. Partially because that would bring more trouble, and partially because Jack was all too breathless to think of a response. The music swelled, the second chorus passed, and he took a deep breath while he could. This was always the worst part. He had to land on his knees, and that always hurt.

Those thoughts of past lovers, they'll always haunt me
I wish I could believe you'd never wrong me
Then will you remember me in the same way as I remember-

The last thing Jack remembered was slamming his knees into the hard flooring, the melody close to deafening and the lights of the practice room pulsing with the beat. And then he fell backwards and passed out.

'Huh, there's no clocks anywhere. I'll just buy something and come back. But what do I want to buy? What do they have? It's a mall, they must have everything!'

There wasn't much on Jack's mind but his wandering thoughts. People passed him by as he ran through a crowded, pearly-white mall. Their faces and bodies seemed to blur around him. Furrowing his brow, Jack tried again and again to read the signs of each store he passed. Every single one looked like gibberish.

Wasn't this Luz Solar? He'd only been there once or twice, so he didn't know his way around. Wait, wasn't Luz Solar in Dancity? Eh, whatever.

'They should really make these things clearer. What is that, a shoe store?' He thought to himself, continuing to wander around in a daze. 'Why am I here, anyway?'

Jack pulled a teal vest tighter around his shoulders. Odd. He could have sworn he outgrew this old thing years ago. He passed by an arcade, the lively jingles catching his attention for a moment. Maybe he could spend his money on the pinball machines, instead. As he stepped into the arcade, the smell of sulfur greeted him.

Wait… Sulfur?

Right when he recognized the smell, the lights dimmed. The only illumination came from the neon lights of the arcade cabinets surrounding Jack. Whirling around, he saw no sign of the exit, or the rest of the mall. Instead, he saw rows upon rows of pinball machines. He could have sworn there were other arcade cabinets in here a second ago! As Jack broke into a run, the smell of sulfur threatened to make him choke. The rumbling sound of drums began to echo around him, and in the shadows, he thought he saw something moving. It was then that he finally noticed a faint green gas in the air, just as a melody began to play.

His limbs froze. And then, despite any effort to resist, he began to dance. Sort of. It felt more like shuffling dazedly to a skipping record.

So get into it, get into the trance
This is the rhythm of the tribal dance

The green smoke thickened all around him. Drowsily, Jack tried to stop himself from dancing, but his body refused to listen. He thought he could hear something beyond the music echoing in his head, but couldn't quite make out what it was. The song skipped over the same spot again and again, his body repeating the same part of the routine in time with the melody. But what was that in the background? For a second, Jack thought he heard a woman's laughter. Something about it felt so familiar, but he couldn't think of who would be laughing right now.

"Mama?" He managed to yell, although his voice sounded distant. "Anyone?!"

He could faintly make out the shadowy outlines of other people, in the smoke. They did the same sickening dance he found himself locked in, even as his limbs grew numb. Jack tried to make himself stop, with no luck. Whatever was forcing him to dance wouldn't be letting him go anytime soon. And yet, he only did the same few things on repeat, darting side to side in the process.

Was something missing? He couldn't shake the nagging feeling something was missing. No, it was someone. He remembered dancing with someone! Just like how he remembered outgrowing this vest years ago! Because this happened years ago!

'...I'm here again?' Jack realized, his heart skipping a beat. 'No, I already did this! I don't want to see this again! Why am I back here?!'

His eyes began to water, but no tears fell. Even that felt disconnected. Everything seemed to tilt and shake at intervals. Faintly, beyond the endlessly repeating tune, Jack thought he heard commotion. Screams. Flicking levers and ringing bells.

And he kept dancing.

So get into it, get into the trance
This is the rhythm of the tribal dance

"Mama? Ryder?!" He shouted again. "Someone, help!"

Just as he said that, a shadow loomed from the thick green smoke. Jack's eyes widened as a massive pinball came careening towards him. The dancing refused to relent, even as every instinct screamed at him to shield himself. But what would that even do against a massive pinball? Before he could even close his eyes, something suddenly yanked him out of the way, pulling him deeper into the green mist. His vision blurred and refused to clear, but he thought he saw a telephone cord wrapped around his torso. He stumbled backwards and landed on his back, his body freezing for a few moments. The melody paused, before picking up and forcing Jack to rise.

"Let me go!"

He sat up and snapped awake with a shriek. And just like that, Jack saw the dark confines of his bedroom. His heart raced, threatening to beat out of his chest. Silence stifled the room. Turning on the light, he didn't see any smoke. No pinball machines. The sulfuric scent lingered in the back of his mind.

'Oh...' Jack thought as he slumped back into bed, shaking. 'It was just that nightmare again.'

A glass of water and some pain pills sat on a tray below his bed. He eagerly scooped them both up, draining the cup and washing down the pills in seconds. His knees didn’t hurt nearly as bad as his head. Jack wondered if he hit his head on the way down, earlier today. The Flow would help mitigate the stress of the dance, supposedly. But passing out wasn't part of the dance.

Glancing down again, Jack saw a little note. Recognizing Mama’s handwriting, he turned on a light and read it.

'You gave me quite the scare. Take the pills and sleep it off.'

As sleepy as Jack was, he shook his head. He checked the time, realizing it was almost midnight. So he wasn't too late to meet Ryder! As he shuffled out of bed and slipped downstairs, Jack realized he'd been out of it for most of the day. Maybe he did hit his head. He never liked doing that dance, but Mama did. She said it was a good challenge for him. And yet, he could never finish it without getting lightheaded. He could never do it well enough for her approval. Mama had always been a harsh teacher. He never understood why, but knew better than to ask questions. It was best not to think about the details.

Opening the back door, Jack saw Ryder sitting on the pavement. She squinted at the sudden light, the streets behind her nearly pitch black. Jack shivered. He had yet to get used to Eternyx’s nights.

"Is it always this dark?" Jack asked.
"At night? Oh, yeah." Ryder shrugged, slipping an old phone out of her pocket and handing it to Jack. "It still works. I checked."
"Thank you." He nodded. "See you later?"
"Uh-huh!"

She ran off, the meeting over as soon as it had begun. Jack wasted no time getting back to his room, thankfully avoiding any sign of his mother. She had to be asleep. Once secure in his bedroom, Jack went back into bed and powered on the phone. His heart raced, but he smiled. What a nice girl! Maybe Eternyx wasn't so bad after all.

'Is she going to be up for talking? It's super late.' He thought to himself, trying to message her. '...Guess it's worth a shot.'

Jack: Hi, is this Ryder?
Ryder: Heyyyy you did it
Ryder: So it kinda sucks we wont be going to school together but you can always sneak out afterwards to hang out
Ryder: Maybe you can help me with homework or something
Jack: If you want me to. I might not be much help though.
Ryder: Probably better than me lol
Ryder: You look smart
Jack: Thank you.
Ryder: So like, if you asked your mom, would she let us hang out?
Jack: Probably not.
Jack: She doesn't trust me with strangers anymore.
Ryder: Why not?
Jack: It's... Hard to talk about.
Ryder: Cmon pleeeeeeeease?
Jack: Maybe later.
Ryder: Ok fine :p
Ryder: My mom would probably say yes I'm just sayin

The conversation stretched on, until Jack nodded off with the phone in his hands. It grew too difficult to keep his eyes open after a while. But he wanted to keep talking to her, even to just say goodbye. As he fell asleep, he wondered if he could find more time to sneak out of the house. Probably not, right?

Chapter Text

Ryder: Okay so like
Ryder: I live pretty far away, but I have a bike
Jack: How far is far away?
Ryder: On my bike its like 20 minutes
Jack: Got it. I really hope the new staff don’t catch me.
Ryder: Okay rich boy

Jack had been chatting with Ryder for a few weeks now. It had become a new routine of his. He kept the little phone hidden away in his suitcase when he wasn't using it, and he only used it in his bedroom. If he heard footsteps, he'd slip it under the pillows. The marble floors always gave it away, especially with the heels Mama liked to wear.

The sound of those heels echoed down the hall, just then. Hiding the phone, Jack waited for his mother to open the door, seeing her step in a few seconds later.

"Are you sure you don't want to come along, treasure?" She asked, tilting her head.
Jack shook his head. "My ankle still hurts."
"I hope it's nothing serious. Let the butler know if you need anything. Maybe an ice pack will help you feel better."

Earlier in the day, Mama had talked about having business to take care of. Jack didn't have a clue what she could be doing, but she’d asked him to come along. Impulsively, he made up something about a sore ankle and begged to stay home. At least it would give him a few hours to himself. She'd been a little more lax than usual, oddly enough. Then again, she’d been super busy ever since they moved in. She must have a lot on her plate right now. Jack wasn't complaining.

Jack waited a full ten minutes before responding to Ryder. She didn't seem bothered by the spotty communication. They had rambled about everything and nothing for the past few weeks. He liked DeerStan and PandaFan, and wanted to see them live one day. She wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle. He knew ballet terminology that left her stumped. She once threw a can of spray-paint at someone for trying to follow her home. Broke their nose, too.

Ryder: So wheres your mom going
Jack: I don't know. She didn't say anything about it. I wonder if she's seeing Cygnus again.
Ryder: The city?
Jack: No, the guy.
Ryder: You mean the governor? The guy with all the hats?
Ryder: Your mom knows that guy?
Jack: She definitely knows him. They’ve known each other since I was little. He built this entire tower just for us.
Ryder: OH SHIT YOUR MOMS HIS SPECIAL LADY
Jack: Excuse me?
Ryder: Okay so its been a running joke for a while now that Cygnus has this girl that he likes
Ryder: That he was building something for
Ryder: And idk why I didn't piece it together until you brought him up but holy fuck, Cygnus likes your mom. Thats HILARIOUS
Jack: Yeah I'm well aware of how he... Feels for her.
Jack: It's weird.
Jack: He's weird. I don't know how to explain it. Mama likes him because he pays for everything, though.
Ryder: Oh yeah trust me I get it, his whole family’s like that
Jack: You still want to meet up today, right?
Ryder: Oh yeah shit I gotta go, see you there soon
Jack: Where are you, anyway? Home?
Ryder: No lol, I’m in your area. It’s a 20 minute bike ride remember? Anyway see you soon

Jack figured he needed to get going as well. Right before he got up, though, he heard more footsteps and remained in his bed. Softer footsteps, this time. A few moments later, a knock came from the door. He got up and opened it, greeted by an unfamiliar face. A young man with slicked-back hair and an oddly sharp uniform greeted him with a smile, and an unbreaking stare. Jack didn’t meet his eyes.

“Um,” Jack stammered for a moment, “Hello—”
“Your mother asked me to bring you this.” The young man said, handing Jack an ice pack. “I hope I’m not bothering you, Mr. Nox.”
“No no, it’s fine. Um, thanks.”

Jack pretended to limp away as the butler left. Mama and Cygnus had hired staff over the past couple of weeks. Jack had met a butler, a maid, and a driver so far, and he’d overheard his mother talking about a personal assistant a couple of days ago. He hadn’t spoken to any of the staff, beyond a few words. Maybe he should. He didn’t want them to think he was ungrateful for their work, after all. But he’d never gotten the chance to have a proper conversation with any of them. Then again, perhaps they were busy. Thankfully, they were relatively easy to avoid whenever he was sneaking out. They didn’t seem to check on him often. Once again, they were probably busy.

Speaking of, he counted down the minutes after the butler left, before quietly hurrying downstairs. Propping the door open with a shoe again, Jack recalled directions Ryder had given him the day before. He had gotten a better idea of where things were around his tower, so he knew roughly where they were meeting. Ahead, Jack noticed the lights of a gas station, hurrying towards it. He'd gone the right way. As he drew closer, he saw Ryder sitting with a group of strangers.

His heart suddenly lurched. Jack had never been in a group like this before.

"Red!"

The second she saw him, Ryder leapt up and pulled Jack towards the group, excitedly showing him off to the other four kids. One girl gave him a smile and a wave, her curly white hair falling over her shoulders. Next to her stood a guy with horns and red skin, much to Jack's surprise. Off to the side, a couple of kids dressed mostly in black sat together, both of them sporting layers of black makeup.

"Okay, so this is Ann," Ryder pointed to the other kids in turn, "Luke, Liv, and Blake. And this is Jack."
"You weren't lying." Ann spoke up. "His hair is very red."
Jack turned to Ryder. "You told them about me?"
"Uh-huh. Figured we could all hang out. Where’s Arleen, anyway?"
“I guess she’s busy.” Ann replied. “I didn’t ask, though.”

The kids shuffled into the gas station together, picking out what they wanted. Jack didn't have any money on him, so he stayed next to Ryder. She went straight for the drinks, picking out cans of soda. Off to the side, Jack noticed Luke grabbing a bag of candy.

"So, your mom's Night Swan?" Luke asked. "She's pretty cool."
"Oh, you've seen her?" Jack asked.
"Not live. I thought one of her Winterhaven performances was a lot of fun. Would have gone if I could."
"Oh yeah, you've been around the world, haven't you Jack?" Ryder asked. "Anywhere cool I should visit?"
"Uh, Winterhaven's pretty fun. I went skiing last time I was there." Jack answered, trying to think of a good reply. "It's, uh, pretty cold though."
"Yeah, go figure."

Ryder and Luke shared a laugh, Jack chuckling nervously along with them. He didn't know why he was so nervous. They probably just thought what he said was funny! Still, he never got to do stuff like this. First he had one new friend, and now he might have five! How was he supposed to act around them? The same way he acted around Mama, he supposed? But they weren’t like her! What was he supposed to say? He was used to keeping his mouth shut!

"You're not gonna get anything?" Ryder asked, glancing at Jack.
"I don't have any money."
"Ayo, Liv!" She suddenly shouted. "Do you have any spare change?"
Liv poked her head out from another aisle, holding a bag of gummy worms. "Huh?"
"I said, do you have any spare change? Jack doesn't have any cash on him."

Liv began to rummage through her purse, eventually producing some spare bills and handing them to Jack. He almost hesitated to take them. Was she okay with just giving him money?

"Take it." Liv told him. "I always have something here. Should really clean my purse out more often."
“Are you sure you need to clean it?" Blake asked, standing next to her. "You've only got five empty wrappers and a pile of change in there, you know."

Seemed like she was fine with it. Jack settled on a candy bar, handing Liv the change once he paid for it. The kids left the gas station, sitting on the curb outside with their goodies.

"You think you'll be going to school?" Liv asked, turning to Jack. "Maybe we'll see each other."
"I doubt it." Jack shook his head. "My mother likes hiring tutors."
"The one in the tower?" Blake asked, pointing in the direction of Swan Tower. "That's what Ryder was telling us."
"Yeah, her. Night Swan."
Blake stifled a laugh. "Wait, that's her name?"
"Or, uh, her real name is Leda. Leda Nox." Jack explained, stammering. "But people know Night Swan better. It's her stage name. If you look it up, you'll find her."

Ryder pulled out her phone and looked it up, playing a few seconds of a live recording she found online. Blake and Liv watched over her shoulder, Liv breaking into a smile.

“Oh, that's cool!" She said, "Haven't I seen her before?"
"Maybe." Jack shrugged. "She’s popular."
"Ryder, did you get what I sent you?" Ann asked, off to the side.
"Uh-huh!"
"What'd you get?" Jack asked.
"Spray paint." Ryder answered. "I'm an artist."

The conversation went on. Ryder talked a lot with Blake and Liv, mostly about things Jack didn't know about. School, especially. Apparently, Liv and her family were moving out of town. Blake seemed saddened, but he said he'd visit if he could. Ann wondered if her moms would be willing to make the trip out of the city, just to see Liv. It sounded like she and Luke were siblings. He briefly wondered why they looked nothing alike, but supposed it wasn’t his business.

Jack didn't say much. He didn't know what to say. But it felt nice to listen to a conversation that wasn't adults talking within earshot of him.

And then the little phone in his pocket began buzzing. He'd set a timer to remind himself to run home. Getting up, Jack turned to wave goodbye to Ryder and her friends. They waved back.

"See you again!" Ryder told him. "Maybe we can go to my place sometime!"

As he ran back home, Jack saw no sign of his mother. Still no sign of her as he ran back to his room. He was getting good at this! Maybe he should break the rules more often. As he caught his breath, he heard footsteps again. Softer ones. Maybe the butler? Panicking, Jack snatched the ice pack and held it to his foot as another knock came from the door.

“Mr. Nox?” A woman’s voice asked. “Your mother called. She’ll be home within the next half-hour.”
“Oh,” Jack responded, “Thank you, give me a moment.”

He got up, still pretending to limp as he hurried to the door. That had to be the maid! Maybe he could talk to her, or at least get her name! But she was gone by the time he opened the door. Oh, well. He wondered why none of them had told him their names, now that he thought about it. Or maybe they did, and he needed to pay more attention.

A loud thump snapped Jack out of his slumber. The rest of the day had come and gone, with Mama none the wiser about his outing with Ryder. And now, just as he'd finally gotten to sleep, something woke him up. With a grumble, Jack turned over and tried to go back to sleep. He was getting good sleep, damn it!

Quietly, Jack stepped out of bed and crept out of his bedroom, making his way down the hall at a slow pace. No sign of the maid or the butler, yet. No sign of Mama, either. The thumping seemed to be accompanied by strange noises. Almost like a scream, that cut off too quickly for him to recognize properly. Behind it all, he thought he heard a tune. A shiver ran down his spine, the sound of a faint melody making him twitch. Almost immediately, he had the overwhelming urge to dance.

'No, no!'

Immediately, Jack ran back to his room and got back into bed. It reminded him too much of sulfur, trances, and pinball machines. What could be going on? He didn't want to know. Usually he'd find Mama, but he didn't want to leave his room. There would be no way for him to block out the eerie melody, and that would only further compel him to dance. Covering his ears, he counted down the seconds until only his breathing broke the silence. Then, slowly pulling his hands away, Jack waited.

Nothing happened. No thumping, no music, nothing. Did he just imagine it? No, that felt way too real!

Reaching under his bed, Jack messaged Ryder. He didn't know why he suddenly wanted to talk to her, but he didn't want to be alone right now. Would she even be awake? It was past midnight!

Jack: Are you still awake?
Ryder: Sup

Oh, she was awake.

Jack: This sounds stupid, but I heard weird thumping outside my room.
Ryder: Hmmmm I wonder what that could be
Jack: No, it gets worse.
Jack: I thought I heard something scream.
Ryder: Like in a bad way?
Jack: Yeah, it was only once. But it was creepy.
Jack: I thought I heard music too, and then I almost started dancing to it.
Ryder: Ok and?
Jack: I… I don’t know how else to explain it. I felt almost FORCED to dance to it. Magically, I mean.
Ryder: Oh shit
Ryder: Wait how is that even possible??
Jack: Possession magic.
Jack: It's awful, I'll just say that.
Ryder: Uhhhh
Ryder: Can I ask a bad question?
Jack: What?
Ryder: You said it was awful, like you know how it feels

Was he really talking about this right now? She didn't need to know about that! Wasn't it too dark to talk about? Nevertheless, Jack kept typing.

Jack: I do. Sort of. I’ve never been fully possessed before.
Ryder: Really?
Jack: Look up "Luz Solar gas attack" or “Laurel Lantana gas attack”. You should find articles about it.
Ryder: Aight give me a sec
Ryder: ...What the fuck?????? It’s this right?

Ryder sent him a link to a news article. Jack didn’t need to click on it, but he did anyway. The familiar headline, Hairman A Hero After Luz Solar Robbery, made him shiver. But she had gotten the right article, at least.

Jack: I used to live in Dancity. Mama and I stayed with a friend of hers for about a year. This is why we left.
Ryder: Wait NOW I remember this being on the news! Holy shit you were there???
Jack: I was. Mama took me out to the mall and I got lost. I went to this big arcade they used to have there.
Jack: I accidentally bothered this other lady, because for a second, I really thought she looked like my mom.
Ryder: Are you talking about that Laurel Lantana lady?
Jack: Yes. She asked me if I was lost, and I was starting to panic. She tried to calm me down by doing a little dance with me. I thought she was really sweet at first.
Jack: After she calmed me down, she left. She said she would find someone who could help me. Turns out she was NOT doing that. Next thing I knew, that gas was everywhere. She and two of her friends were trying to rob the mall.
Jack: The gas was the worst. It forced all of us to dance when we breathed it in. It made us see stuff that wasn't actually there. I thought I was stuck in a massive pinball machine, with a huge snake. And she had other people helping her, I think. They were just taking whatever they wanted from the mall, and no one could stop dancing long enough to stop them.
Jack: But then, Hairman's crew showed up.
Ryder: Holy shit
Jack: It keeps going.
Jack: The lady that was running the whole thing? Laurel? She got cornered in the arcade, after Hairman and his crew subdued her friends. I was still there, too. I guess I just had really bad luck. I was so exhausted after breathing in the gas, I could barely move.
Jack: I think the article you sent might talk about her trying to take someone hostage, towards the end.
Ryder: Ohgods that was YOU??
Jack: Yep.
Jack: Of course, it didn’t work, Phone Girl pulled me away from her, and she took me back to my mom. And I thought that was the end of it.
Ryder: Wasn’t it?
Jack: Well…
Jack: Okay, can you keep a secret?
Ryder: Yeah
Jack: No, seriously.
Jack: If my mom finds out I told you this, we'll both be in HUGE trouble.
Ryder: You can tell me

Now he was really pushing it. This next part was just him being paranoid, so why was he even telling her about it?

Jack: So, Hairman and his crew got all three of them arrested. They were all supposed to go to jail. I don’t think the article you sent talks about it, but you should be able to find another that talks about how Laurel and her accomplices all went missing.
Ryder: Just looked it up, yeah you're right. What happened?
Jack: Mama REALLY hated Laurel for what she did to me. She kept talking about how it was some kind of “attack” against us. I don’t really get what she meant by it. I guess she thought it was personal.
Jack: I swear I heard Mama and her friend talking about how to "get rid of Laurel". She never spoke about it again, though. So I don’t know for sure what they could have done.
Ryder: I mean that doesn't mean your mom, you know...
Ryder: She could have just been speaking in anger
Jack: I know, I know, it's just…
Jack: You don't know my mom. She usually means all the stuff she says about people. And the fact that Laurel and her accomplices actually DID go missing makes me worry.
Ryder: I'm sure she wouldn't do something like THAT though
Jack: True.
Ryder: Gods
Ryder: That's horrible, man. Like seriously.
Jack: Mama's real protective of me because of it. She even tried sending me to someone in Melosia for a while, to learn how to “defend myself”. That didn’t work out though, and she hasn’t brought it up since. But still, she’s never been the same.
Jack: I mean, she was always strict. But before Laurel, at least I could go places on my own for a little while. After that day, she’s always insisted on bringing me everywhere.
Ryder: That’s fucked up.
Ryder: also I really gotta get some sleep man. Hope you’re feeling better though.

Jack put his phone away and tried to relax. It actually wasn’t all he had to say about the subject, but he was tired. He was tired of thinking about what happened in Dancity, over and over again. Come on, it was years ago! It would never happen again, Mama had promised him that. Somehow, talking about it with Ryder did more to relax his thoughts than Mama ever did.

Chapter Text

"Do I have to go?"

Jack still had not gotten to the bottom of what happened the other night. Mama had said she didn't hear any strange noises, claiming he must have been having another nightmare. He decided to try and forget about it, since he had a bigger problem on his hands at the moment. He told Ryder he would meet her in about an hour to try spray painting, but Mama wanted to take him out for lunch.

“It won’t be for very long.” Mama told him, which was certainly not true. “Get cleaned up.”
“Shouldn’t I be practicing today?”
“Perhaps a little break will stop you from fainting halfway through, hm?”

Jack supposed he couldn’t argue with that logic. He wasn't getting anywhere, and Mama looked like she was getting impatient. Jack hurried back to his room to put on his shoes, making sure the door was closed before grabbing his phone and hastily messaging Ryder.

Jack: Sorry to cancel so suddenly. My mom wants to go out for lunch

Not even a second after he sent that message, Jack heard footsteps nearly a moment too late. He shoved the phone under his blankets just as Mama stuck her head in, resisting a startled gasp.

“What are you doing?”
“I’m ready to go.”
“Hurry it up.”

She left. Good. Breathing deeply, Jack pulled on a jacket and hurried towards the front door, finding Mama waiting. Hopefully, Ryder wouldn't be too mad. As they stepped outside and into a car, he found himself staring out the window as usual. He tried not to look at Mama's reflection in the rear view mirror, but he couldn't help but notice her eyes locked on him.

“So? How are you liking it here?” She asked. “Adjusting well?”
Jack nodded without saying anything.
“Speak up, treasure.”
“It’s nice here.” He told her. “It’s quiet. And dark.”
“It hasn’t been too lonely, I hope. I know you’re not used to being left home alone so often.”

What kind of weird mood was she in? She usually wasn’t this talkative, and whenever she was, she was always in some kind of mood. Was he in trouble? Or was she just having a really, really good day?

“It’s okay, Mama.” He replied, to keep her happy.
“Right. Speaking of, I have something I want to talk to you about over lunch.”

So that’s why she was so insistent on lunch. He knew it wasn’t just about lunch, because of course it wasn’t! But what could it be? Did she know he snuck out of the house? Did he break a different rule? Or was this something else entirely? Jack ran through the possibilities in his head. All things considered, if he was actually in trouble, she wouldn’t be this nice. And she certainly wouldn’t break the news in public, over lunch. So it had to be something else, right? Jack couldn’t think of what it could be, though. A part of him still feared that he was in trouble again.

The car pulled up to yet another fancy restaurant. At least it smelled nice. Following Mama inside, he stared blankly at the menu for a few minutes. Maybe he could just order an appetizer and call it a day. Mama watched him expectantly until they ordered, taking a long sip of water before speaking again. Jack kept his eyes fixated on the silverware in front of him, watching people move about in the warped reflections.

“Jack.”
“Yes, Mama?”
“I think it’s time we seriously work on your skills with Flow magic.”

So that’s what she wanted to talk about. Jack almost sighed in relief. Putting the prospect of learning magic aside, he could rest easy knowing he wasn’t in trouble. Not knowing how to reply, Jack shrugged. Mama seemed to scowl a little bit, so he spoke up.

“Magic sounds interesting.” He settled on that reply, hoping it was good enough for her. “Stage magic always looks cool.”
“Yes, I’m sure it does. I’m talking about serious magic, though. The kind sorcerers use.”
“Wait… Really? How am I going to learn that, though?”
“Originally, I was hoping you’d get a head start in Melosia. But… That didn’t work out. Perhaps it’s better that I teach you myself, anyway.” Mama sighed. “I’ve been putting it off for far too long. You’ll need to learn to take care of yourself, sooner or later. And you can’t do that if you don’t study Flow magic on a deeper level.”
“...Are you a sorcerer?”
“I was wondering when you were going to ask. Yes, Jack. I’ve been a sorcerer as long as you’ve been alive.”

For some reason, hearing that shocked Jack. No, Mama was just a performer! Right? Well, why would a performer hang out with a vampire, like Miss Lilith? Jack wasn’t sure, but he knew better than to ask! Wasn’t he supposed to mind his own business? Never mind that, though. Why would Mama become a sorcerer? It had to be for her career, right? He couldn’t think of another reason why.

“Oh…” Jack said. “I didn’t know that.”
“Really? Even after all these years?” She chuckled. “I suppose I do leave you out of the details. I thought you would have figured it out, after the incident in Dancity. Remember that horrible Lantana woman? I’m not without my share of enemies. And clearly, they’re not above targeting you.”
“But why? We haven’t done anything!”
“I know, treasure, I know. It’s complicated. You’ll learn more about it when you’re a bit older. For now, though, it’s time I start teaching you Flow magic in earnest. We’ll start simple.”

Just then, Mama’s phone began to ring. With a slight sigh and a scowl, she answered it. Jack’s little appetizer showed up just then. He’d never been more grateful to shovel a somewhat over-dressed salad into his mouth.

“I’m in the middle of something, make it quick.” Mama said to the phone. “... Already ? You said she wouldn’t be arriving until later in the evening… I see. I suppose that’s a good enough reason, then. Just get her situated at the old manor. I’ll meet her tonight. No, she can meet Jack tomorrow… Look, can I call you back? I’m not at home.”

Shortly after that, she hung up. Jack wasn’t sure what to question first, Mama’s sorcery or whatever that phone call was about. And when he thought about it, it was probably better not to ask any stupid questions. The last thing he needed right now was an irritated Mama on his hands. 

But he wasn’t in any trouble. Jack resisted a little smile. He still wished he could have seen Ryder today, but at least he had no reason to panic.

Clutching a flashlight, Jack shook his head. When he got home from lunch, he saw a reply from Ryder. She had the idea of sneaking out at night to try spray painting, when Mama was asleep. What a bad idea. He'd never tried any kind of painting, let alone spray painting. And yet here he was, propping the door ajar and seeing Ryder outside with a stuffed backpack.

“You’re here!” She said as he opened the door. “Sorry for buggin’ you about this, I just don't want to do this alone. And Blake’s busy.”
“What’s Blake doing?”
“Something about looking for bones.”
“He collects bones?”
“Yeah. Animal bones, I mean. He finds roadkill and he cleans off the corpses.” Ryder shook her head. “Don’t worry about it.”
Jack decided to shift the subject a bit. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”

The two walked until tall towers gave way to fancy houses, the streets lined with trees and electric lamps. Ryder slowed her pace, pointing ahead of them. Faintly, Jack noticed the outline of a tall hill. As they approached, he noticed the pavement growing rough and crooked. None of the streetlights were turned on, leaving the hill in the shadows. At the top, a wrought iron gate surrounded a manor, decorated with dead shrubs and dust.

Ryder approached the gate, warily pushing it open. The loud creak made Jack flinch, but he followed her anyway. He wondered how long this manor had been sitting here.

“So… We’re vandalizing someone’s house?” Jack asked. “I don’t know about this.”
“Bruh, no one lives here. I checked last week.” Ryder shook her head. “The place kinda creeps me out, but there’s no one here. It’s safe.”
“What if someone sees us?”
“Run. They can’t prove anything.”

That didn’t sound reassuring in the slightest. Approaching the wall of the old manor, Ryder set her backpack down and pulled out a set of spray cans, handing one to Jack. What did he want to paint, though? Ryder pulled out a sketchbook and flipped through the pages, stopping at one and shaking her can of paint. Seemed like she had a few ideas. Jack couldn't help but stare at the sketchbook, seeing a few colorful designs that she glanced at every few seconds.

“...Your art’s cool.” He managed to say, shaking the can in his hand. “I could never.”
“That’s what I said when I started drawing. Do it shitty, if you have to.”
“But what should I paint?”
“I dunno, paint a feather. You wear one every day, don’t you?”

That was an idea, he supposed. Looking down at his pendant, he studied it for a few moments. He then painted a circle, making it as symmetrical as he could. Which wasn’t very symmetrical at all. Pausing, he wondered how he would draw a feather, holding up his golden pendant for reference. With a little more hesitation, he drew an awkwardly lopsided feather in the middle of the circle. Close enough. It didn’t look like a feather, though. Looking to the side, he saw Ryder confidently spraying sloppy paint along the wall, drawing what looked like a snake.

“How do you draw like that?” He asked. “Did someone teach you?”
“I learned it online, I guess. It takes practice. And lots of shitty drawings.”
“I’m sure they’re not that bad.”
Ryder laughed. “You haven’t seen ‘em, Red. And you never will. That shit’s staying in the drafts.”
“I’m sure it’s better than what I can draw.”
“Sounds like someone should practice—”

A loud, brittle snap made both of them jump. Jack nearly shrieked as he heard approaching footsteps. Ryder wasted no time, grabbing Jack by the arm and running around the back of the mansion. She pulled him behind one of the trees, covering his mouth and whispering in his ear. He almost couldn’t hear her over the sound of his racing heartbeat.

“Sneak around the left and run. I’ll go right.”
With his mouth covered, Jack shook his head wildly.
"It's either that or get caught, Red. Which one?”

Winking, she let him go and quietly hurried around the right side of the manor, Jack looping around to the left. As they circled towards the front, Jack noticed a hooded figure in a ruffled dress and fishnets, her back turned to them as she searched. Ryder made a run for the open gate, Jack following her. As they rushed through the gate, the door creaked loudly behind them. Jack gasped as a shout came from the hooded figure.

“Hey!”

He didn't look back, running as fast as he could towards the tower. Ryder waved goodbye to him before she turned a corner and ran out of sight. Nearly out of breath, Jack slowed as he reached a familiar street. He could make his way home from here, right? Finally reaching the back door, he saw the shoe propping the door open. Hopefully, Mama was still fast asleep. Jack hurried back to his room, fighting to control his breathing. The last thing he needed was for her to hear him right now.

They almost got caught. But by who? Jack didn't get a good look at their face, unfortunately. But he highly doubted they followed him all the way here. Once he caught his breath, Jack reached under his bed and pulled out his phone, messaging Ryder.

Jack: Please get home safe.

Despite the wave of exhaustion that overtook him, Jack fought to stay awake. He just needed one message from Ryder, to make sure she got home safe and sound. After what felt like hours of sitting in silence, Jack got a response, sighing in relief.

Ryder: IM HOME LMAO
Ryder: Holy shit though im so sorry, I swear it was empty last week!
Jack: It’s fine, don’t worry about me. Do you know who they were?
Ryder: Not a clue man
Ryder: I’m going to bed tho, talk to you later

Hiding the phone again, Jack settled into bed. He should sleep, he knew that. But his mind continued to race. Did the person at the manor get a look at his face? Would they recognize him? Would he ever see them again? He certainly hoped not. At least he got to spend some time with Ryder, even if they got interrupted. Weirdly enough, Jack still thought he had fun. They almost got caught, and as frightening as that was, he almost found it exciting.

Why didn't he think of doing this before? What Mama didn’t know wouldn't hurt her. Maybe he could have made more friends this way. Jack had always wondered why Mama didn't let him hang out with other kids. He'd always assumed it had to do with what happened in Dancity. But even before that, she always told him to avoid other people, even other kids his age. What was it again? Street rats and bad influences, that’s what she always said.

Ryder would be one of those street rats, now that Jack thought about it. He could only imagine what she’d have to say about Ryder getting him to break the rules. But was that so bad? He didn’t get hurt. He had more fun with Ryder than he did at any stuffy, fancy party. He had a friend, for once. Jack didn't know why he kept thinking about that, over and over again. He had a real friend, not just an adult trying to be nice to him. And he technically wasn't even supposed to meet her. Jack would never understand what Mama was scared of. 

Still, thinking about it again wouldn't change the rules. Jack didn't get it, but what could he do? Apparently, he could sneak out behind Mama’s back and make friends anyway. Jack wished he'd done that a little sooner.

Chapter Text

“...Nothing.”

When Mama brought up magic the other day, Jack expected her to wait another couple of weeks. Instead, she’d woken him up bright and early today, and they had spent the past few hours dancing together. It didn't help that he’d never danced to this song before. He felt like he’d heard its chilling melody in the past, but he couldn’t quite remember for sure. Either way, he hated it.

"...Just one more time, treasure." Mama told him, her voice a little short. "Try to focus your attention inwards. Don't think about what your body is doing. Let your Flow take care of that."
Jack nodded, still panting. "Just need a minute."
"The sooner you do it again, the sooner it's over."

Grimacing, Jack got up. Mama stood across from him, already dancing again. He followed her as best as he could, despite the jarring melody that rang around them both. Did it have to be this terrifying? Even as an electrifying force flowed through his body, Jack felt like he got more chills from the tune they danced to.

Крові, крові, крові, крові
Ні, не мертвої — живої
Щоб текла, лилась, кипіла
Не вбивала — щоб творила

A soft magenta glow surrounded Mama's body. Jack remained unchanged. He needed that aura to form if he wanted to actually use the Flow he was generating with his dance. Following her advice, Jack tried to let go. Moving in sync with her, the electrifying force seemed to lift his limbs exactly where they needed to go. He focused on how it felt, how it coursed through his veins in burning waves on-beat with the melody.

В серце, в серце, в серце, в серце
Щоб воно почуло герци
Інтервали, напівтони
Сили щоб дало ньютони

He slowly got used to the melody. Letting his mind relax, Jack could swear he felt less winded. Despite being out of breath a minute ago, he felt like he could dance forever. For a moment, the melody went from frightening to inviting.

В м'язи, в м'язи, в м'язи, в м'язи
Схаменулись щоб одразу
І несли мене подалі
Мов невидимі педалі

With a sharp breath, Jack's eyes widened as a red glow began to shine from his body. Faint and pale, but still noticeable. For a second, he met eyes with Mama, seeing her yellow eyes ablaze and a grin on her face. Following her lead felt as simple and natural as breathing, in that moment. Every graceful move of her body, he matched as the Flow pulled him along.

Ніч у ніч, вночі, щоночі (щоночі)
Не заплющувати очі (не заплющувати очі)
Не спинятись, не стояти (не спинятись, не стояти)
Жити, бути і літати (жити, бути і літати)

And then the melody trailed off. Mama guided him to a stop, the red aura still illuminating Jack's body. That force still flowed through him, even when he stood completely still. This felt... This felt more than amazing.

"...Took you long enough." Mama finally said. "How do you feel?"
"Great." Jack told her. "I'm not even tired!"
“Perfect. With any luck, you’ll be putting that magic to use in no time.”

He nodded. Mama waved him away, Jack hurrying upstairs to get cleaned up. She had something to do, and although he didn't plan on sneaking out, he wanted a chance to talk to Ryder. She had started a group chat with Jack and some of her other friends. He didn’t talk to them half as much as her, but he still enjoyed keeping up with everyone. 

Once he got back to his room, Jack reached under his bed and pulled out a stack of paper. He found a set of pencils around the house and had taken to making crude drawings whenever he got super bored. Why? He wasn’t sure, but he wanted a sketchbook like Ryder’s. Mama hadn’t noticed yet, but he was sure she wouldn’t mind a simple drawing hobby.

Downstairs, he faintly heard a door open and close. Jack waited a full ten minutes before grabbing his phone, seeing the group chat alive and active.

Ryder: Okay but that doesnt answer my question, how do we clean the forbidden spaghetti
Blake: u could just wash them off in the sink
Ryder: That’s not gonna clean them off completely though
Blake: dip them in hand sanitizer
Ryder: Its HAND sanitizer not WORM sanitizer
Blake: what about rubbing alcohol
Blake: u know how people make pasta sauce with vodka
Jack: What are you guys talking about?
Ann: Welcome to an average conversation between Ryder and Blake!
Blake: well what do u guys talk about
Luke: Literally anything besides how to eat worms out of the ground
Jack: Ryder, you’re going to catch some kind of illness from that.
Ryder: Hospital speedrun
Liv: I talk about buying gummy worms ONCE and this is what happens

Jack couldn't help but burst into giggles. He didn't expect to walk in on this kind of conversation.

Jack: So, is anything else happening?
Ann: Our moms are talking about going to Dancity next year!
Jack: You and Luke, right?
Ann: Yeah, we were adopted together
Ann: I genuinely can’t remember the last time we left Eternyx to be honest
Ryder: Hey red i forgot to ask earlier but when’s your birthday
Ryder: I like to keep track
Jack: Actually, it’s in a few weeks. Why?
Ryder: OMG LETS DO SOMETHING IF WE CAN
Ryder: Like maybe not on your actual birthday but if we can get you to sneak out another night we could all hang out! When’s Liv moving out?
Liv: Not for another 3 months
Ryder: Perfect!!
Blake: what would we do
Ryder: You know there's a really nice mall, like, within walking distance of that big ass tower
Ryder: They’re supposed to have an indoor pool apparently
Liv: OHFUCK SPIDER BIG SPIDER IN MY ROOM

Liv proceeded to send a picture of a spider on a ceiling. Jack would have replied, but just then, he heard footsteps down the halls. More than just Mama's, at that. He didn't expect her to be back so soon! He barely shoved the phone under the pillows in time, Mama opening the door. She looked at Jack and narrowed her eyes, and he gulped.

“What were you doing?”
“Um,” Jack stammered, “Nothing.”

For a moment, she kept her gaze on him. But she didn't ask him anything else. It was then that Jack noticed someone standing behind her, a hood pulled over their head. Getting to his feet, Jack's heart lurched when he recognized them. Same dress, same fishnets, same dark hood. Mama stepped aside, letting in the hooded person and gesturing between them. Pulling down the hood, a redhead girl with pigtails met Jack’s eyes.

"Scarlett, this is Jack. My son." She introduced. "Jack, this is Scarlett. She’s one of my new apprentices. You’ll be practicing with her for the foreseeable future."
“A new apprentice?” He asked. “Why?”
“Does that matter?”
“...I guess not. Just curious.”
“Good.” Mama nodded. “I just wanted to introduce you, while she was still here.”
“Yeah,” Scarlett agreed, shooting a look at Jack, “Nice to meet you, Jack.”

He smiled, but didn't know how to reply. The two walked away, Jack shutting the door once Mama was all the way down the hall. Did she recognize him? Was she angry? She wouldn't tell Mama, would she?  Come to think of it, what was she doing at that manor anyway? Ryder didn't seem to know, let alone Jack. And he doubted he’d get an answer out of Mama.

Grabbing the phone again, Jack messaged Ryder directly, hoping she would see him quickly.

Jack: Ryder, we’ve got a problem.
Ryder: Huh?
Jack: That girl from the manor is back. She’s a new apprentice of my mother.
Ryder: Damn I didn’t know Night Swan offered dance classes. Yall got room for one more lol?
Ryder: Just joking but ykwim

Jack bit his lip. He felt like he was lying to his friend. But Ryder didn’t need to know he was learning magic! What if Mama found out? Well… Wasn’t he already in trouble, if she found out about Ryder? He already blabbed all about Laurel Lantana, anyway. What was one more?

Jack: Okay, this is another “you can't tell anyone about this or we are both screwed” kind of deal.
Ryder: Yeah? What’s up?
Jack: My mother is teaching me magic.
Ryder: Yeah I figured, she’s a performer and shit
Jack: No, not just stage magic. She said she wanted to teach me real sorcery.
Ryder: …Like, more than just showy-show stuff?
Jack: Yeah. It’s serious magic. I only just learned she was a sorcerer yesterday.
Ryder: But why though????
Jack: She didn’t tell me
Ryder: Holy shit dude
Jack: That must explain why you didn’t see her a week ago. She must have moved in pretty recently.
Ryder: And you’re SURE it’s the same girl??
Jack: Same hood, same fishnets, she even gave me a mean look. As if she recognized me.
Ryder: I think ANYONE would recognize you no offense
Ryder: We have gotta get you a hoodie. Or a hat. Or both
Jack: I just hope she doesn’t say anything.
Ryder: Same holy fuck
Ryder: I was already gonna keep away from the manor but yeah, I’ll definitely keep an eye out for her.
Ryder: Completely unrelated but do you want to watch the auroras tonight?

Jack knew what she meant. If he wanted to be technical, they weren’t real auroras. Not without a sun. But the shimmering hues of Eternyx’s seasonal auroras drew tourists from all over the world. He’d seen them before, and they took his breath away every time. He had completely forgotten they’d be appearing tonight, too! Did he want to risk sneaking out again? Would Mama even be out of the house tonight? She hadn’t mentioned anything, but knowing her, she probably would.

‘But what if she wants me to go with? I could say I hurt myself dancing. But she might not buy that. Can't use that excuse too often.' He pondered. 'Maybe I’m pushing my luck. ’

Biting his lip, Jack texted Ryder back.

Jack: I’ll try to show up.
Ryder: Sweet, I’ll tell Blake and Liv, they wanted to come too

What was he doing? Having a good time, that's what! Mama would be furious if she ever found out. But why? Because he was breaking the rules! But why was this even a rule? Because it just was ! But that wasn't fair. Ryder wasn't going to hurt him. Blake and Liv, and Luke, and Ann, none of them were going to be mean to him. They made him feel at home! Wouldn't she understand? No, breaking the rules didn't have any excuses. Mama wouldn't hear it. She didn’t have to find out, though.

'She doesn't have to find out.' Jack repeated to himself. 'She doesn't have to find out. She doesn't have to find out!'

The tower remained still and silent. Jack should have been asleep hours ago. He sat in silence, alone in the dark confines of his room, counting down the minutes. Mama had gone out for dinner tonight, and she still wasn't back. He didn’t want to leave early, though, since it would take time for Ryder and the others to get to the tower.

For some reason, Jack couldn’t get his anxieties out of his head. He hid some pillows and clothes under his blanket, trying to make it look like a sleeping body. Just in case she poked her head in. Glancing at his little phone, he realized it was time. With the usual old shoe in hand, Jack left his room and crept down the stairs of the dark tower. Shivering, he pulled a patchwork-colored jacket tighter around his shoulders. No sign of Mama. No sign of the maid or the butler, either.

This was going to be fun. He kept telling himself that.

As he made his way to the first floor, Jack tried to hurry. He had no idea when Mama would be back from dinner. If she was out this late, without him, she must be having fun. Which usually meant she must be drinking, which meant he had a better chance of sneaking away unnoticed. Surely she'd be too tipsy to catch him, let alone question him heavily. If anything, he could say he just wanted to see the auroras, without even mentioning his secret friends. With a little smile to himself, Jack stepped out of the stairwell, which led him right to the front door.

'Almost there—'

And then, before he could rush back up the stairs, the front door opened. Stumbling inside, Mama's eyes widened when she saw Jack freeze, her brow immediately furrowing. Oh no.

"What are you doing awake?" She asked. "Do you have any idea how late it is?"
"I, um..." Jack forgot what excuse to use. "Looking for the bathroom."
"And you can't use the one upstairs?"

Mama quickly approached, Jack instinctively backing away. Her eyes narrowed as she snatched the old shoe out of his hands. Before he could react, Mama grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him along with a huff of irritation. With her free hand, she gestured in front of her, pulling a portal into view. Jack's eyes widened. Was that her magic? He didn't have much time to think about it when Mama shoved him through, barely recognizing the mirrored room he practiced in every day.

"You know, you've been acting odd lately." Mama snapped, her voice noticeably slurred. "Just what are you hiding from me, exactly?!"
"Nothing!" Jack insisted. "I was just—"
"Don't think you can get away with lying to me, young man! Now, what are you doing awake? Are you trying to sneak out?"

Oh no. What could he say to calm her down? Apologize? No, then she'd know he was sneaking out! What did Ryder say to do?

"I wasn't sneaking out, Mama, I swear!" He tried.
"Then what were you trying to do, hm?" Mama crossed her arms, shaking her head. "Spoiled rotten, I tell you. How could you be so inconsiderate?! Do you know how much I worry about you?"

That wouldn't work. Jack didn't know what to say. He could just scream, cry, something, anything!

"Well, why can't I go out? Huh?" He asked, doing his best to meet her glare. "Why can't I go out and make new friends, huh? Aren't we living here for good?"
"Excuse me?"
"I don't get it! What are you scared of?!" Jack went on, his eyes starting to burn. "You just think everyone's out to get us, but they're not! I just want to have some fun! It's not my fault you're too scared to let me have friends!"

Mama stuttered. For a moment, everything seemed to freeze. Jack would have gone on, but his words froze in his throat. Did he just... Did he just yell at her? Did he just talk back to Mama? Oh gods, oh no, what was she going to—

Before he could scream, or push back, or even flinch away, Mama's manicured hand snatched Jack by the hair. The mirrors and lights of the practice room blurred for a second, before he could even process what she was doing. Her nails dug into his scalp as she pulled him back.

"You little—!"

Jack shrieked as a splitting pain shot through the side of his head. The quick, sharp sound of glass breaking was followed by a thud as his body hit the floor. Instinctively, Jack curled into a ball and shrieked at the top of his lungs. Faintly, he felt blood flowing down the side of his face, his head spinning and his heart racing. The silence that followed hung in the air for a moment, before Mama's voice softened. Even now, her voice slurred.

"Treasure...?"

Almost an hour later, Jack stepped out of the shower. He still found himself shaking. The band-aid he'd put on his cheek fell off, letting the cut on his cheek bleed freely again. With a sigh, he rummaged through the bathroom cabinets, finding a bigger band aid. He made sure to dry off his face before sticking it on, hoping this one would stay. It hurt enough as it was.

‘Stupid idea.’

He should have just stayed home tonight. He should have known better! Or maybe he just got unlucky. How could he have known? Still, all Jack wanted to do now was go to sleep. Mama couldn't bother him if he never woke up, right? Toweling off his hair, he made his way back to his bedroom, seeing no sign of her on his way back. Maybe she had finally gone to sleep. Maybe he'd be safe, then.

Jack had been sobbing in the shower earlier. Now, as he crawled under the covers, he couldn't muster any more tears. The only thing that could make him cry right now was Mama, maybe.

"Jack?"

Oh, just his luck.

Jack couldn't bring himself to move when Mama opened the door, even as she sat gently on the edge of the bed. Nevertheless, he shook like a leaf. Why couldn't she just leave him alone?!

"Oh, treasure, I... I was just acting in anger." Mama said, her voice quiet and dripping with syrup. "You know I'd never do something to hurt you. Right?"
He didn't reply, staying as still as he could muster.
"I'm... I'm sorry. I really am." She finally muttered, before leaning down and kissing him on the side of the head. "We'll go out and do something tomorrow. Whatever you want."

Finally, after all that, Mama left him alone. Jack counted down the minutes again. He almost couldn't bring himself to reach for the phone, paranoid she'd burst through the door and catch him again. But he had to tell Ryder he wasn't going to make it tonight. He'd warned her, sure. But he didn't expect to actually get caught tonight.

‘Just leave her alone. I don't want any of them getting in trouble with Mama! Maybe I should just stop talking to them...'

But even as he had that thought, Jack reached under the bed and pulled out the phone. At least she didn’t catch him with this. He saw a slew of texts from Ryder, and for a moment, had to bite back more tears.

Ryder: Red???
Ryder: Gonna assume youre running late the auroras are almost gone
Ryder: Ah shit did something come up? Tell me when you can lmao
Jack: She caught me.
Ryder: Oh shit
Ryder: Omg sorry sorry I didn't know man
Jack: It's okay.
Ryder: Is it?
Jack: Not really.
Ryder: Guessing she was mad at you huh?

Jack considered telling her about what happened. Like he did with Laurel Lantana, and with Mama being a sorcerer.

Jack: I don’t want to talk about it.
Ryder: Okay sorry
Ryder: You should sleep

He knew that, and yet his thoughts grew too loud to ignore. Mama said he could go wherever he wanted tomorrow. He wanted to go watch the auroras with Ryder, Blake, and Liv. Why? He’d only known them for a little while? Still, they were all he could think about, sometimes. If only he could get his thoughts to calm down, maybe he could sleep. Maybe Mama would be in a better mood tomorrow, and they could forget this ever happened. Doubtful, though. She’d hold this over his head for a while.

Rolling out of bed, an unnatural chill ran through him. Rather than drag him back to bed, it pulled him to the side as he reached towards something he couldn't quite see. He wished he was anywhere but his bedroom. A pitch-black Eternyx street would be better than this stifling little room.

To your soul…
To your soul…
Cry—

Jack reached towards the sky, resisting the urge to sing. He would be dead if Mama woke up from this. But what was a little more trouble, at this point? Fuck it, Ryder would say.

You leave in the morning with everything you own in a little black case
Alone on a platform, the wind and the rain on a sad and lonely face

Did they have a good time, at least? Ryder, Blake, and Liv? The auroras would have been beautiful to watch. And they made such a long trip to come see him! Jack wished he could have watched the auroras with his friends. Maybe Liv brought her gummy worms. Jack would have liked to share gummy worms with Liv, but all he got was a gash on his cheek that refused to stop aching.

Mother will never understand why you had to leave
But the answers you seek will never be found at home
The love that you need will never be found at home

Mama just wanted to keep him locked away forever, didn't she? Jack kept telling himself she was just scared, but he couldn't believe it right now. Maybe if she was looming over him, then maybe he'd believe that. How long did she expect him to hide in this tower? Surely, he couldn't stay under Mama's wing forever, right?

Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away...

Funny. Jack almost forgot that today was his birthday. He had turned fifteen, finally. It felt oddly underwhelming, given everything that had happened since he moved to Eternyx.

He resisted the urge to scratch his cheek, a deep scab still healing over. Mama stuck close to his side, the two of them walking down the street. She hadn't been able to take him out to the mall until today, weeks after she slammed his head into a mirror. At least she seemed like she was in a better mood. Jack had stayed home dutifully the whole time, trying to practice extra hard. That seemed to appease her. He hadn’t seen his friends in all that time, to play it safe. They seemed to understand. He still felt bad for leaving them hanging.

Ahead of him, Mama and Scarlett walked side-by-side, having a conversation. She planned to leave the two of them alone at the mall for a little while. Well, not completely alone. She’d be tagging along, but she promised to give him and Scarlett some alone time. Jack wasn’t sure if she’d actually keep that promise, though. At least she was taking him out to the mall again. He couldn’t complain. It was better than doing nothing for his birthday.

‘Huh?’

Jack turned around. He thought he heard something, an oddly clear voice that vanished too quickly for him to catch it. A tingling rush flowed through his body. Wait a minute, someone was dancing! He knew this feeling!

A flash of movement caught his eye. Across the street, on the corner of a curb, a girl in black and orange hopped back and forth in a little dance. His eyes widened when he recognized Liv , nearly calling out to her. But he looked back at Mama and Scarlett, a few paces ahead of him, and kept quiet. He hurried to follow them, hoping Mama didn't notice who had distracted him. 

But still, it was Liv! He didn't expect to see her around here! Did she notice him, though? Probably not. She seemed occupied with her little jig. What had her so upbeat today, he wondered? He wished he could ask. Standing on the corner of the road, he waited for a stoplight to turn green.

Barbara Streisand

This time, he caught it. Turning, he saw Liv one more time, directly behind him. She waved at him before turning to walk away. So she did see him! Jack didn’t wave back, but he smiled before she turned around. The stoplight turned green, and he obediently followed Mama and Scarlett across the street.

Liv was having a good day, clearly. With any luck, maybe Jack would have a good day too.

Chapter Text

“It’s good to hear from you again, Lilith.”
“Likewise. How are you settling in?”
“You were right about Eternyx. It already feels like home. I just wish Cygnus got the damn place built sooner. Still don’t get why they couldn’t build it in Cygnus… The city, I mean.”
“There’s a thousand towers there already. It’s hard to get around those building regulations. Besides, I’ve always preferred Fathoms. Cygnus is a lovely city, but living there is a headache.”
“Is it, now?”
“Leda, take it from me. The nightlife in Cygnus makes it a fun place to visit, and a horrible place to live in. You’ll prefer Fathoms. It’s a lot quieter.”
“I suppose you have a point.”
“How’s Jack, anyway? Settling in?”
“A little. He’s been moody, recently. I’d like to help him get over it as quickly as possible.”
“He’s a teenage boy. They’re always like that.”
“True. I caught him trying to sneak out of the house a few weeks ago. Might have gone a little overboard, but it was a late night. Took him out to the mall this afternoon. He seemed to like that.”
“Do tell.”
“He’s a good boy, though. He knows I don’t mean it.”

“I’m sure he does. How’s Scarlett?”
“I gave her a day to get settled, but she’s practicing with us now. She insisted on cleaning up that old manor of yours, before anything else.”
“Like I said before, Vester and I haven’t lived there in… Come to think of it, since before The Traveler was around.”
“I can tell. Still, it’s better than having two teenagers under my roof. Jack is enough to deal with.”
“As you say.”
“How are her parents? Are they asking any questions?”
“They haven’t shown up at my door yet. I’ve been keeping an eye on them, though. They have more on their plates right now.”
“What makes you say that?”
“You’ll never believe this. Scarlett’s not the only child of theirs that ran off. The two boys left home a few days ago, and they haven’t come back. And her little sister was with them, too. Quinn, I think. Not sure why, if I’m being honest.”
“You’re kidding.”
“That’s what I thought. I caught them leaving in the middle of the night. Followed them out of curiosity. I was a little worried that they’d be looking for Scarlett. But no, they got on a flight to Cyberfunk instead.”
“Clearly someone’s helping them, if they got through space-port security.”
“True. My point is, she’s not the only missing kid of theirs now. I think it got to be too much for the wife. She threw a fit at the venue, when they were supposed to be renewing their vows. I almost forgot they had that planned.”
“That must have been a sight. You know, I never understood getting your vows renewed. You’d think one time would be enough.”
“Sentimental value, I suppose. Or maybe it’s an excuse to throw a fancy party together. But anyway, I thought you might like to know. At least they won’t be bothering us anytime soon.”

“Anything else?”
“Well, onto the reason why I called you. I told you about Felicia, right?”
“Oh, her. Any news?”
“She’s eager to go to Eternyx. I think she’ll fit right in with Scarlett and Jack. She’s only a couple of years older than them. I’m sure there’s room in the manor for her and Scarlett both.”
“How much longer until you can get her here?”
“Not long. She doesn’t have a nosy family to worry about. It’s just a matter of getting the paperwork in order. Let cygnus know I’ll be needing his help again.”
“Let me know as soon as you have everything in order.”
“I will. It shouldn’t be very long. I’ll have Felicia in Eternyx in the coming weeks.”

Ryder: Okay guess who’s getting yelled at by his aunt because he left another dead animal in the shed
Ann: So what else is new with Blake these days?
Ryder: Well he’s not getting that raccoon skull he wanted

Ryder rolled over onto her back, chatting back and forth with Ann. She could hear Blake storming off outside her room, rolling her eyes. She told him, she explicitly told him not to forget the raccoon’s corpse in the shed. Leave it outside, away from the crypt. But did he listen? No. And now their aunt was mad about the stench coming from the shed. Which, Ryder thought, was pretty reasonable. She glanced at Blake’s side of the room, seeing a couple polished skulls on the stained-glass windowsill. At least they looked cool when they were all cleaned up.

Blake would be back any minute. He probably just needed to clean up the shed out back. He and Ryder helped their aunt build it years ago. It was the only new structure built around here in years.

Ryder: Anywayyyy did you do the lit homework yet or no?
Ann: Yeah did you want the answers to it or nah?
Ryder: Please I don’t have time to actually do it today
Ann: You never have time to do your homework lol
Ryder: Shhhhhhh
Ryder: I would ask for Jack’s help but I think he’s also grounded
Ann: Still?
Ryder: Yeah idk he hasn’t talked a whole lot the past few weeks
Ryder: Maybe it’s his mom
Ann: You think so?

Just then, the door opened. Blake slumped onto his cot. Their “bedroom” had been fashioned out of a random spare room, a spiraling staircase still in the center. The door at the other end had been boarded up ever since Ryder started living here. She and Blake had tried to pry it open, until their aunt told them to stop. They were decorated with posters and tapestries, but Ryder could still see cold stone walls underneath.

“Told you.” Ryder said as soon as Blake sat down.
“So I forgot the little guy in the shed.” Blake huffed. “Sue me.”
“Your ‘little guy’ is actively decomposing, but okay.”
“Whatever.”
Ryder chuckled. “Oh yeah, Ann said she had the lit homework.”
“For real?”

Glancing at her phone again, Ryder saw a couple of photos from Ann. A simple worksheet, with answers written in Ann’s neat handwriting. She quickly sent the photos to Blake as well, who grabbed a similar worksheet out of his bag and began to jot things down. As he did, Ryder went back to texting Ann.

Ann: Oh yeah Jack’s mom announced a new tour of hers for next year. There’s gonna be one in the downtown Fathoms arena
Ann: I want to catch that one if I can! She’s actually a really good dancer if I’m being honest
Ryder: Ohgods lol maybe I should try to go
Ryder: Idk ballet is just not my thing I guess
Ryder: But Night Swan’s pretty cool, idk
Ann: Cant relate lol, I looooove ballet. Plus not everything she does is ballet
Ann: Like, here’s another one of her old Eternyx shows, don’t really think this counts as ballet
Ryder: That ones cool too
Ryder: Still just not my thing lol
Ann: Gotcha
Ann: Speaking of her though did you hear about her and Cygnus
Ryder: The guy right?
Ann: Yeah ofc the guy lmao
Ann: I don’t want to assume that they’re dating or anything obviously but like…
Ann: You know how he had that nasty divorce?
Ryder: Sorta
Ann: Apparently he started following her around shortly after that divorce
Ann: Like, every time I look up Jack’s mom, I have to comb through a bunch of shitty tabloid articles about her and Cygnus. Mostly because of stuff like that
Ann: Like I get thats what tabloids do but it just seems super nosy
Ryder: Maybe thats why she’s so uptight and shit
Ryder: Idk shes just weird, even without the sugar daddy
Ryder: I’ll be honest Jack acts like he’s afraid of her
Ann: Oh gods so its not just me who thinks that????
Ryder: Nah like a few weeks ago, he got caught sneaking out and wouldn’t tell me what happened afterwards
Ryder: Plus from some of the other stuff he’s told me, she just sounds super strict. And like, kinda angry all the fucking time
Ann: Oh what’s he told you?
Ryder: I promised to keep it a secret tbh
Ann: Fair fair

“I’m thinking about dyeing my hair.”

Ryder looked up from her phone when Blake spoke up, out of the blue.

“Huh?”
“I said, I’m thinking about dyeing my hair.”
“Why?” Ryder shrugged. “Thought you liked being a blonde.”
Blake chuckled. “Might as well try it. I just don’t want to do plain black, though, that’s boring.”
“Do green.”
“Be serious.”
“I am being serious.”
“Green, though? It’s not like I wear a lot of green.”
“Maybe you should.”
“...I’ll do it if you do it.”
“Bet.”

That settled the deal. Now all they needed was green hair dye. Ryder figured now wasn’t the time to ask their aunt for money, though. She decided to get up and walk outside, passing by a candle-lit room with more of those stained glass windows. She had to admit, the windows were still beautiful after all these years, golden butterflies letting in light from outside. They took care to keep them clean, along with the rest of the crypt.

Ryder eventually made her way to the front door, pushing it open. Night had since fallen, a few lanterns keeping the front entrance lit. She wandered aimlessly through rows and rows of old tombstones, as she’d done all her life. Who was buried here? She had no idea. The names had long worn off the stones that marked their graves. Where was her aunt, anyways? Probably out back by the shed, making sure Blake actually cleaned it. A part of her wanted to check out the mess in the shed, but she was already wandering away from it, and had no desire to turn around.

Inevitably, her wandering thoughts circled back to Night Swan. Ryder hadn’t thought much about her until recently. She seemed like a nice woman, all things considered. At least in public. Meanwhile, Jack tiptoed around her like a timid rabbit.

‘Why the hell do I keep thinking about her?’ Ryder thought to herself. ‘There’s probably nothing wrong. Should mind my damn business. What am I even worried about, anyways?’

She still couldn’t answer that. Nevertheless, she continued to think about it as she wandered through the old graveyard. At least Ann seemed to agree with her. Maybe the others would, too. Sure, parents could be strict, but Jack acted like getting caught was a matter of life and death. Then again, Ryder remembered what he’d told her before, about that Laurel Lantana woman.

“I swear I heard Mama and her friend talking about how to "get rid of her". She never spoke about it again, though. So I don’t know for sure what they could have done.”

Come on, there was no way his mom had that woman killed. She was a performer, damn it! Not a criminal mastermind! How would she even get away with that, anyway? Still, the fact that she’d even said something like that made Ryder shiver. Jack probably wasn’t exaggerating about how strict his mother could be, if she said unhinged things like that. But maybe Ryder was being too judgemental. If some petty criminal held her kid hostage, maybe she’d want a piece of them too.

‘I’ll have to talk to him about it. Maybe I’m just being paranoid.” Ryder sighed, kicking at a stray rock on the ground and watching it bounce away. ‘At least he still has a mom. Lucky. Couldn’t be me.’

No sense dwelling on that again, though. Ryder turned around and headed back to the crypt. She had homework to copy, anyway.

Chapter Text

Promise me a place…

Dancing was fun. Jack wouldn’t deny that. He just thought he’d enjoy it more if he had better partners.

Sitting under the lights of the mirrored practicing room, Jack caught his breath. The last part of that same song lingered in his head. Another day, another session of rigorous dancing. At least he had gotten a feel for Flow. Meanwhile, Scarlett leaned against the wall across from him, sharing a few words with Mama. She could alter her outfit at will, which she’d demonstrated several times. Mama approved, of course. She gave Scarlett words of encouragement that Jack hadn’t heard in years.

“You did surprisingly well,” Mama told her, “Given your… Altercation, we’ll say. You kept up with Jack well enough.”
“It’s fine.” Scarlett shrugged. “He didn’t get me that hard.”
“Maybe avoid that part of town for the time being. Describe him again.”
“Uh… About my age. Blonde. Dark clothes. I didn’t get a good look at his face.”

What? Looking closer, Jack noticed an odd dull mark around one of Scarlett’s eyes. How did he miss it, before? Well, they did jump immediately into practice today, so he didn’t notice until now. Maybe he needed to pay more attention.

“Treasure, could you walk her to the door?” Mama asked. “I need to get ready for a photoshoot in a couple of hours.”

Oh, thank the gods. He’d get at least a few hours of peace and quiet, if nothing else. Jack got up and followed Scarlett out the door, the two of them heading upstairs to the entry hall. He tried to think of something to say. Was she okay? Did someone attack her, or something? She made it sound like that earlier. But who would do such a thing? And why? His gaze lingered on the mark around her eye, a fresh bruise that would certainly darken by tomorrow. It looked like it stung.

“Got something to say?” Scarlett asked, looking at him.
“Uh,” Jack stammered, “Are—”
“No? Then stop staring at me. It’s creepy.”

Oh. She’d been like that ever since they started practicing together. Maybe he was being creepy. But Jack didn’t know what to say to her! Everything came naturally when he was with Ryder, or Ann and Luke, or his other secret friends. With Scarlett, he always stumbled over what he wanted to say. And her snappy comments didn’t make it any easier. A part of him still feared that she would tell Mama about what happened at the manor weeks ago. Maybe that was why she didn’t like him. Jack couldn’t exactly blame her.

“...Didn’t mean to creep you out.” He muttered. “I was just wondering if you were okay.”
“Sure.”
“Did someone hurt you?”
“None of your business.”

Wow. Jack wasn’t sure why he was bothering. Oh, right, Mama insisted that he try to befriend Scarlett. He got the door for her, biting his lip before speaking up again.

“Sorry if I did anything to make you uncomfortable.” He tried, doing his best not to stutter. “I don’t mean it.”

Scarlett almost left without another word, but paused before stepping out the door. She looked at Jack, rolling her eyes as she leaned towards him and whispered.

“Look, I’m here to become a witch, not to be your little pal.” She muttered. “Just quit being a weirdo, and your mom doesn’t have to know a thing.”
“Know what?”
“You know what I mean.”

One of her fingers flicked at Jack’s necklace, at the golden feathered pendant. She gave him a knowing look before leaving the tower. Jack sighed. If Mama wasn’t so insistent that they be friends, he’d listen to Scarlett. He was already a pro at not talking to anyone, after all. Still, it felt different hearing her mention that incident openly like that.

Instinctively, Jack scratched at the scab over his cheek. It still hadn’t healed over fully, and it bled if he scratched it too much. He stopped before he tore it open again. He decided to head back to his room for now. Sure, he had no plans to meet up with Ryder and the rest. Between their school schedules and his mother, he hadn’t seen them since the incident with the mirror. But he still talked to them as much as he could. He even helped Blake with some of his homework, a couple of times. Thankfully, Mama had never caught him with that little phone.

As he got upstairs and headed to his room, Jack could hear his mother on the phone.

“No, absolutely not, I’m busy.” Mama barked. “Yes, it’s important! Do you know how long I’ve been putting off this photoshoot? Like I said, it’s important. Yes, it’s for the tour. I’ve told you that a thousand times, damn it!”

Ah, she was being fussy as usual. Her temper flared up when it came to her tours. Jack supposed she had an excuse. She took her career super seriously, right? Right. Jack shuffled to his bedroom and pulled out some of his schoolwork. As expected, he had private tutors again. He didn’t mind them. They were always far gentler teachers than Mama, after all. As he got to his work, the sound of Mama’s voice gradually faded. 

Jack waited for a solid twenty minutes of silence before reaching for his phone. He kept his ears open for footsteps from the staff. They at least knocked before opening any doors, though. He decided to see if the bigger group chat was active. Sure enough, it was. Raising his eyebrow, Jack saw a name he didn’t recognize.

Arleen: so Liv’s handling the slides, I’m doing half the paper, and Ann’s doing the other half
Ann: Yeah pretty much!! I have 2 sources in mind but I need to find more, did you have any?
Jack: What?
Ann: Oh yeah, Arleen have you met Jack?
Arleen: Not yet, hi Jack

Arleen, huh? Jack wasn’t sure if he’d heard that name before.

Jack: Hi, Arleen.
Arleen: You going to school with us or nah
Jack: Unfortunately, no. My mother insists on tutors.
Arleen: Ah well
Arleen: I’m kinda only here for a group project but lets talk if we meet in person lol

Oh, that was a little unfortunate. She had to be another one of their classmates, from the sound of it. Jack glanced back at his own school work with disdain. What he would give to be in class with the rest of them.

Ann: Well also that’s not the only reason why I invited you here Arleen
Arleen: Yeah?
Ann: I was going to talk about it after class but since Jack is here…
Ann: I had an idea for something we could all do together!
Jack: Which is?
Ann: You know the old warehouse district?
Arleen: Yeah?
Ryder: What about it
Arleen: PAY ATTENTION MISS GRIER IS TALKING ABOUT GODDAMN PARABOLAS
Ryder: LMAOAOAOAOAO

Jack stifled a laugh. Seemed like they were having a productive day in class.

Jack: What warehouse district?
Ann: You haven’t seen it? It’s actually not far from where you live
Ann: Luke and I sometimes hang out there, since it’s usually pretty empty. I don’t think people use all those old warehouses anymore
Ann: He and I found one with a bunch of old clothes the other day. We could all go and grab something!
Jack: Isn’t that stealing?
Ann: It’s abandoned idk who we’d even be stealing from
Ryder: Ooooo sounds like fun
Ann: I know!! I can’t do it tomorrow night, but maybe the night after?
Arleen: Better do it while we still can, aren’t they tearing a lot of those warehouses down next year?
Ann: I KNOW IM SO MAD ABOUT IT
Ann: Now where am I gonna hang out????
Ryder: Blake probably won’t go he’s grounded again
Ann: Again????? Is this still about the raccoon corpse in the shed or what?
Ryder: No something different
Jack: Excuse me, what the fuck?

Jack nearly gasped. He usually didn’t swear like that. But he couldn’t exactly help it when the topic of raccoon corpses came up.

Ryder: Okay Blake likes to collect bones. And sometimes if he finds a dead animal, he brings it back home so he can clean off the corpse and keep the bones.
Jack: That gives me even more questions.
Ryder: No no its usually fine, it’s just that this time he left it in a shed we have out behind where I live. So our aunt got really mad at him. Cause the shed smelled like roadkill for a few days.
Ryder: But that’s not what he’s in trouble for today. Today he kicked someone in the head on the way to school and our aunt had to take him home early
Jack: I have several MORE questions now.
Ann: Get used to it, this happens like every other month with Blake
Ryder: God forbid my brother do anything
Ann: DONT ENCOURAGE HIM!!!
Jack: Wait, he's your brother? I thought he was your cousin.
Ryder: Yeah he’s my twin, we just live with our aunt
Arleen: YOU STILL ARENT PAYING ATTENTION TO MISS GRIER
Ryder: LMFAO THIS IS  MORE IMPORTANT
Ryder: Anyway Jack here’s the story: Some bitch has been robbing a bunch of the other kids that go to our school. She tried to rob me and Blake, so Blake kicked her in the head.
Ryder: And since I don’t think he’s told you this, Blake literally bought books on martial arts and practices all the time. I dont know if he’s actually any good but he kicks HARD
Jack: Can’t you go to the police?
Ryder: That’s what the school is doing
Arleen: Oh is THIS why they’re making our parents walk us to school now?? My dad is gonna be so pissed

That… Sounded oddly familiar. Jack remembered what Scarlett said earlier, about the person who attacked her. A blonde about her age. That didn’t mean Blake attacked her, right? Jack decided to message Ryder about it privately, raising an eyebrow when she messaged him first.

Ryder: Yo this ain’t your fault or anything, but I’m like… 99% sure the girl I was talking about earlier is Manor Girl
Jack: You mean Scarlett?
Ryder: Oh yeah forgot you and her are buddies
Jack: We’re not even buddies. She doesn’t like me at all.
Ryder: Can you tell her to stop stealing lunch money from the 9th graders lol
Jack: It sounds like my mom knows about what Blake did. I don’t know about the stealing thing, though. She didn’t mention it.
Ryder: Ofc she wouldnt
Jack: Should I say something to her?
Ryder: Man idk if you can say anything
Ryder: Don’t worry about it, I just wanted to tell you

That didn’t make Jack stop worrying about it in the slightest.

The rest of the day passed by uneventfully. Jack got some dinner from the butler before heading to bed. He tried to make a little conversation, at the time. But he didn’t know what to talk about, and the butler didn’t have much to say. It was always odd how the staff never seemed to chat for very long. He supposed he shouldn’t bother them while they were working, though. Jack didn’t want to be rude, but he still didn’t know their names! Mama never gave any names, and he felt too awkward to ask for them now. 

The night seemed to be shaping up well, though. He slept soundly, undisturbed by strange noises or nightmares. Until he woke up in the middle of the night, because he had to use the restroom. Great. 

Washing up with a yawn, Jack shuffled back towards his room. He had to get there before his drowsiness wore off. He still had a chance to fall right back asleep, like nothing ever happened. But the sound of talking snapped him fully out of his stupor. Just his luck. Who was that, anyways? He heard Mama, Cygnus, and an unrecognizable third voice. Or, wait a minute… He knew that other voice, didn’t he? He could swear he’d heard it before!

Against better judgment, Jack crept down the hall, stopping just out of sight of the living area near his bedroom. They didn't seem to notice him, but he didn't dare take another step forward. He barely caught sight of a man in a long red coat, leaning against one wall. Jack knew that guy! That was Mr. Vester! He’d seen him a couple of times before!

How late was it, anyway? Why wasn’t Mama asleep?

“...Well, all things considered, I think your little experiment was a huge success.” Cygnus said, in the middle of a conversation Jack had missed.
“I’d like to take on more as soon as I can.” Mama replied. “It’s truly not difficult magic, once you get the hang of it.”
“Careful.” Vester told her. “You might want to take some time to rest. Possession seems easy, but keeping your hold on them is more challenging than it looks.”
“And? The staff here haven’t been resisting. The new hires at Cygnus’ clock-tower were simple enough, as well.”
“Like I said, it seems simpler than it actually is. You’re still relatively new to this kind of magic.”
“I’ve been doing it for years, Vester.”
“You’ve been controlling individuals for years. Temporarily, I might add. This is different. You can’t rush into long-term possession. Especially with the amount of people you have control over right now.”
Mama seemed to laugh, briefly. “Come now. It’s the staff here, and the staff at Cygnus’ new tower. That’s not that many people.”
“It’s still quite a few.”

That sent a chill down Jack’s spine. She wasn’t… No, Mama wouldn’t do something like that ! If she wanted servants, she could just pay for them, right? Especially with Cygnus’ money! Then what was she talking about? Jack glanced behind him for a moment. Maybe he shouldn't eavesdrop like this. What if she caught him? But out of curiosity, he remained in the hallway.

“While we’re on the topic,” Vester went on, “I think you’ll be interested to hear about what I’ve found.”
“Oh, right.” Mama nodded. “You mentioned something about a demigod, earlier. Are you sure?”
“I'm certain. It’s someone you’ll recognize, too. She used to go by a stage name, Summer. Her real name is Venus. Lesser demigod, if I’m not mistaken."
“How can you be so sure?”
“It's all in their Flow. Even with the weaker ones, you can tell the difference. Hard to explain without an example.”
“I get what you mean. Is she alone?”
“No. She has a partner, and two children with her.”
“Are they demigods as well?” Cygnus asked. “Can’t believe they’ve been under my nose all this time…”
“The partner, she’s mortal. Same with the children, as odd as they might look. You might know the partner as well. Her name is April. She and Venus used to be somewhat popular, not long ago. Seems like they’re out of the public eye, these days.”

A moment of silence ensued. Although he couldn't see what was going on, Jack soon heard music being played in the living room. Only for a few moments, though. He immediately recognized both songs as he heard them. In fact, he could envision the dances near-perfectly, just from the sound of it. He’d seen these videos in every department store, in every mall, playing on various television screens. Had anyone not seen these dances, was the question?

“...Not long ago?” Mama asked, with a slight laugh. “I remember when Bailando first came out. It was before I had Jack.”
“Well, not long ago for me.” Vester joked. “You don't seem that worried about Venus.”
“Worried? Please, I plan on swaying her to our side. Whether she likes it or not.”
“Now, hold on a minute.” Cygnus piped up. “Are you sure that's a good idea?”
“I don't see why not.” Mama said. "What did you say you needed? Before the clock-tower will be complete?”
“I need someone who can keep it running when I’m not there. Which… A demigod of any sort would be more than I could ask for.” Cygnus mused. “Is that what you’re suggesting?”
“You read my mind. It’s all a matter of getting her under control.”
“That’s the problem. She’s a deity, Nox.” Vester pressed. “You’re both mortals. And I’m not even that, technically speaking.”
“And? You said she was a lesser demigod, didn't you?” Mama insisted. "It's not like we're powerless. I have my skills, you have yours."
“Vampires have their limits.”
“So, you're saying you can't help?”
“Not at all. I'm just saying, this sounds a little hasty. We'll have to get her alone. I don't know what you want to do with the partner or the kids.”
“They're bound to be easier prey.” Cygnus suggested. “Might make for good bait. And the tower would be the perfect trap, now that it's almost complete.”
“That's an idea.”

Jack instinctively crept away. He wanted to forget that he overheard any of that. He had to be misunderstanding this, right? What was all that about a clock-tower? About the servants? No, she wasn’t talking about the staff here at the tower, right? They couldn’t be possessed! Right? Right. Mama wouldn’t possess anyone ! And what was Vester on about? There was a demigod somewhere in Eternyx? Even if Mama would possess someone—which she wouldn’t, obviously—she’d never possess a literal deity.

…Right?

He shouldn’t have eavesdropped. What was he thinking?! Jack hurried back to his room and dove under the covers, telling himself that he didn’t hear anything. He heard nothing. He saw nothing. Mama would never possess someone. She wouldn’t!

Chapter Text

Jack woke up the next morning with a splitting headache. Even after some painkillers, he remained a little sore. Now, waiting alone in his room, he wondered when Scarlett would show up. Mama hadn't come to get him, so he could only assume she was running late today.

He had seriously tried to forget everything he heard last night. Eavesdropping was rude. Sticking his nose where it didn’t belong was a sure-fire way to earn Mama’s wrath. And that was the last thing Jack needed. Surely, he had to be the one misunderstanding things. Mama would never harm a soul. Right…?

…Seriously. Where was Scarlett? He was sick and tired of stewing in his room!

Rolling out of bed, Jack made his way downstairs as quietly as he could, stopping at the doorway that led to the entry hall. By the front door, Mama and Scarlett conversed in hushed tones. Straining his ears, Jack caught what his mother was saying to her. Scarlett sounded out of breath. Jack glanced at her, noticing a wild mess of red hair. What happened?

“...It was the same guy from yesterday. The blond.” Scarlett explained. “I don’t think he followed me all the way here.”
“When did he start chasing you?” Mama asked. “And do you know his name?”
“Literally, I’ve never spoken to the guy. How would I know his name?”
“A simple no would have worked, Scarlett.”
“...He started chasing me right when I left the manor. Like he knew I lived there.”
Mama paused for a moment, before continuing. "Perhaps you should be a little more discreet, getting what you need."
"Well, maybe if you paid me, like Lilith said you—"

Scarlett cut herself off with an audible stutter. Jack couldn't see the look on Mama's face, but he could envision it. It was a glare that nearly froze him in place, just thinking about it. Before he could think about what he was doing, Jack stepped out of the stairwell and into the hall, getting Mama's attention. With a sigh, she shook her head at the sight of him.

"Oh, treasure," Mama muttered to herself, before speaking up, "I was just about to come get you."
“Thought I heard you guys.” He shrugged. “Are we still practicing?”
“As much as we can. You’ll have to forgive Scarlett. There was a bit of an incident earlier today.”

Jack decided not to ask any questions. Mama led them down to the practice room. Silence ensued between the three of them, broken by the sound of heels on black marble floor. Next to him, Scarlett looked at the ground and didn't say a word. Her hands had balled into fists, and for a moment, Jack thought her eyes were starting to water. But no tears fell. He had the sudden urge to say something, biting his tongue to stay quiet.

‘It'll all be okay. Mama's scary, but it always passes.’ He thought to himself. ‘Just do as she says, practice really well today, and she'll forgive you! Usually.’

Speaking of practice, the three stepped into the room lined with mirrors. Time to stretch, take a deep breath, and get to work.

If you're a lover, you should know
The lonely moments just get lonelier
The longer you're in love than if you were alone
Memories turn into daydreams, become a taboo

Scarlett nailed this dance quicker than Jack expected. Quicker than Mama expected, from the smiles of approval she gave Scarlett. At the very least, it had been a long time since he'd passed out to this routine. He didn't even feel woozy after finishing it anymore. Relaxing his mind, he let his body follow the memorized, mesmerizing routine.

Together, their bodies began to glow. An energizing wave rushed through his veins. He'd grown a little more used to the sensation by now. Jack supposed that was progress, even if he couldn’t cast spells like Scarlett could.

I don't want to be afraid
The deeper that I go
It takes my breath away
Soft hearts, electric souls
Heart to heart and eyes to eyes
Is this taboo?

He couldn't help but glance at Mama. For a moment, their eyes met. A slight smile curled on her lips. Jack refocused himself before he could let it get to his head.

Baby, we built this house on memories
Take my picture now, shake it ‘till you see it
And when your fantasies become your legacy
Promise me a place in your—

A thud, followed by a shout, snapped Jack out of the dance. The melody and the magical glow faded with it. Stopping, he saw Scarlett getting up from the ground. Mama's smile faded, but she didn't glance in Jack's direction. Scarlett bit her lip, clearly resisting a huff of frustration. Jack offered her a hand. She didn’t take it.

“Are you hurt?” Mama asked, cold and terse.
“No, I just…” Scarlett shook her head, wincing. "I'm fine."
"You're not a good liar, Scarlett."
"It's... It's just my ankle. I tripped earlier when I was—"

Abruptly, Scarlett stopped herself one again, shooting a glare at Jack. He would rather take that than the look on Mama's face, though. He heard his mother sigh, her foot tapping against the cold floor. Today hadn't been going her way. That only led to a few things, in Jack's experience. None of them struck him as pleasant.

"Go home." Mama finally told her.
"Seriously?" Scarlett pressed. "I'm fine, I just need to—"
"Jack, see her to the door."

Mama got up and left without another word. Jack resisted a loud sigh of relief. All things considered, he expected far worse. With a slight shrug, he slowly made his way to the front door, Scarlett limping along behind him. Maybe he should say something. Maybe he could cheer her up! If he did something wrong before, maybe he could make up for it. Anything that might appease Mama in the future.

"...You okay—"
“No.”
"Oh, um... I'm sorry." Jack stammered. "But—"
"No, you're not. You don't have to lie."

As they got to the front door, Scarlett turned away from Jack and stumbled outside. Maybe he should just leave her alone. But, biting his lip, another idea took hold of him. Before she could leave, Jack stuck his head out the front door. Stopping at the threshold, he raised his voice.

"Okay, can I just ask you something? What'd I do wrong?" He asked her, getting her to turn around. "Was it something I said?"
"Just forget it." She insisted.
"At least help me understand! I just want to be friends!"
“Bullshit. You just want to make your mommy happy.”
“Maybe. But I know how it feels, when she’s mad at you. Maybe we can—”
“Don’t say that, you do not know how I feel! Do you hear the way she talks about you?!”

Jack paused. Scarlett pointed a finger at him, cutting him off before he could talk.

“I'm in there nearly every day, busting my ass, and you get all the attention! Every time I talk to her, it’s ‘why can’t you be more like my son?’ She's always telling me how you're leaving me in the dust, and it's not fair! All cause she's your fuckin' mommy!”
"I—"
"And you get everything you want in that tower, I bet!" She went on. "Don't stand there and try to pretend like you know how I feel! You don't know my life! Spoiled little brat! That's all you are!"

She looked like she had more to say. But Scarlett froze, her eyes widening. She paused, speechless for a few moments, before running off. Surprisingly, Jack blinked rapidly, but didn’t tear up. What did she mean by any of that? Did Mama really say those kinds of things? How was he supposed to know that, though? Mama rarely praised him like that, to his face.

Hearing heels on marble, Jack whirled around to see Mama slowly approaching him. He nearly yelped in surprise, freezing in place. He wasn't outside. He didn't leave the tower! He wasn't in trouble, right?

"Mama—"
“Was… Was that Scarlett, just now?”
“Yes, um…”

And before he could say anything more, Mama scooped him into a hasty hug. Jack resisted the urge to squirm. She smelled like smoke and makeup.

"How could she say such... Horrible things to you?"
"I, uh..."
"I'll pay her a visit later this afternoon, okay? What a jealous little—"

Mama cut herself off again, leading Jack back to his room. Before she left, she turned to say one more thing.

"How about we go out for dinner? It’ll have to be earlier than usual, but I can find the time." She asked. "There’s a nice sushi place not too far from here. My treat."
"Please, Mama?"
“Of course.”

And then she left. Quietly, Jack grabbed some of his schoolwork from underneath his bed and set it beside him. Ignoring it for now, he then leaned back a bit, staring at the ceiling in silence. He considered talking to Ryder. But she was bound to be in class, and the last thing he wanted to risk was Mama catching him right now. At least he could look forward to sushi.

Should he be more upset with Scarlett? Oddly enough, he wasn’t. What did she say, again? Something about how Mama was supposed to be paying her. Was that why Scarlett was robbing people? Oh, no… Why wouldn’t Mama pay her, if that’s what she promised? Jack didn’t get why Scarlett had to stay in an old manor to begin with, but surely Mama should pay for her stay!

‘Now I’m just worried. But she probably doesn’t want my help, anyway.’ Jack thought to himself. ‘...I’ll still try to ask. Maybe we can help each other.’

“Enjoying it?”

Around a mouthful of fish and rice, Jack nodded his head. Mama beamed. Around them sat the quiet dinner crowd of the sushi shop. Didn't this place do take-out? He would have preferred take-out. But maybe a nice night out was just what he needed. The Uramaki Rainbow here was to die for.

"I thought you would." Mama agreed, her plate long since cleaned. "It's been too long since we've had a night out together. This whole month has just been so busy."
Around another mouthful, Jack nodded in agreement.
"Have you and Scarlett been getting along, though? Besides her outburst earlier today, I mean."
"...I guess?" Jack settled on being vague. "We don't talk much."
"Oh, why not? I thought you would have liked a new friend."
"She... I don't think she's interested."
"Then perhaps you should try harder. Make small talk. Warm up to her a bit." Mama insisted. "I'm sure she'll come around, now that I've had a word with her."

Mama hadn't gone into detail about what she said to Scarlett. Earlier that afternoon, she had stepped out a bit for a 'little chat' with the redhead. And when she came back, all she told Jack was that she had taken care of the problem. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to know what Mama said to Scarlett.

“Oh, I wanted to let you know about something.” Mama went on. “I’m sure you heard, I’m going on tour next year.”
Jack nodded, his mouth full again.
“I’m going to have Vester house-sit for me while I’m gone. You remember him, don’t you? He’ll be keeping an eye on you.”
“I… Won’t be going with you?”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to go through the hassle of having your tutors tag along. Besides, I got the tower so we could have a place to stay. Bringing you along would defeat the purpose. Vester and Cygnus will be checking in on you regularly, so you don’t have to worry about anything going wrong.”

Jack could hardly resist a smile, nodding in agreement instead. He would be home alone, for a time! Sure, Vester and Cygnus would be there. But he wouldn’t have to worry about Mama! 

“I hope it won’t get too lonely, without me here.” She went on. “I know it’s not what you’re used to.”
“No, it’s fine.” Jack told her. “I’ll be fine here.”
“I know you will, treasure.”

She stopped talking after that, leaving Jack to his sushi and his thoughts. Cleaning off his plate, he sat back a little bit. He knew she was going on tour, sure. But he didn’t expect to be left at home, this time around. That made sense, though. They had a permanent home, now. Mama would probably appreciate the time to herself, all things considered.

Still… Up until recently, Jack didn’t know Mama was a sorcerer. And he still didn’t know a whole lot about what she did, as a sorcerer. Which made him wonder… Just what was she up to, with all her tours? Surely, at some point, there had to be more to it than her career as a performer. Right? Actually… Why didn’t Jack think of that before? He knew Miss Lilith and Mr. Vester were vampires! But he always just assumed they were friends with Mama for other reasons. And what about that conversation he overheard, with Mama and Vester and Cygnus? Or the one between Mama and Lilith, all those years ago, about getting rid of Laurel Lantana? There had to be more to all that. But how would he even begin figuring out the answers? 

That was the thing. Jack could ask these questions to himself all he wanted. The person who had the answers sat in front of him, but he knew better than to ask her. Why, though? Because she wouldn’t answer! And what if she got mad at him? But if she wanted him to be a sorcerer, shouldn’t he be in the know? Wasn’t it worth at least trying to ask?

“You look like something’s on your mind.”

Jack snapped out of his thoughts when Mama spoke. Wow, he had zoned out. Come on, now was his chance! But what if she got angry? Whatever. Worst thing she could do was say no, right?

“Yeah, um…” Jack nodded, trying to think. “I had a question.”
“What?”
“...What do you do, as a sorcerer? If that’s okay for me to ask.”
Mama grinned. “Perhaps we should talk about that privately.”
“You promise?”

Before Mama could reply, she froze. For a moment, Jack could swear her expression shifted, a twitch of pain in the corner of her eyes. Immediately, she called someone, speaking in a hushed tone as she got out of her seat.

"Cygnus? Are you at the tower? Good. Contain them. Not a single one of them leaves that tower.” She snapped, hurrying to the front door with Jack at her heels. “Call Vester. Have him subdue them. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Without delay, Jack got into line. Mouth shut, eyes down, and not a word or move that could distract Mama right now. They waited at the front of the store in tense silence, before a familiar sleek car pulled up. He sat in silence the entire ride home, which went by quicker than he expected. He could swear that the driver was speeding, but he didn’t know the laws around here.

To his surprise, when they got back home, Mama didn't leave the car. She handed Jack a set of keys instead.

"Leave these on the kitchen counter. Get ready for bed." She told him from the window. "I'll be home late."
"But what's going—"

Too late, the car pulled away before he could ask anything else. Unlocking the door, Jack entered the tower and hurried to the kitchen, leaving the keys on the counter. Only then did he return to his room. All of a sudden, he had a bit of time to himself. Not something he expected to have today. Naturally, he immediately checked the group chat. Ryder and friends would surely be online now. 

And they were! Mainly, Ryder and Luke couldn't understand a math problem, and Ann was trying to explain it in the group chat.

Jack: Am I interrupting?
Ryder: Do you know how to graph exponential equations?
Jack: Not off the top of my head. I’m not really a math guy.
Ryder: Damn I guess we failing another quiz lads
Luke: Who the hell is “we”?
Ann: Oh Jack! Did you still want to go to the warehouse with us tomorrow night?

Oh, right. The warehouse. He forgot all about it. 

Jack: I’ll try to make it.
Ann: Sweet!

Would he even have time? What if Mama had something important to do with him tomorrow? Well, if it was at night, he could try to make it. It had been a while since he’d seen his friends in-person, anyway. Putting the phone away, Jack leaned back in his bed. 

What happened with Mama? Did he even want to know? Did it have anything to do with the conversation Jack overheard the other night? Once again, did he want to know? He heard footsteps outside his room, assuming it was either the maid or the butler. Or maybe it was that personal assistant Jack had heard about. He hadn’t met them, yet. He had no idea who they were.

…Did Mama do something to the staff here? Jack shook his head, trying to dispel the thought entirely. Maybe he didn’t want to know. But he couldn’t stop himself from wondering. Even though, deep down, he knew the answer.

Chapter Text

The unthinkable greeted Jack when he woke up the next morning. He wouldn't have believed his ears if anyone but Mama had told him, briefly wondering if he was still dreaming.

"No practice today. Stay here and I'll be back later tonight. Let the butler know if you need anything."

And that was that. Mama was out the door before Jack could ask any questions. Surely, it had to do with whatever happened last night. She had called Cygnus briefly, and mentioned Vester. So it had to do with, well… Whatever she was up to, behind the scenes. That didn’t give Jack a lot of answers. But it wasn’t like he could ask for answers, right? As per usual, he was in the dark again.

He wasn’t about to complain when he got a day off from practicing, though. He had a few hours before his usual tutors would arrive, so he spent his time goofing off in his room. He made a few more crude sketches, rain pouring overhead. It had been raining all morning. Maybe it would clear up by tonight. He certainly hoped so. He was supposed to sneak out with Ann and the others tonight. Speaking of, would sneaking out be a risk? He had no idea when Mama would return. But maybe she would be in too much of a hurry to check on him.

Eventually, Jack got a little hungry. He half-considered calling for the butler. Instead, he went to the kitchen and got it himself. He remembered what he overheard from Mama, about what she did to the staff, and the thought of calling the butler for help made him a little queasy.

‘I don’t get it. Why would she do something like that?’ He wondered to himself again, as he poured cereal into a bowl. ‘I know what I heard, though. And I have to get to the bottom of it. Which means… Maybe I should try talking to the staff again. See what they say. But what do I even ask? I can’t just walk up to the maid and ask if she’s possessed!’

Still, he had to figure all of this out. And it had to be soon! Jack wandered from the kitchen to the entry hall, sitting near the door. As he ate, he pondered what else he needed to do. He’d need to write everything down. Maybe everything that happened with Laurel Lantana would be a good start. He’d told Ryder about it, sure, but he hadn’t told her the whole story. He could also write down what he’d overheard the other night, especially about that supposed demigod. But, then what? Who was he supposed to tell? His friends? What if they didn’t believe him? Even if they did, what could they do to help?

Come to think of it… If Mama actually was possessing people, how was he supposed to stop that?

“Can I clean that up for you?”

Gasping, Jack turned to see the maid. He hadn’t seen a whole lot of her, a shorter woman with plain black hair and wide-rimmed glasses. She looked at him with a pair of unblinking eyes. Jack paused for a moment. He’d never looked the maid in the eyes before. They were an unnaturally pink hue, oddly vibrant in contrast to her otherwise drab, gray-ish appearance. He shivered. That couldn’t be a good sign.

“Oh, uh, yeah.” He handed the bowl to her. “Sorry, I never got your name.”
“You can call me Melissa, Mr. Nox.” The maid nodded, speaking in a quiet monotone. “I’ll get this cleaned up.”
“How long have you been a—”

The maid left before he could ask her anything. Jack got up to follow her, but a knock at the door made him pause. Against better judgment, he opened it. Outside, soaked by rain, stood Scarlett.

“Oh, it’s you…” She muttered. “Where’s Miss Nox?”
“She’s out for today. No practice.” Jack explained. “Some kind of emergency, I think.”
“Seriously? I gotta walk back home now?”
“Um… You can stay here until the rain stops, if you want.”
“It’s supposed to rain all day, Jack.”
“You can still stay here for a bit. You look soaked.”

Jack half-expected her to leave without a word. Why did he even offer? She'd turn it down! To his surprise, Scarlett stepped inside. taking a seat on one of the plush chairs in the entry hall.

"I won't be here long." She said, with a shiver. "Just want to warm up a bit."
“Stay as long as you like. I don’t think anyone’s going to mind.”
“...You must still be pretty mad at me.”
“Mad?” Jack shook his head. “Not really.”
“Huh. Miss Nox made it sound like you were upset.” Scarlett shrugged. “Guess not.”
“...If it’s about yesterday, I’m not mad. I, uh, I overheard what you said to Mama. About money.” Jack told her. “I’m sorry that’s happening.”
Scarlett stayed silent for a moment, before shaking her head. “She’s giving me money, now. Don’t worry about it.”
“Still, I get that you don’t… Like me. That’s fine. Just, can we at least pretend to be friends? It would make Mama happy.”
“I get it.”

Muttering something under her breath, Scarlett turned away. Jack turned to leave, hoping he could head back up to his room without any more trouble. Hopefully she'd get home okay on her own. But, before he could even take a step, Scarlett cleared her throat and spoke up again.

“So, what’s she doing today?” She asked. “You said it was an emergency.”
“I don’t know the details.” Jack answered. “She never tells me.”
"Really? I doubt that. She must tell you something about, well..." Scarlett shrugged somewhat. "Whatever she does as a sorceress. I promise to keep it a secret if you tell me."
“Well, she doesn’t. I don’t know, I don’t want to stick my nose in her business.”
“But she’s training us, isn’t she? We should know what we’re training for. Miss Lilith made it sound like she has some pretty big plans.”
Jack tilted his head. “What’d she say about it?”
“Well…” She seemed to think for a moment. “She said I’d likely be helping her behind the scenes, and that you were going to be the ‘face of the operation’. Her words, not mine.”
“Operation?” He wondered aloud.
“Exactly. Miss Lilith didn’t say what that meant. And every time I’ve asked Miss Nox, she says we’ll learn about it later in our training. I was hoping you’d know more, since you’re her son. You’re telling me she’s never told you?”
Jack shook his head. “I try not to ask.”
“Not even once?” Scarlett pressed. “Do you just never question her?”
“I think she’d kill me if I did that.”
“Come on, she can’t be that scary.”
He looked at Scarlett. “I… Kill might be an exaggeration, but she’s strict. I’m sure you’ve noticed.”

Scarlett seemed to look behind Jack for a moment, as if she was looking for someone. She leaned towards him, lowering her voice a bit.

"Think about it, Jack. You can't seriously tell me you've never once wondered what she's actually up to." She went on, crossing her arms. "Do you think Miss Nox just woke up one day and decided to become a sorceress? No, people don't just do that. She's gotta have some bigger things on her mind. Why else would we be her apprentices, huh?"
“I get what you mean.” He agreed. “She never tells me anything about it directly, that's the thing. I… Guess I’ve overheard things in the past, though. Does that count?”
“Of course it counts! Out with it, Jack. What do you know?”

He couldn't believe he was talking about this. With her, of all people! Even as the words left his mouth, he couldn't believe it. They were both doomed if Mama found out, he just knew it!

“A couple nights ago, I woke up super late. She was talking to Cygnus and Vester.” Jack began. “I… Have you met Vester?”
“Lilith mentioned him. He’s her brother, right? Haven’t met him before.” Scarlett shook her head. “Anything interesting?”
“I didn’t hear everything. She was talking about, uh…”
“...About?”
“About… Possessing people. Something about the staff here, and the staff at some clock-tower Cygnus built.”
“You’re talking about the governor, right?” Scarlett asked. “Isn’t he, like, her sugar daddy or something?”
Jack stammered. “I, well, that’s a weird way to put it, but… You’re not wrong, I guess.”
“And you’re telling me they were talking about possessing people?”
“I guess so. Maybe I’m wrong, or I misheard.”
Scarlett shivered. “Spooky. But kinda cool.”
“Huh?”
“No no, go on. What else did they talk about?”
“Possession’s not cool, though. If she actually did that, then…”
“Come on, don’t be such a baby. Dark magic isn’t evil magic, y’know.”

A wave of dread washed over Jack, out of nowhere. He almost spoke further, but it felt like an icy hand had suddenly constricted around his throat. No, they couldn't be talking about this! Didn't Scarlett understand what Mama would do to them if she ever found out about this?! Didn't she get it?!

"I really don't think we can be talking about this!" He suddenly blurted out.
"Ugh, fine. I swear, you are impossible..."

With that, Jack got up to leave. Mama wasn't listening, but he could still imagine her being outraged at this kind of conversation. What invisible line did it cross? He couldn't name it, but he knew it was there. As Scarlett turned for the door, he hurried back to his bedroom. For a while, all he did was sit and think.

Scarlett had a point. Mama wasn’t going to immediately find out that they were talking about her. Jack still shivered when he remembered what Scarlett said, though. Possession wasn’t cool! Spooky was the least of it, in his opinion. But Scarlett was probably the wrong person to talk to, about any of this. Shaking his head, Jack took a deep breath. 

He half-considered his idea from earlier. The one about writing things down. After that exchange, though, Jack couldn’t get his thoughts to stop racing. Maybe he needed to relax a little bit. He suddenly remembered Ann’s outing. That was tonight! He grinned to himself a little bit, slowly calming down. A night out with his friends was just what he needed, right now.

Mama still hadn't returned by the time it got pitch-dark outside. Clutching his little phone, Jack propped open the back door and saw Ryder sitting outside on the curb. He hoped they could be back in a few hours. At least it wasn't terribly late, despite the darkness. He had to avoid the butler on his way down here, but thankfully he didn’t seem to notice Jack sneaking away.

Ryder sat waiting at the curb. She got up and grabbed Jack by the hand the moment she saw him, hurrying down the street. It felt like a weight had been lifted, the second she took his hand and led him away from the tower.

 "Good news." She told him. "The trains are super quick, it's only a five-minute ride."
"Oh, good!" Jack sighed in relief. "Clothes, right?"
"Yeah. I can take whatever you like back to my place if you want. Make sure they're washed and everything."
"Good idea."

The neon lights of a train station soon came into view. Slowing to a stop, Jack recognized Ann and Luke waiting on the platform. Next to them stood someone he didn't recognize, hair half as red as his. She gave him and Ryder a smile and a wave, Ryder immediately hurrying over to her.

"Did we keep you waiting?" She asked. "Glad it stopped raining!"
"Honestly, yeah." Ann agreed. "Jack, you haven't met Arleen, have you?"

Oh right, Arleen! This was his first time actually meeting her!

“Not in person, no.” Jack waved to her. “Nice to see you.”
“Same.” Arleen told him.

The sound of an approaching train got everyone’s attention. As the train pulled into the stop, the group filed inside and gathered near the door. Nobody else rode in the train with them. Ryder sat and propped her feet against the chair in front of her. As the train sped off, Jack had to grab one of the rails before he stumbled. He didn't expect it to start so quickly.

"So, are we sure this place is abandoned?" Arleen asked, turning to Ann. "What if someone catches us?"
"It seemed pretty quiet when I found it." Ann shook her head. "It'll be fine! I don't think anyone who owns the place has touched it for years. Plus, remember when we went to that old bell tower? Before they tore it down? No one caught us then!"
"The ghosts did."
Ryder turned to Arleen. "You still think that place was haunted, huh?"
"Well, I don't think full suits of armor just fall over on their own!" Arleen insisted. "And it happened right when I asked if someone was there!"
"Okay, but who do you think it was haunted by?" Luke wondered aloud. "How do you even die in a bell tower anyway?"
"The bell ate them." Ryder suggested.
"The... The bell?"
"The thing that goes ding-dong, yknow? It ate them."
"There was a haunted bell tower?" Jack finally asked. "Where?"
"Used to be right down the street from my place." Ann explained. "Got demolished a couple years ago. Now it’s a Corner-Mart. Such a downgrade."

Just as Ryder said earlier, the train only took five minutes to reach the next stop. Ann and Luke led the way out, Jack falling behind with Arleen and Ryder. As they left another train station, he could see rows and rows of quiet warehouses and towers in the distance. Had he ever been to this part of Eternyx? It didn't seem familiar.

Would Mama be home soon? Strangely, in the moment, Jack barely dwelled on that question for more than a few seconds.

"Uh, this might be bad timing," Ryder spoke up after a minute, "But how are we getting in?"
"The front door was open last time." Ann explained. "I propped it open when I left."

As Ann slowed to a stop, Jack took a look around. Some of the street-lights flickered in and out. He noticed other warehouses standing silently around them, with worn bricks and cracked windows. The one in front of them, the one Ann now faced, looked no different. A sign on the front still bore the faded remnants of a company logo, one Jack had never heard of before. He couldn't even make out the name.

Ann approached the front door, narrowing her eyes. It appeared to be shut. She tried the doorknob, which refused to budge.

"...Ah shit, they onto us." Ryder joked.
"Yeah, I could have sworn it was open..." Ann trailed off. "Let's try the back. There has to be another way in."
"You think those doors will be open, though?" Arleen asked. "Maybe we could break a window."
"The back doors are worth a shot first."

The group circled around to the back of the warehouse, finding another dingy door. Ann tried to open it, pushing it in a bit before stopping abruptly. A few more hard shoves, and the door refused to budge.

"Uh..." Ann trailed off. "Who thinks they're strong?"
"At what?" Luke asked.
"I don't know, kicking? If we could just get it a little more open..."

Just then, Jack had an idea. As he approached the back door, the other kids backed away to give him space. He stepped back a bit, took a deep breath, and charged at the door with a kick. It rattled, but held shut. After a few blows, rusted hinges creaking, Jack managed to kick open the door just enough for everyone to squeeze through. The smell of dusty air made him sneeze.

 "Thanks." Ann told him. "Was worried we wouldn't get in for a second!"
"Yeah," Jack said before sneezing again, "Is it supposed to be this dirty in here?"
She nodded. "You get used to it after a minute."

Despite that, his nose continued to itch. Ann took out her phone and used the flashlight to illuminate the area, the others following suit. Jack took a second to look around at what sat within the warehouse. Shelves and crooked tables lined the walls, piles of clothes strewn about as far as his eyes could see. Ann and Luke immediately went to work sifting through one of the nearest piles.

Ryder tugged on Jack's sleeve, pulling him along as she followed Arleen to one of the shelves. The clothing, while perhaps outdated, looked relatively intact. Arleen pulled a nearby ladder up to one of the shelves, tentatively taking a few steps upwards.

"You good there?" Ryder asked.
"Catch me if I fall." Arleen joked, wobbling a bit. "Saw something up there. Something shiny."
"Where?"
"Uh... Here—"

With a startled yelp, Arleen lurched to the side as the ladder creaked. Ryder and Jack both hurried to steady it, Arleen grabbing something from the shelf before hopping down in a hurry. In her hands was a belt, the buckle fashioned into a golden heart and decorated with an infinity symbol. Immediately, she looped it around her waist.

“Hey, it fits!”
“It’s super cute, too!” Ryder gushed. “Were there any other belts up there?”
“Maybe? You want to try and look?”

Meanwhile, off to the side, Jack turned his attention to the stacks of clothes. A striped shirt caught his eyes, made of stretchy pink-and-white fabric. Grabbing it, he looked around for something else. Perhaps something smaller. He didn't want to take that much, but surely something else would catch his eye... A hat! A pink hat with a red band. Jack tried it on, noticing something hidden inside. A rolled up red tie. He slipped it away into his pocket, and decided that was enough for him.

Turning, he saw Arleen and Ryder sifting through the piles together, talking quietly to each other. Neither seemed to notice him. Jack looked back to the entrance, where Ann and Luke were comparing pairs of jeans. He made his way over to them, raising an eyebrow at the amount of jeans piled onto this one table.

‘Who needs this many jeans?' He wondered. 'Someone owns this place, right? Did they just leave this place here for no reason, or what?'
“Hey Jack, what do you think of this?”

Luke's question snapped him out of his thoughts. Next to him, Ann held up a pair of graphic tees. Did they find that in the endless pile of denim, somehow? Not knowing which one he liked more, he pointed to the one in her left hand. Seemingly satisfied, Ann tossed the other tee back into the pile.

"Thought so." She said, looking at the hat on Jack's head. "Is that all you're getting?"
He nodded sheepishly. "Thought it looked cool."
"It does!"

He laughed along with her, sifting through the other piles of clothes with them. How long had they been here? Jack had already lost track of time. But what of it? Couldn't he stay a while longer, looking for skinny jeans in Luke's size? Was that a crime? Was it so bad, spending time with people he actually liked? No. It wasn't.

Then why the rules? Why did Mama—

‘No, stop it! I came here to stop thinking about her!' Jack snapped at himself, shaking his head. 'Now, can we please find something that isn't made of denim?'

"You sure you're okay going home? It's super late."
"I'll be fine."

The train pulled away as Jack waved the others goodbye. He knew his way back home from here, at least. Ann offered to walk him home, but he didn't want her to go out of her way. Besides, what if Mama came home and saw him with Ann? He had immediately started worrying about Mama the second they all got back on the train. It seemed like his brief break was over.

"Text me when you get back, Red!" Ryder shouted as he left. "I'll wash your shirt!"
“Got it!”

Hurrying, Jack ran through the dark streets as fast as he could. He nearly tripped over the curb a couple of times, making it back to the tower and seeing the door propped open. His heart soared. Creeping back inside, he rushed to the stairwell and sprinted up to the second floor, trying to keep his footsteps light. He heard no sign of the butler or the maid.

Just then, he heard the front door open and the sound of heels on marble.

'Oh no—'

In a rush, Jack ran to his room and shut the door, slipping off his shoes and stashing them under the bed. He ducked under the covers and tried to even his breathing, despite the loud footsteps drawing closer. When his door opened, he resisted a frightened yelp, willing himself to stay still. A moment of silence ensued, before the door closed once more. Once the footsteps fell out of earshot, Jack shakily exhaled.

He did it, though. He made it back safely. 

Remembering Ryder, Jack reached under his bed to grab his little phone. As expected, he saw a few messages from his friend.

Ryder: Yknow in hindsight we really should have brought masks
Ryder: Gods know what was in that warehouse lol, hope we dont get sick
Jack: Sick from what?
Ryder: OHSHIT YOURE HOME LOL
Ryder: And uh idk it was kinda dirty in there tho
Jack: I’m sure we’ll be fine.
Ryder: Lol glad youre home safe tho
Ryder: Before I fall asleep, was wondering if you wanted to go out again tomorrow night. Maybe Blake too if he’s un-grounded, but he might want to catch up on homework too so idk
Jack: Where?
Ryder: So I found this cool place to hangout, I think it used to be a pharmacy? Looks empty. The back doors are open
Jack: So, another abandoned building. You’re sure this one’s empty?
Ryder: Pffft yes I’m sure this time
Ryder: Just figured it’d be fun since we haven’t seen each other a whole lot recently
Jack: I’ll try to come.
Ryder: Yayyyyy

If it wasn't so late, Jack would keep talking. He would talk to her until the sun rose, if Eternyx had a sun. Hiding the phone again, Jack finally settled into bed. He already couldn't wait to sneak out of the house again. In a way, even the thrill of getting caught made him feel a little more alive.

Chapter Text

Why? Why did he have a headache, Jack asked himself? Why did he feel like he got hit by a truck that tried to drive in Eternyx at night without strong headlights? Could it have anything to do with the fact that he stayed up late to goof off with his friends? Oh, gods forbid!

Jack stood in front of the bathroom mirror, combing his hair back. Outside, he heard faint commotion. Time to go. He left the bathroom and hurried downstairs, pausing at the stairwell. Scarlett stood by the front door with her arms crossed, far too early for an average day of practice. Behind him, Jack heard Mama's footsteps coming down the stairs, making way as she strode to the front door.

"Our driver should be here by now." She told them. "Come, come!"

Mama had woken him up with unexpected smiles and praises today, hurrying him out of bed far earlier than usual. Come to think of it, he barely got a bite to eat this morning. He certainly didn’t have time to say good morning to Ryder, or even to check his little phone. Mama told him to get cleaned up and dressed for 'something important' . As per usual, Jack had no idea what that was. Only that they'd be driving out to Cygnus today. The city and the guy. At least he could take a nap on the ride over.

The three left the tower and filed into a sleek car, Scarlett and Jack sitting in the back. They didn't share a word. Leaning against the window, Jack settled into the leather seat. Felt comfortable enough to sleep in.

"Are you feeling well, treasure?" Mama asked. "You look tired."
Pausing, Jack settled on being vague. "Just sleepy."
"It'll pass."

Would it? Maybe, if he could get a chance to sleep again. Dozing off, Jack began slipping into a colorful dream involving pies and alpacas when Scarlett elbowed him in the ribs. Jerking awake, he vaguely recognized the city of Cygnus around him. Wow. Had they really driven that fast? Or had he fallen asleep that long? 

Wiping his eyes, Jack stretched as much as he could. The car began to slow, pulling to a stop outside yet another massive tower. This one had a clock at the very top, complete with a set of bells. Despite the old-fashioned design, the tower looked relatively new. At the entrance, a bunch of rich-looking people milled about, slowly but surely making their way inside. It was a sight Jack had grown used to, after all the parties and events Mama had dragged him to. He wondered, why did Mama drag them here?

As they got out of the car, she looked up at it with shining eyes. Scarlett and Jack shared a glance. She faintly nodded her head in Mama's direction, and Jack shrugged. What could have changed Mama's mood so abruptly? 

"Come on, there's no rush." Mama told them as she ushered the two teens indoors. "It's just that Cygnus is expecting us."

No rush? That's all Mama did this morning, was rush! Jack held his tongue as they all went inside, greeted by a rather spacious entry room. He recognized none of the sharply-dressed people inside, although Mama seemed to talk to a couple of them as if they were well introduced. Had he met them before? Probably. They seemed like some of Mama's rich-people friends, whom Jack never kept proper track of.

Off to the side, he noticed Cygnus chatting up a storm, resisting a groan. In the background, he noticed a group playing live music, a pair of older dancers entertaining people. He vaguely recognized the pair, but couldn’t remember their names. The music and the dancing felt like something that people his mother’s age would like, not him. A little too old for his tastes. Some tables and chairs had been set up with a buffet of delicacies, which Jack and Scarlett immediately approached without a second thought.

Scarlett still didn't talk to him. His mind still lingered on what he'd blabbed to her yesterday. Hopefully, for his sake as well as hers, she kept it to herself.

"Where's the little man?"

Oh no. Cygnus' voice preceded his approach, as he gave Jack a friendly pat on the shoulder. Jack shoved a small cake in his mouth to avoid saying anything, waving instead.

"Is that a new friend of yours?" Cygnus asked, looking at Scarlett. "I don't think I've seen your face before!"
Scarlett shrugged. "I just practice with him."
"Learning from Leda? That must be a challenge!"

Taking his chance to step away, Jack visited the other side of the buffet table. He finally noticed the staff dispersed around the room, carrying platters of drinks and offering them to the adults. He began glancing back and forth at the various waiters that passed him by. They all wore the same uniform, black suits decorated by a single pink feather on one collar. Each one had bright eyes and welcoming smiles, speaking in a friendly monotone. 

The same eyes and smiles, in fact. The same, almost droning monotone. Jack looked a bit closer… The same, bright, unnaturally pink eyes.

‘Wait a minute. This is a clock-tower. How did it take me this long to realize that?!’

These had to be the staff Mama was talking about, that one night. They had the same eyes as Melissa the maid. Come to think of it, they had the same mannerisms as Melissa and the butler. Their smiles looked like they were plastered onto their faces by someone else. Jack felt rude even thinking that, though, because it wasn’t their fault! If he was right about what he’d overheard, then… Suddenly, Jack didn’t want to eat anything else.

From across the hall, Mama made eye contact and gestured for him to come over. He hurried towards her, nearly bumping into one of the servers and muttering an apology.

"Oh, sorry—"
“No worries.” The server told him. “Enjoy your stay.”

Yep. That was the exact same monotone Melissa the maid spoke in. Jack tried to put it out of mind as he approached his mother, noticing Cygnus and Scarlett standing next to her. At least they seemed distracted. Mama, however, had her eyes on him.

"You should dance for them, treasure." She told him, gesturing to the crowd of strangers. "Show them what you've learned."
"Right, right now?" Jack stammered. "What do I dance to?"
“There’s live music. I know it’s a little before your time, but you can still dance to it. They’ll all be so impressed.”

Oh no. Jack's heart began to race. Dancing? Right now? On the spot? He didn't have the faintest clue how to start this off! And the thought of all these strangers noticing him, watching him, judging him, it made him sick. Forget everything he knew about this clock-tower and the staff here, he had no idea how to dance in front of all these people! 

Instinctively, Jack shoved his hands in his pockets and fell silent. He couldn't get himself to think of anything particularly dazzling. 

"...Well?" Mama asked, her tone growing short.
"Do I have to?"
"Why wouldn't you? Haven't you been practicing? You know how to dance."
"I, uh..."

Sweat never felt so chilling. People were beginning to fall silent.Or was he just imagining that? The live music fell quiet for a moment as they finished the song they were playing, the pair of dancers from earlier stepping aside for a moment. 

Come on, Mama was right! He could do this! But if that were the case, why did his feet feel rooted to the ground? Just then, Scarlett spoke up from off to the side.

"Could I dance?"
"You?" Mama turned to her, raising an eyebrow. "...Are you sure?"

Before Mama could even agree, Scarlett strode towards the center of the room. The lights almost seemed to dim, the sound of bells in the back of Jack's mind. But that couldn't be the bell of the clock-tower, right?

Ain’t tryna be cool like you
Wobbling around in your high-heeled shoes
I’m clumsy, made friends with the floor
Two for one, you know a bitch buy four

She made it look easy. Scarlett had a smile on her face and a spring in her step, to the wonder of the crowd. Even Cygnus watched, clearly pleased at her display in front of his guests. Jack sighed in relief, unclenching his fists.

Maybe he overreacted. All things considered, Scarlett laughed like she was having fun. And the other guests at this little event watched in admiration, even getting some applause as she ended with a little curtsy. Maybe he could have done it. Maybe they wouldn't all be so judgmental. The two kids met eyes for a moment, a smug grin on Scarlett’s face. He gave her a thumbs-up and looked away, making the mistake of looking at Mama.

She looked ahead at Scarlett for a second, her expression tight and near-unreadable. But Jack would know those eyes anywhere. Whatever she was holding back, he shivered to think about it. Before those eyes could glance at him, Jack turned his attention to the glossy wood floors and silently wandered away. Truly, these were some interesting floors. What lovely guests. What fine food. Gods, Jack would even warm up to Cygnus right now if he could. He didn't need to look back to feel Mama's glare locked onto him, burrowing through his skin.

When he met eyes with Scarlett again, it seemed like a shadow had fallen over her face. Whatever energy she held just moments ago had died. They stood on opposite ends of the buffet table, pretending to think carefully on what treat to try next. After a moment of consideration, Jack walked around to stand next to her. She didn’t walk away.

“...I’m sorry.” He muttered. “I got frightened.”
“Did I do it wrong?” She muttered. “Nothing fucking pleases her.”
“You did really well.”
“...Thanks.”
Jack nodded. “She’s just mad I couldn’t do it. Let her be mad at me. It’s not your fault.”

Scarlett grabbed a little plate and piled it with fruit. Jack did the same. They sat together at a little table, eating and stewing in silence. All Jack wanted was to go home at this point. He’d be happy if he never saw this clock-tower again.

By the time Jack got home, it had turned pitch-black outside. Mama dragged him and Scarlett out to a mundane dinner with Cygnus. He half expected an earful when he got home, but none came. And here he was, in his bedroom at last, free from her judging eyes. Perhaps he'd avoided the worst. The tower settled into silence as the minutes passed. Jack could only hope Mama had fallen asleep for the night. 

Once he was sure it was safe, Jack reached under his bed to grab his phone. What were the others up to today, huh? Hopefully something fun. Something interesting. Besides, he still wanted to see Ryder tonight, like they'd planned. But wasn't Mama upset with him as it was? Well, considering she didn’t lecture him at all, maybe it was safe to sneak out again.

Jack raised an eyebrow as he read the first notification on his phone. A slew of messages from earlier that morning. As he read them, his heart sunk.

Ryder: JACK PLEASE TELL ME YOURE ONLINE ITS AN EMERGENCY
Ryder: Fucking hell COME ON PLEASE CHECK THE GROUP CHAT ITS REALLY SERIOUS
Ryder: Hello???
Ryder: Shit you must be busy. PLEASE WHEN YOU GET BACK MESSAGE ANN AND LUKE AS SOON AS YOU CAN
Ryder: THEYRE IN REAL DANGER

Typing up a couple of messages to Ann and Luke, Jack's mind raced for an answer. Danger? What kind of danger?! Everything was fine last night, though! Ann and Luke seemed as happy as could be, didn't they? He quickly sent a message to Ryder, expecting a swift reply.

Jack: Hey, I am SO sorry. My mother dragged me out of the house early. I only just got back home. What’s going on?
Ryder: Oh that explains it, not your fault
Ryder : Not gonna lie I think its too late, none of us have heard from them all day
Jack: What happened?

Ryder sent a screenshot in response, Jack pausing to read it. It displayed a long message from Luke, presumably sent to their group chat.

'Hey guys. Ann and I need to escape Eternyx right now. It’s life or death. One of our moms went missing while we were all out at the warehouse last night. I don’t know if our other mom will find her. I’m sorry but that’s all I can really say. There’s a LOT we never told you guys about us, for your safety. Please don’t go looking. I don’t want any of you to get dragged into our mess. Thank you for being our friends. We’ll miss you.’

Jack nearly dropped his phone. How did this happen?! Who would do such a thing? And why? 

Jack: Gods I am so sorry I wasnt here to help
Ryder: Dont be, you had shit to do
Ryder: They weren’t at school at all. We told the teachers but nobody could get a hold of their moms. And nobody else has seen them.
Jack: Do we know where they live?
Ryder: Blake and I already tried that. Nobody’s there. Not even their car. No one answered the door and all the windows were closed tight. I dont even know if anyone was home
Jack: Did it look like someone broke in, maybe?
Ryder: We looked around. Nothing like that.
Ryder: I don’t even want to keep trying to message them, they’re not going to answer
Jack: I’m sorry. Do you want to put off meeting up tonight?
Ryder: No I’m on my way
Ryder: Im gonna be honest red I really need a distraction right now
Ryder: Ann was one of my best friends and now she’s gone and idk if she’s even alive
Jack: That’s horrible…
Jack: My mom should be asleep. Give me some time and I’ll be outside.

Footsteps echoed outside his room. Jack hid the phone and stayed in bed until they passed. Only then did he get up, grabbing his shoes and his jacket. This was a stupid idea. Oh, he said that every time he snuck out! But it really was stupid, this time! He had already done enough to upset Mama. If he got caught, he was dead. But what difference did that make? It hadn't stopped him from sneaking out to the warehouse, had it? But even then, she was upset enough as it was. Maybe she was waiting for him to slip up. For an opportunity,  an excuse to give him hell. And getting caught sneaking out again? It'd be a field day for her.

Jack scratched at his cheek. If he was going to leave, now would be the time.

'I should just tell her Mama's not happy. She'll understand! But… No, I promised her.'

Footsteps echoed outside again, coming from the opposite direction this time. Once again, Jack waited for them to recede. Then he opened the door, creeping downstairs as he'd done countless times by now. 

He'd put up with Mama all day. All day! The surprise trip, the surprise performance, the looks of clear disapproval and the few under-handed comments she shot in Jack's direction over dinner, and he took all of it with a smile and a wave. What more did this woman want from him? Didn't he deserve a night out with someone he actually cared about?!

Wait, no, how could he say that? Of course he cared about Mama. He loved her. Shaking his head, Jack left his room and crept downstairs as quietly as he could.

Chapter Text

“...You're being serious."
“Of course I’m being serious! My wife’s been kidnapped!”
“Okay, okay, just let me get out of bed first!”

Leaning against the wall, Venus tried to tune out the sounds in the background. It sounded like Ann and Luke were almost done packing. She looked at the time, and then towards the window of her humble Eternyx house. The auroras weren't out tonight. A pity. She'd do anything for a little light right now. A familiar voice came from the other end of a phone, which Venus clutched onto like a lifeline.

“Did you call the police?”
“No one’s going to believe me.”
“If April's missing, then—"
“Damn it, May, we’re not dealing with just a couple kidnappers! You think the Eternyx PD is going to take me seriously if I tell them the truth?”
“What about the kids? Do they… Did you tell them about their parents?”
“They…” Venus hesitated. “They know about The She-Wolf and The Lioness. They know who their creators are. They’ve known for a while, too. I told them, I promised I would never let them become weapons for those two. And now…”
May seemed to hesitate on the other line, before replying. "Look, I can take care of them. However long it takes. I'll figure it out. If nothing else, maybe Rasputin and Rouge can help. I know they're going through a lot right now, but they're good people. They'll understand."
“What happened to them?”
“Most of their kids went missing.”
“What?!” Venus exclaimed. “When was this?!”
“I, I thought you heard… It was Scarlett, first. Then it was Ethan, Ashton, and Quinn. They think it was some sort of kidnapping, but since nobody’s heard from them…”

Venus resisted the urge to throw her phone across the room. This was a nightmare.

“I didn’t know…”
“Look, just send Ann and Luke to Dancity. I’ll be there to pick them up.”
“Thank you, May, I… Words can't express—”
“But seriously… I don’t think this was The She-Wolf and The Lioness. It’s been years, Venus. They’re deities. They probably have better things to do than search for Ann and Luke.”
“Then who else?”
“I don’t know. I’m just saying, be ready for anything. If you’re insisting on finding April yourself, don’t make any assumptions.”
Venus bit her lip. “...Fair point. I just… I came to Eternyx to hide. I thought we’d be safe here. And now, April goes to work and she doesn’t come back, and I find a note taped to my door. And…”
“It’s a nightmare.” May agreed. “How long until you can get the kids here?”
“I got them the first tickets I could find to Dancity. It’s not the nicest shuttle service, but they’ll be there by tomorrow morning at the latest. Hopefully, April and I will be back soon. We'll be out of your hair before you know it."
"No, no, don't worry about it." May said. "Just... Please be safe. You and April both. Find her and run. Especially if you're right, and this is the work of The She-Wolf and The Lioness."

Venus turned at the sound of a door opening, seeing Ann with a suitcase in one hand and hanging up the phone. Ann’s eyes remained downcast, refusing to look fully upwards. Venus didn't think she'd ever seen such a lost expression on her daughter's face. 

Daughter. Her daughter. Not the She-Wolf's daughter, her daughter. It was almost funny. Venus had traveled the world, once upon a time, with all the attention and fame she could want. Which wasn’t even a whole lot, all things considered. None of it came close to the times she'd shared here in Eternyx, with Ann and Luke under her wing. With April at her side. Sure, it was technically a life of hiding. But Venus wouldn't trade it for the world, if she had the choice.

Speaking of, she didn't have a choice anymore. Clearly, someone had it out for their little family. Venus still thought it was either the wolf, or the lion. Who else would have it out for her?

Hurrying downstairs, Venus approached her car. Or rather, April's car. The family car, how about that? April always left the keys near the front door, thankfully. Venus snatched them on her way out, Ann and Luke hurrying into the back seats. Speeding away, Venus tried to think of the fastest way to get to Eternyx's space-port. Directions were never her strong suit.

“You two remember May, right?” Venus asked. “You’ll be staying with her until I can sort this out.”
“Miss Maybel?” Ann asked, resisting a yawn. “Oh, I remember her. Were you on the phone with her earlier?”
Venus nodded. "I'll get April back, and we'll find a new place to live. Maybe Dancity. Or Wasterra, even."
"Do..." Luke asked. "Do we know who did it?"
"...I'm having the same ideas as you. But I'm not sure. My guess is that one of them sent somebody here to find us. No idea if it was the wolf, or the lion. But like I said, I’m not sure."
"Do they just want us back? I don't get it. Why can't they just, like... Make new magic-babies? If that's all they want? Why do Ann and I have to be their weapons?"
Venus shook her head. “They’re both greater demigods. They… Tend to be set in their ways.”
Luke rolled his eyes. “It’s stupid.”
“You’re not wrong.”

The rest of the ride ensued in silence. Venus had to forcibly relax her grip on the steering wheel when she approached the space-port. Her heart threatened to beat its way out of her chest, and she resisted tears. Ann and Luke hesitated before they got out of the car. Venus didn't follow, rolling down the window to speak to them.

"I made flight reservations already. You should have plenty of time." She explained. "May's going to meet you at Dancity."
"What about you?" Ann asked.
“I’ll come back with April as soon as it’s safe. I promise.”

Leaning through the window, Venus hugged them both one last time. It ended too quickly. Ann and Luke turned around and hurried into the space-port without another word. They stuck close, glancing about nervously, and Venus kept her eyes on them until they passed out of sight. Only then did she reach into her pocket and pull out a neatly folded note.

Earlier that night, Ann and Luke snuck out to goof off with their friends. It scared Venus to death, of course. What scared her more, though, was the fact that April hadn't come home all day. April worked late nights, so it wasn’t an immediate concern. But when the hours passed, and she still didn’t return, Venus realized something was wrong. She had already called everyone she could think of, and none of them knew where she could be. April had allegedly left work as normal, but nobody had seen her after that. 

And then, just as Ann and Luke had gotten home from their little escapade, Venus had found a note mysteriously tacked to their door. A note that hadn't been there all day. More worryingly, Venus knew she sensed a presence. Right before the note had appeared, she swore she had heard footsteps in the house. A jolting, chilling shiver ran through her body in the moment, an unmistakable sign that Flow magic was afoot. But the culprit escaped before Venus even got a glimpse. 

All she had was this note. Typed, not written. No name, not even an alias. Just a message, and an address in Cygnus. The city.

WE KNOW WHO AND WHAT YOU ARE, "SUMMER". WE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH YOU URGENTLY. WE HAVE APRIL. SHE WILL NOT BE HARMED IF YOU COMPLY. COME ALONE AND UNARMED. ADDRESS BELOW.

Now that she thought about it… Perhaps May had a point. If The She-wolf or The Lioness had found out where Venus was hiding, and if they truly wanted Ann and Luke back in their control… They wouldn’t resort to something like this, right? No, they would have knocked down Venus’ doors and taken Ann and Luke by force. She still couldn’t think of who else would be behind this kidnapping, though. That was the problem. Aside from the She-Wolf and the Lioness, Venus couldn't think of any other enemies she might have. 

The city of Cygnus grew closer and closer, and Venus' thoughts continued to eat her alive.

‘I never asked for this. I never asked to be a demigod!' She silently cursed. 'What's the point of even calling myself that, at this point? It's technically true. But it's not like I asked to be one! It's not like I live like one! Everyone thinks demigods are so powerful, and I can’t even keep my wife safe! Just… Just, why? Why now, all of a sudden? And why April? She's not the deity here, I am! She doesn't deserve this! She doesn't, she...'

The car slowed. Venus pulled over, resisting the urge to slam her head against the steering wheel. Her shoulders shook as she began to sob. April didn't deserve this. Ann and Luke didn't deserve this. She didn't deserve this, damn it! Venus brought them all here to find a happy life. A life where maybe, just maybe, she could be normal. Not a demigod, not a pop star, not Summer , just Venus. Just a woman with a wife and children. What was wrong with that? Why couldn't she have that?! Was it the divine swill that ran through her veins? Was it the fact that the She-Wolf and Lioness couldn't leave well enough alone? Was it someone else entirely, with motives of their own?

"Damn it!"

Venus shrieked. And then she took a breath, wiped her tears, and kept driving. Crying wouldn't save April. As she neared the address listed on the note, Venus raised an eyebrow. Ahead of her, her eyes locked onto a clock-tower.

'Didn't they just build this thing? Why here?' She wondered to herself, pulling up to the front of the tower. 'Why would they want me to come here? I doubt they asked the governor for permission.'

The lights seemed to be off inside. Hesitating, Venus steeled herself and stepped out of the car, approaching the double doors of the clock-tower. They opened before she could touch them. Hands balling into fists, Venus stepped inside. At first, she couldn't see much beyond the shadows of the main hall. At the other end of the hall, a pair of lamps glowed with warm light.

Was she walking into a trap? Of course she was. Why else would they kidnap April, if not to use her as leverage. But Venus needed to see who 'they' even were. Agents of the She-Wolf? Of the Lioness? Of someone else entirely? Venus needed to know. She needed to know who was responsible for hurting her family. Gods as her witness, she'd make them pay for this. Even if it was the last thing she did, she’d make them pay.

As she stepped through the empty main hall, Venus noticed another set of double doors on the other end, lit by the pair of lamps. She pushed the doors open, seeing a flight of stairs and heading upwards. After what felt like an eternity, she reached the second floor and stepped inside, greeted by another empty part of the clock-tower. Only now, when she stepped through the door, Venus swore she felt chills again.

"Alright. I'm here." She spoke, raising her voice. "You wanted me? Here I am! Show yourselves!"

Nothing.

"...Who are you? Did the She-Wolf send you? The Lioness?" Venus chuckled bitterly. "You're too late. You'll never get your hands on Ann and Luke, you hear me? Never! They’re not yours to use! They’re not just pawns in your little rivalries, you hear me?!”

Still, nothing.

“I don't care what you think you can do to me. But you leave my family out of this! Here I am! Like you asked! Now come on out, and let's talk like adults!"

And then, just then, Venus audibly choked. Instead of a chill, an icy shock seemed to freeze her entire body. The She-Wolf, right?! The sound of heels on wood flooring echoed behind her. Venus managed to turn her head, gasping. Behind her stood none other than Cygnus, in his unmistakable top hat and monocle. Beside him stood a woman Venus didn't immediately recognize, dressed in black and pink. In the woman's manicured grasp, in a strange yellow dress and unnaturally pink hair, stood April . Venus would have rushed towards her, if her body would respond. An unnatural force compelled her to stay put.

Behind all of them stood a multitude of other people, dressed in gray clothes. All of them stared at Venus with empty, bright pink eyes.

“...Who did you think I was?” The woman asked after a moment, with a chuckle. “I assure you, I have nothing to do with The She-Wolf or The Lioness.”
“Who the hell are you?” Venus hissed, forcing herself to turn around fully. “What do you want with me?!”
“Your cooperation. Or your compliance. Either one.”

Venus narrowed her eyes. Come to think of it, she recognized this woman. They'd never met, not personally at least. But that face sure seemed familiar... Wait a minute!

“...You’re Leda Nox.” Venus muttered. “Right?”
“Oh, are you a fan?” Leda asked, with a grin. “I’m flattered, truly.”
“Tell me what you’ve done to April.”
"Calm down. Neither of you are going to be hurt. You're a means to an end."
“What are you talking about?! Let me go!”

Snapping out of her frozen stupor, Venus ran towards Leda with everything she had, only for someone to pull her backwards. She caught sight of a strange man, his hair matching the dark red hues of his jacket. Where did he come from? Was he hiding in the shadows? His grip around her arms felt colder than death, and she swore she caught sight of fangs. Struggling, Venus pulled against his grasp to no avail. April, on the other hand, didn't even twitch. Her eyes met Venus', as if she wanted to speak. As if she wanted to scream. Nevertheless, April remained motionless.

"Get off me!" Venus continued to yell. “You won’t get away with this!”
"It's nothing personal." Cygnus explained, glancing at the fanged man. "Keep her steady, Vester."

 Just then, with a burst of effort, Venus squirmed out of Vester's grasp enough to elbow him in the ribs as hard as she could. The second he stumbled back, Venus rushed towards Leda again. Magic be damned. In the moment, Venus aimed to hit as hard as she could, as fast as she could. To her surprise, April stepped in between her and Leda, taking the brunt of the blow and grappling Venus to the ground.

"Wait, baby—" Venus cried out. "It's me! I'm trying to help you! What are you doing?!"

But April didn't reply. Tears brimmed in her eyes, but she didn't reply. Maybe she couldn't. Kicking her girlfriend away, Venus scrambled to her feet. The four had backed her against a wall. In the back of her mind, slowly echoing through her head, a haunting melody began to play. Leda stepped forward, leading the rest in a dance. To Venus’ horror, the group of strangers behind her became enveloped in a dark, magical cloud. They danced in-time with Leda, turning into black-clad minions with neon pink masks. 

Gods… Who were those people? Did they even want to be here? Or were they just as helpless as April?

"It's best not to struggle." She told Venus. "We're not here to harm you. You're far too valuable."

What did that even mean? Valuable? For what?! Venus didn't have time to think about it. Against her will, she began to dance with Leda. The last thing she remembered seeing was April, dancing along as if every step was forced.

Chapter Text

Outside, on the curb, Jack found Ryder waiting for him. Underneath her sweater, he noticed a short jean skirt and tattered yellow leggings. She smiled as he stepped outside, but her eyes seemed puffy and red. He decided not to ask. Surely, that was the last thing she'd want to talk about.

“Kept me waiting.” Ryder said. “Long day, huh?”
Jack nodded in agreement. “Would rather not talk about it.”
“Same.”

Ryder took his hand and led him through the dark streets, taking a familiar set of turns. Even if he couldn't see, the sound of Ryder's heels against the concrete pavement would tell him the way. They were heading in the direction of the train station, weren't they? Jack thought so. At least until they took a right turn that he didn't recognize. Still, he could find his way home from here if he tried.

What was it this time? An old pharmacy? What a fine place to hang out in.

“Are we there yet?”
“Almost.”

Ryder slowed to a stop at one of the looming buildings around them, all of which seemed to blend in with the shadows. Looping around to the back, Ryder approached a rusty door and gingerly eased it open, hinges creaking with every move. The two kids crept inside, Ryder reaching for a lantern left on the floor next to the door.

"Don't worry," She said as she turned the lantern on, "I did a little cleaning a few days ago, it should be pretty cozy."

The lantern lit up a corner of the room, one large and nearly empty room. Aside from the corner, dust and debris littered the floor. Old shelves lined a far wall. Jack wondered what this place looked like when it was open. Around him, he noticed that the floor of the corner had been swept recently. Ryder slung off her backpack and took a seat on a lawn chair, a few others standing nearby. They looked worn, but not nearly as grimy as their surroundings. In between the chairs sat a box of some sort, covered with thick cloth.

Ryder grabbed a wireless speaker out of her bag, setting it on the box and playing some music. Jack resisted a little shiver. Even just thinking about dancing sent tiny sparks through him. He never noticed that before learning a little Flow. 

“Anyone else?” Jack asked.
“Nah. Blake got stuck with his homework, after all.”
“Oh. What about Liv?”
“She’s not in the mood. Believe me, I asked.” Ryder shook her head. “Just us tonight, Red.”
“Got it. Did you have anything planned?”
“Not exactly, but… Oh, before I forget!”

Turning around for a moment, Ryder pulled something else out of her bag. A bundle of the clothes he'd gotten from the warehouse the other night! Taking them, he realized they smelled freshly washed, the colors notably brighter. Ryder turned around to let him change his shirt. Already, he liked it. Just as soft and stretchy as it looked. Tying the tie loosely around his neck, he put on the vest and set the hat on his head.

When Ryder turned back around, she took off her sweater. He recognized the two tops she wore from the other day, even though she had torn holes in one of them. Perhaps to match the distressed looks of her leggings. She then pulled down her usual twin tails, combing her fingers through her blonde hair, looking Jack up and down.

"Y'know, you look like you're going somewhere fancy." She told him with a laugh.
"Yeah? And isn't this fancy?" Jack fired back. "A dirty old pharmacy?"
"Maybe not for you, Mr. Money. This is high society compared to my place!"
“And what’s your place like?”
“A graveyard.”
Jack laughed. “Must be pretty gloomy.”
“I’m being literal. I live in a graveyard.”
“You… How?”
“It’s been abandoned for, like, gods know how long. My aunt found an empty crypt, and we… Kinda just moved in. No one's kicked us out, and no one asks for rent. It's actually not that bad.”
“Why there, though?”
“It’s complicated.”
“I got time.” Jack offered. “If you want to talk about it.”
“I really don’t.”

Jack would have gone on, but he caught a look at Ryder's face. She didn't meet his eyes, the corner of her mouth twitching. Oh no... He didn't ask something bad, did he? Nearly stuttering, Jack raced for a new topic.

"D-Do you want to dance, then?" He blurted out.
"Like... Right now?" Ryder tilted her head.
"Only if you want to..." He trailed off, smiling nervously. "It's okay if you—"

But Ryder had already grabbed her phone, tapping a few buttons. The music playing from the speaker grew louder, and Jack nobody outside could hear it. But why worry? Why worry when he could watch? In fact, why worry when he could get up and dance with her? Which he did, as the melody picked up.

Wake up in the morning, feelin’ like P Diddy
Grab my glasses, I’m out the door, I’m gonna hit this city
Before I leave, brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack
‘Cause when I leave for the night I ain’t coming back

When she saw him dance with her, Ryder's face seemed to light up. Enthusiastically, she led him side to side with a few simple moves. If he felt sparks before, now Jack felt shocks. Shockwaves flowed through him, which now felt nothing but natural. Almost right away, a gentle red aura began to surround him. Ryder raised an eyebrow but didn't slow her pace.

I’m talkin’ pedicure on our toes, toes
Trying on all our clothes, clothes
Boys blowing up our phones, phones
Playing our favorite CDs
Pulling up to the party
Trying to get a little bit tipsy…

And just then, a flash of light nearly made them both pause. Ryder's hair flared a bright blue as she shrieked in surprise. And yet, she didn't slow her pace. Neither did Jack, even as his eyes widened. What was that? Was that magic? Was that supposed to happen?!

But it felt good. So they kept dancing, without question. Arms circling at their sides, they kept dancing.

Don’t stop, make it pop, DJ blow my speakers up
Tonight, Imma fight ‘till I see the sudden light
Tick tock, on the clock, but the party don’t stop, no
Oh, whoa, whoa-oh
Oh, whoa, whoa-oh

By the time the song ended, Jack barely felt winded. Ryder staggered a bit, but stayed standing. Her hair stayed blue. He wondered if she felt the same way he did, the same shocking impulse that flowed through him.

"...Magic hair?" She finally said. "Magic fucking hair?! Is this normal?!"
"I don't know!" Jack told her. "Are you okay?"
"Never better!"

Another song began, just then. Ryder looked to Jack, giving him a knowing wink. He couldn't help but smile, putting his hands on his waist and swaying side to side a bit. Wouldn't she want a break, though? He supposed not. But he'd never heard this song! What was he supposed to do? Make it up as he went? As the beat of the song kicked up a bit, Jack did exactly that. He just didn’t want to leave Ryder out with anything complicated.

Streets like a jungle
So call the police
Following the herd
Down to Greece
On holiday
Love in the 90s
Is paranoid
On sunny beaches
Take your chances, looking for—

Huh. It wasn't that hard, making it up as he went. Especially when the only person watching him was a friend. Ryder mirrored his every move, her hands forming a heart just like Jack's. A faint glow had outlined her body, strongest around her sparking blue hair.

Girls who want boys
Who like boys to be girls
Who do boys like they’re girls
Who do girls like they’re boys
Always should be someone you really love

When it ended, Jack finally took a brief seat on the concrete floor. The last thing he expected tonight was a workout. But he couldn't complain. Not in such good company. Ryder remained standing, kicking off the heels.

"Shit," She winced, "Those hurt."
"Do they?" Jack asked. "Never worn heels before. You okay?"
"Oh yeah!"

Ryder grabbed him by the hand and pulled him to his feet when the next song began. Another? He was still catching his breath from before. Nevertheless, they remained hand in hand as the next song kicked up. Once again, Jack made up whatever came to mind first. Even then, though, his moves seemed to line up with hers, flowing naturally from one to the other.

I'll take you home if you don't leave me at the front door
Your body’s cold, but girl we’re getting so worm
And I was looking for ways that I could get inside
Tonight you’re falling in love, let me go now
This feeling’s turning me up, here we go now

They weren't anything special. Their dance wouldn't win any awards. Mama wouldn't be proud. But did it matter? Did that matter when Ryder smiled like that? No shiny prize could top standing back-to-back with his friend, dancing as if they'd rehearsed this together for months.

Now if she does it like this, will you do it like that?
Now if she touches like this, will you touch her right back?
Now if she moves like this, will you move her like that?
Come on, shake shake, shake shake, a-shake it!

I saw you dancing and I couldn't get you off my mind
And I could tell that you could tell that I was taking my time
But I was thinking of ways to get you staying the night
Your body's shaking, tell me off so I can turn off the lights

Jack gasped in surprise when Ryder grabbed his hand and dipped him at the very end, nearly sweeping him off his feet entirely. And just then, her hair fading back to blonde, the two stumbled and fell to the ground. Ryder sat up with a wince, gingerly brushing debris off the bottom of her foot.

"Think I stepped on something." She hissed. "Shit, that was..."
"Are you okay?" Jack asked.
"That was magic! Like, actually! Literally magic! How did that happen? Is it because you were with me?" Ryder went on. "Cause like, I swear I've never felt like that while dancing before!"
"Never?"
"Nope. If my hair did that every time I danced, I'd dance more often. Such a cool color!"

Jack caught his breath while Ryder excitedly messaged someone on her phone, sitting back down in the lawn chair. She had a point. He never felt like that while dancing before, either. Music continued to play from the speaker, but he didn't have the urge to dance along. Or the energy, for that matter. Ryder soon took a seat next to him, still focused on her phone.

"Arleen says hi." She told him. "...And there’s still nothing on them."
“Oh…” Jack trailed off a bit. “How’s Arleen?”
“She’s fine. Just didn’t feel like coming out tonight.”
“I don’t blame her.”

The two fell silent for a moment. All Jack could hear was the music. Ryder put her phone away, stretching a bit.

“Tired?” Jack asked.
“Yeah…” Ryder nodded. “Sorry this hangout kinda sucks.”
“No, it’s fine! I like spending time with you!”
"You mean that?"
“I do.” He nodded. “We’re friends, aren’t we?”
Ryder paused, before chuckling. "You're right, yeah. Guess I'm still, y'know, thinking about... The thing."
"...Is there anything that might take your mind off it? What about Arleen? And Blake, and Liv?"

Ryder seemed to pause for a moment, slowly covering her face. Jack feared he said something to upset her, until he noticed a smile under her hands.

“...Can you keep a secret?”
“Sure.”
"It's Arleen."
“Yeah?”
"So, like... She moved here 'cause her dad got a job here. And I don't know if she plans to stay, but I really hope she does. I think she likes it here! So maybe she won't go back to Carnivallum. Which is what I'm hoping for."
"That makes sense. You guys must be good friends."
"No, like... It's more than just that."
"You like her as… More than a friend?"
"Ugh, yes! I do! She's just... She's so pretty, and she's always super interested in my art and stuff, and she's funny and nice and..."

Ryder leaned back in her chair, her legs kicking back and forth. With an excited little squeal, she went on.

“I don’t have the guts to do it, that’s all.”
“Do what?”
“Y'know…” Her voice dropped to a mutter. “Ask her out?”
"Why not?" Jack wondered. "Maybe she likes you back!"
"I don't know, though. I don't even know if she likes other girls! Y'know, cause some people don't."
"True, true. But you won't know if you don't ask."
"I get it! Holy shit, you sound like Blake." Ryder joked. "He's been trying to hype me up to do it for weeks now. But like, what if she takes it the wrong way? What are the chances she says yes?”
"A chance." Jack told her. "You can at least try, Ryder. You're pretty much the most confident person I know."
"You must not know many confident people." She joked.
"Like I said. You got this." He laughed. "Do it."
"...Alright, alright, you win! I'll do it when I see her tomorrow!"
"You promise?"
Ryder huffed. "I pro-omise. On my pretty magic hair, I promise."

The two of them laughed. Jack wondered how long they'd been hanging out. Ryder leaned back in her chair, pointing at the wall closest to them.

“You know what would look good there?”
“What?” Jack asked.
“A dragon.”
“I… Yeah, that’d look cool. A painting of one?”
“Duh. A big snake-like one, too. I was gonna draw a phoenix for Luke, but…”

Ryder didn’t finish that sentence. A part of Jack wondered if it was better to just talk about it. 

“You good?” He asked.
“...I just don’t get it. Why their parents?”
“I don’t know… I don’t think I ever met them.”
“No, trust me, you know them.”

Ryder pulled up a music video on her phone, showing it to Jack. His eyes widened as he immediately recognized it.

"Summer!" He blurted out.
"Right? This old video? That was one of their moms! I used to be so obsessed with this dance, you have no idea." Ryder explained. "Still know it by heart, too. And guess who the other mom is?"
"Who?"
"You know the old D.A.N.C.E video? Her name's April. The first mom was named Venus."
"Really? Her, too?"
"Exactly, right? I just don't get why anyone would have it out for either of them, of all people. And what Luke said about it being life or death, it just doesn't make any sense!"

Jack had to agree. He'd grown up seeing these dances. The videos were probably older than he was! What would anyone want with Venus and April, though? They seemed like retired pop stars to him, nothing more. And then he remembered…

“ Her real name is Venus." Vester’s voice rang in his ears. "Lesser demigod, if I’m not mistaken." 

They played these songs. They mentioned Venus by name. They even talked about Ann and Luke. Why didn’t he connect the dots before? How did it take him this long?!

“...Uh, Red? Re-ed?”
“Huh?”
“You okay?” Ryder asked. “You’re, like… Shaking.”
“I, um—”
“Oh shit, it’s late! We gotta get you back home, right?”

Before Jack could think to stop her, Ryder grabbed him by the hand and pulled him out of the pharmacy. They ran through the dark streets until they reached the tower again. Jack had to stop before they crossed the street, falling to one knee. He had worn himself out today, and that run left him breathless.

“You gonna be alright?” Ryder asked. “I gotta get back home, man.”
Without a word, Jack nodded.
“Catch you later, Red!”

And with that, Ryder ran away for good. Jack hurried to the door, thankful to see it undisturbed. When he got inside, he made sure to keep himself quiet, despite the rising panic in his chest. He got to the second floor and hurried into his bedroom, closing the door just as he heard footsteps down the hall. They sounded like the maid’s footsteps, thankfully. She’d buy an excuse, if his mother wouldn't.

But, nobody knocked on his door. The maid’s footsteps receded. That left Jack alone with his thoughts again. It always came back to that, being alone with his thoughts. He got into bed and buried his face into a pillow. If he didn’t know better, he’d scream as loud as he could.

Chapter Text

"Treasure?"

Jack snapped out of his groggy morning thoughts. He had been sitting in the entry hall, waiting for Mama to show up. Waiting for the ball to drop, for him to get in trouble for something. He could feel it in the air. Sneaking out multiple nights in a row, refusing to dance when she asked, he had to have it coming. Or maybe he was being paranoid because of what he pieced together last night.

No, not paranoid. Mama gave him a smile. Even though he smiled back, he could barely look at her without wanting to scream. She beckoned for him to follow her outside, leading him to the car. As he filed into the back seat, he glanced at the driver. Gray clothes, pink eyes. A hundred things ran through Jack’s mind as the car drove off. The conversation he'd eavesdropped on. Cygnus' new clock-tower and the cookie-cutter smiles of the staff there. The tower he described as a 'perfect trap'. Vester, talking about a demigod with a partner and two kids. The songs he'd overheard them play that night. The songs Ryder had shown him when talking about Ann and Luke's parents. It lined up in a way that sickened him.

How did no one else notice? How did no one else see what she was doing to people?! And she had the nerve to smile at Jack, like nothing was wrong. Like this was just another normal day for them.

"Jack, are you feeling unwell?" Mama suddenly asked.
‘Ann and Luke are gone because of you.’ Jack thought to himself, before answering. “I’m fine, Mama.”

All he wanted to do was ask her. What happened to Laurel Lantana? What happened to Venus and April? What happened when Mama left dinner in such a hurry? Where did she go? What was she doing when she was gone all day? What had she been up to all his life, that he was so blissfully ignorant of? What was she planning to do to people?!

"You look like something's on your mind."
Jack paused. "...Nothing much."
“Come now, you can tell me anything.”
‘I can’t look at the maid without feeling disgusted by what you’ve done to her.’ Jack thought to himself again, before speaking up. “Um, where are we going?”
“Did I not tell you this morning?” Mama mused, shaking her head. “I’ve found another apprentice. Thought it’d be nice if Scarlett had some company in that manor.”
“What’s their name?”
“Felicia. You’ll like her. Lilith says she’s much more friendly than Scarlett. Make a good first impression this time, hm?”

The car finally slowed to a stop. Jack remembered this place. Eternyx's quiet space-port, where ships from all corners of the Danceverses came and went. They pulled up to the curb outside the entrance, Mama rolling down her window and waving at someone. Jack glanced outside, seeing an orange-haired girl he'd never met before, multiple suitcases in hand. Standing beside her, dressed in black and red, stood a familiar face.

“Miss Lilith?” Jack wondered aloud.
“It’s been a while since you’ve seen her, hasn’t it?” Mama asked. “She’ll be staying with Vester for a week.”

Just then, the orange-haired girl stepped into the car and took a seat next to Jack. Lilith followed suit, sitting on Jack’s other side. As the car pulled away, he turned to greet Felicia.

"Felicia, right?" Jack asked, holding out a hand. "Nice to meet you."

Felicia grabbed his hand and shook it, Jack getting a look at her long, painted nails. He noticed a faint, jagged scar on one of her arms, and decided not to pry about it. In her lap sat a pink bundle with blue stripes, curled into a ball. He could swear he heard it snoring.

"You're Miss Nox's kid, right?" Felicia asked. "Jack?"
"Yeah, did Miss Lilith talk about me?"
"Little bit." She answered, before turning her attention to Mama. "It's an honor to meet you, by the way!"
Mama grinned at her. "The pleasure's all mine, dear."

As those two continued to talk, Jack found himself gazing out the window again. And he would have slipped away, if he didn't feel something pawing at him. Looking down, he realized that the pink bundle in Felicia's lap was actually a cat. A collar adorned with two bells wrapped around its neck, a pair of wide eyes staring up at him.

"Is this your cat?" He asked Felicia.
"My familiar, actually. Or, one of them at least. Summoned her with Flow magic, all by myself." She corrected him. "This one is named Kitta."
"Kitta?" He echoed, patting the familiar on the head. "She's adorable."
"Thank you!" Kitta suddenly spoke up, rubbing her head against his palm. "Can you scratch a bit lower? Just under my ears?"

Taken aback, Jack did as Kitta asked, a rumbling purr building in the back of her throat. Felicia gave him a sly grin. He'd never met a familiar before. The cat curled up on the seat between Felicia and Jack. Pulling his hand away, Jack glanced back at Felicia, who kept her eyes on him.

"So," She immediately said when they met eyes, "What's it like here? Anything fun to do?"
"Uh, I mostly practice." Jack answered. "There's a mall near the tower, though. Fun place to visit."
"That's it? Gotta be something more exciting here."
"Maybe Scarlett knows more than me."
"Oh, right! The other girl! I think Miss Lilith mentioned her." Felicia turned to Mama. "When am I meeting her?"
"Later today." Mama answered. "We'll be jumping right into practice when we get to the tower. I hope you don't mind."
"That's fine, yeah! I honestly can't wait.”

She seemed bright. Full of hope. Jack wondered how long that would last. An optimistic part of him wondered if she’d be just as horrified as he was, if she realized the truth about what Mama had done.  Or would she find the concept “cool”, like Scarlett did? The car slowed to a stop again. Jack recognized the area. They were back at the tower! Outside, he saw Scarlett approaching. Getting out of the car with Lilith and Felicia, Jack stood off to the side in silence.

“Felicia, this is Scarlett.” Mama introduced the two. “I’m sure Lilith told you about her.”
“A little bit.” Felicia agreed. “It’s so nice to finally meet you! I love your hood!”
“Oh, um…” Scarlett paused, before smiling. “Thanks! I like your hair.”

Jack wasn’t sure if he’d seen such an honest smile on Scarlett’s face. Maybe if they became friends, Mama would stop bothering him about it. Doubtful, though. Mama and Miss Lilith shared a few words out of earshot, before Miss Lilith left. The three kids followed Mama into the tower, the butler and the maid waiting dutifully in the entry hall. Next to them was a new woman Jack didn’t recognize, in similar gray attire with her hair pulled back into a bun. She immediately approached Mama, staying by her side.

Oh, right. Mama wanted a personal assistant, didn’t she? What poor soul was this, Jack wondered?

“Follow me,” Mama ordered, “I’ll show you where we typically practice, Felicia. We won’t dive into anything magic today. I’d like to see how well you dance, first.”
“I won’t disappoint.” Felicia promised.
“We’ll see.”

Following her downstairs, the little group entered the mirrored room. Jack leaned against the wall, Scarlett and Felicia stretching as they continued to chatter. A part of him wanted to join in, but he didn’t want to interrupt. He wasn’t even sure what he wanted to talk about, anyway. None of the thoughts on his mind seemed like good conversation material, especially in front of Mama.

“Now, we don’t have all day.” Mama spoke, again. “I’d like all of you to copy exactly what I do, as I do it.”

She continued to talk, her instructions going in one ear and out the other. Jack had danced with her a thousand times, so he knew the drill. Scarlett and Felicia stood behind him, falling quiet. He could still hear them whisper something to each other occasionally. All around them, a quiet melody picked up. 

He recognized this song. It stuck around in the back of his head, from years prior. Jack didn’t remember a whole lot of that night. He remembered living somewhere temporarily with Mama. He remembered an argument Mama had with one of her friends at the time, but didn’t remember what that argument was about. What was their name again? Mx. Gold, right? That was the only name Jack ever had for them, was Mx. Gold. He never saw them again after that night.

The arguing had frightened him, at the time. Mama had to come in and calm him down. He remembered trying to follow her moves, with this melody in the background. Back then, all she did was smile sweetly at him. No glares of disappointment. No criticism. Just her smile, and a few gentle instructions. 

“Scarlett, stand up straighter.” Mama barked. “You don’t want to look like a hunchback on stage.”

Jack wondered where that gentleness went. Maybe she sold it for magic powers. Or something like that. It was starting to sound like something she’d do.

The day had passed by uneventfully. Scarlett and Felicia chatted all the way out the door. In all honesty, Jack didn’t know how to join in. So he didn’t. He said his goodbyes, spent a few hours with his tutors, and went out to dinner with Mama and some of her friends. Or, colleagues. Acquaintances? Jack had no idea what to call them, besides their names, which were Christie and Terrence . Why were they friends with Mama? Well, Jack had never asked, because he always figured it wasn’t his business. Lately, though, he’d begun to wonder if they knew all of the staff in Mama’s tower were possessed. Or if they would care, if they knew.

That led Jack to tonight. It was well past his bedtime, once again. As per usual, he was chatting with his friends. In front of him sat some paper and a worn pencil, but he needed a little break. Besides, Ryder had something to say.

Ryder: Yeah its just as well that we couldnt meet up today, I had detention
Ryder: Someone called me a dumb blonde whore when clearly I am a CRAZY blonde whore
Ryder: So I told her to gargle piss and IM the one who gets detention
Jack: That sucks.
Ryder: Eh its whatever detention is just longer study hall anyway
Jack: Are you doing anything fun tonight?
Ryder: Eh just sitting in my room drawing
Ryder: You still drawing or nah?
Jack: I keep meaning to. I just never have the time.
Jack: Oh, did I tell you my mother got a new apprentice?
Ryder: Oh who is it this time
Jack: Her name is Felicia. She seems a lot nicer.
Ryder: Felicia huh?
Ryder: Where’s she from outta curiosity?
Jack: I’m not really sure. I want to say Dancity, though.
Ryder: Also speaking of new people I met someone cool yesterday
Jack: Oh?
Ryder: Weird story but I followed this weird glowing ball I saw after school and it turned out to be a magic disco ball
Ryder: And then I met this one guy named Indigo who was friends with it
Ryder: He’s about our age and I guess he’s in town for a little while so he and I agreed to hang out
Jack: Ryder, I say this as nicely as I can. I think you should check the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector if you’re seeing magic disco balls.
Ryder: AHDJUFHJSDHDFJLKA FUCK OFF LMAO

Just then, Jack got another message. This time, it was from Blake.

Blake: question
Blake: do u know the difference between a primary and a secondary source
Blake: theyre making us do essays for social studies
Jack: I think a primary source has to be directly from the event itself. An interview in a newspaper, for example. A secondary source can be about what happened, like a documentary or a book, but isn’t made by a direct participant in the event.
Blake: uhhhh so
Blake: if i had to write an essay about the techno terror would this be primary or secondary

Blake sent Jack a link to a news article shortly after. He glanced at the title, A 5-Year Retrospective On Cyberfunk’s Robotic Nightmare , before reading through the first few paragraphs. He had heard enough about the Techno Terror to know what the article would be touching on. It was well before he was alive. A pair of robotics experts spent several years terrorizing Cyberfunk by puppeting various Flow-controlled robots. Which was the kind of thing that would make it into a social studies class, over a decade later. 

Jack: I think this would be a secondary source, since it was made years after the event.
Blake: ah shit im supposed to find a primary source
Jack: Try to find something written at the time. I’m sure there’s a lot to pick from. What’s your essay about?
Blake: uh idk yet i just got the assignment
Blake: thanks tho
Blake: sooner i get this done sooner i can go back to practicing
Jack: Practice?
Blake: got this book about MMA it seems pretty interesting
Jack: Oh, martial arts. I was supposed to learn that a few years ago.
Blake: why didn't u lol
Jack: Well, my mother sent me to Melosia for a little while to learn. But then she changed her mind and took me back. It was a weird time, honestly.
Blake: we should practice together sometime then
Blake: also ur mom is weird
Jack: Don’t I know it, Blake. One of these days, I should tell you guys about all the weird things she does.

He laughed to himself as he sent that. For some reason, sending that little text felt like a bold move to him. It reminded him of the papers sitting in front of him, which he turned his attention back to. He’d neglected them long enough.

On one page was a neat row of bullet points. This was just a draft, but he had to get things in some kind of order. Jack had spent the night trying to think of things he’d remembered his mother doing, before they moved into Eternyx. Sure, the stuff he’d overheard about Mama possessing people was important. But there had to be more signs before that, surely. He’d underlined and circled Laurel Lantana’s name, in one bullet point. Below it, he’d jotted down “Melosia trip” and “sudden departure” . Those had a direct link, so he could probably package them all together.

Above it, though, he had very little to write about. “Tours” was one of them. Mama had to tie her sorcerer-work to her work as a performer, right? Unfortunately, Jack didn’t know the details behind Mama’s performances. But he wasn’t sure what else he could focus on. He’d also written down a few names. Cygnus, Miss Lilith, and Mr. Vester were the main three he underlined. Who else did Mama hang out with, though…? Christie and Terrence, maybe. But Jack wasn’t sure if they knew anything about Mama’s sorcery, or if they were just rich friends of hers. He decided not to write them down. Beyond their names, he barely knew either of them.

Jack thought about it for a minute longer. Slowly, he wrote down the phrase “mirror incident”, giving it its own bullet point. He scratched at the scar along his cheek as he went on from there, writing down “clock-tower” and “Venus and April” as well. He could figure out the details later. For now, though… He supposed this little bullet-point list would be enough of a start. Satisfied for the time being, Jack hid the papers under his bed, with his little phone.

Was the incident with the mirror enough to be on the list? Sure, it was bad, but that was just about him! Jack figured it wouldn’t hurt to jot down, though. But even then… Who would he tell, once he was done? That part, Jack still had to figure out. He just hoped he had time. Something told him Mama wouldn’t stop with Venus and April.

Chapter Text

“See you tomorrow, Miss Nox!”

The next day, Jack saw Scarlett and Felicia out the door after practice had ended. Felicia had Kitta prancing behind her, this time. She looked at Jack with a smile as she waved goodbye, Scarlett pulling her along by the hand. Jack sighed in relief. He was right about Felicia. She was turning out to be a lot nicer than Scarlett. Jack had chatted with her shortly before practice began. She had asked him about the scar on his cheek.

“It looks super deep. What happened?”
“I, uh… I tripped down the stairs here. I guess marble is sharper than it looks.”
“Ouch! I hope it wasn’t too bad!”

But, they didn’t have much of a chance to talk today. Mama had suggested that all three of them go out this coming weekend, to do something fun. He was willing to bet she’d send them to the mall again. Which he wouldn’t complain about. Getting out of the tower would do him some good, anyway.

“Oh, Jack,” Mama said, “I meant to tell you this earlier. One of your tutors called in sick today, and I have to go out for a few hours. You can find something to do here, right?”
“Yes, Mama. What are we doing later today?”
“Dinner with Cygnus, for the most part. Find something productive to do while I’m out, okay? I expect you to be washed up and ready by the time we have to leave.”

Jack hurried back upstairs. It was his lucky day! He wondered what he could do with a few hours of spare time. Maybe he could draw. It had been forever since he’d thought of something to doodle! He could also try talking to Ryder or the others, but he assumed they were still at school. Still, he could at least see if they’d sent him anything recently. Sure, the old group chat had fallen silent ever since Ann and Luke left, but they still talked directly to each other.

Oh right. Ann and Luke...

Jack tried to shake the thought out of his mind. It only took one sour thought to ruin his mood, these days. Passing by the butler without a word, Jack went to take a quick shower. Hey, he got washed up like she said, right? Once he was done, a quick look around the tower confirmed that Mama was nowhere to be seen. Jack then returned to his room, wondering what to do with his spare time.

‘She said to do something productive. Yeah, right. Maybe I could draw.’ He thought. ‘Eh… Let’s see if there’s anything going on at school today.’

Jack made sure his door was closed before grabbing his phone. Powering it on, he saw a message from Ryder. Odd. He could have sworn she was still in class.

Ryder: Youre not gonna believe this but I ditched class
Jack: …Can I ask why?
Ryder: hanging out with Indigo shhh dont tell anyone
Jack: You’re going to get in trouble with your aunt.
Ryder: Im in trouble with my aunt every friday whats your point
Ryder: Aren’t you supposed to be with your tutor rn?
Jack: They called in sick. I don’t exactly have a way to ditch class, otherwise.
Ryder: Come over to the pharmacy then lol
Jack: I don’t have long.
Ryder: Cmon just to meet my friend
Ryder: He said he can have his little disco ball bring you here if you want

That was one of the most ridiculous things Jack had heard from Ryder. And he still distinctly remembered her debate on how to eat worms from the ground. However… He had a couple of hours to kill, and a part of him did want to meet this mysterious Indigo. So, Jack grabbed his shoes. He had to wait to leave his room, hearing the footsteps of the maid outside his door. Once the coast was clear, he snuck to the door, seeing no sign of the staff.

When Jack stepped outside, he didn’t see anything unusual at first. A series of beeps caught his attention, and he looked up to see a floating, glowing ball. It seemed to smile at him, beeping away as it flew in circles around him. Oh... Ryder was right, after all. Maybe he needed to get his carbon monoxide detectors checked, too.

“I… I’m guessing you’re Indigo’s friend?”
“Beep!”
“Do you talk at all, or is it just beeps?”
“Beep be-be-beep.”
“I’ll take that as a yes. Do you have a name, or do I just call you Discoball?”
The ball bobbed up and down, as if it was nodding. “Beep beep!”
“Lead the way then, Discoball.”

Jack fully expected to walk. Instead, Discoball seemed to look around the area, ushering Jack down the road and into a little alleyway. Once they were out of sight, Discoball began to glow. In front of them both, a door-shaped portal opened. Jack covered his mouth to hide a startled gasp. On the other side of the portal was the inside of the old pharmacy, Ryder standing with someone else Jack didn’t recognize. Seeing him, Ryder grabbed Jack by the hand and yanked him through the portal.

“You made it!” She said, hugging Jack. “Isn’t she cool!”
“Discoball?” Jack asked weakly. “Uh, yeah, um… How?”
“Ask Indigo, I’m not a wizard.”
“Neither am I.” Indigo spoke up, from off to the side.
“You literally have a sentient disco ball as a friend, yes you are a wizard!”
“That’s my dad! My dad is the wizard, not me!”

Stepping away from Ryder, Jack got his first good look at Indigo . A boy around his age with dreads and blue skin, a beaded necklace around his neck. Jack thought he saw a thinner golden chain under that necklace, but he paid it no mind after that. Off to the side, he heard music playing from a portable speaker. Probably Ryder’s.

“And you must be Red.” Indigo greeted him, smiling broadly. “Or, Jack. She always calls you Red.”
“That’d be me.” Jack nodded. “Thanks for, uh… Teleporting me here.”
“Thank Discoball. She brings me practically everywhere.”
“Can I ask where you got her from?”
“My dad.” Indigo explained. “He’s the actual sorcerer. I’m just learning.”
“Ah. My, uh… My mother’s also a sorcerer.”
“Really? So you must know a bit of magic!”
Jack shrugged a little. “I’m still learning.”

Off to the side, Jack heard the spraying of paint. He could smell it, too. He saw Ryder with a cracked face mask and a can of paint, outlining something on the walls. At her feet sat a sketchbook and several more cans of paint.

“What are you painting there?” Indigo asked. “A snake?”
“It’s a dragon!” Ryder explained. “See? This part I’m doing is the wings!”
“Don’t dragons usually have legs?”
“Some do, some don’t!”
Jack covered his mouth. “Shouldn’t we open up the door? That stuff stinks.”
“Oh shit, you right.”

Ryder set the cans down and ran to open the door, taking off the mask for a second.  Jack tried not to choke. The smell of fresh paint always made him a little queasy. He stood next to the door, hoping the room would air out a bit soon. 

“Y’all want to dance a bit?” Ryder suggested. “I always wondered, what’s the worst dancing we could make?”
“The worst?” Jack asked. “What do you mean by the worst?”
“Like, moves that shouldn’t even be considered dance moves. Like the teacher-you-forgot-the-homework.”

Ryder stuck her hand in the air and waved it around, visibly holding back laughter. Jack had to hold back a chuckle as well. To his surprise, Ryder grabbed him by the hand and yanked him towards her again. From the portable speaker, an odd song began to play. A song Jack had never heard before, but one that filled him with an inexplicable emotion the second it reached his ears. Off to the side, Indigo leaned against the wall, him and Discoball watching this exchange.

“Uh, Ryder—”
She shushed Jack before he could speak. “Just go with it, Red.”

Jack didn’t know what else to do but go with it and dance. He remembered what Ryder said about making the worst dance he could think of, and tried to follow suit.

Meme machine, meme machine
I’m a motherfucking meme machine
Meme machine, meme machine
Without memes I will die
Give me the memes
I need the memes
I smell the memes

I need the memes, the memes to survive
I need the memes
I breathe the memes
I smell the memes
I need the memes, the memes to survive

“Do you guys do this a lot?” Indigo asked.
“Shh!”

They call me the meme machine
I catch the memes, I spread the memes
I eat the memes, I shit the memes
Without the memes I will die
Inhale the memes, exhale the memes
Inject the memes into my bloodstream
There are good memes, and there are bad memes
WHY HAS GOD ABANDONED US? (HELP ME)

The music cut out when Ryder tripped over her own feet. Falling to the ground, she got up with a wince and a laugh. The songs went back to normal. Jack wanted to meet whoever came up with what he just listened to. Actually, on second thought… No, he didn’t.

“...I’ll have to work on that.” She said to herself. “We need to come up with something truly wretched.”
“Lay on the floor and wriggle around like a worm” Jack blurted out.
“I… What?”
“Well, uh… You talked about eating worms before, didn’t you?”
Ryder thought about it for a second. “Y’know… We could do something with that. Indigo, what do you think?”

Turning around, Jack found Indigo off to the side, dancing by himself. He didn’t seem to notice either of them. Come to think of it, where did his little Discoball go? Jack didn’t see any sign of the little guy. Nevertheless, Indigo continued to dance by himself, to the tune coming from Ryder’s portable speaker .

Am I wrong?
For thinking out the box from where I stay?
Am I wrong?
For saying that I choose another way?

Next to him, Ryder leaned close to Jack and lowered her voice to a whisper.

“You think he’d teach me magic if I asked?”
“Huh?”
“I’m trying to think of who could teach me. Figure you probably don’t have the time.” She explained. “He seems pretty good, honestly.”
“Yeah, he does…”

That thin golden chain caught Jack’s eyes again. As Indigo danced, the necklace came into better view, a triangular pendant briefly visible underneath his shirt. Jack felt like he’d seen it before, but he couldn’t be sure. Rather, he found himself fixated on Indigo’s dancing. Subconsciously, Jack began to dance along. Ryder seemed to follow suit. Once he did, a powerful surge ran through his body, lifting the exhaustion from his limbs. He’d never felt anything like it before.

Beside him, Ryder audibly yelped. Her hair flared to bright blue again, like it did when she danced with Jack. Despite that, none of them seemed to stop dancing.

I ain't trying to do what everybody else doing
Just 'cause everybody doing what they all do
If one thing I know
I’ll fall, but I’ll grow
I’m walking down this road of mine
This road that I call home

Just then, before any of them could go on, Discoball flew back through the door. Indigo froze, Jack and Ryder following suit. For a moment, Jack couldn’t speak. When did he start dancing along with Indigo, anyway? It just felt so natural...

“Beep beep! Be-be-be-beeeep!”
“What are you talking about? We should be fine for another couple of hours, right?”
“Beep beep!”
Indigo rolled his eyes. “You know, you’re the one who wanted to come here. What was it again? Getting out of the non-euclidean house and making some real friends, that’s what you said we should do! And now you want to go home early?”
“Beep be-beep. Beeeeep.”
“Father has business to take care of. He shouldn’t be back for a while. Besides, you know Mother doesn’t mind if I’m out on my own for a bit.”
“Beep beep beep!”
“...You mean, he’s on his way back? How long?”
“Beep.”
“Ten minutes?!”
“Beeeeeeeep! Be-be-beeeep!”

Indigo seemed to hesitate for a moment. His eyes locked on Jack, and he snapped his fingers. Jack heard something behind him, but didn’t have a chance to turn around before Indigo pushed him through a portal without warning. Jack gasped in surprise. On the other end of the portal was his tower. His mother was nowhere in sight.

“Sorry to cut this so short, guys!” He said. “We’ll have to meet again at a better time!”
“Wait,” Jack called out, “How did you—”

The portal closed before Jack could say anything. He thought it was Discoball making those portals! Could Indigo do the same? Wow… That guy had to be astronomically talented with Flow magic, if he could make portals! Even Mama couldn’t do that! Yet, at least. 

Taking a shaky breath, Jack hurried inside. Across the entry hall, he met eyes with Melissa the maid, who froze at the sight of him. Oh no.

“Is everything alright, Mr. Nox?” She asked. “Your mother said not to allow you outside of the tower.”
Jack gave her a nervous smile. “Sorry. I was just sitting outside for a few minutes, that’s all. I’ve been inside all day.”
“I’ll let her know you’d like to go out for a bit.”

That wasn’t the best sign. But surely, Jack couldn’t get in trouble for sitting outside on the curb. Melissa didn’t have to know a thing about Indigo or Ryder. He just hoped she didn’t overhear anything he said through the portal. Jack hurried back to his room. He still had time to kill before his mother returned, after all.

Chapter Text

Later that same night, Jack sat upright in bed, writing. If the maid had said anything to Mama about catching him outside, Mama certainly hadn’t mentioned it. She took Jack out for another insufferable dinner with Cygnus, which he usually would have zoned out for. But after everything that had happened recently, he tried to listen to what they were talking about. It ended up being boring conversations about her upcoming tour, and what she wanted the staff at the tower to do while she was out. At that point, Jack stopped listening. He didn’t want her to think he was eavesdropping.

Now, by the light of his phone, Jack continued to jot down notes about his mother. He had started with Laurel Lantana, trying to write down everything he remembered about that incident.

I was at Luz Solar during the gas attack Laurel Lantana carried out. I also ended up being the kid she took hostage before she was subdued by Hairman’s crew. Mama talks about it like Laurel wanted to hurt me, specifically. I remember Miss Lilith trying to tell her that maybe I was just unlucky. Mama insisted otherwise. She said something about enemies, but I don’t know who she could have been talking about. I overheard her and Lilith talking about—

This part made him freeze. Jack didn’t want to write the words. The thought made his stomach churn.

I overheard her and Miss Lilith talking about how to “get rid” of Laurel and her accomplices. Days later, all 3 of them went missing. I know this isn’t proof of anything on its own. But I also think Miss Lilith is capable of—

Write the word. Come on, write the word! Jack wasn’t sure why he kept dancing around it, even as his hands shook.

But I also think Miss Lilith is capable of killing someone, if she wanted to. More than capable, actually.

Was that mean? Why would he assume Lilith would kill someone? Was it because she was a vampire?! Shaking the thought away, Jack resisted the urge to start over from scratch. This would do for now. Gods, why was he being such a wimp about this? He was just writing down words! Well… He could only imagine what Mama would do if she read these words. So maybe he had a reason to be scared.

Hearing footsteps outside the door, Jack hid his things and laid down. Mama’s footsteps, from the sound of it. They passed after a few moments, but Jack waited a couple of minutes before sitting back up again. He had crumpled some of his notes in the process, but he didn’t mind. They were still legible. However, he noticed a few messages sent to his phone in the meantime. Who was messaging him this late? Probably Ryder.

Actually, no. It was Blake, this time.

Blake: hey wouldnt it be fucked up to be a mosquito
Blake: ur just trying to get a nice drink and then someone beyond your comprehension pancakes ur ass in an instant
Jack: Blake, it is 3 in the morning. Go to bed.
Blake: nah

Oh. Seemed like Blake had some late-night thoughts. Moving on from that, Jack actually did see a message from Ryder. 

Ryder: Are you up? We need to talk man
Jack: What’s going on? Is it something bad?
Ryder: No lol
Ryder: It’s about “Indigo”
Jack: I’m assuming it has to do with why you put his name in quotation marks.
Ryder: Jack you have no idea what youre about to hear
Ryder: Honestly idk if youre gonna believe me
Jack: What is it?
Ryder: Well first of all his real name is Wanderlust, not Indigo. Apparently he’s kinda like you and his dad doesn’t want him leaving the house on his own
Ryder: I guess making those portals can be tricky, but Wanderlust and Discoball seem to have it under control.
Jack: That makes sense so far.
Ryder: Red i want you to guess who Wanderlust’s dad is
Jack: …How am I supposed to know?
Ryder: Come on take a guess. Do a stupid one
Jack: Fine. How about Mr. Overload?
Ryder: PFFFFFFT
Ryder: I’ll give you a hint, he likes to travel.
Jack: I’m not following.
Ryder: HIS DAD IS THE FUCKING TRAVELER
Ryder: JACK WE MADE FRIENDS WITH A DEMIGOD
Jack: Haha, very funny.
Ryder: I AM NOT JOKING
Jack: You can’t be serious.
Ryder: You know what fuck it I’m giving him your number he can explain it
Ryder: I WENT TO HIS HOUSE JACK. I WENT TO A GODDAMN TWISTY TURNY HOUSE IN SPACE. HE SHOWED ME A WHOLE ASS PHOTO ALBUM. IDK I THINK HE’S LEGIT

It took a while for Indigo to message Jack. Or rather, Wanderlust . Jack couldn’t believe it. Everyone and their mothers knew of The Traveler and Si’ha Nova. Granted, Jack didn’t know much about them beyond the myths. Long ago, they traveled through the nine accessible Danceverses, during a time when only sorcerers could do such a thing. They eventually linked the nine Danceverses with space currents of pure Flow, so that anyone could travel between them. It was a feat that earned them divinity from the gods of Floworld, as the stories went. He didn’t know a whole lot about the world of Flow sorcerers yet, but even Jack knew that The Traveler and Si’ha Nova were the kinds of figures that sorcerers idolized. 

So, naturally, Jack didn’t believe for a minute that Wanderlust was the son of The Traveler. Ryder had to be pulling his leg. It sounded like something she’d find funny, in all honesty.

Wanderlust: This is Jack, right?
Jack: Indigo, was it?
Wanderlust: Very funny. No, it’s actually Wanderlust. Ryder says you’re a bit of a skeptic.
Jack: I think anyone would be, with a claim like yours.
Wanderlust: So, if I took you to my room and showed you some old family photos, would that convince you?
Jack: I can’t exactly leave the house right now.
Wanderlust: Are you able to sneak outside again? It doesn’t have to be for long.
Jack: I’d rather not risk it. My mother might still be awake.
Wanderlust: Okay, I got it. I’ll send Discoball. Sneak her to your bedroom, and we can portal in and out without needing to go outside.

This, by far, had to be one of the stupidest ideas Jack had heard. He cursed himself even as he got out of bed and snuck down to the entry hall. How was he supposed to get a glowing, magic disco ball up to his room without being noticed?! Shaking his head, Jack looked around to make sure nobody was around. No sign of Mama, the maid, or the butler. He then cracked open the door somewhat.

“Beep beep!”

Outside, Discoball hovered next to the door, floating inside as Jack opened it. Raising a finger to his lips, he beckoned for her to follow him back upstairs. He got all the way back to his room, closing the door and sighing in relief. Discoball gave him a friendly nudge.

“Beep.”
“Thanks, uh…” Jack trailed off. “We can’t be gone for long, okay? Five minutes, max.”

Discoball bobbed up and down, as if she was nodding. A portal opened behind Jack, and when he turned, he saw Wanderlust on the other side. His bedroom seemed about the same size as Jack’s, with the addition of a window. Outside the window, Jack gasped at the sight of empty space. He nervously stepped through the portal, which closed behind him.

“Here.” Wanderlust shoved a photo album into Jack’s hands. “Don’t tell anyone I brought you here, okay?”
“I wasn’t going to.” Jack shook his head. “Family photos, huh?”
“It’s the best proof I can offer. Ryder seemed to buy it.”
“She was actually here?”
Wanderlust winked. “Portals, man. Portals.”

Jack began to leaf through the photo album. Come to think of it, what did The Traveler and Si’ha Nova even look like? He noticed a woman with blue skin , the same shade as Wanderlust’s, in elegant attire. He also noticed a man with a rather dramatic-looking cape , who rarely smiled in any of the photos. Looking back up to Wanderlust’s, he and the man shared a face. Looking back outside, Jack could swear he saw other parts of the building behind them, with staircases twisting and turning around each other .

“Not gonna lie,” He said, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen what The Traveler looks like.”
“Very few people have.” Wanderlust answered. “Look, you don’t have to believe me right away. But come on, who else is going to live in a place like this?”

Right… It could still be a lie. But why would anyone lie about something like that? Especially when Wanderlust went all this way just to prove it to Jack! If anyone was going to be the son of a couple revered demigods… Wouldn’t it be the random kid who could make magic portals? The one who had a sentient disco ball flying around with him? The one who lived in a clearly non-Euclidean house?

Still, that wasn’t proof, was it?

“I, uh… I don’t know what to say, I mean,” Jack stammered, “Can we keep this between us? I don’t even know what my mother would do.”
“Don’t worry, I’m keeping this a secret too.” Wanderlust rolled his eyes. “Because somebody doesn’t think I’m skilled enough to make portals on my own. Even though I’m not technically on my own!”
“Shh! Someone might hear us!”
“Don’t worry about it—”

Just then, Discoball beeped loudly enough to quiet them both down. Jack heard footsteps coming from… Somewhere. He wasn’t sure where, and this building didn’t make it easy for him to figure out. Wanderlust snapped his fingers, opened a portal behind Jack again, and ushered him through.

“We can talk later, I promise!” He said. “Nice necklace, by the way!”
“Thanks,” Jack replied, “You too.”

The portal closed. Jack fiddled with the golden necklace. He wore it so frequently, he often forgot it was there. Sighing in relief, Jack turned back to his bed. He needed to try and process what he just learned. 

‘There’s no way he’s a deity. There’s just no way. Then where the hell was I?!’ He thought to himself. ‘But why come here? And why be friends with a couple nobodies? Wouldn’t he have, I don’t know, deity friends to hang out with?’

Just then, Jack thought about the notes he was writing. He could tell Wanderlust! Maybe he could do something about it! No, no, a deity had far better things to do than deal with Jack’s mother. Besides, would they even believe him? It’s not like he had any proof of… Of anything , come to think of it. He had his shaky memories of things that happened years ago, and paranoid theories based on things he’d overheard. Jack doubted that’d be enough to convince anyone, let alone the likes of The Traveler.

And what if Mama found out? He didn’t even want to think about it. She’d be furious if she knew about Ryder and the others. Imagine if she found out he had a demigod in his contacts list. Jack remembered the conversation Mama had with Cygnus and Vester. How she’d already targeted a deity, if Jack’s hunch was correct. Which meant… Even if he did tell Wanderlust about his mother, would he even be able to stop her? Or would he be in danger, too?

He tried to stop his thoughts from spiraling. But there was little he could do.

‘This doesn’t make any sense. Everything was fine before we moved into Eternyx! I was happy before we came here!’ Jack bit his lip to keep himself from screaming. ‘Or… Was I happy? Well, I wasn’t afraid at least! I could at least pretend! Usually.’

His eyes burned and he began to sob. Why did he have to break the rules? He should have stayed at home and done as he was told from the get-go! Then he never would have known about Ann and Luke, he never would have overheard anything about Venus and April, and maybe Scarlett wouldn’t hate him so much! But no. He just had to go breaking the rules, didn’t he? He just couldn’t follow Mama’s directions, could he?

‘Her directions? You mean, the directions of someone who possesses people?! Someone who ruined Ann and Luke’s lives? Wake up, Jack! She’s horrible! She’s horrible and you know it! She had Laurel Lantana killed, and you know it. She probably locked Venus and April in that clock-tower, gods only know why!’

But Mama would never do such a thing. How dare he think of her like that?!

‘How dare she ruin peoples’ lives, huh? What about Melissa the maid? I don’t even think Melissa leaves the tower anymore. Her family’s probably wondering why she never came home. I haven’t even learned the names of the butler or the driver, or the personal assistant. Because they don’t talk. They’re just following whatever orders she gives them. It’s like they’re nothing but slaves to her! And she wants me to just smile and wave, like nothing is wrong. She just wants me to obey her every word, like I’m some sort of doll! And I hate it! I’ve always hated it! But what else am I supposed to do? All I can do is pretend!’

A loud, sudden thump snapped Jack out of his spiraling thoughts. He stopped crying, holding his breath. Another thump. And another, followed by a muffled screech. It sounded like it was coming from upstairs. Jack took a shaky breath. He’d never been to the upper levels of the tower. Come to think of it… What else was in this tower? He lived on a lower floor. Mama’s bedroom was closer to the top. Why did they need a whole tower? Wasn’t it just the two of them? He’d never explored the upper floors, and Mama had never taken him for a tour. Why? What was she hiding?

‘Stay in bed. Stop getting yourself into trouble.’

No. Wiping his eyes, Jack got out of bed and left his room. He crept up a dark stairwell, listening for more odd noises. They grew louder as he made his way up several flights, pausing when a screech made him jump. Leaving the stairwell, Jack found himself in a windowless hall lined with door after door. They all looked the same, sturdy doors with small windows in the center. Jack peered into the closest one, seeing an empty room with no windows. 

It looked exactly like a prison cell. A hallway lined with prison cells. Why did Mama need something like that?

The thumping and screeching came from down the hall. On the other end was another door. Jack approached it, shrinking away as it suddenly rattled. Like someone was trying to escape. He noticed another small window in the center of the door, trying to stay out of sight as he approached and peered through it.

Mama stood with her back to the door. To the side, Jack noticed Lilith holding someone back. Jack couldn’t exactly recognize them. Was that a black bodysuit? And a neon pink mask? When Mama approached, they seemed to immediately calm down, even as Lilith released them. When Mama moved, Jack saw a few other similarly-dressed people on the other side of the room. Fluorescent lights left the room in harsh shadows, and Jack didn’t see any windows. 

A haunting melody began to play. Jack immediately recognized it. He ran away before Mama could start to dance, hurrying back to his room. He covered his mouth with his hands, to keep himself from making any noise. Did they notice him? Did anyone follow him? Would they find out he was watching?

Never mind that… Those people in the pink masks. They had to be possessed. And that melody, Mama had danced with him to that same song before. During practice, to be exact.

‘Oh gods… She wants me to learn how to possess people. That’s why she wants me to learn magic.’ Jack thought. ‘She thinks I’m going to help her. She’s going to make me help her. I have to find a way out of here. I have to get away from her!’

But how? Even if he ran, where would he go? Mama would find him, he was sure of it. He could go to Ryder and Blake, and she’d find him. Hell, even if he did go to Wanderlust, she’d probably find him. 

‘Maybe I was right before…  It’s not that I don’t want to be friends with them. And if all I was risking was Mama being angry with me, it’d be fine. But this is different! It’s not just me that she’ll hurt! I can’t get them involved. I shouldn’t!’

But how could he tell them that? Well, how could he drag them into danger that they didn’t deserve to be involved in? These thoughts continued to eat Jack alive for the rest of the night. 

Chapter Text

Ryder: You’ve been super busy the past month huh?
Jack: I’m sorry. It’s just not safe for me to be seeing you guys these days.
Ryder: Dude its not your fault lmao we can still talk here
Ryder: I know you dont talk much with the others but youre still our buddy red
Jack: Any plans for today?
Ryder: Going out with Arleen, we have the day off from school
Jack: Did you ever ask her out?
Ryder: I DIDN'T TELL YOU??????
Ryder: We’re dating now lol
Jack: Oh, congrats!

Every day for the past month, Jack swore he was done talking to Ryder. For her sake and his. And every day, when Mama was asleep, he fished out that phone and talked to her about his day. He had considered throwing the damn thing off the roof, but couldn’t bring himself to. Just like he couldn’t bring himself to take more notes about Mama. He still had what he’d written so far: The list of bullet points and the short paragraphs about Laurel Lantana. He took them out and read them almost every night. But he couldn’t bring himself to write anything more.

Every time he thought about it, that same haunting melody played in his head. He saw his mother in that room with Miss Lilith, surrounded by those people… Whoever they were. And every time he thought about jotting that incident down, he panicked. He didn’t want to end up like those poor souls with the pink masks. Maybe he should just throw the notes away. But maybe they’d still be useful! For what, though? Who was going to believe his insane ramblings? Whatever. He kept them around just in case. 

But… The rest of the month had been okay, all things considered. Mama wasn’t mad at anything, just her usual fussy self. Maybe he’d survived the worst of it. And aside from Ryder, Jack had taken to talking with someone else.

Wanderlust: My mother brought home a wild cat today. I guess we have another pet!
Jack: Does she do that often?
Wanderlust: Sometimes. She really loves animals. Father said there was no way we were housing another cat. Anyway, I think Whiskers will fit in just fine.
Jack: She already named the cat?
Wanderlust: She gets attached rather quickly.

Jack still didn’t know if he believed Wanderlust. But it didn’t stop him from talking to the guy. He’d politely declined every offer Wanderlust made to sneak him out of the tower. Even with portals, Jack didn’t want to risk it. But he’d thought about it. He’d considered it. And he’d decided against it every time. Maybe one day…

Footsteps echoed down the hall. Jack shoved the phone and notes under his bed, stretching a bit as Mama opened the door. 

“Scarlett and Felicia are here.” She said, handing him a wad of cash. “Buy yourselves something nice.”
“Oh. Thanks, Mama!”

Right. He’d agreed to go out with them to the mall today. Jack was trying to spend more time with them. And it seemed to be paying off. Scarlett actually talked to him, for one. They’d shared a conversation about DeerStan and PandaFan, since he mentioned he was always a fan of theirs. Turns out, her sister used to like them as well. Odd. Scarlett hadn’t mentioned her family until then, come to think of it. Jack had decided not to pry. He got the feeling it might be a touchy subject for her.

Mama led him to the entry hall, Scarlett and Felicia standing in wait. They seemed stylishly dressed. Jack almost felt a little self-conscious. He rarely dressed up like that.

“You three can walk there on your own, right?” Mama asked. “We had to take the car in for repairs, so…”
“That’s fine!” Felicia said. “It’s just down the street, isn’t it?”
“Correct. Enjoy yourselves.”

Jack wondered why they were getting the day off today. Mama must be up to something behind the scenes, if she was letting them skip practice for a day. But clearly, she wasn’t going out anywhere if the car was in the shop. Or, well, Jack supposed she could get a cab if she really needed to. Scratch that, then. He still wondered what she had to do today, even if he knew the answer was probably bad.

But no, today wasn’t the day to think about that. It was supposed to be a good day! Following Felicia and Scarlett outside, Jack walked between them. They seemed to be in the middle of a conversation. Above them, the sky was lit in purple and green. It was the closest thing Eternyx had to daylight hours.

“Y’know what we should check out?” Felicia suggested. “The zoo. I heard there’s a zoo somewhere in this city.”
“Yeah, Fathoms City Zoo. I think I passed by it on my first day here.” Scarlett shrugged. “Never liked zoos. The animals always seem so sad.”
“They’re happier at nice zoos. Jack, have you ever been to one?”
“A few times.” He answered. “There was a really nice one in Sun Horizon. They had this huge enclosure for… I think it was jaguars. You could watch them swimming.”
“Really? We should go to Sun Horizon one of these days!” Felicia suggested. “I’ve heard it's beautiful.”
“It’d be nice to get some sun, actually.” Scarlett said. “Like… I don’t know. I still haven’t gotten used to it here. I always think it’s supposed to be colder than it actually is, because there’s no sun.”
“Same here.”
“At least the sky looks pretty cool.” Jack pointed out.
“Doesn’t it?”

As Felicia continued to talk, the three got to the mall. Jack was always taken aback whenever he entered the mall. Inside, lights reflected off pearly white walls, and it always made him squint. He followed Scarlett and Felicia down the long, spacious halls, thinking of the cash Mama had given him. Maybe they could grab a treat or two. The mall was never short of nice little places to eat. 

Speaking of, Jack saw a bubble tea shop across from them. Waving Felicia and Scarlett over, he pointed at it. The three of them checked out the menu. Tea, smoothies, and snacks.

“Mama gave us some money.” He said. “Do either of you like bubble tea?”
“I could go for some.” Scarlett agreed. “Can you get me, um… Strawberry-kiwi, and one of their pastries?”
“Oh, can I get an orange smoothie and a danish?” Felicia asked. “How much money did Miss Nox give us?”
“More than enough, don’t worry about it.”

Jack looked over the menu, to pick out what he wanted. He’d tried bubble tea a couple of times, and that strawberry-kiwi one sounded pretty good. Glancing to the side for a second, Jack’s heart jolted. He saw Ryder and Arleen walking down the hall, hand in hand. Oh no, he had to pretend not to notice! Briefly, he met eyes with Ryder, who gave him a knowing wink. Oh, thank the gods she understood. All he had to do was pretend like they weren’t there.

“It’s a bit of a line, though…”
“Huh?” Jack asked.
“The line.” Scarlett pointed out. “It’s a little long.”

She was right about that, actually. Jack merely shrugged.

“I’ll grab it, if you guys want to walk around a bit.”
“Could you?” Felicia said. “Thanks, Jack!”

Nodding at Felicia, Jack got in line. He wasn’t hungry enough for a snack, but he could do with a little drink. Reminding himself of Scarlett and Felicia’s orders, he supposed there was nothing to do but wait patiently. However, something behind him caught his attention. Ryder’s voice. He resisted the urge to look behind him. 

“Hey, uh… Do I know you?”
“Huh?” Felicia said.
“Sorry, I know this is super weird, but like… You look super familiar.”
“Do I? I don’t think we’ve met.”
“Are you sure?”

He couldn’t resist. Jack peeked behind him as the line moved forward. Ryder was standing in front of Felicia, looking her up and down. Arleen and Scarlett stood off to the side, puzzled looks on their faces. Jack was a little puzzled, himself. He’d mentioned Felicia to Ryder, once, but he’d certainly never introduced the two!

“I, uh… Is that a scar? On your arm?” Ryder asked.
“Why does that matter?”
“You… You didn’t get that in a car accident, did you?”
“Again, why does that matter?”
“...Is your name Felicia?”

This was getting weird. Jack tried to move with the line, but he kept looking back at Ryder and Felicia. Ryder looked at Felicia with wide eyes, slowly covering her mouth. Jack could swear there were tears in those eyes.

“It… It’s Ryder. It’s me.” Ryder went on. “Don’t you remember me? I, I know I’m a lot older, but… I, I thought you were…”
“...Walk away.”
“What?”
“I said walk away.” Felicia told her.
“I don’t understand, I… Felicia, I thought you were dead!”
“Get the fuck away from me!”

Felicia bolted for the door, Ryder in hot pursuit. Freezing for a moment, Scarlett and Arleen followed. Jack shouldered his way through the line, running after his friends. Ahead of him, Felicia burst through the door and rushed down the street. Ryder called after her.

“Felicia! Come back! I just want to talk!”

He didn’t hear a reply from Felicia, losing sight of her and Ryder. Jack slowed to a stop at that moment, looking around. He knew where he was, sure. But he couldn’t see anyone he recognized. Scarlett and Arleen were nowhere in sight, and he couldn’t find any sign of Felicia and Ryder.

That was… That was weird. He had no idea Felicia and Ryder knew each other. And Felicia ran! Did something bad happen? No time to question. He needed to find them.

“Jack!”

Whirling around, Jack saw Scarlett approaching him. She grabbed him by the hand and pulled him down the street.

“Let’s find Miss Nox.” She suggested, out of breath. “I lost Felicia.”
“Me too.”
“Any idea who that was?”
“No.” Jack lied.
“Damn… Come on, we gotta hurry.”

Trying to pick up the pace, Jack saw the tower across the street. He and Scarlett hurried inside, Jack taking a seat and catching his breath while Scarlett raised her voice.

“Miss Nox? We need your help!” She yelled. “Something’s wrong with Felicia!”

Soon, Jack heard the sound of hurried heels on marble. Mama strode in from upstairs, her glare darting between Scarlett and Jack. He shivered. Behind Mama stood her personal assistant, in the same gray attire and pulled-back hair. She remained silent as ever, only making Jack more uneasy.

“What’s going on?” Mama asked.
“Uh, someone came up to Felicia. I don’t know if they know each other, or what.” Scarlett tried to explain. “Felicia told them to walk away, and they didn’t. And she ran.”
“Where is she?”
“I don’t know. Jack and I tried to follow her, but—”

Just then, Felicia burst in. A colorful furry blur followed, Jack recognizing Kitta. Felicia slammed the door, panting heavily.

“Girl, I think they followed us!” Kitta pointed out.
“Nah, nah, we’re good…” Felicia gasped. “I don’t think she followed me all the way here.”
“You okay?” Scarlett asked, rushing to Felicia’s side. “Who was that?”

Felicia didn’t reply. She met eyes with Mama, who looked between the three teens with an unreadable expression. She then wordlessly beckoned for Felicia to follow her. The two disappeared somewhere downstairs, the personal assistant following them. Jack had a feeling they went to the mirrored room, where they always practiced.

“...Wonder what’s going on.” Scarlett mused.
“Same.”
“Well, let’s find out.”

Scarlett got up and went downstairs. Against better judgment, Jack followed her. They got to the door that led to the mirrored room, seeing it closed. Scarlett knelt next to it, leaning close to the door and raising a finger to her lips. Jack followed suit. He could barely hear Mama and Felicia talking inside. It sounded like Felicia was seconds away from breaking into tears.

“...There’s nothing I can do to help if you’re not honest with me.” Mama was saying. “Out with it. Who is she?”
“She’s…” Felicia said something Jack couldn’t quite catch, before going on. “...I didn’t think I’d ever see her again. And after talking about it with Miss Lilith, I didn’t want to.”
“And she recognized you? Even after all this time?”
“I guess so. I don’t know what she wants. But… Miss Lilith said it’s best if I try to leave them alone, after what they did.”
“She’s probably right. Tell me more. You mentioned a car crash.”
“Yeah, we were…” Felicia went quiet again. “...And they just left me there!”

Jack didn’t know how to feel about this. Hadn’t he done enough eavesdropping? Shaking his head, he went back upstairs. All he wanted was a nice day out. He couldn’t even have that anymore! Sitting in the entry hall, he waited for someone to return.

Just then, a knock came from the door. He ignored it at first, but then it came again. With a sigh, he opened the front door, gasping when he saw Ryder. He’d never seen such an angry look on her face.

“Where is she?”
“Shh!” Jack lowered his voice to a whisper. “Don’t let them know about us.”
“Yeah, I get it, dipshit! Where’s Felicia?”
“I, uh—”
“Tell me where my sister is, goddamn it!”

Hearing heels on marble, Jack whirled around and saw Mama coming back upstairs. Felicia stood behind her, her face buried in her hands. Mama practically pulled him out of the way, staring down Ryder. He bit his tongue, praying Ryder wouldn’t say anything. Off to the side, he noticed Scarlett rushing to Felicia’s side, trying to comfort her.

“Why are you bothering my son?” Mama asked.
“I’m looking for Felicia.” Ryder said. “Long, orange-ish blonde hair, black dress. Saw her running this way.”
“I don’t think you have any business being here.”
“Yeah I do, I’m looking for my—”

Mama slammed the door in Ryder’s face. She pinched the bridge of her nose, muttering something under her breath. Jack couldn’t make out what it was, but he knew it was something nasty.

“Girls, you’ll need to give me some time. The car still isn’t back.” She told them, after a moment. “Amanda, call for a cab. The girls need to get home as soon as possible.”
“Yes, Miss Nox.” The personal assistant nodded, before walking away.
“Jack?” Mama went on.
“Yes, Mama?”
“Wait in your room. I’ll call you when I need you.”

Thankful for his chance to leave, Jack hurried back to his bedroom. He half-considered talking to Ryder the second he got there, but hesitated. He’d never seen her angry. He’d never seen her angry at him , for sure. Forget that, though. She called Felicia her sister. Jack knew Ryder had a brother, but he didn’t know Felicia was her sister! But if that was the case… Why did Felicia run away? How the hell were they siblings, anyway? Wouldn’t they all be living together, if that was the case?

Jack needed an answer. And he had a feeling that nobody wanted to tell him the truth.

Jack had decided to give it a day. Mama didn’t speak about the incident once Scarlett and Felicia went home. The only details he had were what he overheard, which wasn’t enough. This was just like Mama leaving him in the dark about everything. Didn’t he deserve to know the truth?

This led him to the next morning. Dressed and cleaned up, all he had to do was wait for Felicia and Scarlett to show up. He’d gotten up a little bit early, hoping to catch Ryder before she had to go to school. He’d sent her one message and had yet to get a response.

Jack: I hate to pry like this, but I need to ask you about what happened yesterday. I didn’t know Felicia was your sister. Is it okay if I ask about what’s going on with you two?

Maybe Ryder needed time to cool off. Jack hoped that was the case. The second he noticed a response from Ryder, he read it.

Ryder: I don’t want to talk about it.
Jack: Please? Again, I really hate to pry. But my mother knows about it too, and I can’t help you if I don’t know.
Ryder: I don’t want your help either. Just leave it alone.
Jack: If I don’t find out from you, I’ll find out from Felicia.
Ryder: FINE THEN JUST STOP FUCKING ASKING ME ABOUT IT
Ryder: I FIND OUT MY DEAD SISTER ISNT DEAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE HATES ME AND ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IS GOSSIPING ABOUT IT
Jack: Okay. I’m sorry.

…Maybe she had a point. But Jack still wanted to know. Clearly, he’d bothered Ryder more than enough about it. But who else could he ask? Biting his lip, he hesitantly messaged Blake.

Jack: Please don’t be mad at me for asking about this. I’m sure you heard about Ryder and Felicia. Ryder’s upset with me for asking, but since my mother is involved, I feel like I should get your sides of the story first.
Blake: yeah no she just threw her phone at the wall
Jack: Oh…
Blake: hey man dont take it personally its not u shes mad at
Blake: theres a LOT ryder and i arent supposed to be telling people about us
Jack: I’m good at keeping secrets.
Blake: very funny
Blake: look i wanna tell u i really do
Blake: but our aunt is already upset about it and i had to drag ryder to school today
Blake: give it a few days and i can talk to her, and then maybe she and i can tell u the whole story
Jack: I overheard something about a car crash.
Blake: …yeah thats about right
Blake: it wasnt JUST the crash though
Blake: i gotta go man i promise ill talk to ryder though

Blake wasn’t saying anything. Ryder certainly wasn’t saying anything. Jack was running out of options. Hearing footsteps down the hall, he hid the phone and got out of bed as Mama’s personal assistant opened the door. What was her name, again? Amanda? Jack had almost forgotten that all the staff were possessed, until he looked Amanda in the eyes. Was it bad that that was becoming more of a norm around the tower?

“Your mother sent me to come get you.” Amanda spoke in gentle monotone. “Scarlett and Felicia are here.”
“...Is everything okay?” He decided to ask.
“They appear unharmed.”

Well, that didn’t tell him much. Jack quietly followed Amanda downstairs, down to the mirrored room. Scarlett and Felicia sat inside, stretching. Mama was nowhere to be seen. Amanda left without a word, leaving the room in silence. Jack got to stretching as well, scrambling for something to say.

“...Everything okay with you guys?” He decided to ask. “I was worried.”
“It’s… Fine for now.” Felicia said after a moment. “I don’t know if we should talk about it yet. Miss Nox said she would handle it.”
“Can I ask about…” He held back from saying Ryder’s name. “That girl from the mall?”
“It’s complicated. Maybe I’ll tell you more when the dust settles.”

Once again, that told him nothing! Jack had to resist a huff of irritation. Of course he didn’t like to pry, but this was all too weird! It was just one more thing that nobody wanted to actually tell him about! He tried to dismiss the thoughts when he heard heels on marble, right outside the door. It was almost time to practice, and he’d need a clear mind.

That being said, Jack couldn’t get his questions out of his head. And this time, he was determined to find an answer, one way or another. At this point, there was only one more person to ask.

Chapter Text

“Mama? Can I ask you something?”

Hours after practice ended, Mama took Jack out for dinner. It had been a normal day, but the incident at the mall lingered in Jack’s mind, like an itch he couldn’t scratch. At least it was just him and Mama at dinner today. If he had to stomach any of Cygnus’ chatter, he wouldn’t have survived the night. Now, sitting in a cab on their way home, Jack had finally worked up the courage to speak up.

Ryder wasn’t going to tell him anything. Felicia wasn’t going to tell him anything. At least, not immediately. And Jack couldn’t stand not knowing anymore. Which left him with one option: asking Mama.

“Yes, treasure?”
“Is Felicia okay?”
Mama seemed to think about it for a while. “You’re worried about her, hm?”
“It’s just… That stranger that showed up yesterday,” Jack lied, “She seemed super angry. I just hope she doesn’t do anything to Felicia.”
“You don’t have to worry about it. I’ll find out who she is and I’ll have a few words with her parents.”
He bit his lip. “Does she know Felicia?”
“...She used to.”
“How, though? She said Felicia was her sister, didn’t she?”
Mama sighed. “You know, Jack, it’s really Felicia’s business. If you want to know more, let her talk about it.”

He knew better than to pry Mama any further. Jack leaned back, resisting an unsatisfied huff. Did he want Felicia’s side of the story first, or Ryder’s? Hell, would he even get them to talk? He thought about it in silence for the rest of the cab ride. When the car slowed to a stop, he hopped out and followed Mama inside. It had to be late.

“Get cleaned up for bed.” Mama told him. “Hopefully we’ll have another normal day of practice tomorrow.”

Nodding in reply, Jack did as she said. He couldn’t wait to get back to his room, away from everyone else. A part of him wanted to talk to Ryder again, but after what happened earlier, he wondered if she needed some time away from him. Once he got back to his room, he made sure to shut the door before grabbing his little phone. A part of him was surprised he hadn’t been caught with it.

Still, he wanted to talk. Well, he wanted to scream, in all honesty. But talking would have to do. It was just a matter of who…

Jack: Wanderlust?
Wanderlust: Yes?
Jack: Are you busy? I really need someone to talk to.
Wanderlust: I’m all ears! What’s up?

Was this gossiping? It felt like it. Jack hated the thought of talking about Ryder behind her back like this. But he didn’t know who else to turn to.

Jack: Did Ryder say anything about something that happened yesterday?
Wanderlust: Not directly. I tried talking to her, but all she said was that she was dealing with something serious. She didn’t want to tell me the details.
Jack: Yeah, that sounds about right. So… I’ve told you that Ryder and I aren’t supposed to be friends, right? Because of my mother.
Wanderlust: I know you mentioned keeping your friendship a secret. Why is your mother against you being friends with Ryder?
Jack: She doesn’t want me hanging out with “bad influences”. But anyway, I’m bringing it up because of what happened. See, my mother has two other kids she’s teaching. All three of us went out to the mall. Ryder and her girlfriend happened to be there, and obviously, I had to pretend that I didn’t know her.
Jack: But then, she recognized one of the girls I was with, Felicia. And apparently, they’re sisters!
Wanderlust: You’re kidding!
Jack: Felicia ran away from Ryder. I don’t know why they’re at odds. All I know is that Ryder thought Felicia was dead. Neither of them have told me anything else, and neither will my mother. And it’s been eating at me for the past couple of days.
Jack: I want to help, but nobody will be honest with me.
Wanderlust: I understand. It sounds like a sensitive situation, though. Maybe they both need some time.
Jack: That’s what I always say. And then, nobody ever tells me anything.
Wanderlust: That sounds awful…
Jack: It is. But thanks for listening to me complain, I know it’s wrong.
Wanderlust: Everyone needs to complain sometimes. It’s only healthy.
Wanderlust: While we’re on the topic, can I ask you something?
Jack: Sure.
Wanderlust: I hope I’m not crossing a line, but I’d like to just ask you… Why do you always talk about your mother like you’re afraid of her?

Here they were, with this song and dance again. Jack swallowed down his rising panic. He didn’t want to say too much to Wanderlust. He still didn’t believe what Wander had said about his parents, admittedly. And the thought of telling anyone about what Mama had done still made him sick. What if she found out? He certainly couldn’t tell Wanderlust about all the possession going on! The staff, Venus and April, the people with the pink masks. That had to be kept secret, if nothing else.

But… Wasn’t there something he could tell Wander? No! He wasn’t afraid of Mama! Oh, who was he kidding? He was terrified of her.

Jack: I don’t think you’d believe me if I told you.
Wanderlust: I’m willing to believe a lot of things.
Wanderlust: Come on, weren’t you just talking about how nobody would tell you the full truth? I want to know.
Jack: It could be dangerous for both of us though.
Wanderlust: That… Doesn’t exactly silence my concerns, Jack. Actually, it only makes me more worried about you.
Jack: If I told you she slammed my head into a mirror when she caught me sneaking out once, would you believe me?
Wanderlust: …
Wanderlust: Is that why you have a scar on your face? Ryder told me you tripped and cut your cheek on something.
Jack: I don’t want her worrying about me. She has enough to deal with right now, anyway.
Wanderlust: Okay, but we can’t just gloss over that, Jack. That’s abuse.

Damn it, he should never have said anything! Now Wanderlust thought Mama was a monster! An abusive, horrible monster who slammed her own son’s face into a mirror! How could he say such a thing?! It was all he could think to say, that didn’t involve Mama’s sorcery.

Jack: It’s not like that, I swear!
Jack: She was drunk one night and I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. She apologized. It’s just, sometimes she has a temper, and I need to work around that. That’s the only time where she’s actually done anything physical to punish me.
Wanderlust: That doesn’t change what I said.
Jack: It was a mistake.
Wanderlust: That’s a pretty big mistake to make, slamming your own son’s face into a mirror. And you’re clearly terrified of her. I’m willing to bet she’s done more that in the past, too.
Wanderlust: Look, I know you don’t believe me about my parents. And I know I can’t just pluck you out of your abusive household and magically save you, regardless of what you believe. But please, just consider the possibility.
Wanderlust: You shouldn’t have to walk on eggshells just because your mother can’t control herself when she’s drunk. And her slamming you into a mirror is just wrong. Plain and simple.
Jack: I’m sure there’s a million people who have it far worse than me. Especially when I live in a massive tower with everything I could ever want.
Wanderlust: That still doesn’t change anything.
Wanderlust: I promise to have a word with Ryder if you promise to consider that for me. You don’t have to change your mind. Just think about it.
Jack: Fine.

Not bothering to wait for a reply, Jack put his phone under his pillow. Only a few seconds later, he heard footsteps outside his door. They sounded like the maid. Her footsteps receded after a few moments. He was sick of listening for footsteps.

‘What have I done?’

Wanderlust was right. No he wasn’t. Mama shouldn’t treat him like this. But she was sorry, and it was one time! Wasn’t Jack judging her too harshly? She possessed people, of course he was judging her harshly! But if that was the case, why did it feel like he was the one doing something wrong? What was he thinking, blabbing to someone about these kinds of things?! Gods, why did he have to spiral into these moral dilemmas every time someone asked him a question? Why couldn’t he just do something?

Against better judgment, he checked his phone one more time. He noticed a reply from Wanderlust, which he didn’t read. But to Jack’s surprise, Ryder had messaged him.

Ryder: Hey, Jack. I’m sorry for snapping at you earlier. You were just trying to help me, man. I know I owe you a real explanation, but I’m not ready to talk about it yet. I promise I will be, if you give me and Blake a little more time. Our aunt is trying to get ahold of your mom, but I guess she’s not answering. Which isn’t your fault, I know. Point is, I want to give her some time before telling you everything. I know you have a lot to deal with as it is, and the truth about Felicia is…
Ryder: You have no idea, man. I even wonder if you’ll believe me when I tell you.
Jack: It’s fine. I’m not mad at you.
Ryder: Thanks Red
Ryder: Hey I know it’s late, but… Do you want to see each other? We’re nearby. Blake and I are out searching for places to paint. We don’t have to go too far.
Ryder: Plus, I was hoping to at least see you, since I got you a sweater. I think it’ll help hide your hair when we go out together.

That was risky. Of course it was. Jack rolled his eyes, though. Risk be damned. He wanted to see his friend. Grabbing his shoes, Jack crept to the front door. There was no sign of the maid, or the butler, or Mama. Maybe it was safe to take a walk outside for a little while.

When he got to the door, Ryder stood waiting on the curb. Blake sat behind her, holding a flashlight. As soon as he stepped outside, Ryder shoved an old sweater in his hands, as well as a face mask.

“Here! This should help!”
“A mask, too?” Jack asked, pulling the sweater on. “But it only covers my mouth.”
“It’s all I had at home. C’mon, it’s just a walk around the block.”

The three walked away from the tower. Jack tried to think of something to say. Usually, they’d be chatting about nonsense right now. Instead, all that lingered between the three was silence. At least, until Blake spoke up.

“Titty sprinkles.”
“Blake, what the fuck?” Ryder said.
“Nobody else was saying anything.”
“What are titty sprinkles?” Jack asked.
“Sprinkles. On your tits.”
“Like… Candy sprinkles?”
“Does edible glitter count?” Ryder wondered.
“They make edible glitter?”
“I’m pretty sure they do.”
Blake chuckled. “Yum, microplastics.”

There it was. Jack would rather have a weird conversation over awkward silence. Ryder pulled them down a couple alleyways, her and Blake pointing out blank patches of walls. Oh yeah, they wanted places to paint. If Jack didn’t know better, he would recommend the walls of his tower. At least it’d be funny, if nothing else. He wondered if Ryder and Blake could get away with vandalism in a neighborhood like this. Surely, someone would call the police on them at some point. Then again, it didn’t seem like Ryder and Blake would care much about that.

How far away were they from the tower, anyway? Only a few blocks. Come to think of it, the manor wasn’t too far from here, either. Jack tried to shake Felicia out of his thoughts, though. 

“Should we head back?” Blake asked. “It’s getting kinda late.”
“Just a little longer.” Ryder shook her head. “I think we should bring the paint next time, though.”
“True, maybe we should—”

Just then, they rounded a corner. Jack heard voices a little too late, gasping when they ran into Felicia and Scarlett. What were they doing out this late?! Well, to be fair, they didn’t have a curfew, like he did. Felicia’s eyes widened in surprise, before she shook her head.

“Nope.”

Before she could run, though, Ryder ran around her and stopped her. Scarlett tried to pull her out of the way, but she shoved the redhead aside.

“Hey!” Scarlett yelled. “What do you think you’re doing?!”
“Fancy seeing you here.” Blake said to Scarlett, standing in front of Jack. “Out robbing 9th graders again?”
Felicia rolled her eyes, turning around to face Blake. “I’m not afraid to use magic on you, Blake.”
“Why? What did we do, Felicia? What’s going on?”
“What did you do? You all left me to die, that’s what!”

Jack stepped back in surprise, noticing Scarlett doing the same. He wanted to run home, but something kept him frozen in place as Felicia went on.

“That’s not what happened, though.” Ryder said. “You can’t seriously blame us for that!”
“I can, and I will.” Felicia shook her head. “It took me a long time to realize the truth, but I see it now. You, Blake, Auntie Moth, you all just left me to die like Mom did! And now you think I’m gonna forgive you?!”
“Who told you that?” Blake asked, stepping towards Felicia even as she pushed him away. “Was it that bitch in the tower?”
“You shut your mouth! Miss Nox has done more for me than you guys ever have!”

At that point, Jack bolted. He ran through the dark Eternyx streets until he reached the tower, barely slowing down enough to open the door quietly. He then rushed to his room, thanking the gods that he didn’t run into anyone. Hopefully Ryder was right about the hoodie and the mask. Hopefully, Scarlett and Felicia didn’t see him.

‘So that’s what’s going on. I mean… I still don’t know everything about what happened with Felicia, but it’s better than nothing.’ He thought to himself. ‘But, still… Maybe I should have stayed. No, maybe it’s best to wait until Ryder tells me what happened — ’

Just then, someone knocked at the door. Jack gasped, diving under his covers. 

“Mr. Nox?” The maid’s voice came from the other side of the door. “I heard commotion. Is everything alright?”
“Y-yeah, just a bad dream again.”

She left without a word. Surely, she’d believe that, right? He’d used that excuse before, and with the maid, that seemed to work. Maybe because she was possessed. Jack shivered when he remembered that. Laying his head down, he decided to sleep on it.

Jack: Hey, I hope you got home okay. Sorry that I ran away. I didn’t want them realizing I was with you. For what it’s worth, I don’t immediately believe what Felicia said about you. No pressure to talk about it.

The next morning, Jack barely had time to message Ryder. He’d woken up late and got an earful from his mother about staying up past his bedtime. He decided to save the excuse about having a nightmare. After all, it was better to be scolded for staying up late than assaulted for trying to sneak out.

…Maybe Wanderlust had a point, earlier. But Jack shook the thought away. He was supposed to be practicing today, as per usual. After getting cleaned up and having a quick bite to eat, he followed Mama downstairs to the main hall. Scarlett and Felicia stood waiting, like they usually did. Jack couldn’t read the expressions on their faces. Maybe no news was good news, though. 

“How are you girls doing today?” Mama asked.
“Alright.” Scarlett yawned. “Bit of a late night.”
“Hopefully not too late. We have a long day ahead of us.”
Felicia shrugged. “I’m sure we do.”

That didn’t mean anything, right? Jack assured himself of that as he followed Mama to the mirrored room downstairs. Once they arrived, Scarlett turned to Mama.

“Um, Miss Nox? Can I tell you something before we get started?”
“Make it quick.”

Jack tried to listen in. To his surprise, Felicia grabbed him by the arm and quietly pulled him out of the mirrored room, bringing him down the hall. His heart sank. This couldn’t be a good sign.

“We gotta talk.” She said, once they were a few paces from the door. “I think you know what I have on my mind.”
“Let’s pretend I don’t.” Jack told her.
“Oh, come on. Did you really think a hoodie and a mask would hide you? Your hair sticks out, you know.”
“...What’s it to you?”
“Are you friends with Ryder, or something?”
Jack paused, before deciding to lie. “I’ve met them once or twice. Was just out for a walk last night, that’s all. I figured everything between you two was your business, not mine.”
Felicia shook her head. “Fine, fine. Look… I meant what I said last night.”
“About…?”
“About what they did.”
“I don’t want to pry, but I also don’t know all the details.”
“They…”

Felicia appeared to pause, pinching the bridge of her nose. She began to shake. Jack softened somewhat, realizing she was about to cry.

“...When we were younger, our mom went to Cyberfunk to pick up our aunt. That’s how it started. And when we were driving back to Neon Central, we… Someone attacked us.”
“Attacked?”
“Like, someone literally attacked our car. I don’t know what kind of magic it was, but they flipped it over.”
“But why?” Jack asked.
“I don’t know! I don’t even know who did it. I just remember this person with a big red mask, and how they dragged my mom out of the car, and…”

Before she could go on, Jack gently grabbed her by the shoulders. Thankfully, Felicia held it together. He kept glancing at the door to the mirrored room.

“You don’t have to go on if it’s too much. Gods, Felicia, I… I’m sorry.”
She sniffed, wiping her eyes before nodding. “Yeah, it was… It was horrible . I remember being trapped in the car, and I couldn’t talk no matter how hard I tried. And then my aunt, and Ryder, and Blake… They just left me there with that monster!”

Jack tried to find something to say, but not before Felicia grabbed him by the shoulders.

“That's why you should stay away from them. It’s what Miss Lilith told me to do, when I talked to her about it. I’ll bet you they never told you the truth.”
“...First time I’ve heard about all of this, yeah.” He nodded. “Felicia, I don’t mean this in a bad way, but… Don’t you think it's a little unreasonable?”
“What is?”
“They were both kids, right? Your siblings, I mean. I’m sure they didn’t mean it. They were probably scared.”
“So was I, and Auntie Moth didn’t save me. That’s exactly the excuse Miss Lilith said they’d use, too.”
“Still.”
Felicia rolled her eyes. “You shouldn’t hang out with them anyway. I bet Miss Nox wouldn’t like it if she knew.”
“And?” Jack shot back. “You can’t prove anything.”

Felicia gave him a glare, before walking back into the mirrored room. Jack followed her without a word. And he stayed silent, barely listening to the words Scarlett and Felicia exchanged, barely listening to the instructions Mama gave them as practice began.

‘I have to meet with Ryder again tonight. I need to tell her what’s going on. I’ve waited long enough! But what if Mama finds out? You know what? She’ll find out anyway, at this point. I don’t care anymore. I just… I have to do something! Even if she thinks I’m being paranoid, I have to tell someone. Anyone! They need to know the truth!’

Chapter Text

Ryder: Okay idk lemme ask Wanderlust something first

Practice had been over for a few hours. Jack still flinched every time he heard footsteps. Nobody had come to get him yet, though. Sitting with his notes in front of him, he jotted away furiously and hounded his phone every few minutes. He asked Ryder if she wanted to meet up tonight. The sooner, the better.

It used to take him forever to jot something down about his mother. Why? She conspired to have Laurel Lantana and her accomplices killed, and Miss Lilith helped. She kidnapped Ann and Luke’s moms, doing gods-know-what with them in some clock-tower Cygnus made. Of course she did. He scratched at the scar on his cheek, thinking of her nails digging into his scalp. 

‘Is it going to take you all day to get this right, Jack? You truly don’t have any spine, sometimes.’ She’d say, her voice burned into his mind. ‘We’re done when I say we’re done. Aren’t you paying attention? Or are you just slow?’

Footsteps. The butler, from the sound of it. As long as he didn’t hear heels, he wasn’t about to stop writing. But, he could at least see if Ryder responded. To his surprise, she had.

Ryder: Okay hear me out. Wander wants to get us all to meet up at the old pharmacy tonight.
Ryder: You, me, Blake, Liv, Arleen. Everyone.
Jack: Great. I’ll be there. I need to talk to you about something.
Ryder: What’s up?
Jack: No, I mean when we meet up. It’s something I should talk about in person.
Ryder: Whatever you say man

It was settled. Jack wasn’t about to let anything get in the way of sneaking out tonight. If he needed to fake an illness or an injury, so be it. He re-read his notes again and again, planning out how he’d tell Ryder the truth.

‘This is a lot to just dump on someone, though… No, I have to tell her as much as I can. Maybe Wanderlust can help. I mean, he already thinks Mama is a monster. I just… I just hope that maybe, if someone actually does something, she’ll change. Or something like that. I don’t know. Nothing’s going to change if I don’t tell someone.’

Hiding his phone and notes, Jack leaned back in his bed and took a deep, shaky breath. Everything was going to be okay. He just had to keep telling himself that.

‘Come on, come on…’

Later that evening, Jack hid in an alleyway near the tower. Thankfully, dinner wasn’t with Cygnus tonight, and they got home earlier than usual. Mama seemed pretty distracted with someone on the phone, but he barely paid attention to the conversation. Now, waiting outside the tower, he counted down the seconds. Wanderlust and Discoball were supposed to meet him here.

He shivered. A gaping pit in his stomach refused to be silent. But he shoved back every second thought when he saw a bright portal open in front of him. There, Wanderlust faced him, taking Jack by the hand and pulling him through to the old pharmacy. In the background, he noticed Arleen and Liv opening bags of snacks. In a corner, Ryder and Blake were dancing to a tune coming from Ryder’s speakers .

We'll carry on, we'll carry on
And though you’re dead and gone, believe me
Your memory will carry on

At least they were having fun, all things considered. Wanderlust looked Jack up and down, giving him a bright smile. The least Jack could do was smile back, a little bit.

“You made it!” Wanderlust said. “Sorry I was late. Took me some time to sneak out, myself.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Jack shook his head. “Do we have any plans?”
“Nothing special. Just hanging out, I suppose.”

Hearing this, Jack approached Arleen and Liv. Liv cracked open a bag of gummy worms, biting one in half when Jack walked up to the makeshift snack bar. Which consisted of three bags of chips and some sodas, sitting on a blanket that covered the dusty floors. It was better than nothing, though.

“Help yourself.” Arleen told him. “Just some stuff that was in my cupboards.”
“You doing alright, Jack?” Liv asked.
“It’s been a little hectic.” Jack shrugged. “But I’m alive. And Arleen, uh… Sorry about what happened at the mall.”
“Dude, it’s literally not your fault.” Arleen shook her head. “Don’t worry about it.”

It felt better, hearing her say that. Jack glanced over at Ryder and Blake, meeting eyes with Ryder for a second. Once she noticed him, she swatted Blake on the shoulder and stopped dancing, hurrying over to Jack.

“Snacks are ready?” Ryder asked, grabbing some chips. “Sweet, I’m starving. Thanks, Arleen!”
Arleen gave Ryder a hug. “You’re welcome, sweetie.”

She looked happier tonight than she had in a while, Jack thought. Maybe it was best to let her stay that way. No! He was telling her the truth! He just needed to get it over with, at this point. When Ryder pulled away from Arleen, she turned to face Jack, shoving chips into her mouth. He wondered if his worries showed on his face, when Ryder gave him an odd look.

“Something wrong?”
“...It’s about what I told you earlier.”
“Oh, shit, you’re right. Here, come on.”

Grabbing him by the wrist, Ryder pulled him out of the pharmacy, The two leaned against the outside wall, the only light coming from the street-lamps by the road. Ryder turned to look at him with a sigh.

“...Crazy shit these past few months, huh?” She finally said.
“Yeah.” Jack agreed. “I hope you don’t regret meeting me.”
“Nah, nah. You had something you wanted to tell me?”
“A lot, actually. It’s… It’s about my mom. I was talking about it with Wanderlust a little bit, and…”
“And?”
Jack steeled himself, before going on. “You know the scar on my cheek? That was her.”
“I knew it!” Ryder exclaimed. “I knew that whole thing about you falling was bullshit! What did she do?”
“Remember when she caught me sneaking out, before?”

Jack held up both his hands, balling one into a fist. The other one remained flat.

“My face. The mirror.” He told Ryder, before slamming his fist into his palm. “...Bam. She was drunk, I think. I mean, she always drags me around whenever she’s mad, but she’s never done something like that until recently.”
“You gotta be shitting me, Red…”
“It gets worse. I swear to the gods of Floworld that this isn’t a lie, but… I think she possessed all the staff that she hired for our home.”
“Wait, like magically? How is she even able to do that?”
“I don’t know, but I’ve overheard her talking about it. I think I’ve even seen her doing it once… But that’s not the worst part.” Jack took a shaky breath. “Ann and Luke’s moms. I overheard her and Cygnus talking about them, before they went missing.”
“Seriously?!”
“I didn’t catch everything, and all I overheard was one conversation. But they talked about Venus being a demigod. Somehow. And then, Mama said something about making her work for them at some clock-tower Cygnus built. But I don’t know why. I don’t know why she’s doing any of this, honestly.”
“Gods, Jack… Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“Because, what if Mama found out? We’d both be in a lot of trouble, Ryder! Gods only know what she’d do to us if she knew we were friends!”

Ryder fell silent for a minute, looking Jack up and down. What could she be thinking? Did she even believe him? He could hear Wanderlust sharing a laugh with Arleen and Liv inside the pharmacy, and all he wanted to do was join them. But he couldn’t. Not until he had this talk with Ryder.

“...Okay. I don’t think you’re lying, for one.” Ryder finally said. “How much stuff do you have at your house?”
“What do you mean?”
“Like, I dunno… Clothes, valuables, shit like that.”
“I’m not following.”
“Dude,” Ryder pressed, “You can’t stay with her.”
“And where else am I supposed to go?” Jack asked.
“Come to my place. You can stay with me and Blake. We’ll figure it out.”
“She’d find us.”
“I don’t care.”
“I do!” He insisted. “I can’t just run away overnight, Ryder!”
“Maybe Wanderlust can help, then." She insisted. "We should tell him about all of this. You know who his dad is.”
“Who he claims his dad is.”
“He teleported all of us here, and you still don’t believe him?”
“It’s a pretty big claim to make, Ryder. Plus, even if he’s telling the truth, who’s to say that he’s even allowed to help us? It sounds like he’s sneaking out behind his parents’ back as it is!”
She pinched the bridge of her nose, shaking her head. “...Fine. I can't force you. But I'm being serious, Jack. You cannot stay with your mom if she’s doing shit like this.”
“Maybe you’re right. But I can’t just run away, either. Plus, maybe I can still talk to Felicia and Scarlett. Maybe I can get Felicia back.”

That seemed to silence Ryder for a second. She glanced towards the ground, covering her mouth. Jack was worried that she would start to cry, but no tears fell. She took a shaky breath, before nodding.

“So… That’s the plan for now?”
“Best we can do.” Jack shrugged. “I… I really just needed to tell someone about all this, before it’s too late. I don’t know if I can keep sneaking out like this forever. Felicia’s already mad at me about last night.”
“Shit, I was worried she recognized you… Whatever. We’ll make it work. I'll tell Blake everything you told me. If worse comes to worst, I'll tell my aunt.”
"Does she know about Felicia?"
Ryder nodded. "A little bit. She knows Felicia's around, at least. Trust me, it's not a good idea to tell her all... All that, about your mom. My aunt would lose her fucking mind if she knew Felicia was stuck with someone like that."
"I get it. Just... Keep it under wraps, and we'll figure it out. Like you said."

Maybe Ryder was right. Jack hated the thought of trying to run away, and he wasn’t sure if he’d actually do it. What he really wanted to do was show Mama why all of this was wrong! Maybe she was involved with the wrong crowd. She always worried about him hanging out with the wrong people. Now, he knew how she felt. Or something like that, right? There had to be hope for Mama, right?

‘I can’t just abandon her. But… Maybe I can be a wake-up call. If her own son objects to everything, maybe she’ll finally understand! And if not... Maybe living with Ryder and Blake would be nice.’

Just then, someone stepped out of the pharmacy. Jack gasped, meeting eyes with Wanderlust. He looked between the two of them, puzzled.

“Everything okay?”
“...It’s personal.” Ryder finally said.
“Ah, gotcha. Do you guys want to dance?”

Right. He came here to enjoy himself, and by the gods, Jack would have a good time tonight. Wanderlust was right. Dancing sounded like a good idea, right about now. Ryder pulled him back into the old pharmacy. In the center of the room, he saw Arleen, Blake, and Liv grooving along to a song he didn’t recognize. But that was okay. 

Hello, hi, I’m a 2019 guy
I don’t need drugs to get high
I have soylent and wine

Ryder approached Arlene, the two joining hands as they fell into a rhythm together. Blake stomped about, his footsteps loud like drums. Jack noticed Wanderlust next to him, the tingling rush of the Flow growing stronger as the blue boy began to dance along with him.

I respect girls by getting friendzoned and denied
I think about them and cry
I am totally fine

Once again, a very odd song to dance to. He remembered when he first met Wanderlust, embarrassing himself while dancing to another ridiculous song. But was that so bad? Did every dance have to be perfect? Or was enjoying himself more important than wowing a crowd?

Testosterone’s low… Feelings high…
That’s how you know I’m truly a 2019 guy

What did that even mean? It didn’t matter. Surrounded by his friends, Jack danced like nobody was watching. Even though everything from the past months lingered in the back of his mind, for one moment, he cherished a sense of peace.

‘Ugh… So bo-o-o-oring!’

Kitta lingered a couple of blocks from an old pharmacy, listening to the funny little song playing within its abandoned walls. What was she doing here, so late at night? Waiting. For who? 

“Boo.”

Whirling around, Kitta hissed as loud as she could. Leaning against a wall stood a taller black cat dressed like a little ninja. She rolled her eyes, walking away with them.

“Felide! I told you not to scare me like that!” She told them. “What’d you find out?”
Felide shook their head. “I’ll wait until we get back to Miss Felicia.”
“Isn’t this exciting, though? We’re actually doing something, for once.”
“I know, right?”

The two hurried back to the old manor, leaping through an open window and into the living room. Kitta noticed Scarlett on the couch, fast asleep. Damn, she must be pretty tired. But the couch was a comfy enough place to sleep, and Kitta knew it. She’d dozed off in that old thing several times, since they’d moved in.

If she could, she’d take a nap right now. But she had business to take care of, first.

Felide led the way upstairs, to the master bedroom. There, reading a book by candlelight, sat Felicia. She looked up and grinned when she saw her two familiars enter the room, setting the book aside.

“Well?” She asked. “Did he sneak out again?”
“Sure did.” Kitta nodded. “And he was with Ryder, too.”
“I knew it! What were they doing?”
“More than you might expect.” Felide said. “He told Ryder a lot of bad things about Miss Nox. Something about how she’s possessed people, mostly.”
Felicia rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right. That whole ‘dark-magic-evil-magic’ bullshit. I bet she’ll be happy to learn the truth.”
“You gonna tell her?” Kitta asked.
“First thing tomorrow. I hope they enjoy their last little hangout.”

With that, Kitta leapt onto the bed and curled into a ball. She knew the gist of what happened between Felicia and Ryder, and why Felicia was here. Did she care, though? Eh… As long as she had a full belly and a warm bed, Kitta would do whatever Felicia needed. That’s all she cared about.

Chapter Text

The next morning, Jack stood in the little bathroom near his room, brushing his teeth. He had woken up late, again. Weirdly enough, nobody came to wake him up early. Melissa the maid told him Mama would be waiting downstairs, but that there was no rush. He wondered what she had in store for him today.

Ryder’s suggestion still lingered in his mind. Maybe he could try to run away. But wouldn’t Mama find him, easily? Who knew what she was truly capable of? He couldn’t decide if he regretted telling Ryder the truth, or not. Jack tried to shake the thoughts out of his mind. He did the right thing. Ryder deserved to know the truth about Ann and Luke, even if Jack didn’t know the full story yet. Sure, he had no idea what to actually do to bring Mama back to reason. But telling Ryder had to be a step forward… Right?

Once he was cleaned up and ready, Jack went downstairs. To his surprise, Felicia and Scarlett stood waiting, a sleeping Kitta curled up in Felicia’s lap. Mama gave him a smile. Huh, she must be in a good mood today.

“Rise and shine, treasure.” She said. “You kept us waiting.”
Jack shrugged. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Felicia told him. “Let’s go, I’m starving!”
“Where are we going?”
“Out for breakfast.” Mama told him. “I thought you kids deserved a little treat.”

Oh. How nice! Jack resisted a sigh of relief as he followed Mama out to the car. She must have gotten it fixed! Filing into the backseat, Jack found himself sitting behind the driver, avoiding the urge to look into his neon pink eyes. He could think about the staff all he wanted, but it wouldn’t free them from Mama’s control. In between him and Scarlett, Felicia sat with her legs crossed. Jack glanced at her, and when they met eyes, Felicia gave him a smug grin.

That didn’t mean anything, right? Maybe he was just being paranoid. Jack wanted to enjoy breakfast, after all! He zoned out for the rest of the car ride, resisting the urge to fall asleep. However, he didn’t snap out of his little stupor until Kitta prodded at him.

“Hey, sleepyhead.” The little cat said. “We’re almost there.”
“Oh,” Jack yawned, “Gosh, I’m sleepy.”
“Late night, huh?” Felicia spoke up. “I could tell.”

…Now, that didn’t mean anything, right? No, it didn’t! Why would it mean anything? Following the girls out of the car, Jack found himself staring up at another fancy restaurant. The smell wafting through the doors made his stomach growl. Maybe some food would help him think straight. To his dismay, though, he saw a familiar figure waiting for them at the front door.

“Good to see you again, Leda!”
“Likewise, Cygnus.”

Oh, gods… Whatever. Jack could still enjoy a nice meal, couldn’t he? He quietly followed the rest of his group into the restaurant, taking a seat between Felicia and Scarlett. Cygnus sat next to Mama, of course, chattering on and on with her about his past few days. Jack just focused on picking what he wanted to eat.

“And how have you kids been?” Cygnus asked, after a little while. “I hear you’ve been practicing hard!”
Scarlett nodded. “We’re learning a lot.”
“I can’t wait until we learn more magic, though!” Felicia pointed out.
“Soon.” Mama told her. “Very soon, actually. In fact, I have a bit of a plan. We’ll start delving deeper into sorcery after the new year. Once I go on tour, Vester will be teaching you three in my place.”
“Oh, right, the tour. Can we come see your show in Eternyx?”
“Absolutely.”
Felicia beamed. “I’m so excited!”
“I can tell.” Cygnus said, before glancing at Jack. “Why the long face, little man?”

Oh no. Jack sat up, forcing himself to smile and shaking his head.

“I’m fine, actually.”
“There we go! Brighten up a little, champ.”

Cygnus went on from there, but Scarlett and Felicia took to talking with him instead. Good. Jack could zone out again. He avoided making eye contact with Mama, but couldn’t help watching her from the corner of his eye. She didn’t look at him. He couldn’t read the expression on her face. Maybe no news was good news, but despite his best efforts, his worries remained in the back of his mind.

‘Gods, what a weird few months it’s been… I really thought everything would be calmer after we moved in, too. Guess that’s just how it goes.’ He thought to himself. ‘All I have to do is make it to tonight, and then I can talk to Ryder again. Maybe we can come up with an actual plan. I don’t know if I should run away, but if Ryder’s aunt can do something, it’d be more than I could ask for. I just want Mama and I to be normal and happy, again. Like it was before we moved in.’

That would have to do for now. Jack put his anxieties out of mind as much as he could. However, every time he and Felicia met eyes, he could swear she gave him that same smug smile. What was on her mind, anyway? He wasn’t sure if he wanted to know.

“See you tomorrow, Miss Nox!”

Finally, Scarlett and Felicia left. Mama still had them practicing today, just later than usual. The few hours of Eternyx ‘daylight’ had come and gone, leaving the streets in shadows again. Jack waved goodbye to them both, stretching and yawning. He was already exhausted.

‘What a day…’

Mama stood beside him, glancing down at him for a moment. Without a word, she waved her hand dismissively. He took his chance to hurry back to his room. Ryder would still be at school, probably, but he could at least say hello to her. He passed by the butler on his way upstairs, and once again, avoided making eye contact.

Come to think of it, he still didn’t know the butler’s name. Jack was willing to bet Mama didn’t care about his name.

When he got back to his room, Jack shut the door and listened for footsteps. Nothing. Satisfied, he reached under his bed. And it was at that point that he froze. He always hid the little phone behind the legs of his bed, in a dark crevice where it couldn’t be seen. Only now, he couldn’t feel it. Maybe it fell out of place. Jack crawled under his bed, and his heart skipped a beat. The phone was gone. The notes, which he’d stashed under his bed as well, were nowhere to be seen.

‘...Did the maid clean my room while we were out? Maybe she thought it was trash. No, she wouldn’t throw out an entire phone!’ He thought to himself. ‘No, no, this can’t be happening. This can’t be happening!’

Jack began to desperately search his room. The nightstand drawer, the little closet, even his old suitcase. Nothing. His blood turned to ice, making him shiver uncontrollably as he sat down on his bed. Covering his mouth, he bit his tongue to resist the urge to sob.

‘The maid had to have found it, right? But then, why not confront me right away?! Or was it something else? I don’t know!’

Suddenly, a knock came from his door. Or… Was it sudden? Jack had lost track of time, in his panic. Before he could say anything, the door cracked open. He recognized the monotone voice of the butler.

“Miss Nox wants to see you.”

Getting up, Jack followed the butler in silence. He followed him to an elevator, going up all the way to the top. It felt like an eternity. Jack struggled to think of something to say, or even if he should speak.

.”...Did she say what it was regarding?” Jack decided to ask, trying to be brave.
The butler gave him a look with those empty, pink eyes. “You know.”
“Can’t you tell me?”
“You know.”

When the elevator door finally slid open, a concrete hallway greeted Jack. He saw a few metal doors that led elsewhere, wondering where they led. Were they for utility purposes? Or was there something more nefarious behind those doors? Once again, Jack followed the butler down the hall. He opened one of the doors, revealing a stairwell and walking upwards. They had to be close to the roof, by now. At the top of the stairwell sat another metal door. The butler pushed it open, ushering Jack through. A gust of wind greeted him, as well as the cold concrete of the tower’s roof. In front of him, the city of Fathoms stretched all around the tower, lights flickering below.

Mama stood with her back to the door. Behind him, Jack heard the metal door shut and lock. 

“...I think you know why you’re here, Jack.” Mama began. “Do you have anything you want to say to me?”
Jack thought of a million things to say, but nothing came out.
“That’s what I thought.”

Turning around, Mama held up Jack’s notes. In her other hand, he noticed the little phone. She began to leaf through the papers, crumpling them as she went.

“Is this honestly what you think of me? You think I murdered someone?” Mama scoffed. “As if I could let that Lantana woman get away with what she did to us.”
“So, you did have her killed.” Jack muttered. “I overheard you talking about it with Miss Lilith.”
“And what do you think you’re doing, eavesdropping on me like that? Can’t I have an ounce of privacy? I’m very disappointed in you! I have these rules for a reason, and you broke them!”
“You killed someone!”
“And so what if I did? Do you think she held you hostage for no reason?”
Jack shook his head. “She didn't deserve to die.”
“I can’t believe you’re sympathizing with her.”
“So what if I am? You still don’t know if she had it out for us, do you?”
“It’s not a risk I can afford to take. Not with the plans I have for our future.”
“And what are those plans, huh?!”

Jack took a step forward. A burning wave threatened to crush his chest, spilling out of his mouth with a fury he’d never felt before. 

“You want me to be a sorcerer, but you won’t tell me why. You and Lilith murdered people, and you won’t even give me an explanation! Do you expect me to just obey your every little word, like I’m some kind of slave!?”
“Is this what Ryder has filled your head with? I knew they’d be terrible influences on you. Especially after what she’s done to poor Felicia. How could you trust someone like her?” Mama snapped. “And now, look at you. You can’t even respect your own mother. I thought I raised you better than this. I thought I could trust you to keep our secrets, Jack!”
“And why should I? You keep me in the dark about everything, and you want to complain about secrets?”
“Excuse me?”
“Why should I respect someone who possesses all her staff, huh?” Jack yelled. “Why should I respect someone who ruined my friends’ lives?! What about Ann and Luke? They didn’t deserve to lose their moms!”
Mama shook her head. “Quit being hysterical. They aren’t your friends. You’ve known them for a couple of months. They’re little more than acquaintances.”
“No, don’t avoid the subject. What did you do to Venus and April? I heard you talking about it!”
“I can tell.”
“You’re still avoiding it.”
“It’s none of your business. Clearly, you can’t handle the truth.”
“You want the truth? Possessing people is wrong, that’s the truth! And clearly, you can’t handle it!”
Mama scoffed. “Oh, so now I’m the bad guy. Is that what you think?”

Jack felt like he could scream. He wanted to scream. His hands balled into fists, and he looked at his mother in her cold, green eyes without a flinch.

“I think someone who possesses innocent people is evil. I think murderers are evil. Does that answer your question?”
“You’re acting like a toddler. I think these so-called friends of yours have rotted every last shred of decency in you.”
“They’ve done more for me than you ever have.”
“After everything I’ve done for you,” Mama hissed, looming over him with a glare, “This is what I get in return? Nothing but disrespect for your dear mother!”
“Oh, everything you’ve done for me?” Jack pointed to the scar on his cheek. “Like this?!”
“Now we’re guilt-tripping, I see. You can’t seriously hold that against me! I apologized!”
“For what? Slamming my face into a mirror?”
“You’re the one who broke the rules.”
“Your rules deserve to be broken!”

Mama stepped towards him, but Jack stepped back. His voice grew raw, but he continued to shout.

“What do you want?! What are you trying to do to people?! Why are you possessing people? I bet the butler has family at home, wondering why he’s never coming back! You monster! You absolute fucking monster!”
“...Why don’t you ask him?”

Before he could react, Mama seized him by the shoulders and forced him to turn around. Jack struggled, but she held him in place. In front of him, the butler became enshrouded by a dark, glittering cloud, slowly morphing into a black-clad figure with a pink mask. Jack shrieked. He recognized that mask.

“Shut your mouth.”

In response, Jack screamed. Until he couldn’t. His panic rose when he realized he couldn’t speak. In fact, his limbs refused to move. Not until Mama grabbed him, forcefully leading him in a sudden dance, a melody kicking up out of nowhere.

Ronnette, my dear, don't ever disappear
Do what you want, as long as you stay here
I need you now, I love you so much
More than you could know

To his horror, Jack watched his body turn black. A bright, neon pink glow assaulted his eyes, as he felt a pink mask materialize over his face. He could feel it digging into the sides of his skull, as if it was embedded into the bone. Mama’s nails dug into his skin. Faintly, he could feel feathers lining his arms. And despite every effort to stop, to run away, to do anything else, all he could do was dance. All he could do was dance, and listen to her.

The Christmas kids were nothing but a gift
And love is a tower where all of us can live

“I thought I could wait until you were an adult to tell you the truth.” She said. “But if you want to act like a grown man, fine. I’m building an army, Jack.”

You’ll change your name, and change your mind
And leave this fucked up place behind.

“Ever since you were a boy, I’ve been honing my craft as a sorcerer. I’ve used my magic and my power to do whatever was necessary for the two of us. To give us the happy, prosperous life we deserve. And you know what? The only way to get that perfect life is if we make it ourselves.”

But I’ll know, I’ll know
I’ll know, I’ll know
I’ll know, I’ll know
I’ll know, I’ll know

“That’s why I built this tower. That’s why you’re going to be a sorcerer, Jack. You’re going to help me fix the Danceverses. You’re going to build a new world with me, treasure. A perfect world, where you and I can sit at the top, like we always deserved. You have no idea what I've sacrificed to bring this about. I'm not about to let your tantrums get in the way.”

Jack continued to struggle, his helpless body dancing along at her command. In his own head, he screamed as loud as he could. Not a sound came out of his mouth. Did he even have a mouth? His thoughts grew scrambled, a mix of her voice and the shrill melody echoing around them.

Appearing unsightly with devils inside me

“I don’t care what I have to do. I won’t let you ruin years of work over these little hysterics of yours. Grow a spine.” She spat. “No one’s going to believe you. And even if they do, I can make people disappear like that. ”

She snapped her fingers for emphasis. His entire body went rigid.

If you ever try to leave me, I'll find you, Ronnie
If you ever try to leave me, I'll find you, Ronnie
If you ever try to leave me, I'll find you, Ronnie
If you ever try to leave me, I'll find you, Ronnie

‘Let me go! Let go of me! Mama, please, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, just let me go!’

“If I catch you trying to talk to those brats one more time,” She went on, “They’ll never see the light of day again. You hear me? I don’t care if they’re children. They’d be more useful as my minions. But you know what? I’m feeling a little merciful. So perhaps, I’ll spare them.”

She grabbed him by the hand and pulled him towards the edge of the roof. Jack tried to shut his eyes, but he couldn’t even blink.

I’m leaving Phil, I’m leaving now
I’m going to escape, but you won’t know how
Or where to find me, when I’m gone
I'll drink myself to death inside this prison cell
This prison cell

“But you, you’re going to help me. You’re going to be my son, and you’re going to like it. And if that’s truly too much for you to handle…”

Slowly, carefully, she dipped him over the edge. For a brief moment, all Jack could see was the sprawling city of Fathoms below him. Every muscle in his body screamed at him to flee, but when he tried to move, he failed.

“...The way out is right below you.”

And just like that, she pulled him back up, practically shoving him away from the edge. Even then, he kept dancing against his will. She didn’t even have to guide him along, at this point. She stood and watched, her arms crossed, nothing but disdain in her eyes.

So get me out of here
Get me out of here

‘Get me out of here,” Jack thought, “GET ME OUT OF HERE!!”

“You’ve been warned.” Leda finally told him, tossing the little phone off the roof. “Come back downstairs when you’re done with the hysterics.”

The melody stopped. Jack’s body returned to normal, the mask dissolving as if it had never been there. He fell to his knees as Leda left, before collapsing onto his side. For a long while, all he did was lay there, taking quick, shallow breaths. He didn’t dare move a muscle, paranoid that he couldn’t.

All he could think about was what he saw when she dipped him over the edge. For a moment, he thought she was going to drop him. He almost wished that she had.

‘...What have I done? What have I done?! She’s going to find Ryder, isn’t she? She’s going to hurt my friends! I don’t care what she says, she’s going to do it! And it’s my fault!’

Finally, Jack curled into a ball and screamed at the top of his lungs, hysterical tears flowing down his face. Every limb of his ached from over-exertion. And yet, as if compelled by an outside force, he got up. Another melody picked up. He couldn't resist the overwhelming urge to dance, still sobbing, still shaking. Leda had opened a dam of emotion that Jack couldn’t close.

Hangin' out where I don't belong is nothing new to me
I get tired, and I get sick, and then I lose the strength to leave
I can’t handle change
I can’t handle change

This was worse than anything he could imagine. Remaking the world? Building an army? What was she talking about?! Had she lost her mind? What was Jack thinking? Of course, she had. And she was going to drag him down with her.

Nothing I do is ever good
Nothing I do is ever good enough
Nothing I do is ever good

‘I should have told Wanderlust. I should have told everyone! No! She’ll kill them! But I can’t do this alone. Can’t do what alone? Run away? As if I could ever run away from her. As if I could ever escape her. What was I thinking, breaking the rules?! This is what happens!’

And then, suddenly, Jack collapsed. Gasping for air, his heart threatened to beat out of his chest. The world around him spun like a sickening carnival ride. Was he about to faint? No! Jack clawed at consciousness, focusing on the sky above him. And even still, he could hear the music.

I can’t help but repeat myself
I know it’s not your fault
Still lately I begin to shake
For no reason at all

Chapter Text

And when your fantasies become your legacy
Promise me a place in your house of memories

He had to be sure to find his footing, during this part of the dance. Jack refocused himself. After all, he had to pick up Scarlett by the waist without hurting her. Felicia slid behind him, her movements graceful and elegant. The air around them felt charged with pure Flow.

Promise me a place…

He did it! He nailed it, this time! Setting Scarlett down gently, Jack looked to Leda. She smiled at him. It looked about as plastic as a candy wrapper.

“I’d like it if we could be a little more fluid next time. Felicia, do you want the crowd to think you’re a marionette on strings?”
“No, Miss Nox.”
“Remember, your body has to flow like a river. You got it right before. Do it again, next time. And, Jack?”
Jack looked up at Leda without a word.
“Nicely done at the end.” She told him. “Glad to see you’re actually progressing.”

Leda fell quiet as the three kids finally relaxed a little. Scarlett and Felicia sat for a few minutes, talking while Jack caught his breath. He didn’t have anything to say to them. 

“Hey, do you want to check out the library later?” Scarlett asked Felicia.
“Yeah, sure!”
“That sounds like a nice afternoon.” Leda interjected. “Jack, why don’t you go with them?”
Jack shook his head. “Don’t I have studying to do?”

“You can study at the library. I have some business to attend to. I know you’re not a fan of overhearing it while you study.”

He resisted the urge to flinch. Taking the hint, Jack went upstairs to grab a coat from his room. Every time, he had the instinct to check a phone that he no longer had.

‘Stop thinking about it.’

That’s what Jack had told himself for the past two weeks. Amongst other things, which he cycled through on repeat as he went back downstairs.

‘It’s better this way. Ryder and everyone else can be free of me, now. They can be free of whatever madness she has in store for me.’ 

In all honesty, Jack didn’t believe it fully. Someone was bound to catch her, if these were truly her plans. He just had to weather the storm. He just had to lay low, and do as he was told, and hopefully somebody would wise up to Leda’s crimes. Jack reminded himself of what he’d learned.

‘I’m not a hero. Don’t try to act like one anymore.’

When he got back downstairs, Scarlett and Felicia stood waiting for him in the main room. Felicia still had that smug smile. Jack couldn’t even muster the will to be angry with her.

“Ready to go?” She asked.
Jack nodded without a word.
“You good?” Scarlett asked. “You look fucking miserable.”
“I’m fine.”

Seemingly satisfied, the two turned back to each other. Jack didn’t listen to their conversation. 

‘Where are they from? Who’s waiting for them to come home? Lilith must have told them something, to convince them to come here. I wish I could find out more. Maybe I should, but… Maybe I shouldn’t make it my problem. Things could be a lot worse for me, I guess.’

Right. It could be worse. He could be possessed for good right now, but he wasn’t. Leda let him go. Jack reminded himself, over and over again, that it could all be worse.

Ryder: Dude PLEASE tell me you’re joking
Wanderlust: I’m sorry, Ryder. I should have told you earlier. But my father’s word is final. To his credit, he caught me in the act fair and square the other week. I’m more or less grounded, and I can’t be going out again without his supervision. He’s still worried that Discoball and I can’t safely portal on our own.
Ryder: Fucks sake you do fine at that though
Wanderlust: It’s trickier than it looks. I’ve gotten stranded a couple of times. I love my father, but he can be overprotective. Especially with Eternyx. I think he worries that I’ll explore the dangerous parts of it, even though I don’t plan to.
Ryder: Isn’t there something your parents can do? Don’t they care that his mom is possessing people?
Wanderlust: You know they aren’t actually authorities over the Danceverses, right? That whole idea is a myth. My father isn’t a king. He can’t just snap his fingers and have Leda Nox thrown in jail.
Ryder: I GET IT MAN. Still, what did they have to say?
Wanderlust: My father said that the possession claims are all unfounded, and that he has more pressing issues at the moment. Which… I can’t tell you the details, but he’s actually not lying about that last bit. I offered to look into it, but he told me to let it go for the time being. Which I’m not happy about, for the record. I tried telling my mother, but she only said that I can’t save everyone from their troubles. She kept recommending that you guys go to local authorities about the issue.
Ryder: These aren’t just “issues” for fucks sake
Wanderlust: I get that. Look, no offense, but I’m not really in a position to keep breaking the rules with them. I’m on thin ice. They said that since it’s mortal business, mortals need to handle it.
Ryder: …Yeah, given who your parents are, I don’t blame you man. Sorry for bitching
Wanderlust: No, it’s fine! I still want to help you, even if all I can do is lend you my ear.

Ryder didn’t know if she wanted to respond to that. As if an ear was going to help her, right now. It had been weeks since she last saw Jack, or even heard from him. She’d texted him every day, to no avail. A part of her was convinced his mother got involved. Who else would have done it, honestly?

‘That bitch made Ann and Luke flee for their lives. And now she has Jack.’ Ryder thought to herself. ‘And here I am, doing fucking homework!’

In the midst of everything, she hadn’t told her aunt about the situation. Blake knew, of course. But Auntie Moth didn’t. Also, in the midst of everything, Ryder forgot to do an assignment for social studies. Again. She couldn’t get herself to read the damn instructions on the worksheet, either.

‘Felicia has to know something. What did they do to her? They brainwashed her, or something! And nobody from that tower calls Auntie Moth back. Nobody in the police department calls her back, either. Maybe Leda’s paying them off. Or maybe they’re just lazy fuckheads.’

“Oi, dipshit.” Blake suddenly said, standing in the doorway of their room. “You want chicken?”
“Huh?”
“Do you want fried chicken? Auntie Moth got us dinner.”
“Again? Is it from that same place down the road?”
“I mean, everything else is either expensive or too far away. Do you want chicken or not?”
“Fine, fine, gimme a second.”
“Nah, don’t worry. I’ll grab some for both of us.”

Blake disappeared for a moment. Ryder once again tried to get herself to read the instructions.

Write a brief news article surrounding one of the four events listed (2-4 paragraph minimum): 

 

1. Waveman’s attack on Dancity
2. Eva Chase's murder
3. Cyberfunk’s robot regulations following the Techno Terror

The same part made Ryder stall every time. Blake came back with a paper bucket, half-full of fried chicken. At least it smelled good. Grabbing a piece, Ryder searched for something to drink.

“Did you do this one?” She asked, pointing to the paper.
“Yeah.” Blake shrugged. “I think I picked the third one.”
“Did you see…?”

When Ryder trailed off, Blake gave her a knowing look. With a sigh, he got up and rummaged around until he found a black pen. He then took Ryder’s worksheet, blotting out the name “Eva Chase” for her.

“Bad timing, I guess.” He muttered. “I was creeped out by it too.”
“No kidding.” Ryder said, leaning back in her chair. “...Can I be honest?”
“Yeah.”
“This is actually a fucking nightmare. I don’t know what to do about Felicia, or Jack, or that bitch in the tower anymore. But then I just feel like she wins if I don’t do something!”
"Did you tell Auntie Moth?"
"Ugh, I was going to. But, like... What if she freaks out? You know how she gets. I thought that maybe, if there was a shot of getting Jack to live with us, that it'd be worth telling her. But now I'm afraid she'll lose her shit if she knows the truth!"
“...Idea.”
Ryder looked at Blake. “What?”
“Felicia. We need to get answers out of her.” Blake insisted. “One way or another.”
“How, though? She’s probably learning a bunch of magic that we don’t have!”
“Okay, so we learn that shit too.”
“You’re kidding.”
Blake shrugged. “I was looking it up online earlier. It’s not impossible.”
“And who’s gonna teach us?” Ryder insisted. “It’s not like we have some wise old master around here, or whatever.”
“So, we practice on our own. And if we can't figure out magic, we find another way.”
“...Fuck it.”
“Is that a yes?”

Ryder rolled her eyes. Of course it was a yes.