Kass’s 10-year old son, Jesse walked in through the door. He paused when he saw Amanda. Upon recognising her he shut the door behind him and walked in slowly, removing a backpack as he did. He was obviously still wary.

  “Hi,” she said in a friendly tone.

  “Hi,” he replied. “What are you doing here?” His posture relaxed a little and he set his backpack on the couch but his eyebrows were still knotted together in confusion.

  Amanda glanced into the bedroom where she could still see Kass lying motionless on the bed apart for the soft rise and fall of her chest. How did she explain this one without worrying Jesse? Perhaps she didn’t need to. He was a tough kid, stronger than most, given what he’d been through. That was also a good reason not to make it any worse but the truth here was not so bad. He could handle it if she was careful in how she told it.

  Gently she said, “Your mum seems to have caught the attention of a dreamweaver. It’s got her trapped temporarily in the dreamworld. Sirius is helping to get her out.

  The brief flash of fear Amanda saw in his expression just before he reached the bedroom door almost made her regret telling him but once he saw his mum on her bed still breathing he seemed to relax again, letting out a soft sigh. It was then Amanda knew he’d be fine.

  “Jesse, when did you last talk to your mum?”

  He turned to look at her and she could plainly see the guilt he must be feeling and not having noticed how long his mum had been asleep for. His eyebrows knotted once more. “I... I don’t know. I guess a few days ago. She was supposed to come pick me up yesterday.”

  “Days?”

  Jesse nodded. “She went out of town for a bit. I’ve been staying at Jewel’s.” He glanced toward his sleeping mum. “At least I thought she did. When she didn’t come pick me up last night I got worried so I told Jewel’s parents that she’d messaged and it was gonna be a quick pick up and I was to meet her outside. Then just to make sure, I got Jewel to distract them and I ran all the way back here.”

  “You ran all the way here, from up the hill? Yesterday?”

  Jesse nodded. He didn’t seem too worried about it.

  Amanda couldn’t even imagine running that far, let alone doing it as a kid. Wolf did it all the time but he was a werewolf. It was different.

  Jesse explained some more. “It was originally the day before that she was supposed to pick me up but she messaged Jewel’s mum to ask if I could stay one more night. That she’d got caught up at work. That happens a lot.” He glanced down at the floor. He’d been doing a good job of meeting her eyes until then.

  “So what happened yesterday?” Amanda asked. “Weren’t Indi and Falco worried when she didn’t show then?”

  Jesse took a deep breath and looked up again. “Jewel’s dad said she’d probably just gotten distracted by work again and her mum said it was no problem and I could stay another night but I know she always messages. So I came back here and when I saw she was asleep I figured I’d just stay here. I didn’t know she was trapped.” He looked worriedly toward his mum again.

  Amanda was quick to console him. “You couldn’t have known.”

  “I sent Jewel a message that she was back and I was staying here.”

  “You didn’t see your mum today though?”

  He shook his head. “I just figured she was working. She often works late. There wasn’t really any food though so...”—he glanced toward his backpack—“I went and got some. But she... that’s not...”

  “She’s done that before?” Amanda pressed, worried now about Jesse’s eating schedule.

  He was quick to shake his head but then he hesitated. “Not since...” he sighed then tried again. “A bit after we first got here, after dad and...” He glanced toward his mum with obvious concern. “Sometimes she’d forget to go shopping and then sometimes I’d go get stuff. I know where her cards are and the numbers and everything. She hasn’t forgotten in ages though but sometimes I still buy stuff to help.” He was quiet and then he glanced toward his backpack. “I should put the ice cream away. I’m not supposed to get it but I think she likes that I do.”

  Amanda nodded. “Yeah, you go do that.” She watched Jesse carry his bag toward the kitchen. Poor kid had been through a lot. She remembered what Kass had been like back when they’d first met. It hadn’t been obvious initially but she’d been barely keeping things together. Well, maybe there had been signs. The first day they’d met Kass had been crying in a cafe. It was only because Indi had noticed and gone over to see if she was alright that they’d met her at all. Less than 30 seconds later Kass had saved Indi’s life and Indi never let anyone forget that sort of act. In an ironic sort of way they had sort of saved Kass’s in return.

  Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

  She glanced at Sirius and Kass again but there was no change. Those two had always gotten on well. They had a lot in common. Both loved books. Both were smart and thoughtful and serious. Amanda and Sirius were almost more like opposites. Maybe Kass suited him better?

  Amanda shook her thoughts off and focused her attention back on Jesse. He was who mattered right now, not her own insecurities. “Do you want me to make you something to eat?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “No, it’s okay. I’m not hungry.”

  She was sure he was, given he’d gone out to get food, and healthy stuff by the looks of it too, well apart from the ice cream. She was glad that he’d gotten something he liked though. And it sounded like Kass did too. She wasn’t the only one. Sirius liked ice cream too, more so than most other sugary snacks, except for licorice. She wondered if Kass liked licorice.

  She was grateful when Jesse interrupted her thoughts.

  “Is she going to be alright?”

  “Yeah, she’ll be fine,” Amanda said with more confidence than she was feeling. She knew from his posture that she’d fooled Jesse though.

  She glanced down at her phone. It had been long enough. It was time to call in help. Once more she found herself interrupted before she could even dial the first number. This time it wasn’t by the door but by the very person she’d been about to call simply suddenly appearing right in the middle of the living room.

  She fixed the man with a hard stare.

  “Coal.”

  “Good evening,” he replied smoothly as if this were just a normal night.” He was dressed in a casual suit as usual. He nodded at the phone in her hands. “There’s no need for that.”

  “How did you know I was about to call?” She narrowed her eyes at him. Had he been watching them with some kind of spell? A seer maybe? They were rare but she wouldn’t put it past him.

  “A little birdy told me,” he replied with a smile as he made his way to the bedroom door.

  Jesse silently stepped back and gave him a wary look. Smart kid.

  “You found the dreamweaver,” Coal remarked as he looked into the room.

  Amanda sighed. Now that he was here, even though she hadn’t been the one to call him, she was regretting not waiting a little longer.

  He didn’t seem bothered by her response or lack of it. He fixed her with the look of one who held all the cards and knew it. “Would you like some help?”

  It was a loaded offer and she knew it. Whatever he offered did not come free. She glanced toward Sirius and Kass. How long did she wait? What solution did Coal have to offer? And even more importantly, what would it cost?

  She met his cool blue eyes. Despite their colour there was a warmth to them, a warmth like a hot oven waiting to cook you alive. It was deceptive and it made him all the more dangerous. She knew better than to concede immediately though. What Coal liked was to negotiate. If she wanted his help as cheap as she could get it then she had to play his game.

  Staring him right in the eye, which required her to look upward, it rarely ever didn’t, she said quite clearly, “You owe me.”

  She registered something like surprise in his eyes but she wasn’t sure why. Surely he was used to her pushing back?

  But then he smiled. “Perhaps, but a dreamweaver’s a tall demand, and it’s not the only thing you want is it?”

  It was her turn to be surprised. She shouldn’t have been though she supposed. He probably already knew all about Cat.

  Before she could reply however another voice spoke. “Or maybe you should help my mum because you’re a nice person and it’s the right thing to do.” Jesse fixed Coal with a scowl. His tone suggested he knew Coal wasn’t a very nice person at all.

  Both Amanda and Coal looked at the boy in surprise, although Coal’s look was more mild amusement than outright shock.

  Coal cocked an eyebrow and looked down at the boy with a smile. In a voice like maple syrup he asked, “What makes you think I’m nice?”

  Jesse didn’t flinch. He simply replied, “You need her, don’t you?”

  There was enough of a question there that Amanda could hear the limit of the kid’s bravery but his scowl remained and his argument was a solid one.

  As if explaining to a child the simple and irrefutable facts of life Coal said, “She’s useful, it’s not quite the same thing.”

  “Coward!” Jesse replied in an even tone and he went and sat on the couch with his arms crossed, still glaring at Coal. It seemed, however that he was out of arguments for now.

  Coal turned back to Amanda, the remains of an amused look still on his face. “I’ll help you with both your problems and in exchange-”

  She interrupted him. “Both my problems? You’re going to have to be more specific.”

  He cocked an eyebrow and glanced warily around the room. Amanda doubted there were any bugs or listening spells in here but she enjoyed the discomfort and extra effort it would take him to figure out how to word things.

  He glanced at Sirius and Kass and then with a smile he looked at Amanda again. “It seems you are short a dreamwalker or two. Allow me to deal with that problem and in exchange I ask only one simple thing.”

  Well, he’d made it clear he intended to help Cat which was what she had wanted. The fact he’d offered up so little resistance to fulfilling both requests so far made her mighty suspicious of what he was going to say next though. Whatever she’d been imagining, his next request didn’t come even close to her expectations.

  “There’s a ball this weekend. I’d like you to accompany me. I can provide an outfit if you don’t have one... no not like that,” he corrected as he saw the look on her face. “Not as a date, simply as an acquaintance. You won’t even have to pretend to like me. Simply show up with me and leave with me. Dinner will be provided. How you spend the rest of the evening is up to you as long as you stay at the ball until I do.”

  She frowned. There was a catch. There had to be. There was always a catch. But for the life of her she couldn’t think what it was. Unless it had something to do with her magic? She wouldn’t draw attention to herself, not in front of aristocrats. That was too risky. It could make her, and by extension her family, a target.

  “I won’t be doing any magic tricks for your friends if that’s what you have in mind, or be used to intimidate or harm anyone.”

  “Not at all,” he replied with a smile. “You are under no obligation to behave in any way and you are not required to use your powers at all. Nor will you be bound in anyway. I give my word.”

  She studied him carefully. She didn’t think he was lying, but still it was too easy. She glanced at Sirius and Kass again, at their hands intertwined. What were they doing in there? She suppressed the sudden rage she felt. Decisively, she turned to Coal and gave him a quick, sharp nod.

  “Deal.”