these chapters are coming fast. I don't have a beta reader, so could you guys tell me if you feel I have to little detail? Or if you want to be my beta for future chapters, just PM me.

My preparations didn't take too long, but I still gritted my teeth at every wasted minute. When the asshole at the light cut me off, only to slow down to half the speed limit. The cashier who thought her phone was more important than me. Until I hexed it, that is. Finally, we got to a pre-prepared building I had built a month ago. I hadn't expected to use it so soon, or for such a huge summoning, so a few adjustments were made. A huge circle, ten foot diameter. Five candles, forming a pentacle inside, but with one point outside the circle. I made sure Charity and Thomas were in circles made specifically for mortals. I sealed my own circle and prepared my will. I started my incantations. I used English, since the being I was summoning could only speak in the language it was summoned in.

"Great One! Terrible One! King of Wyldfae! I bid thee to me, I call thee here! Come forth, Del'ja!"

Del'ja was an ancient being with a surprisingly low power. He was considered the King of Wyldfae because his whispering in the ears of some powerful creatures made most of the changes in Faerie decisions. He was more knowledgeable than any other creature I was aware of. There were no notes or books on him, and I only knew his Name because I had watched Mab summon him. Any other preparations were suggestions from Lash. I expected him to arrive in some big, flashy explosion. Creatures like him normally have a big ego and want to look good. However, he simply appeared in the circle. No warning, no noise, and in the shape of a rattlesnake. I felt him press against the bonds of the circle, testing the boundaries. He may have been weak compared to other creatures in the NeverNever, but he was still plenty strong. Based solely of this, I put him on par with Cowl, a dark wizard I had one had the displeasure to encounter. Del'ja was strong, but not ridiculously so. The reason for the massive amount of preparation was for his knowledge. I guessed he could wiggle out of just about anything. Thus, I tried to copy the design I had seen Mab use, again with help from Lash. As soon as the snake in the circle had gone around the perimeter, is reverted to an almost human shape. A few features were wrong, perhaps deliberately so. Tiny horns poking out of red, bushy hair. Maroon eyes with vertical pupils. And, most telling of all, his bare feet were on fire. The feet seemed a bit blatant, but given my fighting style, I could hardly judge. His voice was almost a whisper, reminding me of the sound of an owl swooping down for a mouse.

"Harry Blackstone Dresden." I shivered as he said my name. He had everything right, only missing the "Copperfield". I was very grateful for that. I had worried with his knowledge he might know my full Name, which he could have easily used to break my circle. He turned to my friends.

"Charity Carpenter. Thomas Raith. I think I see what is happening here. I would assume you are searching for your daughter, Margaret Dresden?"

I almost dismissed him then and there. This thing that way too much knowledge about me, and would almost certainly want more. But I held my nerve and replied in a stern and not at all shaky voice.

"I am." I decided the less I spoke, the better. His eyes flashed yellow at my answer, and he shivered in delight.

"Wonderful. I simply live to unite split families." His voice dripped sarcasm. I answered, again using as few words as possible.

"Name your price for the whereabouts of Margaret Dresden, my daughter."

"With pleasure," he replied. "All I ask is a fraction of power from everyone present. I swear you will never notice it was gone. In fact, it will even replace itself after awhile."

So this was how this guy got power. Taking a tiny fraction of a soul, which does grow back, and using it for himself. I briefly wondered if that meant he could use soulfire, but dismissed it. Something to ponder later.

"I refuse. Name a different price for the whereabouts of Margaret Dresden, my daughter." He looked a bit put out, but not for long.

"Very well. For the whereabouts of Margaret Dresden, your daughter, I demand a Name I have not heard before." Now this would be tough. I had no idea what he would know or not know. I didn't know that many Names to begin with, let alone one he wouldn't know. I decided to try one from the Nickelheads.

"Polienius Lartessa." He looked bored, changing form every now and then.

"No. I've known that one for a long time. And I do insist on the whole Name, not a simple trifle." Well damn. That was about as obscure as I was willing to let go. I needed something else.

"I refuse. Name another price for the whereabouts of Margaret Dresden, my daughter." He looked surprised, as if his last offer was generous. He mulled it over a bit, and finally responded.

"This is my final offer, Harry Blackstone Dresden. I offer but a single question."

This couldn't be good.

"Tell me, Harry Blackstone Dresden, what is your Name. If you answer, I promise to not divulge it, nor use it against you." My brain went into overdrive, thinking about what he said. As a being of the NeverNever, his promises would hold him. I realized I didn't have much choice. Plus, if he held his word, it wasn't so horrifying.

"My Name," I said, "Is Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden." Del-ja's eyes lit up. He responded in a softer voice than before. "Thank you, Harry Dresden. I must tell you it is a shock to know how much you've changed from twenty years ago." I froze. I answered.

"You knew my Name twenty years ago?"

"But of course. You gave your Name to Lea for power. She gave it to Mab, who in turn gave it to me. I was furious when it didn't work ten years later."

I cut in here. "If you wanted my Name to work back then, why did you promise to not use it now?"

He gave a wistful smile. "I had an offer. Your current Name for more power than even the Mothers possess."

This scared me. The Mothers were the past representation of the Queens of Summer and Winter. They were extremely powerful, but bound by restrictions. It scared me I had pissed of something more powerful than the Mothers. I started wondering just how much of an irritant I was to the Dark. Something else to ponder later. I snapped out of my reverie, realizing I not only had just been pleasantly chatting with a demon, I had completely ignored him. Oh, this guy was good. Very good. I was starting to see why he was considered King of the Wyldfae. I asked him in a harder tone than normal.

"Del-ja, I have given you my True Name. I bid thee tell me the whereabouts of Margaret Dresden, my daughter."

He smiled, showing teeth filed into points.

"Your daughter is held on the island you have claimed and named Demonreach." I gave a wolf's grin. Demonreach was mine now. The naagloshii was about to be demolished.

We got in my car and I drove to the dock where the Water Beetle was. Thomas started it up while I untied it. There were no problems getting to Whatsup Dock, built by my brother and me. As soon as I stepped on the soil of Demonreach, I knew everything about the island. The average temperature(67 degrees Fahrenheit) the number of man-made structures on the island (17) and most importantly, the location of my daughter. I couldn't tell very much about the structure my daughter was in other than dimensions, but it was new. I started to walk, and Charity and Thomas struggled to catch up.

"Harry", Charity said. "What's the plan here?"

I answered quickly, barely thinking about it. "We go in, kill the son of a bitch that has my girl, and take her home."

Thomas chimed in. "That's a great plan, Harry. But when did we change the objective from "save Maggie" to "die in screaming pain"?"

I looked over at him, a snarl forming on my face. Then I realized the Winter mantle had started taking control. I took a deep breath, and thought. I decided my plans normally involved smashing and slashing until all my enemies were dead or incapacitated. Logic showed that was not a smart plan.

"I have a suggestion, my host." Lash said, appearing in front of me.

"Ok", I replied. "Let's hear it."

Lash whispered the plan to me, and my smile got bigger and bigger.

I beckoned Charity and Thomas over.

"Ok, guys. Here's what we're going to do..."

and there's chapter four. what do you think? please review!