Chapter X

"Sora, Zoe, and Tom Bohnne!" Vincent said almost cheerfully.

Sora and Tom were surprised at how the man behind the desk knew all of their names.

"Number 13," Barkis interrupted, "I caught Number 278 aiding the escape of Sora and Tom Bohnne. What is your response to this act of mutiny?" The last word was said as a hiss as his eyes shot angrily at Zoe.

Vincent's eyes left the children to meet Barkis'. "You really, truly are that stupid, aren't you?"

The children were shocked by Vincent's choice of words and giggled to themselves.

Barkis was equally dumbfounded. "Sir, whatever do you mean? Number 278 is a traitor. That means—"

"I know what 'traitor' means, Bittern." he retorted to the corpse.

He stammered. "B-but I d-don't unders—"

"Of course you don't! Get the hell out of my office!"

Barkis appeared to be ready with a response, but decided it was best to shut up and left the office, grumbling.

Vincent looked at the children again. "I apologize, kids," said Vincent. "Now, how can I help you?" His casualness seemed extremely off-color.

"Okay," said Tom, who had just been trying to decipher everything that had just happened, "WHO ARE YOU, AND WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!"

Sora elbowed his friend in the ribs. "What my friend means to say, is 'who are you, and can you please explain to us what's happening?'"

"Certainly," said the former Edgar Alan Poe obsessive. "That's essentially the preliminary inquiry to everything in the multiverse, isn't it?" He chuckled a little bit, and then began again.

"My name is Vincent Malloy, known around here as Number 13. I was born on August 25th, 1975 and--"

"Can you hurry this up?" Tom asked impatiently. "What we really wanna know is the deal with IDP."

Vincent smiled warmly. "Of course, my friend; IDP stands for InterDimensional Powers. We are indirectly responsible for the significant events that have occurred throughout all of history of any world or universe."

"Wait, so you guys are like God, or something?" asked Sora.

Vincent chuckled. "No, not really; we are more similar fate than God. We even decide whether a world will survive, or will be destroyed."

"How do you decide that?"

"I'm not entirely sure." said Vincent, looking a bit embarrassed that he didn't know all the facts. "IDP is made up of ranks. I'm the 2nd to highest rank, but there are members who are above me; they decide the destiny of all the worlds; dimensions; universes—whatever you wanna call it."

"I see…sort of." Sora said, thinking it all over. "But why was Betelgeuse trying to kidnap me? How many of you guys are there?"

"Hundreds of thousands," he replied, "and the number still grows. People join our organization for numerous reasons; some enjoy the benefits of protection from us, but there are many more. Me? Well, I was bored." He laughed shortly. "As for my colleague's intentions, they were not his own. Sora, our organization has reason to believe you are extremely dangerous. And you are."

Tom scoffed. "Are you kidding? Sora's a wimp wouldn't hurt a fly."

"Thanks, Tom." said Sora sarcastically.

"He wouldn't hurt a fly knowingly." Vincent explained, turning to Sora. "Your DNA is highly unstable. It is not only that of humans; there is also some dragon DNA involved in your genetic makeup."

"What?!" Sora asked disbelievingly.

"We don't know how it happened," Vincent replied, "One of your ancestors, possibly one of your parents, could have had an affair. We only know that if you get frightened or angry enough, you could snap and that little bit of dragon that's inside of you could wreak havoc."

Sora was practically blindsided by all the information he was receiving at once. Then, he thought of something.

"After havoc was wreaked…" he began, "would I remember anything at all about it?"

"I doubt it." Vincent said after a moment of thought. "It's human nature for our minds to block out such and similar memories or thoughts."

"THAT'S IT!" Sora shouted suddenly.

"Yes, that's it." he said softly, knowing what Sora meant. "That's why you came to Halloweentown; you screwed things up on Earth by losing it and you almost charred Zoe's father. IDP wants you in custody because they are not responsible for your coming to Halloweentown; you messed with nature by coming here.

"Why is that enough grounds to arrest him?" asked Zoe.

"It's not. But Sora is highly dangerous, in a deranged state.

Sora looked up at Vincent, hopelessly confused. "So…what do I do?"