The effects of remembering who he was surprised Jack at first. Now that he was staying with Mama Gaia, he took to brushing Jamie's hair for her every morning, just like he did for Leah as a child. How he'd ever confused the two was beyond him, though; Jamie really only shared her personality. Poppy took note of this activity quickly and demanded her hair also be brushed and styled.

"Well, I'm not really a stylist," he laughed, "but I think I could do some nice braids."

So Jack sat down every morning with the two girls and brushed and braided their hair. They had breakfast together, then Jack seemed to vanish until night returned. He would help Mama Gaia tuck the young ones in for bed and turn himself in for the night. For a few weeks, Jamie watched and noted his behavior until finally asking where he went during the day. He looked over his shoulder to make sure no one was listening and spoke very softly.

"Well, you know that Pitch still has Tooth's fairies, right?" he asked. "Vanish is doing her job right now, with Baby Tooth helping."

"But why are you gone?"

"Vanish can't stay here forever. She's not a guardian and has other jobs to do," Jack explained. "Someone has to find Pitch's hiding place. I've been helping North and Bunny look for it."

"I can help!"

Jack hushed her and settled her back into bed.

"I know, I know. But it's dangerous right now. Pitch… changed how he does things," said Jack.

"Changed?"

Jack nodded. "Nightmares are only scary until you wake up. He's found a way to make the world afraid outside of dreams."

"How?"

Jack scratched his neck. "Can you keep a secret?" Jamie nodded, and he said, "I don't think he cared if I stayed Vortex or not. If I did, he got an ally. And if I got you, so did he. But I think he was testing his new idea. I think he wanted to know if he could trick someone into being afraid. Right now, out there? People are really scared."

Jamie sighed. "Why does he want me?" she asked softly.

"I dunno. Maybe he thinks you're like your mom? Or maybe he's afraid of you."

"Of me?"

Jack chuckled, "I dunno if you noticed, kiddo, but you've got a strong imagination. Then again, I fall for illusions all the time."

Jamie scrunched her face in confusion, and Jack continued, "I swear, you looked exactly like my sister in the clearing that day. It brought me back from the darkness."

Jamie laughed nervously. "Oh, that. I wasn't sure it worked."

"Yeah, you got me good, Goose. Keep working on that, and you'll take Pitch's place as the master of illusions."

"Yeah…"

"In the meantime, you stay here and stay safe," Jack said, smoothing Jamie's hair. "Learn everything you can, so you can help us kick bad-guy butt someday. Right now, though, it's time to sleep."

"Right. Good night, Jack."

Jamie rolled to her side as Jack left, closing the door behind him.

Jamie sighed and tried to relax. Stay calm, she told herself. Jack said he's trying to trick people into being afraid, and Pitch knows what scares you.

Sleep eluded Jamie most of the night. She tossed at the memories of a dark room with a small dresser and a mattress on the floor. The sense of being watched followed her whenever she started to drift. It wasn't fair. Jack had his answers, now where were hers? Finally, she sat up and stared at the moon.

"You know I didn't use magic. How did I do that? What am I?" she asked out loud.

Special.

"That's not an answer."

When you're older. I promise.

A bleary-eyed Jamie scoffed at Mim and stared at her hands. Answers, it seemed, would only come in riddles tonight. In the meantime, she would try to sleep, play with the other children, and pretend for Jack that she hadn't taken Leah's face by accident. And she would wait, with strained patience, for the day Mim decided she was ready to join the others.

But that, my dear, is a tale for a different day.

END