I led Michael out of the ballroom and into the portrait gallery.

"Well Grandma Mary, I'm ready to do whatever it is that I have to do to get my parents back." Her voice resounded in the empty hall.

"Well Chrissy-Lily, that's wonderful. Now, answer a question for me. How did Leota get here in the first place?"

I thought for a moment. "Is the answer 'because Daddy hired her?'"

She laughed. "You've got it, honey."

Michael narrowed his eyes. "Peach, what does who your daddy hired have to do with anything?"

That made me snort a little bit. "Michael, it matters because now that Daddy's dead, the house, and everyone in it, including Leota, is under my control. Daddy named me the legitimate heir in his will."

Michael still looked clueless. "Excuse me for sounding repetitive here, but I still don't get what any of this has to do with you."

Grandma Mary sighed. "Please act more intelligent then you are right now. I know you're capable of it."

Michael nodded, and I took his hand. "Michael, Daddy hired Leota when he owned the house, so now that I own it, I have the ability to fire her. Do you understand?"

His eyes lit up. "All right, I get it now. But I know it won't be easy. Leota's a power-hungry monster, and she won't give up without a fight."

I nodded. "But I'm not going to be nice. When Leota alienated Daddy, she alienated the one person in our house who actually liked her. now she has to deal with the consequences, and revenge, southern style. I want to fire her for everybody here, especially Mama, who wanted it so badly, but couldn't do it herself."

Then, Grandma Mary spoke again. "Well, girl, are you just going to stand there and talk about what you're going to do, or are you going to go to the séance room and do it?"

I felt a new energy flowing inside me. A strong energy that gave me a power rush that I never thought I would ever experience. Once again, I grabbed Michael's hand, and we left the portrait gallery, heading for the séance room, the place where my doom had been pronounced so many years before.

The moment I stepped in the room, I felt hostility. I felt evil. I felt trapped. But with Michael's hand in mine, it was easy to push these feelings away and hold my head high.

"Hello, Leota."

Suddenly, mist began to swirl around in her crystal ball, and in a matter of seconds, Leota's face appeared. She looked at me and forced a grin.

"Hello there, Christine." She laughed dryly. "Aren't you the clever little girl? Going all the way to Thunder Mesa to get yourself a boyfriend to foil my plans."

I nodded. "And thanks for the welcoming committee by the way, I really appreciated it."

She didn't blink. "Oh, you mean Scott? He tried, but he was a worthless child really."

I could feel my jaw drop. "You don't know how to love anybody do you? Has anybody ever loved you?"

She frowned. "Love is a foolish emotion. It gets you nowhere in life."

I shook my head. "You're wrong. I know of three people who feel differently. My mother, my father, Emily."

She rolled her eyes. "You're father was a fool, Christine. You say he knew how to love, but he really didn't. He was insane."

I held her eyes. "Oh, really? Then how com you're the one in the crystal ball and he isn't? He committed suicide so that you would be trapped there forever, and I wouldn't be in your control for the rest of my life. He may have been crazy at times and had a weird way of showing that he knew how to love, but the reason why you're trapped in there and I'm out here talking to you is because my father loved me, and for that, I love him."

Just then, there was a sound from the foyer. Michael asked me if I would be all right by myself for a few minutes while he left and investigated. I said that I would and he left.

He didn't come back forever, and just when I was beginning to get worried, he came running in with a wide grin on his face. He grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the ballroom.

"Michael, what in the world are you doing? I have to fire Leota before I get out of there." His zeal was a little frightening.

He shook his head. "No, you don't have to fire her."

I was confused. "Of course I do. It's the only way to bring Mama and Daddy back."

Finally, we were in the foyer, and Michael stopped running and let go of my hand. I could see a man standing there with his back to me, facing my father's picture. As he turned around to face me, I felt shock permeate my body. Michael saw my expression and grinned.

"Oh, really Peach? If firing Leota is the only way to bring your father back, then what's he doing standing in the foyer?"

I couldn't make words for a reply. I could only wipe away my happy tears as I ran into my father's waiting arms.

A/n- Not over quite yet.Twomore chapters.

Aquarian Wolf- The sequel is taking over my brain. It's almost hard to finish these last chapters! The Electric Slide part was an important development of Christine's character, so I wouldn't leave it out. Thanks for all the compliments!

Melanie Gracey- Thanks. I'll get that review of yours done today.