Chapter 11: Making It Official
Spooker looked at the Hauntleys. "I know it's a lot to think about, especially after the twins just started calling you two 'Mom' and 'Dad', but this could secure their safety," he said.
"These men...all this just for some money?" Boris asked.
"Yes," Spooker said. "They want revenge on the kids' grandfather, but since he has passed on, they want Poppy and Edgar to use as hostages to get their money back."
Oxana looked thoughtful. "What if we paid them?" She said suddenly. "They could leave us alone and the twins will be alright."
The pumpkin-headed being shook his head. "No good," he said. "They really want those kids."
"And I just found out why," came Phantasia's voice as she appeared in front of them. "My little wind spy found out something that puts more urgency into this matter of the name change."
"What happened?" Boris asked.
The mage took a deep breath. "The twins' birth father is alive and he's looking for his children," she said.
Spooker jumped up in shock. "He's alive?" He asked. "But...I thought...,"
"Edna never told us if he was alive or not," Phantasia reminded him gently. "Only that she didn't want him to find the twins."
Oxana looked worried. "Why didn't she want him to be with his children?" She asked.
"Because he's part of the same group that Edna left and they wanted her back," the mage said. "When she found out who he really was, he left her and the babies. Not sure why he didn't take them hostage."
"Maybe there's something we're missing," Boris said.
Spooker shook his head. "We've covered all bases," he said. "But this means we need to have the children take your last name as their own for their safety."
"I've found a judge who is willing to sign the documents and then we'll have them sealed away," Phantasia said. "But we need to do this now."
The Hauntleys looked at each other before nodding. "Can we simply add our last name to theirs?" Oxana asked. "That way...they don't have to give up a tie to their mother?"
Spooker looked thoughtful. "It could be joined with their middle name," he said.
Phantasia nodded before snapping her fingers, some papers appearing in front of her and she quickly entered the twins' names and put it that the twins wanted to add on the last name of Hauntley to their own. She handed the papers to the couple, who signed them and gave them back to her. "I'll give these to the judge and hopefully have some good news soon," she said.
Just then, Lune appeared beside her and he looked at the mage. "Phantasia, there is another reason the father is looking for the children," he said. "He doesn't just want them to live with him, but he's hoping to gain access to their inheritance because his company is going bankrupt."
"We can't let him get to the kids or their inheritance," the mage said. "Spooker, guard those kids with your life. Mr. and Mrs. Hauntley, it might be best to pull all three kids from school until this matter is settled. I'll personally speak to Mr. Gore and the principal myself."
Boris nodded. "Perhaps we can have the children tutored here?" He suggested.
"If so, then I offer to have them tutored at my place," Phantasia said. "My home is fully equipped with a school room and Lune is an excellent teacher. He taught me not only in magic once I stepped into continue my master's work, but also helped me when I struggled in school."
"I'd be more than happy to help the three young ones," Lune said with a nod.
Spooker smiled. "And I can bring them back and forth from the mansion to here," he said.
Oxana looked at Phantasia and nodded. "Thank you for your generous offer. How much will we owe you?" She asked.
"No charge," the mage said. "Edna already paid me to make sure the children would be safe. This is me not only doing as she asked, but also because I care about the twins and Vampirina."
Boris nodded and called the children to come downstairs. They did and when they heard the news, the twins were pensive, but then downright fearful when hearing their own birth father wanted them. "He's not very nice," Poppy said. "Mom didn't know it, but we saw a letter from him to her once and he said he'd take us away from her, that she was a terrible mom."
"Well, we know that's not the case," Spooker said. "Your mom loved you both dearly."
The twins appreciated him saying that and Poppy looked worried. "So we won't be going to school?" She asked.
"Miss Phantasia has generously offered that you three come to her home where you will have a tutor, so that you don't fall behind," Oxana said.
"So we get to learn from a mage?" Edgar said, his eyes wide. "Will we learn magic and stuff?"
Phantasia, Spooker, and Lune chuckled. "No, you will be learning your school subjects, my boy," Lune said.
"But if you do well in your studies, then I might be persuaded to have you all watch as I do some magic," Phantasia said with a smile.
Spooker chuckled. "Master knows a lot about magic," he said. "Maybe she'll even show you her personal collections of magical bugs and the magical garden."
The twins were intrigued and Vampirina looked very interested too before she looked worried. "But what about Mr. Gore? What will he say to it?" She asked.
"You leave that to me," Phantasia said. "But I'm sure he'll be willing to work with us."
With that, she vanished to talk to the kids' teacher and the principal. Mr. Gore was reasonable and understood, gathering all the work for the rest of the year for the kids before looking around and then leaning in closer to Phantasia to tell her something. "Some of the kids have been noticing men in suits walking around the perimeter of the school and even the same cars have driven by," he said.
The mage felt her blood run cold. "Have any of them tried to approach the kids?" She asked.
"No, but the sight of them still startles the children."
Taking the assignments, Phantasia thanked Mr. Gore and went to talk to the principal, who at first wasn't eager to give the three students an excused absence. "It's just not policy," she said.
"Ma'am, I'm talking about three children whose lives are in danger if you don't agree to this," the mage said. "There are already reports from the children of seeing men in suits stalking the school and the same cars coming by daily. The men are dangerous and looking to kidnap Poppy and Edgar, and possibly Vampirina."
"Friends that the parents need to be a bit more careful about being around their children," the principal said.
Before Phantasia could angrily protest, screams erupted from the playground and the fire alarm rang. "Put the school on lockdown!" A teacher's voice cried out.
Both the principal and Phantasia exited the office and Mr. Gore came up to them. "One of those men entered the playground and the wind blew his jacket away to reveal a gun," he said. "The teacher for playground duty saw him and quickly texted another teacher to pull the fire alarm and put the school on lockdown."
"And the man that entered the playground?" The mage asked.
"Ran off, but I believe he had every intent to kidnap Poppy and Edgar, should he have found them."
Phantasia looked at the principal with a hardened gaze. "If you don't grant Poppy, Edgar, and Vampirina a leave of absence, you put them in danger, as you just heard," she said. "What if these children were your own? Would you still send them to a place where you've learned dangerous people are and that they are looking to kidnap your children?"
The principal tried to speak, but couldn't. "Miss, please grant my three students a leave of absence," Mr. Gore said. "I'm sure they'll have no issue with keeping up with their schoolwork as I've already given Miss Phantasia all the assignments for the rest of the year. For the sake of the children's lives...please."
The principal silently wrote a note and gave it to Phantasia. "Thank you," she said politely before heading out. Seeing the coast was clean, she headed back for the house.
When Oxana and Boris heard about the school incident, they were worried. "Are the other children okay?" Oxana asked.
"A little shook up, but alright, none the less," Phantasia said. "I'll send some of my wind spies to help guard this place."
Boris nodded. "I honestly hope this all blows over soon," he said.
"Believe me, me too," the mage said.
I really hope it does, she thought to herself. For this family's sake.
Looks like things are getting worrisome now.
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GoldGuardian2418
