Author's Note: Don't forget to read and review! They really do help. I'm taking a lot of hours this next semester, plus working, so every bit of encouragement or constructive feedback helps! As such, it's going to be challenging to keep up with updates.

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Chapter 43

Settle

Lily watched with piercing ice-blue eyes as the spirit climbed down from an ivy-covered tree outside her mistress's sibling's window.

He meant no harm, as she had discovered. The strange skeletal man said a few words to a large man that smelt like a bird she saw hours ago.

He wore feathers and a long overcoat. He smelled tasty, but self-preservation overrode her hunting instincts.

"Rwmeow!" she half-growled, and dark divot-like eyes turned toward her.

The skeleton crouched down while the bird glared at her and fluffed up amusingly as she jumped out of her sleeping pot, shaking dry dirt from her fur. She sat in front of the two creatures and licked her cream-white coat down, unafraid after observing them bring back the children. Her tail curled around her feet. But that wasn't the only reason she wasn't running.

She smelled Anna on them. It was faint but strong enough to tell Anna was with these men recently. She knew Anna was dead, so the fresh scent gave her another question to ask.

The skeleton creature had asked for her permission to enter the house when she jumped out of the bushes to scratch and hiss at their silent arrival. How strange. It was an important detail. Strange indeed. Spirits that wandered from the street didn't ask permission or rarely cared too.

They sometimes noticed a pet guarding the house and moved on, not interested in entering. Those wanderers often couldn't enter homes anyway, so Lily and the neighboring cats and dogs didn't bother worrying. That stupid parrot next door was an ass though. He taunted the goblin that liked to eat rabbits out of his owner's garden. The old human woman who owned the dumb thing thought it cute the bird loved to whistle and say 'hello' to an empty yard.

Lily turned her icy eyes back to the skeleton as he reached out. He made clicking noises people tended to when they wanted her to like them.

The skeleton scratched the cat under the chin. She leaned into the touch, trying to get a better sense of Anna's smell off the man's hand, only mildly surprised he felt solid and real.

"You belong to Annalise, don't you," the skeleton said, amused. "What a strange familiar you are. Not a hint of black anywhere, I believe." He took her face in his fingers, turning her head to the side to inspect her before she yanked away and swiped at him with a low hiss.

The bird snorted. "Are we bringing her along, Jack?" He looked at the cat in distaste.

"Should we? Anna must miss her. Hello, you adorable vicious thing."

"Wouldn't…we have to kill it?"

"Hmm. Annalise may not appreciate that," the skeleton mused, not keen on the idea. He ruffled the small cat's head and stood up, "Thank you for allowing entry, little one."

Lily watched them go as they faded into the shadows. She waited a few more seconds before lifting her nose to catch their scent.

0000

Anna was still sitting by the fountain when Jack returned to Halloween, her shirt and bones still drenched in her brother's blood. The fountain was still a mess too, despite Anna's effort to wash the red away. Her wet clothes undid all her work earlier. A dripping trail of red led out the town gates in one direction and up to Doctor Finklestein's tower in the other.

A dozen or so monsters were gathered around, trying to get some more answers out of the skeleton as to why two young humans were dragged into their town, one half-alive, the other uttering screeches that made some monsters jealous. They had left Anna alone at first, even after the human girl made some trouble and got told off by her skeleton sister. They were only brave enough to approach in attempts to pry something out of her when Jack and Nevermore left with the children.

Anna was silent, refusing to respond to the simplest of the questions.

"Did you kill someone, Anna? Did you kill a human? That smells like human blood."

Anna could hear Jersey's soft but scratchy voice as the young winged-demon looked up at her with wide, curious eyes, her tiny claws hooking into the skeleton's pants as she tried to get Anna's attention.

"Anna? Anna? Are you in there?" she said, reaching up to gently tap Anna on the head.

"You should leave her alone, sis," Jersey's elder brother Angus said, glancing around in worry for their parents.

Vinnie nodded in agreement.

"Is she in…shock?" someone muttered.

Vlad glanced at Jack, the first to notice the king's return as he slipped through the town gate. The vampire nudged the Creature, who had joined to witness the commotion after hearing that the humans were finally gone.

Jack eyed the Classics as he approached, not forgetting the earlier conversation.

"No, I think she can hear us," someone else growled, tentacles flexing in irritation. "She's being difficult. Rather selfish with all the trouble she's caused today."

"Has anyone checked on the witches? I heard Zeldabourne wasn't well. She's still with Finklestein."

"At least Jack got those humans out of here before we had another Ivy situation."

"Did he? How did they get here in the first place?"

"Ask that one! The newcomer is of no help."

Annalise glimpsed out the side of her sockets to watch Little Braid's face pale as a claw pointed at the Thanksgiving Citizen who had returned after Jack left.

The poor Thanksgiving Citizen had stayed close by Anna with no idea what else she was supposed to do. She had already explained what had happened to her leaders, and Jack didn't need her help to return the humans before the portal closed. She should have just gone home, but she had opted to keep an eye on Anna. She wasn't sure why. The skeleton had people to take care of her.

Little Braid backed up on instinct as a few monsters looked her way. They had ignored her up to this point, but well aware she was there. She was awkwardly standing on the other side of the fountain watching monsters interrogate Annalise. A soft hand touching her shoulder saved her from the unfamiliarity, and Little Braid yelped before realizing Sally had come up behind her.

The ragdoll lent the Thanksgiving Citizen a small friendly smile, seemingly unaware of her jumpiness and turned toward the other weird-looking monsters.

They were indeed more diverse than Thanksgiving Town.

"Alright, everyone, show our guest some hospitality, please," Sally requested gently.

"Sally, what in Halloween is going on!"

Anna coughed, catching everyone's attention. She stood up.

Sally looked behind the crowd instead of answering the rabble. "Jack. You're back."

Citizens immediately shut up and parted to let Jack pass as he walked to stand in front of Annalise.

They were both silent as they stared at each other.

"Is she okay, Jack?" Jersey asked from beside Anna's leg.

"Yeah, Jack. What sort of excitement did we miss?" Lock spoke, making his, Shock, and Barrel's presence known.

Jack cast the small devil a warning glance and turned back to Annalise. "She'll be alright, Jersey. Annalise?"

"Are they okay?" Anna's voice startled a few who had expected her to stare at Jack blankly.

"Your brother woke up just fine. No memories of tonight," Jack said, ignoring how monsters whispered at the word "brother" behind him. "Your sister…she seemed to remember some, but I believe she'll pass it off as a particularly thrilling nightmare. The spell was a bit messier with how she resisted." He chuckled awkwardly.

The human girl had thrown a fit, subconsciously not wanting to forget the night despite not knowing the words Jack had muttered as her sister held her. It was admittedly depressing. A shame she had a moment to connect with Anna, all for naught.

Anna nodded, looking down at the blood on her hands. "How did I…what did I do?"

Perhaps Jack would have more answers than that reaper, though she doubted it.

Jack didn't answer but gestured toward Finkelstein's tower.

Annalise stared at him for a second before turning.

"Will you tell us anything?" Nicholas asked.

"Soon, my friends. First, I have a few things to sort, but explanations will be forthcoming. Little Braid?"

The spirit jumped, swallowing as the attention was on her again. She had no place here. She was out of her element. Maybe she should go…

"I'll take her to the Manor, Jack," Sally offered, "Give her a little tea before she goes home?"

"A wonderful idea, Sally."

Little Braid shuddered a sigh of relief and followed Sally, nervous about turning her back on the other monsters. She peeped over her shoulder a few times.

Annalise walked ahead of Jack.

They got to Doctor Finklestein's tower, and Annalise immediately felt sick at the sight of bloody tools and an operating table.

"Please tell me you used anesthetic," she begged as sat in a chair in the corner of the room as she stared at the table in horror.

The soft glow of her eye sockets seemed dull, and she clenched her hands in stress.

The Doctor greeted Jack and continued to wipe his hands off. "On that boy? My work on that child deserves to be properly experienced, however, at your insistence, yes. I used a strong sleeping potion, my dear."

"Thank you, Doctor. An excellent job," Jack said.

"A rushed one, Jack! What are you doing, bursting in here demanding I save the life of a random human then rushing me like that?!" Dr. Finklestein snapped, tossing a bloodied rag at Jack's face. "And giving me a timed limit too! Two hours!? I prefer not to do sloppy work. It was no help having that other human screaming her lungs out locked in Sally's old room down the hall. I told you to send both her and Annalise out. They were much too distracting."

Anna stilled. "You didn't…cut corners, did you? H-he…James is okay right?"

"He's fine. He's fine. Sewn up and all those organs in their proper place," the doctor waved her concerns off. "Blood replicated and replaced, trauma minimized, scars hidden." He looked pleased. "A fine job. Better than anything those limited humans upstairs could accomplish." He scoffed derisively. "He would have bled out while they beat their heads over the sulfur in his blood. He may feel some mild soreness, with no idea where it came from. I'm insulted you'd doubt my skill, dear. I trust the memory wipe on the girl was successful too?"

"Yes," Jack answered. "Well, there seemed to be some retained memories, but nothing too clear."

"Good. Good! Now then, Annalise, what's this Jack says of you literally burning a demon out of that boy? Your…brother?"

"I was hoping you knew," Annalise said quietly. "Or you." She squinted at Jack.

"What sort of mess have you two caused?" Dr. Finklestein grumbled as he wheeled around the lab. "No monster has the power to do something like that. I've never heard of such a thing."

"Nor have I," Jack said.

Finklestein continued as if Jack hadn't spoken. "There's a spell that can do something similar but the preparations…" he shook his head.

"We didn't have time or supplies to even accidentally conduct that ritual," Jack interrupted with a troubled expression on his skull. "One moment the demon possessing Annalise's brother was gutting himself, the next Annalise had set both herself and him on fire without harming…" he glanced at Anna.

"James."

"Without harming…James," Jack said, trying not to dwell on the name. "The demon was cast out, and, for lack of a better term, cremated alive."

Anna grimaced but didn't argue.

"Intriguing," Dr. Finklestein said as he grabbed a scalpel and flashlight. "Annalise, come here at once. Sit down."

"I'm not sitting on the table," she said, walking over. The metallic smell of her brother blood was overpowering.

"Then sit on the floor, girl! I don't care. Look here. Look here," he held a light to her sockets, checking them each before taking Anna's hand.

"Ow!" she yelled as he scratched her finger with the knife.

He released her and took a glass slide of bone scrapings and dust to his giant microscope. "Go away while I study this. You've got a few souls itching for answers outside." There was something nervous in his voice, but he ignored both skeletons after that.

Jack and Anna walked back outside, Anna sucking on her stinging finger.

"He's got a terrible bedside manner," she said.

Jack chuckled.

"But I'm grateful. He saved my brother, Jack. I didn't think anyone could…" She held her arm in an attempt at self-comfort. There had been an awful lot of blood. She was still soaked in it.

Jack knew it would be inappropriate to suggest she keep the delightfully frightening look.

"He's incredibly knowledgeable," he said, "Thank him when he's in a better mood."

Anna nodded, noticing the crowd that had gathered in Guillotine Plaza. They had a bird's eye view of a good portion of the town from the Doctor's front porch.

"You needn't deal with them now," Jack said. He gestured at a path that led away from the town square and circled down behind the tower. "I'll handle the…immediate demands. Would you please…would you please wait for me at Skellington Manor?"

"I'm going to check on Zeldabourne first," Anna said, her voice dipping colder in her speech to Jack again as the events settled into her bones.

"She's alright then?" Jack said, thinking they had passed a room holding the unconscious witch as they left the tower.

"She woke up and stormed back home. I was sitting on the fountain, and she tried to ask me what happened. But I didn't feel like talking, so she left me alone and stomped off to go yell at Helgamine."

"Be sure to ask how Helgamine is doing. There could be lingering effects of the spell backlashing at her."

Anna nodded before turning to walk down the path.

Jack watched her go, noting how calmly she was handling the aftermath. He wasn't fooled.

He sighed and went to give some answers regarding the whole runaway debacle.

0000

Anna muttered to herself as she walked, ducking to enter a short tunnel. Pain twisted in her chest at the lost chances. Her brother and sister were here, then gone. They spoke. They cried. And then nothing. What was she supposed to think about that?

At least they were safe. Or were they? She had no reason to believe demons wouldn't try to lure her out with them again.

Jack assured her he placed a protection spell and that she could check on them from a distance, but still.

She rubbed at her sockets.

0000

"Your house is…uh…" Little Braid said or tried to. She stared up at the architecture of Jack's house with a concerned expression. "Big." She winced and tried to hide her thought behind a sip of the tea Sally gave her. It tasted strange, but she at least recognized the cinnamon and nutmeg. It was a weird color, so she made it a point not to look.

"It's rather grand," Sally said, a touch of pride in her eyes. She leaned back in her chair a bit with a bright adoring smile. "Jack built it himself, you know."

"He did?" Braid said, eyes widening as she looked around the kitchen with a newer sense of awe. "By himself?"

"I'm sure some monsters helped," Sally said, "Or maybe they didn't. I'm really not sure. I'll ask him." She tilted her head in thought, red yarn-like hair falling into her face a bit.

There was knock at the front door, and Little Braid screamed, already on edge, her hands jerking up to spill hot tea all over her dress. She screamed again, this time in a little pain.

Sally looked at Little Braid with a frown, startled at the unnecessary reaction.

The door unlatched, and there was the sound of footsteps running toward the kitchen before Annalise stuck her head the doorway. She saw the wet dress and guessed what happened, a small smirk growing upon seeing that Little Braid wasn't in danger by a well-meaning citizen.

"Startled you there?" Anna chuckled, turning her head, "Hi, Sally."

"All is well?" The ragdoll gave Little Braid a sympathetic look and handed her a kitchen rag.

"As well as it can be," Anna muttered, coming further into the kitchen.

Little Braid swallowed and stared at the red still staining the front of Anna's white blouse as if she was bleeding from her stomach. The blood was visible on the black of her jacket and her pants too, but more as slowing drying slick. Dried bits crusted off as brownish dust. How in Thanksgiving was Annalise not more bothered?!

"Have you seen the witches? Are they doing well?" Sally asked.

Anna shrugged, "The shop was closed, and the doorknob shocked me when I tried to open it. I think they're sleeping off their injuries."

"Oh, that's good. How about you?" Sally patted the seat of another chair and got up to get Anna a cup of tea.

Anna slid into the set next to Little Braid. She leaned her skull on the chair backrest and glared at the ceiling. "I feel terrible."

Little Braid didn't say anything. She took another sip of her tea and looked to Sally for guidance. How did monsters comfort each other? Did they? She couldn't imagine anything she would say would be relatable to Anna, not after witnessing the strange world she lived in. She wouldn't be surprised if getting one's head cut off was some sort of neck massage for them.

Sally didn't say anything either and came back to the table with another cup, setting it in front of Anna. She took her own and held it in her hands but didn't drink.

"Did you hear what your little sister did?" Sally prompted.

"After waking up in a strange world and her last memories being that of her twin dying? It's no surprise."

"Wait. What happened?"

Sally smiled over her cup while Anna looked a little more upset.

"You went back to Thanksgiving right after, didn't you?" the tall skeleton said.

Little Braid nodded. "To tell the Governor and Chief what happened. Then I came back to check on you."

"Don't ever come back through the wood alone again," Anna said in an odd tone. "It's dangerous."

Little Braid shrunk back a bit. If a monster said it was dangerous…

There was something different about Anna's personality in Halloween. She was shorter with her words. She acted far surer of herself. Little Braid wasn't sure if it was Anna being in her own holiday that did it, or because she was out of reach of demons.

Braid suspected it was the latter. She felt out of place here. She couldn't wait to get back to Thanksgiving and see a bit of color in people's cheeks.

Anna sighed, still staring at the ceiling. "My sister passed out coming into Halloween, you know that much. Jack took us all up to the Doctor's tower, where the doctor worked on my brother. We put Jillian in a spare room…"

"That used to be my old room, by the way," Sally added.

"I guess she woke up while I was talking to Nevermore at the bar and well…" Anna rubbed her face, fingertips hooking into her sockets as she groaned. "She escaped out the window with a rope of bedsheets."

"I suppose just throwing herself from the window was out of the question," Sally said, mostly to herself with a smile.

Anna glanced at Sally, confused but didn't ask. "She ran into town. Ran into a few citizens. Freaked out."

"I heard she hit Mr. Dracula over the head with a stick," Sally said. "His pride was rather…damaged."

Anna cracked a smile then sobered. "She demanded I prove who I was, and when I refused, she broke down before Jack took her and my brother home."

"That's it?" Little Braid asked. "You refused to prove yourself?"

"That's it."

"Y-you didn't try to connect with her or anything? No words you wished you said?" the Thanksgiving Citizen looked devastated. "I don't understand."

Annalise shrugged but didn't correct the spirit.

The three were quiet for a moment.

"What did you and Nevermore talk about?" Sally asked. "At the tavern."

"…"

They watched as Anna's expression twisted to a strange mix of emotions. Concern, disgust, embarrassment, to name a few. But mostly stress.

She sighed, recounting what happened while trying to leave out specific details.

"Rumors. What monsters are thinking about the situation. Jack and my strange behavior."

"Ah."

Annalise stared at Sally. "Did you know?"

Sally stilled, then looked apologetic. She gave Anna a half-hearted and apologetic smile, but it was weak. "Yes. Jack told me."

"I'm missing something…" Little Braid muttered.

Anna glanced at her and frowned. "Jack's my grandfather."

Little Braid immediately coughed and quickly set down her tea. "What?"

"He used to be human. I'm descended from his son that he had in life," Annalise explained with a deadpanned expression. "Demons wanted me because of that connection. They hate Halloween apparently."

"So what? They were expecting a hostage situation?" Little Braid guessed.

"Maybe," Sally said softly, both her and Anna sharing a look.

They all perked up at the sound of the front door opening again, and a minute later, Jack walked in.

He paused to see who was at the table, his gaze lingering on Little Braid a moment longer than the other two.

"Ah, I see you're making yourself comfortable."

"Y-yes, sir."

Jack smiled, gleefully. "And what are your first impressions of our town?" He leaned his arms on the back of a chair and tilted his head at the guest.

"It's…well…definitely different. Frightening." Little Braid glanced at Anna to see if that was the right thing to say.

"Splendid! I do hope you come back to visit Little Braid. Not many citizens of the other holidays do."

"Oh, that's a shame."

Annalise snickered, well aware that tiny thread of sarcasm in Little Braid's voice went right over the other two monsters heads.

"I really should get going…" Little Braid said.

"You and Anna should stay in touch," Sally suggested, and both girls looked confused.

"How exactly would we do that?" Anna asked.

"Letters of course," Jack said with a short laugh. "I'm sure the Wind wouldn't mind ferrying a few between the worlds now and again."

"Huh. We can definitely try," Little Braid said, not asking about the Wind.

Annalise nodded, tilted her head as she did.

Jack nodded. "Would you like someone to chaperone you back to your portal, Miss Braid."

"Yes, sir." She said a bit too quickly, remembering Anna's words.

"I can take her," Annalise said.

Jack shook his head. "I'd rather someone with more familiarity with the Hinterlands did. If you go to the main gate, Nevermore already found someone to assist you."

"Oh. Thanks be to you," Little Braid said bowing a bit. "Goodbye, Anna. I hope everything works out."

"Thank you. And thank you for…you know… saving my brother's life."

Little Braid stilled. "I didn't do anything."

Annalise stared with an unreadable expression. "If you weren't there, we wouldn't have found the portal in time to save him. A reaper was literally counting down the minutes."

"…was that what that was?"

Annalise nodded.

"O-oh well…ah…you're welcome, Anna." Little Braid blushed a bit and stopped at the threshold of the kitchen. "If it counts for anything. I'm glad to have met you."

Anna cracked her a friendly smile as the other holiday spirit left.

Jack walked Little Braid to the door. He was back soon after.

Annalise didn't move from her seat and watched him like a hawk as he sat down across from her.

Sally just watched.

"Annalise…" Jack started.

"Just tell me what you want me to say," Annalise interrupted.

Jack looked regretful but straightened up. "Ah..yes…well, I promised to answer questions at the next meeting. I would like you there. You needn't say anything if you wish. I will explain things."

"How much are you going to explain?"

"As much as you would like me too."

"So if I asked you to tell everyone how you're responsible for my death, you would."

"Yes."

Annalise stared at him. "Why."

"Annalise, I can only think what ill perception of me you must have by now. But please understand I don't mean you harm." Jack leaned forward, his arms resting on the table.

Annalise leaned back and picked up her cup, holding the warmth close to her chest.

"I'm not going to ask you to keep this secret for some ridiculous political gain," Jack said. "Believe me when I say the only reasons I kept this from you and the town was both because of…" He paused, looking for the word with one hand up as if he might pluck it from the air. "Shame and because I didn't want to take away your first weeks in Halloween. I wanted you to fall in love with us of your own accord."

Jack looked out the nearby window, thinking for a minute.

"I…wanted you to see the blossoming of pumpkins on a misty night. The fog that spills out of the fountain. I wanted you to hear the laughs of children after a good fright. I wanted you to argue with Harlequin about those ridiculous shoes he tried to pawn on you."

Annalise looked surprised and tried to stifle a laugh.

"I wanted you to chatter with Nevermore about some book like a couple of schoolgirls. I even wanted you to have that concerning little prank war with Lock, Shock, and Barrel. Perhaps even escalate it a bit." He grimaced.

"Oh, dear," Sally said.

Jack shook his head, frantically. "My point…Annalise…is that I didn't want you trapped here. I wanted you to call this town home, untainted by how you came to be here."

It was very, very hard to ignore that insane bit of hope in his stupid voice.

"Or," Sally interrupted. "Or untainted by any expectations others might have after learning your lineage."

"What expectations? You don't expect me to let you adopt me?"

"I wouldn't be opposed to that," Sally chuckled, amused at the odd look they both gave her.

Jack frowned a bit, looking at Anna. "Expectations? Well, I would assume many would expect you to take some action against me…"

"That's not what I mean, Jack," Sally said. "Did you not consider it? Monsters will treat Annalise different after learning who she is."

"What? Why?" He seemed alarmed.

"She's your granddaughter, Jack," Sally said, rolling her eyes while Anna stared at her tea.

"Well, yes I supposed that may come as a shock…"

She didn't expect him to be missing her point, but she wasn't surprised either.

"All eyes will be on her. She won't be able to move without monsters watching. They'll look at her and expect the best out of everything she does."

"I should hope everyone expects the best out of their fellow citizens."

Sally closed her eyes and shook her head. "Jack…she hasn't even settled and—"

"Is that all the meeting is going to be?" Annalise interrupted, drawing Jack's attention from Sally's excellent points. "You spill your guts…" she could have sworn Jack rolled his eyes. "And everyone reacts while I just sit quietly."

"It's a regular Halloween planning meeting Annalise but concerning you and me…Yes."

"I will have some cruel things to say to you should someone ask," she said softly.

"I would prefer you didn't undermine me, but I can't stop you." He didn't even ask what cruel things she wanted to say.

Sally sighed in such a way that Anna thought she had leaves at the back of her throat. She seemed to be doing that a lot. "Annalise. What do you need?"

Jack looked at Sally and raised his eyebrows as his mouth pressed into a small thin line.

Anna frowned. "I need…time… and space."

"I believe that's the least Jack can offer, isn't that right, Jack?"

How in bloody hell was Sally so calm, sitting there as if they were discussion construction on the other side of town or weather?

Jack quietly leaned back in his seat. "Oh, y-yes. Of course."

00000

Jack and Sally watched from the porch as Anna glimpsed back once more as she left out their gate and went back to the witches' shop.

"What am I do to?" Jack said, staring at Annalise's back as she retreated.

"Oh, Jack…" Sally said. She thought Jack sounded so sad. She took his hand. "She's hurting. Let her."

Jack blinked and knit his brows. "But she shouldn't be. She never should have been hurt in the first place, and I am well aware I am to blame. There must be something I can do so show my…regret." He fidgeted. He looked down at their hands. "Perhaps Harlequin can assist in a new set of clothes. Or…" He sounded almost frantic, gripping Sally's hand tighter.

"No. Absolutely not," Sally said. "Jack, listen to me. Do not write her a poem. Do not get her things or offer to talk or gift her a pet bat or anything you might be thinking would be appropriate."

"But…"

"Jack, listen to me. Anything you do will seem like you're trying to buy her favor…"

"That is not at all what I intend!"

"But that's how it will seem! Let her decide. I think, and I am fairly certain about this, I think you should wait for her to ask you for something. Do not attempt to smooth things over, unless she asks you first. Do you understand?"

Jack backtracked. "Yes. Yes! Why the intensity, my dear?"

"Shall we remember Christmas? A grand idea of taking control of the situation without asking the other side what they wanted. You didn't listen to me then, did you?"

"Ah…I will never unlive that down, shall I?"

"Of course not."