"So let me get this straight..." Lysander was staring at Manfred, who was still slumped over his desk. "Jade is missing, Manfred's...yeah." Even Lysander couldn't grasp the fact that the young man behind the desk in such a foreboding manner was Manfred. Well, not 'foreboding', because the word seemed too Manfred-y. More like, despaired.

"And he asked for our help?" Gabriel finished, shaking his head. Apparently Gabriel couldn't grasp that concept either.

"It's true." Olivia said.

Olivia had dashed out of the office to round up all the other good endowed, and by the time she got everyone together, Charlie had to retell his story a couple of times. He reached for a glass of water and drank the contents in a single take.

"Dude, the story wasn't that long." Fidelio said. Even though Fidelio wasn't endowed, he counted as a part of the group and so Olivia rounded him up to, whether he liked it or not, it was hard to tell since he made no signs os leaving nor did he made any sign that he wanted to stay.

Charlie ignored him and said, "We have to make a decision. Will we help him or not?"

"Um, well we've already helped him." Gabriel said slowly. "He asked us to help with the wedding, we helped."

"You know what he means," Olivia laughed.

Charlie glanced at Gabriel. "So what are you doing for the wedding?"

"I have a duet with a classmate of mine. We're playing in front of all the guests and Manfred and his fiancee, Jade." Gabriel said.

Emma giggled. "Charlie's stuck as a waiter."

"Hey, without waiters, there are no food so you better be counting your blessings!" Charlie retorted.

"Actually, without the chefs and cooks, there are no food." Tancred said. "So anyone is welcome to eat, they just have to find it."

"Guys, can we get back to the situation?" Lysander asked. "I think it's better to help him. I mean sure he's not the nicest person, but this is a kidnapping. That's a crime, and even though stopping a regular crime isn't our thing, it's still the best thing we can do."

"Why don't you call the police?" asked Emma.

She had directed that question to Manfred. Manfred looked up, eyes red, but not puffy nor welling with tears. They were red as if he was sleep deprived. "This isn't a normal crime like Sage said." Manfred muttered.

Charlie frowned. "I don't know how much you go out nowadays Manfred, but kidnapping actually is pretty common. It's horrible, but it's normal."

Manfred gritted his teeth and for a second Charlie thought Manfred was going to pounce. Manfred retracted his fingers as if they were claws digging into the wood of the desk but he kept them there, shaking. "You don't understand!" he shouted. For once, Charlie was glad to see him angry.

Manfred stood up abruptly, knocking his chair backwards. He didn;t even seem to care that his chair was expensive looking. He didn't have a trace of regret for possible damaging something expensive, nor did he look back to see if the chair was okay. He was sending his personal rage to Charlie and company, and as if Manfred's anger was so intense, they all could feel it in their skin; his eyes sent shivers up their spines and his scowl so deep that everyone took a step back in alarm.

"DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE SOMEONE YOU LOVE TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU?" Manfred roared.

Ironically, Charlie did know. His father was taken away from him, and Manfred was the one responsible fo rit too. But Charlie didn't want to pipe up and mention that so he remained silent and shifted uncomfortably.

"THIS IS NO ORIDNARY KIDNAPPING!" Manfred bellowed. Tears brimmed his lower eyelid and escaped in a droplet. "IF IT WAS, DO YOU THINK I'D COME TO YOU FOR HELP?" His tears dripped down his chin.

"Why not ask the other endowed?" asked Cahrlie shyly, wondering if that was the right time to ask a question.

"You moron," Olivia sighed. "They see Manfred as powerful and respect him for that, sorta. If they see him break down, they'd lose respect and turn on him. They don't have hearts like ours."

"Oh..." Charlie felt saddened. What would it feel like, to suddenly lose power that people admire for a long time? What would it feel like to have them disrespect you? Laugh at you? Turn on you? Those people would not be friends. They would no longer be admirers. They only admire power.

No wonder Manfred didn't go to them.

"What about the kidnapping isn't ordinary?" asked Lysander.

Manfred was quiet, but he turned his gaze to Lysander. His eyes had softened to a pitiful look that it was nearly impossible to think that they were the same eyes that made you step back at its intenseness.

"The kidnapper is endowed." Manfred whispered.