Next morning at breakfast, Billy Raven stared sadly at Charlie as Manfred came up to him and said something- Billy couldn't see what- and Charlie got up and followed Manfred out.

Fidelio sighed.

"We've got to stop him," mumbled Billy.

"Even if Charlie does do it, it'll wear eventually." said Lysander.

"No it won't," said Billy.

They all glanced at him as he continued.

"The oaths never forget you, and they never wear off, plus they're pure agony and torture if you break them, I thought I was dying when I broke mine."

"Come on," said Tancred leaping up. "We've got to stop him!"

"Let's go!" Billy chased after him but the others knew that a plan had to be made.

Charlie followed Manfred into a room in the west wing.

Florence de Grey, Ezekiel Bloor, Dr. Bloor, and the school matron were waiting fo him.

Manfred shoved him into a seat and sat opposite him.

"Alright, Charlie Bone, you know why you're here," said Dr. Bloor.

"Just to be sure, I must mention that I will tell you what you need to know a week from now," said Ezekiel calmly.

"Alright," said Charlie, "and next week you'll tell me where dad is?"

"Yes, as long as you sign the oath and keep it."

"Alright..."

"Check the spaces marked 'Yes' and sign your

name at the bottom," said Mrs. de Grey.

Charlie nodded as she lay a paper in fron of him:

Y N

_ _ 1. I promise to always do as I'm told by Ezekiel Bloor and anyone he instructs me to.

_ _ 2. I promise to do my best in school.

_ _ 3. I promise to stop plotting against the Bloors (not including Bartholemew and his family).

_ _ 4. I promise not to accosiate with the wrong side of the endowed (Paton Yewbeam, Emma Tolly, Tancred Torrson, etc.) unless told otherwise by Ezekiel Bloor.

_ _ 5. I promise not to tell, said, wrong side of the endowed about my oath or why I took it.

-X

Charlie hesitantly checked the spaces and signed his name.

"Run along, Charlie," said Ezekiel with a chilling smile. "There might be a few minutes left of breakfast."

Charlie left and once out of the room rushed towards the dinning hall, running into Billy and Tancred.

"Charlie, you didn't sign the oa-" started Billy.

"I did, and there isn't much you can do about it."

"Why did you do it?" asked Tancred.

"Because... well-" Charlie remembered requirement number five on his oath. "well... I realy can't tell you..."

"Come on, Charlie, what's a tiny bit of pain to your friends?"

"Tancred," snapped Billy iritably. "It hurts more than you would think, trust me."

"I... I did it because Ezekiel said I could have dad next week if I signed the oath... sorry... but I couldn't pass that up."

"Charlie..." said Billy softly. "Aren't you the one who told me that the Bloors lie all the time... and now you're trusti them?"

"I just don't think-ow!" cried Charlie falling to the floor. "Help..." he mumbled numbly.

"Tancred, go get someone to help!" cried Billy.

"Why don't you get someone to help?"

"Because, unlike you, I understand what he feels right now, please, hurry."

Tancred ran off.

"Charlie, what on earth were you thinking?" asked Billy gently as Charlie fell unconsious a look of pain on his face.