Chapter Seventy-Two
The Last Debt
"Here is the list of new Hogwarts owls that you wanted," Hermione said as walked into the Headmaster's Study with a scroll in her hand. "I went back a full year just like you asked. But are you sure you need the records from that far back?"
"The owl we're looking for would have snuck in before we were put on alert that the circus was coming. We only became suspicious that they were involving the post after our homes were breached during the holidays. I received information that one of the new owls is most certainly an Animagus," Severus replied.
"Does this have to do with your dinner with John last night?" Hermione said. Severus' eyes flicked up, giving at her a stern gaze.
"You have known me for how long now? Most of your life?" Severus asked crisply.
"You never reveal your sources unless you need to, yes, sorry," Hermione replied, despite the fact she felt even more certain it had come from John. "Maybe we can narrow this down a bit, though. Aurelius told me that he thought that his home had been discovered due to the fact he had his house security allow any Hogwarts Owl, and all of the breaches happened before Christmas. So maybe it's one of the Owls we picked up in July or August. I added more to handle the extra post that needed to go out because of the increased students and all of the correspondence with the new staff we picked up... here," she said, pointing to a particularly large group of owls. "I bet if there's a security breach, it's one of these."
Severus focused in on them, reading each description carefully.
"This one seems to match... Eurasian Pygmy, speckled dark brown, gold eyes. Your notes on the owl are also interesting: 'Tiny Owl, letters only. Average reliability, but fast and capable when available'," Severus read.
"I always try to do that with new owls, so I know what to expect when I'm sending the post out," Hermione nodded. "Goldflecks... yes, I know the one. I'm sure I made that notation because he doesn't hang out in the Owlery much, but too be fair, a lot of owls we have don't."
"Which made it all the easier to accept that it was just his nature, and not because he had other things to do. Take Jennifer to the Owlery between classes and get this owl banned from the castle, you still have time to do so before classes if you go through the parapet door in her office. And from now on, I want Jennifer or Aurelius to look over every new owl coming into this school to make certain something like this doesn't happen again," Severus ordered. "Armando, make sure that gets in the school literature somewhere. No new flyers added to Hogwarts' fleet unless we have verification that it is, in fact, a flyer, and not an Animagus."
"Yes, Severus," Armando replied.
"I'll get right on it," Hermione said, circling the entry on the list and then hurrying into the Doorlift.
It didn't take long before Spanx realized he couldn't get into Hogwarts any longer. Inspired by his time in the Orchestra class, John had gone to Severus and asked his permission to play his horn in the clock tower every evening just after the six o'clock hour. Permission was granted without hesitation, and John eagerly went up right on time, listening to the bells before climbing the tower and putting the Resonious spell on his horn.
Students and faculty looked up in surprise when he started to play, listening for a moment. It even permeated the library, making Boulderdash look up. But despite the noise, he seemed completely unperturbed by it, continuing to fill out book cards at the front desk without even a comment. Back in the Owl Room, the students having dinner looked around thoughtfully.
"I know that song," Kai said after a moment.
"Yes," TJ agreed. "It's 'When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,'" she noted.
"In other words, he's letting everyone in the circus know he's safe and doing okay," Harvey said with a grin. "I bet it makes Mr. Mirage go off the hinges when he hears it."
"True, but then that's probably part of the reason Carnegie's doing it," Charles replied.
In fact, Mirage was standing outside his tent with his fists clenched with so much rage that most of the troupers sped up or went the other way to avoid the possibility of being a convenient target. Spanx walked up, shaking his head at the song echoing through the mountains.
"I should have melted that horn in the forge when he did that the first time," Spanx said.
"Go silence that bastard! I don't care if you are discovered! He needs to be stopped," Mirage snapped at Spanx. Spanx hurried off, but soon the song ended, and Mirage realized with frustration that John would probably be out of the tower before Spanx got there. Mirage went back inside, making himself some tea. A few minutes later, Spanx came in without even a knock.
"I can't get into Hogwarts anymore," Spanx warned him.
"What?" Mirage snapped, standing up.
"Johnny must have told them. They've locked me out of the system," Spanx informed him. Mirage growled out that. "It's not all that bad, is it? It's not like we don't have other ways in. They might start to think they're secure and may try to wait us out," Spanx pointed out.
"True," Mirage said, partially placated by that fact. "But how did he get something like that out without a debt?" Mirage asked.
"He had a great deal of Information Credits by the time he took that dive," Spanx admitted. Mirage stared at him. "You did tell us not to let him hold information hostage and to let him have as many as needed to find out what he was up to..."
Mirage stormed out of the room and over to Hardy's office to get some idea just how many credits John had, knowing perfectly well that he wouldn't like the answer.
The next morning was John's hour to use the indoor gym, and after a invigorating workout that made him realize his body was still recovering from the overuse of healing potions, he wandered next door to see that Pyther was getting the classroom set up for his sculpting class.
"Good morning, brother. How's the form?" John asked. Pyther smiled at that. He had meant it to be a warm smile, but to John, it looked quite uneasy.
"Good morning. I'm so glad that you're back, safe and sound," Pyther said.
"Aye, well, safer, at least. As for sound, I expect that's left to be determined," John said, only half-joking. "But I'm all paid up with a buffer of credits to boot. You?"
"Fine," Pyther replied. "In fact, I really ought to be thanking you, considering my family is now safe thanks to your help. I know you've been through a lot, and I felt terribly guilty when I heard about your condition when you went into hospital, to be perfectly honest, which is... why I've been avoiding you, really, I'm sorry."
"No worries, I knew what I was getting into," John assured him. "And I learned a great deal about myself in the process. Don't be afraid to ask if you need any further help, Pyther."
"Thank you, John," Pyther said with a smile, returning to his work. John stepped back out again, still getting the feeling that something was wrong, but not exactly sure how to get him to open up when he was feeling obligated towards John already. One thing was certain; the shadow of the circus seemed to be still hanging over Pyther.
It was nearing the end of April when Pyther made an appointment for the shortest of the Seer's possible appointments, taking his barn swallow form to slip out of the castle. Despite being on his lunch hour in the dead middle of the day, he felt a crawling sensation along his back when he arrived at the circus, politely coming in from the road but walking so quickly to the Seer's tent that he was nearly running, terrified of someone coming over to inquire as to what he was doing there.
Severus drummed his fingers against the table with a tray at his side and unopened game in front of him, looking at his watch to check both the time and his wife's location. Finally it swung to her sitting room, and she finally stepped into his to see his annoyed, bored expression.
"I'm so sorry I'm late for dinner, Severus, but I had some things to take care of," Jennifer explained apologetically as she came in, sitting near the tray.
"You've had a dozen and one things to take care of lately," Severus complained. "Haven't the four of you finished those weddings dresses yet?"
"Mostly, yes. That's not what delayed me today, although I admit the wedding has been taking up a lot of my free time lately," Jennifer replied. "I dropped by the Owl Room to attend a party for TJ."
"For being the first person to test the Spacelawn?"
"Very funny, Severus. No, of course not," Jennifer replied. "It was a party to celebrate TJ's coming off her therapy potions, of course!"
"I'm certain the true reward for her is the knowledge it's done and she'll never have to take those potions again," Severus pointed out.
"Yes, I know, but still, it's an important milestone, and I felt a party was definitely in order," Jennifer beamed. "It's all rather exciting... the Owls are all certain that she's going to win the pin this year, but they don't know what we know, of course. It's definitely too close to call."
"Jennifer, can we not put aside work for a few hours?" Severus pleaded.
"Well, of course, Severus, although personally I don't think our discussion right now is about work so much as reaping one of the very small rewards that comes with it... celebrating their achievements," Jennifer said, then noticed that Severus' irritable expression hadn't changed. "Dinner and a game, yes, alright," she acquiesced, but then paused. "When do you suppose we ought to deliver that letter we've been withholding to Harvey?"
"Meddle, meddle, meddle, meddle... Jennifer, let's make a deal," Severus said, helping her set up the plates. "I know I told you that I wouldn't interfere in your schemes of 'improving things' as you call it, but that doesn't mean I need to hear a recap of every little thing you've poked your fingers into. You don't have to tell me anything that doesn't apply to the administration of the school unless it affects the family directly. Do you have any news to get off your chest relating to either of those?" Jennifer pondered that, then brightened.
"I officially managed to talk Laura out of pink gowns for the bride's entourage. We're going with lavender," Jennifer reported. Severus gave her a dirty look. "Of course that affects the family, Severus, since family members have to wear them... and worse, I would have been obligated to wear it," she said with a shudder.
"Are you quite finished?" Severus asked bluntly.
"Yes, Severus," Jennifer decided, pouring them both some coffee.
"You are keeping up with the stringent security schedule despite all of this silly wedding planning, I hope?" he asked sternly.
"Of course I am, Severus! And since when do you think wedding planning is silly?"
"The planning isn't silly. The way you get carried away with it is."
"I get carried away with it, Severus? Who planned Alicia's wedding?"
"Let's not get back into that, Jennifer. You know perfectly well that was quite different."
"Was it really? One was a vampire, the other could have been a werewolf," she pointed out.
"Can we get back to dinner and a game, if you don't mind?"
"You just don't want to defend yourself against me, Severus."
"Precisely," Severus said bluntly, and Jennifer had trouble hiding a smile. "Besides, we accomplish more when we're working as a team. Fighting accomplishes nothing but making the both of us miserable."
"Fair enough," Jennifer said with a smile, then looked at the scuffing on the box thoughtfully. "Oh, is this my game?"
"Yes," Severus confirmed, turning his attention to his dinner.
"We've been playing my version of the game a lot lately," Jennifer observed.
"Yes, you need the practice," Severus replied between bites.
"I'm much better at this game than you! How is it that I'm the one that needs the practice?" Jennifer said with a laugh.
"You are much better at your game, and I am... well, somewhat better at mine..." Severus admitted.
"You're getting there," Jennifer said encouragingly.
"But I have plenty of people that I can play my game with, and you can only play solitaire or with me," Severus finished, ignoring the patronizing tone. "And since our time is quite limited... especially with the level of interference that you've been doing lately... we need to play your game whenever we can."
"Fine, but don't expect me to play a serious game tonight, Severus Snape," Jennifer warned.
"Play however you like," Severus said unconcernedly.
"I certainly plan to, but I don't see how you think playing for fun is 'practice' for any real life situations," Jennifer admitted.
"Perhaps not, but it is nonetheless," Severus said, ignoring the intense look he was getting from the side.
"Severus, why don't you tell me what's really going on?" Jennifer demanded with frustration. "Why can't I ever read you when anything about the cards or my 'meddling' comes up? You are intentionally clouding me from knowing what you're thinking any time we play."
"It's not really my secret to tell, really," Severus admitted, earning a glare. "But even if it was, I probably wouldn't explain just yet. It's in your best interests if I don't, in point of fact, because the more I simply just support what you are doing, the more organic your power will grow."
"I don't have any mysterious power, Severus," Jennifer said firmly.
"Meddling is your power," Severus explained.
"I don't need any practice in that," Jennifer replied.
"Your words, not mine," Severus said. Jennifer squinted at him, detecting a hint of amusement despite his stoic expression. "Come, finish your dinner so that you can cheat me out of another game."
Jennifer's shoulders slumped with exasperation and she reluctantly turned her attention to her dinner.
Jennifer was far from the only one who was busy, but between heightened security, the wedding, and her duties at Whitebridge, she was definitely busier than most.
Pyther, who was already very adept at not being noticed, used that to his advantage. He waited until the last moment to go into the classroom on the days she had Items classes in that room. He avoided the library and Quidditch areas, so not to run into Aurelius. And he had come up with a whole list of excuses as to why he couldn't stop and have tea, coffee, or any other sort of visit whenever those situations came up.
When he went back to the island to visit Alicia, it was also easy to avoid any conversation about how he was doing; she was in the middle of doing a series that featured different viewpoints of their little island at different times of day, and was hoping to show it at an exhibit over the summer. Knowing that, it made it quite easy for him to gloss over the "How are things at Hogwarts" question in favor of a much safer conversation on her progress and to give creative feedback. But he did send letters to his children at West of Whitehall, including lighthearted illustrations and making certain he told him he loved them in every one.
Other than that, he kept to himself... avoiding John, family members... everyone. It was as if he was painting himself into one of his own backgrounds, camouflaged by the busy figures in the foreground that pulled the eye away from where he stood, watching the world from outside of it. He did everything in his power to make certain that no one knew just how much trouble he was in, because he knew that nothing could be done about it.
All around the castle, people had calendars on the wall, and many had marked the last day of circus performances. Pyther was one of them. They all crossed off the days, and scoured the Oracle and the post for letters with hints as to who had disappeared that week, just like Pyther did, and they watched as Friday the thirteenth approached.
They were in the middle of the reviews season, and all of the staff were busy putting the last minute touches on their final exams and answer keys that the students were anxiously cramming for. After the last Hogsmeade trip was over, most of the students thought they wouldn't have to worry about the creepy old circus any longer.
It was all about school now; competing for those last points to get the Hogwarts cup, getting their marks up high enough they wouldn't be in trouble over the summer, or looking forward to their new lives outside of school as in all other years. Even the staff was starting to relax a bit too much, especially Laura and Andrew, too preoccupied with their own wedding at the end of the month to do Jennifer much good even on security patrols.
Jennifer stepped into the library that Friday evening, using the excuse of dropping off a few books to get a word in with Boulderdash, who was reading at the main desk.
"I don't suppose you'd mind if I put you on the main gates during the evening shift so that I could put Andrew on the after-curfew hall patrol?" Jennifer asked. "Severus really doesn't want Andrew and Laura on front gate together, and with the way the two of them have been behaving lately, neither do I," she admitted.
"I don't mind, but you have me doubled up already. I would need a replacement for the evening patrol for the back grounds," Boulderdash reminded her.
"Oh, yes, that's right! I forgot about that," Jennifer frowned, looking at her security sheet and scribbling the scribble over the scribble she had made to cover that shift. "I know, I'll go ask Francis. If I pop up there now, I should be able to catch him before he heads out for the night."
"Too late, I'm afraid," Boulderdash admitted. "He's already left. In fact, he's over at the circus wandering around by himself. He passed my brother in the sideshow acts about ten minutes ago."
"The circus? What business would he have over there?" Jennifer asked with alarm. Boulderdash sighed.
"Jennifer, even if I knew... which I don't, for the record... I couldn't tell you. My brother's last performance is tonight and then his debts are paid, and neither of us are willing to do anything that would prevent him from getting away from there," Boulderdash said bluntly.
"No, of course not. We all want him safely away from there," Jennifer agreed. "And speaking of safe, I don't know what Pyther is thinking going over there alone. Not only is against school rules, but it's against family rules as well. I'd better go after him," she decided with a sigh. "Go ahead and cover gate, I'll have Severus get someone to cover the back grounds."
"Very well," Boulderdash agreed as Jennifer stepped out into the corridor, heading down the back stairs to her office to grab her cloak.
The Rogue Painting watched her come in curiously as she double-checked her cloak and put it on. "Rogue, could you have Severus cover the evening back grounds shift for Boulderdash, and could you tell him that I need to pop over to Hogsmeade? Pyther left without an escort and I need to catch up with him before he gets into trouble."
The Rogue stared at her, shaking his head and pointing back at her.
"Fine! I'll tell him! But you cover the back grounds patrol, and tell Laura to do Ravenclaw's evening roll call before she heads to the front gate," Jennifer said. Rogue nodded at that and watched her leave the office. Jennifer pulled out her mirror as she walked outside. It didn't take him long to answer, a sure sign he was working in the study.
"Yes, Jennifer?" he asked.
"Severus, Pyther took off to the circus without an escort for some reason, so I'm going to go after him before he gets into any trouble," Jennifer informed him.
"That's strange. I wonder if he had a debt left?" Severus asked with concern.
"Well, I haven't had a chance to talk to him lately, but the last time I asked him about it, he told me he had the worst of them out of the way," Jennifer replied.
"Yes, that is the same as what he told me, but that doesn't mean he didn't have anything left over... are you taking anyone with you?" Severus asked.
"Actually, I'm a bit short handed on patrols and it's almost curfew, but Boulderdash told me that Pyther was wandering around the sideshow not ten minutes ago, so I should have no trouble catching up to him. Balderdash is working the side show as well, and I'm sure he'd help out in an emergency. My intention is to find out why he took off and get him back to the castle as quickly as possible before he gets into any trouble," Jennifer replied.
"Yes, alright. Mirror me if you need backup," Severus said.
"I will, Severus," Jennifer promised with a smile, putting her mirror away.
As Severus set down the School Mirror, he suddenly felt very unsettled, fighting the urge to immediately contact her and ask her to send someone else. What if he had made a mistake letting her go? Should he send someone after her?
He found himself thinking of the time they had played Trial and Error in Temporal mode, as he had attempted to break free from his current path. You're going to try and go back and save me, aren't you? Instead of trusting me. She had called him out, and despite his protest that it was far from the truth, he did end up going back to save her, not even trusting her to make the decision on whether she felt she needed rescued or not. What had put the game in that position? That's right, she had to pick saving her children over saving him.
Of course, Pyther was not a child by any stretch of the imagination... and yet... in a family where age was no longer a constant... how did Jennifer see him? More than likely, being married to her daughter, she viewed him as a son despite his age. Her views of family were just as broad as her father's, and there could be no doubt that she would put her life on the line for any one of them. But why was his mind drawing this parallel all of the sudden? Even when he attempted to get back to his work, his mind kept going back to it, wondering if that game hadn't been a warning of some kind. Or perhaps he was making too much out of it, he mused. Maybe it meant nothing other than the fact that it challenged his resolve when it came to trusting her to take care of herself. Perhaps this was one of the situations where her version of the game was the ideal, and some sort of compromise was in order.
"Armando, help me keep track of the time, and tell me when a half an hour is up. If Jennifer isn't back in the castle by then, I'm going to contact her... but not before..." Severus said resolutely, setting the School Mirror on his face to help him resist the temptation.
"Yes, Severus," Armando said, and Severus futilely tried to turn his focus back onto finishing the final exam for his Defense class.
Jennifer Apparated at the top of the road and hurried in, dodging a worrisomely large crowd of witches and wizards who decided to go at the last minute since it was the final performance. The Oracle had offered coupons for two-for-one tickets, and quite a number of those she passed had one of a coupon in their hand. Fighting off her annoyance at that, Jennifer went over to where the targeting area was set up to check in with Balderdash, who wasted little time making a play at changing his knives so that he could come over.
"He went to the Seer's wagon. I haven't noticed him coming back out," Balderdash murmured.
"Thanks, Balder," Jennifer said with a smile, then slipped through the crowd and over to Seer's wagon, glancing it over thoughtfully before rattling the chimes.
"Please come in, Jennifer Craw. I have been expecting you," a woman's voice replied. It was slightly familiar, and Jennifer was fairly certain she had heard it before somewhere. She stepped into the wagon to see the woman in the heavy long veil.
"Actually, I'm not here for a reading. I'm looking for Francis Pyther," Jennifer explained.
"Yes, I'm aware," she replied. "He is in the back."
"Then please ask him to come out here. I've come to make certain he gets back to the castle in one piece," Jennifer said firmly.
"The only way he will be able to do that is if you come to the back room with me for a chat," Vough explained calmly. "If you don't agree, you leave him to his fate, and he'll die from his curse at midnight."
"And if I go in there?" Jennifer asked warily.
"Then we'll discuss a possible alternative," Vough said.
Jennifer unabashedly took out her wand, having no intention of going back there unarmed. But Lady Vough was quite relaxed and didn't comment on Jennifer's caution, opening the door for her so that she could go in.
In fact, it was a great deal larger than the front room and she felt as if she had stepped into a tent of some proportion. It was probably located somewhere in the camp other than at the side show like the front of the wagon, with a similar spell of moving doors that Hogwarts often employed. Jennifer took in her surroundings quickly. It was a spacious staging area of some kind, with crates along the back and several dusty upholstered chairs and a small, serviceable table set just in front of the storage area. She could also hear some of the bustling from the back yard as the troupe scrambled to get ready for the show.
Despite all of the chairs, Pyther wasn't sitting in one. Instead, he was sitting next to the side of the tent, so miserable and deflated that for a split moment Jennifer had wondered if he had been tied or shackled there. Pyther raised his head as they came in, and terror appeared in his expression at seeing Jennifer there.
"No! Not you! Go away! Run away!" Pyther snapped at her.
"Now, Pyther, that's not polite. She's my guest," Lady Vough said. "Tea? Loose tea of course, you know how fortune tellers are about that."
"You're no mere fortune teller. You're not even human," Jennifer accused her. "It would be evident from the way you walk despite your condition, even if I hadn't already guessed who you are by that dress you're trying to hide."
Lady Vough looked over at Pyther, gesturing back at Jennifer.
"Is she always so impolite?" Vough asked.
"I may be blunt, but I prefer being honest. I think that'd be best in this situation, don't you?" Jennifer asked her evenly.
"Perhaps," Vough said noncommittally.
"What does she have on you, Pyther? Is that your child?" Jennifer asked him, and he shook his head, avoiding her gaze.
"No, it isn't his, and that's just the trouble," Vough said with amusement. "He was supposed to be the father of my next child, but the time limit on his debt ends tonight. He can't make good on his debt even if he wanted to. He has been pleading with me for a Rain Check, despite the fact that Mirage already informed him that he wouldn't be getting another. So, the last time he came to plead for a solution, I told him that if he came to me tonight of his own, I might be willing to make a deal to get him out of that last life debt."
"Of course you are, considering you obviously orchestrated this whole thing," Jennifer said firmly. "You must have known when you offered the deal that he wasn't going to have enough time to make good on it... a mother always has some idea of when her due date is, especially one who makes a habit of brokering them to the circus, considering all of those Children of the Wild are yours. I seriously doubt you brought all of them over from the Otherworld with you."
"One does get lonely," Vough said, Jennifer rolling her eyes at that. "And I don't have the same aversions to humans as Mirage does."
"Obviously not," Jennifer agreed. "Well, Pyther can't feed your perversions this time, so do you mind telling me what you want in exchange? Because all of the sudden, I don't think my being here is an accident. You said you were expecting me."
"My dear, you are much sharper than everyone gives you credit for," Vough complemented.
"I just know better than to let my guard down on you," Jennifer said evenly.
"Jennifer? You know this woman?" Pyther asked softly.
"Honestly, the name Vough gives it away, and the fact she's attempting to hide the cursed green dress she's forced to wear. She's not even human; she's the Glaistig, a fuath with hooved goat legs like a Satyr," Jennifer explained to Pyther. "She tried to frame Severus and me for a murder we didn't commit while we were in Tir Na Nog, hoping that the wood elves would throw us into the Shadowed Lands so that Lilith's minions would be free to collect us. When she got tossed over the border instead, she must have slipped in the nearest portal fracture to get to this world... probably to escape Lilith's wrath for her failure to capture us. Isn't that right, Green Lady?" Jennifer challenged her.
"Until the last conjecture, yes," Vough agreed with a thin smile. "Because my decision to return had absolutely nothing to do with Lilith. She was only a means to an end. My intention was always to find a way back here, to the lands where I was born. To the lands I was supposed to rule... until Merlin banished me from these lands and rerouted the portals so that I could not get back."
"I understand why you're taking it personally, Green Lady, but might I point out that a great deal of magical creatures were sent to Tir Na Nog in that exchange, not just you? And not only that, Merlin banished himself to Tir Na Nog as well..."
"After setting up the keys so that he could eventually return! And Viviane, eager to get rid of me, decided to go along with it to protect the longevity of her own family line... and to get me out of the way so that she could take over my position as Guardian of Fates!" Vough said.
"I'll admit that one comes as more of a surprise," Jennifer replied dubiously. "The way Merlin tells the story, that title was something Viviane made up because of her power to control the crystals..."
"She stole the title!" Vough snapped. "It passed to her when I left this world! The crystals are simply her means to do the job. I never needed the weeping crystals to guide Fate in the first place. I can see the future paths of others clearer than anyone else in this world."
"And yet you still managed to get trapped on the other side of the portal," Jennifer pointed out. "Not to mention that incident when Gawain did a number on you..."
"That was due to Viviane's interference as well!" Vough said fiercely.
"In which case, it seems to me that you have perfectly valid reasons to be angry at both Viviane and Merlin," Jennifer decided. "But if you're attempting to get even with my family just because my husband defeated you in a violin battle, you are way out of line. Leave us out of this."
"Are you really so oblivious to the situation that you don't understand that your fates are completely intertwined with theirs? That they are nearly one and the same? If so, I take back what I said earlier. You are not as sharp as I thought," Vough said.
"I may not know what you're going on about, but I do know you're the one who's been attempting to manipulate my husband's fate," Jennifer said coldly. "You're the one trying to put him on the path where he goes insane. But it's not going to work. I won't allow it!"
"You won't allow it," Vough repeated mockingly, grabbing her chin. Jennifer tried to bring up her wand arm only to find out that she couldn't. "Foolish child! You are insuring it! You play with people's fates as if they are toys, with no understanding of what you are doing other than tossing them about. Have you any idea who you are dealing with, child? I have been spinning the tapestry since before Viviane was even born! You cannot even see the future, so how could you possibly hope to manipulate people's paths when you don't even know where their fates are even supposed to lead? Have you not yet realized that just by stepping into this room, you have already damned yourself to your worst possible fate? Loyalty is a weakness, including the loyalty you have to your family. And because of that, you will help me lead these lands to ruin. And no one... not you, not Viviane, not Severus, nor Merlin, will be able to change the fate I have condemned you to."
"You can let go of my chin now," Jennifer said defiantly. She heard the sound of the curtain bells, and Vough roughly let her go.
"You may as well put away that stick. I'm sure you've realized by now that I won't let you use it," Vough said. Jennifer irritably put her wand up her sleeve just as Mirage stepped in the back.
"Ah! I see that she's here. Have you been coming to an Agreement?" Mirage asked eagerly.
"She's been far too busy giving me attitude to get into that yet. She seems to have figured out who I am on her own," Vough informed him.
"Oh, has she? I suppose that encounter in Tir Na Nog you spoke of is to blame," Mirage said, Vough nodding at that. "Does she know who I am?" he asked curiously.
"I know you're Mirage, but other than that, I don't think we've met," Jennifer said evenly.
"Oh, we have, but you were only a babe in your mother's arms then," Mirage replied.
"She's still a babe in arms," Vough snorted.
"I'm sure you know that by human standards I'm far from it," Jennifer said coolly.
"Perhaps, but from our perspective, she has a point," Mirage said. "Speaking of points, perhaps we should get on with it? Or are we going to keep talking until midnight? I do have important business elsewhere, you know."
"Yes, of course," Vough said with a cordial smile in his direction before focusing in on Jennifer again.
"Jennifer, I would be more than happy to trade Pyther's Life Debt over to you," Vough said. "But to do so, you must first join the circus. Trading Life Debts is a part of the charms and curses that bind circus members, and it is quite impossible to trade a Life Debt to anyone who isn't bound by our rules, by either seeking refuge with us or becoming a full member. The deal wouldn't stick, so to speak."
"Fine," Jennifer said with a sigh.
"No!" Pyther interrupted, jumping to his feet and going over to her. "I am not going to let you do this, Jennifer. I won't put my needs above yours. I will not have you joining the circus because of my mistake."
"Do you care so little for your children that you'd let one die to keep her out of it?" Vough inquired.
Both of them turned sharply to look at her.
"What?" Pyther said, stunned.
"Have you forgotten, Pyther?" Mirage inquired. "When you came to the Debt Exchange to trade your debts away, I kept the original Life Debt for myself, forcing you to take a life for it... which you paid for as an accomplice during that little museum break in. Your deal with Lady Vough was the second deal you made, and it was to pay off one of the interest debts... therefore, it involves one of the collateral lives. Care to know which one?"
"It doesn't matter which one!" Pyther snapped.
"Pyther's right, it doesn't matter," Jennifer said angrily. "Fine, I agree to join the circus. What is this Agreement of yours that you want me to make?"
"Only that if you take on Pyther's debt, you agree to carry out its conditions yourself," Vough explained. "You will pay the life debt by making a life for the circus. And if you don't, both you and Pyther's child will die." Jennifer stared at her.
"You mean you want me to... with Pyther?" Jennifer asked, not liking the sound of that at all.
"No, of course not with him," Vough said. Both Jennifer and Pyther couldn't help but be secretly relieved at that. "Pyther is not a full member of the circus. In this case, it needs to be someone who is," she said. "Because the child, once born, will also be a member of the circus. After it is born, you can buy your own way out if you like."
"And leave my child here without me?" Jennifer said, her stomach dropping at the thought.
"It sounds like a fair exchange to me. A child for a child," Mirage commented. "I'll approve it."
"I would make up your mind quickly if I were you. After all, time runs out at midnight either way..." Vough replied.
Pyther began to sob softly, and Jennifer realized that it wasn't Pyther who was truly in the no-win situation; she was.
"Very well, I accept," Jennifer heard herself say, feeling a weight on her head.
"I happen to have a contract with me already filled out with your name on it," Mirage said with an oily smile.
"Yes, of course you do," Jennifer said crisply.
"I would let you read it, but we are pressed for time, and I am certain that John has filled you in on all of the important parts already," Mirage said.
Just then, there was a chiming sound, and Jennifer's necklace began to glow.
"What was that?" Mirage asked with a frown.
"It's Severus. He's trying to contact me," Jennifer said. Mirage grabbed her arm, pulling her over to the table.
"Sign it! Sign it now, or we have no deal and we let her die!" Mirage ordered. Pyther choked slightly, knowing now which child's life was on the line. Jennifer quickly did as she was told, signing the contract with a defiant flourish.
"You know that if I don't answer it, he'll become quite suspicious. As you can see, I have a contact mirror in my locket," Jennifer informed them. "It is also one of many devices on me that tracks my movements."
"We'll see to that next," Mirage swore. "Answer him and indicate that everything's alright! Tell him nothing about the contract you just signed, and give him the impression that you're coming home soon! If you do anything other than what I asked, I'll kill you both right here and now and let the curse take the girl. Is that quite clear?"
"Perfectly," Jennifer said crisply, getting out her hand mirror. "You'll pardon me if I turn to the wall, since I'm sure you'll blame me if any of your images are caught in the process."
"You can count on that," Mirage said dangerously. Closing her eyes and breathing once to calm herself, Jennifer answered the mirror.
"Here I am, Severus," Jennifer said calmly.
"That took a while. I take it you're still at the circus," Severus replied, glancing at his ring. It showed anger and anxiety, mixed with a persistent ribbon of fear.
"Yes, I had to find a private place to answer this," Jennifer improvised, showing the back of the tent. "But I'm all right at the moment."
"Did you find Pyther?" he asked.
"Yes, I found him. And he was in a bit of a mess as I suspected, but he'll be all right now. I'll be sending him along presently, as a matter of fact..."
"You're not coming with him?" Severus interrupted.
"Oh, I didn't meant to imply that I wasn't coming back, it's just that I have some other business to finish up here to help out another family member," Jennifer explained quickly, Mirage squinting at her. "But do you mind setting out my dress for the student play tonight so I don't have to hunt for it when I return? The pink one with the zipper."
Severus stood up, realizing now that she wasn't alone.
"Yes, I know the one. What play were they performing again?" Severus asked carefully, just in case they had a way of hearing him.
"They're putting on the Wizard or the Tiger, Severus," Jennifer said, attempting to steady her words. Severus glanced at his ring.
"We both know how that one plays out, don't we?" Severus said as evenly as he could manage.
"Yes, I know," Jennifer replied, trying to keep her eyes clear. "I love you."
"And I you. I will see you shortly," Severus swore.
"Alright, until later then," Jennifer said, closing the mirror. It was only then that she let a tear fall, then noticed that Mirage had a hand on his head. "There, it's done. He believes he'll be seeing me shortly," she replied.
"No... I don't believe you. He knows something," Mirage said with certainly, gazing at her searchingly. "Somehow you tipped him off that you were in trouble! What exactly did you say that let him know?" he demanded.
"If she did tip him off, it's of little consequence. It simply means that we'll need to move up the time table a tad," Vough said calmly. "Why don't you order the pets to go fetch? I'm sure that will keep him busy enough that he won't have time to interfere with our plans."
"Fine... keep them here a moment while I speak to Hammerbite. I'll be back with Eris to escort them," Mirage said, ducking out of the door.
Jennifer frowned worriedly, wondering exactly what they might be planning that would keep Severus away.