CHAPTER NINETEEN

With the moon constantly full, Jesse was having trouble sleeping. He'd decided to let his wolf go for a run just to burn off some steam.

The shock of hearing a voice he knew turned him back into a human. "Jesse... Jesse help!" Bianca screamed as he stood in front of Bishop High School.

He heard her as clearly as if she was standing right in front of him. Jesse was startled to realize that she was manifested strongly enough that he could see her.

"Bianca..." He whispered. "I'm dreaming. This is a nightmare."

"Don't be ridiculous," she snapped. "I'm real, and I need your help."

"No way."

"You owe me, Jesse! It's your fault I'm in this situation!"

He sighed. Bianca might have been evil, but she was right. He'd mauled his girlfriend. Sure, he'd been under a spell the entire time they'd dated, and she'd tried to force him to kill Aideen, but it still wasn't something he was okay with. The fact that he'd brutally murdered a girl he was dating made him feel just like his father.

"What do you need, Bianca?" He asked.

"Bartholomew Bryce is getting stronger," Bianca said. Her fear was genuine. Jesse couldn't help but feel bad for her. "He's starting to destroy us. He got Gary... He would have gotten Pru, but Kara protected her. Someone got Kara and Hugo out of here, but the rest of us are still stuck."

"I don't know how to free you," Jesse replied. "If I did, I'd do it."

"Would you really?"

"I'm not the most evolved, but I know one thing... Spirits reincarnate, and sometimes, they change. If you guys are stuck here, you'll never have the chance to prove that you can make better choices. I killed you... And even though you left me no choice, I hate myself for it. The least I can do is give you a chance to become a better person next time."

"You can help us, Jesse... You and Tommi."

"I told you, I don't know how to help."

"Your Mirror self does. Him and Tommi freed us there."

"How do you know?"

"The veil is thin. I can feel my Mirror self. She's a witch, unfortunately, but she's still part of me."

"Did he...?" Jesse started. He sighed and tried again. "Did Mirror Me kill Mirror You?"

"Yeah," she admitted. "She had a crush, so she cast a love spell. She was a witch, not a warlock, but she really wanted you to herself... Aideen broke the spell, so she tried to make you kill Aideen... I guess I'm still a little bit evil in Mirror." She laughed. "You wolfed out and killed me there, too."

Jesse felt like a monster. Regardless of the universe, he was a killer. He tried not to let that bother him.

"I'll talk to him," Jesse said. "If he and Mirror Tommi can help me and our Tommi do this, I'll make it happen."

"Because there are other innocent people here?" Bianca asked.

"Because Pru, Monique, Kendra, Zack, and Kyle don't deserve to be destroyed forever, and because you're right, Bianca. I owe you this much."

She looked surprised. "Thanks, Jesse," she said. She paused before softly adding, "I'm sorry."

He stared at her. "Seriously?"

"I know I'm a bitch... I'm not even ashamed of it. I'm powerful and I love it... I shouldn't have put a love spell on you, but... I'm a warlock. If I want something, I take it. That's just how I was raised."

"That's how most of you were raised," Jesse admitted. "Which is why, as much as I hate the entire E.V.S, I'm starting to realize that the kids deserve a little more compassion. I'm not great at that, but I'm trying."

Suddenly, Bianca's spirit started flickering. A scratch appeared on her face. She screamed in pain.

"What's happening?" Jesse demanded.

"He's here!" Bianca cried out.

Jesse wasn't sure what to do. He reached toward Bianca as more scratches appeared. He held her hand and refused to let go. She wasn't physical, but somehow, this gave her strength. Her energy glowed as Jesse willed her to hold on.

He was surprised when he felt someone join him. "Let. Her. Go!" Jade said firmly.

The evil energy surrounding Bianca was pushed away from her with a powerful blast of magick. Jade's necromancy was strong, and as she grabbed onto Bianca's shoulders, she told Jesse, "Pull!"

Jesse pulled Bianca's arms with everything he had as Jade pushed her shoulders. With Jade's help, Bianca was soon nearly solid and her spirit was fully healed.

"You're free," Jade said. She looked paler than usual, and Jesse realized that had taken more effort than she was letting on.

"Why would you help me?" Bianca asked in confusion.

"I'm a necromancer and a medium," Jade replied. "Helping spirits is my job. Besides, if Bartholomew consumed you, he'd be that much stronger."

"The others..." Bianca began.

"We'll help them," Jesse promised. "Go, Bianca. Cross over, heal, and make different choices the next time you incarnate."

She smiled at him sadly. Then, she vanished from sight.

"Did she move on?" Jesse asked Jade.

"She's in the light now," Jade confirmed. "Are you okay?"

He considered her question. "You know what? I think I finally am," he replied.

"With her being stuck here, you could never fully heal," Jade explained. "You needed this closure. I'm glad you got it."

"Thanks for helping. I had no idea what to do... She says my Mirror self knows how to free everyone."

"I guess you need to go talk to yourself. Good luck with that."

He sensed something she wasn't saying. "Jade... Are you okay?"

She sighed. "Brett died tonight."

"What? What happened?" Jesse asked in shock.

"The siren got him... Deanna found his body. She's more broken than I've ever seen her."

"That's horrible... Does Arthur know?"

"Yeah, Aurora called him. Anyway, I'm just trying to clear my head."

"Let me walk you home. You look exhausted."

Jade didn't protest, which told Jesse how weak she must be feeling. He made sure she was inside of her house before he left.

As soon as he reached his bedroom, he walked over to his mirror. His Mirror self stared back at him. Jesse took a deep breath and said, "We need to talk."

~*~

Dylan woke up sensing that something was wrong. He slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Logan up, and spotted Joey crying softly in the living room. Immediately concerned, he pulled him into his arms and asked, "What's wrong, little man?"

Joey looked at him with wide eyes and said, "Uncle Dylan... I'm sad."

"I can see that, kiddo. Talk to me. What made you sad?" He knew Brett was dead, so he wondered if that was why Joey was crying. Jade had told Dylan why she needed him to host an impromptu sleepover with Joey. Dylan didn't mind because he adored Joey. Their shared love of music had bonded them as soon as they met, and since Logan loved music just as much, he also enjoyed spending time with Joey.

"The In-Between breaking," Joey explained. "The bad man coming... And Mama and Aunt Beth sad cuz of Brett."

"Your mom and Beth are sad, but they'll be okay, Joey," Dylan said soothingly. "As for the rest..." He grabbed his guitar and pulled Joey into his lap as he started playing.

"When the darkness falls and it seems you've lost your way," he began to sing, "Let your heart sing along to this melody I play... I'll be your light tonight... Follow the path, I'll be your guide... And whatever causes you fright, I will banish from your side... No matter what you face, you'll make it through. No matter what you fight, you'll find a way. No matter what happens, I'll be right beside you! No matter what comes next, you'll be okay..."

Joey relaxed as Dylan continued to sing. Logan had apparently woken up, and he stood watching them with a smile on his face.

As Dylan finished with a final, "No matter what comes next, you'll be okay," Joey snuggled against his chest.

"Are you ready to try and sleep again?" Dylan asked.

Joey nodded as he yawned. Dylan scooped him up in his arms and carried him back to his sleeping bag and tucked him in. "Sweet dreams, little man," he said.

He walked into the kitchen. Logan followed him. "You're really great with kids," Logan said.

"Joey's the greatest. He's like my tiny sidekick. I love that kid," Dylan replied.

"Since we're up, let me make us something to eat," Logan offered.

"You're a fierce slayer, secretly sweet, hot as hell, and you cook," Dylan said. "I really am the luckiest guy in Salem!" He kissed him quickly before letting Logan start cooking. While he did, Dylan did the dishes as Logan finished using them.

He wrapped his arms around Logan from behind, resting his head in the crook of Logan's neck as he flipped pancakes.

How did my life get so perfect? Dylan wondered. He smiled and refused to let himself worry that he might one day lose the happiness he'd found.

~*~

Wes Saunders reluctantly met his mother and younger sister at the abandoned property his mother had taken over early in the morning. The basement radiated with power as he entered it. What had previously been derelict and forgotten was now a thriving ritual space.

Everything was in pristine condition. "You've been busy, Mother," he commented lightly.

"It is almost time, Wesley," Rachel replied. He cringed at the use of his proper first name. She was the only person who ever used it.

"Is the girl ready?" Renata asked.

"The girl has come into her full powers," Wes replied dryly. "And she has a name."

"You can't form attachments, Wesley," Rachel scolded him. "Not now. I expect that of Phillip. That's why I didn't bring him or your other brothers here."

"I never said I was attached, Mother," Wes replied. "I just don't see the point of treating her like she's some random warlock. We trained her."

"Which is why we must distance ourselves from her now. I am counting on you to do what must be done."

"I will."

Internally, he was slightly conflicted. He loved power as much as the next warlock, but this plan was a little bit out of his comfort zone. His moral compass definitely didn't point due north, but this felt wrong to him.

"Are we sure this will work, Mother?" Wes asked.

"Of course it will work," she replied. "The Eight Spokes Society will be stronger than it ever was before once we do what must be done."

She kept phrasing it that way, as if they had no choice. There was always a choice, but Rachel Saunders would inevitably choose power over anything else every time. Wes knew there wasn't anything he could do to change the path they were on now. Turning back was simply not an option.

~*~

Kevin was jogging through the woods when he felt someone shove him. As he began falling uncontrollably down a steep hill, he panicked. The next thing he knew, he was outside of the house he'd grown up in.

"What the...?" He mumbled in confusion. "I must have hit my head and concussed myself." He touched the back of his head, but there was no blood and he didn't feel any bumps. How had he ended up back home?

Nyxie came running toward him. "Kevin? Are you okay? You're covered in dirt," she said.

Kevin stared at her ensemble in confusion. She was wearing a plaid skirt with zippers all over it, a skull and crossbones t-shirt that was way too form fitting for a fourteen-year-old, and combat boots. Her blonde hair was streaked purple.

"What are you wearing?" Kevin asked in shock. "You look like you raided Deenie's closet or something."

"I always dress like this," she replied. "Did you hit your head?"

"I'm not sure," he admitted.

"Come on, Kev. Let's get you inside." She took his hand and guided him toward the house.

The first thing he noticed when he walked into the house was that it smelled like smoke.

"Oh good," Beth said. "You're home."

Kevin stared at the cigarette in her hands in horror. "Beth, what the hell are you doing?" He demanded.

"Relaxing," she replied. She blew a puff of smoke in his face. "You should try it."

Suddenly, the truth clicked, but it was impossible. I'm in Mirror, he thought. I'm in Mirror, but I didn't touch any mirrors... What's happening to me?

"I'm going out," Kevin said.

"But you just got home," Nyxie replied in confusion.

"I'm not in the mood to breathe in all this smoke. I'll come back later."

"Suit yourself," Beth replied with a shrug.

Kevin turned around and left as quickly as he could. He ran away from the house and tried to figure out where he could go for help. He didn't make it very far before someone stopped him.

"Kevin?" The last voice he wanted to hear asked. "What's wrong? You look pretty shaken up."

He turned around and looked at the man who'd cornered him in disbelief. "Dad..." He said. The last time he'd seen his father alive, he'd been trying to kill Beth and Jade.

"What happened to you? Are you hurt?" Mirror Lewis asked in concern. His reaction was so genuine and so comforting that Kevin briefly forgot that his father was evil.

"I don't know how I got here!" Kevin blurted out.

Mirror Lewis sighed. "You're from Valley," he guessed.

"Yeah, but I wasn't near any mirrors. I fell down a hill, and before I hit the bottom, I was home... Only not in my realm."

"We can't speak out here... Come with me."

Kevin hesitated. "I don't trust you," he said.

"I get that a lot from Valley's people. I helped each of them anyway. You're my son, Kevin. Let me help you."

Kevin sighed and said, "I don't understand what happened."

"Your magick is awakening," Mirror Lewis replied.

"Magick?" Kevin repeated in confusion. "I don't have magick. I mean, I've got the basic skills every slayer has, but I'm not trained in anything else."

"Come with me and I'll explain everything," Mirror Lewis promised.

He wanted to protest, but realizing he had no other choice, Kevin followed his father to his office.

"My office is warded," Mirror Lewis explained. "We can talk freely here... Have a seat, Kev. There is a lot I need to tell you."