235 - Tool

The adults stared at the kids with a range of expressions, but it was Stein’s fierce disapproval that had Dewie shifting closer to Lexie. 

Lexie stared back at Stein just as fiercely, but that was also so that she didn’t want to meet her father's gaze quite yet.

Journeyman, whose expression was the friendliest of the bunch, somewhere between relief and amusement, was the one who broke the silence.

“Well,” he said. “I’m very happy to see you alive and well on our campus again, Lexie Sparrowfoot, but I didn’t think that we would meet again while you were committing criminal trespassing and kidnapping."

“It wasn’t trespassing since I'm still a student,” Lexie pointed out. “And it wasn't kidnapping if he agreed to go with me.”

“He’s a minor.”

“So am I.”

Someone somewhere in the back of the room snickered, and Aiden glared them into silence. 

“That makes it worse, not better,” Journeyman said. “And pray tell, what was this little excursion about?”

Lexie glanced at Vacek, who was eyeing her measuredly. He didn’t look pleased, but he didn’t look mad either.

“It’s a secret.” She finally decided on it because she didn’t know if Vacek wanted so many people knowing about the fact that they’d cracked Dewie’s powers. Everyone else might find out in the future, but for now, it was probably for the best to be kept as a secret. 

“Secret?” Journeyman asked.

“Yeah. I’ll only talk to my dad and Vacek about it.”

“That hardly seems fair,” Vacek said. “I’m the headmaster of the institution, and Dewitt Azure, whom you so effortlessly kidnapped, is my charge.”

“Journeyman,” Vacek spoke up. “Can you clear the room and give us a minute? I’ll let you know how it went after.”

Journeyman opened his mouth like he was going to argue, but Vacek's eyebrow dissuaded him.

Ultimately, he sighed. “Fine.”

He nodded at the rest of the strangers in the room, who Lexie guessed were a few of the invisible security guards who guarded the campus. Leixie wondered how they'd caught her, but this seemed like a poor time to ask.

As the Journeyman and the guards left, Stein remained in place. 

“That includes you, Stein,” Vacek said.

“No,” the other man responded.

“No?”

“I’m Dewie's staff mentor,” he said. “That makes him my responsibility. I’m supposed to know everything that happens to him."

"And I will tell you once we're done."

"That's not good enough.  His parents entrusted him to me and this academy, not to you to use for your whims.”

Though Stein wasn’t yelling, the words were dripping with accusation. 

Vacek arched an eyebrow. “Is that your way of blaming me for what happened tonight?” 

“It's my way of blaming you for how you're actively interfering with the boy's life. First, you take him off his medication, then you have him working with magic that could be harmful to him."

“Yes, under strict supervision with his parents' permission.”

“I don’t care whose permission you have. It's wrong. Everything you're doing with him is wrong, and the fact that they just let you do it doesn't make it less wrong." His nostrils flared. "I don't know what you told the mayor and his wife to get them to agree to such a thing, but clearly someone has  to look out for the boy, since none of you are willing to put his best interests at heart."

"Is that what you think? That I don't have his best interests at heart?"

"Did you have Lucy Frank's best interests at heart?"

Vacek's gaze went frosty. He kept staring at Stein, and Stein stared back with just as much animosity, if not more.

Lexie thought there might be something deeper to this argument they were having, a historical pain they weren't sharing.  

Nevertheless, she could understand both sides. Stein wanted to protect Dewie from his own powers, and Vacek wanted to protect the world from Vulcan and the Fae.

Aiden looked between the two of them and decided to ignore them altogether. 

“Are you okay?” he asked Lexie, and she nodded. 

“Yeah.”

“You shielded your psychic tag.”

She nodded.

“And left a clone in your room.”

She nodded again. 

“Teleported all the way to the school and found a way to sneak into one of the most protected places in the world, risking your life and those of the students here."

Lexie nodded for the third and hopefully final time.

“And all of that was easier than just talking to me and telling me where you were going?”

“Yeah,” she said. At his frown, she added, “Oh, sorry, was that sarcasm?”

“I think so,” Dewie whispered to her. 

Her father pinched the bridge of his nose. “Lexie, why didn’t you just tell us that you needed to see Dewie?”

“I didn’t think you would let me take him if you knew what I had planned. Also…” She glanced at Vacek. “It was a decision only Dewie could take. I didn’t want anyone else influencing him.” 

“Yet another subtle accusation thrown my way,” Vacek commented wryly. 

“Not just you. Everyone. There were too many voices. Dewie needed to decide for himself.”

“And did he?” Vacek asked. They all turned their attention to Dewie at that point, who blushed and looked down at his laced fingers. 

“Yes,” he said. 

“Dewie went to see the Mountain,” Lexie announced, and though Stein was visibly confused, both Aiden and Vacek knew what that was because they jerked into awareness.

“The Mountain?” Aiden asked. "As in Mountain Vesimus?”

Lexie nodded. 

“How did you find it?” Vacek asked. “It’s been lost for ages. We only know it exists from legend.”

“It doesn't matter how I found it. Just that I did. Anyway, Dewie went to the Mountain and went through a test to become an Oracle. If he failed the test, he could get rid of his powers entirely, and he wouldn’t have to worry about shortening his lifespan anymore.”

“What does that mean?” Vacek asked, with barely restrained worry, as he looked to Dewie. “Did you…you didn’t, did you?”

Lexie turned to Dewie, allowing him to say what happened.

“I passed the test,” he announced, and Vacek heaved a sigh of relief. 

“Good,” he said. “That’s good.”

“I can control my powers now, and The Mountain taught me how to see the things I need to see, and to not see the things I don’t need to see. There are…there are sights that are more harmful than others, you see, and stuff I'm not supposed to know. Also, I can translate my visions through meditation.” He said. He stared at Lexie, his smile fading. “I think I know what your guillotine means, Lexie.”

“What?”

“A trap,” he said. 

“A literal one or a metaphorical one.”

"Literal,” he said. “I have a clear image of it in my mind. You’re trapped in some kind of dark place, like a dungeon, but smaller. Emptier."

"A pocket dimension?" Aiden murmured, making Vacek glance at him.

"I'm not sure what that is, but maybe. You're really angry, and you're screaming, but you can’t get out no matter how hard you try. And the harder you try, the more tired you get. I think it's siphoning your powers."

Or turning her into a dungeon.

“Who laid the trap for me?”

Dewie closed his eyes and thought hard about it. “I don’t know yet. I have to consult the oracle and keep meditating on it, so maybe I'll see what came before that. I only get brief images at a time, which are kind of like short videos. If I want more, I need to meditate and pray."

"Pray?"

"Yeah. Boosts my perception and belief."

“Oh. Okay," Lexie said. She could probably hasten the process by making the clarity light card for Dewie, but right now, she could think of a few people who want her trapped.

The Fae. Vulcan and his associates. Neqal. Yasycht. Heck, maybe even Vacek.

The more important question was figuring out the nature of the trap. “You said it was a pocket dimension.”

"I'm not sure. I guess."

“We’ll have to look into it more,” Vacek said. “But for now, Dewie, I also want you to focus on those items I gave you. We believe that you might get images of Vulcan from that, because he has interacted with them. Tomorrow, after breakfast, we'll also go to the area where some of the attacks took place, and you can tell me what you see there.”

“No,” Stein said, shaking his head. “I can’t stand by and watch you do this anymore.”

Stein–”

“No, Aiden,” Stein turned on Aiden with a glare. “Aren't you sick of this? Or do you only care when your daughter's involved? Can’t you see he’s doing the same thing again and again? It’s what he tried to do to Lexie. What he did to you and Lara and Lucy–”

“All I’m trying to do is make this world a safer place,” Vacek said. 

“By using us like we’re replaceable.”

“You know what it meant when you decided to be a hero.”

“Yeah, when I was ten and idealistic. It's why we catch them young, isn’t it? We get them before they know better. We use the media to create fantasies about what a hero is, feed them lies about how this is a noble job calling, and convince their parents that they'll be safe with us doing what we do. And by the time they figure out what the fuck is going on, it’s already too late, isn’t it? They’ve racked up enemies, they’re already too tangled in the mess, and the hero’s guilt eats them up if they even think about leaving the fold.” Stein took a step forward. “All to continue the cycle that you started."

“So?” Vacek challenged, looking more irritated than anything else. “Do you want to be in charge? Do you want to be the one who makes the decisions? Go ahead. If you can think of another way to keep the world safe, without doing what I do, then please be my guest."

“I'm just sick and tired of watching you use people,” Stein said. “And you seem to go younger and younger each year. It was one thing when you were waiting till they were adults. Now you're using kids for your dirty work? I wonder how the rest of the association will feel about what you're doing with Dewie, especially given what happened to your last tool, Lucy Frank.”

Vacek’s expression rippled. Rage poured out of his eyes, but he hid it with a bitter, cruel smile. 

“Go ahead and tell them,” Vacek said with a smile. “You're free to make reports, and they will, of course, run their investigations. I should warn you, though, they’ve already tried more than once to oust me and failed. What makes you think it will work this time?” He leaned in. “And what makes you think there’s anyone there capable of taking my place and holding things together while the world falls apart.”

Stein grew even angrier, and he opened his mouth to say more things, but Aiden interrupted him, “The children are still here. Both of you can continue whatever this is later.” 

Stein whipped around, his eyes sparking with heat. They landed on Lexie first, and Lexie didn’t know if it was regret or anger that shone brighter.

Then he shifted his gaze to Dewie.

“Back to bed, Dewie.”

“Maybe I should stay over,” Lexie told them. “Make sure Dewie’s doing okay.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Aiden said. 

“I agree,” Stein concurred.

“Come on. I’ll be out by morning.”

"No. You can come visit him tomorrow, and accompany us to our investigation, but for now–"

"Okay, at least let me walk him to his room and make him a card," Lexie interrupted. "It will alert me if he's ever in trouble." It was similar to the card she'd made for Little Fae, and Lexie would feel a lot better if Dewie had it too. "It'll be quick, I promise."

Vacek hesitated. "Alright. Stein and Aiden will walk you there. Dewie's guards should already be outside his door."

Lexie nodded.

Vacek turned around to leave, but he gave Stein one last look.

“There’s no noose around your neck, Damien Stein,’ he said. “No chains around your wrist. You can always walk away, no questions asked. But if you choose to stay, you deal with it. Don't make your guilt my problem."

With that, he walked off.

Stein gestured for Dewie to move closer to him. The two of them led the charge, talking to each other while Lexie hung back with her Dad.

"I'm sorry," she told him. "For hurting you."

Lexie could sense that Aiden was hurt, even though he smiled weakly at her. “I thought you had left me again.”

"I did, but I came back," Lexie told him, and as he stared at her, she made a promise to him and herself. “I will always come back.”

Aiden sighed and ruffled her hair. “I hope so."

After Stein dropped Dewie off, he hung back at the entrance to talk to Aiden while Lexie walked into the common area.

It was quiet, so Lexie thought maybe no one was awake yet. But when they entered Dewie's room, Jace was pacing and biting his fingernails like a maniac.

“You!” Jace said as he rushed up to Dewie. “Come on, man, how can you just run off like that without telling anyone? Do you have any idea how worried I was?”

“Sorry,” Dewie said.

“It was my fault,” Lexie said. “I kind of kidnapped him.”

“To go where?” 

“I can’t say. Actually, Jace, do you think I could talk to Dewie alone for a second?’

“Now? It’s like three a.m."

“I know. I’m sorry to ask, I just…I want to talk to him alone.’

“Oh. Okay." He glanced at Dewie in question, then said, "I guess I'll just leave you two to it then." He awkwardly made his way out, closing the door behind him.

Lexie made sure there was no one around, and the sound muffled the room so that Jace couldn't hear what they were saying, even if his ear was pressed against the door.

“Dewie,” Lexie said, “There’s something I want you to do for me." She pulled out a card. "Apart from pushing your magic into this card that helps me find you if you're ever in trouble."

“What is it?”

Lexie sighed. "I want to use my soul card on you and create a link between us, so I can siphon your magic should I need to. It would also help me understand how your magic works so I can make a duplicate card, which might make things easier on your body." Lexie took a deep breath.“I know it’s a lot for me to ask, and it can be dangerous for you if I–”

"Okay," he said instantly, cutting Lexie off.

"Really?" Lexie asked. "That easy?"

“Yeah. I wouldn’t have the power without you anyway.”

“Dewie, no, that’s not a reason you should say yes.”

“It’s not?”

“No. This is serious. It's your life we're talking about. I don’t want you to give me access to your powers just because you’re grateful.” Lexie sighed. “I probably shouldn't even be asking you for it, and it's incredibly selfish of me to. I would totally understand if you'd be uncomfortable with that.

"I'm not."

"–and I don't plan on using it except in emergencies, but I don't want you to say yes just to appease me. I want you to really think about it, and if you don't want to, then...just don't bring it up again, and I won't either."

“I don’t need to think about it. You’re my best friend, and  I trust you.”

Lexie's guilt only expanded. How could she let him trust her when she was still keeping a pretty big secret from him?

"Maybe you shouldn’t trust me."

"What?

She moved closer to him, whispering despite the soundproofing. "Dewie…remember the thing I told you before I disappeared?"

He cocked his head. "Which thing?"

"The Eldritch thing."'

"Oh." His mouth formed the shape of an egg. "Yeah, I remember."

"Well, I should tell you that...that part of me has grown. Like a lot more than before. In fact, it's grown so much that I'm very different, now, and maybe you shouldn't trust me as the Lexie you once knew."

Lexie waited for the reaction, for him to show fear or apprehension. Dewie was a scaredy-cat after all.

Apparently, though, not with this.

"I already kind of sensed you were different," Dewie said without much shock. "But you're still...you. You're still Lexie, and you threatened to kill a Mountain for me, so..I trust you, and I probably always will."

"Even if...I end up hurting you?"

"Yeah. Probably even then. You were my first friend, Lexie." His eyes dropped, the tips of his ears forming pink. "I wanted to be a hero because of you. I stopped feeling stupid and being so mad at myself all the time because of you, too. When I thought you were dead, I hated that I couldn't do anything to help you. I don't want to feel like that again even if I have to be your tool, like Stein said."

Lexie felt suspicious emotion pushing at the back of her eyes. She also felt that guilt grow along with her affection. She understood Stein so much more now. Someone needed to protect Dewie from himself.

"Dewie..." She shook her head. "I'll give you a week to think about it."

"My answer won’t change."

Somehow, I hope it does.

Lexie, on impulse, hugged him, and she buried her head in his neck.

“You really are a great best friend," she told him.

“You’re a great best friend, too," he responded.

When Lexie got home, Tate was still awake in the living room reading a book, and Aiden wasn't happy about that either.

As he shepherded them both up to bed, Tate told Lexie, "Nice clone."

"Thanks," she said and went to her room.

But she didn't sleep.

Instead, she called on Pvilycht so that they could figure out the living cards thing. Now that she knew that someone planned on trapping her, she needed to figure out a way out of it.

Also, she figured maybe if she kept Pvilycht busy, he wouldn't be so bored and apathetic.

"So," Lexie said as they both sat cross-legged on her bed. "I know how to link the card to the dungeon, but how do I make the card alive?"

"You'll have to transform some of the essence of the dungeon into the card, in a way that mimics human pathways," Pvilycht said. "What you're planning will involve advanced knowledge of soul magic, probably. Both human and Eldritch. I know much about Eldritch souls but not much about humans. I can take a few apart but you might disagree with my methods. Do you know anyone who might be able to help us learn about human souls?"

Lexie sighed as her mind threw up a name. "Yes. Unfortunately, I do."