"Sweet Pea. What happened?"
"Daddy. Daddy! I did just like you said. I flew down and surprised the invaders before they knew what was happening. I am so good. Just like you said."
Mr. Jon Albright stood in his backyard with his four year old winged daughter. She was flying around him in wide swoops, laughing. He reached out and caught her and gave her a hug. Her wings disappeared. 
All around them lay stunned chickens making weak clucking noises while trying and failing to stand up.
"Sweet Pea. Chickens are not invaders."
"Oh Daddy." Cleo said with a sad frown.
Her Dad hugged her."That's ok. Sweet Pea. When the invaders show up,you'll be ready for them. Let's eat. We are having your favorite tonight."
Cleo clapped and hugged her Dad around his neck. "Goody Daddy. I love mac and cheese."
				                                                                                                                                ***
In an empty classroom Mr. Albright found his daughter standing in a corner. "Cloe?"
His twelve year old daughter turned around. She was covered with dirt and one of her sleeves was torn. She faced him with determined crossed-arms, pursed lips and unshed tears she was fighting to hold in. "Daddy. I did just like you said Mom did. I didn't take it sitting down and protected the weak with a big spell."
Jon knelt down and gathered his daughter in his arms. "Yes you did, sweet pea. Yes you did. Mom would have been so proud of you. But next time try to tell a teacher first. Ok?"
Cloe hugged him back. "Ok Daddy."
		                                                                                                                          		***
After a five hour drive Jon pulled up to an abandoned stone church. There were a large number of magic users flying around above the structure. He struggled to climb the dilapidated stone stair case to the top floor which was open to the sky. He had a stretch bandage around his left elbow and stopped several times to catch his breath. Even in the golden setting sun he was drawn and pale.
One of the flyers swooped down on him. "Who is the old jerk? He has no aura. He is a useless normal nora." The flyer mocked and thru a chunk of rock at Jon.
From above Albright heard. "Dad! Dad? What are you doing here?" 
Cloe landed next to him kicking up a dust cloud.
Jon coughed. "The Dean of Students called me. You haven't been to school in four weeks. This is where you were supposed to learn all the magic I couldn't teach you."
Cloe let out an aggrieved huff,"I don't need this crap. Dad." She was dressed all in black, her wings inky black as well. "Daddy you don't understand."
"Sweet Pea, yes I do."
"How could you possibly understand who I am and how I feel?" She crossed her arms and glared at him. "You didn't teach me anything."
"That's not true." Her dad countered.
Cloe held up her mothers spell book and shook it at him. "No. No you didn't."
Jon tried to step nearer to her but she stepped back."Sweet pea, of course I couldn't teach you magic. But I did teach you right from wrong and we did the best we could without your mom."
"But it's not fair." She cried.
"No it is not. Nothing is fair unless we make it fair."
Cloe yelled and shot a bolt of lightening skyward.
Her Dad moved a step closer. "We both miss your mother. But no matter where she is, she's never stopped loving you. Come home and let's have dinner."
Cloe scowled at him. "No. Dad. I have to go."
Albright watched as his daughter soared up and away out of sight. He sighed and scrubbed his eyes."Oh Cloe, my sweet pea."
		                                                                         	                                                       	***
On the night of the first battle, the sky battalions flat-top troop ship rocked in the swells caused by the cover storm.
Lieutenant Cloe Albright finished putting on her flight suit, adjusting it to accomodate her wings. New bright gold bars graced her collar. Glancing at her image framed in the mirror she adjusted her gloves and concentrated, her mother's worn spell book in her hand. Around her reflection a bright strong halo of light grew. It sparked and crackled as she stared at herself with grim determination. On the desk was a picture of her father. Next to that another frame held his medals. 	The PA rung out in the barracks area. "Officers and troops of the 65th Enhanced Flight Battallion we are about to face our most difficult challenge yet. Our lands have been invaded by the Magisterial Opposition. We must repel them at all costs." 
She heard cheers from all around her.
"Keep in formation and cast when you have a clear shot. WE CAN TAKE'M!" 
At the sound of a klaxon, Cleo ran out onto the flight deck. The carrier was turning into the howling tempest. She joined her squadron of winged soldiers, taking the lead position. She nodded to her chiefs. They stood wing tip to wing tip and leaned into the churning winds. The first squadrons spread their wings and lifted off in formation. All around them energy bolts exploded on contact with the dark ship. The midnight skies were filled with hundreds of shapes outlined by bursts of white flame. Cloe lifted off, followed by her squad. "Finally found the invaders Dad."

           Mini woke but remained as still as she could. She fought to keep from panicking and took small measured breaths. On high alert and listening for any small sound. Her shoulder hurt but she ignored it. Can't move. Can't move. Don't move. If he thinks I am still out of it he won't hit me anymore. Minutes passed with silence all around her. She looked thru slitted eyelids and saw a bright, white room. First thing she did was take a grateful breath she was alone, but then wait. Where was she? Chancing a full look see, Mini sat up. She was alone alright. No entrance or exit, no furniture, no nothing greeted her sight. Grateful at first, then scared and now mad.
          Shaking her fist at the ceiling, "What have you done now Jimmy?" Mini yelled. "Why can't you just leave me alone? Why do you have to do things like this to me?"
          Mini stood, "Where are you? Say something!" she said, angry tears rolling down her face.
          There was no answer.
          Frustrated she let out a big sigh and looked down, there was a piece of paper at her feet. She had been sitting on it. Mini picked it up.
          "Touch the Wall." There was a logo , beneath the request. The letters "JA-R-US" were set in a half circle, like a smile.
          "Is this another one of your sick jokes, Jimmy? Is it? Just because you have money doesn't mean you can do anything you want to me."
          Not knowing what else to do Mini touched the wall closest to her. It became translucent and tall words scrolled down.
          "Greetings. Welcome to JA-R-US."
          A large keyboard floated up on bottom of the screen.
          The next line was, "You are facing your front door."
          Mini was stunned. But this all looked familiar. Her little brother had played a game sorta like this. She had to type directions and stuff.
          She tried, "Open front door."
          "Front door is open."
          "Exit front door." She answered.
          "You are in the hallway."
          Remembering the floor plan of her apartment she continued.
          Just as she reached the elevator a red warning flashed across the screen.
          "Jack Ass Alert. Jack Ass Alert. Jack Ass has been detected in the room ahead."
          Mini froze. It was Jimmy, he loved to corner her in the elevator. She couldn't go down the stairs either because his goons would have that exit covered. Now what? But wait, this was a game right?
          "Look through door." She typed one letter at a time, not knowing what would happen.
          A section of the door to the elevator became clear as glass.
          It was Jimmy. There were fresh red welts on his face where she had dug in with her nails. "That little bitch." He muttered smearing the blood drips across his cheek. "This is the last time I will let her get away from me. I will make her love me. She is mine and mine alone."
          Mini yelped out and stepped back in horror. "Oh my god. Oh my god. What do I do?"
          The screen responded with a "?"
          Mini typed ,"?" in reply.
          "Help Menu: When Jackass has been detected select an exile level by entering 'roll dice'. This will create an appropriate resolution for your Jackass."
          Mini looked around not really believing any of this.
          She shrugged her shoulders, winced and typed, "Roll Dice."
          "7. You have selected the Seventh Level of Hell."
          "Roll for duration."        
          "Roll Dice." She typed.
          "Double 6. The duration selected will be Eternity."
          She watched, half in horror, half in amazement as the elevator floor beneath Jimmy began to burn.
          "WHAT THE HELL!! HELP! HELP! GET ME OUTTA HERE!" He screamed at the top of his lungs.
          Mini was shrieking and shaking as she watched him fall from view, his yells becoming distant then stopping.
          All was quiet.
          "Thank you for playing JA-R-US."
          The wall went back to being a plain wall.
          Mini fainted.
          A loud banging at her door woke her up.
          "Mini. This is Cleo, let me in. Mini! Let me in. Are you alright?!"
          Mini sat up groggy and looked around. Her bed, her apartment. "What?"
          Stumbling to her front door, she let her best friend Cleo in. "What is it?"
          Acting like aliens had come to earth Cleo challenged her, "Mini, haven't you seen the news?"
          Mini blinked at her friend, she looked down and noticed she was still wearing the clothes she'd worn on last night.
          "Watch this." Cleo turned on the T.V.
          "Infamous software genius and crypto wizard Jimmy Glens has committed suicide. He was filmed jumping off the top of his penthouse. He fell into a construction hole in the street. His body has not been found. Film tonight."
          Mini sat back. Jimmy gone?
          No. It can't be. No. Digging in her pocket she pulled out a crumpled paper. As she smoothed it out the words on it were fading fast, "....JA-R-US..........."

Part II: Dressed in black jeans and hoodies, Jack and Jimmy, with their ghost crew watched as the red demon Cernat materialized within a glowing salt pentagram. Jimmy held the only yew they could find, a decrepit old Christmas wreath. It still had tinsel and green ribbons wrapped around it.

          Mrs. Carstairs directed them. "Boys, Jack will have to place the yew bough in the salt barrier. And when it starts growing, the yew will dispel the binding force, the demon will dissipate and we will be free."

          Approaching the chanting mages Jack could feel waves of energy pass thru him like a heavy bass beat.

          Suddenly Cernat screamed, "Interlopers! They are here to destroy us. Stop them!"

          Under three dark hoods, three pairs of glowing yellow eyes looked toward the group. In a barely human voice the lead mage growled, "I can hold the the spell. Stop Jack!"

          The apprentices flew at them like two huge bats. Jimmy ducked and tripped one. It careened into a stone wall not to rise. The second one caught Jack in a bear hug. Jimmy slid the wreath up his arm and threw himself on top of the mage holding Jack.

          The trio stumbled toward the glowing pentagram falling only a few feet away from it.

          The ghosts wailed.

          Jack yelled to Jimmy. "Hold the wreath in the salt then take my hand."

          Then as Jimmy grasped Jacks hand, he became as stiff as a board, his eyes rolling back into his head. Yet, he held firm onto Jack and kept the wreath in the salt.

          The ghosts all gasped and pointed.

          The wreath was slowly growing. It was pushing the salt apart.

          Cernat opened its mouth in a soundless shout. But the remaining mage threw its head back and let out a soul rending scream.

          As the yew twigs grew and strengthened, the salt fully parted. The demon exploded into darkness. The mages collapsed. Their robes deflating into dark piles.

          Jack sat up to see his ghosts floating around him. They were clapping and cheering.

          "Jack you did it. You saved us. "Mrs. Carstairs gleefully told him.

          "Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Jack."

          "Power to you brother, power to you."

          Jack smiled. "You are welcome. But a deal is a deal."

          "Yes of course. Close your eyes." They all said in unison.

          Jack felt a shock wave pass thru his body. When he opened his eyes. He was alone. Jimmy was still holding his hand and the wreath.

          He stood and pulled Jimmy to standing.

          Puzzled Jimmy looked at the fresh green wreath in his hand and asked him. "Dude, what are we doing in this creepy place?"

          Jack laughed. "You really don't want to know."

Part I: Working in the courtyard of his father and step-mothers apartment, Jimmy felt a tickle on the back of his neck. Looking up at the balcony to his step-brothers apartment he saw a strange elderly woman looking out. "God-dang it. Not another one. I told him he couldn't sublet any of his rooms. He's getting the family rate what more does he want?"

          By the time Jimmy had stomped up the stairs, the balcony was empty once again. He banged on the door. "Jack? For f's sake open this door! I am only going to give you one more chance." When there was no answer he left in a huff.

          Jack heard Jimmy yelling and peeped around the corner. He saw Jimmy leave. He knew he was late with the rent. But he was a little afraid to get near anyone living.

          Again Jack looked around the corner and mentally scoped out the path to his front door. He didn't want accidently touch anything that might get called back from the dead. And he made doubly sure the crazies from the cemetery weren't lurking around. His trip home took over an hour because of those idiots. Once more Jack checked out his route to his apartment and looked down at his hands. He rubbed them together anxiously. Yesterday after having worked all day with metal-handled tools he'd forgotten his condition and put on his leather gloves. After carrying several trash bags out to the dumpster ,he noticed a trail of blood drips leading from the shed to the refuse bins. Looking down in horror he saw his gloves were oozing blood. In a panic he threw them off. The gloves tore themselves apart at the seams. The pieces spurted blood and writhed on the ground. Running to the shed he started a fire in the burn barrel, got a metal shovel and tossed the gory leather chunks in the fire. He wondered how in the hell he was going to explain all this to Jimmy.

After a mad dash he gratefully closed his door. By putting plastic bags on his hands he fixed himself a meal. He wasn't sure what fresh fruit and vegetables would do, but after the gloves he wasn't taking any chances. For dessert he got himself a beer and sat down on the plastic covered couch. He used to hate the plastic but for last week he loved it. Jack took a long deep drink. Why did this happen? Why does it feel like I am being punished? Finishing the beer in a swallow he turned on the TV. It was a show about fantasy mages and wizards. Right. If they only knew. It was not two minutes before he fell asleep. As he slept a figure formed from a gray fog into a discrete character. It was an old lady in 1950's dress. She floated about the apartment before stopping next to Jack. She smiled lovingly down at him. It was at that moment there was a furious banging the door. "Jack, this is Jimmy. I know you are in there. Buster we have to talk. NOW! Jack groaned and started to snore. The ghost lady stood calmly and watched him sleep. "Alright." Jimmy said, "Enough is enough." Using his pass-key Jimmy burst into Jacks' living room. "Hey stupid wake up! Who the hell is the old broad?" While Jimmy was yelling at Jack another older person, a man, materialized next to the lady. He too was dressed in 50's attire. The two ghosts smiled at one another. At last Jack woke up. "What? Huh? Jimmy what do you want? Jimmy pulled his half-brother up by his collar and pointed to the two old people standing in the living room clear as day. "I told you, that you cannot sublet any of your rooms. How do you not understand that?" Jack looked at the quaint old pair, one of them looked familiar. "Mrs. Carstairs? Is that you?" She twinkled at him. "Yes Jack it is." Then she gestured to the ge1ntleman next to her, "Jack I want you to meet my husband Peter." Peter nodded at him. "Glad to meet you young man. Thank you so much for taking such good care of our resting places..." Jimmy interrupted him. "Jack. I don't care what you did for them. They cannot live here." Jack shook his head and looked at Jimmy like he was seeing him for the first time. "You can see them too?" Jimmy groaned. "Yes fuck nuts I can see them. And I will tell you something else, smart guy. I have seen at least five other people looking off your balcony." Jack stood up. "Five!? Five more? What?" At this moment five more ghosts floated into the living room from the balcony. They glided up next to Mr. and Mrs. Carstairs. One was in colonial garb and a another man had an enormous afro and was wearing psychedelic bell bottoms, Mrs. Carstairs squinted at Jimmy. "Peter I think that is Edna's boy, Jimmy-Joe. Don't you?" Jimmy's eyes bugged open wide and in a complete panic was soundlessly opening and closing his mouth while he jabbed his finger at their ghostly guests. Jack let out an frustrated sigh, sat down and buried his head in his hands. Mrs. Carstairs looked at the other ghosts and they nodded, so she floated forward a few paces nearer to Jack and Jimmy."Boys, I, we, understand that this must seem odd to y'all. But Jack took such beautiful care of our sacred resting places that we wanted to reward him." "So you made me a necromancer?" Jack asked in exasperation through his hands. Jimmy piped up. "Why couldn't you have let him win the lotto or something?" Mrs. Carstairs looked kindly at the pair ,"I am sorry, but we can't do anything about things like that." Jack stood up and faced the group. "Ok. So why me? And why now?" he pleaded. Mrs. Carstairs and the rest of the ghosts became agitated. "Jack do you remember those awful mages who chased you?" "Yes. Why?" "Well," she paused ,"We are all bound to them through the demon Cernat. They use our energy to do evil." A young girl ghost pushed thru the others."Mr. Jack. Those men do bad, terrible things. They hurt us. Please help us." The big black man with the afro chimed in. " Dudes are not righteous man." Mrs. Carstairs grasped her hands in front of her chest and pleaded- ,"Jack, if you help free us, we will remove the gift of necromancy." Without hesitation Jack responded ,"YES!" Jimmy looked at him ."You are nuts man.