Anne was chatting with Kim when Kelsie walked into their sitting area. She smiled at her daughter, who returned a tight smile.

"Oh dear, I know that look," she said, grinning at Kim as she teased Kelsie, "how are you doing, my dear?"

"It's been a long ... busy day," Kelsie said, "Hey Kim, how are you doing?"

"Better, thank you," Kim smiled, "your parents have been wonderful."

"Glad to hear it," Kelsi nodded, "would you be okay on your own for a bit. I need to chat to Mom."

"Sure," Kim nodded, "I found a book that looks interesting, and all rain makes me want to read."

"Enjoy the book," Kelsie smiled, moving away toward the library, the mother following behind.

"What is this about?" her mother asked, closing the door behind them.

Pulling a sheet of paper from her pocket, Kelsie handed it to her mother, "I need to get the items in the quantities on the paper."

"Where did you get this?" her mother stared at her, "this was never to be dealt with and concluded."

"Is that what Leilani told you?" Kelsie asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"You look like Connie with that expression on your face," Anne shook her head, "no, Leilani never said much when she returned."

"Not to any human, but she did talk to the House," Kelsie said, "that ritual will be going ahead, and I'm asking you to get those items in for me."

"Why me?" Anne asked, frowning.

"It has become evident that for the matter to be rectified; I am only to include those I trust," Kelsie sighed, "you are the only one I trust."

"What about Zander?" Anne asked.

"He is working another angle," Kelsie said, "will you help me?"

"I don't want you anywhere near this," Anne said, "it's too dangerous."

"We don't have a choice if we want to stop what is coming," Kelsie said, "I'm not asking for your permission; I'm asking for your help."

Anne looked at her daughter's determined expression, pride seeping into her gaze, "You're not asking as my daughter," Anne smiled, "you're asking as Queen of the Order."

"Yes," Kelsie nodded, "will you help me?"

"Yes, I will," Anne nodded, "and I will keep what I know to the grave or until you release me to tell others."

"Thank you," Kelsie said, "we don't have a lot of time, Leilani left everything for this, and we need to do it once he is in the field."

"Why is he doing this?" Anne asked.

"Zander discovered who his father is ..." Kelsie hesitated as Anne sat in a chair, "Hadeon Than Wulfric."

Anne paled, her hand flying to her mouth, "Not him."

"Yes, so his offspring seems to think it's his right to challenge the rule of the Order," Kelsie said, "Everett broke from the Order to try and give him a place to be, but he was not satisfied. If we do not do that ritual, when he is in the meadow but outside the boundary line, we may lose everything we hold dear."

"But Leilani was not Queen," Anne frowned.

"Identical twins dressed the same with the same mannerisms and baring," Kelsie shrugged, "if he couldn't have them both, he would have the Queen or who he thought was the Queen. He killed Zinnia thinking she was Leilani, and" Kelsie shuddered, "took his anger out on who he thought was the Queen of the Order."

"How did you find out all of this?" Anne asked.

"Zander found Leilani's diary with details, names, and photos of who was responsible for her capture and torture and her sister's murder," Kelsie sighed, "no one bothered to ask the House. Everyone ran for the hills."

Anne shook her head, "I asked her, begged her to tell me all of this," Anne swallowed hard, "she refused."

"I wouldn't want to talk about anything she wrote in her diary," Kelsie frowned, "that's why she wrote it down. So someone would be able to know what happened and what the twins had found out," Kelsie moved to the window, looking at the weather, "we have hours. Once you have gathered everything, please meet me in the Room of Rulers."

"You know about that?" Anne frowned, "Connie is not here to hand it over."

"Before Connie's murder ... when she left the house previously," Kelsie said, "she relinquished everything to me, as you did. The House is free to tell me whatever I need to know and whatever it thinks I need to know."

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"Do you know how to do this ritual?" Anne asked, reading the paper.

"Yes," Kelsie smiled, "we have my extensive training, and there are detailed instructions."

"How long do you think we have?" Anne asked.

Kelsie stilled, blinked rapidly and focused on her mother again, "Three hours if we're lucky."

"We have work to do," Anne smiled, bowing her head before leaving the room.

"Now, where do I find Zander?" Kelsie huffed a breath out, "thankfully, I slept well. If the battle is longer than I would like, this could be a long day."

After much searching, Kelsie found Zander finishing the preparations; he kept glancing out the window with a concerned expression. Nearing the table, she heard him say, "We don't have much time; rain or no rain, put them into place."

Kelsie moved toward the window viewing the drizzle of rain. The House had given them all the time it could. It was time to face the incoming evil. Alyx nodded acknowledgement to her as he passed. Joining Zander at the table, she smiled, the look of worry replaced by a warmth that made her blush.

"Everything ready?" she asked.

"We have looked at every possibility and angle," Zander said, "I'm hoping it will be enough."

"I found this," Kelsie gave Zander a slip of paper, "apparently, these words will destroy the stone."

"Who says them?" Zander asked.

"It can be anyone of Royal and Guard blood," she whispered, "or anyone appointed by that person."

"So it has to be you," Zander said.

"Yes, or you," Kelsie said, "If I am unable to stand with the stone and say these words ..." she looked him in the eyes, "I want you to."

"My first concern would be your safety," Zander frowned.

"The first concern is the survival of the people," she said, grasping his hand tightly, "I'm begging you to do this for me."

Looking down at the words, Zander sighed, "I should say no," he shook his head, "but I understand why. There are over two hundred souls here," he indicated to the back of the computer room, "and more arrive every hour."

"How?" Kelsie asked, watching the people move from group to group, talking, eating, and playing with small children, "the rain has been ongoing for hours."

"I don't know," Zander shook his head, "Jackie has been keeping count and making sure everyone has food, clothing, a space to sleep, and the children are being cared for; she fell into the role as though she has done it a hundred times before."

"We have been fortunate to have the Elders with us," Kelsie said, "imagine doing all of this and fending off the monster who will soon be on our doorstep."

Alyx came running in, panting, "He is coming ..." he bent at his waist, hands on his knees getting his breath back, "his troops have just gotten to the ridge summit. We have minutes before he is at the house boundary."

"Why minutes?" Kelsie frowned, moving to the front door.

"He has sent front runners," Alyx said, "literally runners. They seem to be very fast."

Kelsie looked at Zander, "It's time."

Zander turned toward the interior of the House, raising the battle cry as a call to arms.

Kelsie turned frantically, looking for her mother in the sudden swarm of people.

"Where is she? I cannot get to the Room of Rulers," Kelsie muttered,

A soft touch on her arm brought her attention to a soft gaze, "Zander's call to arms told me you wouldn't make it to the appointed meeting place. I have everything in this basket and the items from the library."

"Thank you," Kelsie said, "he is here, and we have no time to lose."

"Let us end this once and for all," Anne nodded, "who did you appoint should you not be able to say the words."

"Zander," Kelsie said, "don't argue the point. It needs to be either one of us for this to work."

"You know something no one else does," Anne narrowed her eyes on her daughter, "tell me."

"It is not my story to tell," Kelsie said, "don't push the matter anymore. Follow me."

Kelsie left the House, moving toward the boundary line. The land was wet, the grass dripping with the last of the rain.

"Where do I need to place this?" Kelsie whispered, following the boundary line,

At the corner of the porch, before the mountain range started, she stopped sensing this was the place to assemble the items needed. Pulling out a piece of paper from her pocket, she unfolded it, finding the assigned direction and pinpointing the exact spot for placement of the stone.

"Here," she motioned to Anne to join her, "we need to assemble this exactly as is stated on the paper," she tipped it so her mother could see the drawing.

"That is your great-grandmother's writing," she whispered, "they knew this day may come, and I think they wanted to end this before it started."

"Who advised you to follow your heart and pair with your Guard?" Kelsie asked.

"I don't think it was any one person," Anne frowned, "a few mentioned a new tradition of a love connection would fair better than what we had experienced in the leadership."

Nodding, Kelsie looked across the meadow, "Today, come what may; his existence will conclude today."

"Conclude how?" Anne asked.

"Terminated," Kelsie said, "when going over what Zander has planned, I noted there is no quarter allowed for them to penetrate our defenses easily. I saw the look in Alyx's eye. Today is not one for mercy and leniency. What is coming has nothing to do with our code, morality, or the Order's way."

"You are certain?" Anne watched Kelsie's face harden.

"More certain than anything before this time," Kelsie said, "he has much to pay for, and it starts with assembling the items in your basket."

Nodding, Anne lifted the lid on the basket and placed the items according to Kelsie's directions.

"We will stand with you," Anne said, "the Elders have a duty."

"We have those who will stand with us," Kelsie said, "but I am asking the Elders to be the last line of defense for the House, non-combatants and refugees inside."

"It will be our honour," Anne said, placing her right fist over her heart.

Kelsie mimicked the salute, watching until her mother safely returned to the House before turning toward the oncoming assailants. Pulling another piece of paper from the leather band on her arm, she began to say the words that would keep them from getting across the boundary of the House until it was time for the termination of their insane diabolical leader.

Today would be the turning point. Heart pounding, blood racing in her veins, fear threatening to clog her airways, Kelsie realised this would test everything she had learned, believed, and was. Closing her eyes, she heard the House's murmur - remember who you are.