Chapter Fourty Eight: The Old Bonds

She had been traveling for days, having not stopped for food or even water. She knew she had only a short time to reach her destination so she had to be quick. For most of the journey, she had used her wolf form only because it made for quicker travel. However, she would often stay off the main roads so that she would not encounter any trouble. After a while, Lysette had reached her destination.

A small house, sitting on an old suburban street was peaceful and yet somehow far to quiet for her liking. As she approached the home, Lysette found that the front door was open which was more than likely not going to be a good sign. She was searching for someone, and if they were not inside, then this would mean that her journey had been for nothing.

" I really hope they didn't get to you.." Lysette said to herself as she entered the home, calling out for the person she had traveled a great distance to meet with. " Margaret? Margaret, are you here? " She called out, but received no reply.

Just as she was about to give up and leave the home, she heard a faint voice in the distance. " I'm here..just give me a minute" The voice called from the ceiling. " The attic.." Lysette said to herself as jumped up to grab the pull- string and lower the ladder down.

After a while, a woman dressed in jeans and a baggy t-shirt climbed down and met Lysette face to face. " Nice to see you are still alive, old girl" Margaret smiled.

" Yeah. But it's not from a lack of effort by many " Lysette also laughed as they made their way to the kitchen.

" So what were you doing in the attic? " Lysette asked, noticing the tool belt strapped to the hip of the elderly woman.

" Well, I was trying to repair some water damage but I'm getting a little too old for that these days" Margaret sat down once reaching the kitchen as Lysette sat down across from her.

" So you are here about the reset? " Margaret inquired, though she had already known the answer. Lysette nodded, as they both relaxed in their chairs. " Well, any day now, she should be coming into my care. But I won't lie to ya Lissy..I'm getting too old for this " Margerat" Yeah yeah I know. It's the same old thing. Everytime. You would think that I would have said no by now but for some reason I continue to put myself through this" Margerat smiled, feeling a fool for ever taking on such a responsibility.

" They were good kids Lissy..I mean..they are good kids I just.. I don't know anymore " Margaret sighed, reaching her hand to her forehead to wipe away the sweat and dust.

" I know. But I did bring you something to help" Lysette reached down in her pocket and pulled out a small vile of a strange blue liquid and placed it on the table.

" How do you keep getting your hands on that? " Margaret seems surprised to see the item again after so long.

" There were stashes all around earth, I had them hid pretty well. I was fortunate to remember where I stored some of them. But others, it feels like a blur to me. But the place I'm staying now, I put it under the house in a damn crawlspace for some reason" Lysette confessed as she readjusted herself in her chair.

"Lissy the resourceful Lycan" Margaret giggled as she took the vile in her hand.

" This should set me back about another thirty or so " Margerat smiled as she popped off the top of the vile and began drinking the blue liquid, before placing the bottle back on the table.

After a few seconds, her face began to change, slowly morphing and almost disfiguring at random intervals until finally, it rested on the image of a young, 30 or so year old woman. " Damn, that brings me back" Margaret laughed.

" I know it's a lot to ask, but that's the only way I can really repay you for right now. Hopefully when everything gets settled, I can find a better way but right now this is the best I can do" Lysette explains.

" This is better than nothing I suppose. But now it's just a waiting game. I just hope that things are different this time because after a while, starts to take its toll on you" Margaret sighed.

" I know but this time it's different. I have someone who can make a real difference and you are gonna have to trust me on this. This time, should be the last time" Lysette assures as the two began talking about the previous resets and how they had changed strategies in the past but had never managed to fix the issues.

" And Shawn's Father still doesn't know about you. He knows the part I play in this but he doesn't know too much about you. I'd like to keep it that way if I can" Lysette had done all she could to keep Margaret out of the crossfire in the past. And for the most part, she had been pretty successful at doing so. But there was always a fear that one day their interference would catch up with them. Even though their hearts were in the right place, interfering in such matters typically did not result and positive outcomes. This was something the two knew all too well and did all they could to not make mistakes. But if the world could out of the crossfire in the past. And for the most part, she had been pretty successful at doing so. But there was always a fear that one day their interference would catch up with them. Even though their hearts were in the right place, interfering in such matters typically did not result and positive outcomes. This was something the two knew all too well and did all they could to not make mistakes. But if the world could not seem to get things done properly then interference was needed. This was something they knew all to well even if others didn't agree with their actions.

" I'm sure she's gonna be here soon, so you're gonna have to do your best to be ready. By the time she makes it to the Underworld, things should be for the most part, sorted. And if not then I will go there myself and see what I can do. But, for right now, I'm trusting in Penny to do what is right" Lysette confessed as Margerat looked on with curiosity. " And what about this other human...what's her name..Ember? " Margerat questioned. The two had learned long ago to not extend trust to just anyone. If Lysette trusted Ember then that is all that was needed but it still made Margerat uneasy.

" Ember has a role to play and I know she will do what she has too as well"