Finn Fancy Necromancy by Randy Henderson

lies like enforcers.
    â€œVery well.”
    I walked him to the front door, and looked out into the night as Grayson stepped onto the porch. If nothing else, maybe the enforcers had scared off the Król lurker. Grayson turned back.
    â€œIf you do discover anything, or leave the house, please check in with me,” he said. “I can only protect and help you if you trust me, and keep me informed.”
    â€œOkay. Thanks, Jimmy,” I said, protocol be damned, and held out my hand. He may have a stick up his butt, but Grayson had stood up for me, given me the support I’d hoped to find from my family. In fact, it had felt a bit like Grandfather was still alive, fighting to protect me the way he’d always fought to protect our family’s safety and reputation. “Grandfather would be proud of you, and grateful you’re helping me.”
    A smile twitched up the corner of Grayson’s mouth, and he took my hand. “He was a great man. And good to me. I’m just glad I have this chance to repay him even a little bit. Get some rest, Finn.”
    I closed the door behind him and leaned my back against it, my legs a bit shaky, my whole body jangly with nervous energy. I had Zeke, the Króls, and possibly another enemy all gunning for me, and Felicity’s body just waiting to be identified. And I had three days at most to figure everything out, or they were going to make scrambled eggs of my mind.
    Yeah, I’d sleep like a baby tonight.

5
    I Feel for You
    My family surrounded me a heartbeat after the front door closed.
    â€œSo?” Sammy asked. “What was that about?”
    â€œAbout the problem in the transfer,” I replied, still distracted by the confrontation.
    â€œProblem?” Mort asked.
    Crap. “Nothing major,” I said. “Some problems in the Other Realm I guess. Look,” I rubbed at my eyes, “I really appreciate the welcome home party, but it’s been a crazy evening. Is it okay if I just crash in my room and we can all catch up over breakfast?”
    Mort shrugged. “I still have work to do anyway.”
    â€œI’ll pass,” Sammy said. “But we’ll hang soon.”
    â€œBreakfast is my favorite!” Pete said.
    I exchanged quick hugs with Sammy and Pete, and said good night to Mort.
    â€œMattie,” he said, “why don’t you show Finn up to his room.”
    As if I was a guest, or could forget the way to my own bedroom.
    â€œSure!” Mattie turned to me. “We should grab you fresh blankets though. I don’t even want to know how long yours have been in there.”
    â€œSounds good.”
    Mattie led the way down the hall. “Wow, this is so weird,” she said. “I’ve heard all about you, so I kind of feel like I know you, but it’s like, I wasn’t even born when you went into exile, you know?”
    â€œUh-huh,” I said.
    I followed Mattie to the laundry room, then back to the main stairs and up to my room. On the way I learned an interesting fact—teenage girls can talk without taking a single breath. I didn’t remember this from my own youth, but then neither Heather nor Sammy had been the talkative type, and I’d never felt comfortable enough around other girls to actually test their talking limits.
    Bits of Mattie’s continuous monologue were interesting, glimmers of the world I’d returned to, but there was quite a bit in there about some girl at school who kept copying Mattie’s style, and her friend who was allowed to drive already, and other apparently world-ending facts mixed with words and phrases that I could only guess at their meaning.
    One thing I did learn, however, was that Mattie was lonely. She hid it well. But maybe this was one of the advantages I had over other adults in her life—I remembered very clearly what it was like to be a young teenage necromancer, having relived all of those awful, awkward, emotional