Kelsie moved quickly through the forest toward a point she knew gut-deep was the next pointer to getting to Jezebel's. Ordinarily, she would have walked up to any house and gone inside, but this house was different; her Grandmother closed the entry loop. Meaning she had to open the loop slowly, methodically and correctly. Jezebel had ensured this to prevent anyone, not of the line from getting to the Order's secrets. Yes, there were many secrets, some of which the world didn't need to know; others only Kelsie and her guard could know.

"Is it much further?" Jason asked, looking around in confusion, "I don't remember this section of the forest."

"You were never required to enter this part," Kelsie smiled, "there is a reason you need me with you."

"I got it," Zander said suddenly, "to enter, the one needs to return backwards."

Kelsie and Jason stared at Zander's sudden outburst.

"Been thinking about that a lot?" Kelsie asked.

"A little," Zander smiled, "it's something Connie made everyone learn. She said it was part of recent history."

"I bet," Jason nodded, "that one was full of surprises."

"Jezebel knew a thing or two as well," Kelsie said, starting to walk again, "there is a reason my parents added those photos, as Zander said. We need to go backwards to enter."

"How is doing this going to get us into the house?" Jason frowned as Kelsie stepped into a clearing.

"When the loops were closed, precautions were put in place," Kelsie whispered, looking around, "there is a reason Jezebel put them in place. She knew he would want to get to the family secrets. That cannot happen."

"Why not?" Jason frowned, "he is family."

"No," Kelsie shook her head, "for her brother to maintain their status in the family and the black faction, he required an heir."

"That is the requirement for all in leadership," Jason nodded, "and he produced an heir."

Kelsie turned to Jason, staring at him before slowly shaking her head, "No heir."

"But..." Jason frowned, confusion skittering over his features.

"It's not their blood in his veins," Zander whispered, "that is why Connie didn't give him the elite training."

"Correct," Kelsie nodded, "he was adopted from a family in the black faction who contracted that plague that ran through their ranks decades ago, or so the story goes. They never told him he was adopted. He always felt slighted because the rest of the family left him out of what he felt was rightfully his, ultimately the seat of authority."

"Adopted," Jason whispered, "I always wondered how the baby came about. I saw them two months before the baby appeared. My sister in law did not look pregnant at all; I put it down to the baggy clothing she was wearing but now ... I wonder."

"She could never conceive," Kelsie smiled gently, "it was Connie's brother's fault, not his wife's."

"So he corrected his error," Jason shook his head, "no honour."

"The child learnt well from the father," Kelsie said, "now ... we have to make sure our family and brethren remain safe."

"What do we have to do?" Zander asked.

Kelsie pulled a sheet of paper from her parents' box, opened it, and read silently.

"We need to build a fire in the middle of the clearing," she said, "and gather ..." she paused, "ah ... please, can you two see to the fire. I shall gather what is required."

Nodding, the two men began gathering wood and building a fire in the exact place Kelsie indicated. Murmuring the words Jezebel had left on the paper, Kelsie walked the circle's circumference. Ending at the start, she turned toward the centre and, still murmuring, walked to where the fire was being built. Only when her foot touched the log of the unlit fire did the murmuring stop, and Kelsie knelt on one knee, bowing her head and placing her right fist over her heart. Standing, she looked up at the sky, tracking the sun. There was time to find the requirements for the opening ritual before night fell. Moving around the clearing, gathering what was required, Kelsie felt excited to begin the journey that would take them all to their destiny. She had heard of chants her Aunt would make and the strange "magic" she performed. Kelsie knew nothing of it, only remembering Aunt Jezebel as one of the most loving, kind-hearted people. It was time to repay both women by being what she was meant to be. Kelsie knew she needed to get there as untainted as possible.

"Fire is built," Jason called, "I take it this is not for eating and heat."

"No," Kelsie shook her head, "make one near the edge of the clearing but not on the border. The chain cannot be broken."

Placing all the items where Jezebel's instructions advised, Kelsie sat cross-legged and waited for the sun to set.

"Jason," Zander called, watching Kelsie sit staring at the burning fire, "what is she doing?"

"It looks like she is waiting to do some kind of ritual," Jason said thoughtfully. "I remember Jezebel doing this kind of thing. It must be something Kelsie is following on the sheet of paper she has been hugging to herself all day."

"Ritual for what?" Zander asked, lighting their cooking fire.

"I was thinking about what you were saying earlier about returning backwards. Just after the two of you were put in hiding, Jezebel disappeared for a few days, just after she took in the imposter. She must have known then and came to make the house safe."

"What is so special about the house?" Zander asked, "I would ask Connie when I was at her home, but she would never tell me, only sprout something about the one who holds the keys may give the details."

"How old were you?" Jason asked, his eyes narrowing on Zander.

"Twelve or thirteen," Zander said, "why?"

Jason closed his eyes, swallowing hard; clearing his throat, he looked Zander in the eye, "She closed that loop as well."

"What loop?" Zander asked.

"In our world, thirteen is when a child becomes a man," Jason said, "you know that from your training. You do not know that Connie gave away her last hope of protection when she said those words to you. Was Kelsie in the room with you?"

"I don't..." Zander puckered his brows as he tried to remember, his eyes widening at the memory, "yes, she was. We were playing a board game Connie had made up for us."

"Without being able to do the ceremony due to circumstances, Connie accomplished what the ceremony would have," Jason swiped at silent tears on his cheeks. "We all had something to say about what we saw, but she was Creed to the end. Hiding in plain sight while ensuring the continuation of our line, training our upcoming generation with no thought for her own safety. She only looked to the safe return of our brethren and our world as it was meant to be."

"That's great," Zander nodded, "I still have no understanding of the words you have uttered."

Jason chuckled, sitting next to the fire, "You may need to sit down for this."

"Do we need to keep an eye on Kelsie?" Zander asked.

"You do," Jason said, "at the moment, I'm along for the ride."

Zander seated himself where he could watch Kelsie. He had a feeling this was going to be something he needed to hear, understand and retain. Jason was serious about the information being imparted. Although Zander felt he would prefer to be moving, acting and doing, he also understood the importance and meaning of gaining history, knowledge and ultimately, understanding. Then they could move forward.

"Tell me," Zander whispered, keeping Kelsie in view while Jason told of old, new and what was to come.