Nightmare Realm Summoner

Teddy rubbed his jaw. “When did you become a brute that has to hit everything to make sure its real?”

“This had absolutely nothing to do with making sure you were real,” Alex informed Teddy with a grin. “I figured you weren’t lying well before I punched you. I’ve just been waiting to do that for far too long to give it up now. But you should have seen that coming, shouldn’t you?”

Teddy grunted. “It’s not perfect future-sight. I told you that. I can’t predict literally every single thing that’s going to happen. Hell, I can’t predict most of them. Only the ones I’m really focusing on. The smaller the incident, the harder it is to know it’s going to happen.”

“Are you implying that my punch wasn’t significant enough to register?” Alex asked. “Because I could hit you again. For science. I wouldn’t even mind the extra effort.”

“I think I’m quite good with regard to that,” Teddy replied with a smirk. “And you’re more than welcome to try. It won’t be nearly as easy as the first time.”

Alex grinned. “Well, couldn’t hurt to offer. I’m still pissed at you, asshole. I can’t believe you shoved me into hell without saying a single damn thing.”

“I’m pretty sure it was the best option,” Teddy said. “And it’s water under the bridge, now. It worked. We’re all here, aren’t we? You’ve made your way into Empty Court. Sure, I gave you a bit of help, but it was going to happen soon enough. The Empty Court wouldn’t have given in to my requests to admit you so easily if you weren’t worth admitting in the first place.”

Claire crossed her arms in front of her chest. “How did you manage that in the first place? Everyone I’ve met has said that the Empty Court is incredibly difficult to gain entry into. So how did you, a Nativeworlder, somehow get in and cement yourself enough to go around suggesting new members so quickly?”

“That’s a long story,” Teddy said.

“I’m sure you can find a way to condense it.” Claire gave him a charming smile that didn’t even get close to reaching her eyes.

Teddy grinned. “I was in the right place at the right time. Would you believe that — even with the System, magic, and power beyond our wildest dreams, everything still comes down to who you know?”

Alex let out a snort. “Somehow? No. So you got nepotism’d in?”

“It’s only nepotism if you’re part of the family,” Teddy said. He adjusted his glasses again. “I believe this would be more akin to cronyism. That or just corruption. But don’t let that make you think that I don’t deserve my place here. I can assure you that I’ve done everything needed to make sure I earned my place the right way.”

“Just after you earned it the wrong way?” Alex finished.

“I never said the Apocalypse changed me.” Teddy gave them a shameless shrug. “There’s no point doing things the right way if its far easier to do it the wrong one and then just straighten the cards up afterward. All that matters is the end goal.”

Alex started to nod. Then he paused. A frown crossed his features. “Hold on. But you always did things the right way. I mean, it came way too damn easy to you. You were the smartest asshole I ever met. Never had to study for anything. It just worked out for you.”

Teddy stared at him for a second. Then he blew out a slow breath. “Alex, man, if you really thought I was getting around passing every single class with perfect scores without putting a lick of effort into it, then I might have a bridge to sell you. But I’m genuinely honored that you think so highly of me.”

“Thought,” Alex corrected. “I haven’t forgiven you.”

Teddy’s smile faded slightly. “Fair enough. I don’t expect you to. Not yet. But we’ll get there. Eventually.”

“Maybe,” Alex said. “There are still too many things that you haven’t answered. Don’t think I haven’t noticed that you’ve somehow gotten really good at avoiding direct answers. So while we’re on the topic of you coming clean, anything else you want to share that we should know? Any other bullshit you’ve pulled that somehow affects us?”

Teddy stared at him for a second. “Really? Like… one of the few questions I did answer for you was specifically in regard to this. If I was doing something else around you, then telling you would definitely affect the results.”

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“So you you are.”

“I didn’t say that,” Teddy said.

“So you aren’t?”

“I— dude. Come on.”Teddy sighed. Then he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Fine. This is everything I was doing. Nothing else. It was just to get you here.”

Claire and Alex glanced at each other.

“You want a bridge?” Claire asked.

Alex snorted. “Don’t you join in with him. I’m more than aware that he’s full of it. I was just checking.”

“Now I’m hurt,” Teddy said with a frown.

“Hurt enough to tell us what part of my life it is that you’ve still got your fingers in?” Alex asked.

Teddy’s sadness evaporated in an instant as a grin took its place. “Nope. Sorry, Alex. I’ve invested way too much damn time and power into making sure everything would be roughly the way it is right now. I’m more than happy to try and help you out in a whole bunch of other ways. But I’m not spilling my plans.”

“And if we don’t like that?” Claire asked. “Alex and I weren’t faking the anger. If we believe every single thing you’ve said so far, it means that you’ve been jerking us around like puppets for weeks. Why would we want to be friends or allies with someone like that?”

“Okay, that’s not quite right.” Teddy held a finger up. “I didn’t actually do anything. I can’t control the future. I can only see parts of it. I just arranged a few dominos in the right order. Everything else was just natural order. Gravity, really.”

“I can’t help but notice you didn’t answer my question,” Claire said.

Teddy’s amusement faded. “No. I did not. You want the answer, Claire? It’s simple. You and I — we aren’t friends. I don’t care much at all about you beyond the fact that you’re dating Alex and that you’re a very competent, dangerous individual in the right circumstances. And as for Alex… he can choose to reject my friendship. I can’t control that. But neither of you can afford to reject my help. You aren’t in a position to.”

“Why?” Claire challenged. “You think you can claim credit for everything we’ve accomplished?”

“No,” Teddy replied. He rose from his chair, his features as cold as ice. “I’m certain you could survive without me. But you can’t just survive, can you? This is the end of the world. We all know just how tight the race for power is. If you were to fall behind even a few inches… if the Outworlders pulled ahead through no failure of your own… do you really think you could catch back up? Do you realize how valuable my assistance is? Yes, you could survive without me. You could even thrive. But if you think for a second that you can stand against the might of the Great Families without a power of your own behind you — you’re dead wrong.”

Alex stared at Teddy.

Jesus. Was that a villain monologue?

The room was silent for a long second. They barely even moved.

Then Claire grinned. “There we go. That was the longest string of honest answers you gave us since the moment we first stepped into this room.”

Teddy sighed. He sat back into his chair. “Your talents are far more appreciated when they’re directed at someone else.”

“Thank you,” Claire said. “But at least we all know where we stand now. I don’t think I personally have any issue with you being mysterious and keeping your plans to yourself so long as you aren’t getting directly in our way. And something tells me that you’re considerably stronger than you’ve been letting on. I don’t think that the Empty Court would have admitted you if you weren’t, and the way Liam treated you made it very clear that you’ve got at least some influence.”

“I have enough,” Teddy said noncommittally. “For now, at least. I need more. But that isn’t the concern right now.”

“Then what is?” Alex asked. “I assume you’ve been doing all this shit for a reason. So is this the part where you say what it is that you want from us?”

Teddy chuckled. “No.”

“Because you don’t want anything?” Alex asked. “Or because you’re just not going to tell us what it is you want?”

Teddy grinned. “A little of both. Nothing too big anytime soon. You’ve done a lot of the hardest stuff for the time being. And you made it here. Good job. There were a fair number of ways that didn’t happen. Not this early, at least.”

“I suppose we’ve got attribute that to you making Absolution start hunting me so he’d get in a position where he could bring us here, all so he could get his hands on an invite to the Empty Court?” Alex guessed.

“Well, that’s partially true.” Teddy waggled his hand in the air. “And a lot of things did come together pretty well there. You were responsible for a lot of it. And, as I said, I just gave a few things a nudge. That’s all I’ve ever really had to do. You’ve always been good at handling things after that.”

“So what did I miss, then?” Alex asked. “Why don’t we start there? Then you can fill us in on exactly why you brought us to the Empty Court if it isn’t for something you need us to do.”

“The second question is the easier one,” Teddy said. He shrugged. “I didn’t bring you here for any reason other than to talk. That and to ensure you had the resources you’d need to survive what is to come.”

“Then what about the first one?” Claire asked. “What did Alex get wrong in his summary?”

“Oh. That one.” Teddy’s lips pulled apart in a thin smile. “Absolution didn’t bring you here to get entry into the Empty Court.”

“Oh?” Alex tilted his head to the side. “What makes you say that? You don’t think he wants to get in?”

“That isn’t it,” Teddy replied. He nodded over their shoulders toward the door at the back of the room. “You should probably take a look over there. It’ll explain better than I can.”

Both Alex and Claire turned to glance in he’d indicated.

And at that moment, the door pulled open, and into the room stepped Absolution.

“You see,” Teddy said from behind them with a chuckle, “Absolution definitely wants to be in here. This place suits him perfectly. He just didn’t need your help to do it. Absolution’s been a member of the Empty Court for years.”

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