I had just received the notification that the God of Doors was very pleased with what I’d accomplished, then time froze and admitted a familiar non-face.

[God of Doors] appreciates your efforts in saving it. You have been gifted the boon of doors. You may open any door to instead reveal a personal space the God of Doors has set aside just for you. [God of Doors] appreciates your efforts and the efforts of your compatriots. [God of Doors] further acknowledges that you have declined to close the door between yourself and the Eelysians permanently. Your grace is to be lauded, and you are granted +1 Likability. You gain 1 Likability Token, permanently. [God of Doors] has seen your personal effort and the difficulties you went through in crafting the cure, and further approves of your progeny bearing Her holy name. Dori gains the boon of portals. Dori may open any door to instead reveal a way to a place she has previously been.

“Oh wow,” I said, but my words didn’t travel through the air as they should’ve. Instead, looking around, I noted the astonished looks on the faces of Ivy, Isabelle, Chrysta and Shakindria. They also clearly weren’t moving, meaning my old friend the unnamed dark aspect Nakamamon had entered the chat, and turned off time.

“You again?” I asked.

“That is correct,” the creature purred. She was vaguely shaped like Shakindria but where all the features should’ve been, there was only darkness. It was only a silhouette standing before me, though now two eyes alight with purple pink energy had opened to regard me.

“Are you going to tell me I need to go deal with a God of the Volcano now?” I asked.

“It may surprise you to learn that your lead Healer Rainer has cured the God of the Volcano and saved you several weeks’ worth of work.”

“That fills me with delight,” I told her flatly.

“Your sarcasm does not become you,” she said. “Your female compatriots have grown to love you for your earnestness, your compassion, and your capabilities in the arts of lovemaking.”

“So you’re saying I should be perfectly honest with you, then?” I asked.

“Correct.”

“I missed you,” I told her.

Those enormous eyes blinked at me.

“I wanted to ask you a few questions.”

“Yes of course. We both have jobs to do,” she replied.

“What sort of Nakamamon are you, anyhow? Are there others like you?”

She regarded me in silence for several moments. “I am what is called a Defrit.”

“Sounds like defeat… mixed with ifrit.” Ifrit meaning the super powerful genie spirits out of the Middle East.

“Astute,” she replied. “The citizens of this… place would use my name as a warning to keep poorly behaved children in line. As to your second question, my kind are extremely rare. We are not a social species.”

“And your name?”

“My name? Haven’t I already expressed to you what my kind are called?”

I gestured to Chrysta and Shakindria. “They have names that aren’t their species.”

The creature appeared puzzled, as far as I could tell from the black nothing and the glowing purple eyes that made up its form.

“Then I shall call you… Buttercup.” I lovely flower, and an attempt to soften up something world shaking and otherwise terrifying.

“We have a great deal to discuss,” Buttercup said. “This accomplishes nothing.”

“It sounds lonely,” I went on, “not having family around.”

It stopped beside a frozen Ivy, and stared at me for another few moments.

“What are you attempting to do?” she asked. “Befriend me? Lull me into a false sense of security? Seduce me? None of these will succeed, Healer.”

I shrugged. “I like to know who I’m up against, Buttercup.”

Two black arms crossed in front of her body of darkness and one hip cocked out, but I got the impression she was hugging herself for comfort rather than putting on an uncaring facade.

“I am the sower of chaos, the spreader of curses, the bringer of doom,” Buttercup said. “I lay waste to all that is old and known to pave the way for what is new and unknown. Fear spreads before me, and misery trails behind. Is your question sufficiently answered? Is your curiosity sated?”

“Not remotely,” I said.

“Then allow me to give you a demonstration,” Buttercup said, appearing beside Chrysta, looking triumphant and hovering in the air. “Choose one of these four companions, and I will make an example of my power and capability.”

“I’m okay, thanks,” I told her.

“Choose.”

“Look,” I told her, “I know you’re here on assignment. Just tell me what you’re here to do, and we’ll both be on our way. You can make more gods sick, sow some chaos, spread some curses, bring some doom; I can go grab more levels in Healer, we’re both doing what it is we do.”

“Your arrogance is a front,” she said. “You are scared.”

“Me? Scared? Why, I’m only a Healer from a place of no consequence, trying to cure my mom’s cancer, and here comes a bringer of doom and spreader of chaos seeds or whatever, who can stop time and make gods sick. What would I have to be scared about?” And here, I laughed. “Of course I’m scared! Wouldn’t you be scared if something showed up that had the insane power differential to you as you do to me?”

I didn’t think that last part made actual sense, but it was okay. If something of vast cosmic power showed up in front of her, she’d feel just like I was feeling now, trying to play it tough and act like I wasn’t about to pee myself.

“Well yes, I am quite powerful.”

“Terrifyingly powerful,” I told her.

“You’re not driven mad by the sight of me,” Buttercup said doubtfully, and stared into frozen Isabelle’s eyes. “I think I’m slipping.” She was… complaining.

“I mean you’re under orders… somehow. And whatever’s going on won’t allow you to turn my brain into soggy mush. I’m sure you could though, without much effort.”

“I really could,” she said. “I used to turn scores of minds to madness, and take the form of a winged leviathan, with the tentacles of a squid.”

“A regular Cthulhu,” I remarked. “I mean like this, you’re practically attractive.”

“Don’t go attempting to butter me up,” she said, but turned this way and that so I could see the shape of her silhouette. Nice but, trim waist, shapely bust.

The more I thought about it, the less it seemed like this creature was trying to scare the devil out of me. I wanted to tell her she shouldn’t waste her time on me, but she seemed to enjoy the chance at conversation.

“If I could see you more clearly, it would help, but like this, I’d say you were a solid eight. Purely physical attractiveness, mind you. If you dropped the darkness veil you might end up a nine, possibly a ten.”

“An eight?” she snarled. “Out of one hundred? Do you think—”

“Out of ten, Buttercup,” I said softly.

“Ah.” All the righteous indignation and pure terror drained out of her in an instant. She didn’t even complain about me calling her Buttercup. In fact, the darkness drained away a bit more as well, leaving me looking at a creature with deep gray skin, wearing thigh high boots, a prickly looking tutu, with a trim waist and a decent sized bust. The prickly effect went to her hair as well, which fluffed out massively compared to her body. No doubt the hair was just an extension of her unthinkable power.

She did a quick twirl, then struck a pose again. “Your human eyes should be able to perceive this form better.”

“Definitely a nine, possibly a nine and a half.”

“Do not be indecisive, Healer,” she commanded.

“What I mean is, women who’re trying to look their best will often spruce up their hair and makeup to look like they have immaculate, smooth skin, use certain clothes to make certain aspects stand out. That way you could make a nine, physical attractiveness alone, mind you, into a nine and a half, or even a ten.”

This seemed to satisfy her. She pranced around the frozen area, reaching out to stroke a single finger over Ivy, Isabelle, Chrysta, and Shakindria.

“Do you see?” she told the time stopped four ladies. “Do you see who is a nine, possibly a ten? It is I, Buttercup.”

I watched her twirl and cavort, trailing by wisps of dark energy, with her eyes glowing that strange color. I wanted to say they were glowing perhaps more pink than purple, but it could’ve been my imagination.

“Healer,” she said at last. “I did not come here merely to congratulate you on another fine cure you have endeavored to cook up, nor to see who was indeed the fairest of us all. My purpose for coming was to urge you northward. You must reach the God of Lies in the next town up north, and save them all from their misery.”

“I wish I could,” I said, “but my priority has shifted.”

She froze, like a painting, or when you pressed pause on a movie. One moment in motion, and the next moment utterly still. Her head turned unnaturally to regard me.

“What?” the word came out breathy, from some distance away, but it struck me full force somehow, terrifying.

“I have to cure my mother. The Agency people are all on their way here, and I have to prove to them I can do it so they’ll stop hunting me.”

“That is unacceptable. Your mother will live beyond you curing the God of Lies and heading north.”

“Still, it’s time I worked on saving her,” I said.

She reached out, staring at me, and touched a finger to Shakindria’s nose. Instantly, darkness bloomed out to swallow her up, and just a moment later it receded. When it was gone, so was my second bond mate.

“What did you do?” Numb. My whole body felt frozen.

She wasn’t there, but now stood in front of Ivy.

“No.”

“You will venture north,” Buttercup said.

“I have to—”

She reached out and booped Ivy on the nose. Poof, Ivy was gone in a swirl of darkness.

“Please,” I begged, “bring them back.”

“You will venture north,” the creature of darkness repeated. “Say the words. I will venture north, Buttercup.”

“I can’t. My mother—”

She reappeared in front of Isabelle, and a moment later, Isabelle had been taken by the darkness. Another second later, Buttercup’s blazing magenta eyes were inches from mine.

“You will venture north, Healer,” she said, “or I will take all that you hold dear in this world. Sower of chaos, bringer of doom, you recall?”

I couldn’t speak. She had just disappeared my bond mate and two of my Guardians. On top of that, it had taken zero effort.

“Do you understand?”

I nodded, but I sure did not understand at all. My mind was whirling with what I’d just witnessed.

“We will meet again,” she promised, and vanished in a swirl of inky darkness.

***

I took Chrysta’s hand to avoid vanishing back to my progenitor, and stood there while she tried to talk to me, tried to figure out what had just happened. In her mind, I had just teleported over to her, while the three other ladies who were with us up and vanished.

“Fletcher?”

There were boons from the God of Doors to see about, and I also had levels in Healer to attend to, but for now I could only gawk at the place where Ivy, Isabelle and Shakindria had been. They really were gone. They had been yanked out from under me like a rug, and now I was tumbling.

It was like I was coming up from being underwater. It took a long time, it was disorienting, and I suddenly gasped. “We have to check on the others. Please. Now.”

We flew through the air with me in Chrysta’s arms. She asked me questions but I couldn’t answer. I was struck with a terror so complete, I could hardly breathe until we located the correct block, crested the large mansion, and the rest of the girls came into view.

Regina was there. Tara and Dori were there. All the rest of them turned to look at the flying duo now swooping down out of the sky toward them. I got a few hearty congratulations and cheerful smiles before they got a to see the look on my face.

I had to tell them. There was no keeping the Defrit a secret. After that it was louder questions, gasps, some fury, and a whole lot of threats, dark promises, and then some speculation as to what the Defrit was, who was behind her actions, and why she was hounding me.

My mom came forward and gave me a strong hug, followed almost immediately by Vellenia and Regina. Soon enough April, Azalea, Cinzy and Jacoby’s people joined in.

“Obviously I can’t force any of you to stay here,” I said, now holding hands with Vellenia and with Regina clutched to me. “If you’re farther away from me, maybe she won’t come after you. If you’re farther away from me, maybe the Agency won’t come after you either.”

“Obviously we’re going to stay with you,” Cinzy said, with a whole lot more bravery than I think she felt. It was a nice gesture and I appreciated it.

“But really,” I said. “Being around me, for whatever reason, is more dangerous than it should be…”

“And we’ve been in close quarters with actual gods,” Cinzy said.

The rest of them laughed.

“Jacoby,” I said. She was already looking quite conflicted. “You and your people could head north maybe, and see what this thing wants me to see.”

“We can all do that,” my mother said.

“Mom, we’re healing you up, and that’s all there is to it, okay?”

Stuck between a rock and a hard place all right, with the rock being a government agency with a shoddy administrative structure, and the hard place an insanely powerful, unpredictable creature who’d kidnapped or killed three of my friends.

“What if I forbid you from working on my cancer?” my mother demanded. And to her credit, my mom appeared younger and stronger than she had a week ago when she’d come through this portal. That didn’t mean she looked healthy. I didn’t even have to check Diagnostics to tell that the cancer was still inside her, and it was growing. She was paler and thinner, and the skin around her eyes had that tightness that spoke of pain she was keeping at bay. Thank you Ingenuity level 10.

“I won’t be the cause of your friends and loved ones being in danger.”

“You’re not the cause, Mrs. Fletcher,” Vellenia said. “That Nakamamon is the cause. Some human who bonded that Nakamamon is the cause.”

It was either Claudius or Jocinda. Both the extremely high level Druid or the extremely high level whatever-Claudius-was had the capability to bond the creature I’d named Buttercup, and then control her. Claudius… Wizard or Sorcerer, either one of those would give him the magical power, I assumed, to take control of the Defrit and boss her around.

North, after this next city with the broken God of Lies, would probably give me access to Jocinda, so the question of who bonded Buttercup would be answered.

Staying here would get the Agency off my back, and I could then focus on Buttercup’s ultimatum. All I’d have to do was cure my mom in an awful hurry.

This is Christopher, somehow the lynchpin of events.