Chapter 23

Sure enough, after entering the apartment building, Chewy shrank down to the size I was familiar with.

"Surprised?" Chewy asked when he noticed me watching him.

I nodded then continued down the hallway to the apartment.

Micheal had beaten me there and was already a few steps inside when he had to stop to catch Heather and Courtney as they rushed to hug him.

I snorted then pushed my way past Micheal and his girls to find myself stopped abruptly when Karen pounced on me. I hugged her back, my heart warming at the concern I could feel in her tight hug.

Unfortunately the hug didn't last long. Karen pushed herself away but only so she could look me over carefully.

"I am fine." I reassured her.

"Master did an excellent job." Delilah spoke up, "There was only one moment I thought he might nearly die." she added, giving me a smirk.

I frowned at the shadow fairy but she flew out of my reach, then I caught the frown on Karen's face. As soon as I did I knew I would have to wait for my revenge.

"I helped too!" Enya said excitedly, which caused me to smile.

To forestall whatever lecture Karen might have for me I looked around the apartment and spotted Megan holding Bryan. She gave me a smile as she stood near her cousin waiting for Heather and Courtney to release him so his son could get some of his attention.

I returned the smile a bit disappointed that she hadn't pounced on me like Karen had, but someone had to watch Bryan so I didn't let it bother me. I was a bit concerned that the budding feelings between us would disappear with Micheal here, but I was willing to let it play out as it would. Besides with Karen here it was already pretty confusing, and that was without the addition of mana or the twisted.

"Did you get things packed?" I asked looking back to Karen who looked ready to scold me.

Karen narrowed her eyes then sighed. "Yes, we gathered some of your things, and the food we could. The stuff I thought you would want are on your bed, and the food is all laid out on the table. There isn't much so we are going to need to stop somewhere for supplies.

"Are you planning on going somewhere?" Courtney asked as she and Heather separated from Micheal.

"Yeah." I said nodding. "Things are only going to get worse around here. I think it would be better to get out of the city."

Courtney frowned. She was a very attractive woman with long strawberry blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail, emerald green eyes, and a killer figure. Currently she was wearing a pair of skin tight blue jeans and a green t-shirt that hugged her curves. Standing together with Micheal they looked like a perfect match.

Despite both of us being close with Micheal, we weren't friends. I personally thought she was too clingy and over controlling, and she thought I was just a leech. Despite that we could be cordial with each other when necessary.

"Are you sure?" Courtney asked seriously.

I nodded then looked to Delilah, "Delilah?" I asked her.

Delilah nodded. "Yes, if this world is a hub, then things will get worse quickly. Though since you said that it has only been two waves, there is a very small chance that your world isn't a hub." she replied.

"Can you explain that?" I asked.

"Ummm, first could you explain what those two are?" Courtney asked.

"I would like to know that too." Micheal said.

"After." I said then waited for Delilah to explain.

"As you wish, Master." she said seductively. "I do not know the why of all this so don't bother asking me. What I do know is that all the worlds are connected and form something like a web. Within the web of worlds are the mana sources from which the mana originates. When mana flows from the sources into new worlds we get the situation your world now faces. Despite being called a web, most worlds are on a chain like structure where they are only connected to two worlds. In those normal cases there is only one wave a week from the world that was previously flooded with mana. Then once your world has acclimated the mana will start flooding into the next world." she told us.

I nodded. "And a hub would be a world where several of those chains connect." I said aloud.

Delilah nodded. "Yes, a hub is a world where two or more of those chains connect. However there is still a chance that your world is not a hub. With only two waves there is the chance that both of the worlds yours is connected too could have already been flooded by mana." she explained.

"If that is the case, how bad will it be?" I asked.

Delilah shrugged. "No idea master. Each world reacts differently depending on how well your governments are structured. Even then it is rare for the old world government to survive the changes. With two waves a week instead of one, everything will happen twice as fast. I assume your government will fall and chaos will ensue. If your world is a hub, then there are likely to be more waves, each extra wave will only make it worse."

"What if we are a hub for two chains and only two of the four worlds we are connected to are flooded with mana? Doesn't that also fit our current situation?" Megan asked.

"That is a possibility as well." Delilah conceded.

"But?" I asked, hearing some hesitation in her answer.

"Like the fact that most worlds are part of a chain, most hubs are made up of at least four chains. Before you suggest that the other chains might not be flooded by mana, know that it has been discovered and confirmed that the mana gates will not open until at least half of the other worlds yours is connected to have been flooded by mana." Deliliah told us then hesitated again.

"Just tell us." I told Delilah.

Delilah nodded. "There is also the fact that twisted and awakened don't usually appear until the second wave. The mana concentration in the world isn't high enough during the first wave."

My mind froze hearing that and it took me a few moments to process it. "Are you sure?" I asked.

"There are always exceptions Master, but that is the normal." she replied.

I frowned but didn't argue with her. If she was to be believed, then our world had already had three waves at least. Even if that was all we would have, three waves a week… I didn't want to think about it. Instead I felt like I needed to do something. I turned to walk over to the table so I could start packing everything into my storage space but Megan appeared by my side.

Looking at her I could see that she was worried and scared. I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tightly. "It will be fine." I told her softly. I didn't believe it myself, but I knew I would do the best I could to protect them. To do that we had to get out of town. I had no idea how long we had until the next wave.

"Come on." I told her then kissed her on her forehead.

Megan nodded then separated from me.

I caught Micheal watching us with a surprised look, but I ignored it. "Are you guys coming?" I asked him as I moved to the table then activated my spatial storage. With three wisps in the ability I had a lot of space to work with. I didn't take the time to look into it, instead I felt a strong desire to get moving so I started to toss things in as quickly as I could.

"No." Courtney replied.

"Yes." Micheal said.

"Micheal." Courtney said, giving him a glare.

"We are going." Micheal told her firmly. "Call your family, tell them to get out of town too. They can meet up with us if you want, but we can't stay here." he told her.

"Why?" Courtney asked with a frown. I had expected her to throw more of a fit, but it seemed she had her times when she could be reasonable. "I need something to tell my parents if I want them to listen."

Micheal nodded. I tossed that last of the supplies on the table into my space then headed for my room.

"Master!" Delilah called out before I could go very far.

I turned back to see the trouble maker floating in the middle of the room with everyone's attention focused on her.

"What?" I asked warily.

"Are you going to awaken the girls?" she asked me.

"Some of them, if they want me too." I replied with a glare at the fairy.

"Does it matter who does it?" Megan asked.

"It does." Delilah replied. "The higher the core of the initiator the better the core of the newly awakened. The technique used also matters. If Master had been able to look before he would know that the core of the woman he awakened upstairs was two levels better than Rosa's."

I frowned, "So she awakened a blue core?" I asked.

Delilah nodded. "Yes Master. While that could be partly from her own capability…." Delilah started to explain.

"No." I told her sternly as soon as I realized where she was going.

"Master." she said with a sigh like she was trying to convince a child.

"Delilah." I replied sternly.

"What is it?" Micheal asked.

"Delilah is trying to convince Daryl to have sex with each of the women here." Heather replied.